Weather History for Sunday, August 2, 2020, from the National Weather Service in Wichita: In 1985, a Delta Airlines Tri Star, while on final approach into Dallas Fort Worth Airport, crashed when it encountered a severe thunderstorm induced micro burst. The crash killed 128 passengers and 8 crew members. The tragedy played a vital role in the decision to install wind shear detectors at many airports across the country. In 1954, severe thunderstorms reportedly pummeled parts of north-central Kansas with golfball sized hail for around 30 minutes. One hail drift reportedly measured 200 feet long, 70 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. No further details were provided.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Weather History for Sunday, August 2, 2020, from the National Weather Service in Wichita: In 1985, a Delta Airlines Tri Star, while on final approach into Dallas Fort Worth Airport, crashed when it encountered a severe thunderstorm induced micro burst. The crash killed 128 passengers and 8 crew members. The tragedy played a vital role in the decision to install wind shear detectors at many airports across the country. In 1954, severe thunderstorms reportedly pummeled parts of north-central Kansas with golfball sized hail for around 30 minutes. One hail drift reportedly measured 200 feet long, 70 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. No further details were provided.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This day in weather history: North-central Kansas pummeled in 1954

Multiple second readings of proposed ordinances, including two pertaining to the rezoning of the former Lowell Elementary School/Salina Christian Academy property, are among the items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday.

Commissioners are scheduled to begin with a 3 p.m. study session in room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 West Ash Street. The agenda for the study session is as follows.

3 p.m. – Lower Smoky Hill Water Supply Access District Board Meeting 

The regular meeting is sheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in room 107 of the City-County Building. A time for public comment is scheduled near the beginning of the meeting.

Items on the city commission agenda for Monday include the following.

•Hear the second reading of Ordinance No. 20-11025 changing the zoning district classification from R-2 (Multi-Family Residential) to I-2 (Light Industrial) on a vacant lot facing Reynolds Street addressed as 535 Reynolds Street.

•Hear the second reading of Ordinance No. 20-11026 changing the zoning district classification from R (Single-Family Residential) to U (University) district for eight (8) lots located on the north side of Euclid Avenue east of North Ninth Street.

•Consider the rezoning of the former Lowell Elementary School/Salina Christian Academy property, including:

-- Hearing the  second  reading  Ordinance  No.  20-11027  amending  the  future  land  use  designation  of  this  2.04  acre  tract  of  land  from  Public  /  Semi-Public  to  Urban Residential. 

-- Hearing the second  reading  Ordinance  No.  20-11030(amended  since  1st  reading) rezoning this 2.04 acre tract of land to PDD(R-2). 

On the first reading of both, the commission unanimously concurred with the Salina Planning Commission's recommendation to moved forward with the project.

•Consider two downtown transfer agreements:

-- Resolution  No.  20-7859  authorizing  the  mayor  to  execute  a  Transferee  Agreement with Salina 2020, Inc. and The Bath Pub, LLC.

-- Resolution  No.  20-7860  authorizing  the  mayor  to  execute  a  Transferee  Agreement with Grassroots Efforts, LLC. 

•Hear a soccer programming presentation and consider the possible reimplementation of the soccer program.

•Hear a status report and further discussion regarding the proposed re-plat of Phase III of the Grand Prairie Addition.

•Consider Resolution No. 20-7857 adopting application fees and charges for the placement of wireless telecommunications facilities in the public right-of-way.

•Consider Resolution No. 20-7858 authorizing the mayor to execute a Small Cell Master License Agreement with USCOC Nebraska/Kansas, LLC.

To see the entire Salina City Commission meeting packet for Monday (279 pages), <a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?startid=177362&amp;&amp;dbid=0&amp;cr=1">click here</a>.

Multiple second readings of proposed ordinances, including two pertaining to the rezoning of the former Lowell Elementary School/Salina Christian Academy property, are among the items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday.Commissioners are scheduled to begin with a 3 p.m. study session in room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 West Ash Street. The agenda for the study session is as follows.3 p.m. – Lower Smoky Hill Water Supply Access District Board Meeting 3:45 p.m. – Citizens forumThe regular meeting is sheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in room 107 of the City-County Building. A time for public comment is scheduled near the beginning of the meeting.Items on the city commission agenda for Monday include the following.•Hear the second reading of Ordinance No. 20-11025 changing the zoning district classification from R-2 (Multi-Family Residential) to I-2 (Light Industrial) on a vacant lot facing Reynolds Street addressed as 535 Reynolds Street.•Hear the second reading of Ordinance No. 20-11026 changing the zoning district classification from R (Single-Family Residential) to U (University) district for eight (8) lots located on the north side of Euclid Avenue east of North Ninth Street. •Consider the rezoning of the former Lowell Elementary School/Salina Christian Academy property, including:-- Hearing the second reading Ordinance No. 20-11027 amending the future land use designation of this 2.04 acre tract of land from Public / Semi-Public to Urban Residential. -- Hearing the second reading Ordinance No. 20-11030(amended since 1st reading) rezoning this 2.04 acre tract of land to PDD(R-2). On the first reading of both, the commission unanimously concurred with the Salina Planning Commission's recommendation to moved forward with the project.•Consider two downtown transfer agreements:-- Resolution No. 20-7859 authorizing the mayor to execute a Transferee Agreement with Salina 2020, Inc. and The Bath Pub, LLC.-- Resolution No. 20-7860 authorizing the mayor to execute a Transferee Agreement with Grassroots Efforts, LLC. •Hear a soccer programming presentation and consider the possible reimplementation of the soccer program. •Hear a status report and further discussion regarding the proposed re-plat of Phase III of the Grand Prairie Addition.•Consider Resolution No. 20-7857 adopting application fees and charges for the placement of wireless telecommunications facilities in the public right-of-way. •Consider Resolution No. 20-7858 authorizing the mayor to execute a Small Cell Master License Agreement with USCOC Nebraska/Kansas, LLC.To see the entire Salina City Commission meeting packet for Monday (279 pages), <a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?startid=177362&amp;&amp;dbid=0&amp;cr=1">click here</a>.

Multiple rezoning ordinances among city agenda items

MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture has provided an updated situation report on the ongoing outbreak of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) in Kansas:

Total premises which have tested positive for VSV in Kansas:&nbsp;97

Premises currently under quarantine:&nbsp;51

Premises that have been released from quarantine:&nbsp;157

Total counties in Kansas that have had positive cases of VSV:&nbsp;24. Counties:&nbsp;Allen, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Cherokee, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Franklin, Greenwood, Labette, Linn, Lyon, Marion, Miami, Montgomery, Morris, Neosho, Riley, Sedgwick, Sumner, Wilson and Woodson counties

KDA’s Division of Animal Health continues to respond to the outbreak that began in south central Kansas in mid-June and has now expanded its reach to the north and east. In addition, KDA is awaiting laboratory results from symptomatic animals in other counties as the outbreak continues to spread. All premises with confirmed cases of VSV in horses and cattle have been quarantined; in addition, any premises with animals showing clinical signs consistent with VSV are placed on quarantine. A quarantine for VSV lasts for at least 14 days from the onset of symptoms in the last animal on the premises. Quarantines are not lifted until a veterinarian has examined all susceptible animals on the premises.

VSV is a viral disease which primarily affects horses, but can also affect cattle, sheep, goats, swine, llamas and alpacas.&nbsp;At this time, the vast majority of confirmed cases of VSV in Kansas have been horses, although some cattle have also been diagnosed.&nbsp;KDA has advised the beef industry to be vigilant in monitoring their cattle for symptoms.

In horses, VSV is typically characterized by lesions which appear as crusting scabs on the muzzle, lips, ears, coronary bands, or ventral abdomen. Other clinical signs of the disease include fever and the formation of blister-like lesions in the mouth and on the dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, ears, hooves and teats. Infected animals may refuse to eat and drink, which can lead to weight loss. Vesicular stomatitis can be painful for infected animals and costly to their owners.&nbsp;Although it is rare, humans can also become infected with the disease when handling affected animals and can develop flu-like symptoms. VSV is considered a reportable disease in Kansas. If you observe clinical signs among your animals, contact your veterinarian right away. Accredited veterinarians across Kansas have played a critical role by reporting and responding to animals affected by VSV.

The primary way the virus is transmitted is from biting insects like black flies, sand flies and midges. Owners should institute robust measures to reduce flies and other insects where animals are housed. VSV can also be spread by nose-to-nose contact between animals. The virus itself usually runs its course in five to seven days, and it can take up to an additional seven days for the infected animal to recover from the symptoms. There are no approved vaccines for VSV.&nbsp;

KDA has developed guidelines to assist organizations which are hosting shows and fairs across the state, and have worked with many of them to consider how they can protect the health and safety of animals attending their events.

VSV has also been confirmed in Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Because of the confirmed cases in Kansas, other states and Canada are likely to increase restrictions on livestock imports. Animal health officials strongly encourage all livestock owners and veterinarians to call the animal health authority in the destination location for the most current import requirements prior to travel.

Information about VSV can be found by contacting the KDA Division of Animal Health at 785-564-6601 or on the KDA website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agriculture.ks.gov%2FVSV&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C9639cd290ef94ade4ee908d83577d79a%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637318136837248573&amp;sdata=SKtOhYQd68FGPvSGsMlPIncfi29doTFh0q4W7u2MqmM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.agriculture.ks.gov/VSV</a>,&nbsp;with info about:

Recommendations for fly control practices

Current state and national situation reports

MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture has provided an updated situation report on the ongoing outbreak of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) in Kansas:Total premises which have tested positive for VSV in Kansas:&nbsp;97Premises currently under quarantine:&nbsp;51Premises that have been released from quarantine:&nbsp;157Total counties in Kansas that have had positive cases of VSV:&nbsp;24. Counties:&nbsp;Allen, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Cherokee, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Franklin, Greenwood, Labette, Linn, Lyon, Marion, Miami, Montgomery, Morris, Neosho, Riley, Sedgwick, Sumner, Wilson and Woodson countiesKDA’s Division of Animal Health continues to respond to the outbreak that began in south central Kansas in mid-June and has now expanded its reach to the north and east. In addition, KDA is awaiting laboratory results from symptomatic animals in other counties as the outbreak continues to spread. All premises with confirmed cases of VSV in horses and cattle have been quarantined; in addition, any premises with animals showing clinical signs consistent with VSV are placed on quarantine. A quarantine for VSV lasts for at least 14 days from the onset of symptoms in the last animal on the premises. Quarantines are not lifted until a veterinarian has examined all susceptible animals on the premises.What is VSVVSV is a viral disease which primarily affects horses, but can also affect cattle, sheep, goats, swine, llamas and alpacas.&nbsp;At this time, the vast majority of confirmed cases of VSV in Kansas have been horses, although some cattle have also been diagnosed.&nbsp;KDA has advised the beef industry to be vigilant in monitoring their cattle for symptoms.In horses, VSV is typically characterized by lesions which appear as crusting scabs on the muzzle, lips, ears, coronary bands, or ventral abdomen. Other clinical signs of the disease include fever and the formation of blister-like lesions in the mouth and on the dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, ears, hooves and teats. Infected animals may refuse to eat and drink, which can lead to weight loss. Vesicular stomatitis can be painful for infected animals and costly to their owners.&nbsp;Although it is rare, humans can also become infected with the disease when handling affected animals and can develop flu-like symptoms. VSV is considered a reportable disease in Kansas. If you observe clinical signs among your animals, contact your veterinarian right away. Accredited veterinarians across Kansas have played a critical role by reporting and responding to animals affected by VSV.Disease preventionThe primary way the virus is transmitted is from biting insects like black flies, sand flies and midges. Owners should institute robust measures to reduce flies and other insects where animals are housed. VSV can also be spread by nose-to-nose contact between animals. The virus itself usually runs its course in five to seven days, and it can take up to an additional seven days for the infected animal to recover from the symptoms. There are no approved vaccines for VSV.&nbsp;KDA has developed guidelines to assist organizations which are hosting shows and fairs across the state, and have worked with many of them to consider how they can protect the health and safety of animals attending their events.VSV in the U.S.VSV has also been confirmed in Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Because of the confirmed cases in Kansas, other states and Canada are likely to increase restrictions on livestock imports. Animal health officials strongly encourage all livestock owners and veterinarians to call the animal health authority in the destination location for the most current import requirements prior to travel.More informationInformation about VSV can be found by contacting the KDA Division of Animal Health at 785-564-6601 or on the KDA website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agriculture.ks.gov%2FVSV&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C9639cd290ef94ade4ee908d83577d79a%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637318136837248573&amp;sdata=SKtOhYQd68FGPvSGsMlPIncfi29doTFh0q4W7u2MqmM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.agriculture.ks.gov/VSV</a>,&nbsp;with info about:Documents describing symptoms of VSVRecommendations for fly control practicesGuidelines for shows and fairsInformational webinars about VSVCurrent state and national situation reports

KDA provides updated report on VSV; Marion County included

Here is a look across the state of the rainfall totals and departures from normal from the National Weather Service in Wichita.

 Salina ended the month above normal by 3.33 inches which is the 10th wettest.

 Chanute was shy of normal by 2.69 inches. 

Wichita ended above normal by 1.35 inches.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596369454623.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>How much rain fell in July? Here is a look across the state of the rainfall totals and departures from normal from the National Weather Service in Wichita. Salina ended the month above normal by 3.33 inches which is the 10th wettest. Chanute was shy of normal by 2.69 inches. Wichita ended above normal by 1.35 inches.

A look at July rainfall totals; Salina's was 10th wettest

By RON WILSON Kansas State University

What grows in the apple orchard? Well, one would think a safe guess would be “apples.” Today we’ll meet a grower who indeed produces lots of apples and other tree fruit, but he is also developing innovative ideas about his production processes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gabe Spurgeon is manager of South Baldwin Farms&nbsp;near Baldwin City. A Missourian, he met his wife in honors college while they were attending Pittsburg State. He earned degrees in math and physics and worked for engineering firms in Joplin and Pittsburg before they moved to Baldwin City so as to be close to her family.&nbsp;

As a kid, Gabe worked in peach orchards during the summertime. After graduating from college, he found he didn’t enjoy working inside at a desk.&nbsp;

His father-in-law had purchased a farm south of Baldwin City in 2000 and was haying it but had always been interested in having a commercial orchard. They decided to devote part of the farm to the orchard with Gabe doing the day-to-day management. The first apple trees were planted in 2015, with peach and apple trees and other products following.&nbsp;

Today, South Baldwin Farms has some 36,000 trees. Their farm produces apples, peaches, nectarines and blackberries, with cherry trees coming into production soon.&nbsp;&nbsp;South Baldwin Farms has an 11,000-square-foot facility including a retail storefront, packing facility and 2,400 square feet of cold storage. The farm has a pumpkin patch and a seasonal U-pick operation as well.&nbsp;

Cider is homemade in the fall. “I like it being special,” Gabe said. “We use our own apples so it can be fresher with higher quality.”&nbsp;

This is not your grandfather’s orchard. “The engineer side of my brain is always looking for a better way to do things,” Gabe said. For example, he chose to grow dwarf trees which produce quality apples quicker. They are grown in high density, which saves land and labor. “In 2019, we got 500 bushels per acre on some three-year-old trees,” Gabe said. “We’re quickly becoming the biggest tree-fruit producer in Kansas.” &nbsp;

Gabe continues to innovate. “We went to Australia to learn about high density peaches,” he said.&nbsp;

“We got a Kansas Department of Agriculture specialty crop block grant to do a field trial on using netting over our trees which is supposed to protect from hail, windburn, sunburn and bird damage,” Gabe said. Through another project, they have found that reflective fabric on the ground can help develop the color of the fruit.&nbsp;

Their blackberries are grown on a rotating trellis, which allows easier harvest, more sun where needed, and protection when it is not needed. “Our sun scald used to be five- to 10 percent,” he said. “Now it’s virtually zero.”&nbsp;

K-State Research and Extension entomologist Raymond Cloyd has been helpful. “He’s been fantastic,” Gabe said. South Baldwin Farms is a member of the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s From the Land of Kansas program.&nbsp;

Weather can be a challenge. A freeze on Good Friday of 2020 caused a 90% reduction in the peach crop. That is reminiscent of the Armistice Day freeze in the 1940s, when the temperature fell from 70 degrees to 15 degrees in 12 hours. According to the stories, it sounded like a minefield in the orchards, with sap freezing in the trees and the trees literally exploding.&nbsp;

Current apple varieties include Gala, Pink Lady, Honey Crisp, Autumn Crisp, Jonagold, Granny Smith, Winesap, and more. Through the Midwest Apple Improvement Association, more varieties are being explored.&nbsp;

“In our store, a customer might say, ‘When were these picked and where did they come from?’” Gabe said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I like to say, ‘I picked them myself, two hours ago.’ That’s the shortest supply chain you can get.”&nbsp;

It’s located near the rural community of Baldwin City, population 4,691 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, find&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/South-Baldwin-Farms-148208828709205" target="_blank">South Baldwin Farms on Facebook</a>.&nbsp;

What grows in the apple orchard? In this case, new practices are growing along with the apples. We commend Gabe Spurgeon for making a difference with his innovative ideas, because those don’t just grow on trees.&nbsp;

Audio and text files of Kansas Profiles are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasprofile.com/" target="_blank">http://www.kansasprofile.com</a>. For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.

Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596335063529.jpeg" alt="Gabe Spurgeon. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Gabe Spurgeon. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Kansas State UniversityWhat grows in the apple orchard? Well, one would think a safe guess would be “apples.” Today we’ll meet a grower who indeed produces lots of apples and other tree fruit, but he is also developing innovative ideas about his production processes.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gabe Spurgeon is manager of South Baldwin Farms&nbsp;near Baldwin City. A Missourian, he met his wife in honors college while they were attending Pittsburg State. He earned degrees in math and physics and worked for engineering firms in Joplin and Pittsburg before they moved to Baldwin City so as to be close to her family.&nbsp;As a kid, Gabe worked in peach orchards during the summertime. After graduating from college, he found he didn’t enjoy working inside at a desk.&nbsp;His father-in-law had purchased a farm south of Baldwin City in 2000 and was haying it but had always been interested in having a commercial orchard. They decided to devote part of the farm to the orchard with Gabe doing the day-to-day management. The first apple trees were planted in 2015, with peach and apple trees and other products following.&nbsp;Today, South Baldwin Farms has some 36,000 trees. Their farm produces apples, peaches, nectarines and blackberries, with cherry trees coming into production soon.&nbsp;&nbsp;South Baldwin Farms has an 11,000-square-foot facility including a retail storefront, packing facility and 2,400 square feet of cold storage. The farm has a pumpkin patch and a seasonal U-pick operation as well.&nbsp;Cider is homemade in the fall. “I like it being special,” Gabe said. “We use our own apples so it can be fresher with higher quality.”&nbsp;This is not your grandfather’s orchard. “The engineer side of my brain is always looking for a better way to do things,” Gabe said. For example, he chose to grow dwarf trees which produce quality apples quicker. They are grown in high density, which saves land and labor. “In 2019, we got 500 bushels per acre on some three-year-old trees,” Gabe said. “We’re quickly becoming the biggest tree-fruit producer in Kansas.” &nbsp;Gabe continues to innovate. “We went to Australia to learn about high density peaches,” he said.&nbsp;“We got a Kansas Department of Agriculture specialty crop block grant to do a field trial on using netting over our trees which is supposed to protect from hail, windburn, sunburn and bird damage,” Gabe said. Through another project, they have found that reflective fabric on the ground can help develop the color of the fruit.&nbsp;Their blackberries are grown on a rotating trellis, which allows easier harvest, more sun where needed, and protection when it is not needed. “Our sun scald used to be five- to 10 percent,” he said. “Now it’s virtually zero.”&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension entomologist Raymond Cloyd has been helpful. “He’s been fantastic,” Gabe said. South Baldwin Farms is a member of the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s From the Land of Kansas program.&nbsp;Weather can be a challenge. A freeze on Good Friday of 2020 caused a 90% reduction in the peach crop. That is reminiscent of the Armistice Day freeze in the 1940s, when the temperature fell from 70 degrees to 15 degrees in 12 hours. According to the stories, it sounded like a minefield in the orchards, with sap freezing in the trees and the trees literally exploding.&nbsp;Current apple varieties include Gala, Pink Lady, Honey Crisp, Autumn Crisp, Jonagold, Granny Smith, Winesap, and more. Through the Midwest Apple Improvement Association, more varieties are being explored.&nbsp;“In our store, a customer might say, ‘When were these picked and where did they come from?’” Gabe said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I like to say, ‘I picked them myself, two hours ago.’ That’s the shortest supply chain you can get.”&nbsp;It’s located near the rural community of Baldwin City, population 4,691 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, find&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/South-Baldwin-Farms-148208828709205" target="_blank">South Baldwin Farms on Facebook</a>.&nbsp;What grows in the apple orchard? In this case, new practices are growing along with the apples. We commend Gabe Spurgeon for making a difference with his innovative ideas, because those don’t just grow on trees.&nbsp;Audio and text files of Kansas Profiles are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasprofile.com/" target="_blank">http://www.kansasprofile.com</a>. For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Gabe Spurgeon, South Baldwin Farms 

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/category/obituaries" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/category/obituaries" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Recent obituaries

By&nbsp;NOAH TABORDA Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Haley Kottler sees firsthand desperation of young families struggling to put food on the table as the economy wilts under the COVID-19 pandemic.

She understands the lifeline offered by the federally funded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</a>, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that delivers food benefits nationwide.

“Families often depend on school lunches, and SNAP picks up the slack without them,” Kottler said. “I know a single mother who was able to continue to pay her utilities and keep the internet on so her daughter could continue her schoolwork because of the flexibility provided.”

Kotter works for Kansas Appleseed, a statewide advocacy group working to provide access to affordable food and housing. She said when Gov. Laura Kelly closed schools to slow the spread of COVID-19, it left many families requiring extra assistance from programs like SNAP.

SNAP affords qualifying low-income families targeted and temporary food benefits to get them through difficult periods. It is also known as the Food Assistance Program in Kansas.

Amid the pandemic, food insecurity rates are rising and the number of SNAP recipients in Kansas has skyrocketed from just under 190,000 in February to over 213,000 in June, a more than 12% increase. Expenditures rose to nearly $40 million in the month of June, a 95% increase.

Numbers nationwide have followed suit, with more than 54 million people expected to<a href="https://www.feedingamericaaction.org/the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-food-insecurity/">&nbsp;experience food insecurity due to COVID-19</a>.

“We’ve seen millions of people across the county struggling to put food on the table, as unemployment rises and food prices increase, turning to SNAP,” said Luis Guardia, president of the Food Research and Action Center, during a panel discussion Wednesday on the importance of increasing SNAP program boosts.

Last month, 2,500 organizations from every state&nbsp;<a href="https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/FINAL-Senate-Letter_18June2020.pdf">signed a letter</a>&nbsp;asking Congress to boost the maximum snap benefit by 15% and to increase the minimum monthly benefit from $16 to $30. Kottler joined Guardia and several other advocates from across the United States to voice displeasure for a lack of such action in the US. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s latest proposed COVID-19 relief package.

“With the uncertainty surrounding school scheduling, unemployment payments set to drop from $600 back to $200, this crisis will only continue to worsen, and more families will turn to SNAP,” Kottler said. “We need deep investment and care in the program as the situation potentially worsens.”

According to the Feeding America study<a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/coronavirus-hunger-research">&nbsp;“The Impact of Coronavirus on Food Insecurity,”</a>&nbsp;Kansas’ projected overall food insecurity rate for 2020 is 17.7%. That marks a 5% increase since 2018.

Karen Siebert, public policy and advocacy adviser for Harvester’s — The Community Food Network, a food bank serving 16 counties in Kansas, said these numbers are troubling for organizations like hers.

“Our agencies have seen an average 40% increase in those coming in for help since the pandemic began,” Siebert said. “The problem isn’t going away for these people, and these supports,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/07/31/14000-attempts-balky-technology-expiring-benefits-worry-workers-state-leaders/">like unemployment</a>, are all falling away. We’re worried we’ll see another influx of people.”

From the 2019 fiscal year to fiscal year 2020, Harvesters saw a 20% increase in the amount of food distributed. In addition, as food donations plummeted, Harvesters spent $1.8 million during the 2020 fiscal year, as opposed to just $100,000 in 2019, Siebert said.

Harvesters’ was prepared for the initial rush of pandemic food need, but for food banks who rely on donations and volunteers, continued demand at this rate is not a viable business model.

“We need our volunteers to help repackage foods so we can send them out to families, but many of them are at-risk, or we just can’t use them in the same way,” Siebert said. “Our entire business model has been upended.”

That is why Siebert and Harvester’s, a private charity, are staunch advocates for public programs like SNAP. Siebert said for every meal they provide, SNAP can provide nine.

“SNAP is a lifeline for so many Kansans,” Kottler said. “We need to do more because it’s the best way we can mitigate hunger in Kansas.”

Noah Taborda started his journalism career in public radio at KBIA in Columbia, Missouri, covering local government and producing an episode of the podcast Show Me The State while earning his bachelor’s degree in radio broadcasting at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Noah then made a short move to Kansas City, Missouri, to work at KCUR as an intern on the talk show Central Standard and then in the newsroom, reporting on daily news and feature stories.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596336253042.jpeg" alt="Harvesters, a private food bank, saw the amount of food distributed increase from 54 million pounds in 2019 to 65 million in 2020. In this picture, food is distributed at a drive-in in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo courtesy Harvesters — The Community Food Network" />
 <figcaption>Harvesters, a private food bank, saw the amount of food distributed increase from 54 million pounds in 2019 to 65 million in 2020. In this picture, food is distributed at a drive-in in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo courtesy Harvesters — The Community Food Network</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;NOAH TABORDA Kansas ReflectorTOPEKA — Haley Kottler sees firsthand desperation of young families struggling to put food on the table as the economy wilts under the COVID-19 pandemic.She understands the lifeline offered by the federally funded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</a>, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that delivers food benefits nationwide.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596335739497.png" alt="Haley Kottler during a panel on the need for SNAP boosts from Congress, June 28, 2020. Photo courtesy Noah Taborda,Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Haley Kottler during a panel on the need for SNAP boosts from Congress, June 28, 2020. Photo courtesy Noah Taborda,Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>“Families often depend on school lunches, and SNAP picks up the slack without them,” Kottler said. “I know a single mother who was able to continue to pay her utilities and keep the internet on so her daughter could continue her schoolwork because of the flexibility provided.”Kotter works for Kansas Appleseed, a statewide advocacy group working to provide access to affordable food and housing. She said when Gov. Laura Kelly closed schools to slow the spread of COVID-19, it left many families requiring extra assistance from programs like SNAP.SNAP affords qualifying low-income families targeted and temporary food benefits to get them through difficult periods. It is also known as the Food Assistance Program in Kansas.Amid the pandemic, food insecurity rates are rising and the number of SNAP recipients in Kansas has skyrocketed from just under 190,000 in February to over 213,000 in June, a more than 12% increase. Expenditures rose to nearly $40 million in the month of June, a 95% increase.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596335951011.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Numbers nationwide have followed suit, with more than 54 million people expected to<a href="https://www.feedingamericaaction.org/the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-food-insecurity/">&nbsp;experience food insecurity due to COVID-19</a>.“We’ve seen millions of people across the county struggling to put food on the table, as unemployment rises and food prices increase, turning to SNAP,” said Luis Guardia, president of the Food Research and Action Center, during a panel discussion Wednesday on the importance of increasing SNAP program boosts.Last month, 2,500 organizations from every state&nbsp;<a href="https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/FINAL-Senate-Letter_18June2020.pdf">signed a letter</a>&nbsp;asking Congress to boost the maximum snap benefit by 15% and to increase the minimum monthly benefit from $16 to $30. Kottler joined Guardia and several other advocates from across the United States to voice displeasure for a lack of such action in the US. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s latest proposed COVID-19 relief package.“With the uncertainty surrounding school scheduling, unemployment payments set to drop from $600 back to $200, this crisis will only continue to worsen, and more families will turn to SNAP,” Kottler said. “We need deep investment and care in the program as the situation potentially worsens.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596336053902.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to the Feeding America study<a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/coronavirus-hunger-research">&nbsp;“The Impact of Coronavirus on Food Insecurity,”</a>&nbsp;Kansas’ projected overall food insecurity rate for 2020 is 17.7%. That marks a 5% increase since 2018.Karen Siebert, public policy and advocacy adviser for Harvester’s — The Community Food Network, a food bank serving 16 counties in Kansas, said these numbers are troubling for organizations like hers.“Our agencies have seen an average 40% increase in those coming in for help since the pandemic began,” Siebert said. “The problem isn’t going away for these people, and these supports,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/07/31/14000-attempts-balky-technology-expiring-benefits-worry-workers-state-leaders/">like unemployment</a>, are all falling away. We’re worried we’ll see another influx of people.”From the 2019 fiscal year to fiscal year 2020, Harvesters saw a 20% increase in the amount of food distributed. In addition, as food donations plummeted, Harvesters spent $1.8 million during the 2020 fiscal year, as opposed to just $100,000 in 2019, Siebert said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596336126878.jpeg" alt="Karen Siebert, a public policy and advocacy adviser for Harvester’s, said while Harvesters was prepared for the initial surge at the beginning of the pandemic, a continued demand for food at this rate is unsustainable. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Karen Siebert, a public policy and advocacy adviser for Harvester’s, said while Harvesters was prepared for the initial surge at the beginning of the pandemic, a continued demand for food at this rate is unsustainable. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>Harvesters’ was prepared for the initial rush of pandemic food need, but for food banks who rely on donations and volunteers, continued demand at this rate is not a viable business model.“We need our volunteers to help repackage foods so we can send them out to families, but many of them are at-risk, or we just can’t use them in the same way,” Siebert said. “Our entire business model has been upended.”That is why Siebert and Harvester’s, a private charity, are staunch advocates for public programs like SNAP. Siebert said for every meal they provide, SNAP can provide nine.“SNAP is a lifeline for so many Kansans,” Kottler said. “We need to do more because it’s the best way we can mitigate hunger in Kansas.”Noah Taborda started his journalism career in public radio at KBIA in Columbia, Missouri, covering local government and producing an episode of the podcast Show Me The State while earning his bachelor’s degree in radio broadcasting at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Noah then made a short move to Kansas City, Missouri, to work at KCUR as an intern on the talk show Central Standard and then in the newsroom, reporting on daily news and feature stories.

As food insecurity rates rise amid COVID-19, KS advocates call for assistance

Today is Sunday, Aug. 2, the 215th day of 2020. There are 151 days left in the year. 

On August 2, 1776, members of the Second Continental Congress began attaching their signatures to the Declaration of Independence. 

In 1610, during his fourth voyage to the Western Hemisphere, English explorer Henry Hudson sailed into what is now known as Hudson Bay. 

In 1862, the Ambulance Corps for the Army of the Potomac was created at the order of Maj. Gen. George McClellan during the Civil War.

In 1922, Alexander Graham Bell, generally regarded as the inventor of the telephone, died in Nova Scotia, Canada, at age 75. 

In 1923, the 29th president of the United States, Warren G. Harding, died in San Francisco; Vice President Calvin Coolidge became president. 

In 1934, German President Paul von Hindenburg died, paving the way for Adolf Hitler's complete takeover. 

In 1939, Albert Einstein signed a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt urging creation of an atomic weapons research program. President Roosevelt signed the Hatch Act, which prohibited civil service employees from taking an active part in political campaigns. 

In 1945, President Harry S. Truman, Soviet leader Josef Stalin and Britain's new prime minister, Clement Attlee, concluded the Potsdam conference.

In 1980, 85 people were killed when a bomb exploded at the train station in Bologna, Italy. 

In 1985, 137 people were killed when Delta Air Lines Flight 191, a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, crashed while attempting to land at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. 

In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, seizing control of the oil-rich emirate. (The Iraqis were later driven out in Operation Desert Storm.) 

In 2014, Dr. Kent Brantly, the first Ebola victim to be brought to the United States from Africa, was safely escorted into a specialized isolation unit at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where he recovered from the disease.

In 2016, President Barack Obama castigated Donald Trump as "unfit" and "woefully unprepared" to serve in the White House, and challenged Republicans to withdraw their support for their party's nominee, declaring "there has to come a point at which you say 'enough.'"

Ten years ago: President Barack Obama, addressing the Disabled American Veterans in Atlanta, said the U.S. would leave Iraq "as promised and on schedule," portraying the end of America's combat role in the 7-year war as a personal promise kept. Actor Lindsay Lohan was released from a Los Angeles jail after serving 14 days of a 90-day sentence for violating her probation in a 2007 drug case. The Washington Post Co. announced that billionaire Sidney Harman would buy Newsweek for $1 and assume the magazine's debts.

Five years ago: The International Olympic Committee said it would order testing for disease-causing viruses in the sewage-polluted waters where athletes would be competing in the 2016 Rio Games, days after an Associated Press investigation revealed high counts of viruses directly linked to human waste in the waters. Inbee Park of South Korea rallied to win the Women's British Open to become the seventh woman to win four different major championships.

One year ago: President Donald Trump's pick for national intelligence director, Texas Rep. John Ratcliffe, withdrew from consideration amid questions about his experience and qualifications. An administrative judge recommended firing a New York City police officer over the 2014 chokehold death of a Black man, Eric Garner. (The officer, Daniel Pantaleo, was fired.) R&amp;B singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty in New York to federal charges of abusing women and girls who attended his concerts; he was then returned to Chicago, where he'd been in custody in a separate case accusing him of engaging in child pornography. The United States officially withdrew from a landmark arms control agreement, the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia, and the Trump administration announced plans to test a new missile.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Nehemiah Persoff is 101. Rock musician Garth Hudson (The Band) is 83. Singer Kathy Lennon (The Lennon Sisters) is 77. Actor Joanna Cassidy is 75. Actor Kathryn Harrold is 70. Actor Butch Patrick (TV: "The Munsters") is 67. Rock music producer/drummer Butch Vig (Garbage) is 65. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., is 63. Singer Mojo Nixon is 63. Actor Victoria Jackson is 61. Actor Apollonia is 61. Actor Cynthia Stevenson is 58. Actor Mary-Louise Parker is 56. Rock musician John Stanier is 52. Writer-actor-director Kevin Smith is 50. Actor Jacinda Barrett is 48. Actor Sam Worthington is 44. Figure skater Michael Weiss is 44. Actor Edward Furlong is 43. TV meteorologist Dylan Dreyer (TV: "Today") is 39. Actor Marci Miller is 35. Singer Charli XCX is 28. Actor Hallie Eisenberg is 28.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Sunday, Aug. 2, the 215th day of 2020. There are 151 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 2, 1776, members of the Second Continental Congress began attaching their signatures to the Declaration of Independence. On this date: In 1610, during his fourth voyage to the Western Hemisphere, English explorer Henry Hudson sailed into what is now known as Hudson Bay. In 1862, the Ambulance Corps for the Army of the Potomac was created at the order of Maj. Gen. George McClellan during the Civil War.In 1922, Alexander Graham Bell, generally regarded as the inventor of the telephone, died in Nova Scotia, Canada, at age 75. In 1923, the 29th president of the United States, Warren G. Harding, died in San Francisco; Vice President Calvin Coolidge became president. In 1934, German President Paul von Hindenburg died, paving the way for Adolf Hitler's complete takeover. In 1939, Albert Einstein signed a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt urging creation of an atomic weapons research program. President Roosevelt signed the Hatch Act, which prohibited civil service employees from taking an active part in political campaigns. In 1945, President Harry S. Truman, Soviet leader Josef Stalin and Britain's new prime minister, Clement Attlee, concluded the Potsdam conference.In 1980, 85 people were killed when a bomb exploded at the train station in Bologna, Italy. In 1985, 137 people were killed when Delta Air Lines Flight 191, a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, crashed while attempting to land at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, seizing control of the oil-rich emirate. (The Iraqis were later driven out in Operation Desert Storm.) In 2014, Dr. Kent Brantly, the first Ebola victim to be brought to the United States from Africa, was safely escorted into a specialized isolation unit at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where he recovered from the disease.In 2016, President Barack Obama castigated Donald Trump as "unfit" and "woefully unprepared" to serve in the White House, and challenged Republicans to withdraw their support for their party's nominee, declaring "there has to come a point at which you say 'enough.'"Ten years ago: President Barack Obama, addressing the Disabled American Veterans in Atlanta, said the U.S. would leave Iraq "as promised and on schedule," portraying the end of America's combat role in the 7-year war as a personal promise kept. Actor Lindsay Lohan was released from a Los Angeles jail after serving 14 days of a 90-day sentence for violating her probation in a 2007 drug case. The Washington Post Co. announced that billionaire Sidney Harman would buy Newsweek for $1 and assume the magazine's debts.Five years ago: The International Olympic Committee said it would order testing for disease-causing viruses in the sewage-polluted waters where athletes would be competing in the 2016 Rio Games, days after an Associated Press investigation revealed high counts of viruses directly linked to human waste in the waters. Inbee Park of South Korea rallied to win the Women's British Open to become the seventh woman to win four different major championships.One year ago: President Donald Trump's pick for national intelligence director, Texas Rep. John Ratcliffe, withdrew from consideration amid questions about his experience and qualifications. An administrative judge recommended firing a New York City police officer over the 2014 chokehold death of a Black man, Eric Garner. (The officer, Daniel Pantaleo, was fired.) R&amp;B singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty in New York to federal charges of abusing women and girls who attended his concerts; he was then returned to Chicago, where he'd been in custody in a separate case accusing him of engaging in child pornography. The United States officially withdrew from a landmark arms control agreement, the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia, and the Trump administration announced plans to test a new missile. Today's Birthdays: Actor Nehemiah Persoff is 101. Rock musician Garth Hudson (The Band) is 83. Singer Kathy Lennon (The Lennon Sisters) is 77. Actor Joanna Cassidy is 75. Actor Kathryn Harrold is 70. Actor Butch Patrick (TV: "The Munsters") is 67. Rock music producer/drummer Butch Vig (Garbage) is 65. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., is 63. Singer Mojo Nixon is 63. Actor Victoria Jackson is 61. Actor Apollonia is 61. Actor Cynthia Stevenson is 58. Actor Mary-Louise Parker is 56. Rock musician John Stanier is 52. Writer-actor-director Kevin Smith is 50. Actor Jacinda Barrett is 48. Actor Sam Worthington is 44. Figure skater Michael Weiss is 44. Actor Edward Furlong is 43. TV meteorologist Dylan Dreyer (TV: "Today") is 39. Actor Marci Miller is 35. Singer Charli XCX is 28. Actor Hallie Eisenberg is 28.

Today in History -- Aug. 2

We know some people like the normal hot summer weather, but we're enjoying the below-normal temperatures of late.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita, we'll have highs near 80 and overnight lows in the mid 50s to near 60 on Sunday. 

Expect cooler temps to stick around through Wednesday before getting back to normal by the end of the week, NWS noted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596369153534.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>We know some people like the normal hot summer weather, but we're enjoying the below-normal temperatures of late.According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita, we'll have highs near 80 and overnight lows in the mid 50s to near 60 on Sunday. Expect cooler temps to stick around through Wednesday before getting back to normal by the end of the week, NWS noted.

NWS: Cooler today and tonight; warm-up by the end of the week

Helping out. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KHPTroopC/">Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C</a> Facebook page:

Helping out. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KHPTroopC/">Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKHPTroopC%2Fposts%2F2703073330007860&width=500" width="500" height="502" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

KHP: More than tickets, chases, and working accidents

SALINE COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 3 p.m. Saturday in Saline County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford Fusion driven by Scott J. Lucas, 56, Kaysville, Utah, was eastbound on Intestate 70 just west of Solomon.&nbsp;

The car&nbsp; entered the median, struck the paved crossing, went airborne and rolled at least one time before coming to rest on its wheels facing east in the median.

EMS transported Lucas and a passenger Thomas F. Peek, 33, Kaysville, Utah, to Salina Regional Health Center. They were both properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

SALINE COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 3 p.m. Saturday in Saline County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford Fusion driven by Scott J. Lucas, 56, Kaysville, Utah, was eastbound on Intestate 70 just west of Solomon.&nbsp;The car&nbsp; entered the median, struck the paved crossing, went airborne and rolled at least one time before coming to rest on its wheels facing east in the median.EMS transported Lucas and a passenger Thomas F. Peek, 33, Kaysville, Utah, to Salina Regional Health Center. They were both properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

2 hospitalized in Salina after violent I-70 crash

What do you think? From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TravelKS/">Kansas Tourism</a> Facebook page:

What do you think? From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TravelKS/">Kansas Tourism</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTravelKS%2Fposts%2F10158964284607868&width=500" width="500" height="530" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

Kansas Tourism: Are burgers from Cozy Inn the best?

Have you checked out the latest downtown sculptures? From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sculpturetoursalina/">SculptureTour Salina</a> Facebook page:

Have you checked out the latest downtown sculptures? From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sculpturetoursalina/">SculptureTour Salina</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsculpturetoursalina%2Fposts%2F3513917015299278&width=500" width="500" height="454" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

SculptureTour Salina: Have you voted for your favorite?

SYLVAN GROVE — The Post Rock Community Foundation is accepting applications for fall grants. Online applications open Aug. 1 and are due Oct. 1, 2020.

Recently, with the support from a Post Rock Community Foundation grant, the Hunter Economic Development Corporation was able to purchase a community sign. The new sign is located at the corner of Highway 181, 1st Street and Main Street for maximum visibility.

"The community sign has become a focal point of Main Street, in Hunter, Kansas. The sign has allowed us to reach and be a small part of everyone in town and the outside communities lives. People ask me almost every day about our community sign and how it came to be, and comment about what an asset to the community it is," said grantee Steven Schneider.

This year, more than $91,000 is available to charitable projects within the Post Rock service area, which includes Lincoln County and all communities served by USD 298 and 299. This cycle will fund local community projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:

•Programs and projects that address education, health care, community social services and security, conservation and environment, arts and culture, and community beautification.

•Projects that improve the quality of life for Post Rock area residents.

•Projects that support the public health of Lincoln County and those served by USD 298 and 299.

•Projects that support USD 299 and the economic growth and development within the boundaries of USD 299.

Funding for the fall grant cycle is provided by the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, the Post Rock Community Action Fund, the Post Rock Healthy Living Fund/Kansas Health Foundation Fund, and the Sylvan Area Fund.

Grants are limited to communities in the Post Rock service area and will be awarded through a competitive application process. Nonprofit organizations, government and public entities, educational institutions and churches are encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 1. Complete funding criteria and the grant application are available at <a href="http://postrockcf.org/search-apply-for-a-grant">http://postrockcf.org/search-apply-for-a-grant</a>.

SYLVAN GROVE — The Post Rock Community Foundation is accepting applications for fall grants. Online applications open Aug. 1 and are due Oct. 1, 2020.Recently, with the support from a Post Rock Community Foundation grant, the Hunter Economic Development Corporation was able to purchase a community sign. The new sign is located at the corner of Highway 181, 1st Street and Main Street for maximum visibility."The community sign has become a focal point of Main Street, in Hunter, Kansas. The sign has allowed us to reach and be a small part of everyone in town and the outside communities lives. People ask me almost every day about our community sign and how it came to be, and comment about what an asset to the community it is," said grantee Steven Schneider.This year, more than $91,000 is available to charitable projects within the Post Rock service area, which includes Lincoln County and all communities served by USD 298 and 299. This cycle will fund local community projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:•Programs and projects that address education, health care, community social services and security, conservation and environment, arts and culture, and community beautification.•Projects that improve the quality of life for Post Rock area residents.•Projects that support the public health of Lincoln County and those served by USD 298 and 299.•Projects that support USD 299 and the economic growth and development within the boundaries of USD 299.Funding for the fall grant cycle is provided by the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, the Post Rock Community Action Fund, the Post Rock Healthy Living Fund/Kansas Health Foundation Fund, and the Sylvan Area Fund.Grants are limited to communities in the Post Rock service area and will be awarded through a competitive application process. Nonprofit organizations, government and public entities, educational institutions and churches are encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 1. Complete funding criteria and the grant application are available at <a href="http://postrockcf.org/search-apply-for-a-grant">http://postrockcf.org/search-apply-for-a-grant</a>.

Post Rock Community Foundation accepting grant applications

By&nbsp;DAVID CALLAWAY and TREY DANIEL Georgia Rights, Responsibility, Respect Project

With August upon us, many Americans are preparing for their children to return to school. Educators find themselves balancing the concerns that in-person learning is too dangerous with the potential for students to behind&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/04/23/as-schools-shift-to-online-learning-amid-pandemic-heres-what-we-know-about-disabled-students-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank">academically</a>&nbsp;in the post-COVID digital classroom.

Unlike classroom environments in the past, both teachers and students are navigating a new, virtual space that presents exciting and intimidating challenges. Chief among those challenges is creating the right&nbsp;<a href="https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/01/10/16environment.h32.html" target="_blank">setting</a>&nbsp;for students to learn. It is more important than ever for teachers to create&nbsp;<a href="https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/Policy_and_Practice_No_2_Safe_Brave_Spaces.pdf" target="_blank">spaces</a>&nbsp;that make students feel safe to express their beliefs and to encourage them to fully participate in the learning process. There are&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution2classroom.org/course/harassment-bullying-free-expression/" target="_blank">many</a>&nbsp;good and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/reopening-schools/covid-19-remote-learning-how-to-make-it.html" target="_blank">best practices</a>&nbsp;for creating spaces that can be adapted for use online.

We suggest beginning with a constitutional framework that teaches students how to enter effective dialogue with their peers and understand their differences without fear or derision. This civic framework can serve as a strong foundation for students, inspiring them to learn, participate and grow from a place of safety and is derived from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Finding-Common-Ground-Williamsburg-Charter.pdf" target="_blank">Williamsburg Charter’s</a>&nbsp;three key principles:

•The reaffirmation of the inalienable&nbsp;rights&nbsp;guaranteed by the First Amendment;

•The reconstruction of an American public square that hinges on shared&nbsp;responsibility&nbsp;to protect those rights, even when we disagree;

•The reappraisal of how we communicate about disagreements, to begin our conversations from a place of&nbsp;respect&nbsp;rather than conflict.

Rights — The drive to learn and understand more about our world is fundamental to human nature and that search has produced countless ideologies, beliefs, communities and ways of living. The founding fathers, particularly&nbsp;George Mason&nbsp;and&nbsp;James Madison, understood that in order to create a country founded on shared values rather than shared ethnicity or experiences, they must protect this inherent human drive. The First Amendment begins with, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Often called the “religious liberty” clauses of the First Amendment, many assume that these clauses define a strict separation between state and religious institutions. While true, such an interpretation can unintentionally subordinate a more important takeaway: That all Americans have a right to believe and practice (to a certain extent) their deepest beliefs, regardless what their neighbors may think. For students, understanding that they too have been granted this right and that their teacher, like the government more broadly, consciously acts to protect that right in the classroom, can be empowering and liberating. When students know that they can bring their whole selves to the discussion, they are better able to participate and learn while feeling personally engaged.

Responsibility — As history has shown, our rights are best protected when we actively fight to ensure those rights apply to others. In the battles for civil and human rights, whether in the 1960s or 2020s, Americans have found that working together across their differences to safeguard the rights of all is a fundamental part of seeking change and creating inclusive, thriving communities. Recruiting students to participate in a mutual, reciprocal compact to protect the rights of their peers allows them to be a meaningful part of how their classroom environment is constructed, further engendering a sense of personal accountability in the learning process. Students must understand that the American experiment in democracy is not self-sustaining, but requires all participants, regardless of their disagreements, to be responsible for protecting the rights of others.

Respect — How we enter dialogue is equally important. Too often, today’s debates are publicly and privately full of&nbsp;ad&nbsp;hominem&nbsp;attacks and vitriol, something students are all too likely to emulate. Asking students to be active constructors of the classroom environment they would like to learn in creates a shared investment in the outcome and empowers them to feel brave and open to instruction. An effective and fun activity for students is to ask them to describe their ideal learning space: What does it sound like? What does it look like? What does it feel like? How are others behaving? If possible, have students discuss their answers as a group before collecting them and generating a series of rules or guidelines that will shape tough conversations for class periods to come.

The 2020-21 school year will be memorable, and we will assuredly arrive in May 2021 wiser and better equipped to deal with the challenges of remote learning. The Georgia Rights, Responsibility, Respect Project (<a href="https://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/programs/educators/the-georgia-3rs-project/" target="_blank">Georgia 3Rs</a>), an education initiative of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/" target="_blank">Religious Freedom Center</a>, has seen success using the model to prepare teachers, administrators and district leaders to impart the critical skills of effective dialogue to their students in this challenging new environment. When teachers and students model the rights and responsibilities granted by the First Amendment, not only does the classroom become a dynamic site for understanding ourselves and others, navigating difference and learning with our whole selves, but students also practice the skills and tools necessary for living in a diverse democracy — a proficiency perhaps never more important than it is today.

David Callaway is the project manager of the Georgia Rights, Responsibility, Respect Project, an education initiative of the Religious Freedom Center. His email address is:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dcallaway@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">dcallaway@freedomforum.org.</a>

Trey Daniel is the education manager of the Georgia Rights, Responsibility, Respect Project, an education initiative of the Religious Freedom Center. His email address is:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tdaniel@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">tdaniel@freedomforum.org.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596246031094.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy Freedom Forum" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Freedom Forum</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;DAVID CALLAWAY and TREY DANIEL Georgia Rights, Responsibility, Respect ProjectWith August upon us, many Americans are preparing for their children to return to school. Educators find themselves balancing the concerns that in-person learning is too dangerous with the potential for students to behind&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/04/23/as-schools-shift-to-online-learning-amid-pandemic-heres-what-we-know-about-disabled-students-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank">academically</a>&nbsp;in the post-COVID digital classroom.Unlike classroom environments in the past, both teachers and students are navigating a new, virtual space that presents exciting and intimidating challenges. Chief among those challenges is creating the right&nbsp;<a href="https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/01/10/16environment.h32.html" target="_blank">setting</a>&nbsp;for students to learn. It is more important than ever for teachers to create&nbsp;<a href="https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/Policy_and_Practice_No_2_Safe_Brave_Spaces.pdf" target="_blank">spaces</a>&nbsp;that make students feel safe to express their beliefs and to encourage them to fully participate in the learning process. There are&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution2classroom.org/course/harassment-bullying-free-expression/" target="_blank">many</a>&nbsp;good and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/reopening-schools/covid-19-remote-learning-how-to-make-it.html" target="_blank">best practices</a>&nbsp;for creating spaces that can be adapted for use online.We suggest beginning with a constitutional framework that teaches students how to enter effective dialogue with their peers and understand their differences without fear or derision. This civic framework can serve as a strong foundation for students, inspiring them to learn, participate and grow from a place of safety and is derived from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Finding-Common-Ground-Williamsburg-Charter.pdf" target="_blank">Williamsburg Charter’s</a>&nbsp;three key principles:•The reaffirmation of the inalienable&nbsp;rights&nbsp;guaranteed by the First Amendment;•The reconstruction of an American public square that hinges on shared&nbsp;responsibility&nbsp;to protect those rights, even when we disagree;•The reappraisal of how we communicate about disagreements, to begin our conversations from a place of&nbsp;respect&nbsp;rather than conflict.Rights — The drive to learn and understand more about our world is fundamental to human nature and that search has produced countless ideologies, beliefs, communities and ways of living. The founding fathers, particularly&nbsp;George Mason&nbsp;and&nbsp;James Madison, understood that in order to create a country founded on shared values rather than shared ethnicity or experiences, they must protect this inherent human drive. The First Amendment begins with, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Often called the “religious liberty” clauses of the First Amendment, many assume that these clauses define a strict separation between state and religious institutions. While true, such an interpretation can unintentionally subordinate a more important takeaway: That all Americans have a right to believe and practice (to a certain extent) their deepest beliefs, regardless what their neighbors may think. For students, understanding that they too have been granted this right and that their teacher, like the government more broadly, consciously acts to protect that right in the classroom, can be empowering and liberating. When students know that they can bring their whole selves to the discussion, they are better able to participate and learn while feeling personally engaged.Responsibility — As history has shown, our rights are best protected when we actively fight to ensure those rights apply to others. In the battles for civil and human rights, whether in the 1960s or 2020s, Americans have found that working together across their differences to safeguard the rights of all is a fundamental part of seeking change and creating inclusive, thriving communities. Recruiting students to participate in a mutual, reciprocal compact to protect the rights of their peers allows them to be a meaningful part of how their classroom environment is constructed, further engendering a sense of personal accountability in the learning process. Students must understand that the American experiment in democracy is not self-sustaining, but requires all participants, regardless of their disagreements, to be responsible for protecting the rights of others.Respect — How we enter dialogue is equally important. Too often, today’s debates are publicly and privately full of&nbsp;ad&nbsp;hominem&nbsp;attacks and vitriol, something students are all too likely to emulate. Asking students to be active constructors of the classroom environment they would like to learn in creates a shared investment in the outcome and empowers them to feel brave and open to instruction. An effective and fun activity for students is to ask them to describe their ideal learning space: What does it sound like? What does it look like? What does it feel like? How are others behaving? If possible, have students discuss their answers as a group before collecting them and generating a series of rules or guidelines that will shape tough conversations for class periods to come.The 2020-21 school year will be memorable, and we will assuredly arrive in May 2021 wiser and better equipped to deal with the challenges of remote learning. The Georgia Rights, Responsibility, Respect Project (<a href="https://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/programs/educators/the-georgia-3rs-project/" target="_blank">Georgia 3Rs</a>), an education initiative of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org/" target="_blank">Religious Freedom Center</a>, has seen success using the model to prepare teachers, administrators and district leaders to impart the critical skills of effective dialogue to their students in this challenging new environment. When teachers and students model the rights and responsibilities granted by the First Amendment, not only does the classroom become a dynamic site for understanding ourselves and others, navigating difference and learning with our whole selves, but students also practice the skills and tools necessary for living in a diverse democracy — a proficiency perhaps never more important than it is today.David Callaway is the project manager of the Georgia Rights, Responsibility, Respect Project, an education initiative of the Religious Freedom Center. His email address is:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dcallaway@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">dcallaway@freedomforum.org.</a>Trey Daniel is the education manager of the Georgia Rights, Responsibility, Respect Project, an education initiative of the Religious Freedom Center. His email address is:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tdaniel@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">tdaniel@freedomforum.org.</a>

First 5: A 1st Amendment framework for effective classroom dialogue

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Governor’s Council on Fitness is now accepting nominations for its annual Kansas Health Champion Awards. 

Awards are given to individuals and organizations that make an exceptional effort to model, encourage and promote health and fitness in Kansas. 

The deadline for nominations is Sept. 30. Award recipients will be recognized at the Community Health Promotion Summit in Jan. 2021.

“The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is excited to partner in this important initiative to recognize those who make healthy living in our state a priority,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “It’s important that we recognize their efforts and the difference they are making in their communities.”

•Work that goes above and beyond what is expected to model, encourage and promote fitness

•Work that helps overcome health inequities

•Sustainable influence or activity

&nbsp;“In addition to promoting effective models for increasing physical activity, nutrition and tobacco-free living for replication by organizations and communities around the state, the awards also allow us the opportunity to honor the outstanding work of one individual and one organization this year,” Candice McField, Governors Council on Fitness Awards Committee Chair, said. “Eligible nominees might include an outstanding volunteer, a school, a local community, a newspaper or individual reporter, a local or State policy maker or an employer, among others.”&nbsp;

To see past winners and get more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansasfitness.org%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C7ffbdda532154380c84608d8358b528b%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637318219778601537&amp;sdata=EHZYnnRdAhV6I4AJBAbAk%2FrH2Nsc6b8GtAnk9L7UxJs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">getactivekansas.org</a>&nbsp;and to submit a nomination you must complete the online form at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fr%2F2021KSHealthChamp&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C7ffbdda532154380c84608d8358b528b%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637318219778611490&amp;sdata=Z4ZigoCt5toTFCnk0s%2FzFSJqD4BQbescZRYb8RL1fMI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021KSHealthChamp</a>.&nbsp;All other questions about the nomination process, contact Connie Satzler, 785-410-0410. The Governor’s Council on Fitness advises the Governor and others on ways to enhance the health of all Kansans through promotion of physical activity, good dietary choices and prevention of tobacco use.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596236833850.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Governor’s Council on Fitness is now accepting nominations for its annual Kansas Health Champion Awards. Awards are given to individuals and organizations that make an exceptional effort to model, encourage and promote health and fitness in Kansas. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 30. Award recipients will be recognized at the Community Health Promotion Summit in Jan. 2021.“The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is excited to partner in this important initiative to recognize those who make healthy living in our state a priority,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “It’s important that we recognize their efforts and the difference they are making in their communities.”Nominees should demonstrate:•Work that goes above and beyond what is expected to model, encourage and promote fitness•Work that helps overcome health inequities•Sustainable influence or activity•Far-reaching health impact&nbsp;“In addition to promoting effective models for increasing physical activity, nutrition and tobacco-free living for replication by organizations and communities around the state, the awards also allow us the opportunity to honor the outstanding work of one individual and one organization this year,” Candice McField, Governors Council on Fitness Awards Committee Chair, said. “Eligible nominees might include an outstanding volunteer, a school, a local community, a newspaper or individual reporter, a local or State policy maker or an employer, among others.”&nbsp;To see past winners and get more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kansasfitness.org%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C7ffbdda532154380c84608d8358b528b%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637318219778601537&amp;sdata=EHZYnnRdAhV6I4AJBAbAk%2FrH2Nsc6b8GtAnk9L7UxJs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">getactivekansas.org</a>&nbsp;and to submit a nomination you must complete the online form at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fr%2F2021KSHealthChamp&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C7ffbdda532154380c84608d8358b528b%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637318219778611490&amp;sdata=Z4ZigoCt5toTFCnk0s%2FzFSJqD4BQbescZRYb8RL1fMI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021KSHealthChamp</a>.&nbsp;All other questions about the nomination process, contact Connie Satzler, 785-410-0410. The Governor’s Council on Fitness advises the Governor and others on ways to enhance the health of all Kansans through promotion of physical activity, good dietary choices and prevention of tobacco use.

Nominations being accepted for Kansas Health Champion Awards

PRATT – With social distancing easily achieved, hunting remains one of the safest outdoor activities in Kansas. While all hunters can opt to pursue game on their own by utilizing the state’s public lands, staff at the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism seek to create additional hunting opportunities through the department’s Special Hunts program. 

Through this limited draw program, hunters can gain temporary, exclusive access to private lands, wildlife areas, state parks, federal lands and city- or county-owned properties not normally hunted, ensuring a memorable experience.

Hundreds of special hunt opportunities are available each fall, all at no cost. The deadline to apply for First Draw Hunts (hunts occurring in September and October) is 9 a.m. on Aug. 10, 2020, and the deadline to apply for Second Draw Hunts (hunts occurring in November, December, January and February) is 9 a.m. on Sept. 28, 2020. A random computer drawing will be conducted within two days following the application deadline to determine which applicants are selected.

Resident and nonresident hunters may apply. Through the online application process, hunters will select hunts by species, equipment, location and more – including the hunt type: Open Hunt, Youth Hunt, or Mentored Hunt. All applicants are eligible to apply for Open Hunts, regardless of age or hunting experience. Youth Hunts require parties to include at least one hunter age 18 or younger, accompanied by an adult age 21 or older who may not hunt. Mentored Hunts are open to both youth and novice hunters supervised by a mentor age 21 or older who may also hunt.

Successful applicants will be emailed their hunt permit, as well as area maps and other pertinent information. Hunters are responsible for purchasing necessary licenses and permits required by law.

Most special hunts are for deer and upland game, but opportunities also exist for waterfowl, dove, turkey and furbearers.

For more information on the Special Hunts Program, and to apply, visit <a href="http://ksoutdoors.com">ksoutdoors.com</a> and click “Hunting,” then “Special Hunts Information.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596217439839.jpeg" alt="Photo by Stacy Chaston courtesy&nbsp;KS Tourism " />
 <figcaption>Photo by Stacy Chaston courtesy&nbsp;KS Tourism </figcaption>
 </figure>PRATT – With social distancing easily achieved, hunting remains one of the safest outdoor activities in Kansas. While all hunters can opt to pursue game on their own by utilizing the state’s public lands, staff at the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism seek to create additional hunting opportunities through the department’s Special Hunts program. Through this limited draw program, hunters can gain temporary, exclusive access to private lands, wildlife areas, state parks, federal lands and city- or county-owned properties not normally hunted, ensuring a memorable experience.Hundreds of special hunt opportunities are available each fall, all at no cost. The deadline to apply for First Draw Hunts (hunts occurring in September and October) is 9 a.m. on Aug. 10, 2020, and the deadline to apply for Second Draw Hunts (hunts occurring in November, December, January and February) is 9 a.m. on Sept. 28, 2020. A random computer drawing will be conducted within two days following the application deadline to determine which applicants are selected.Resident and nonresident hunters may apply. Through the online application process, hunters will select hunts by species, equipment, location and more – including the hunt type: Open Hunt, Youth Hunt, or Mentored Hunt. All applicants are eligible to apply for Open Hunts, regardless of age or hunting experience. Youth Hunts require parties to include at least one hunter age 18 or younger, accompanied by an adult age 21 or older who may not hunt. Mentored Hunts are open to both youth and novice hunters supervised by a mentor age 21 or older who may also hunt.Successful applicants will be emailed their hunt permit, as well as area maps and other pertinent information. Hunters are responsible for purchasing necessary licenses and permits required by law.Most special hunts are for deer and upland game, but opportunities also exist for waterfowl, dove, turkey and furbearers.For more information on the Special Hunts Program, and to apply, visit <a href="http://ksoutdoors.com">ksoutdoors.com</a> and click “Hunting,” then “Special Hunts Information.”

 KDWPT to offer limited, high-quality hunts through special program

Today is Saturday, Aug. 1, the 214th day of 2020. There are 152 days left in the year. 

On August 1, 1957, the United States and Canada announced they had agreed to create the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). 

In 1714, Britain's Queen Anne died at age 49; she was succeeded by George I. 

In 1907, the U.S. Army Signal Corps established an aeronautical division, the forerunner of the U.S. Air Force. 

In 1912, the U.S. Marine Corps' first pilot, 1st Lt. Alfred A. Cunningham, went on his first solo flight as he took off in a Burgess/Curtis Hydroplane from Marblehead Harbor in Massachusetts.

In 1914, Germany declared war on Russia at the onset of World War I.

In 1936, the Olympics opened in Berlin with a ceremony presided over by Adolf Hitler. 

In 1944, an uprising broke out in Warsaw, Poland, against Nazi occupation; the revolt lasted two months before collapsing. 

In 1966, Charles Joseph Whitman, 25, went on an armed rampage at the University of Texas in Austin that killed 14 people, most of whom were shot by Whitman while he was perched in the clock tower of the main campus building. (Whitman, who had also slain his wife and mother hours earlier, was finally gunned down by police.) 

In 1981, the rock music video channel MTV made its debut. 

In 2001, Pro Bowl tackle Korey Stringer, 27, died of heat stroke, a day after collapsing at the Minnesota Vikings' training camp on the hottest day of the year.

In 2007, the eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge, a major Minneapolis artery, collapsed into the Mississippi River during evening rush hour, killing 13 people. 

In 2013, defying the United States, Russia granted Edward Snowden temporary asylum, allowing the National Security Agency leaker to slip out of the Moscow airport where he had been holed up for weeks. 

In 2014, a medical examiner ruled that a New York City police officer's chokehold caused the death of Eric Garner, whose videotaped arrest and final pleas of "I can't breathe!" had sparked outrage. 

Ten years ago: The United States announced that it would provide Pakistan with $10 million in humanitarian assistance in the wake of deadly flooding. Lolita Lebron, a Puerto Rico independence activist who'd spent 25 years in prison for participating in a gun attack on the U.S. Congress in 1954, died in San Juan at age 90.

Five years ago: Japan's Imperial Household Agency released a digital version of Emperor Hirohito's radio address on Aug. 15, 1945, announcing his country's surrender in World War II; the digital recording offered clearer audio, although Hirohito spoke in an arcane form of Japanese that many of his countrymen would have found difficult to comprehend. British singer and TV host Cilla Black, 72, died in Estepona in southern Spain.

One year ago: President Donald Trump intensified pressure on China to reach a trade deal by warning he would impose 10% tariffs on Sept. 1 on the remaining $300 billion in Chinese imports that he hadn't already taxed.

Today's Birthdays: Singer Ramblin' Jack Elliott is 89. Former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, R-N.Y., is 83. Actor Giancarlo Giannini is 78. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams is 70. Blues singer-musician Robert Cray is 67. Singer Michael Penn is 62. Rock singer Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) is 61. Rock singer-musician Suzi Gardner (L7) is 60. Rapper Chuck D (Public Enemy) is 60. Actor Jesse Borrego is 58. Actor Demian Bichir is 57. Rapper Coolio is 57. Actor John Carroll Lynch is 57. Rock singer Adam Duritz (Counting Crows) is 56. Movie director Sam Mendes is 55. Country singer George Ducas is 54. Country musician Charlie Kelley is 52. Actress Jennifer Gareis is 50. Actor Charles Malik Whitfield is 48. Actress Tempestt Bledsoe is 47. Actor Jason Momoa is 41. Actress Honeysuckle Weeks is 41. Singer Ashley Parker Angel is 39. Actress Taylor Fry is 39. Actor Elijah Kelley is 34. Actor James Francis Kelly is 31. Actress Ella Wahlestedt is 22.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Saturday, Aug. 1, the 214th day of 2020. There are 152 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 1, 1957, the United States and Canada announced they had agreed to create the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). On this date: In 1714, Britain's Queen Anne died at age 49; she was succeeded by George I. In 1907, the U.S. Army Signal Corps established an aeronautical division, the forerunner of the U.S. Air Force. In 1912, the U.S. Marine Corps' first pilot, 1st Lt. Alfred A. Cunningham, went on his first solo flight as he took off in a Burgess/Curtis Hydroplane from Marblehead Harbor in Massachusetts.In 1914, Germany declared war on Russia at the onset of World War I.In 1936, the Olympics opened in Berlin with a ceremony presided over by Adolf Hitler. In 1944, an uprising broke out in Warsaw, Poland, against Nazi occupation; the revolt lasted two months before collapsing. In 1966, Charles Joseph Whitman, 25, went on an armed rampage at the University of Texas in Austin that killed 14 people, most of whom were shot by Whitman while he was perched in the clock tower of the main campus building. (Whitman, who had also slain his wife and mother hours earlier, was finally gunned down by police.) In 1981, the rock music video channel MTV made its debut. In 2001, Pro Bowl tackle Korey Stringer, 27, died of heat stroke, a day after collapsing at the Minnesota Vikings' training camp on the hottest day of the year.In 2007, the eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge, a major Minneapolis artery, collapsed into the Mississippi River during evening rush hour, killing 13 people. In 2013, defying the United States, Russia granted Edward Snowden temporary asylum, allowing the National Security Agency leaker to slip out of the Moscow airport where he had been holed up for weeks. In 2014, a medical examiner ruled that a New York City police officer's chokehold caused the death of Eric Garner, whose videotaped arrest and final pleas of "I can't breathe!" had sparked outrage. Ten years ago: The United States announced that it would provide Pakistan with $10 million in humanitarian assistance in the wake of deadly flooding. Lolita Lebron, a Puerto Rico independence activist who'd spent 25 years in prison for participating in a gun attack on the U.S. Congress in 1954, died in San Juan at age 90.Five years ago: Japan's Imperial Household Agency released a digital version of Emperor Hirohito's radio address on Aug. 15, 1945, announcing his country's surrender in World War II; the digital recording offered clearer audio, although Hirohito spoke in an arcane form of Japanese that many of his countrymen would have found difficult to comprehend. British singer and TV host Cilla Black, 72, died in Estepona in southern Spain.One year ago: President Donald Trump intensified pressure on China to reach a trade deal by warning he would impose 10% tariffs on Sept. 1 on the remaining $300 billion in Chinese imports that he hadn't already taxed. Today's Birthdays: Singer Ramblin' Jack Elliott is 89. Former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, R-N.Y., is 83. Actor Giancarlo Giannini is 78. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams is 70. Blues singer-musician Robert Cray is 67. Singer Michael Penn is 62. Rock singer Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) is 61. Rock singer-musician Suzi Gardner (L7) is 60. Rapper Chuck D (Public Enemy) is 60. Actor Jesse Borrego is 58. Actor Demian Bichir is 57. Rapper Coolio is 57. Actor John Carroll Lynch is 57. Rock singer Adam Duritz (Counting Crows) is 56. Movie director Sam Mendes is 55. Country singer George Ducas is 54. Country musician Charlie Kelley is 52. Actress Jennifer Gareis is 50. Actor Charles Malik Whitfield is 48. Actress Tempestt Bledsoe is 47. Actor Jason Momoa is 41. Actress Honeysuckle Weeks is 41. Singer Ashley Parker Angel is 39. Actress Taylor Fry is 39. Actor Elijah Kelley is 34. Actor James Francis Kelly is 31. Actress Ella Wahlestedt is 22.

Today in History -- Aug. 1

We have a chance for showers and storms later today.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596282809330.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>We have a chance for showers and storms later today.According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita, scattered showers and storms will be possible this afternoon and evening. The best chance of seeing storms will be over portions of central and south central Kansas. A few storms may be strong with wind gusts up to 50 mph, NWS noted.

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