MANHATTAN – A group of Kansas 4-H'ers and volunteers are taking the organization’s motto to ‘Make the Best Better’ pretty seriously with an ambitious online program that debuts to the public on Monday.

They will be producing a weekly series dubbed ‘Mindful Monday Mornings’ in which they will help people of all ages find creative ways to deal with stress during the current pandemic.

The pre-recorded series will appear each Monday at 10 a.m. on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KStateRE" target="_blank">K-State Research and Extension Facebook page</a>.

“We’re really trying to find practical ways to reduce stress during the day so that people can make sure that they are communicating effectively and actually feeling healthy during a challenging and stressful time,” said Aliah Mestrovich Seay, a Kansas 4-H youth development specialist for culture and communication skills development.

Mestrovich Seay has developed curriculum she calls Mindful Moments that will drive the series, which is hosted by Kansas 4-H members, volunteers, K-State alumni and community partners across the state.

The Monday show will feature a three minute video introducing ideas that people of all ages can use to relieve stress. In coming weeks, ‘Mindful Monday Mornings’ shifts to focusing on different stages of human development, including stress relief for pre-schoolers (ages 2-5, youth up to age 18, then adults and the entire family.

The fourth week will feature an interview with an expert talking about mindfulness, or intentionally making time to relieve daily stress.

Currently, the series is scheduled to run for three months, through the end of July, with sessions for pre-schoolers, youth, and adults each month.

“One theme that I am hearing from experts and I am witnessing as I have the privilege of coordinating this program, is being intentional about lowering our expectations,” Mestrovich Seay said. “What we are used to doing is not what we are able to do right now. We have to transform and reframe the way we are doing life and doing work in order to be healthy.”

As an example, Mestrovich Seay said the videos for pre-schoolers “focus on parents or professionals that are home with their children right now, and resources that may be around the house to model what is important at this time, build a sense of togetherness and help children learn how to deal with stress and talk about their feelings.”

“We will offer a variety of research-based curricula,” she said. “We also have a lot of different curricula that can be found online, related to mindfulness and reducing anxiety and stress that are easily accessible.”

Mestrovich Seay said several groups are helping to produce the videos, including extension agents, youth, volunteers and citizens. She added that the program&nbsp;is receiving guidance from the K-State Research and Extension rural stress team, one of three issue-based groups formed in late 2019 to address concerns important in Kansas communities.

The K-State Research and Extension communications team is assisting with production using such distance technology as teleconferencing, home videos and – in some cases – cell phones.

“With the introduction of COVID-19, we recognized the need for people to feel connected with each other and find ways to deal with tough moments,” said Taylor Kennedy, the digital media specialist for K-State Research and Extension. “When we heard about Aliah’s program, we thought it is one way to serve those needs.”

She adds: “This is one of the first extended social media campaigns and curriculum we have worked on with our extension professionals and look forward to additional opportunities to bring digital extension into the hands of Kansans.”

Mestrovich Seay said the program came together very quickly and she is impressed by the responsiveness of the university’s communications team as well as 4-H'ers, volunteers and community members.

“It really has been fun working with youth and volunteers on this project,” Mestrovich Seay said. “Youth are so coachable. It’s really been an inspiration to be able to work with them.

“We’re hoping to develop a sense of community through this as people try it. We want to see what works, see what they like and what they want more of.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587866924046.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN – A group of Kansas 4-H'ers and volunteers are taking the organization’s motto to ‘Make the Best Better’ pretty seriously with an ambitious online program that debuts to the public on Monday.They will be producing a weekly series dubbed ‘Mindful Monday Mornings’ in which they will help people of all ages find creative ways to deal with stress during the current pandemic.The pre-recorded series will appear each Monday at 10 a.m. on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KStateRE" target="_blank">K-State Research and Extension Facebook page</a>.“We’re really trying to find practical ways to reduce stress during the day so that people can make sure that they are communicating effectively and actually feeling healthy during a challenging and stressful time,” said Aliah Mestrovich Seay, a Kansas 4-H youth development specialist for culture and communication skills development.Mestrovich Seay has developed curriculum she calls Mindful Moments that will drive the series, which is hosted by Kansas 4-H members, volunteers, K-State alumni and community partners across the state.The Monday show will feature a three minute video introducing ideas that people of all ages can use to relieve stress. In coming weeks, ‘Mindful Monday Mornings’ shifts to focusing on different stages of human development, including stress relief for pre-schoolers (ages 2-5, youth up to age 18, then adults and the entire family.The fourth week will feature an interview with an expert talking about mindfulness, or intentionally making time to relieve daily stress.Currently, the series is scheduled to run for three months, through the end of July, with sessions for pre-schoolers, youth, and adults each month.“One theme that I am hearing from experts and I am witnessing as I have the privilege of coordinating this program, is being intentional about lowering our expectations,” Mestrovich Seay said. “What we are used to doing is not what we are able to do right now. We have to transform and reframe the way we are doing life and doing work in order to be healthy.”As an example, Mestrovich Seay said the videos for pre-schoolers “focus on parents or professionals that are home with their children right now, and resources that may be around the house to model what is important at this time, build a sense of togetherness and help children learn how to deal with stress and talk about their feelings.”“We will offer a variety of research-based curricula,” she said. “We also have a lot of different curricula that can be found online, related to mindfulness and reducing anxiety and stress that are easily accessible.”Mestrovich Seay said several groups are helping to produce the videos, including extension agents, youth, volunteers and citizens. She added that the program&nbsp;is receiving guidance from the K-State Research and Extension rural stress team, one of three issue-based groups formed in late 2019 to address concerns important in Kansas communities.The K-State Research and Extension communications team is assisting with production using such distance technology as teleconferencing, home videos and – in some cases – cell phones.“With the introduction of COVID-19, we recognized the need for people to feel connected with each other and find ways to deal with tough moments,” said Taylor Kennedy, the digital media specialist for K-State Research and Extension. “When we heard about Aliah’s program, we thought it is one way to serve those needs.”She adds: “This is one of the first extended social media campaigns and curriculum we have worked on with our extension professionals and look forward to additional opportunities to bring digital extension into the hands of Kansans.”Mestrovich Seay said the program came together very quickly and she is impressed by the responsiveness of the university’s communications team as well as 4-H'ers, volunteers and community members.“It really has been fun working with youth and volunteers on this project,” Mestrovich Seay said. “Youth are so coachable. It’s really been an inspiration to be able to work with them.“We’re hoping to develop a sense of community through this as people try it. We want to see what works, see what they like and what they want more of.”

Kansas 4-Hers, volunteers debut stress relief online series

By RON WILSON Kansas State University

Let’s go to a beach in Florida. A wedding is taking place on this beachfront location, complete with beautiful floral arrangements. And where do you suppose these flowers came from? They came from halfway across the continent in rural Kansas.

Phyllis Cheney is the owner of Phyllis’ Flowers &amp; More in Chapman. Hers is the flower shop which supplied this wedding. As of this writing, her shop is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Phyllis plans to reopen after the pandemic is over.

Phyllis grew up at Atwood. She met and married her husband Greg and studied floriculture and horticulture at Kansas State University before going to Scott City where they farmed for many years. They had a daughter named Vickie who especially enjoyed dance as a child. Vickie grew up and moved to eastern Kansas. She met and married Jeremiah Woods, who lived near Chapman. Eventually Vickie’s parents – Phyllis and Greg – decided to move to Chapman as well.

One day, Phyllis and daughter Vickie were looking at houses in Chapman when they noticed an open building downtown. Vicki had been working as a dance instructor at Fort Riley but was thinking of opening her own dance studio.&nbsp;

“This is perfect,” Vickie told her mother. “It’s going to need some remodeling, but we can do it.”

Vickie and Jeremiah bought the building and remodeled it. The back side of the building became the site of Vickie’s dance studio, called Downtown Dance and Tumbling. Phyllis opened a flower and gift shop in the front side of the building. She called her shop Phyllis’ Flowers &amp; More.

Phyllis had previously worked part-time in a flower shop and always had an interest in floral design. Phyllis’ Flowers &amp; More is a floral, gift and boutique shop. Her business offers Kansas products such as gift baskets, blown glasswork, Tonja’s Toffee, wooden puzzles, handmade soaps and other handcrafted items.

When it comes to floral arrangements, personal service is an emphasis for Phyllis. This is especially evident when it comes to funerals.

“I like to do something that tells the story of the person’s life, not just simply flowers,” Phyllis said. When her own father died, she helped design a personalized floral arrangement.

“Dad was an avid fisherman, and he always helped out during wheat harvest,” she said. “I knew our local florist really well, so she let me do the design.” It included a cane pole and a bobber on a spray of wheat, with a sign that said, “Gone Fishin.’”

“When I do a funeral spray, I try to learn as much about the person as I can before the family comes in,” Phyllis said. “If they are former military or have a special hobby, I try to bring in something that depicts that person’s life.” She has designed a funeral floral display with toy John Deere equipment for a retired farmer and used quilt squares for a former quilter, for example.

Phyllis especially enjoyed doing her granddaughter’s wedding flowers. Phyllis also recalled a local girl who was planning a beachfront wedding in Florida and ordered flowers online, but found the flowers were not at all what she expected. She asked Phyllis to put together silk flower arrangements on short notice, and Phyllis was able to get it done.

It’s a long way from Chapman to the Florida beach, but Phyllis Cheney’s arrangements made the wedding special. That’s impressive for a floral shop located in a rural community like Chapman, population 1,393 people. Now, that’s rural.

For more information, go to Facebook and search for Phyllis’ Flowers &amp; More.

It’s time to leave the beachfront in Florida where Phyllis’s flowers helped decorate this wedding site. We commend Phyllis Cheney and her daughter, Vickie Woods of Downtown Dance and Tumbling, for making a difference by bringing their talents and entrepreneurship to rural America. I hope their businesses will grow and flower.

And there’s more. Tonja’s Toffee was one of the products featured in Phyllis’ shop, and it is part of a special legacy. We’ll learn about that next week.

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;<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/2020/4/1587864722326.jpeg" alt="Phyllis' Flowers &amp; More in Chapman. Photos courtesy the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Phyllis-Flowers-More-173104056835437/">Phyllis' Flowers &amp; More </a>Facebook page" />
 <figcaption>Phyllis' Flowers &amp; More in Chapman. Photos courtesy the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Phyllis-Flowers-More-173104056835437/">Phyllis' Flowers &amp; More </a>Facebook page</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Kansas State UniversityLet’s go to a beach in Florida. A wedding is taking place on this beachfront location, complete with beautiful floral arrangements. And where do you suppose these flowers came from? They came from halfway across the continent in rural Kansas.Phyllis Cheney is the owner of Phyllis’ Flowers &amp; More in Chapman. Hers is the flower shop which supplied this wedding. As of this writing, her shop is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Phyllis plans to reopen after the pandemic is over.Phyllis grew up at Atwood. She met and married her husband Greg and studied floriculture and horticulture at Kansas State University before going to Scott City where they farmed for many years. They had a daughter named Vickie who especially enjoyed dance as a child. Vickie grew up and moved to eastern Kansas. She met and married Jeremiah Woods, who lived near Chapman. Eventually Vickie’s parents – Phyllis and Greg – decided to move to Chapman as well.One day, Phyllis and daughter Vickie were looking at houses in Chapman when they noticed an open building downtown. Vicki had been working as a dance instructor at Fort Riley but was thinking of opening her own dance studio.&nbsp;“This is perfect,” Vickie told her mother. “It’s going to need some remodeling, but we can do it.”Vickie and Jeremiah bought the building and remodeled it. The back side of the building became the site of Vickie’s dance studio, called Downtown Dance and Tumbling. Phyllis opened a flower and gift shop in the front side of the building. She called her shop Phyllis’ Flowers &amp; More.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587865125567.jpeg" alt="Phyllis Cheney" />
 <figcaption>Phyllis Cheney</figcaption>
 </figure>Phyllis had previously worked part-time in a flower shop and always had an interest in floral design. Phyllis’ Flowers &amp; More is a floral, gift and boutique shop. Her business offers Kansas products such as gift baskets, blown glasswork, Tonja’s Toffee, wooden puzzles, handmade soaps and other handcrafted items.When it comes to floral arrangements, personal service is an emphasis for Phyllis. This is especially evident when it comes to funerals.“I like to do something that tells the story of the person’s life, not just simply flowers,” Phyllis said. When her own father died, she helped design a personalized floral arrangement.“Dad was an avid fisherman, and he always helped out during wheat harvest,” she said. “I knew our local florist really well, so she let me do the design.” It included a cane pole and a bobber on a spray of wheat, with a sign that said, “Gone Fishin.’”“When I do a funeral spray, I try to learn as much about the person as I can before the family comes in,” Phyllis said. “If they are former military or have a special hobby, I try to bring in something that depicts that person’s life.” She has designed a funeral floral display with toy John Deere equipment for a retired farmer and used quilt squares for a former quilter, for example.Phyllis especially enjoyed doing her granddaughter’s wedding flowers. Phyllis also recalled a local girl who was planning a beachfront wedding in Florida and ordered flowers online, but found the flowers were not at all what she expected. She asked Phyllis to put together silk flower arrangements on short notice, and Phyllis was able to get it done.It’s a long way from Chapman to the Florida beach, but Phyllis Cheney’s arrangements made the wedding special. That’s impressive for a floral shop located in a rural community like Chapman, population 1,393 people. Now, that’s rural.For more information, go to Facebook and search for Phyllis’ Flowers &amp; More.It’s time to leave the beachfront in Florida where Phyllis’s flowers helped decorate this wedding site. We commend Phyllis Cheney and her daughter, Vickie Woods of Downtown Dance and Tumbling, for making a difference by bringing their talents and entrepreneurship to rural America. I hope their businesses will grow and flower.And there’s more. Tonja’s Toffee was one of the products featured in Phyllis’ shop, and it is part of a special legacy. We’ll learn about that next week.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;<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.

Now That’s Rural: Phyllis Cheney, Phyllis’ Flowers & More

Today is Sunday, April 26, the 117th day of 2020. There are 249 days left in the year.

On April 26, 1994, voting began in South Africa's first all-race elections, resulting in victory for the African National Congress and the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as president.

In 1607, English colonists went ashore at present-day Cape Henry, Virginia, on an expedition to establish the first permanent English settlement in the Western Hemisphere.

In 1785, American naturalist, hunter and artist John James Audubon was born in present-day Haiti.

In 1865, John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, was surrounded by federal troops near Port Royal, Virginia, and killed.

In 1933, Nazi Germany's infamous secret police, the Gestapo, was created.

In 1945, Marshal Henri Philippe Petain, the head of France's Vichy government during World War II, was arrested.

In 1961, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit the first of his 61 home runs during a 162-game season (compared to Babe Ruth's 60 home runs during a 154-game season) as he hit a roundtripper off Paul Foytack at Tiger Stadium.

In 1968, the United States exploded beneath the Nevada desert a 1.3 megaton nuclear device called "Boxcar."

In 1986, an explosion and fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine caused radioactive fallout to begin spewing into the atmosphere. (Dozens of people were killed in the immediate aftermath of the disaster while the long-term death toll from radiation poisoning is believed to number in the thousands.)

In 1989, actress-comedian Lucille Ball died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at age 77.

In 1994, China Airlines Flight 140, a Taiwanese Airbus A-300, crashed while landing in Nagoya, Japan, killing 264 people; there were seven survivors.

In 2009, the United States declared a public health emergency as more possible cases of swine flu surfaced from Canada to New Zealand; officials in Mexico City closed everything from concerts to sports matches to churches in an effort to stem the spread of the virus.

In 2018, Bill Cosby was convicted of drugging and molesting Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in 2004; it was the first big celebrity trial of the #MeToo era and completed the spectacular downfall of a comedian who broke racial barriers on his way to TV superstardom. (Cosby was later sentenced to three to 10 years in prison.)

Ten years ago: A Haitian judge dismissed kidnapping and criminal association charges against 10 American missionaries who'd been detained for trying to take a busload of children out of the country after the January 2010 earthquake, but said that Laura Silsby, the last of the 10 still in jail, would face a lesser charge. (Silsby was freed in May 2010 after being convicted of arranging illegal travel and sentenced to time served.)

Five years ago: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Boston for a stop at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and a dinner hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry as he began a weeklong U.S. visit. "General Hospital" and "The Young and the Restless" were the top winners of the Daytime Emmys with three trophies each, while the latter shared the best drama series award with "Days of Our Lives." Actress and TV personality Jayne Meadows, who'd often teamed with her husband Steve Allen, died in Los Angeles at age 95.

One year ago: A federal judge in Washington sentenced a Russian woman, Maria Butina, to 18 months in prison for being a secret agent for the Russian government, covertly gathering intelligence on the National Rifle Association and other groups. (Butina was deported to Russia six months later.) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un headed home from Russia after his first summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin; Kim accused the U.S. of negotiating in "bad faith" when he had met two months earlier with President Donald Trump in Hanoi. Catholic churches in Sri Lanka canceled all Sunday Masses until further notice over concerns that they remained a target of extremists linked to the Islamic State group; the move came even as authorities said a suspected local leader blew himself up in the Easter suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people.

Today's Birthdays: Actress-comedian Carol Burnett is 87. Rhythm-and-blues singer Maurice Williams is 82. Songwriter-musician Duane Eddy is 82. Singer Bobby Rydell is 78. Rock musician Gary Wright is 77. Actress Nancy Lenehan is 67. Actor Giancarlo Esposito is 62. Rock musician Roger Taylor (Duran Duran) is 60. Actress Joan Chen is 59. Rock musician Chris Mars is 59. Actor-singer Michael Damian is 58. Actor Jet Li (lee) is 57. Rock musician Jimmy Stafford (formerly w/Train) is 56. Actor-comedian Kevin James is 55. Record company executive Jeff Huskins is 54. Former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey is 54. Actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste is 53. Country musician Joe Caverlee (Yankee Grey) is 52. Rapper T-Boz (TLC) is 50. First lady Melania Trump is 50. Actress Shondrella Avery is 49. Actress Simbi Kali is 49. Country musician Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flatts) is 49. Country musician Michael Jeffers (Pinmonkey) is 48. Rock musician Jose Pasillas (Incubus) is 44. Actor Jason Earles is 43. Actor Leonard Earl Howze is 43. Actor Amin Joseph is 43. Actor Tom Welling is 43. Actor Pablo Schreiber is 42. Actor Nyambi Nyambi is 41. Actress Jordana Brewster is 40. Actress Stana Katic is 40. Actress Marnette Patterson is 40. Actor Channing Tatum is 40. Americana/roots singer-songwriter Lilly Hiatt is 36. Actress Emily Wickersham is 36. Actor Aaron Weeks is 34. Electro pop musician James Sunderland (Frenship) is 33. New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is 28.

Thought for Today: "A good scapegoat is nearly as welcome as a solution to the problem." — Author unknown.

<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>Today is Sunday, April 26, the 117th day of 2020. There are 249 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On April 26, 1994, voting began in South Africa's first all-race elections, resulting in victory for the African National Congress and the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as president.On this date:In 1607, English colonists went ashore at present-day Cape Henry, Virginia, on an expedition to establish the first permanent English settlement in the Western Hemisphere.In 1785, American naturalist, hunter and artist John James Audubon was born in present-day Haiti.In 1865, John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, was surrounded by federal troops near Port Royal, Virginia, and killed.In 1933, Nazi Germany's infamous secret police, the Gestapo, was created.In 1945, Marshal Henri Philippe Petain, the head of France's Vichy government during World War II, was arrested.In 1961, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit the first of his 61 home runs during a 162-game season (compared to Babe Ruth's 60 home runs during a 154-game season) as he hit a roundtripper off Paul Foytack at Tiger Stadium.In 1968, the United States exploded beneath the Nevada desert a 1.3 megaton nuclear device called "Boxcar."In 1986, an explosion and fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine caused radioactive fallout to begin spewing into the atmosphere. (Dozens of people were killed in the immediate aftermath of the disaster while the long-term death toll from radiation poisoning is believed to number in the thousands.)In 1989, actress-comedian Lucille Ball died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at age 77.In 1994, China Airlines Flight 140, a Taiwanese Airbus A-300, crashed while landing in Nagoya, Japan, killing 264 people; there were seven survivors.In 2009, the United States declared a public health emergency as more possible cases of swine flu surfaced from Canada to New Zealand; officials in Mexico City closed everything from concerts to sports matches to churches in an effort to stem the spread of the virus.In 2018, Bill Cosby was convicted of drugging and molesting Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in 2004; it was the first big celebrity trial of the #MeToo era and completed the spectacular downfall of a comedian who broke racial barriers on his way to TV superstardom. (Cosby was later sentenced to three to 10 years in prison.)Ten years ago: A Haitian judge dismissed kidnapping and criminal association charges against 10 American missionaries who'd been detained for trying to take a busload of children out of the country after the January 2010 earthquake, but said that Laura Silsby, the last of the 10 still in jail, would face a lesser charge. (Silsby was freed in May 2010 after being convicted of arranging illegal travel and sentenced to time served.)Five years ago: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Boston for a stop at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and a dinner hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry as he began a weeklong U.S. visit. "General Hospital" and "The Young and the Restless" were the top winners of the Daytime Emmys with three trophies each, while the latter shared the best drama series award with "Days of Our Lives." Actress and TV personality Jayne Meadows, who'd often teamed with her husband Steve Allen, died in Los Angeles at age 95.One year ago: A federal judge in Washington sentenced a Russian woman, Maria Butina, to 18 months in prison for being a secret agent for the Russian government, covertly gathering intelligence on the National Rifle Association and other groups. (Butina was deported to Russia six months later.) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un headed home from Russia after his first summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin; Kim accused the U.S. of negotiating in "bad faith" when he had met two months earlier with President Donald Trump in Hanoi. Catholic churches in Sri Lanka canceled all Sunday Masses until further notice over concerns that they remained a target of extremists linked to the Islamic State group; the move came even as authorities said a suspected local leader blew himself up in the Easter suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people.Today's Birthdays: Actress-comedian Carol Burnett is 87. Rhythm-and-blues singer Maurice Williams is 82. Songwriter-musician Duane Eddy is 82. Singer Bobby Rydell is 78. Rock musician Gary Wright is 77. Actress Nancy Lenehan is 67. Actor Giancarlo Esposito is 62. Rock musician Roger Taylor (Duran Duran) is 60. Actress Joan Chen is 59. Rock musician Chris Mars is 59. Actor-singer Michael Damian is 58. Actor Jet Li (lee) is 57. Rock musician Jimmy Stafford (formerly w/Train) is 56. Actor-comedian Kevin James is 55. Record company executive Jeff Huskins is 54. Former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey is 54. Actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste is 53. Country musician Joe Caverlee (Yankee Grey) is 52. Rapper T-Boz (TLC) is 50. First lady Melania Trump is 50. Actress Shondrella Avery is 49. Actress Simbi Kali is 49. Country musician Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flatts) is 49. Country musician Michael Jeffers (Pinmonkey) is 48. Rock musician Jose Pasillas (Incubus) is 44. Actor Jason Earles is 43. Actor Leonard Earl Howze is 43. Actor Amin Joseph is 43. Actor Tom Welling is 43. Actor Pablo Schreiber is 42. Actor Nyambi Nyambi is 41. Actress Jordana Brewster is 40. Actress Stana Katic is 40. Actress Marnette Patterson is 40. Actor Channing Tatum is 40. Americana/roots singer-songwriter Lilly Hiatt is 36. Actress Emily Wickersham is 36. Actor Aaron Weeks is 34. Electro pop musician James Sunderland (Frenship) is 33. New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is 28.Thought for Today: "A good scapegoat is nearly as welcome as a solution to the problem." — Author unknown.Copyright 2020, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Today in History -- April 26

Salina Fire Department personnel trained while taking advantage of a beautiful day. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinafire/">Salina Fire</a> Facebook page:

Salina Fire Department personnel trained while taking advantage of a beautiful day. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinafire/">Salina Fire</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsalinafire%2Fposts%2F2717604211670421&width=500" width="500" height="687" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

SFD: Outdoor training on a beautiful day

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;&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;&nbsp;

Recent obituaries

Lott Implement, an AGCO dealer in Minneapolis, Kansas is looking for a service technician. The duties include repairing combines, tractors, and hay equipment.

Lott Implement is looking for someone dependable and motivated, who has their own tools, an is able to get along well with others.

Immediate opening with pay based on experience. Contact Jeff at 785-392-3110 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jlott2522@att.net">jlott2522@att.net</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587062240402.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Lott Implement, an AGCO dealer in Minneapolis, Kansas is looking for a service technician. The duties include repairing combines, tractors, and hay equipment.Lott Implement is looking for someone dependable and motivated, who has their own tools, an is able to get along well with others.Immediate opening with pay based on experience. Contact Jeff at 785-392-3110 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jlott2522@att.net">jlott2522@att.net</a>.

Saline County reports 1 more COVID-19 case

Hey, Fort Hays State University alums and friends: Need a coloring diversion for yourselves or you children? Check out these coloring options from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FHSUFoundation/">Fort Hays State University Foundation</a> Facebook page:

Hey, Fort Hays State University alums and friends: Need a coloring diversion for yourselves or you children? Check out these coloring options from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FHSUFoundation/">Fort Hays State University Foundation</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFHSUFoundation%2Fposts%2F10158153879123718&width=500" width="500" height="712" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

FHSU Foundation offers pages for coloring

LINDSBORG -- Bethany College announces two celebrations for the class of 2020. 

Bethany will confer degrees to graduating seniors on May 16 at 2 p.m. as scheduled, but in a virtual format, accessible from the university's website <a href="http://www.bethanylb.edu">homepage</a>. Conferring degrees on May 16, although virtual, means students will have graduated for purposes of transcript notation, entry into graduate programs, etc.

Although the class of 2020 didn’t finish their last semester of college in a traditional way, Bethany wants to ensure that graduates experience the tradition of crossing the Presser stage in front of classmates, the college community, friends and family. More details of the in-person October commencement festivities will be shared soon.&nbsp;

LINDSBORG -- Bethany College announces two celebrations for the class of 2020. Bethany will confer degrees to graduating seniors on May 16 at 2 p.m. as scheduled, but in a virtual format, accessible from the university's website <a href="http://www.bethanylb.edu">homepage</a>. Conferring degrees on May 16, although virtual, means students will have graduated for purposes of transcript notation, entry into graduate programs, etc. Although the class of 2020 didn’t finish their last semester of college in a traditional way, Bethany wants to ensure that graduates experience the tradition of crossing the Presser stage in front of classmates, the college community, friends and family. More details of the in-person October commencement festivities will be shared soon.&nbsp;

Bethany College plans two graduation events for 2020 class

LINCOLN COUNTY -- The Kansas Department of Transportation has announced a bridge repair project that is scheduled to begin next week.

According to KDOT, repair of the bridge located on Kansas Highway 14 over Rattlesnake Creek in Lincoln County, approximately one mile north of Kansas Highway 284, is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Traffic will be reduced to one 14-foot lane through construction at a reduced speed. Drivers should expect delays of 15 minutes or less during daylight hours and plan extra time in their travel schedules.

PCI Roads, LLC of Saint Michael, Minn., is the prime contractor for this $146,000 project. The contractor has scheduled this project to be completed in late June, weather permitting.

KDOT urges all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a work zone.

LINCOLN COUNTY -- The Kansas Department of Transportation has announced a bridge repair project that is scheduled to begin next week.According to KDOT, repair of the bridge located on Kansas Highway 14 over Rattlesnake Creek in Lincoln County, approximately one mile north of Kansas Highway 284, is scheduled to begin on Monday.Traffic will be reduced to one 14-foot lane through construction at a reduced speed. Drivers should expect delays of 15 minutes or less during daylight hours and plan extra time in their travel schedules.PCI Roads, LLC of Saint Michael, Minn., is the prime contractor for this $146,000 project. The contractor has scheduled this project to be completed in late June, weather permitting.KDOT urges all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a work zone.

KDOT: Bridge repair in Lincoln County to begin Monday

EMPORIA -- Abby Rowden is one of eight Emporia State University students in Phi Beta Lambda who qualified for national competition&nbsp;after earning awards at the&nbsp;2020 Kansas State Leadership Conference, which was at Emporia State University in early March.

PBL is the collegiate level of Future Business Leaders of America. It builds on communication, leadership, networking, and business skills for the future and is open to all majors. ESU joined seven other schools with competitors at the conference.

Rowden of Canton, placed first, Computer Applications.

Emporia State students collectively placed 28&nbsp;times at the competition and brought home 14&nbsp;first-place finishes.&nbsp;All&nbsp;eight&nbsp;ESU students earned placements and are eligible to compete at the National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah,&nbsp;in June.&nbsp;Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the national organization has moved this conference to a virtual event.

"Our Phi Beta Lambda students continue to do exceptional at State," said Dr. Ed Bashaw, dean of the School of Business. "We have some very well-educated and well-rounded students participating at the national stage, and I am confident that this group of students will bring home some great finishes."

As members of Emporia State's PBL, students can compete in over 50 events at the state and national level, help in various community service events, gain leadership skills and experience, apply classroom learning to a real-world setting, promote business to high school students and to the community, and can be trained to be the next line of leaders in any profession.

EMPORIA -- Abby Rowden is one of eight Emporia State University students in Phi Beta Lambda who qualified for national competition&nbsp;after earning awards at the&nbsp;2020 Kansas State Leadership Conference, which was at Emporia State University in early March.PBL is the collegiate level of Future Business Leaders of America. It builds on communication, leadership, networking, and business skills for the future and is open to all majors. ESU joined seven other schools with competitors at the conference.Rowden of Canton, placed first, Computer Applications.Emporia State students collectively placed 28&nbsp;times at the competition and brought home 14&nbsp;first-place finishes.&nbsp;All&nbsp;eight&nbsp;ESU students earned placements and are eligible to compete at the National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah,&nbsp;in June.&nbsp;Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the national organization has moved this conference to a virtual event."Our Phi Beta Lambda students continue to do exceptional at State," said Dr. Ed Bashaw, dean of the School of Business. "We have some very well-educated and well-rounded students participating at the national stage, and I am confident that this group of students will bring home some great finishes."As members of Emporia State's PBL, students can compete in over 50 events at the state and national level, help in various community service events, gain leadership skills and experience, apply classroom learning to a real-world setting, promote business to high school students and to the community, and can be trained to be the next line of leaders in any profession.

Canton's Rowden qualifies for national PBL competition

By GENE POLICINSKI Freedom Forum

Can the government override our First Amendment rights with orders such as limits on public assemblies, faith-based gatherings and public protests during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The short answer is “yes … probably … in certain circumstances … within specific limits.”

Here’s what our public officials, should ask themselves — and what we should demand that they do — before using public health concerns as a reason to infringe on any of our core freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly or petition.

First, take a measure of whether a quarantine, stay-at-home order or limit on public gatherings is in response to an actual crisis.

Little doubt today’s COVID-19 pandemic meets that test.

But going all the way back to 1900, courts have not always supported declarations. In that year, a federal court overturned a San Francisco quarantine order applied to a largely Chinese-American area of the city. The court, in Jew Ho v. Williamson, found the order overly broad, based on a biased and unsupported theory that rice consumption made people more likely to spread bubonic plague — a genuine health crisis of that moment.

More recently, several courts have rejected such government overreach in cases involving vaccination for measles — overturning attempts to ban unvaccinated students from attending public schools. Again, in other cases more than a century old to modern-day issues ranging from AIDS to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic of a few years ago to concern about Ebola, courts largely have focused more on “how” government is applying limits on personal freedoms rather than “if” such action is constitutional.

In what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites as the foundation case for government authority to impose public safety limitations, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in 1905 Massachusetts’ state power to impose “public health control measures” in the face of a smallpox outbreak. The justices held that the 10th&nbsp;Amendment empowers states to undertake “reasonable regulations” to protect public health and safety” and cited a community’s “right of self-defense” to “protect itself against an epidemic disease.”

But both First Amendment and due process requirements of the 14th&nbsp;Amendment lead us to the second question that public officials should ask themselves: Is the order the least-restrictive means to protecting public health?

We see such reasoning applied when officials have turned first to “social distancing” — 6-, 8- or 10-foot separation from others — or limits on the number of people at public gatherings, rather than attempting outright bans on all meetings or short-term school closings before canceling classes for an entire semester.

As a coalition of free-speech groups — including, I should note, the Freedom Forum — argued in an open letter recently to federal, state and local officials, there also are ways to protest that don’t violate health orders: “Wearing masks and standing 6 feet apart outside hospitals and other places of business to protest inadequate safety precautions; participating in car demonstrations in Arizona, California and Michigan; and launching digital campaigns.”

The letter was prompted in part by a tweet on April 14 by police in Raleigh, N.C., that public protest is “a non-essential activity.” The coalition letter argued that “people must be free to express disagreement with government decisions, even when it involves criticism of essential public health measures.”

Two lawsuits directly stemming from COVID-19 restrictions give a hint as to the legal battles ahead.

Temple Baptist Church in Greenville, Miss.,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/justice-department-church-greenville-mississippi-coronavirus-order/" target="_blank">filed a federal lawsuit</a>&nbsp;challenging $500 fines for worshipers who attended a “drive-in” service in which they remained in their cars. The U.S. Justice Department is supporting the church, saying police targeted a religious gathering and were not applying meeting limits equally to secular events, and that a ban on attending services in a car does not meet the “least-restrictive methods” test.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld last week that Gov. Tom Wolf’s March 19 order banning “non-life-essential” meetings does not violate the First Amendment right to peaceably assemble or other constitutional rights. A group supporting a congressional candidate had challenged the executive order, claiming multiple constitutional violations, including that it interfered with members’ rights to peaceably assemble at a “place of physical operations” that they wish to use to engage in speech and advocacy.

However, the justices, in&nbsp;<a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/supreme-court/2020/68-mm-2020.html" target="_blank">Friends of Danny DeVito, et al v. Wolf</a>, said, “Constitutional rights to free speech and assembly … are not absolute, and states may place content-neutral time, place and manner restrictions on speech and assembly,” as long as the restrictions further a substantial governmental interest and do not unreasonably limit alternative means of communication, such as online campaigning.

Technology may be a barrier to successful challenges by faith-based communities to orders preventing them from gathering to worship, which some groups argue is essential to their religious practices. Courts may find that online meeting apps and software, such as Zoom and GoToMeeting, provide reasonable alternatives to actual gatherings, at least for a short time. Critics of social distancing or meeting bans may counter that not all people have access to the web, but not everyone has ready transportation to attend services in person, either.

And the element of time introduces a third question to be asked, likely to come more into play as the coronavirus crisis lengthens: “Is the duration of the limit appropriate to the danger?” As the danger to public health ebbs, the legal justification for preventing in-person worship services or shoulder-to-shoulder protest marches also will diminish.

For those watching the daily briefings from the White House, federal officials are, for now, limited in their power to impose widespread orders like stay-at-home restrictions. The U.S. government can impose individual quarantines to prevent the spread of diseases like cholera, yellow fever, pandemic flu and now “severe acute respiratory syndromes” like COVID-19 across state lines. But as with state and local officials, federal agencies like the CDC show a clear and compelling reason for detention — that it’s the least restrictive measure required to protect public health.

A complicating factor for First Amendment watchdogs is that each state has its own version of laws authorizing quarantines and isolation orders. A starting point for opponents of such restrictions rests with the U.S. Constitution’s provision in the 14th&nbsp;Amendment that none of us can be denied “life, liberty or property, without due process of law.” Again, courts have held there are reasons when we can be deprived of liberty because we pose a danger to others — for example, because of mental illness (U.S. Supreme Court, Addington v. Texas, 1979).

But even in such cases, government has to prove a “clear and compelling danger,” not just a scientific theory or concern that someone or something might be a threat — a legal standard which might come to rely heavily on testing for COVID-19 exposure and infection once those interventions become widespread.

The COVID-19 outbreak is a real threat to public health, but it should not be a reason for long-term damage to our core freedoms.

Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. He can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/@genefac" target="_blank">@genefac</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573872297806.png" alt="Gene Policinski. Photo courtesy Freedom Forum" />
 <figcaption>Gene Policinski. Photo courtesy Freedom Forum</figcaption>
 </figure>By GENE POLICINSKI Freedom ForumCan the government override our First Amendment rights with orders such as limits on public assemblies, faith-based gatherings and public protests during the COVID-19 pandemic?The short answer is “yes … probably … in certain circumstances … within specific limits.”Here’s what our public officials, should ask themselves — and what we should demand that they do — before using public health concerns as a reason to infringe on any of our core freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly or petition.First, take a measure of whether a quarantine, stay-at-home order or limit on public gatherings is in response to an actual crisis.Little doubt today’s COVID-19 pandemic meets that test.But going all the way back to 1900, courts have not always supported declarations. In that year, a federal court overturned a San Francisco quarantine order applied to a largely Chinese-American area of the city. The court, in Jew Ho v. Williamson, found the order overly broad, based on a biased and unsupported theory that rice consumption made people more likely to spread bubonic plague — a genuine health crisis of that moment.More recently, several courts have rejected such government overreach in cases involving vaccination for measles — overturning attempts to ban unvaccinated students from attending public schools. Again, in other cases more than a century old to modern-day issues ranging from AIDS to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic of a few years ago to concern about Ebola, courts largely have focused more on “how” government is applying limits on personal freedoms rather than “if” such action is constitutional.In what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites as the foundation case for government authority to impose public safety limitations, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in 1905 Massachusetts’ state power to impose “public health control measures” in the face of a smallpox outbreak. The justices held that the 10th&nbsp;Amendment empowers states to undertake “reasonable regulations” to protect public health and safety” and cited a community’s “right of self-defense” to “protect itself against an epidemic disease.”But both First Amendment and due process requirements of the 14th&nbsp;Amendment lead us to the second question that public officials should ask themselves: Is the order the least-restrictive means to protecting public health?We see such reasoning applied when officials have turned first to “social distancing” — 6-, 8- or 10-foot separation from others — or limits on the number of people at public gatherings, rather than attempting outright bans on all meetings or short-term school closings before canceling classes for an entire semester.As a coalition of free-speech groups — including, I should note, the Freedom Forum — argued in an open letter recently to federal, state and local officials, there also are ways to protest that don’t violate health orders: “Wearing masks and standing 6 feet apart outside hospitals and other places of business to protest inadequate safety precautions; participating in car demonstrations in Arizona, California and Michigan; and launching digital campaigns.”The letter was prompted in part by a tweet on April 14 by police in Raleigh, N.C., that public protest is “a non-essential activity.” The coalition letter argued that “people must be free to express disagreement with government decisions, even when it involves criticism of essential public health measures.”Two lawsuits directly stemming from COVID-19 restrictions give a hint as to the legal battles ahead.Temple Baptist Church in Greenville, Miss.,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/justice-department-church-greenville-mississippi-coronavirus-order/" target="_blank">filed a federal lawsuit</a>&nbsp;challenging $500 fines for worshipers who attended a “drive-in” service in which they remained in their cars. The U.S. Justice Department is supporting the church, saying police targeted a religious gathering and were not applying meeting limits equally to secular events, and that a ban on attending services in a car does not meet the “least-restrictive methods” test.The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld last week that Gov. Tom Wolf’s March 19 order banning “non-life-essential” meetings does not violate the First Amendment right to peaceably assemble or other constitutional rights. A group supporting a congressional candidate had challenged the executive order, claiming multiple constitutional violations, including that it interfered with members’ rights to peaceably assemble at a “place of physical operations” that they wish to use to engage in speech and advocacy.However, the justices, in&nbsp;<a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/supreme-court/2020/68-mm-2020.html" target="_blank">Friends of Danny DeVito, et al v. Wolf</a>, said, “Constitutional rights to free speech and assembly … are not absolute, and states may place content-neutral time, place and manner restrictions on speech and assembly,” as long as the restrictions further a substantial governmental interest and do not unreasonably limit alternative means of communication, such as online campaigning.Technology may be a barrier to successful challenges by faith-based communities to orders preventing them from gathering to worship, which some groups argue is essential to their religious practices. Courts may find that online meeting apps and software, such as Zoom and GoToMeeting, provide reasonable alternatives to actual gatherings, at least for a short time. Critics of social distancing or meeting bans may counter that not all people have access to the web, but not everyone has ready transportation to attend services in person, either.And the element of time introduces a third question to be asked, likely to come more into play as the coronavirus crisis lengthens: “Is the duration of the limit appropriate to the danger?” As the danger to public health ebbs, the legal justification for preventing in-person worship services or shoulder-to-shoulder protest marches also will diminish.For those watching the daily briefings from the White House, federal officials are, for now, limited in their power to impose widespread orders like stay-at-home restrictions. The U.S. government can impose individual quarantines to prevent the spread of diseases like cholera, yellow fever, pandemic flu and now “severe acute respiratory syndromes” like COVID-19 across state lines. But as with state and local officials, federal agencies like the CDC show a clear and compelling reason for detention — that it’s the least restrictive measure required to protect public health.A complicating factor for First Amendment watchdogs is that each state has its own version of laws authorizing quarantines and isolation orders. A starting point for opponents of such restrictions rests with the U.S. Constitution’s provision in the 14th&nbsp;Amendment that none of us can be denied “life, liberty or property, without due process of law.” Again, courts have held there are reasons when we can be deprived of liberty because we pose a danger to others — for example, because of mental illness (U.S. Supreme Court, Addington v. Texas, 1979).But even in such cases, government has to prove a “clear and compelling danger,” not just a scientific theory or concern that someone or something might be a threat — a legal standard which might come to rely heavily on testing for COVID-19 exposure and infection once those interventions become widespread.The COVID-19 outbreak is a real threat to public health, but it should not be a reason for long-term damage to our core freedoms.Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. He can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/@genefac" target="_blank">@genefac</a>.

First Five: Our First Amendment rights must survive COVID-19

Today is Saturday, April 25, the 116th day of 2020. There are 250 days left in the year.

On April 25, 1945, during World War II, U.S. and Soviet forces linked up on the Elbe River, a meeting that dramatized the collapse of Nazi Germany's defenses. Delegates from some 50 countries gathered in San Francisco to organize the United Nations.

In 1507, a world map produced by German cartographer Martin Waldseemueller contained the first recorded use of the term "America," in honor of Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci.

In 1859, ground was broken for the Suez Canal.

In 1874, radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi was born in Bologna, Italy.

In 1898, the United States Congress declared war on Spain; the 10-week conflict resulted in an American victory.

In 1915, during World War I, Allied soldiers invaded the Gallipoli Peninsula in an unsuccessful attempt to take the Ottoman Empire out of the war.

In 1917, legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia.

In 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway opened to shipping.

In 1983, 10-year-old Samantha Smith of Manchester, Maine, received a reply from Soviet leader Yuri V. Andropov to a letter she'd written expressing her concerns about nuclear war; Andropov gave assurances that the Soviet Union did not want war, and invited Samantha to visit his country, a trip she made in July.

In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was deployed in orbit from the space shuttle Discovery. (It was later discovered that the telescope's primary mirror was flawed, requiring the installation of corrective components to achieve optimal focus.)

In 1992, Islamic forces in Afghanistan took control of most of the capital of Kabul following the collapse of the Communist government.

In 1995, show business legend Ginger Rogers died in Rancho Mirage, California, at age 83.

In 2002, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of the Grammy-winning trio TLC died in an SUV crash in Honduras; she was 30.

Ten years ago: President Barack Obama made a pilgrimage to Billy Graham's mountainside home, concluding his North Carolina vacation with his first meeting with the ailing evangelist who had counseled commanders in chief since Dwight Eisenhower. An al-Qaida front group in Iraq confirmed the deaths of its two top leaders a week after a raid by Iraqi and U.S. security forces on the leaders' safe house near Tikrit, north of Baghdad. British writer Alan Sillitoe, 82, died in London.

Five years ago: A magnitude-7.8 earthquake in Nepal killed more than 8,200 people. Families of soldiers, leaders and visitors gathered in Turkey near former battlefields, honoring thousands of Australians and New Zealanders who fought in the Gallipoli campaign of World War I on the 100th anniversary of the ill-fated British-led invasion. Italy celebrated the 70th anniversary of a partisan uprising against the Nazis and their Fascist allies near the end of World War II.

One year ago: Former Vice President Joe Biden entered the Democratic presidential race, declaring the fight against Donald Trump to be a "battle for the soul of this nation." Russian President Vladimir Putin began a summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un in the Russian city of Vladivostok; Putin said Kim told him that he was willing to give up nuclear weapons, but only in exchange for ironclad security guarantees. The Arizona Cardinals led off the NFL draft by selecting Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, the Heisman Trophy winner.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Al Pacino is 80. Ballroom dance judge Len Goodman (TV: "Dancing with the Stars") is 76. Rock musician Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival) is 75. Singer Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA) is 75. Actress Talia Shire is 75. Actor Jeffrey DeMunn is 73. Rock musician Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty &amp; the Heartbreakers) is 70. Country singer-songwriter Rob Crosby is 66. Actor Hank Azaria is 56. Rock singer Andy Bell (Erasure) is 56. Rock musician Eric Avery is 55. Country musician Rory Feek (Joey + Rory) is 55. TV personality Jane Clayson is 53. Actress Renee Zellweger is 51. Actress Gina Torres is 51. Actor Jason Lee is 50. Actor Jason Wiles is 50. Actress Emily Bergl is 45. Actor Jonathan Angel is 43. Actress Marguerite Moreau is 43. Singer Jacob Underwood is 40. Actress Melonie Diaz is 36. Actress Sara Paxton is 32. Actress Allisyn Ashley Arm is 24. Actress Jayden Rey is 11.

Thought for Today: "I think it is all a matter of love: the more you love a memory, the stronger and stranger it is." — Vladimir Nabokov, Russian-born author (1899-1977).

<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>Today is Saturday, April 25, the 116th day of 2020. There are 250 days left in the year.Today's Highlights in History:On April 25, 1945, during World War II, U.S. and Soviet forces linked up on the Elbe River, a meeting that dramatized the collapse of Nazi Germany's defenses. Delegates from some 50 countries gathered in San Francisco to organize the United Nations.On this date:In 1507, a world map produced by German cartographer Martin Waldseemueller contained the first recorded use of the term "America," in honor of Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci.In 1859, ground was broken for the Suez Canal.In 1874, radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi was born in Bologna, Italy.In 1898, the United States Congress declared war on Spain; the 10-week conflict resulted in an American victory.In 1915, during World War I, Allied soldiers invaded the Gallipoli Peninsula in an unsuccessful attempt to take the Ottoman Empire out of the war.In 1917, legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia.In 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway opened to shipping.In 1983, 10-year-old Samantha Smith of Manchester, Maine, received a reply from Soviet leader Yuri V. Andropov to a letter she'd written expressing her concerns about nuclear war; Andropov gave assurances that the Soviet Union did not want war, and invited Samantha to visit his country, a trip she made in July.In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was deployed in orbit from the space shuttle Discovery. (It was later discovered that the telescope's primary mirror was flawed, requiring the installation of corrective components to achieve optimal focus.)In 1992, Islamic forces in Afghanistan took control of most of the capital of Kabul following the collapse of the Communist government.In 1995, show business legend Ginger Rogers died in Rancho Mirage, California, at age 83.In 2002, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of the Grammy-winning trio TLC died in an SUV crash in Honduras; she was 30.Ten years ago: President Barack Obama made a pilgrimage to Billy Graham's mountainside home, concluding his North Carolina vacation with his first meeting with the ailing evangelist who had counseled commanders in chief since Dwight Eisenhower. An al-Qaida front group in Iraq confirmed the deaths of its two top leaders a week after a raid by Iraqi and U.S. security forces on the leaders' safe house near Tikrit, north of Baghdad. British writer Alan Sillitoe, 82, died in London.Five years ago: A magnitude-7.8 earthquake in Nepal killed more than 8,200 people. Families of soldiers, leaders and visitors gathered in Turkey near former battlefields, honoring thousands of Australians and New Zealanders who fought in the Gallipoli campaign of World War I on the 100th anniversary of the ill-fated British-led invasion. Italy celebrated the 70th anniversary of a partisan uprising against the Nazis and their Fascist allies near the end of World War II.One year ago: Former Vice President Joe Biden entered the Democratic presidential race, declaring the fight against Donald Trump to be a "battle for the soul of this nation." Russian President Vladimir Putin began a summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un in the Russian city of Vladivostok; Putin said Kim told him that he was willing to give up nuclear weapons, but only in exchange for ironclad security guarantees. The Arizona Cardinals led off the NFL draft by selecting Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, the Heisman Trophy winner.Today's Birthdays: Actor Al Pacino is 80. Ballroom dance judge Len Goodman (TV: "Dancing with the Stars") is 76. Rock musician Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival) is 75. Singer Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA) is 75. Actress Talia Shire is 75. Actor Jeffrey DeMunn is 73. Rock musician Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty &amp; the Heartbreakers) is 70. Country singer-songwriter Rob Crosby is 66. Actor Hank Azaria is 56. Rock singer Andy Bell (Erasure) is 56. Rock musician Eric Avery is 55. Country musician Rory Feek (Joey + Rory) is 55. TV personality Jane Clayson is 53. Actress Renee Zellweger is 51. Actress Gina Torres is 51. Actor Jason Lee is 50. Actor Jason Wiles is 50. Actress Emily Bergl is 45. Actor Jonathan Angel is 43. Actress Marguerite Moreau is 43. Singer Jacob Underwood is 40. Actress Melonie Diaz is 36. Actress Sara Paxton is 32. Actress Allisyn Ashley Arm is 24. Actress Jayden Rey is 11.Thought for Today: "I think it is all a matter of love: the more you love a memory, the stronger and stranger it is." — Vladimir Nabokov, Russian-born author (1899-1977).Copyright 2020, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Today in History -- April 25

Kansas Department of Transportation employees have a message for drivers. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KSDOTHQ/">Kansas Department of Transportation</a> Facebook page:

Kansas Department of Transportation employees have a message for drivers. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KSDOTHQ/">Kansas Department of Transportation</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKSDOTHQ%2Fvideos%2F1560431170783476%2F&show_text=1&width=560" width="560" height="481" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>

KDOT employees have message for drivers

Developing a spending plan can help reduce stress, maintain control of your financial position

MANHATTAN – The economic fallout from closed businesses and lost jobs linked to the new coronavirus hit with almost no warning, abruptly slashing the income of millions of Americans. The situation is heightening stress as individuals and families figure out how to pay rent, utility bills and more.

“An abrupt loss of income, whatever the reason, can be traumatic,” said Kansas State University associate professor Elizabeth Kiss. “When it happens, a common instinct is to panic. Although natural, avoid the temptation to tailspin as much as possible.”

It may feel like you’re not in control right now, but there are things you can control, said Kiss, a family resource specialist with K-State Research and Extension (KSRE). She provided suggestions in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3497.pdf" target="_blank">Don’t Panic – Take Control</a>&nbsp;one of a series of resources available free online under the title, When Your Income Drops.

•Don’t panic, take control. Don’t blame yourself for the current situation. Instead use that energy to deal with your situation.

•Control stress. Being proactive about developing a plan to manage your finances can reduce stress.

•Take stock of family resources. Know what you own and what you owe. Find out about community or government resources available to help people in tough situations like yours.

•Set priorities for spending. Now’s the time to talk with family members about how each uses money. Design a family spending plan.

•Pay creditors. It may mean calling them to make arrangements that you both can live with.

•Keep a roof overhead and meet insurance needs. Knowing that the basics like food and diapers, the mortgage or rent, the utilities and essential insurance are paid for can go a long way toward easing stress.

•Sharpen your economic survival skills. Consider how you can substitute, conserve, cooperate or cut back on your spending.

When Your Income Drops fact sheets are available&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/family-finances/" target="_blank">online</a>&nbsp;on the K-State Research and Extension website.

<h2>Developing a spending plan can help reduce stress, maintain control of your financial position</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587780450451.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN – The economic fallout from closed businesses and lost jobs linked to the new coronavirus hit with almost no warning, abruptly slashing the income of millions of Americans. The situation is heightening stress as individuals and families figure out how to pay rent, utility bills and more.“An abrupt loss of income, whatever the reason, can be traumatic,” said Kansas State University associate professor Elizabeth Kiss. “When it happens, a common instinct is to panic. Although natural, avoid the temptation to tailspin as much as possible.”It may feel like you’re not in control right now, but there are things you can control, said Kiss, a family resource specialist with K-State Research and Extension (KSRE). She provided suggestions in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3497.pdf" target="_blank">Don’t Panic – Take Control</a>&nbsp;one of a series of resources available free online under the title, When Your Income Drops.In it, Kiss encourages people to:•Don’t panic, take control. Don’t blame yourself for the current situation. Instead use that energy to deal with your situation.•Control stress. Being proactive about developing a plan to manage your finances can reduce stress.•Take stock of family resources. Know what you own and what you owe. Find out about community or government resources available to help people in tough situations like yours.•Set priorities for spending. Now’s the time to talk with family members about how each uses money. Design a family spending plan.•Pay creditors. It may mean calling them to make arrangements that you both can live with.•Keep a roof overhead and meet insurance needs. Knowing that the basics like food and diapers, the mortgage or rent, the utilities and essential insurance are paid for can go a long way toward easing stress.•Sharpen your economic survival skills. Consider how you can substitute, conserve, cooperate or cut back on your spending.When Your Income Drops fact sheets are available&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/family-finances/" target="_blank">online</a>&nbsp;on the K-State Research and Extension website.

Income drop? Take stock and set priorities

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department reported some good news today concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.

While no new confirmed cases were reported, the department did report that of the 20 confirmed cases, 13 have met the recovery guidelines set forth by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Four of the 20 confirmed cases are currently hospitalized, the health department noted.

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department reported some good news today concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.While no new confirmed cases were reported, the department did report that of the 20 confirmed cases, 13 have met the recovery guidelines set forth by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.Four of the 20 confirmed cases are currently hospitalized, the health department noted.

COVID-19: 13 of 20 cases in McPherson Co. recovered

Here is the Friday COVID-19 update from Saline County:

The Saline County Health Department has been notified of an additional positive case of COVID-19.

• This case involves a female in her 30’s associated with an already identified cluster of cases in Wichita. She is currently in isolation at her residence. All direct contacts have been isolated and are being monitored. While exhibiting mild symptoms, the patient traveled to the following places:

April 15th, unknown time frame – Dillon’s located at 2350 Planet Ave Salina, KS

April 20th, between 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Wal Mart at 2900 S. 9th Street Salina

April 21st, between 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm – Dillon’s located at 1235 E Cloud Salina, KS

April 22nd, between 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – Dillon’s located at 1235 E Cloud Salina, KS

April 23rd, between 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm – Dillon’s located at 1201 W Crawford Salina, KS

Symptoms for COVID-19 appear 2 – 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other rarer symptoms that may develop include malaise, sore throat, and diarrhea. If you were at any of the above locations during these specific dates and times and develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 between 2 and 14 days later, please call your medical provider.

If you have questions, please contact the Saline County Health Department at 785-826-6600.

• A total of 2,777 positive cases and 111 deaths. That is an increase of 295 positive cases from yesterdays release.

• There have been 457 of 2,173 cases that have been hospitalized (21%).

• 20,806 negative tests have been received through the KDHE and private labs.

• The age range is 0 years to 99 years (median 50 years of age).

Governor Kelly’s Statewide Stay-at-Home order is still in effect. Social distancing is imperative. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of staying home and only going out for essential tasks.

Help our community in stopping the spread of this virus. Only follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>. Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and Stay at Home.

Here is the Friday COVID-19 update from Saline County:The Saline County Health Department has been notified of an additional positive case of COVID-19.• This case involves a female in her 30’s associated with an already identified cluster of cases in Wichita. She is currently in isolation at her residence. All direct contacts have been isolated and are being monitored. While exhibiting mild symptoms, the patient traveled to the following places:April 15th, unknown time frame – Dillon’s located at 2350 Planet Ave Salina, KSApril 20th, between 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Wal Mart at 2900 S. 9th Street SalinaApril 21st, between 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm – Dillon’s located at 1235 E Cloud Salina, KSApril 22nd, between 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – Dillon’s located at 1235 E Cloud Salina, KSApril 23rd, between 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm – Dillon’s located at 1201 W Crawford Salina, KSSymptoms for COVID-19 appear 2 – 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other rarer symptoms that may develop include malaise, sore throat, and diarrhea. If you were at any of the above locations during these specific dates and times and develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 between 2 and 14 days later, please call your medical provider.If you have questions, please contact the Saline County Health Department at 785-826-6600.At 11 am, KDHE reported the following in their daily release:• A total of 2,777 positive cases and 111 deaths. That is an increase of 295 positive cases from yesterdays release.• There have been 457 of 2,173 cases that have been hospitalized (21%).• 20,806 negative tests have been received through the KDHE and private labs.• The age range is 0 years to 99 years (median 50 years of age).Governor Kelly’s Statewide Stay-at-Home order is still in effect. Social distancing is imperative. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of staying home and only going out for essential tasks.Help our community in stopping the spread of this virus. Only follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>. Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and Stay at Home.

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