Kansas State University

K-Staters in the news — June 2019

Some of the top stories mentioning Kansas State University are posted below. Download an Excel file (xls) with all of this month's news stories.

Friday, June 28, 2019

National/International 

If US banned neonicotinoid insecticides, pesticide use could increase, posing threat to humans and pollinators, study suggests
06/27/19 Genetic Literacy Project
New research from Gian Carlo Moschini at the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State University and Ed Perry at Kansas State University shows that a neonicotinoid ban in the United States may not be a risk free solution to the problem of declining bee populations. In fact, they find that a total agricultural ban in US maize, similar to one introduced in the European Union in 2013, could have unintended consequences.

State/Regional

Seg. 1: Lee's Summit Superintendent | Seg. 2: African Proverbs
06/28/19 KCUR
Segment 2, beginning at 20:25: K-State professor shares African proverbs
Sam Chege, professor at Kansas State University and author of "Life is God's Best Gift: Wisdom from the Ancestors on Finding Peace and Joy in Today's World."

Local 

More than 3,000 students received degrees from KSU this past spring
06/28/19 Juncton City Post
Nearly 3,220 students completed degree requirements from Kansas State University in the spring of 2019.

Thursday, June 27, 2019

National/International 

Kansas State to focus on recruitment in face of budget cuts
6/26/19 AP news
Kansas State officials say the university is planning to increase its recruiting efforts in response to a 4% budget reduction for the upcoming year.

State/Regional

A river runs through it: Heavy rainfall and floods continue to affect Kansas crop production
6/26/19 The Hutchinson News
According to Kansas State University service climatologist Mary Knapp, most of the state saw near or record-breaking rainfall for the month of May. Hutchinson recorded 15.99 inches of rain during the month, making it the city’s wettest May on record.

Local 

Kansas considers quarantine to slow spread of invasive bluestem grass
6/26/19 Topeka Capital-Journal
KC Olson, professor of animal science at Kansas State University and an expert in range beef cattle nutrition and management, said the mowing regimen of county and state road maintenance crews should be modified so old world bluestems weren’t cut after seeds matured in mid-July or early August.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

National/International 

*New Transmission Model for Ebola Predicted Latest Uganda Cases
6/25/19 Infection Control Today 
A new risk assessment model for the transmission of Ebola accurately predicted its spread into the Republic of Uganda, according to the Kansas State University researchers who developed it.

State/Regional

Need help moving that couch? K-State grads’ business continues to expand beyond KC
6/25/19 Kansas City Star
When Ben Jackson was a student at Kansas State University in 2014, four people asked him to borrow his pickup truck in one day.

Local 

Facing budget cuts, K-State will focus on recruiting
6/25/19 Manhattan Mercury
K-State is facing a 4% budget cut, a university official said at Monday’s intergovernmental meeting, but its main focus for the upcoming year will be recruitment.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

National/International 

Scientists Race to Build Vaccine for African Swine Fever
6/24/19 The Scientist 
Earlier this year, Waithaka Mwangi, a virologist at Kansas State University, and his team developed two different cocktails of viral antigens, which they delivered to pigs by incapsulating them in an inactivated human adenovirus. 

State/Regional

Too much rain common diagnosis at Sick Plant Clinic
6/24/19 WIBW
Horticulture experts from K-State Research and Extension held a sick plant clinic Monday at Fairlawn Plaza. They answered gardening questions and offered treatment advice.

STUDENTS TAKE ON IMPORTANT PLANT-BASED RESEARCH
6/24/19 Rural Radio Network 
Curiosity may not have ended up well for the cat, but it’s helping to provide a big career boost to eight undergraduate students at Kansas State University this summer.

Monday, June 24, 2019

National/International 

Homeland Security transfers top animal disease lab to USDA
6/21/19 Feedstuffs
When completed, NBAF will be a Bio-safety Level-4  laboratory adjacent to Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, for the study of diseases that threaten both U.S. agriculture and public health.

Trump’s Iran strategy is a Twitter thread. It’s hard to know where to start
6/21/19 Washington Post
Susan Hannah Allen and Carla Martinez Machain are respectively associate professor of political science at the University of Mississippi and associate professor of political science at Kansas State University. They talk about Trump’s choices.

State/Regional

AAEA announces a new publication series for teaching in agricultural economics
6-21-19 Finanzen.net
Jason Bergtold from Kansas State University is the inaugural Editor of the publication. He says, "AETR provides a unique outlet for high-end teaching and extension scholarship for our Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness profession. I am excited about this opportunity and strongly believe AETR will have a strong impact on the approach, methods and impact of teaching and extension in our profession going into the future."

*Kansas State University study looks at pain relief for piglets from medicated mother's milk
6/22/19 High Plains Journal
New findings by researchers at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine suggest potential pain relief for piglets by administering medicine through the act of nursing.

Local

NBAF UPDATE: Building a solid foundation for the future
6/23/19 Manhattan Mercury
Additionally, USDA-APHIS is sponsoring the NBAF Scientist Training Program for university students throughout the country to develop new scientists that will come to NBAF to work. A symposium was held June 18-20, to allow students and mentors to share their research, learn more about USDA and NBAF, and to network with other NSTP students and their mentors. Currently, five of the 11 students in the program are pursuing their D.V.M./Ph.D., Ph.D., or master's degrees at Kansas State University. The next group of NSTP students, who will join the program this fall, will be selected in the very near future.

Friday, June 21, 2019

National/International 

State universities won’t hike tuition for Kansas undergrads
06/19/19 Associated Press
When the universities submitted tuition proposals to the board in May, four proposed increases for Kansas undergraduates, with Kansas State University proposing a 3.1% hike. The regents expressed strong misgivings. They revised their proposals, though Kansas State still sought a 1.5% increase for Kansas undergraduates.
 
Visa rules are restricting the future of international students in the US
06/20/19 PRI
“When people ask me whether I want to say or not and I don't know how to answer it because I don't know whether I will get to stay or not,” says Vedant Deepak Kulkarni, an international student from India at Kansas State University. “The current visa rules have made it a little difficult for ... especially international students, to get those working visas and carry on with the studies and work in America.”

State/Regional

State universities won't hike tuition for Kansas undergrads
06/20/19 KWCH
All graduate students at the University of Kansas will see their tuition rise by 2.5% and at Kansas State University, by 1.5%.

Local

KSU to sell bonds to renovate Derby, name engineering department
06/20/19 The Manhattan Mercury
The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday approved K-State issuing revenue bonds to renovate the Derby Dining Center.

Thursday, June 20, 2019

National/International 

State universities won't hike tuition for Kansas undergrads
6/19/19 Houston Chronicle
When the universities submitted tuition proposals to the board in May, four proposed increases for Kansas undergraduates, with Kansas State University proposing a 3.1% hike. The regents expressed strong misgivings. They revised their proposals, though Kansas State still sought a 1.5% increase for Kansas undergraduates.

State/Regional

Rain eases up in June, but ‘it’s hard to say what will happen’
6/19/19 Lawrence Journal-World
The Kansas State University Weather Data Library said average rainfall in May was 1026

Political factors prompt 1-year freeze on Kansas undergraduate, in-state tuition
6/19/19 Topeka Capital-Journal
Members of the board rejected a proposal from Kansas State University that would have raised in-state undergraduate tuition on the Manhattan campus by 1.5 percent in the upcoming academic year. Kansas State officials responded to pressure from the Board of Regents, Gov. Laura Kelly and lawmakers by slashing an initial plan to boost tuition by 3.1 percent.

Local

*Minton named dean of KSU ag college
6/19/19 Manhattan Mercury 
K-State announced Wednesday the new dean for the College of Agriculture.

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

National/International 

The Tree That Inspired Dr. Seuss to Write 'The Lorax' Has Fallen
6/18/19 MSN
“Seuss is the best selling and most influential children’s author in the United States,” Dr. Philip Nel, director of the children’s literature program at Kansas State University, told The Smithsonian. “He teaches children not only how to read but why and how to think. He wants children to take an interest in their world and make a better world.”

WSSA Calculates 70% Yield Loss from Uncontrolled Weeds in Dry Bean and Sugar Beet Crops
6/18/19 San Francisco Gate
“It is clear that weed management is an important investment,” says Anita Dille, Ph.D., of Kansas State University and chair of the WSSA Weed Loss Committee. “We need to take every step to ensure it stays that way – from conducting additional research to promoting effective stewardship of herbicides and other tools in our weed management arsenal.”

State/Regional

*Federal grant to establish Rural Railroad Safety Center at K-State
6/18/19 Salina Post
The grants will fund 45 projects in 29 states, including just over $2.5 million for a Rural Railroad Safety Center at Kansas State University.

Local

*K-State Police conducted officer training at Manhattan Fire Department's training facility
6/18/19 WIBW
K-State Police conducted active violence training Tuesday to practice keeping the community safe.

 

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

National/International 

*Study looks at pain relief for piglets from medicated mother's milk
6/17/19 Phys.org
New findings by researchers at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine suggest potential pain relief for piglets by administering medicine through the act of nursing.

Crop scientists look for ways to beat the heat
6/17/19 Morning Ag Clips 
Can a small circuit board, barely the size of a credit card, help the world’s wheat to beat the heat? Kansas State University researchers think so, and they say that they’ve built the world’s first facility to help them prove it.

State/Regional

Sewing skills thrive in Pratt County
6/17/19 Topeka Capital-Journal
Buhler’s daughter, Katie Buhler, was an accomplished seamstress in 4-H and is currently a student at Kansas State University. She created a tutorial lesson on making quilted backpacks that her mother now uses regularly for sewing classes.

Monday, June 17, 2019

National/International 

*Recent private gifts to higher education
6/16/19 Chronicle of Higher Education
Kansas State University Foundation. Paul and Sandra Edgerley. Paul Edgerley, a 1978 Kansas State alumnus, is a co-founder and managing director of VantEdge Partners, an investment firm in Kansas. He retired as managing director of Bain Capital Partners. $20 million. Support for the new Digital Learning Repository, the new Center for Financial Analysis, and several other programs in the College of Business Administration.

More dogs are getting sick as climate change pushes diseases into new parts of the US
6/15/19 USA Today
“There’s no smoking gun, and there will never be a smoking gun. We’re trying to connect two things that operate at very different scales both in time and space,” said Ram Raghavan, a professor of spatial epidemiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.

State/Regional

Wet weather forcing crop struggles
6/16/19 The Kansan
Central Kansas wheat fields are spotted with circles of off-white wheat among fields that are just starting to color. The discolored wheat in low spots suffered from premature death after being in standing water. Kansas State University Wheat and Forages Specialist Romulo Lollato said that’s a big concern for yield.

Local

*Column: K-State at a critical moment in its history
6/16/19 Manhattan Mercury
As the state’s only land-grant institution, Kansas State University has a unique role in providing access to education, research and outreach to the communities and citizens of Kansas. This mission is woven throughout the fabric of the 

Friday, June 14, 2019

National/International 

U.S. farmers experimenting with hemp as China trade war drags on
6/13/19 U.K. Daily Mail
Jason Griffin, a specialist at Kansas State University, remains skeptical of the crop's potential and cringes when he hears descriptions like "gold rush" to describe it.

USDA Plan to Move Offices Sparks Concerns About Research
4/13/19 New York Times
Kansas State University and the University of Missouri's main campus are roughly a two hours' drive from the Kansas City metropolitan area. Also, the Kansas State campus is home to a billion-dollar federal biosecurity research lab that's under construction.

State/Regional

USDA selects Kansas City area for two key agencies; 568 new jobs expected
6/13/19 KCTV 5
Within 300 miles of Kansas City are 13 land grant universities—including agriculture research giants Kansas State University and the University of Missouri—more than any other U.S. location.

*Why do people like potatoes?
6/13/19 Fresh Plaza
Chetan Sharma is completing his doctorate in human nutrition at Kansas State University under the guidance of Martin Talavera, assistant professor of sensory analysis and human behavior. For his dissertation, Sharma is conducting a multiyear project that looks at the sensory aspects of potatoes — one of the world's largest food crops. He is focusing specifically on the drivers behind what people like about potatoes.

Local

*K-State receives $2.5M grant for railroad center
6/13/19 Manhattan Mercury
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration on Wednesday announced a $2.57 million grant for K-State.

Thursday, June 13, 2019

National/International 

Does a cooler summer lead to better feed conversion? Maybe, maybe not
6-12-19 Beef Magazine
“Yes, I can see cooler conditions possibly translating into better feed conversions. However, if the pens are still in poor condition from the previous winter’s feeding period and are muddy, I can see mud offsetting any gains,” says Dale Blasi, beef Extension specialist-ruminant nutrition at Kansas State University, also manager and director of the KSU Beef Stocker Unit and Animal Identification Knowledge Laboratory, a facility designed to evaluate existing and emerging animal identification technologies.

State/Regional

Protect our red oaks: Get rid of rhododendrons, even healthy ones, bought from Walmart
6-12-19 Kansas City Star 
The source of the disease is infected plants shipped from an Oklahoma nursery to Walmart stores throughout the Kansas City area. The Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State Extension made the announcement after samples tested positive on June 7.

Local

*Kansas State University students earn spring semester honors
6-12-19 Salina Post
More than 3,800 Kansas State University students have earned semester honors for their academic performance in the spring 2019 semester.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

National/International 

Announcing the 2019 ACM Board of Directors Elections Results
6-11-19 SFGate
Dené Mosier began with the Kansas Children's Discovery Center (KCDC) as President and CEO in August 2015. Since arriving at KCDC, she has led the organization in eliminating all debt, launching a mobile museum, creating programming for children facing life threatening illnesses through the Medical Warriors program, and establishing the Play Free program, a prison partnership that allows children to meet their incarcerated mothers or grandmothers at the museum to play. Dené also serves on the Momentum 2022 Talent Development Work Group, was a 2017 Woman of Excellence Nominee, and volunteers for Junior Achievement and Meals on Wheels. She obtained both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Kansas State University, where she continues to serve as an instructor teaching courses on human development and aging each spring.

State/Regional

Kansas researchers are trying to make airplanes quieter with help from NASA grant
6-11-19 Wichita Eagle 
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has awarded a three-year, $750,000 research grant to a team of university and industry leaders to develop the new acoustic liner. Three researchers from Wichita State University, Kansas State University and the University of Kansas will partner with ERG Materials and Aerospace Corp., Honeywell Aerospace and Spirit AeroSystems on the project.

Local

*K-State announces interim enrollment vice provosts
6-11-19 Manhattan Mercury
K-State announced Tuesday two interim vice provosts.

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

National/International 

Making Wheat Better Equipped to Fight Fungal Disease
6-10-19 Technology Networks
Along with Bai, study authors include Paul St. Amand, a plant geneticist with the ARS Hard Winter Wheat Genetics Research Unit in Manhattan, and a team from Kansas State University that included Zhenqi Su, Amy Bernardo, Bin Tian, Hui Chen and Harold Trick.

State/Regional

Up to Date
6-10-19 KCUR
Segment 2, beginning at 26:15: Long-time K-State dean of students retires
Pat Bosco is retiring after 50 years in higher education. He reflects on his time at K-State, the accomplishments he achieved while there, and what the future of university education in Kansas might look like.

Local

In Focus 6/10/19
6-10-19 KMAN
Monday’s show featured KSU College of Veterinary Medicine Clinical Professor Dr. Susan Nelson who spoke about emergency preparedness with pets, as well as 4th of July safety tips.

Monday, June 10, 2019

National/International 

Consumers could reduce cocoa farm child labor if they're willing to pay more
6-7-19 Earth News
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Arkansas and Kansas State University, and published in the journal PLOS ONE.

State/Regional

*It's your business
6-8-19 Topeka Capital Journal
Bonnie Rush has been selected as dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, while Gary Clark, senior associate dean of the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering at Kansas State University, has been appointed interim dean of that college.

Infected plants sold at Kansas Walmarts must be destroyed, state Ag Department says
6-7-19 Wichita Eagle
Matthew McKernan, Kansas State University extension agent for Sedgwick County, said to be sure everything is removed from the host environment, he would recommend the double-bagging technique. The trouble with burning, he said, is that some of the infected material could linger.

Local

May precipitation sets all-time record in Kansas
6-8-19 WIBW
The Kansas State University Weather Data Library says average rainfall in May was 10.26 inches, the wettest month on records going back 125 years.

Friday, June 7, 2019

National/International 

*City council: Limiting number of New Orleans 'dollar stores' can ease access to healthy foods
06/06/19 The New Orleans Advocate
If small groceries in New Orleans East are losing business to discount stores, that wouldn’t surprise Kansas State University associate professor David Procter, who has studied the discount stores’ impact upon rural communities.

State/Regional

*Suspect in shots fired incident at KSU Foundation building identified
06/06/19 Hays Post
 The Kansas State University Police Department has arrested a suspect in connection with the May 9 shots fired incident at the KSU Foundation at Kimball and Denison avenues, according to a media release from K-State.

Local

Hundreds gather in Abilene for D-Day’s 75th
06/06/19 JC Post
General Richard Myers, USAF (Ret.), the former chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and current president of Kansas State University, gave the keynote address.

Thursday, June 6, 2019

National/International 

Williams: Some colleges committed to ideological diversity
06/05/19 Boston Herald
Other colleges listed in the article where students won’t have to walk on eggshells include Arizona State University, Claremont McKenna College, Kansas State University and Kenyon College, to name a few.

State/Regional

K-State police arrest suspect in shots fired incident
06/05/19 KCTV 5
The Kansas State University Police Department has arrested a suspect in connection with the May 9 shots fired incident at the KSU Foundation at Kimball and Denison avenues.

Local

Suspect arrested for gunfire outside K-State Foundation building
06/05/19 WIBW
A Manhattan man was arrested in connection with last month’s gunfire on the north side of Kansas State University.
 
Area high school students awarded Westar scholarships
06/05/19 The Topeka Capital-Journal
The scholarship recipients from the capital city include:
• Caleb Eddy, Topeka West High School, who will attend Kansas State University to student computer science.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

National/International 

After a Decade of Food Access Work, Are People Eating Any Healthier?
6/4/19 Civil Eats
David Procter is the director of the Kansas State Rural Grocery Initiative; Samina Raja is a professor of urban and regional planning who focuses on food access and food systems planning at University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning; Ashanté M. Reese is an assistant professor of sociology and anthropology working on food and race and food inequities at Spelman College; and Sarah Reinhardt is the lead food systems and health analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Food & Environment program. 

State/Regional

Local winery honors Salina aviation success
6/5/19 Salina Post
The Department of Defense gifted the base to the City of Salina, Salina Airport Authority, K-State and Salina School District, which diversified the old base into a thriving industrial center and regional airport graced with a two-mile runway.

Local

Classroom renovations improve learning environments, diminish discrepancies across classrooms
6/4/19 The Collegian
Other funding sources for classroom renovation projects come from philanthropic work by the Kansas State University Foundation and the academic infrastructure enhancement fee, a $4 per credit hour fee that generates about $1.8 million each year, by Bontrager’s estimates.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

National/International 

Native Americans' D-Day stories come to light
6/3/19 Daily Mail Online
An estimated 30,000 to 50,000 Native Americans fought in World War II, including 44,000 from the United States and 5,000 from Canada, according to Harald Prins, a Dutch anthropologist at Kansas State University who co-wrote a biography of Shay.

State/Regional

Kan. farmers see extent of damage to crops after floodwaters recede
6/3/19 KWCH
Darren Busick with the K-State Ag Extension Office in Reno County spent Monday surveying the damage.

Local

K-State hosts 82nd Boys State leadership program
6/3/19 WIBW
More than 400 Kansas High School juniors are staying at Kansas State University Monday.

Monday, June 3, 2019

National/International 

*Childfree by choice: stop telling me I'll change my mind later
6/2/19 U.K. Guardian
Research has shown that “baby fever” exists in both men and women but is not related to any sort of out-of-the-blue hormonal surge. Kansas State University published findings of a study into this topic in the journal Emotion in 2011. They found exposure to good baby experiences such as cuddles increased the desire to have babies, while negative exposure such as listening to a baby’s piercing cries decreased it. Then rational factors such as considering the trade-offs of having babies kicked in. “We had people who were high on the positive aspects and they see all the good things about babies and want a baby,” psychology professor and co-author Gary Brase said. “We also had people who were high on the negative aspects and absolutely do not want to have babies. Then we had people who were high on both positive and negative aspects and were very conflicted about children.

America’s cattle threatened by tick-borne ‘yellow fever’ epidemic
6/2/19 American Thinker
A new statewide study by Kansas State veterinarian Mark Spare, covering 925 herds and 9,250 head of cattle, found infection in about 83 percent of the herds in eastern counties, 47 percent of herds in central counties and 22 percent in the western counties.

State/Regional

Losing a community cornerstone
6/1/19 High Plains Journal
Kansas State University’s Rural Grocery Initiative is a collaborative partnership with other agencies aimed at helping rural grocers develop sustainable business models. RGI reports that small towns in Kansas and other states are looking at alternatives to the traditional single-owner model for operating a rural grocery store. For example, ownership of Little River’s grocery store was transferred to the city, which upgraded and remodeled the building and now leases it to the Kansas store’s operators. Minneola, not far from Spearville, reopened its hometown market as a community-owned store, and residents bought shares in the business. Cody, Nebraska, even has a rural grocery operated by students at the local high school. Other towns are looking at nonprofit, cooperative or public/private models to keep their rural grocery stores going, according to RGI.

Local

Digging in: Personal touches, landscaping featured in 31st garden tour
6/2/19 Manhattan Mercury
Taking a short, paved path along the side of his home at 145 Bethany Drive, Frank Tracz, marching band director at K-State, w