K-State in the news — February 2025
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, Feb. 21, 2025
State/Regional
K-State Research and Extension collaborating on blood pressure monitor program
2/20/25 KSN
As part of a collaboration with the American Heart Association and the Sedgwick County Health Department, K-State Research and Extension is helping provide borrowable blood pressure monitors at local libraries.
Soybean growers look to buck headwinds
2/21/25 High Plains Journal
Dan O’Brien, a professor and Extension agricultural economist with Kansas State University, said growers should watch the progress of the South America soybean crop from now through harvest. USDA will be making monthly projections for March through August, but if good or bad crop production conditions occur in Brazil and/or Argentina, in-country analytical sources are likely to provide quicker and more responsible signals for larger or smaller crop prospects and inversely related pricing responses.
Local
Out of Space | Seaton under construction to hold more students
2/19/25 K-State Collegian
To make room for the large number of students, construction is being done in old Seaton and Seaton Central with the hopes of moving some interior design majors over. “We’re working on a plan that involves three or four colleges, the university, and lots of different dominoes and people moving basically to get more space so that we can bring over the faculty offices, the classrooms and all the students from Justin Hall,” Dean Michael McClure said.
K-State online course aids efforts to keep rural grocery stores open
2/20/25 Salina Post
An idea spawned at Kansas State University to support rural grocery stores in transition to new ownership has grown into a network of resource providers in 11 states. Clara Misenhelter, a program manager with K-State’s Rural Grocery Initiative, credits an online course for helping to address a growing concern in rural communities.
Community provides final input on K-State Campus Master Plan
2/20/25 Wildcat 91.9
A final town hall meeting was held Tuesday, February 11th on the K-State Manhattan Campus for the K-State Community to put their final input on the Campus Master Plan. Neil Kessler, who is the Senior Principal with the Smithgroup and has led the meetings for the past eleven months, described this process as three phases.
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025
National/International
CEEZAD study finds pigs can transmit Mpox
2/19/25 National Hog Farmer
The article was co-authored by Dr. Juergen A. Richt, Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University and director of CEEZAD and CEZID. It was published in the Dec. 13 edition of Emerging Microbes And Infections.
State/Regional
‘K-State Impact Day’: Highlighting the effects K-State has partially or fully made for Kansas
2/19/25 WIBW
Researchers and staff with Kansas State University hosted a presentation at the Kansas Statehouse to bring attention to the school’s latest impacts on the state.
Local
Pet Safety
2/19/25 KSNT
Kansas State University's veterinarian Susan Nelson advises pet owners to take extra precautions to keep their pets safe and warm.
Published Authors Impacting Students at JCHS
2/19/25 JC Post
He is in his first year as a licensed teacher thanks to Kansas State Univ
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025
National/International
Next generation of agriculture pros get a peek at their future during Fort Worth event
02/18/25 Fort Worth Report
For Dan Moser, the associate dean for academic programs in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University, the stock show is a great opportunity to recruit students who have a passion and are eager to explore their leadership capabilities. They’re thinking about their future in an industry at a crossroads.
Local
How to incorporate native plants in the garden
02/18/25 The Times
Restoring biodiversity in a home garden or any area can be done by incorporating native plants, said Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini.
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025
National/International
How new ag tech is helping farmers detect bovine respiratory disease early and save billions in cattle losses.
02/17/25 The Iowa Podcast
Kansas State University is helping refine the technology developed by Yale Zhang, an entrepreneur with a background in industrial engineering and his company Seismi, which pivoted from human healthcare technology to the agricultural industry. The transition was driven by interest from animal health and agriculture companies, ultimately leading Seismi to a new focus: detecting bovine respiratory disease (BRD), a major cause of cattle losses.
State/Regional
Salute Our Heroes: Cleaning up K-State from historic blizzard took total team effort
2/17/25 WIBW
While the rest of Northeast Kansas was inside, waiting for the snow to be cleared, K-State’s facilities crew was outside, clearing off campus. And they did it at an incredible pace. “For the amount of snow we had, being able to work from 5 PM Sunday night to Monday night, we could’ve opened this campus on Tuesday,” K-State Director of Steam & Chilled Water Management Tim Brunner told 13 NEWS. “It was still a little hairy and a little icy so we chose to give us one more day to get things cleared up.” The 15 inches of snow that Manhattan received during last month’s snowstorm was the most the area had gotten in 150 years. But for K-State, they stuck to their usual playbook.
Local
K-State Salina offering one-of-a-kind, in-demand college courses to high school students
02/17/25 Junction City Post
One-of-a-kind, in-demand educational opportunities are now available to high school students through Kansas State University Salina’s pre-college pathways. K-State Salina is offering courses for students who desire to complete college credits while still in high school in the high-demand career pathways of aviation maintenance, applied business, applied cyber systems design and uncrewed aircraft systems. These courses will be predominantly offered through an online environment, allowing students to learn anytime, anywhere.
Monday, Feb. 17, 2025
National/International
Grant for Monitoring Rail Stress Awarded to Kansas State University
02/14/25 Railway Supply
Kansas State University secured a grant for monitoring rail stress, advancing railway safety through innovative technology. The $300,000 funding supports non-contact methods for precise rail stress evaluation. This research focuses on stress within continuous welded rail (CWR), utilizing cutting-edge non-contact monitoring. Engineers aim to refine accuracy, ensuring better safety and durability for railway infrastructure.
Local
K-State horticulture expert says native plants promote biodiversity
02/14/25 Manhattan Mercury
Restoring biodiversity in a garden can be done by incorporating native plants, said K-State horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini. “Native plants promote biodiversity by limiting the amount of maintenance needed while providing food and housing for wildlife,” Domenghini said. Native plants are adapted to a specific area, according to Domenghini. A native landscape has balance between the animals and plants, enabling them to co-exist. Once established, native plants require less supplemental water, fertilizer, pest management and overall maintenance than non-natives.
K-State Moving Forward With $26M Biomanufacturing Project
02/14/25 Manhattan Mercury
The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday approved the next step in and addition to the Bioprocessing and Industrial Value Added Products Innovation Center at K-State, a project estimated to cost between $26.5 million and $30 million. Regents approved a program statement for the facility, which belongs to the Department of Grain Science and Industry. There, scientists work to develop technology to produce bio-based products from grains and other plants.
K-State weed specialist shares tips on controlling early-emerging kochia
02/15/25 JC Post
A Kansas State University weed specialist says farmers should be on the lookout for early-emergence of a troublesome weed that competes with farm crops for nutrients, water and light. Sarah Lancaster said kochia is among the first summer annual weeds to emerge in the spring. In 2024, kochia was found as early as Feb. 7, following a snowstorm in late January, and temperatures that hit the 50s and 60s in early February – conditions that were very similar to what much of Kansas experienced this year, as well.
Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
Local
Official: K-State's retention rates nearing 2025 goals
2/13/25 The Manhattan Mercury/KMAN
Vice president for academic success Thomas Lane said K-State spent $4 million in fiscal year 2024-25 to boost student retention and graduation rates. That money went toward renovating Holtz Hall, the first-generation student center, a peer mentoring program, and professional advising in the colleges of Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, and Engineering.
Regents approve $26 million to renovate K-State's biomanufacturing innovation center
2/12/25 The Manhattan Mercury/KMAN
The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday approved the next step in and addition to the Bioprocessing and Industrial Value Added Products Innovation Center at K-State, a project estimated to cost between $26.5 million and $30 million.Regents approved a program statement for the facility, which belongs to the Department of Grain Science and Industry. There, scientists work to develop technology to produce bio-based products from grains and other plants.
K-State may revamp Ahearn to use as event space
2/12/25 The Manhattan Mercury/KMAN
K-State has big plans for Ahearn Field House, which is set to become an event space for conferences and performances. Officials shared that and other planned changes at an event Tuesday to discuss the university’s master plan and seek feedback on it. Attendees left their thoughts with an online form or sticky notes.
K-State master plan calls for making campus more walkable
2/13/25 The Manhattan Mercury/KMAN
Officials want K-State to be more walkable. That was a major theme of a presentation on the university’s master plan earlier this week. K-State officials said Tuesday they’re looking at closing some roads, such as parts of Martin Luther King Drive and College Heights Road, which would connect Anderson Hall and Ahearn Field House.
Within Reason with Mike Matson 02/13/25: Susan Metzger
2/13/25 KMAN
On Thursday's episode of Within Reason with Mike Matson, editor-in-chief of the Manhattan Mercury Megan Moser filled in to discuss Kansas water initiatives with Susan Metzger from the K-State Water Institute.
‘Cats Against Cat Flu | K-State vets discuss avian influenza
2/13/25 The K-State Collegian
Kansas State veterinarian Susan Nelson warns cat owners to keep their furry friends safe from highly pathogenic avian influenza — also known as bird flu — as cases crop up in domestic cats around the country. “Avian influenza is not just new this year,” Nelson, clinical professor at the Pet Health and Nutrition Center, said. “It’s been around. … But, what really set it off this year is, starting in March, dairy cattle started getting infected. It’s an influenza virus. They tend to start mutating to make it easier to infect the other animals as well.”
Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025
National/International
Solar flares in May 2024 revealed Earth’s vulnerability to space weather
2/12/25 Space News
Since delays in planting are associated with lower yield and revenue, an initial “back of the cocktail napkin” analysis indicates corn farmers lost $500 million due to the Gannon storm, Terry Griffin, Kansas State University associate professor of agricultural economics said at the AMS meeting. “That’s a conservative estimate, it’s clearly going to be more than that.
Local
Brad Behnke named Betty L. Tointon Dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences
2/12/25 JC Post
Following a national search, the Office of the Provost has appointed Brad Behnke as Betty L. Tointon Dean of Kansas State University's College of Health and Human Sciences, effective Feb. 16.
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025
National/International
Cat Owners Warned of Bird Flu Risk: 'Vigilance Is Key'
02/10/25 MSN.com
Cat owners should take proactive measures to protect their pets from bird flu infections as reports of cases in both domestic and wild cats rise—many of which have proved fatal. This is the warning of Dr. Susan Nelson, a veterinarian and Kansas State University professor. "Vigilance is key in preventing further infections," she said in a statement issued on February 4, adding that there was no need to panic in the current situation.
State/Regional
Carl R. Ice College of Engineering at K-State selects ambassadors for 2025
02/11/25 KSCB-FM
Kansas State University’s Carl R. Ice College of Engineering has selected 36 students for membership in the Engineering Ambassadors organization. Engineering Ambassadors are current engineering students chosen to promote the engineering profession and act as hosts for the college. Each ambassador assists with recruitment initiatives that occur both on and off campus.
How a K-State Researcher Cracked the Code of Livestock Pain Relief
02/10/25 Farms.com
Hans Coetzee, university distinguished professor of animal welfare in Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, has dedicated much of his career to assessing and relieving pain in livestock species. His work has been instrumental in clearing the way for the first regulatory approval of livestock analgesics, or pain relief medicine, that has eased the pain of millions of animals. For these contributions, the National Academy of Sciences has awarded Coetzee the 2025 Prize in Food and Agriculture Science
Monday, Feb. 10, 2025
National/International
How this 30-year-old veteran paid off more than $20,000 in credit card debt in one year
2/7/2025 AOL
According to Megan McCoy, a certified financial therapist and assistant professor of personal financial planning at Kansas State University, it's not uncommon for couples to avoid the topic of money — and that comes with consequences. "The more rare a conversation about money is, the more tense what happens is going to be," she says.
State/Regional
K-State Salina Lecture Series to Feature Eisenhower Staffer
2/8/2025 KSAL
The Salina-area community is invited to attend Kansas State University Salina's next Civic Lecture Series discussion, "America 250," which will explore the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America's history and its future. July 4, 2026, is America’s 250th birthday celebration, and the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission has organized activities nationwide to facilitate robust public-private partnerships leading up to the official celebration. Guest speaker Joy Murphy, learning and engagement director for the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum, will lead attendees in a discussion about America's 250th celebration and how the Eisenhower Presidential Library will be contributing.
K-State Ag Safety Expert Urges Farmers To Monitor Hearth Health
2/1/2025 KNCK
The Kansas Department of Agriculture reports that there are more than 100,000 farmers in the state, and the average age of those farmers is just over 58. Tawnie Larson, a project consultant for the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at Kansas State University, said the KDA’s statistics combined with national figures on heart disease serve as a cautionary tale for those who live in rural areas of the Sunflower State. "Male farmers aged 45 and older have an increased risk of heart disease compared to their non-farming peers," Larson said. "And women in rural areas also are at an increased risk for heart disease."
Local
Work underway to establish American Honey Institute in Manhattan
2/8/2025 The Mercury
Manhattan may soon become an international leader in honey production, certification, and beekeeping therapy. Valor Honey, a veteran-owned honey-making business, recently formed an alliance with Kansas State University and the American Honey Producers Association to establish the American Honey Institute. The goal is to expand honey production in the Little Apple while providing educational and therapeutic opportunities.
Friday, Feb. 7, 2025
National/International
New bird flu variant in cattle adds to concerns about federal response under Trump
2/5/25 NPR
Cattle infections with D1.1 aren't expected to be much different in terms of "virulence and transmission," Dr. Jürgen Richt, a veterinary microbiologist at Kansas State University, told NPR in an email. But its track record in humans could be a "major change from the earlier scenario."
The best hamster cages of 2025, tested and reviewed
2/6/25 Business Insider
A key feature of this hamster cage is its 6.25-inch deep plastic tub base, which gives your hamster plenty of room to burrow in its bedding. Dr. Amanda Steinagel, a veterinarian and clinical assistant professor specializing in exotics at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, recommends offering bedding to provide space for digging and burrowing, behaviors that are extremely important to a hamster's psychological well-being.
State/Regional
K-State vet warns cat owners about H5N1 amid rising cases
2/5/25 Great Bend tribune
Veterinary and public health officials are urging cat owners to remain vigilant as cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or H5N1, commonly known as bird flu, have been detected in domestic cats.
Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025
National/International
A new type of bird flu has been found in dairy cows in Nevada
2/5/25 NPR
Cattle infections with D1.1 aren't expected to be much different in terms of "virulence and transmission," Dr. Jürgen Richt, a veterinary microbiologist at Kansas State University, told NPR in an email. But its track record in humans could be a "major change from the earlier scenario."
Local
K-State introduces new school of accountancy named for Herbel family
2/5/25 The Manhattan Mercury
The K-State College of Business Administration on Wednesday announced the adaptation of its accounting department into the Herbel Family School of Accountancy. The goal is an academic experience "that more closely aligns with the goals of its strategic plan," officials said in a written statement.
Farmers Urged to Monitor Heart Health
2/6/25 KSAL-AM
Tawnie Larson, a project consultant for the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at Kansas State University, said the KDA’s statistics combined with national figures on heart disease serve as a cautionary tale for those who live in rural areas of the Sunflower State.
Artificial Intelligence with K-State's Michael Pritchard
2/5/25 KSAL-AM
Dr. Michael Pritchard with Kansas State University in Salina joined in the KSAL Morning News Extra with a look at the reach DeepSeek AI and ChatGPT are gaining. Where does the industry go from here?
Hundreds mobilized to clear historic snowfall
2/5/25 The K-State Collegian
Christopher Salmon, assistant vice president for K-State’s division of facilities, said the university created an action plan at the end of last winter which included working with outside contractors. The plan was ready the week before the storm.
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025
National/International
WalletHub makes it easy to find the best online loan
02/01/25 WalletHub
Expert Opinions
Derek Sensenig
Ph.D., CFP, Practicing Professor, Personal Financial Planning & Director of Personal Financial Planning Masters Program - Kansas State University - College of Health and Human Sciences
State/Regional
Cat owners warned of bird flu risks amid rising cases
02/04/25 KWCH
Kansas State University’s Susan Nelson, clinical professor and veterinarian in the Hill’s Pet Health and Nutrition Center, emphasized that there is no need for panic but cautioned that proactive measures should be taken to prevent infections.H5N1, a strain of avian influenza type A, has been a growing concern in the poultry industry for nearly four years, leading to the culling of thousands of infected birds.
Local
Kansas Department of Agriculture seeks feedback for native tallgrass pasture use and practices
02/04/25 WIBW-TV
The Bluestem Pasture Survey is a collaborative effort between the Division of Agriculture Marketing at the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the K-State Land Use Survey Center within the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University.
Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025
State/Regional
KC-area coalitions receive Kauffman Foundation grants to attack the economic mobility gap
02/03/25 The Business Journals
Six area groups including nonprofits, businesses, and universities won grants from a new Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation initiative aimed at tackling systemic challenges. The Kansas City-based foundation announced six coalitions that will receive funding through its new Collective Impact program. The coalitions will each receive up to $500,000 planning grants, providing nine months of work devising ways to closing economic mobility gaps in the Kansas City region.
Local
High schoolers invited to explore health professions at K-State
02/03/25 WIBW-TV
Kansas State University’s College of Health and Human Sciences invites 2025-2026 high school juniors and seniors to apply for its 2025 Health Professions Exploration Program. The weeklong program is designed for incoming high school juniors and seniors who are interested in a career helping others through the healthcare industry. Participants will come to meet, explore, and experience a variety of health care professions and academic programs with a small cohort of like-minded high school students.
Substitutes for recently banned cherry dye are limited, says KSU food scientist
02/03/25 Junction City Post
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent ban on the use of a popular food dye will create a new challenge for home bakers aiming for a signature cherry red color in candy, cakes, icings and other food products. Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee said there are foods that can substitute for FD&C Red No. 3 – such as beets, cranberries, raspberries and more – “but these may also add flavors to food that may not be wanted."
Monday, Feb. 3, 2025
National/International
Kansas Land Values Stabilize, Economic Assistance to Impact 2025 Market
2/2/2025 ARCHYDE
The Kansas agricultural landscape is undergoing a transformation. After several years of explosive growth, land values seem to be leveling off, according to a recent report from Kansas State University. To understand the forces driving this shift, we spoke with Robin Reid, a farm economist at the university. "We're certainly seeing signs of stabilization in the Kansas land market," Reid explains. "While non-irrigated cropland and pastureland values saw increases last year, they were far smaller than in previous years. We're not seeing the rapid, almost unsustainable pace of growth that marked the past several years. It's crucial to note that there are some regional variations, with certain areas seeing price decreases, but the overall trend is towards leveling off."
State/Regional
Kansas State University researchers say red meat allergy from tick bites is becoming more common
2/1/2025 KAKE and Kansas Reflector
Researchers at Kansas State University say the number of cases of an allergic reaction to red meat tied to tick bites is increasing across the state. Priscilla Brenes, K-State Research and Extension nutrition and wellness specialist, said cases of an allergy called alpha-gal syndrome are becoming more common through more rural areas of Kansas. Alpha-gal syndrome is the term used to describe the allergic reaction to red meats and mammalian related products, most often through a tick bite.
Local
K-State offers program for students to learn about careers in helping professions
2/2/2025 KSAL
Kansas State University is giving middle and high school students hands-on learning about careers in helping professions. K-State will host its annual Social Impact Lab on April 2 for 7th-10th graders. The lab is hosted by the Department of Applied Human Sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences and the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work in the College of Arts and Sciences.
