In an ongoing effort to raise awareness about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder U.S. Senator Jerry Moran sponsored a Senate resolution to recognize June as PTSD Awareness Month.

According to the National Institutes of Health, PTSD affects more than 7.7 million adults nationally. Those exposed to war and combat are at an increasingly high risk for developing PTSD, yet only half of those affected seek treatment.

“Many of the men and women impacted by PTSD have valiantly fought to protect our freedom and security, and it is our duty to make certain that they do not feel abandoned by the country they served, ” Sen. Moran said. “It’s important that we acknowledge the toll PTSD takes on its victims as we strive to get these couragous individuals the treatment they deserve.”

On June 23-24, 150 key leaders met in Manhattan to discuss the future research activities and operations of the National Bio and Agro-defense facility, or NBAF.

This was a summit with livestock producers and the animal health industry about science, synergy and security. It was an industry-focused, invitational-only summit that provided a centralized location for livestock producers, animal health industry leaders, researchers and policymakers to start discussions about how NBAF will work with the community and develop a strong working relationship between government and industry before the federal laboratory begins its operations.

As a way to expand the conversation, the U. S. Department of Homeland Security added NBAF to its Science and Technology National Conversation seriese. The bio/agrosecurity-focused topic is designed to build on the dialog begun at the summit.

The summit is the first in a series designed to bring together NBAF’s key stakeholders.

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, showers and thunderstorms continue this morning with locally heavy rainfall possible. Dry this afternoon with clouds clearing out and gusty winds. Rain chances return Sunday evening and into early Monday morning. Temperatures will be near average through next week with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

Early This Morning: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Northeast winds up to 10 mph.

Today: Not as warm. Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Highs around 80. North winds 5 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. North winds up to 10 mph.

Saturday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds up to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. East winds around 5 mph shifting to the south after midnight.

Sunday: Sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 90. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s.

Monday: Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.

Monday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 60s.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 90.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

Thursday: Mostly sunny with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.

PRATT–The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) will be participating in the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators “Operation Dry Water” (ODW) event, June 26-28.

ODW is a nationally-coordinated effort to reduce the number of accidents and deaths related to boating under the influence (BUI). During this three-day period, KDWPT officers will be conducting increased patrols, breathalyzer tests, and checkpoints, as well as providing boater education and outreach.

“Studies have found that people become impaired faster when boating as opposed to driving due to additional factors such as heat, dehydration, wind and wave action,” said KDWPT assistant director of law enforcement, Major Dan Hesket. “Our goal is to promote awareness of the hazards relating to boat operations while intoxicated and to prevent any accidents, injuries, or deaths due to operating while impaired.”

Hesket encourages anyone who suspects a boater to be intoxicated to dial 911 and provide the operator with the location, the suspect boat’s registration numbers, and a complete description of the operator and passengers.

Boaters whose blood alcohol content (BAC) level exceeds the state limit of .08 percent can expect to be arrested for BUI and face other serious penalties including fines, jail time and loss of boating or even driving privileges.

According to Hesket, the KDWPT Law Enforcement Division averages approximately 11 special enforcement efforts over the ODW weekend, resulting in four to eight BUI arrests each year.

For more information, visit operationdrywater.org.

There was light attendance at a Flint Hills Transportation Plan Open House in Junction City Thursday at the C. L. Hoover Opera House, but there was limited input on a pair of concerns.

According to Transportation Planner Stephanie Watts there were a couple of concerns about K-18 highway and the Spring Valley Road area on the west side of Junction City. “There were some concerns on the speeds around K-18 out by Spring Valley Road, by the middle school where it goes from 65 down to 40, and two-tenth of a mile later it goes back up and then back down. Watts added, “The intersection of K-18 and Spring Valley Road they kind of have to just cross their fingers, pray and shoot out into traffic to make sure that there’s no one coming over that hill.”

Watts said that is not a ( transportation ) project identified to this point, so it will be taken to their technical officials like engineers and planners. The information will also be relayed to elected officials so they are aware of the concern that has been brought up.

Tonight: According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, an isolated storm or two may develop across north central and northeast Kansas late this afternoon along a stall boundary. However, the better storm chances will be overnight. A complex of thunderstorms is expected to move across the area late this evening and through the overnight hours.

Initially storms may be capable of large hail and damaging winds, but as the not progresses locally heavy rainfall along with large hail appear to be the main hazards. A flash flood watch for parts of north central and northeast Kansas remains in effect until 6 am Friday.

Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening…then showers and thunderstorms likely after midnight. Lows in the upper 60s. Northeast winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Friday: Not as warm. Partly sunny with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 80. North winds 5 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. North winds up to 10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds up to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. East winds up to 5 mph shifting to the south around 5 mph after midnight.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s.

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Kansas Democratic County Chairs, unhappy with the 2015 legislature, are inviting Kansans to join them Friday, June 26 at 10 a.m. at the south steps of the state Capitol to protest what they claim is the longest, most expensive legislative session in Kansas history.

Democrats say that was caused by the lack of leadership in the Republican-dominated legislature and by the Governor.

June 26 at 10 a.m. marks “sine die,” or the official end of the legislative session.

Starting June 27, Kansas democrats will begin work on the 2016 campaigns. If you want more information contact your county Democratic Party fo volunteer and donation opportunities.

 

MCFARLAND- A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 3 p.m. on Thursday in Wabaunsee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Dodge Ram driven by Timothy Weisbender, 60, Manhattan, was northbound on Kansas 185 attempting to turn on to the Interstate 70 Westbound ramp.

The truck was hit by a 2012 Jeep Liberty driven by Mary Rose Johnson, 39, Topeka, that was pulling off of Interstate 70 ramp to southbound Kansas185.

Johnson was transported to the Wamego City Hospital.
Weisbender and a teenage passenger in the Jeep were not injured.

All were properly restrained at the time of the accident.

The traditional sine die adjournament of the Kansas Legislature is Friday in Topeka.

But first there will be another item of business to address.

Lonnie Clark, 65th District State Representative, Junction City, explained legislation approved earlier capping county property taxes will be addressed. “It was supposed to go into effect on July 1, 2018. And somehow it came out going into effect July 1, 2015.”

Clark added basically that earlier 2015 date would tie the county’s hands on raising money in any way, shape or form.