TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas State Board of Education has renewed the accreditation status of all the state’s public schools as well as every private school that participates in the program regardless of student performance on statewide tests.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that this is the fourth year in a row that the board has automatically renewed those accreditations.

The accreditations were renewed this year because the state is expecting to shift to a new accreditation model that will put less emphasis on annual test scores. Instead, it will focus on a wider range of factors such as students’ college performance or their ability to find jobs after graduation.

The state board has been working toward the change since 2011, shortly after it adopted new curriculum standards known as the Common Core.

The First Infantry Division Band and members of the Junction City Community Band are offering a free concert this weekend at the C.L. Hoover Opera House in Junction City.

The event, entitled A Night at the Movies is sponsored by Central Michigan University and is open to the public.

Come out and enjoy an evening of film music from John Wiliams, Disney, movie musicals and much more.

Free popcorn will be served; no tickets are required.

DICKINSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Dickinson County are investigating a suspect in connection with the death of a 13-month-old.

Just after 10p.m. on Monday, personnel at Abilene Memorial Hospital notified sheriff deputies after a 13-month-old child was brought into the emergency room, according to Dickinson County Sheriff Gareth Hoffman

Family members brought the baby to the hospital from a residence in Enterprise, according to Hoffman.

The baby was unresponsive upon arrival at the hospital and died a short time later.

The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department determined the child’s death was suspicious in nature and immediately opened an investigation.

Hoffman said several interviews were conducted and an autopsy was performed.

Based on evidence obtain through the investigation, the child’s mother Jessica Stinnett, 29, Enterprise, was arrested and booked into the Dickinson County Jail on requested charges of first-degree murder and child abuse.

Written by Joe Montgomery on ksu.edu. Picture courtesy ksu.edu.

MANHATTAN — A Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine student is one of two nationwide winners of a prestigious $75,000 scholarship for students who intend to pursue an equine-focused veterinary practice career following graduation.

Jenni Wright, Hope, who is entering her fourth year in Kansas State University’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, is the recipient of the Coyote Rock Ranch Veterinary Scholarship, which is administered by the American Quarter Horse Foundation. The scholarship was created by Penny Knight, owner of Coyote Rock Ranch in Hillsboro, Oregon.

“From the time I was 5 years old, I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian,” Wright said. “My long-term goal is to practice as a board-certified equine surgeon and research exercise and muscle physiology in performance horses.”

Along with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, Wright is also working on a master’s degree in biomedical science. She has been a participant in the Basic Research Immersion Training Experience, or BRITE, program in the College of Veterinary Medicine, which provides research-oriented Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students with a subsidized, in-depth, mentored research experience. The opportunity can be used to gain research experience, to obtain a master’s degree, or to jump-start work toward a doctoral program.

“As a BRITE scholar, I really think the research work I’ve done is what helped me compete for this scholarship,” Wright said.

“This is a very significant scholarship award, particularly in the amount of the award and the small number of students who are selected each year,” said Ronnie Elmore, associate dean for academic programs, admissions and diversity programs in the College of Veterinary Medicine. “We are very proud to have a Kansas State University student selected for this award, and we definitely appreciate the support of veterinary education by the Coyote Rock Ranch and American Quarter Horse Foundation.”

Ideal candidates for the Coyote Rock Ranch Veterinary Scholarship are students enrolled at an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited college of veterinary medicine in the United States or Canada whose studies are equine-focused and who have a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average. While preference is given to students with American quarter horse involvement, students with significant equine involvement or experience with other breeds or disciplines are also encouraged to apply.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback signed a budget bill Wednesday that makes significant cuts to the highway fund, Medicaid and higher education and trims most state agency budgets by 4 percent.

Brownback announced cuts to address the more than $290 million shortfall faced this year and in the fiscal year beginning July 1. The plan includes cutting $185 million from the highway fund and over $97 million from most state agencies. State universities and most Medicaid provider rates will be reduced by 4 percent.

The cuts leave an ending balance of $21.5 million for this year and $87.5 million in the 2017 fiscal year.

Kansas has struggled to balance its budget since GOP lawmakers slashed personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback’s urging in an effort to stimulate the economy.

There will be a Red Cross blood drive in Junction City Monday and Tuesday, May 23 and 24 at the Municipal Building.

Donors are being urged by the Red Cross to make appointments on Tuesday since most of the appointment slots on Monday are full. However walk-in donors are welcome. Lunch hour donors on Tuesday are definitely welcome.

The hours for the blood drive on Monday are 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Tuesday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Responding to recent criticism of the consolidated Chamber of Commerce arrangement in Junction City, members of the City Commission expressed their support for the organiation on Tuesday night. The organization includes the Chamber Activities Division, EDC, Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and Military Affairs under one umbrella.

Mayor Mick McCallister, stated that there’s been a lot of scrutiny over the EDC issues in recent weeks. He said the community must grow its’ capabilities, and there are opportunities to being jobs to Junction City. “Lately there’s been those that want to dismantle the consolidation effort. Now’s not the time to throw the towel in. Now is the time to find solutions, make a plan, execute that plan. And I’ve heard a lot of things that we should do this or do that as far as the consolidation goes. But not one of those naysayers have said what the alternative is. What is the solution, what is the suggestion? All I’ve heard are complaints and bitterness, but nobody has stepped up and said here’s what we need to do.”

McCallister concluded his comments with a message, “To the naysayers on the consolidation, you need to get out of the way and let people do their jobs, and let them do their jobs properly so we can move forward in this community.”

City Commissioner Pat Landes, stated he’s a big supporter of Chamber consolidation, and added a team effort is needed. “We need people that want to work together and support the common goals of the Chamber and EDC and the MAC and the CVB. Once we find those people we can set our course and go ahead.” Landis added the Chamber is still in its infancy.

Landes added, “We just had an EDC director for just less than a year. Things didn’t work out. That’s okay. That happens, it happens in any field anywhere. So to say that the consolidation agreement is failing is absurd. And we need to realize that, and find the right people to get this thing going forward.”

Landes noted he feels the consolidated chamber has been good for the community and to walk away from that would be a big mistake. He noted there may need to be some tweaking to it , but he supports the consolidation.

Fort Riley is becoming the site this summer for extensive National Guard and Army Reserve troop training.

The Military Affairs Council in Junction City was recently informed the number coming to the post to train is expected to hit 30,000 by the end of September.

They are arriving in intervals from multiple states for short training periods at Fort Riley.

Junction City High School Underclass and Senior Awards Night ceremonies are scheduled Wednesday evening at the Warren Settles Auditorium at JCHS.

The underclass ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. and the senior awards are scheduled at 7 p.m.

Students who excelled academically and athletically are recognized. Academic awards scholarships will be annoiunced.

Senior awards to be announced include more than 20 local scholarships, Geary Community Schools Foundation, military affiliated, USD 475 elemenetary school scholarships plus national scholarships. Athletic scholarships and individual athletic awards will also be announced.

Some patchy fog is expected this morning across portions of northeast and east central KS, especially in low-lying areas. This fog should dissipate by mid-morning, with partly sunny skies in place for the remainder of the day and with high temperatures in the mid/upper 60s. Scattered light rain showers will be possible at times during the Thu through Fri time-frame. Otherwise, expect a warming trend by this weekend with highs in the mid 70s to low 80s. A more active weather pattern is expected late weekend through the middle of next week, during which there may be several chances for scattered thunderstorms.

Today: Partly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the upper 60s. South winds up to 5 mph shifting to the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny. A 30 percent chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph.

Thursday Night: Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain showers. Lows in the lower 50s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night And Saturday: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs 71 to 76.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.

Sunday: Partly sunny. Highs around 80.

Sunday Night Through Monday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs around 80.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s.