K-3 will be closed from K-39 south to K-47 on Thursday, Oct. 14. The move was delayed one day due to rain on Oct. 13.
The daylong closure will start at 7 a.m., when a wind tower crane will be moved across the highway between Birch Road in Bourbon County and Arrowhead Road at the Bourbon-Crawford county line.
A detour will be signed on K-146, U.S. 59 and K-39. Traffic should use the detour and other alternate routes. Persons with questions may call Kansas Department of Transportation Area Superintendent Derrick Shannon at (620) 901-6550 or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433. For updates go to www.kandrive.org.
PRATT – When a lure drops below the water’s surface, it’s not always known what might rise to meet it. On a warm night late last month, one angler fishing the Neosho River east of Parsons caught something he probably never expected to see – a four and a half-foot, 39.5-pound Alligator Gar. The kicker? Alligator Gar aren’t native to Kansas and have never been documented here.
Though not always common, Alligator Gar are distributed from southwestern Ohio and southeastern Missouri and Illinois, south to the Gulf of Mexico, and a small portion of northeastern Mexico. A predatory fish, Alligator Gar are sometimes referred to as “living fossils” since fossil records trace them back nearly 100 million years. As the name implies, Alligator Gar are easily identified by their broad snouts that loosely resemble that of the American Alligator. Alligator Gar are the largest gar species with specimens weighing more than 300 pounds and measuring more than 8 feet long. Just three gar species are native to Kansas: Longnose, Shortnose, and Spotted Gar. Longnose Gar are the most common and largest gar species in Kansas. While the Longnose Gar are common in the state and reach lengths exceeding 5 feet, they are distinguished from the Alligator Gar by a narrow snout and smaller overall size, among other characteristics. So, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Fisheries biologists must ask, “What’s an alligator gar doing in the Neosho River?”
It’s a good question, and one KDWP Fisheries biologists are attempting to answer.
“We’re confident the information from the angler is accurate and the fish was, in fact, caught from the Neosho River,” said KDWP Fisheries biologist Connor Ossowski. “However, that doesn’t mean the fish originated from the river.”
To determine the fish’s origins, KDWP biologists have several unique options.
Since all states involved in Alligator Gar reintroduction efforts for populations in decline have been tagging each hatchery-produced Alligator Gar, KDWP staff had the option of looking for a tag. After using a “wand” to detect any identification markers, KDWP staff are confident this catch was not part of a formal reintroduction effort.
“Because most populations of this species can be distinguished from one another with a sample of the fish’s fins, another option we’re considering is genetic identification,” said KDWP assistant director of Fisheries research, Jeff Koch. “This will tell us if the fish came from an existing population in another state.”
If genetic testing doesn’t pan out, not all hope is lost; KDWP Fisheries biologists would still have one more option.
“Microchemistry is another technique at our disposal,” Koch added.
Microchemistry is performed by measuring the elemental proportion of a bone on a given fish and comparing it to the elemental concentration of a surrounding water. If consistencies exist, the data may be able to help Fisheries biologists determine at least how long the fish had been in the Neosho River.
Of all the potential scenarios for how this giant came to be in the Neosho River, there’s one hypothesis that rings the truest – the possibility that the Kansas-caught Alligator Gar was released from an aquarium.
“It’s not unlikely that this fish was once somebody’s pet or purchased from a pet store, and simply released into the river once it became too large,” said Doug Nygren, KDWP Fisheries Division director. “These techniques should allow us to determine which mode of introduction occurred.”
Time will tell if the Neosho River Alligator Gar made its way to the Sunflower State by natural or assisted means. While it would be very difficult for this fish to have made its way to Kansas naturally, due to the distance to the nearest population and the series of dams along the river, KDWP Fisheries biologists won’t jump to conclusions; they’ll do as they always have, which is rely on verifiable data from proven research methods.
Once their research is complete, KDWP Fisheries biologists will publish the results of this catch on ksoutdoors.com and on the Kansas Fisheries Division Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KDWPFisheries.
In the meantime, it’s important to note that transporting and releasing fish or other species in public waters, whether native or non-native, is illegal in Kansas. Chris Steffen, KDWP Aquatic Nuisance Species coordinator, warns, “Transporting and releasing fish risks spreading other harmful species such as microscopic zebra mussels, fish diseases, or aquatic vegetation that might be present in the water used to transport the fish.”
TOPEKA – This morning the Kansas Corporation Commission denied a Petition for Reconsideration (PFR) filed by the Natural Gas Transportation Customer Coalition (NGTCC). In its PFR, NGTCC asked the Commission to reconsider its September 9 decision rejecting NGTCC’s motion to subpoena S&P Global Platts Gas Daily for documents relating to the daily gas index during February’s winter weather event.
In today’s Order denying NGTCC’s PFR, the Commission found NGTCC’s request for a subpoena was designed to protect a specific subset of commercial customers (also referred to as Transportation customers) from financial penalties associated with their use of gas supplied by Kansas Gas Service (KGS) when their third party suppliers could not deliver. The requested subpoena was not designed to investigate price manipulation, price gouging, or profiteering in the wholesale markets to protect all Kansas ratepayers from the elevated gas costs of Winter Storm Uri.
“It is the Commission’s job to weigh the evidence, balance interests, and find the right solution for Kansas,” said KCC Chair Andrew French. “Today’s decision does not limit the already expansive scope of our investigations; it simply makes clear no customer groups will be given special treatment at the expense of other customers.”
The order also explains the serious consequences of reducing or eliminating penalties for unauthorized gas usage. Because a portion of the penalties represent the cost of providing gas to transportation customers, eliminating legitimate or appropriate penalties could cause remaining customers to subsidize NGTCC’s members.
“Thus, NGTCC recognizes that by advocating for reduction or elimination of penalties, it is potentially subjecting residential customers to a large portion of the $390 million of additional gas costs that might otherwise be paid by the gas marketers. So, to be clear, NGTCC is seeking the subpoena for the benefit of its members and their gas marketers, rather than to root out profiteering or to protect residential customers – who NGTCC very clearly does not represent.”
Despite its concerns of potential discrimination against residential customers, the Commission emphasizes no decision has been made on the reasonableness or appropriate amount of any potential penalties, so NGTCC’s argument that it faces excessive penalties is premature. NGTCC and other intervenors will have an opportunity to argue their position as this proceeding progresses.
The Commission’s order concluded by emphasizing the importance of not affording preferential treatment to certain subsets of customers while investigations remain ongoing.
“If FERC finds certain markets or indices should be retroactively adjusted, then all Kansans and Kansas businesses – whether sales or transportation customers – can be treated equitably in accordance with those findings. Granting NGTCC’s request for special treatment as compared to other Kansans at this phase would be inequitable and wrong.”
K-3 will be closed from K-39 south to K-47 on Wednesday, Oct. 13. The daylong closure will start at 7 a.m., when a wind tower crane will be moved across the highway between Birch Road in Bourbon County and Arrowhead Road at the Bourbon-Crawford county line.
A detour will be signed on K-146, U.S. 59 and K-39. Traffic should use the detour and other alternate routes. Persons with questions may call Kansas Department of Transportation Area Superintendent Derrick Shannon at (620) 901-6550 or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433. For updates go to www.kandrive.org.
Supplemental Pandemic Food Assistance program announces benefit distribution dates
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) announces the distribution of the Supplemental Pandemic EBT food assistance benefit to eligible Kansas students.
Distribution of the one-time benefit of $375 per child will begin to be issued starting tomorrow, Oct. 12. This benefit is for the summer months of June, July and August 2021.
All school aged children who were eligible for free and reduced-price meals during the 2020-2021 school year through the National School Lunch program will receive the one-time benefit. This includes Head Start children who attend a Community Eligible Provision (CEP) school or were enrolled in the National School Lunch program.
Qualifying school aged children who did not receive P-EBT for the 2020-2021 school year because they attended school in person and do not already have a Kansas Benefits Card will receive a preloaded card in the mail beginning Oct. 26. Eligible households that do not receive the benefit by Nov. 4 will need to provide additional information to DCF through the DCF Self Service Portal after Nov. 1.
The benefit can be used to purchase eligible food items from approved vendors that accept food assistance benefits like grocery stories and online at Aldi, Amazon or Wal-Mart.
The Supplemental P-EBT program provides temporary food benefits to families of children who normally receive National School Lunch program benefit but the education cycle was disrupted due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Learn more at www.dcf.ks.gov/pages/p-ebt.aspx.
Contact DCF at 1-888-369-4777 with questions or visit the P-EBT page on www.dcf.ks.gov.
Governor Laura Kelly Announces Allocations for Frontline Hospital Worker Retention Plan
TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly released the total allocation amounts for each hospital participating in the Frontline Hospital Workers Retention Plan.
“This $50 million will help us retain and attract more frontline hospital workers as we continue to fight his virus,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “For over 18 months, our heath care workers have risked their lives every day to protect Kansans from COVID-19 – it’s our responsibility to make sure they have the support they need to continue. In the meantime, I encourage all Kansans to do their part to beat this virus by getting vaccinated immediately.”
As proposed by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee, hospitals will receive an allocation based on the number of licensed, acute and intensive care unit beds in each facility. The full list of allocations can be found here.
In September, the SPARK Executive Committee approved $50M in available funding for eligible hospital workers. Qualified facilities may use the funding for either premium pay as defined in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) or for funding a custom program designed by the facility to improve the retention of nursing resources and support personnel.
To receive the allocation, hospitals must submit a completed application by October 29, 2021. Awards will be made on a rolling basis following application review.
For more information on the Frontline Hospital Worker Retention Plan, the SPARK committee, or about the Office of Recovery, please visit https://covid.ks.gov.
WICHITA WORK RELEASE FACILITY WALK AWAY ELVIN MORRIS APPREHENDED
FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021
TOPEKA, Kansas – Elvin Eugene Morris #93668 has been apprehended after walking away from the Wichita Work Release Facility (WWRF) Oct. 2, 2021.
Morris was taken into custody early afternoon, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021 by officials from the Kansas Department of Corrections Enforcement Apprehensions & Investigations (EAI) Unit and booked into Sedgwick County Jail.
Morris was placed on escape status Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, after he failing to report back to correctional facility.
At this time no other details are being released as the investigation is ongoing.
The Wichita Work Release Facility, a satellite unit of the Winfield Correctional Facility, is an all-male, minimum-custody state facility with a population of 250.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has amended its travel quarantine list to remove the country of Grenada. The state of Alaska and the countries of Bermuda and New Caledonia have been added to the travel quarantine list. An unvaccinated individual should quarantine if they meet the following criteria:
Traveled between Sept. 23 and Oct. 7 to Grenada.
Traveled on or after Oct. 7 to Alaska.
Traveled on or after Oct. 7 to Bermuda and New Caledonia.
Attendance at any out-of-state or in-state mass gatherings of 500 or more where individuals do not socially distance (6 feet) and wear a mask.
Been on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15, 2020.
The travel and mass gathering quarantine period is seven days with a negative test result or 10 days without testing, with release from quarantine on Day 8 and Day 11, respectively. Further information on quarantine periods can be found on KDHE’s website.
For those traveling internationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is requiring testing within three days of flights into the U.S. For further information on this and other requirements, visit their website.
For those who are fully vaccinated (meaning it has been greater than two weeks since they completed their vaccinations) they are not required to quarantine regarding travel or mass gatherings if they meet all of the following criteria:
Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2- dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine).
Have remained asymptomatic since the travel.
Persons who do not meet the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance for travel or mass gatherings.
Additionally, people with previous COVID-19 disease are not required to quarantine following travel if they meet all of the following criteria:
Have evidence of a previous infection supported by a positive PCR or antigen test
Are within 6 months following infection. If an investigation was done documenting the date that symptoms resolved, or the date isolation measures were discontinued for asymptomatic patients, then the 6-month period can start from that end date. If those dates are not available, then the period will start from the date of the positive laboratory test. A serology or antibody test may not be substituted for a laboratory report of a viral diagnostic test.
Have remained asymptomatic since the travel
Persons who do not meet all three of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance for travel.
The travel quarantine list is determined using a formula to evaluate new cases over a two-week period, then adjusted for population size to provide a case rate per 100,000 population. This provides a number that can then be compared to the rate in Kansas. Locations with significantly higher rates — approximately 3x higher — are added to the list.
PUBLIC’S HELP SOUGHT IN LOCATING WICHITA WORK RELEASE FACILITY WALK AWAY
ELVIN EUGENE MORRIS
TOPEKA, Kansas – The Kansas Department of Corrections is asking for the public’s help in locating KDOC Inmate #93668 Elvin Eugene Morris. Morris was placed on escape status at approximately 7:50 p.m. Saturday, October 2, 2021, after he failed to report back to the Wichita Work Release Facility.
Morris, a 43-year-old black male, left for Walmart in the community at 4:05 p.m. and was reported missing when he did not report back to the facility following an approved community pass.
Morris is 5 feet 10 inches tall, 179 pounds, slender build with brown eyes and black hair. Morris was last seen wearing jeans and a long sleeved, button up, white shirt and gray sweatshirt. Morris is known to inhabit homeless communities in Wichita.
Morris is currently serving a sentence for a conviction in Sedgwick County for removing electronic monitoring equipment. Morris was last seen leaving the Wichita Work Release Facility at 400 South Emporia in Wichita, Kansas.
Anyone with information on Morris can call the Kansas Department of Corrections at 316-265-5211, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.
The escape is currently being investigated. New information will be released as it becomes available.
The Wichita Work Release Facility, a satellite unit of the Winfield Correctional Facility, is an all-male, minimum-custody state prison with a population of 250.
Governor Laura Kelly Ceremonially Signs Legislation, Authorizing Land Transfer to the Iowa Tribe of Kansas
TOPEKA – This week, Governor Laura Kelly ceremonially signed House Bill 2408, authorizing and directing the Executive Director of the Kansas Historical Society (KSHS), on behalf of the KSHS, to transfer 9.86 acres of land in Doniphan County to the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska.
“This legislation is long-overdue and returns land that belongs to the Iowa Tribe,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I want to thank the bipartisan group of legislators and the Executive Committee of the Iowa Tribe for making this bill possible – my administration will continue to be a partner in your efforts.”
Kansas Water Photo Contest & Student Poster Research Submissions Being Accepted
Kansas is blessed with an abundance of great natural resources and Kansans are encouraged to capture the most vital of these; water. The Kansas Water Office (KWO) is accepting water photos to be featured in conjunction with the 2021 Virtual Governor’s Water Conference in November. The photos need to pertain to water or water use in Kansas. Examples include all bodies of water, irrigation, agriculture, recreation and fun, or other water infrastructure.
Worthy entries will be voted on during this year’s Virtual Governor’s Water Conference by conference attendees. The winning photo will earn feature photo at the 2022 Governor’s Water Conference. It will also, along with second and third place, be displayed in the Kansas State Capitol and KWO during the year. November 5 is the deadline to submit photos at [email protected].
Student Research will also continue to be a feature during the virtual conference. Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit abstracts on their water-related research to be presented as posters. Any research that involves water quantity, quality or water education is eligible and cash awards are available. The submission deadline is November 4.
For more information about both contests as well as tentative conference agenda and speakers, please select Governor’s Water Conference at kwo.ks.gov under the News & Events section. Conference registration will be free and available to those planning to attend any of the virtual conference.
STATE TREASURER TO CELEBRATE OKTOBERFEST IN PITTSBURG
Lynn Rogers, Kansas State Treasurer, will join local citizens in celebrating Oktoberfest on Sunday, October 10th. Rogers will be the guest speaker at a fundraiser hosted by the Crawford County Democrat Party being held at the Frisco Event Center, 210 E. Fourth, in Pittsburg starting at 12 noon.
Nancy Ingle, Party County Chair, said that the “local Democrats are excited to welcome the State Treasurer back to Crawford County. Lynn has served the people of Kansas well first as Lieutenant Governor and now Treasurer.” In a recent month (August) nearly 6,000 Kansans received checks for unclaimed property totaling 6.3 million dollars. “That’s the kind of common-sense hard work that Kansans expect from their government,” Ingle stated.
In addition to Rogers, other candidates, including Patrick Schmidt, candidate for Second District Congress, will be in attendance.
The celebration will offer a traditional Oktoberfest menu and live performances by local musicians. Tickets are $10 for adults, children age 5 to 12 $5, and children under the age of 5 are free.
