February 2024

State forest official urges Kansans to safeguard their homes from fire

MANHATTAN – A Kansas Forest Service official is encouraging homeowners to fireproof their homes in advance of potential wildfires in the state this year.Eric Ward, the assistant fire manager for the state’s forest service, said actions taken ahead of time can be the difference between saving or losing a home and surrounding structures.“During a major fire, one of the challenges is that there are not enough fire trucks for every home,” Ward said.

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KS AG sponsors bill adding hypoxia option for executing capital murderers

TOPEKA — Attorney General Kris Kobach introduced a bill in the Kansas Legislature allowing the state corrections secretary to decide between intravenous injection of drugs or inhalation of a gas inducing suffocation when executing individuals sentenced to death in state courts.Kobach has joined other state attorneys general encouraging reliance on hypoxia for executions since Alabama in January became the first state to put to death a convicted murderer by subjecting a man to inhalation of pure nitrogen until dead.“If Kansas is going to have a death penalty, it needs to be possible to implement,” Kobach said.

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Ask Amy: Extended family vacations prove stressful

Dear Amy: My husband’s entire extended family enjoys going on vacations together.While these family members are amazing, these vacations are very stressful for me.From trying to figure out what to pack, getting to the airport, checking in, the actual flight, collecting bags etc., the entire process is an anxious one for me.Then, while we are at our destination, I feel like I completely disappear as far as my husband is concerned.He is there to spend time with his family, not with me.He enjoys the company of our adult children, but barely even speaks to me.

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Fort Hays State’s criminal justice program to host sixth-annual career fair

HAYS– The Criminal Justice Program at Fort Hays State University announces its sixth annual Criminal Justice Career Fair, an event designed to connect students with professionals in law enforcement, courts, corrections, probation and parole, community crime prevention, mental health, non-profit agencies, and related disciplines.

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