Latest news with #KSNT
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts issue warning over dangerous insects spreading rapidly across US: 'They're gonna eat everything they can'
Experts issue warning over dangerous insects spreading rapidly across US: 'They're gonna eat everything they can' Warm weather is bringing some hungry beetles out of hiding. What's happening? Invasive Japanese beetles have an enormous appetite, and they're out of control in Kansas. The small, shimmering scarab beetles are native to Japan and considered highly invasive in the United States and Europe. Their eggs are laid in the soil, and larvae eat roots underground until temperatures rise. Once they emerge, the beetles voraciously consume leaves. While some invasive species fixate on one plant, this hungry beetle doesn't discriminate. They feed on "more than 300 different types of plants, such as Virginia creeper, linden, crabapple, roses, American elm, and willow, along with crops like corn and soybeans," according to KSNT. Why are the beetles concerning? Despite their small size, these beetles have a devastating impact on agriculture. Roots are destroyed by their larvae, and leaves and fruit are eaten by the mature beetles — the entire crop is lost. "When an insect is out for three months, they're gonna eat everything they can," Kansas State University professor Raymond Cloyd told KSNT. It's not just Kansas's crops at risk. Other states lose millions or billions in agricultural income. Invasive species are one of the main drivers of extinction, along with habitat loss. Invasive species outcompete native ones for resources, alter habitats, and even introduce new diseases. What's being done to stop the beetles? These beetles are extremely difficult to get rid of. Many traditional pheromone traps attract beetles, but they aren't as successful in capturing or killing them. A college student at the University of Minnesota developed their own Japanese beetle trap, and it looks promising. Without traps, residents use insecticides on their plants and soil to kill beetles and their grubs. For those who are hesitant to use pesticides on their plants, the beetles can be picked off by hand and dumped in warm, soapy water to kill them. Conservationists are constantly developing new ways to combat invasive species, from releasing wasps to fight fruit flies to eating invasive crawfish. Do you think your lawn has enough greenery in it? Definitely I'd like a little more I want a lot more Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
'Return to the land': Group sets up all-white town in Arkansas; civil rights activists raise alarm
(Image credit: RTTL X handle) An extremist ethnonationalist organisation has established an exclusively white settlement in a secluded area of northeastern Arkansas's Ozarks and is reportedly considering expansion into Missouri. Return to the Land (RTTL), a self-described private membership association for people with "traditional views and European ancestry," launched its initial community in Arkansas in October 2023 and is now planning to enter Missouri, likely near Springfield, according to NBC affiliate KSNT. The organisation rejects mass immigration, multiculturalism and "forced integration" and excludes non-white, non-Christian and LGBT+ individuals, stating its members aim to distance themselves from contemporary society in favour of rural living. "You want a white nation? Build a white town?" RTTL's co-founder Eric Orwoll asks in an X video promoting the initiative. "It can be done. We're doing it." The organisation's primary settlement spans roughly 150 acres, houses 40 residents, and includes cabins, roads, wells, a community centre, and a schoolhouse. A second location opened nearby in January 2024, with plans for another Ozarks site and potential expansion into the Appalachian mountains listed on their website. In conversation with Sky News journalist Tom Cheshire, who visited RTTL's first settlement and observed activities including goat milk production, flute performances, family sports and swimming, Orwoll expressed longing for 17th-century colonial America. "I would probably feel more comfortable there because I'm white and that's the way this country was when my ancestors came there," he remarked, disregarding the indigenous population displaced by colonisation," he said. "Even if an individual has all the same values that I have, if they have an ethnic identity that other people share and care about, their children will also have that identity, and their children might not necessarily have all the same beliefs that they have," Cheshire further added. Regarding RTTL's growth plans, he said, "I would like to have more communities so that people in all parts of the U.S. have this as an option if they want. I would also like us to network and branch out internationally." Their expansion efforts include online fundraising, including a campaign offering financial incentives to parents of newborns to encourage population growth, which had reached half of its $10,000 target. Despite promoting rural living, RTTL maintains an active social media presence, sharing construction updates, nature photography, and children's book illustrations to promote their pastoral vision. Orwoll, who presents his project as a matter of First Amendment rights and private property freedom, has invested significantly in legal research. "The attorneys we've consulted believe what we're doing is legal," he told KSNT. "Americans have the right to freely associate and form intentional communities on whatever basis they choose." He believes RTTL's private membership association status exempts it from anti-discrimination laws like the Civil Rights Act and Fair Housing Act, though legal experts dispute this interpretation. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin responded, "Racial discrimination has no place in Arkansas or anywhere in a free society. These allegations raise all sorts of legal issues, including constitutional concerns. My office is reviewing the matter." Barry Jefferson, Arkansas NAACP chapter president, said: "I just truly believe that we don't need to get back to the Jim Crow era. We've been through that before. I think no one should be discriminated against because of their skin colour. "If you really look deep into the Civil Rights Act, it doesn't state that. I think they're misunderstanding what it states because there have been many organisations that tried to carve that out. That's not right," he added. The Anti-Defamation League has directly criticised RTTL, stating it attempts to resurrect "discredited and reprehensible forms of segregation." When questioned about racist elements within his organisation, including white supremacist content in its Telegram channel and his views on Adolf Hitler's "second coming," Orwoll maintained that conventional perspectives on the Nazi leader are "one-sided" and influenced by wartime propaganda. "I think all historical figures are complex, multi-dimensional," he said. "But when I say, 'you're gonna have to wait for that new Hitler to arise', I'm not saying you're going to have to wait for a new person to start a new Holocaust," Orwoll further said, adding to his statement that, "I am saying you are going to wait for a charismatic leader who is going to advocate for your interests because that's how a lot of people see Hitler."
The Hill
23-07-2025
- The Hill
‘This is a tragedy': Two found dead in Kansas home after alleged child abduction
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – Two people are dead and a man is in custody after an AMBER Alert was issued for a young child Tuesday morning. Initially, police in Topeka, Kansas, said the toddler had been abducted last week by an unknown suspect and was believed to be in 'imminent danger.' A later update from authorities said the vehicle belonging to the boy's mother was also missing. Early Tuesday afternoon, authorities said the missing child had been found safe, roughly 400 miles away in Illinois with the suspect. Christopher Barnshaw, 32, was arrested by police in Mattoon, Illinois, in connection with the toddler's reported abduction. As of Tuesday, he was being held for alleged aggravated kidnapping and unlawful use of a weapon. Preliminary autopsy results released for 9-year-old in AMBER Alert turned homicide investigation Nexstar's WCIA reports the toddler was found safe in the backseat of the vehicle Barnshaw was driving, which matched the description of the car missing from the child's Topeka home. During a press conference shortly after the child was found, Topeka Police said a homicide investigation had been launched in connection with the AMBER Alert. Police Chief Chris Vallejo explained that officers were called to a welfare check at a Topeka home Tuesday morning. There, a man and a woman were found dead. The 2-year-old child who lived at the home was not located, prompting the AMBER Alert. According to Vallejo, police are still investigating the cause of death for the two individuals, whose identities have not been released. 'This is a tragedy, and I know the residents around this area are concerned about this, about this event,' Vallejo said. 'It's not something that happens every day, and I feel for them. I just want them to know that we are going to bring this investigation to its full conclusion and we will bring justice for the victims with whatever information we found out and there is no ongoing threat and the Topeka Police Department and supporting departments are on this case.' What relationship Barnshaw has with the victims, if any, was not shared by police on Tuesday. Authorities said late Tuesday they were working to reunite the child with a family member.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas insurance commissioner enters 2026 race for governor
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Kansas' insurance commissioner says she is throwing her hat in the race for the state's next governor. Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced in a press release on July 9 that she is entering the 2026 gubernatorial race as a Republican candidate. She was elected to her current role in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. She previously served Shawnee and Wabaunsee Counties in the Kansas Senate. 'Throughout my personal and professional career, I have a track record of serving Kansans and actually getting things done,' Schmidt said. 'If elected governor, my top priority is the people of Kansas and making their lives better.' Kansas lawmakers, organizations react to 'Big Beautiful Bill' passing the U.S. House Schmidt touted her record of recovering millions for Kansas families in her role as insurance commissioner and reducing costs of doing business by more than $75 million. She previously announced that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Parking in downtown Topeka is about to get more expensive
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Topekans visiting downtown may notice some changes next time they visit the area. The City of Topeka announced on June 24 that several changes were made to parking rates in the downtown area recently by the City Council. The changes were made in an effort to create consistency in the city's parking system, invest in infrastructure and improve accessibility to Topeka's downtown. 'We're committed to maintaining an affordable and accessible parking system for everyone who visits, works, or lives in Downtown Topeka,' said Topeka City Manager Robert Perez. 'These updates are designed to simplify our parking structure while supporting reinvestment in our facilities.' 'I think it's a very bad move': Topeka residents, business owners resist plan for new fueling station The City of Topeka will be posting signs, online resources and other materials to help notify people of the new changes. Some of the biggest changes made by the City Council are below: Effective as of Sept. 1, 2025. Monthly parking rates increase from $67.75 to $74 at the Centre City Garage, Crosby Place Garage and Townsite Garage. 10-hour meter rates will go up from $0.50 to $1 per hour. 10-hour permits will increase from $44 to $74. Effective as of Jan. 1, 2026. Monthly parking rates will increase from $67.75 to $74 at the 512 Jackson Garage and Park N Shop Garage. The Ninth Street Garage monthly rate will go from $47.43 to $51. Yellow hoods will be removed from the 100 blocks east and west of Kansas Avenue between Sixth and 10th Streets. These spaces will change to 2-hour metered parking at a rate of $1 per hour. Some areas will retain meters while others will feature signage with payment options through a mobile app. The Coronado and Uptowner garages will go to $74 per month following structural repairs. A 60-day notice will be provided once a completion date is determined. People should also keep in mind that hourly garage rates will stay fixed at $1 per hour with free parking during evenings and weekends. Parking on Kansas Avenue will remain free with a two-hour daily time limit. The city also plans to add more 4-hour free parking spaces to the outskirts of the downtown area. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
