June 2026
K-State in the news
Some of the top stories mentioning Kansas State University are posted below. Download an Excel file (xlsx) with all of this month's news stories.
Monday, July 27, 2026
National/International
UV Printer Unlocks Trio of Capabilities for Kansas In-plant
07/21/26 InPlant Impressions
ADA-compliant signage is a necessity, so when the facilities department at Kansas State University was looking to offload its sign work, University Printing eagerly accepted the challenge. Since training on the new printer at the beginning of January, the University Printing team has produced everything from license plates to foamboard posters. Anne Oswald, director, says the shop also got a rotary attachment to print on cups and recently ordered a new attachment that enables printing on promotional products such as golf balls, baseballs, and poker chips. For Oswald, the ability to handle this range of work helps the in-plant better support the university — and is the main reason she was able to get approval for the printer in the first place.
State/Regional
Milkweed for monarchs, but also for local moth that is critical to our ecosystem
07/26/26 Kansas City Star
Markis Hill, a horticulture agent with K-State's Johnson County Extension, weighs in on the popular phrase, “Plant a milkweed, save a monarch,” among nature enthusiasts working to conserve the iconic butterfly. But monarchs are not the only insects that depend on milkweed. Several other species depend on the plant for survival, though they rarely receive the same attention.
A new Kansas-grown wheat could soon be in your box of noodles
07/26/26 The Lawrence Times
More Kansas farmers are testing out a new breed of the durum wheat species milled into semolina flour used in pasta. Kansas State University released the new variety, and it’s coming at a time when wheat farmers need it most. K-State agronomist Logan Simon said change isn’t new for Kansas agriculture. In fact, some diversity could be a good thing. “Kansas ag has been evolving from the beginning, crop diversity makes sense agronomy wise,” Simon said.
Friday, July 24, 2026
National/International
Prairie Fare: Five questions every grill master should answer
7/24/26 Minot Daily News
A 2025 nationwide study conducted by Kansas State University and published by the National Institutes of Health examined the self-reported grilling habits of 1,024 consumers ages 18 and older from four regions of the U.S. The researchers intentionally selected a 70% male to 30% female ratio to reflect the trend that men cook on grills more often than women do.
State/Regional
Pasta on the Plains: A new Kansas-grown wheat could soon be in your box of noodles
7/23/26 Kansas News Service
More Kansas farmers are testing out a new breed of the durum wheat species milled into semolina flour used in pasta. Kansas State University released the new variety, and it’s coming at a time when wheat farmers need it most. K-State agronomist Logan Simon said change isn’t new for Kansas agriculture. In fact, some diversity could be a good thing. “Kansas ag has been evolving from the beginning, crop diversity makes sense agronomy wise,” Simon said.
Thursday, July 23, 2026
National/International
Phi Theta Kappa Names 2026 Transfer Honor Roll Recognizing Nation’s Leaders in Transfer Student Success
7/21/26 Phi Theta Kappa
Kansas State University is one of 275 four-year colleges and universities named to its 2026 Transfer Honor Roll, recognizing institutions that have demonstrated exceptional success in creating pathways that help community college transfer students earn bachelor’s degrees.
State/Regional
On the Menu: Where chef Howard Hanna gets Mexican seafood and breakfast in KC
7/21/26 Kansas City Star
A nearly three-decade career in the kitchen has been one of many pivots for Howard Hanna. It wasn’t until he was attending Kansas State University in Manhattan, where he’s from, that he realized he liked working in kitchens more than schoolwork.
Local
What ticks are found in Kansas and what diseases do they carry?
7/22/26 KSNT
“Tick identification is critical,” Raymond Cloyd said. “If you know what tick has fed upon you, you know what antibodies you need to be tested for. Not all ticks have a disease, but you don’t know which ones do and which ones don’t.”
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
National/International
MSU mobile vet clinic assists shelters struggling to obtain veterinary care
07/20/26 The State News
The Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine launched the Community Medicine Program and a mobile surgical unit last month, offering spay-and-neuter services to shelters that struggle to access veterinary care. Their inspiration for the program came from Kansas State University's mobile vet clinic.
State/Regional
How you can protect your garden from raccoons
07/20/26 KSNT-TV
Raccoons tend to hunt, raid and scavenge any food they can. According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), there are an estimated 20-40 raccoons per mile depending on the location. Raccoons are friendly in nature but can also destroy your garden and crops if not protected properly. Kansas State University wildlife expert Drew Ricketts has recommendations on how to defend your crops from them.
Local
Law professor outlines data center concerns for rural landowners
07/21/26 Manhattan Mercury
The potential for data centers being built in Pottawatomie County gives rural landowners an uneasy future, an agriculture law professor said. Roger McEowen is the Kansas Farm Bureau professor of agricultural law and taxation at Washburn and also teaches undergraduate agricultural law courses at K-State. He said on a podcast aired July 15 that the dynamic farmers are primarily concerned is big infrastructure and its burden on neighbors.
Monday, July 20, 2026
National/International
K-State Wildlife Expert Shares Tips For Raccoon Control
7/19/2026 Global Agriculture
Raccoon populations in Kansas and the Great Plains have been increasing over the last 40 years. As they become more abundant, the problems they cause around the home garden also rise. Ever-so-clever, it seems as though raccoons harvest sweet corn right before it is to be picked. Kansas State University wildlife expert Drew Ricketts says fencing may be the best way to prevent raccoons from stealing the year's harvest.
Late Rains, Tight Windows Challenge Weed Control in Kansas Row Crops
7/17/2026 MorningAgClips
Growing up on a Nebraska cow-calf operation, Tasha Macholan saw how drought and changing pasture conditions could complicate livestock management. Now a Kansas State University graduate student in the Department of Animal Science and Industry, she is studying whether one routine management decision — where producers place cattle supplement — could improve calf performance while helping manage invasive Old World bluestem.
State/Regional
K‑State Graduate Layne McAfee's Goal Is To Use Art To Build Up Kansas Communities
7/17/2026 Sunflower State Radio
One of Layne McAfee's favorite experiences growing up was seeing the art her grandma made be a cornerstone of the thriving art community in rural Jefferson County. It's one of the reasons why McAfee, as a Kansas State University student, leveraged her coursework in art, marketing and museum studies to continue to build that community as a volunteer with the Old Jefferson Town museum in Oskaloosa.
Data and drones helping farmers squeeze more from every acre
7/17/2026 Rural Messenger
As Kansas wheat harvest wraps up, producers are leaving the field with something just as valuable as the grain in their trucks: data that can drive smarter decisions for years to come. Deepak Joshi, a precision agriculture specialist at Kansas State University, said yield data collected by combine harvesters is one of the most powerful tools on today's farms. "This is a really important time as growers are harvesting their wheat, and they’re going to be collecting a lot of yield data from their field," Joshi said. "Those yield data can tell us so many different stories about their field. It's not only about the total yield."
Local
HCF's "Garden for Good" grows produce, opportunity and support
7/18/2026 Hutch Post
Twenty-five incarcerated residents participate in the gardening program, with each maintaining a small personal garden plot in addition to working in the community garden. Participants have already earned Master Gardener certification through K-State Research and Extension, while another group is currently working toward certification.
Air Force pilot shares career lessons at K-State Salina
7/18/2026 Salina Journal
Students at Kansas State University Salina had the chance to learn from a leader in military aviation planning, according to a community announcement. Air Force Col. Matthew Shelly, a 2005 K-State Salina graduate, returned to campus as this year's Alumni Fellow to share his experiences and insights with students and faculty. Shelly currently serves as chief of plans for United States Pacific Command in Honolulu.
Friday, July 17, 2026
National/International
These ‘dopamine sites’ deliver the thrill of shopping without the cost
7/16/26 The Washington Post
Anticipation is only one part of the story, though. According to Megan McCoy, assistant professor of personal financial planning at Kansas State University, retail therapy also provides the illusion of agency. The low-stakes decisions involved when choosing between two colors, or even the act of comparing prices, can give you a sense of control. That, in turn, can also temporarily relieve negative emotions such as anxiety, depression and stress, research suggests.
State/Regional
Agricultural dust poses hidden health risks for farmers
7/16/26 American Ag Network
Mitch Ricketts, professor of agricultural safety and health at Kansas State University, said agricultural dust is much more than just soil and plant material. “Agricultural dust has a lot of different components in it,” Ricketts said. “Besides the soil and the plant material that we think about being in the dust, there’s also mold, bacteria, dust mites and a lot of other organisms. And when we breathe the dust that contains those organisms, it can cause allergic or toxic reactions.”
Thursday, July 16, 2026
National/International
Why Your Tomato Plants Keep Growing Leaves Instead of Tomatoes—What a Pro Says to Do Next
7/15/26 The Spruce
According to horticulture instructor Cynthia Domenghini, a tomato plant with plenty of leaves but no fruit is usually experiencing some form of stress that prevents flowers from developing into tomatoes. One of the biggest, difficult-to-control culprits is scorching summer weather. “Tomato plants are affected by extreme heat,” Domenghini explains. “When the evening temperatures stay in the 80s, you’ll see tomato plants that look healthy but do not set fruit.”
State/Regional
K-State announces 2026 Cowley County graduates
7/15/26 Courier Traveler
More than 3,000 students completed degree requirements from Kansas State University in spring 2026. The university awarded approximately 2,200 bachelor's degrees, 650 master's degrees, and 200 doctorates. Several students earned multiple degrees.
Arkansas City: Madyson Broce, Bachelor of Science; Megan Hay, Master of Arts in Teaching.
Burden: Austin Henderson, Bachelor of Science; Angelina Price, Bachelor of Science.
Dexter: Timber Neal, Bachelor of Science.
Udall: Gaige Russell, Bachelor of Science; Kloie Simons, Master of Business Administration.
Winfield: Trevin Biddle, Bachelor of Science; David Grimm, Bachelor of Science; Aaron Palsmeier, Bachelor of Science; Becky Reid, Master of Science; Jenna Richardson, Bachelor of Science, Summa Cum Laude; Makenna Roark, Bachelor of Science; Jazmyne Shannon, Master of Science; Madison Sultz, Master of Science.
K-State Salina graduate helps shape U.S. Air Force strategy, returns as Alumni Fellow
7/15/26 Salina Post
Shelly began flying airplanes in high school and eventually earned his private pilot license. With the foundation of his youth and an education from Kansas State University Salina, Shelly has worked his way through the ranks of the U.S. Air Force and is now one of the top leaders of the United States Pacific Command, or U.S. PACOM, headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Local
Grandparents University provides rare learning opportunity at K-State
7/15/26 KSNT
Around 70 grandparents and their grandchildren visited Kansas State University in July to experience what life is like on campus. Participants spent three days, July 12-14, taking classes and slipping into the role of college students. Around 70 grandparents and their grandchildren visited Kansas State University in July to experience what life is like on campus. Participants spent three days, July 12-14, taking classes and slipping into the role of college students.
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
National/International
This is the dangerous mistake people make when doing dishes
07/14/26 MSN.com
This 2015 study from Kansas State University observed subjects moving through the kitchen and found that towels were “the most contaminated of all the contact surfaces tested.”
State/Regional
Data and drones helping farmers squeeze more from every acre
07/14/26 High Plains Journal
Deepak Joshi, a precision agriculture specialist at Kansas State University, said yield data collected by combine harvesters is one of the most powerful tools on today’s farms.
Tanganyika Wildlife Park saving premature giraffe calf after mother dies during emergency C-Section
07/14/26 KAKE News
“We were immediately in active consultation with the veterinary teams at Sedgwick County Zoo, Kansas State University, and the Columbus Zoo,” TWP said. “We leaned on two independent giraffe veterinarians, other trusted giraffe holders, and the specialists at the International Center for Giraffe Conservation at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. In all, six veterinarians and specialists with input from nine institutions.”
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
National/International
Invasive species causing deadly threat to native bighorn sheep, Texas study finds
07/13/26 MSN.com
An invasive species of sheep introduced to Texas in the 1950s is posing a deadly threat to native bighorn sheep, according to a new study conducted by Texas A&M researchers. In a study published May 7 in Scientific Reports, researchers found that 80% of bighorn sheep died of pneumonia after being exposed to diseased aoudad, an invasive species also known as Barbary sheep. During the study, researchers found the invasive sheep could carry respiratory pathogens without becoming seriously ill, allowing them to spread diseases that can devastate bighorn sheep populations."Because aoudad show little, if any, signs of infection, every aoudad on the landscape should be conservatively considered a risk to bighorn sheep," lead author Dr. Logan Thomas, an assistant professor at Kansas State University, said in a statement Friday.
A closer look at NRC’s proposed rule eliminating ALARA
07/13/26 American Nuclear Society
On July 1, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed removing the “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA) principle from its radiation protection regulations and replacing it with a graded approach. The agency also proposed increases to effluent dose limits and adjusting how it handles allowances for exceeding dose limits. Amir Bahadori, a professor at Kansas State University and certified health physicist, said he thinks the NRC’s response to the EO is “generally consistent with current scientific knowledge, the collective experience in the field of radiation protection, and the NRC’s regulatory experience,” but notes that the agency doesn’t acknowledge key studies that support the continued use of the LNT model.
Monday, July 13, 2026
National/International
How could loosened radiation exposure rules affect public health?
7/10/2026 Scientific American
People living near nuclear facilities could bear the brunt of the rule change, experts say. "The ALARA levels that are currently employed are quite a bit lower than that 25 mrem a year for public exposures, so it's not necessarily apparent to me that they will continue to stay low without that regulatory pressure," says Amir Bahadori, director of the nuclear engineering program at Kansas State University.
Invasive Aoudad Threaten Native Bighorn Sheep Survival
7/11/2026 The Mirage, Australia
"The experiment showed us the lethality of aoudad-bighorn contacts, that some aoudad may pose a greater risk than others, and that aoudad populations across the Trans-Pecos carry different strains at different rates," said Dr. Logan Thomas, an assistant professor at Kansas State University and the study's lead author.
State/Regional
Kansas farmers turning to polluted water for crops
7/10/2026 The Wichita Eagle
Dorivar Ruiz Diaz is a professor of soil fertility and managing nutrients at Kansas State University. He said Kansas crops need nutrients like nitrogen to produce at a high level. "Good yielding corn, it could be in 180 to over 200 pounds of nitrogen (per acre)," Ruiz Diaz said. Things like nitrogen, sulfur and chloride used to be naturally present in soils across the prairie. But after decades of maximizing crop growth, those nutrients started disappearing. Now, farmers need to help the soil by adding nutrients back in. …Nathan Nelson, soil fertility professor with Kansas State University, said he encourages farmers to check their nitrate levels because this helps them financially, but it also helps the environment. "They can reduce the fertilizer bill and the fertilizer cost," he said. "At the same time, by doing that, we'll reduce nitrogen leaching and in the future we will have cleaner water."
Friday, July 10, 2026
National/International
8 Common Plants That Could Be Harming Your Home’s Structure and Safety
7/9/26 Real Simple
“Any plant can be a problem if planted in a location that does not meet its needs,” says Cynthia Domenghini, PhD, an expert in consumer horticulture at Kansas State University. “This includes a location that is too small to accommodate the mature size of a plant. It’s important not to choose a plant without first doing your research. Know the site conditions and choose a plant that fits into that environment.”
State/Regional
In the fight to save prairies, some Great Plains ranchers embrace a new landscape – with goats
7/9/26 Nebraska Public Radio
“In areas that have transitioned into a shrubland or a woodland,” said Jesse Nippert, a grassland ecologist at Kansas State University, “you’re probably never going to get it back to this idealized pre-colonial landscape painting.”
Thursday, July 9, 2026
State/Regional
Kansas Shaping America — Kristen Epps
07/06/26 Ask a Kansan
Kristen Epps — author and professor of history at K-State — spoke on Kansas' history and its intersection with the broader American story on the Ask a Kansan podcast. Passionate about making history accessible beyond the classroom, Epps is dedicated to helping the public understand why the past still matters today. She believes Kansas has played a pivotal role in shaping the United States—from the fight over slavery and the Civil War to movements for civil rights, women's suffrage, and social reform. Her forthcoming narrative history of Kansas, co-authored with Jim Leiker and scheduled for release in early 2027, brings together centuries of Kansas stories in an engaging and approachable way, inviting readers to discover how the Sunflower State has influenced the nation's past and continues to shape its future.
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
National/International
Kansas Farmers Suffer From Tariffs and Closing of Hormuz Strait: Ag Experts
07/07/26 Yahoo Finance and Kansas Reflector
Sandro Steinbach and Shawn Arita, associate professors at North Dakota State University’s Agricultural Risk Policy Center, spoke about international policies affecting agriculture during an episode of Kansas State University’s podcast Clearing the Air.
State/Regional
Kansas City area K-State students receive Wabash CannonBall scholarships
07/07/26 Wichita Eagle
A selection of Kansas City area K-State students will have part of their 2026-27 tuition paid for, after being awarded scholarships through the alumni association's Wabash CannonBall Kansas City program.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
National/International
Why an eradicated parasite is back in the American Southwest+
07/06/26 Straight Arrow News
The new world screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that infects cows and was declared eradicated in the U.S. in 1966, is roaring back as other diseases and parasites push deeper into the country. Screwworm has already spread through Central America and more than two dozen cases were detected in Texas and New Mexico this June, according to the USDA. “Whether it’s ticks or insects, they will occupy any environment where they can survive,” said Cassandra Olds, a livestock entomologist at Kansas State University’s agricultural extension. “You will see pest populations move into areas where they were not a problem before.”
State/Regional
‘The fruits of the work coming into life,’ UMKC launches hydroponic farming program to fight food insecurity
07/06/26 KSHB-TV
As food prices remain high and access to fresh produce continues to challenge many Kansas City neighborhoods, the University of Missouri-Kansas City is turning Flarsheim Hall into a working farm. What started as a single hydroponic growing system in the hall has grown into a USDA-NIFA-funded initiative to develop a controlled-environment agriculture certification program. The program is a collaboration between UMKC, the University of Missouri, Kansas State University and Kansas State University Olathe.
Kansas City Pig Rescue Network saves piglet who jumped off truck on highway
07/06/26 KSNW-TV
The Kansas City Pig Rescue Network highlighted the important role of veterinary expertise from universities, including Kansas State University, in providing specialized care for pet pigs. The organization said its ongoing collaboration with K-State helps expand research and knowledge that benefits veterinarians, rescue organizations and pig owners.
Monday, July 6, 2026
National/International
Rapid response fueled by research
7/04/2026 AGRI-VIEW
In livestock disease response, timing determines whether an outbreak is contained or cascades through the entire production system. Research from Kansas State University suggests that the window may be as short as eight to 10 days. In modeling scenarios, outbreaks detected within that timeframe remained relatively small. When detection came later, the scale increased quickly, reaching hundreds or even thousands of operations.
K-State Graduate Student Explores Cattle Grazing As Invasive Grass Management Tool
7/1/2026 Farms.com
Growing up on a Nebraska cow-calf operation, Tasha Macholan saw how drought and changing pasture conditions could complicate livestock management. Now a Kansas State University graduate student in the Department of Animal Science and Industry, she is studying whether one routine management decision — where producers place cattle supplement — could improve calf performance while helping manage invasive Old World bluestem.
State/Regional
Groundwater in parts of Kansas is so polluted it can replace some fertilizer
7/2/2026 KCUR and KPR
Dorivar Ruiz Diaz is a professor of soil fertility and managing nutrients at Kansas State University. He said Kansas crops need nutrients like nitrogen to produce at a high level. "Good yielding corn, it could be in 180 to over 200 pounds of nitrogen (per acre)," Ruiz Diaz said. Things like nitrogen, sulfur and chloride used to be naturally present in soils across the prairie. But after decades of maximizing crop growth, those nutrients started disappearing. Now, farmers need to help the soil by adding nutrients back in. …Nathan Nelson, soil fertility professor with Kansas State University, said he encourages farmers to check their nitrate levels because this helps them financially, but it also helps the environment. "They can reduce the fertilizer bill and the fertilizer cost," he said. "At the same time, by doing that, we'll reduce nitrogen leaching and in the future we will have cleaner water."
K-State conducts regenerative agriculture research alongside Kansas farmers
7/2/2026 Rural Messenger
One after another, visitors to the Guetterman Brothers Family Farms near Kansas’ eastern border recently found themselves digging up a clump of soil in freshly-sown and developing crop fields. Their curiosity had gotten the best of them. Minutes before, they had listened to fifth-generation farmer Hayden Guetterman explain his family’s steadfast pledge to improve their farm ground with soil health practices collectively known as regenerative agriculture. "Regenerative agriculture," says Kansas State University soil scientist Charles Rice, "is a concept that started with soils that have been degraded, followed by designing practices to regenerate or rebuild those soils to make them more productive."
Local
Kansas wheat harvest is struggling, while summer crops are thriving: K-State Research
7/1/2026 KSNT
2026's wheat crop harvest is observed to be difficult for some Kansans. The growing season started hot and dry, causing the wheat to mature faster than normal. That meant the crop reached its flowering stage just as Kansas suffered from mid-spring freezes, damaging part of the plant that produces grain. "The most typical symptom when we think about freeze damage is the head of the wheat getting burned back. They don't produce any grain because those flowers die back. So, you get a wheat head that may look good from the road, but you start touching it and there is really no grain there. There may be 4 or 5 grains when you can expect 25 to 30," said Romulo Lollato, a professor of Agronomy at Kansas State University.