September 2025
K-State in the news
Some of the top stories mentioning Kansas State University are posted below. Download an Excel file (xls) with all of this month's news stories.
Monday, Sept. 15, 2025
National/International
Raw Milk Poses a Danger to Consumers' Health, Says K-State Dairy Specialist
9/12/2025 MorningAgClips
Following recent reports across the country of individuals getting sick from raw milk, Kansas State University dairy specialist Mike Brouk encourages consumers to remember the risks associated with drinking raw milk. "It's not unusual each year to see reports from different places around the country where people become sick after consuming raw milk," Brouk said. "Sometimes this can be serious when it involves young children. In several cases the people who have become ill from consuming raw milk have been hospitalized from the damage caused by the endotoxins produced by bacteria found in raw milk."
KSU's College of Education receives $2 million for teacher training
9/14/2025 Philanthropy News Digest
Kansas State University has announced a $2 million gift to its College of Education from Innes and John Hale in support of scholarships and professional development programs for future teachers. The largest cash gift in the education school's history will serve as seed funding for the newly established Luminary Fund for Literary, Performance, and Journalistic Arts Teacher Education and provide support for students pursuing state licensing to teach English, journalism, speech, and theater education. The fund will provide scholarships to bolster student recruitment as well as programmatic support, including classroom supplies and professional development.
When pet food purchases don't match what owners say they want
9/12/2025 PETFOOD Industry
Aleksan Shanoyan, Ph.D., professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University, began his presentation during Pet Food Collab on September 9, 2025, with a basic equation for customer value: perceived benefits divided by price. Yet, as those who follow the pet food market know — and as data from a study Shanoyan conducted show — the perception of value is often much more complex and nuanced than that. ... Organized and hosted by the Pet Food Program at KSU, Pet Food Collab was a two-day seminar designed to highlight the university's pet food research (by both faculty and students) as well as to generate discussion and networking for industry professionals.
State/Regional
Flooding brings risk, rewards
9/12/2025 AGRI-VIEW
Flooding across parts of the United States has made headlines in recent months, causing widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and natural resources. But while floods often leave behind costly destruction, a Kansas State University expert says those high-water events also play a valuable role in nature's cycle. On a recent episode of the Kansas State University podcast, Fins, Fur and Feathers, Kansas State University aquatics specialist Joe Gerken joined co-host Drew Ricketts to explore the causes and consequences of flooding.
Local
Sandzén Gallery hosts piano duet recital with Slawomir Dobrzanski & Alfonso Hernandez
9/13/2025 Salina Post
Pianists Slawomir Dobrzanski and Alfonso Hernandez will be performing selections by Mozart, Schubert, Ravel, and more at the Sandzén Gallery (401 N. 1st St.) on Sunday, September 21 at 2 p.m. Praised by the Buenos Aires Herald as "one of the best Polish pianists," Slawomir Dobrzanski currently serves as Professor of Piano at the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Kansas State University.
Béla Fleck trio to bring genre-blending performance to McCain Auditorium
9/13/2025 Salina Post
Kansas State University's McCain Performance Series will showcase an extraordinary musical collaboration featuring banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck, harpist Edmar Castañeda and drummer Antonio Sánchez on Sunday, September 28, in an evening of cross-genre artistry.
Friday, Sept. 12, 2025
National/International
A critical shortage of vets could threaten America’s food supply
9/11/25 InvestigateTV
The shortage has profound implications for the safety and stability of America’s food supply. “It’s absolutely critical,” says Brad White, Director of the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He stresses that healthy livestock, cared for by veterinarians, are essential to protecting both the animals and the people who depend on them.
Local
K-State researcher studies long-term effects of radiation exposure in the workplace
9/10/25 The K-State Collegian
Dr. Amir Bahadori, the nuclear engineering program director and professor in the department of mechanical and nuclear engineering at Kansas State, said there are some professions that receive exposure every day. Bahadori specializes in radiation protection, working to “implement methods to ensure that people are adequately protected from the health effects of ionizing radiation.”
Student Homecoming Committee prepares for 110th Homecoming anniversary
9/10/25 The K-State Collegian
The Student Homecoming Committee, composed of 25 Kansas State students, led by Tamie Redding, associate director of student programs, prepared for the historic week for months leading up to the event. “Each spring we get together and have three goals that the committee has: Selecting the grand marshals, the philanthropy and the theme has to be decided before school is out in the spring,” Redding said. “What we try to usually do is knock out the grand marshals and philanthropy first so it can give us a little bit of purpose with our theme.”
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025
National/International
AI Transforming Food Production
9/10/25 WLIO
Researchers at Kansas State University say the use of precision agriculture boomed in the last 15 to 20 years.
AFIA outlines priorities to advance animal food industry
9/10/25
At the same time, AAFCO partnered with Kansas State University’s Olathe Innovation Campus’ to develop its new Scientific Review of Ingredient Submissions (SRIS) program.
Local
Fly Kansas Air Tour Landing in Salina
9/10/25 KSAL
The Salina Airport Authority is partnering with K-State Salina, 1 Vision Aviation, the AIM Center of Excellence at SLN, the Salina Chamber of Commerce, Visit Salina, and the Greater Salina Community Foundation to bring pilots from across the state to Salina. Among those programs featured in the STEM stations for local students are partners from both K-State Salina and the AIM Center of Excellence.
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025
National/International
Do food expiration dates really matter?
09/09/25 San Diego Union-Tribune
Kansas State University offers handy cupboard and freezer storage guides for a range of foods, as does the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s FoodKeeper app.
State/Regional
'It's a game changer': Farmers, researchers and industry experts weigh in on benefits of AI in Ag
09/09/25 KSHB
At Kansas State University, there is a dedicated group of researchers who are experimenting with precision agriculture and helping local farmers.
Local
K-State beef cattle experts discuss mitigating health risks in the cattle herd
09/09/25 Manhattan Mercury
As calving season approaches, experts from the K-State Beef Cattle Institute are encouraging producers to focus on proactive management strategies to support calf health and herd performance.
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025
State/Regional
Kaw Valley Farm Tour brings thousands to local businesses
09/08/25 KSNT
The Kaw Valley Farm Tour will feature more than 30 local farms and historic sites across northeast Kansas this year. Dozens of small family and community farms across six counties in the Kaw River Valley will be open to the public to share their local foods and other goods on Oct. 4 and 5. Since 2004, the Kaw Valley Farm Tour has been a favorite annual fall event for thousands. The KVFT began as a collaboration between the Merc Co-op, K-State Research and Extension and Pendleton’s Country Market.
K-State food scientist breaks down consumer confidence survey
09/08/25 JC Post
Through its annual Food and Health Survey, IFIC asked 3,000 Americans about their perceptions, beliefs and behaviors surrounding food and purchasing decisions. This year’s findings point to a significant decline in consumer confidence regarding food and ingredient safety. Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee shared what these findings could mean and how consumers can feel more confident about the safety of their food.
Monday, Sept. 8, 2025
National/International
Kansas just made history with a 30-mile medical drone delivery
9/7/2025 DroneXL
On August 12, the Pyka drone took off from an airfield near Seneca, Kansas. Its cargo was small but vital: a life-saving AED. Its destination was the hospital airstrip in Onaga, a small town nearly 30 miles away. The flight, which took just 30 minutes, was a resounding success. This test was the culmination of a major collaborative effort, led by Community HealthCare System CEO John Fitzthum and supported by Kansas State University's Aerospace and Technology campus, the Kansas Department of Transportation, and the drone maker, Pyka.
Collaborative Research Program Gives Students Hands-on Experience in Veterinary Entomology
9/7/2025 MorningAgClips
REEVES is one of the Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates programs funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture. It was created by a collaboration between the University of Tennessee, Texas A&M University, Kansas State University and the University of Georgia. The program provides undergraduate students from colleges around the nation the opportunity to spend their summer at these universities exploring the field of veterinary entomology, a lesser known but crucial aspect of veterinary medicine.
State/Regional
Scientists put AI to work in the fight to save North American prairies
9/5/2025 Nebraska Public Media
Kansas State University scientists are enlisting the help of artificial intelligence in the effort to conserve what's left of North America's shrinking grasslands. Zak Ratajczak, an assistant professor and grassland biologist, says K-State scientists have trained a computer model to map in detail different kinds of woody vegetation affecting prairies, such as the aggressively spreading evergreens called eastern red cedars.
Kansas milo crop 'tremendous' — but low prices, disappearing markets jeopardize sales
9/6/2025 KAKE
Gregg Ibendahl, associate professor in agricultural economics at Kansas State University, said it's difficult to predict where future markets might be but that tariffs and shifting global trade may upend the United States' international role.
K-State specialist explains the risks involved with carbon monoxide
9/6/2025 The Times — Pottawatomie County
"High levels of carbon monoxide are dangerous for everyone. Severe exposure may cause death or lasting damage to organs," said Mitch Ricketts, an agriculture safety and health professor at Kansas State University. Ricketts said that even low levels of the gas can be hazardous for children, the elderly, unborn babies and people with heart conditions.
Local
Top takeaways from President Linton's 2025 State of the University Address
9/5/2025 The Collegian
Kansas State President Richard Linton gave his annual State of the University Address on Friday, Sept. 5. The presentation, held in McCain Auditorium, shared plans for the 2025-2030 Campus Master Plan and discussed university achievements from the previous Campus Master Plan, which ended this year.
Linton: Campus Master Plan to restore Anderson Hall, turn driving space into walking paths
9/5/2025 The Mercury
K-State's Anderson Hall will be looking good as new after upcoming renovations, with restored bricks, new balconies and a walking plaza in place of Mid-Campus Drive. At Friday's State of the University address, K-State president Richard Linton presented the Campus Master Plan and explained changes planned for the university, from a new walking trail along Campus Creek to renovating Ahearn Field House into an event space.
Donation Will Benefit Aspiring Educators
9/5/2025 KSAL
With a generous gift of $2 million to the Kansas State University College of Education, Innes and John Hale have kick-started an effort to enhance English, speech and journalism education in Kansas through scholarships for future teachers in these fields.
Friday, Sept. 5, 2025
National/International
When the patients are odds and ends and silicone
9/4/25 Veterinary Information Network News Service
Some surgery professors aren't sold on the idea that simulators, particularly more high-fidelity models, should play a major role in training veterinarians. Dr. James Roush, a professor of small animal surgery at Kansas State University, has seen the use of models wax and wane at his program, where terminal surgeries were discontinued in the early 1990s. "One of the problems surgeons have with models is that they are never close to real tissue," he said recently.
Local
Back to School: Focus lunch prep on food safety, kid-friendly choices
9/4/25 The Pottawatomie County Times
Whether it’s a soft-sided tote or a hard plastic shell, today’s insulated lunch bags offer more than nostalgia. K-State food scientist Karen Blakeslee says they’re part of a larger strategy to keep kids healthy and energized throughout the school day. “Food safety is a key factor,” said Blakeslee, who also is coordinator of K-State’s Rapid Response Center for food science. “Always aim to keep cold foods cold, hot foods hot, and avoid cross-contamination, especially if your child or another has food allergies.”
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives to perform at McCain Auditorium
9/4/25 Junction City Post
Kansas State University's McCain Performance Series presents award-winning musicians Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18.
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025
National/International
Spatial Computing Market Size Set to Soar from US$ 146.3 Billion in 2024 to US$ 727.5 Billion by 2032, Driven by AI, AR/VR, and XR Adoption Across Industries
9/3/25 ceo.ca
The entertainment industry is also entering into partnerships with higher education institutions to propel the growth of spatial computing. For instance, in August 2023, Pure Imagination Studios, a Hollywood-based animation studio, announced a partnership with the Kansas State University to invest US$ 41 million in a new studio and learning center
USDA backs FAU led FogAg platform to advance precision farming
9/3//25 Seed Daily
The project unites Florida Atlantic University, Kansas State University and Purdue University to develop FogAg, an edge and fog computing framework that delivers real-time, multi-layer sensing and analytics on how water and nitrogen together shape crop growth and yield across varied conditions.
State/Regional
These are the best Kansas and Missouri companies to work for in 2025, Forbes says
9/3/25 Kansas City Star
The Kansas list included 30 employers, half of which are headquartered in the Sunflower State. Kansas State University was ranked No. 3 in the state.
Local
KSU Salina Civic Series Returns
9/3/25 KSAL
Kansas State University Salina‘s Civic Lecture Series returns for the new 2025-2026 academic year with a discussion exploring adult education and how community collaboration can enhance outcomes for citizens, support employers and drive regional economic development.
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025
State/Regional
Scientists put AI to work in the fight to save North American prairies
09/2/25 KMUW
For Charlie and Jeremy Kootz, a father-son team farming near the Kannapolis Reservoir in Ellsworth County, cover crops are more than conservation. For them, it’s about building healthier soils, reducing erosion, protecting water supplies, improving profitability, and extending the grazing season into fall and winter. Those on-the-ground experiences line up with research from Kansas State University. A two-year study in Russell County tested how different grazing strategies on cover crops influenced soil conditions, grain yields, and overall farm profitability.
Kansas tomato crops hit hard by flooding, farmers battle fungal disease
09/02/25 KMBC
Kansas State University horticulture professor Cary Rivard said farmers across the region are facing similar challenges.
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025
State/Regional
Grazing cover crops adds value
08/31/25 Hutch Post
For Charlie and Jeremy Kootz, a father-son team farming near the Kannapolis Reservoir in Ellsworth County, cover crops are more than conservation. For them, it’s about building healthier soils, reducing erosion, protecting water supplies, improving profitability, and extending the grazing season into fall and winter. Those on-the-ground experiences line up with research from Kansas State University. A two-year study in Russell County tested how different grazing strategies on cover crops influenced soil conditions, grain yields, and overall farm profitability.
Don’t Stress Out Your Wean Pigs This Fall
09/01/25 Farms.com
Stress isn’t good for any stage of the pig’s life, but weaning is certainly a time where lowering stress on the pig is not just a good idea – it’s critical. From the right diet to the right environment, it’s essential that employees are ready to help pigs get off to the best start possible. “Those piglets are used to having full bellies coming off of their mom at weaning, and so as they transition into the nursery, being able to fill those stomachs and digestive systems with food is very critical,” said Joel DeRouchey, professor at Kansas State University, at the Annual Swine Conference hosted by Carthage Veterinary Service.
Local
Dr. Frank Tracz: the man behind K-State’s marching band
08/31/25 WIBW-TV
"They said it couldn't be done." For over 30 years, Dr. Frank Tracz has quietly proven them wrong, building a marching band powerhouse at Kansas State.