Kansas

New interest has sparked in oil and gas exploration in Kansas.  A day long conference in Dodge City Tuesday focused on the topic. The goal of the event was to help prepare communities for the impact.  Topics included housing, education and public safety. Officials from the Oil and Gas Task Force say although each community is different, these discussions can help regionally.  "We can all take what affects us the most out of it; to the best knowledge and build that network so that we have each other to lean on and to try to pull things together so that we are better prepared," said Task Force Member Joann Knight.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 65% of Kansans receive fluoridated water. For some communities, fluoride naturally occurs at levels that can prevent cavities. Those communities include Goodland, Colby and Dodge City. But that's not the case for everyone. So, for years, places like hays, Salina and Topeka have added fluoride to city water supplies. The Centers for Disease Control lists fluoride levels for every water system in the country. You'll find that list using the link below.

There is a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m. for southern Kansas.  It includes Wichita, El Dorado, Hutch, Garden City, Dodge City and Great Bend. Very large hail (up to 3” in diameter) and damaging winds (greater than 75 mph) are the main concerns.

A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked implementation of a new Environmental Protection Agency regulation that Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says would threaten the Kansas electrical supply. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today granted a stay of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which was scheduled to take effect Sunday. Kansas, which filed a lawsuit against EPA in September, had asked the Court to block implementation of the new regulation while the Court hears arguments about it. With the regulation on hold pending the outcome of the lawsuit, the Court has set oral arguments in the lawsuit for April 2012.

The U.S. Supreme Court Monday granted Kansas permission to proceed with litigation against Nebraska for alleged overuse of water in the Republican River basin. This reopens the 1998 litigation that Kansas brought against Nebraska and Colorado based on the Republican River Compact that the three states signed in 1943. The states reached a negotiated settlement of the 1998 litigation, and the Supreme Court in 2003 entered a decree approving the terms of the settlement. Kansas now alleges Nebraska violated both the settlement decree and the compact by overusing more than 78,000 acre-feet of water during a two-year period from 2005 to 2006.

The new fiscal year brings new fees for people planning funerals in Kansas. Starting July 1, the Secretary of State's office began charging cemeteries $20 for for every plot they sell. It doesn't matter if the plot is purchased when someone dies or bought while they're alive. The money will help pay for about half of a program that audits and investigates cemetery financial plans, including trusts.

Made In Kansas is doing it again. We're visiting at least two new manufacturing plants around the Wichita area. Our first stop takes us to Hustler Turf Equipment. Hustler Turf invented the zero turn lawn mower. They have been manufacturing riding lawn mowers for residential and commercial properties since 1966. Nick Parker, my photographer, and I will get a behind the scenes look at how these high powered machines are made. We start at the beginning of the line, where they cut the metal and end with a ride on one of Turf's mowers.

By Eyewitness News (TOPEKA, Kan.) New figures released by AAA show the average price for a gallon of gas in Kansas is once again on the rise. The current average price for a regular gallon of gas is $2.69. Last month, the price was at $2.51, and one year ago it was $1.87 in Kansas. Right now, the national average price for a gallon of gas is $2.76.

Windows may not be the only things shattered by Wednesday's severe storms. The National Weather Service is investigating the possibly of a new hail stone record for the state. Melissa McCarter says a 7.5 inch hail stone fell at Pawnee and 119th in west Wichita. The hail stone's weight and circumference were measured 15 hours after it fell. It weight 1.1 pounds and has a circumference of 15.5 inches. The previous record was set by a hail stone in 1970.

State officials brace for another round of problems with blue-green algae this summer. The toxic blooms made dozens sick last year.  So far only a small lake in Great Bend has been affected, but officials expect more to happen, especially in June.  If the blue green algae touches your skin it could cause an allergic reaction, and if you happen to swallow the tainted water it could cause diarrhea, vomiting or worse.