Black has graduated from Memphis and has one year of eligibility left.

Last season, Black started five of 32 games played for Memphis and averaged 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds. His 58.9 field goal percentage was second best on the team. He had 20 blocked shots and 22 steals at the power forward position.

For his career, Black has averaged 9.3 points and 4.9 rebounds and made 60 starts.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says 53-year-old Robert Harshbarger Jr., of Kingsport, Tenn., pleaded guilty Tuesday in Topeka to one count each of distributing a misbranded drug and health care fraud.

Harshbarger admitted that from 2004 to 2009, he substituted a cheaper Chinese import for an iron sucrose drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The drugs were given to patients of Kansas Dialysis Services. Prosecutors say there were no reports of harm, but patients were put at risk because the FDA could not assure the drugs’ effectiveness and safety.

Harshbarger’s plea deal calls for four years in prison, restitution of nearly $849,000 and a forfeiture of $425,000.

The House approved the measure Tuesday on a vote of 83-28. The Senate passed it last week.

The bill goes to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. The governor is a strong gun-rights supporter has not said whether he’ll sign it.

The measure is backed by the National Rifle Association.

Supporters contended that state funds shouldn’t be used to promote policies opposed by many Kansans. Critics called the bill vague.

A Kansas law that took effect in April says the federal government has no power to regulate firearms, ammunition and accessories manufactured, sold and kept only in the state.

Do not miss this special opportunity to get the inside scoop from the House’s champions of conservatism!

Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Time: 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET
Location Rayburn 2226
Who: National and District News Media, including Bloggers

Conversations with Conservatives is a group of free market and liberty-minded members of Congress that meets monthly with traditional press and bloggers to discuss the most important issues of the day.  Chaired by Representatives Tim Huelskamp (KS-01), Raúl Labrador (ID-01), and Jim Jordan (OH-04) each meeting features different conservative members of Congress to share their ideas and field questions from the media.  While questions are not limited to particular topics, Members are expected to discuss debt ceiling strategy, Benghazi, the IRS, and other issues!

Participating Members at the May 2013 session of Conversations with Conservatives include: Rep. Tim Huelskamp (KS-01), Rep. Raúl Labrador (ID-01), Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04), Rep. JustinAmash (MI-03), Rep. Jim Bridenstine (OK-01), Rep. Ron DeSantis (FL-06), Rep. Thomas Massie(KY-04), Rep. Todd Rokita (IN-04), and Rep. Steve Scalise (LA-01).  Additional participants may be announced.

Those who wish to view the event remotely may do so via http://www.ustream.tv/channel/conversations-with-conservatives.  Viewers may also participate in the conversation on Twitter (tweet to @conversations using #CWC113).

(AP) – Kansas legislators were preparing to resume their negotiations on budget and tax issues as freshman Republicans in both chambers gathered for a joint meeting.

First-term GOP lawmakers were caucusing Tuesday ahead of meetings of separate teams of senators and House members appointed to reconcile their chambers’ differences on budget and tax issues.

Republican leaders in both chambers have been stalemated.

The biggest budget disagreement is over higher education spending. Both chambers want to cut, but the House wants to go deeper than the Senate. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback wants no cuts.

On taxes, the biggest conflict is over Brownback’s plan to stabilize the budget by canceling a scheduled decrease in the sales tax. The Senate has approved the measure, and the House wants the tax to decrease.

(AP) — A new report says Kansas farmers have planted about 70 percent of this year’s corn crop.

But Monday’s weekly update from Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service also says planting of the corn crop trails the 97 percent planted by the same time last year, and the average of 74 percent.

The Kansas winter wheat crop is 41 percent headed. Forty-two percent of the wheat is rated in poor to very poor condition, with 30 percent fair, 25 percent good and 3 percent excellent.

Some damage was reported from hail and high winds that accompanied weekend rain in parts of Kansas.

Despite the rain, subsoil moisture supplies were short to very short across 54 percent of the state. Topsoil moisture supplies remain short to very short in 34 percent of Kansas.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners, including the National Weather Service, continue to closely monitor the effects of severe weather that impacted Oklahoma and other areas within the Central United States, and at the President’s direction, are already providing resources to support the response.

Today, President Obama, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, spoke with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin to express concern for citizens impacted by the severe weather and tornadoes, to offer support and make clear the Administration stood ready to provide additional resources as necessary. The administration, through FEMA, is closely monitoring the impacts of the storm and remains in close contact with emergency officials to ensure there are not any unmet needs. FEMA and its partners have teams on the ground in hard hit areas, and is prepared to deploy additional teams and resources, if needed by the states. On Sunday night, at the state’s request, FEMA deployed a liaison officer to the Oklahoma emergency operations center in anticipation of severe weather. FEMA commends the efforts of the local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, and humanitarian organizations who are providing emergency assistance to those in impacted areas.

Federal activities underway today to support Oklahoma response efforts include the following:

• FEMA deployed an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) to the state emergency operations center in Oklahoma City to coordinate with state and local officials in support of recovery operations. FEMA also deployed Urban Search and Rescue Teams and a Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) Team to Oklahoma to provide self-sustaining telecommunications, logistics, and operations support elements. FEMA also has additional personnel from the Denton, Texas regional office on alert.

• This afternoon, FEMA activated the National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C., a multi-agency coordination center that provides overall coordination of the federal response to natural disasters and emergencies, to support state requests for assistance. FEMA Region VI Response Coordination Centers (RRCC) located in Denton, Texas remains activated to coordinate any requests for federal assistance, if requested.

• A FEMA liaison officer is currently at the Oklahoma emergency operations center to assist with coordination efforts. FEMA’s regional office in Denton, Texas is in constant coordination and communications with Oklahoma’s emergency management team and local officials.

• FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration deployed preliminary damage assessments teams to help identify the damages in impacted counties.

We urge residents in impacted areas to listen carefully to instructions from their local officials and take the recommended protective measures to safeguard life and property while response efforts continue. Listen to state, local and tribal officials who ask you to remain in shelters, homes or safe places until they give the “all clear” to travel. Roads are very likely to be damaged or blocked by debris, and traffic jams slow emergency managers and first responders as they attempt to reach hard-hit areas.

According to the National Weather Service, there continues to be a risk of severe weather this evening across areas of the southern Plains including Oklahoma and parts of Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas and severe weather is possible further north including parts of Illinois and Wisconsin.

We encourage individuals in the affected area to monitor local radio or TV stations or the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov or a NOAA weather radio for the latest information, for updated weather and emergency information, and to follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials. For those in areas that are forecast to be affected by severe weather, now is the time to get prepared for tornadoes and other disasters.

There are tools and resources available online to help you prepare for, respond to and recover from any type of disaster. Visit www.ready.gov to learn more. The Spanish language site – listo.gov. Those with a Blackberry, Android or Apple device can download the FEMA app to access safety tips, shelter locations, and more.

The annual flushing of fire hydrants is an important preventative maintenance activity which is necessary to maintain the integrity of the water distribution system and to ensure the delivery of high quality water to our customers.

Flushing the water distribution system achieves three objectives: helps to keep the interior of the water lines clean (removes sediment); helps maintain good quality water in the water distribution system; and provides an opportunity to check the operation of all fire hydrants. The water is safe to drink but may cause staining of laundry.

Annual Water Line Free Chlorine Flushing: May 24, 2013 through July 2, 2013

To maintain high water quality in the City’s water distribution system and Saline County RWD #3, the Utilities Department will temporarily modify the disinfection process used to treat our drinking water.

This is a preventative maintenance process and consists of turning off the ammonia feed and increasing the free chlorine feed in order to maintain a more uniform disinfection level throughout the City’s water distribution system and Saline County RWD #3.

Customers may notice a strong chlorine taste or odor of chlorine in their tap water during this period. These temporary conditions are normal during the modified disinfection process and will not cause adverse health effects. If you are especially sensitive to the taste or odor of chlorine, keep an open container of drinking water in your refrigerator for a few hours to allow the chlorine to dissipate.

Users of home dialysis machines, owners of tropical fish and managers of stores and restaurants with fish and shellfish holding tanks are advised to seek professional advice as the method for removing free chlorine residuals differs from removing chloramine residuals from tap water.

To minimize customer disruptions, the City will be completing the annual fire hydrant flushing during this time. A temporary variation in tap water color, as well as possible sediment may occur. Running water at the tap for one or two minutes should help clear this temporary occurrence.

If you have any questions concerning these flushing activities, please call a Utilities Department representative at 826-7305.

Come in to Gutierrez today to register for Country Stampede Tickets!! LIKE us on our Facebook page for double the chances to win!! Click link below to go directly to our Facebook page and LIKE us today for all the deals!!
https://www.facebook.com/GutierrezRestaurant

Phillip Heath is very passionate about this effort. “As ex-Okies and having family and friends that have been effected by the storms we at Express Employment Professionals along with our friend Shelter Insurance, Kelly Kitchener Agency and Salina Pawn and Jewelery would like to offer a place to drop off any donations that you might want to give to help the people in Shawnee and Moore Oklahoma.”

Items needed include: Water,  non-perishable food items, toiletries, gloves, shovels, cleaning supplies, dog and cat food, among others. Money is always acceptable, but the Red Cross does not need clothing at this time.

Drop off your items today through this Friday at…

Express Employment Pros – 2326 Planet Ave.

Kelly Kitchener Agency – 216 W Crawford

between 8am and 5pm, or many items can be picked up if need be.

You can also drop off items at Salina Pawn and Jewelry 612 S. Broadway.

Drop off donations  at this location 9 to 6 Friday and 9 to 5 Saturday.

Heath said he’s planning on driving a truck down himself. “We will deliver to Red Cross in Shawnee and Shelter Storm team site in Moore if they have a need over the Memorial weekend.”

Please donate to this worthy cause by Friday at 5pm.  Thank you!!