News
Bird populations are shrinking faster in agriculture hotspots " including the Midwest, study finds
4+ day, 23+ hour ago (723+ words) A new study finds bird populations are declining at a faster pace in areas with a lot of agriculture, especially in the Midwest. The loss of bird populations has been documented since the 1970s. A landmark study from the Cornell Lab…...
Nitrate is quietly polluting rural drinking wells. How researchers are working to help
5+ day, 23+ hour ago (1729+ words) South-central Kansas is sandy. Commodity crops abound. And you don't have to dig very deep to hit groundwater. These three seemingly unrelated facts make for a trifecta with an unwanted prize: A lot of the drinking water is now polluted…...
Kansas scientists put AI to work in the fight to save the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie
8+ mon, 6+ day ago (921+ words) 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…...
Missouri banned Callery pears and 5 other invasive plants. Grow these instead
10+ mon, 4+ week ago (201+ words) Selling, importing or exporting several invasive plants, including Callery or Bradford pear trees, will soon be illegal in Missouri, after the state legislature passed a ban. Experts say the ban will help slow the spread of the Callery pear, as…...
How to celebrate Earth Day in Kansas City by giving new life to old and unused household items
1+ week, 2+ day ago (499+ words) Kansas City's environmental groups are organizing several events promoting sustainability and taking better care of our environment ahead of Earth Day, which is next Wednesday, April 22. Residents can declutter and ensure unwanted items are passed on to another home. People…...
Missouri is building a 300-mile butterfly trail to attract monarchs and tourists alike
10+ mon, 2+ week ago (1215+ words) An initiative focused on pollinator conservation and education hopes to help local economies in western Missouri by creating pollinator-friendly plantings and tourist attractions. The Highway 13 Butterfly Trail will feature a 26-mile-wide, 292-mile-long corridor along Highway 13, according to a project summary…...
Missouri's new Highway 13 Butterfly Trail will have pollinator gardens, public art and more
7+ mon, 3+ week ago (406+ words) A new trail is in the works " but it's not for use by humans. It's for butterflies. The idea for the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail was first proposed by the Hamilton Community Alliance in the small northern Missouri city that was…...
Belton and Raymore reckon with tornado damage as cooler weather moves in
1+ week, 1+ day ago (481+ words) A confirmed tornado over Raymore, Missouri, left residents reeling Friday night as it downed trees, damaged roofs and scattered debris. The tornado took off pieces of the front of Ralph Clarett's house in nearby Belton, and opened enough space for…...
Canada geese are all over Missouri now. Here's how to coexist during nesting season
1+ week, 23+ hour ago (486+ words) Nancy Schnell's life was forever changed in 2001, when a student walked into her Ferguson-Florissant biology classroom and laid a newspaper on her desk that announced a slaughter of local Canada geese. They asked her, "What are we going to do…...
Kansas City under tornado watch, with hail and damaging winds expected
1+ week, 1+ day ago (284+ words) The Kansas City area is at a moderate risk of severe weather today, the National Weather Service says. A tornado watch has been issued for the region until 9 p. m. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Platte and Atchison…...