HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Tyson reported strong second quarter earnings as fears about swine fever in other parts of the world market raise concerns about pork prices and product numbers.

Sales for the meat and poultry giant totaled $10.4 billion compared with $9.7 billion the same period last year. Net income was $430 million compared with $316 million in 2018. The positive numbers did not reflect the downturn in the prepared foods department. Second quarter sales fell by 9.5% to $2.02 billion compared with $2.14 billion last year, although operating income did increase from $119 million to $245 million.

An outbreak of swine fever in China is causing concerns that prices will increase quickly and the number of hogs available will fall. China has about 700 million hogs that account for about half of the world’s hog population.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Cosmosphere will be making a very long distance call that will give participants a chance to visit with Kansas astronaut Nick Hague this Friday starting at 9 a.m. The museum and science center will host a conversation with Hague, who is currently aboard the international space station.

During the 20-minute conversation, Hague will take live questions from Kansas students, including students from his hometowns of Hoxie and Peabody. Before and after the conversation, which is called an In-Flight Educational Downlink, the Cosmosphere will offer related educational STEM programming.

Also attending will be astronaut Dr. Steve Hawley, who will take audience questions about living in space and his experiences as an astronaut following the conversation with Hague.

YODER, Kan. — For the first time in 20 years, the Sunflower Gliderport at the old navy base will host the 2019 National Soaring Championship for gliders competing in the Club Class June 2-13. Sunflower Gliderport has operated since 1974 and is home to the Kansas Soaring Association. This is the first national championship held at Sunflower Gliderport since 1989.

Approximately 35 pilots from across the United States will use rising air currents to race their unpowered aircraft around a set task each day. Points are awarded daily based on the speed achieved. Pilots will also be competing for a spot on the U.S. Soaring Team and the honor of representing the U.S. at the biennial World Championships.

Takeoffs will be made daily, weather permitting, between noon and 1 p.m. and are open the public. Pilots will return from their race course late in the afternoon. The exact location of takeoffs and landings will be determined as the event gets closer and will be announced by Visit Hutch. The event will also feature online tracking to allow spectators to follow along.

For any questions about Sunflower Gliderport or the National Soaring Championship, contact Tony Condon at abcondon@gmail.com.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — KWBW Radio aired a special broadcast last Saturday entitled “Christianity and Survival of the Church.”

The program featured area ministers and professors discussing Christianity, and the challenges Christians face in the U.S. and around the world.

BW News Anchor Rod Zook was joined by Pastor Lenny Maxwell of Trinity United Methodist Church; Pastor Matt Stafford of First Congregational Church; Pastor Tom Swain of the First Church of God in Great Bend; Pastor Andy Addis of CrossPoint Church; The Rev. Charles Kerschner of Hutchinson Community College and the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas; and Dr. Kirk MacGregor, Professor of Religious Studies at McPherson College.

The hour-long show featured an informative discussion about past and present events that have shaped Christianity and the modern day issues facing the church.

Listen back to the show below:

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Radiology Department of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center has been granted a three-year accreditation in computerized tomography from the American College of Radiology as the result of an exhaustive onsite review.

The ACR is a 95-year-old professional medical society with a lengthy track record of serving patients. Accreditation by the ACR is recognized as the gold standard in medical imaging.

A primary responsibility of the Radiology Department is CT scanning — sometimes called CAT scans, a noninvasive medical test that assists physicians in diagnosing and tailoring treatments for a long list of medical conditions. It is an essential service for the successful operation of all hospitals.

Wes Hoyt, chief operating officer for Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System says the accreditation follows a two-year effort to upgrade equipment in the Radiology Department that included a new CT scanner, MRI, ultrasound machine and an upgrade in digital portable X-ray machines.

STERLING, Kan. — In taking his own life, David Madden may leave many questions unanswered. Authorities are still questioning witnesses about the shooting of two law enforcement officers in Rice County. Additionally, there are many unknowns about Madden’s connection to the disappearance of an Oneida, Illinois, woman more than three years ago.

Madden was a person of interest and even a suspect in the disappearance of Megan Foglesong, who was last seen in December of 2015 in Alden, Kansas. On Tuesday, the KBI stated that the active warrant against Madden that triggered Monday’s shooting was not connected to the young woman’s case.

A Facebook page called “Bring Megan Home” that was started by friends and family of Foglesong had postings about the shooting and press conferences connected to the case. Many on the page have long believed Madden was connected to the woman’s disappearance, but no arrests were ever made. However, the KBI did execute a search warrant at Madden’s home in 2017.

According to the missing person’s web site “The Charley Project,” Madden and Foglesong dated off and on.  They had broken up several times but kept reconciling. Foglesong told two friends that if she ever disappeared, Madden was probably the one responsible.

The website says that on November 30, the day of Foglesong’s last Facebook activity, she replied to a message from a friend and said she was at Madden’s house. On December 1, Madden told the local sheriff that he had caught Foglesong stealing from him and they got into an argument and she left.

On December 7, Foglesong’s phone sent a text to a friend, saying “I’m fine.” Her friend is not sure whether she sent the message herself. One of Foglesong’s friends said she got a call from her, asking if she could come pick her up. Foglesong said she was walking along a rural road in the rain. Her friend was unable to help her.

The site also says Madden had previously dated Foglesong’s mother, Pam Lewis. Lewis later stated she’d been told Foglesong left for Colorado with one of Madden’s friends. She said she doesn’t believe Madden was involved in her case and thinks that the friend Foglesong supposedly went to Colorado with was responsible.

Calls made to the KBI for an update on the investigation into Foglesong’s case were not returned as of Tuesday evening.