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KansasReflector.com TOPEKA — Folks drink it every day, but a central element of that substance could eventually power manufacturing plants or fuel vehicles while shifting the nation toward a future of reduced reliance on oil and natural gas. That’s the optimistic view of hydrogen’s potential from Joe Spease, chief executive officer of WindSoHy, an Overland Park company dedicated to blending cheap electricity from Kansas wind power, a vast network of underground storage caverns and technology to split hydrogen from the oxygen in water.

A little bit of rain fell over the weekend, aiding the growth of local cotton plants in fields in Pratt County and neighboring counties. It was a lucky stroke for those who got the needed moisture, almost as lucky as the payout last month for a local farmer who sold a batch of cotton held over from last year.

A semi-truck making deliveries in downtown Newton attempted to go around a train - and that created a bit of a problem in the 100 block of East Fourth Street on Aug. 26.

While kids have headed back to school for the 2022-23 school year, the Newton Public Library has not stopped creating events and programs for kids. In fact, the fall will be a busy time for the library - in addition to traditional programs for youth there is a new program being added to the calendar.

Historic voter turnout in the Aug. 2 primary surprised even the state’s chief election officer. Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab announced four days before the election that he predicted a 36% voter turnout, or around 700,000 voters. Historically, midterm primaries draw 20% to 25% of voters. Schwab’s prediction padded that number by about 50% to account for voter interest in a constitutional amendment that, if it had passed, would have nullified a state Supreme Court decision that says the Kansas Constitution contains the right to an abortion.