Special to the Leader & Times

Wednesday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reported 55 total cases of cyclosporiasis so far in 2026 in Kansas. Of the 55 total cases reported to KDHE, 37 are classified as domestically acquired, 17 were likely acquired during international travel, and, in one case, the public health investigation could not definitively determine if infection was acquired domestically or internationally.

Domestically acquired cyclosporiasis cases have risen sharply in Kansas since late June, with 30 cases reported since June 24. KDHE continues to work with local health departments to interview cases and try to identify a common exposure to prevent additional illnesses. Individuals diagnosed with cyclosporiasis are encouraged to talk to the local health department staff investigating these illnesses when they reach out to help identify a potential cause.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Robotics is a popular and successful activity for many young people in the area, with many teams in the region taking part in the worlds competition every year.

While those teams achieve success regularly, they do struggle to get the funding to make the trip to the competition. The Heritage 4-H Club, a club made up of homeschooled students, is one of those clubs, and after having to come up with that funding in a short period of time, club members and parents have found a way to be proactive about that issue through fundraising events throughout the year.

One such event is coming up Saturday, July 25, with Heritage Robotics hosting its 5K Run & Walk at Liberal’s Mid-America Air Museum. Heritage member Faith Myers said there is also a 1-mile category, and participants can walk or run the routes in their category.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Students and staff at Liberal High School will see some changes in scheduling starting this coming school year.

The USD 480 school board’s most recent meeting began with LHS Principal and Assistant Principal Darla Forney and Brandi Fowler talking about the changes set to come.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

The 12th edition of the Seward County PRCA Rodeo is about a month away, and the rodeo continues to grow with each passing year.

For most of those years, a parade has been part of the mid-August fun in Liberal, and adding to the excitement of this year’s rodeo will be a truck show.

The show will take place on both days of the PRCA rodeo, Aug. 14 and 15, and the show is taking place in conjunction with an open house for Seward County Community College’s truck driving school at the school’s West Campus on Western Avenue.

Seward County Rodeo Association (SCRA) member C.J. Wettstein said trucks will begin coming in at noon Friday, Aug. 14, at the West Campus, and the show itself will start at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, the show will start at 8 a.m. and run until as late as 11:30 p.m.