State

West Nile now found in 35 Kansas counties

Topeka Seven more Kansas counties now have the West Nile virus, including five where it was found in horses, bringing the total to 35, state health officials said Wednesday.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said the most recent cases involving horses were in Leavenworth, Cloud, Kingman, Mitchell and Saline counties.

Additionally, a crow tested positive in Bourbon County and a blue jay tested positive in Lincoln County.

The disease is transmitted when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites another animal or person. No case of West Nile in humans has been reported in Kansas. A vaccine is available for horses.

The virus has been detected in a dead bird in Douglas County and in a horse in Jefferson County.

Research

KU pharmacy students win national grants

Kansas University graduate students nabbed two of six $20,000 grants for postgraduate research awarded by the U.S. Pharmacopeia in Rockville, Md.

The KU winners, both doctoral students in pharmaceutical chemistry, were Chad Braun of Battle Creek, Mich., and Fei Tian of Beijing, China.

Braun’s research focuses on finding new ways to deliver genes for genetic therapy for diseases. Tian is researching methods of improving the stability of protein drugs, which usually have a short shelf life.

The other grants went to students from the universities of Connecticut, Texas and Minnesota, each of which also had two winners.

Gasoline Prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found a gasoline price as low as $1.35 at Sam’s Food Mart, 1910 Haskell Ave. If you find a lower price, call us at 832-7154.

Be prepared to leave the name and address of the business and the price. Or visit the Pump Patrol message board at www.ljworld.com/section/gasoline.