Brownback continues Kansas drought tour

? Gov. Sam Brownback tours southeast Kansas to see the effects of intense summer heat and drought.

On Tuesday, the Republican governor was in central Kansas where he met with officials near Salina to discuss water available in the Smoky Hill River and Kanopolis Reservoir for municipal and agricultural use.

Brownback is heading on Wednesday to Allen and Neosho counties in southeastern Kansas to see the damaged caused by lack of rain and temperatures above 100 degrees.

Brownback will be joined by Tracy Streeter, director of the Kansas Water Office, and Dale Rodman, state agriculture director.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared 82 counties in Kansas federal disaster areas because of ongoing drought.