Here are recent headlines about the military in Kansas:Fort Leavenworth(Kansas City Business Journal) Fed narrows sites for biodefense facility: The 17 sites vying for the $450 million National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility have been winnowed from 17 to between three and five. But the U.S. Department of Homeland Security isn’t telling the public who the lucky winners are. “The decision has been made, but we’re in the process of letting folks know; there’s a lot of congressional notification that has to be done,” said Larry Orluski, a spokesman for department. The finalists will be announced to the general public next week, he said. Two Kansas sites — one near Fort Leavenworth and the other on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan — were among the 17 that federal inspectors visited in April and May. Fort Riley ¢ 1st Infantry Division(Manhattan Mercury) Managing the post a dynamic task: FORT RILEY – When Col. Thomas T. Smith took over as Fort Riley’s garrison commander two years ago, his predecessor handed him a transition plan outlining the future of the post. “He said don’t worry about it, we got it all figured out,” Smith recalled. “Of course, that plan has changed multiple times since then.” Smith, 57, will end his two-year run as garrison commander – essentially the post’s mayor and/or city manager – this coming Friday during a 9 a.m. change in command ceremony at Ware Parade Field at Fort Riley. Smith is heading for Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio where he will become deputy director for the Installation Management Command West Region.