Kansas
New local podcast brings energy, avoids fatalism about Kansas environmental issues • Kansas Reflector
Like many of you, dear readers, I drive a predictable path to work. Mine takes me back and forth on K-10, or Kansas State Highway 10. My stretch of K-10 takes me from Lenexa to Lawrence.
The features of the drive don’t change much. The same billboards. The same businesses. The same suburban housing. The same trees.
This week, a new and locally produced podcast changed my perception of that landscape dramatically — especially those trees. It’s not the same old drive anymore.
The podcast that did this? “Up From Dust,” from the Kansas News Service and KCUR. Celia Llopis-Jepsen, a veteran Kansas reporter, co-hosts the podcast with David Condos, who recently moved from a reporting hub in Hays to southern Utah. Together they have so far created four episodes, which document how our choices as Kansans have shaped nature around us.
(Disclaimer: I have worked with Llopis-Jepsen and Condos through my previous job at a journalism association.)
During my previous drives down K-10, I had never noticed the “Green Glacier” phenomenon that “Up From Dust” documented in an April episode. Scientists use the term to explain the recent and relentless creep of trees from the eastern portion of Kansas to the vital prairie ecosystem in the western part of the state.
The most obvious and invasive signs of this creeping crisis dot the fence lines and property boundaries along most Kansas highways, including K-10. It’s the red cedar, a tree that spreads quickly into prairie lands originally free of trees. Those prairies are much healthier, as the podcast explains, without red cedars or any other trees.
As I explain this to you, I blush. As many times as I write and rewrite those sentences above, they pale in comparison to the specificity, energy and research that packs “Up From Dust.”
Condos and Llopis-Jepsen have been crafting these episodes for two years, and when paired with the production help of Makenzie Martin, their reporting bounces between light and serious, from scientific to personal, from local to global, from historical to timely. The first episodes mirror the excellence of trailblazing podcasts, such as Planet Money or the Vox explainer podcast, by breaking down complex issues for those of us without Ph.D.s in soil science.
The team calibrated the tone of the series perfectly. “Up From Dust” shows concern for the environment but strives for optimism. It’s a delicate balance. The science of climate change presents an existential threat, so it would be easy to retreat to a gloomy corner.
Instead, the podcast takes us into bright Kansas landscapes: foraging for garlic mustard, reclaiming a prairie stream, spotting swallowtail butterflies. The anecdotes bring wonder back to nature rather than simply leaving us worrying about nature as a victim. The producers describe the podcast as being “about the price of trying to shape the world around our needs, and the folks who are fixing our generational mistakes.”
The tone is also smart because it avoids dividing environmental science into the typical two-sided journalism rhetoric of political conflict: Democrats vs. Republicans, or corporations vs. environmentalists. It’s an easy groove for journalists to fall into, and “Up From Dust” wholly avoids it.
This podcast also suggests incremental steps Kansans can take, while acknowledging that they aren’t cure-alls for the climate damage we have done. Amid threatening daily climate news, the podcast shows Kansas nature as vibrant and resilient. And it shows us Kansans as vital.
In addition to being persuasively practical, this podcast also is subtly emotional. There is sometimes a hint of heartache in Llopis-Jepsen’s voice. In the most recent episode, “Healing the ground we broke,” she sees Kansas pastures missing eight feet of topsoil, the result of plowing and erosion. She watches demonstrations of our current topsoil, powdery and gray, unable to hold together during rainstorms. The damage to forests, fields and streams seems to wrench at her during her visits.
But that sadness is countered by joy. In the same episode, our hosts remind us of the perils of the Dust Bowl almost a century ago: choking storms, failed crops and even death. That mood is immediately followed by optimism: a soil biologist who playfully freezes the interview each time Llopis-Jepsen refers to soil as “dirt.” Throughout these episodes, laughter and joking juxtapose segments acknowledging the environmental damage already done.
A lot of the reporting in the podcast is helpfully historical. Who knew where honeybees came from? Who knew that World War II munitions led to increased use of fertilizer after the war? And who knew the threat posed by each planting of a Bradford pear tree?
In revealing this historical context, Condos and Llopis-Jepsen trust that their listeners understand nuance. Their often-complex explanations don’t provide simple fixes. (Yes, no-till farming has benefits, but it also has costs.) Nuance is also comfortable in their podcast because the length of the episodes, all more than 34 minutes, allow them to explain complicated issues more fully than a four-minute radio story.
All the while, the focus remains on Kansas. Throughout the podcast, farmers, scientists and other experts redirect the gaze of our environmentalism from the coasts to Kansas backyards and crop fields.
“We are saving the last of this ecosystem,” Flint Hills rancher Daniel Mushrush says, referring to the prairie. “If a coral reef is worth saving, if some pristine mountain stream is worth saving, then so are the Flint Hills.”
With its regional focus, this podcast is a priceless educational resource. Every environmental science class in the state should listen as required course work. In addition to the audio journalism, KCUR’s website hosts photos, stories and graphics that further explain the podcast reporting. Any educator will marvel at how Condos and Llopis-Jepsen have fun with science. And by doing so, they make it fun for us.
A few weeks ago, a Kansas high school student contacted me about an ambition. He wants to cover environmentalism in a way that reaches his fellow teenagers. Of course, I will be sending him this podcast because it provides a template for how to cover the Kansas environment.
At the end of the episode titled “The Green Glacier,” the same Flint Hills rancher quoted above describes the grueling days he spends with a chainsaw, clearing trees that threaten his grassland.
Describing the effort to keep 15,000 acres free of trees, he says: “It’s not easy work, but it’s worthy work. At least, there’s a road map forward.”
The same can be said for Kansas journalists after listening to this podcast series: Covering the local environment requires dedication, but there’s now an admirable path to follow.
Eric Thomas teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Rebounding has been a concern for Kansas State, as evidenced by ranking 14th overall in the conference.
So it’s no surprise Wildcats coach Jerome Tang brought it back up before the team hosts Drake (9-0) Tuesday night. Tang used a boxing analogy to illustrate the rebounding issues, saying it’s not enough to play defense if they can’t come away with the possession.
“It’s not over when we contest the shot, we gotta go get the rebound,” Tang said. “Otherwise, we’re gonna get knocked out. We’ve been throwing the punch contesting the shot, but we haven’t been finishing the play.”
St. John’s outrebounded the Wildcats 51 to 40, including nine offensive boards alone by forward Zuby Ejiofor. These created second-chance opportunities for the Red Storm, which Kansas State couldn’t reciprocate in the second half.
It’s essential for the Wildcats to improve against the Bulldogs on Tuesday night.
ACHOR ACHOR’S DEPARTURE CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER K-STATE PLAYERS
Kansas State took a loss with the sudden departure of forward Achor Achor, who was anticipated to be a major transfer acquisition.
Luckily, coach Jerome Tang says the team prepared for these situations. He is encouraged by the new opportunities presented to players like Taj Manning and Mobi Ikegwuruka, who will step up amidst Achor’s exit.
“It opens up the opportunity for a lot of guys,” Tang said. “It also gets people’s attention. Love Achor and wish him the best, but one of the things I said is that one of the goals this summer was to have an abundance. So that if you lost a player or two, you still had enough to accomplish what you wanted to accomplish.”
Jayden Armant is a graduate of the Howard University School of Communications and a contributor to Kansas State Wildcats on SI. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.
Kansas senior cornerback Mello Dotson capped off an incredible season by earning his second All-America honor on Monday.
The Associated Press named Dotson to its Third Team All-America list, adding to his earlier selection as a Walter Camp Second Team All-American on Dec. 12.
Dotson’s recognition is a big moment for Kansas football.
He’s the first Jayhawk to earn All-America honors since linebacker Joe Dineen Jr. in 2018. Even more impressive, Dotson joins an exclusive group as only the 13th Kansas player to be named an All-American multiple times.
His selection marks the 25th All-America honor in program history.
This season, Dotson proved to be one of the best cornerbacks in the country.
He led the Big 12 Conference with five interceptions, a number that tied for third nationally among cornerbacks. Two of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns, which tied him for the most in the country.
He also tallied 49 tackles and 12 pass deflections, consistently making life difficult for opposing offenses.
Dotson’s career numbers are even more impressive.
Over his time at Kansas, he racked up 12 interceptions, 177 tackles, and 37 passes defended. He also set a school record with four interceptions returned for touchdowns—truly a game-changer every time he was on the field.
His senior year was full of highlights.
Dotson earned First Team All-Big 12 honors and was an Honorable Mention for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. One standout moment came against No. 17 Iowa State, where he returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown.
That game earned him Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week and Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Defensive Back of the Week honors.
Dotson wasn’t the only star cornerback for Kansas this season.
His teammate, Cobee Bryant, was named a Second Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association on Dec. 13.
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Kansas
Former Kansas City Chiefs player Jimmy Wilkerson dies at 43; high school honours late assistant coach with teary win
Former Kansas City Chiefs draft pick and longtime NFL defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson sadly passed away earlier this week on December 13 in Oklahoma City. He was 43 years old.
Before his unfortunate demise, Wilkerson was employed as an assistant coach at Carl Albert High School. According to The Oklahoman, the Titans were scheduled to have their final practice before the Saturday game. A few hours before the planned schedule, the former OU standout was at home when a call went out to paramedics for an emergency. Wilkerson, however, was reportedly no longer with us before the officials arrived. A heart attack is believed to be the cause of his untimely death.
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More about the NFL star’s pro career. His son is also a football player
Throughout his NFL career, the Oklahoma athlete played with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2003-07. Eventually, he switched over to Tampa Bay for two seasons before joining the New Orleans Saints roster in 2010. His NFL path culminated with Seattle in 2011.
The late assistant coach’s son, senior tight-end Maddox Wilkerson, followed in his father’s footsteps, playing alongside his teammates for Carl Albert. With barely a day elapsed between his dad breathing his last breath and his school’s showdown against Guthrie, the #45 athlete (the same number his dad wore while playing at the collegiate level) still stepped up to the occasion and participated in the crucial match, which ultimately paved the way for a historic victory.
Jimmy Wilkerson’s memory honoured by historic Carl Albert victory
Despite reeling from the older Wilkerson’s death, the Carl Albert team defeated Guthrie 30-6 at the Class 5A state championship football game at the Chad Richison Stadium in Edmond, Oklahoma, on Saturday, December 14. It marked the school’s third consecutive Class 5A title and the program’s 19th overall. Nevertheless, the post-game visuals stung with the abject pain of loss.
With tears in his eyes, Carl Albert coach Mike Dunn praised the student-athletes for rising above the prevailing hardship, saying, “Proud of all of our guys. Different circumstances today. … I don’t know that we’ve ever dealt with adversity like that.”
Maddox’s mother, Jamie, reportedly offered him the option to sit out the game. Yet he did more than show up for the team. “We were trying really hard to get him in” the end zone, Dunn said of the young player. “But he’s made plays all year long, and so I know his dad would be proud of him.”
He added, “You talk about hard. That kid dealt with a lot. … He’s a great kid, great family and he’s gonna have a bunch of coaches, we’ll never be his dad, but we’ll always be there for him.”
“Everybody earned this…but this one’s going home tonight with Maddox Wilkerson.”
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Maddox Wilkerson’s teammates stand by him
Carl Albert Captain Caden Davis said of the late NFL player, “You can’t replace a guy like Coach Wilkerson. He’s so selfless and gives everything he has to everybody.”
Alluding to the example set by Maddox, he added, “That guy is so tough. Maddox is such a strong guy.”
Similarly, linebacker and OU signee Marcus James noted, “He came out and handled business like he was supposed to. … It was great for him to come out and be able to take the field and be able to play after a time like that.”
On Friday, the deceased NFL talent’s son paid a tribute to his father on Instagram. “You were the best dad and also my best friend,” he wrote on social media. “I love you so much, Dad. Life won’t ever be the same without you here by my side.”
According to social media receipts, Jimmy Wilkerson is survived by his wife, Jamie, and four kids, Tyson, Maddox, Jax, and Emilia.
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