December 2021

COVID testing gets $27M boost

Kansas officials approved millions of dollars in federal pandemic aid to continue funding COVID-19 testing through the winter and give raises to certain state employees. The $27 million for COVID-19 testing will keep state-funded programs for businesses and some community clinics.

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The acquisition

In June, Doman Building Materials Group in Vancouver, Canada, purchased Hixson Lumber, a familyowned company that conducts business in eight states and has 19 facilities, including five sawmills in Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Doman acquired this leading wholesale and manufacturing lumber company that employs more than 1,000 people, according to Doman’s June 4 press release, for approximately $375 million.

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IN BRIEF

Fort Hays State University junior tight end Hunter Budke has been named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NCAA Division II first team. Budke, also a first-team MIAA selection, is the first Tiger on the AFCA first team since Nathan Shepherd in 2017.

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