Blue-Green Algae Alerts: KDHE issued new public health warnings for harmful blue-green algae at multiple Kansas lakes, urging people to avoid contact and keep pets away; Lake Shawnee was added to the Watch list after Friday’s update, with symptoms ranging from rash and vomiting to fever and headache. New State Park Opening: Kansas will welcome its newest state park, Lehigh Portland State Park, with a grand opening and visitor-center open house Aug. 12 in Iola, featuring trails, camping, and a transformed former limestone quarry landscape. Conservation Spotlight: Three finalists were named for the 2026 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award, honoring landowners using practices like prescribed fire, cedar removal, no-till and cover crops, and large-scale native grass protection through conservation easements. Drought Watch: A Kansas drought update says conditions are trending drier, with above-normal temperature odds and only a chance of precipitation in the coming forecast window. Invasive Species Prevention: Alberta added two invasive-mussel detection dogs to its waterway inspection effort, highlighting how early detection and prevention can protect aquatic ecosystems. Community & Habitat Work: Kansas City University students partnered with local nonprofits in Joplin for We Care Day, including invasive plant removal and building an outdoor classroom at Wildcat Glades. Public Health Update: Cyclosporiasis cases in Kansas continue to rise, with KDHE reporting 615 cases Wednesday and ongoing hospitalizations and potential cases under interview.