Friday, October 30, 2009

A federal research lab that investigates animal diseases spread by insects, spiders and other bugs is moving to Kansas.

Congress included $1.5 million in the most recent agriculture appropriations bill to move the Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Laboratory from its current home in Laramie, Wyo., to Manhattan. The lab would work with livestock disease researchers at Kansas State University.

A group of federal, state and local officials will officially announce the move Monday.

Agriculture officials originally planned to move the lab to Ames, Iowa, but members of Kansas' congressional delegation pushed for the change during budget hearings this year.

The Kansas Bioscience Authority provided a matching $1.5 million to attract the lab.