HILL CITY, Kan.  -  Blistering heat is helping Hill City get a national reputation.  The western Kansas town hit 115 degrees on Wednesday - a day after hitting the same mark to earn the distinction of recording the nation's highest temperature, according to the National Weather Service.  Tuesday's reading was also a new record for that date in the town.
     Numerous Kansas communities are shattering records for high temperatures this week as an intense heat wave bears down. Farmers fear they're losing valuable corn crops to the heat, and emergency management officials are urging residents to take extreme caution and avoid being outside.
     As of late Wednesday afternoon, several other cities were still topping 110 degrees, including Russell, Dodge City, Great Bend and Hays.