The Hays Police conducted a Night-Time Seatbelt Check Lane on Wednesday night.

According to Police Lt. Brandon Wright, “The check began at 8 PM and ended at about 11:15 PM.

Officers started at 27^th and Hall and moved to 27^th and Vine after about an hour.  Forty-four traffic stops were conducted in connection with the check lane.  48 traffic citations were issued for a variety of traffic violations including 22 seat belt tickets. All 26 non seat belt violations were all written warnings except one hard ticket for fail to yield at a traffic signal.”

After receiving updated numbers, the Hays City Commission will decide next week if they want to rejoin the Kansas League of Municipalities to save about $20,000 in workers compensation insurance. City Manager Toby Dougherty says the one bid received was $193,000, 12 percent higher than the current rate, and the market has shown that the rates are not likely to decrease in the future.

Workers comp insurance through the Kansas Municipal Insurance Trust and the League membership will total about $173,000, but would be prorated for April through December.

Travis Couture-Lovelady, who represents the 110th District, including portions of Ellis County in the Kansas House announced on his Facebook page last night

that the House Commerce Committee had passed SB 149, drug testing for welfare and unemployment benefits bill.  Click on the photo for a closer look at some of the Facebook comments.

The bill would require the Department of Children and Family Services to screen applicants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits for illegal drug use. Those identified with a suspicion of use would be subject to testing.

The state would provide drug treatment and job skills training to those who test positive. The State Senate has already approved the measure. Members of the Senate’s Democratic minority amended the bill during debate to include legislators, arguing it’s only fair to hold elected officials to the same scrutiny as individuals seeking government assistance.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran has joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) in introducing S. 616, the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Act. The bipartisan legislation will improve and make permanent the State 30 program (also known as the J-1 Visa Waiver Program), a national initiative that permits states to recommend visa waivers for physicians recruited to care for patients in medically underserved communities.

“Access to physicians and other health care providers is essential to the survival and success of Kansas towns and rural communities across the country,” Sen. Moran said. “We face a serious shortage of physicians in rural America. The Conrad State 30 program is a commonsense way to help address this medical workforce shortage by allowing more physicians to serve in the underserved communities that need them most.”

“The J-1 Visa Waiver Program is essential to providing health care in rural communities throughout Kansas and across the United States,” said Dr. John Jeter, Hays Medical Center CEO and President. “It is difficult to recruit physicians to rural communities and this program is a tool that has allowed Hays Medical Center and other rural hospitals and clinics the opportunity to recruit and retain physicians.”

The State 30 program has brought thousands of physicians to rural, inner city, and other medically underserved communities since it began in 1994. Sen. Moran introduced legislation to extend the program during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives. Under the State 30 program, foreign-born, American-trained doctors agree to practice medicine in underserved communities for at least three years in exchange for the waiver of certain visa restrictions that lengthens their stay in the United States. Since its inception, the State 30 program has been extended numerous times and brought doctors to rural and underserved communities in all 50 states.

The physician shortage in America is a growing crisis. By 2020, projections show the nation may fall short by as many as 200,000 doctors. This shortage will be felt hardest in rural areas in Kansas and across the nation. S. 616 provides additional incentives for more doctors to participate in the program. Last Congress, Sen. Moran joined Senator Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) in introducing S. 1979, the Conrad State 30 Improvement Act, which is similar legislation to improve the State 30 program.

S. 616 is supported by the following organizations:

• Kansas Hospital Association
• American Medical Association
• American Hospital Association
• National Rural Health Association
• Association of American Medical Colleges
• Immigration Voice
• Federation of American Hospitals
• IMG (International Medical Graduate) Task Force
• Mayo Clinic
• Minnesota Department of Health

Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. North northeast wind 6 to 9 mph.

Friday Night: Rain likely before 2am, then rain, possibly mixed with snow. Low around 33. East wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday: Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 8am. High near 33. Breezy, with a east northeast wind 14 to 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Saturday Night: Snow, mainly before 4am. Low around 23. Windy, with a north wind 17 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near

Thursday night, the Opening Ceremonies for the Annual Special Olympics Basketball & Cheerleading Tournament were held in Hays.

 Presenting Sponsors, the Kansas State Council of the Knights of Columbus were featured in the opening ceremonies that are highlighted by the lighting of the
cauldron. Matthew Weems of Topeka
carried the torch and lit the Special Olympic flame.