Closet Classic ~ Rock Archive
Aerosmith w’ guest Ted Nugent
Milk Cow Blues
Month: March 2013
Moran: Stop Cuts to Air Traffic Towers
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran is poised to introduce an amendment to the Senate Continuing Resolution (CR) that will stop the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) planned funding cuts to air traffic control towers – including seven towers in Kansas. The FAA Contract Tower Program serves airports that otherwise would not have air traffic control services.
Moran says “Irresponsible cuts from sequestration will put the flying public at risk, impair access to rural areas, jeopardize national and civil security missions, and cost jobs.”
Sen. Moran’s amendment comes on the heels of a Kansas Congressional Delegation letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta opposing the planned funding cuts.
“I am strongly opposed to the FAA’s plan to target air traffic control towers across the country, including the 189 towers that are included in the Contract Tower Program, and today joined the entire Kansas delegation expressing my concern to Secretary LaHood and FAA Administrator Huerta.” Sen. Moran said. “I am taking this fight a step further by introducing an amendment to the CR to protect these contract towers. I am committed to aviation in rural America and know firsthand the importance of maintaining commercial air service in communities across Kansas. I am also frustrated that the Administration has decided to once again play politics that could negatively impact our state’s economic future.”
A report published last summer by the Inspector General for the DOT found that the Contract Tower Program was one of the most efficiently run programs in the FAA. The Inspector General found that contract towers cost roughly $1.5 million less to operate annually than a comparable FAA tower, and contract towers also have a lower rate of reported safety incidents than comparable FAA towers. The report also showed the specified towers in the FAA Contract Tower Program were all operational in 2009, when the FAA received less funding than they will under the sequestration.
Given the success of the Contract Tower Program and its importance to Kansas and national aerospace safety, Sen. Moran believes the FAA should focus its cuts elsewhere.
Sen. Moran’s amendment would withdraw $50 million in unobligated FAA research and capital funds from prior appropriations bills. The $50 million is based on Administrator Huerta’s statement when testifying to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he stated that the FAA’s plan to close 173 contract towers on April 7 will save up to $50 million.
Sen. Moran’s amendment is supported by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and aviation industry groups.
KHAZ Country Music News: George Strait Team Roping Classic Awards More Than $1 Million in Cash and Prizes
Nearly $1 million in cash and prizes were given out at the 31st Annual George Strait Team Roping Classic over the weekend in San Antonio, TX.
Some 685 teams competed for the top prize, which went to Garrett Tonozzi‘s team. He actually placed first and second in the competition with his roping partners Dugan Kelly and York Gill, respectively. Tonozzi walked away with more than $183,000 in cash, while Kelly was awarded more than $131,000 in cash. They both received Chevrolet Dualie trucks, a horse trailer from Bruton Trailer, a new saddle and more.
The George Strait Team Roping Classic is the largest open roping event in America. It started as a small family roping event in 1982.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
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Holub Sweeps MIAA Softball Athlete of the Week Awards
Fort Hays State senior softball player Maddie Holub swept the MIAA Softball Athlete of the Week awards for Tuesday (Mar. 12) as she was named Hitter of the Week and Pitcher of the Week. She helped FHSU to a 6-2 record on the team’s trip to Florida this past week, which included two wins over nationally ranked opponents.
Holub had a huge week at the plate in Fort Hays State’s eight games in Florida. She batted .464 with five home runs, three doubles, a triple, and 10 RBI with with eight runs scored, slugging 1.179 for the week. All five of her home runs came in a six-game stretch at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. After posting a shutout win as a pitcher against No. 11 Tampa by a score of 1-0 to start the week, she had a double and scored Fort Hays State’s only run in the second game of the doubleheader with Tampa. Her bat really came to life in the six-game stretch at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. Against Post University, her two-run home run in the fourth broke a scoreless tie as FHSU went on to win 3-0. She helped her own cause as a pitcher in a 1-0 in-region win against University of Mary, delivering the only run of the game with a RBI single in the fifth. With FHSU trailing 3-0 early to St. Anselm, she triggered a three-run fourth with a solo home run and FHSU went on to win 5-4 in eight innings. Against Wayne State, she put FHSU on the board in the first with a solo home run as FHSU picked up a big in-region win against Wayne State (Neb.), 2-1 in eight innings. She had her biggest game against #24 Winona State, going 4-for-4 with a pair of two-run home runs in a 12-2 in-region win. She was just a double short of the cycle in that game. In the week’s finale against Grand Valley State, she drove home the only run of the game for FHSU with a RBI single.
Meanwhile in the pitching circle, Holub improved to 7-0 overall on the season by going 4-0 for FHSU in Florida this past week. She had four complete games and averaged 11.5 strikeouts per seven innings and 1.6 per inning. She was the winner for FHSU over two nationally ranked opponents, No. 11 Tampa on its home field and No. 24 Winona State. She did not allow an earned run in her first 40 innings of the season until allowing just one against Wayne State in a 2-1 win in eight innings. Against Tampa, she won a match-up between two of the premier strikeout pitchers in Division II with 11 strikeouts and just three hits allowed, while her counterpart Kayla Cox had 19 strikeouts in the game, but FHSU won 1-0. She also won 1-0 against University of Mary with 12 strikeouts and just two hits allowed. Against Wayne State, she struck out 10 in an eight-inning game. Against No. 24 Winona State, she struck out 13, allowing four hits and just two runs in a 12-2 win. Holub has reached double figures in strikeouts in all seven of her starts this year and averages 12.2 per seven innings. Her season ERA currently sits at 0.41.
-FHSU Sports Information-
Senate Dems: Let’s Cut Taxes
The Democrat leader in the Kansas Senate says the party will push to decrease the state’s sales tax and to provide additional tax relief for the poor.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka said Tuesday that Democrats will propose expanding tax legislation before the chamber for debate this week. Hensley shared details with The Associated Press
One proposal would allow the sales tax to drop to 5.7 percent in July, as scheduled. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback wants the sales tax to stay at 6.3 percent rate to stabilize the budget as he pursues individual income tax cuts. Also, Democrats will try to preserve a tax break for homeowners targeted by Brownback.
Hensley said Democrats want to restore tax breaks eliminated last year for renters and people using child care.
KHAZ Country Music News: Thompson Square Creates Fun Vibe with New Album, “Just Feels Good,” Due Out March 26
Thompson Square‘s sophomore album, Just Feels Good, comes out March 26, but fans who catch the duo on Luke Bryan‘s Dirt Road Diaries tour before then will get to hear a few new tracks from the album including the title cut.
Thompson Square’s Shawna Thompson tells ABC News Radio, “We’ve been doing like three of the new songs, and people have been accepting’ ’em, and it feels really good.”
Shawna’s duo partner and husband Keifer Thompson adds, “Get out there and you do ‘Just Feels Good,”‘ and right off the get, man, everyone’s got their hands in the air, and it’s like, ‘What is happening?'”
That good-time vibe runs throughout Thompson Square’s new album too.
Keifer says, “We just wanted to have a fun song, a fun album that after you get done with it, you go, ‘How do you feel?’ ‘Well, I feel good. I feel good about that album.’ Hopefully that’s what it does.”
The lead single from Just Feels Good, “If I Didn’t Have You” is now climbing the charts.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
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Arrest Made in Sexual Assault Cases
An arrest has been made in a sexual assault case reported early this month.
A news release from Detective Dave Bunger with the Hays Police Department states that the department received a report of two sexual assaults on March 3rd. The attacks occurred in the 400 block of West 5th Street. Two females, ages 20 and 17, say an unknown male entered the residence where they were staying and assaulted them.
The investigation resulted in the issuance of four search warrants and led to an arrest on March 11th.
Bunger says 21-year-old Leaton R. McClelland is being held on charges of rape, sexual battery and aggravated burglary.
The Hays PD, Ellis County High Tech Crime Unit and county attorney’s office assisted in the investigation.
Monday’s Police Activity Log
The Hays Police Department conducted 21 traffic stops and received three animal calls on Monday, according to the Police Activity Log.
Theft: The Hays Police Department investigated one theft report on Monday in the 1100 block of Vine Street. The alleged theft occurred between 4:00 and 4:51 Monday afternoon.
Driving Under the Influence: Officers conducted one driving under the influence stop, in connection with a drug offense, in the 300 block of West 13th Street at 2:24 a.m.
Juvenile Complaint: The Hays PD responded to a Juvenile Complaint in the 2300 block of East 13th Street Monday afternoon at 2:36.
Criminal Damage to Property: Officers investigated the report of criminal damage to property in the 400 block of West 5th Street Monday afternoon at 5:43.
Domestic Disturbance: Police Officers responded to a domestic disturbance report Monday night in the 2700 block of Epworth Street at 10:25.
Motor Vehicle Accident: Officers responded to one motor vehicle accident reported Monday morning. The accident was reported in the 1200 block of Oak Street at 8:30 a.m.
Flipping Flapjacks for “Fun-d Raiser”
Dee Bodine was up and out the door so early this morning, her cats refused to wake up for breakfast.
Bodine is chairman of the annual Hays Lions Club Sausage and Pancake Feed fundraiser underway today at the National Guard Armory.
She had to meet the Highland Dairy delivery man at 4:45a.m. who brought in three types of milk to wash down the pancakes and sausage. Diners can also choose coffee, water or pop.
As usual, Jim Kuper, The Pancake Man, from Council Bluffs, Iowa, is behind the portable griddle, which cooks up to 92 pancakes at one time.
Kuper really does flip flapjacks, on the griddle of course, and flying high through the air to a hungry diner holding out their plate to catch it. Once in awhile, a pancake ends up on the floor, but “it’s all part of the fun,” says Kuper.
Proceeds are used by the Lions Club to support numerous youth projects in Hays as well as the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation.
Pancakes are being served until 1p.m. this afternoon and again from 4:30 to 7p.m. tonight. Tickets are available at the door.
House Appropriations: Budget Cut to FHSU
The Kansas Board of Regents posted on their Twitter feed this morning
KS Board of RegentsHouse appropriations passes 4% cut to Kansas colleges, universities in an amount of about $29m. Request to revisit during omnibus.
Stay tuned to Eagle radio and Hays Post for additional details as they become available.
KHAZ Country Music News: Kacey Musgraves Prepares to Perform for Stadiums Full of Kenny Chesney Fans
Kacey Musgraves hasn’t even released her debut album yet, and she’s already landed a coveted spot on Kenny Chesney‘s No Shoes Nation tour, launching Saturday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. Kacey has a top 10 hit now with “Merry Go Round,” but Kenny picked her for his tour months ago. So, how did Kacey land the gig?
She tells ABC News Radio, “Well, he heard my music. I guess his manager had played him some songs, and he maybe heard ‘Merry Go Round’ and liked it enough to ask me to come along.”
Up until now, Kacey has played smaller venues like the theaters on Little Big Town‘s Tornado tour this year. Playing for a stadium full of country fans will be quite an adjustment.
Says Kacey, “I’ve never played stadiums before. It’s gonna be just like a huge learning curve and just something I’ll probably never forget. It’s crazy.”
Kacey’s music is more stripped down and introspective than many of Kenny’s big hits, and she hopes her music will translate for his crowd. While Kacey has immense respect for Kenny as a musician and entertainer, she says, “I’m just hoping his fans and his crowd will recognize that I’m coming from maybe a different perspective, but that hopefully they can appreciate and maybe connect with me on some sort of level.”
Kacey’s highly-anticipated debut album, Same Trailer Different Park, is due out next Tuesday, March 19.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
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School Finance Lawsuit Has Mediators
Attorneys involved in a Kansas school finance lawsuit have chosen the dean of Pepperdine University’s law school and a Topeka attorney to serve as mediators to settle the case.
The attorneys told Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss on Monday that law school dean Deanell Tacha and Topeka attorney James Steven Pigg will mediate the case. Tacha is the former chief judge of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Nuss also announced that the court would hear the appeal of a lower-court ruling on the case on Oct. 8 in Topeka.
The state is appealing a January ruling by a three-judge panel in Shawnee County that legislators must increase the state’s annual spending on schools by at least $440 million
County Approves Drees’ Request
The Ellis County Attorney made a persuasive argument when requesting additional staff for his office. The county commission Monday night approved Tom Drees’ request for another attorney and support staff, which he says is needed to handle the office’s case load.
The commissioners agreed that the need is there, but they are concerned about the budget. It was decided that the $62,000 needed to hire both people this year could be taken from the county’s contingency fund and then Drees will build the salaries into next year’s budget.