110th State Representative Travis Couture-Lovelady will make a guest appearance on Friday’s KAYS Radio morning show with Boomer and Mike. He will be on 
after 8 a.m. Couture-Lovelady of Palco has just wrapped up his first legislative session.
This is a map of the 110th Legislative District. Click on it for a closer look.
U.S. Senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran have introduced the Kelsey Smith Act to aid law enforcement’s response to emergencies when a person’s life is threatened.
On June 2, 2007, 18-year-old Kelsey Smith was abducted in broad daylight from an Overland Park, Kansas department store and murdered. The abduction was captured on the store’s security camera leaving little doubt of the emergency nature of the circumstances. Four days after she disappeared, authorities were able to locate Kelsey’s body after her wireless provider released the “ping” or “call location” information from her cell phone. Providing this information as fast as possible is critical to ensure law enforcement officials can rescue victims in imminent danger of death or serious physical harm.
The legislation Senator Roberts and Senator Moran introduced today will require wireless communication providers to provide call location information to the requesting law enforcement agencies only when responding to a call for emergency services or in an emergency situation that involves the risk of death or serious physical harm.
Senator Roberts and Senator Moran released the following statements after introducing the Kelsey Smith Act into the 113th Congress:
“Protecting the lives of our children is the paramount concern for any parent,” Sen. Roberts said. “The Kelsey Smith Act is commonsense legislation that makes it easier for law enforcement to find our children if the nightmare of abduction ever becomes a reality. Because the fear of legal liability is a legitimate concern our bill provides industry and law enforcement with the necessary tools to work together to do everything they can do find a loved one in danger, while at the same time ensuring that all citizens’ Fourth Amendment rights are protected. I look forward to broad, bipartisan, bicameral support of the Kelsey Smith Act.”
“Kelsey Smith’s abduction sent shockwaves through her community, our state and the nation,” Sen. Moran said. “The Kelsey Smith Act will make certain first responders have the tools they need to help prevent tragedies like this from happening in the future.”
One of two men charged with several burglaries at Salina businesses pleaded no contest to 18 felony and misdemeanor charges.
Thirty-one-year-old Michael S. Cox of Salina entered the pleas Tuesday to 13 felonies and five misdemeanors. He will be sentenced May 23.
Reports indicate a nine-page affidavit accompanying Cox’s plea lists about $33,500 in total losses at 17 Salina businesses.
Cox’s co-defendant was scheduled to plea in the case Thursday.
Kix Brooks has signed on to host The Tug McGraw Foundation’s 2nd Annual Celebrity Sporting Clay Pro-Am Tuesday, June 4 at the Nashville Gun Club in Music City. The event brings together stars from the country music and the sporting clay communities for the competition. Proceeds go to The Tug McGraw Foundation in their work to improve the lives of service members who have been affected by post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
For more information on the sporting clay shoot, go to TugMcGraw.org.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
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The following are the items for tonight’s City Commission Work Session.
The Friends of the Hays Dog Park are asking the Commission’s permission to begin work on the dog park in an incremental manner. Essentially they would like to complete what they are calling Phase I of the dog Park in hopes that the completion of this portion of the larger project will assist in their fundraising efforts. City staff does not have any concern with the proposal as long as it is done in a complete manner not requiring City funds or staff time to complete the phase if their fundraising efforts fall short.
A few weeks back, the City Commission asked for a presentation on the benefits, impacts and participation of the City of Hays recycling program. Solid Waste Division Superintendent Marvin Honas will be presenting this information at the meeting on Thursday.
STAFF MEMBER RESPONSIBLE: Marvin Honas, Solid Waste Division Superintendent
The City Commission discussed the lawn permit at a work session a few weeks back. City staff has consulted with the City Attorney to determine the best way to adopt the Newly Seeded Lawn Permit. The City Attorney felt it best to incorporate the language in the permit into the existing Code of Ordinances; therefore, the amending ordinance is included in this packet.
ANY PERSON WITH A DISABILITY NEEDING SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS TO ATTEND THIS MEETING SHOULD CONTACT THE CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED MEETING TIME. EVERY ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE TO ACCOMMODATE ANY REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE.
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) today reported 2013 first quarter net income of $957 million, or $2.03 per diluted share, compared to $863 million, or 
$1.79 per diluted share, in the first quarter 2012.
First Quarter Records
Diluted earnings per share of $2.03 improved 13 percent.
Operating revenues totaled $5.3 billion, up 3 percent.
Operating income totaled $1.6 billion, up 8 percent.
Operating ratio of 69.1 percent improved 1.4 points.
Customer satisfaction index reached 94, up 1 point.
“Union Pacific achieved record first quarter financial results, leveraging the strengths of our diverse franchise despite significantly weaker coal and grain markets,” said Jack Koraleski, Union Pacific chief executive officer. “We efficiently managed our operations in the face of dynamic volume shifts across the network, as evidenced by our record first quarter operating ratio and customer satisfaction results.”
First Quarter Summary
Despite lower carloadings, operating revenue increased 3 percent in the first quarter 2013 to $5.3 billion versus $5.1 billion in the first quarter 2012. First quarter business volumes, as measured by total revenue carloads, decreased 2 percent compared to 2012. Volume declines in coal and agricultural products more than offset growth in chemicals, intermodal and automotive shipments. Volumes for industrial products were flat versus 2012 driven by a reduction in hazardous waste shipments. In addition:
Quarterly freight revenue increased 3 percent compared to the first quarter 2012, mainly driven by core pricing gains.
Union Pacific’s operating ratio of 69.1 percent was a first quarter record, 1.4 points better than the first quarter 2012.
The average quarterly diesel fuel price of $3.23 per gallon in the first quarter 2013 was flat compared to the first quarter 2012.
The Customer Satisfaction Index of 94 set a first quarter record, 1 point better than the first quarter 2012.
Quarterly train speed, as reported to the Association of American Railroads, was 26.4 mph, flat versus the first quarter 2012.
The Company repurchased 2.9 million shares in the first quarter 2013 at an average share price of $136.58 and an aggregate cost of $394 million.
Summary of First Quarter Freight Revenues
Chemicals up 14 percent
Automotive up 13 percent
Intermodal up 9 percent
Industrial Products up 6 percent
Coal down 6 percent
Agricultural down 9 percent
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed six bills into law Wednesday. In addition to HB 2052 that was signed Tuesday, today’s signings bring the total number of bills signed by the governor during the 2013 Legislative Session to 114. He also has vetoed one bill.
· HB 2009 allows a driver facing driver’s license suspension for failing to comply fully with a traffic citation to submit a written request to the Division of Vehicles for restricted driving privileges.
· Senate Sub. for HB 2167 adds administrative procedures to the Kansas Fireworks Act.
· Sub. for HB 2183 enacts and amends several provisions in state law related to the Department of Health and Environment including creating the Office of Laboratory Services Operating Fund, which is a fee fund for the Kansas Department of Health and Environmental Laboratories Bureau (KHEL) of KDHE.
· HB 2201 creates the Telecommunications Study Committee, further deregulates telecommunications in Kansas, makes changes to distributions from the Kansas Universal Service Fund and allows the Kansas Board of Regents to charge fees for services provided by the KAN-ED program.
· HB 2339 amends the Insurance Code, including to permit the combination sale of life insurance coverage with certain health insurance products and to update the law applying to continuation coverage for firefighters’ surviving spouses and dependent children.
· HB 2363 addresses a number of water-related issues, including establishing limited transfer permits and granting land-based sand and gravel pits and aggregate mining operations utilizing washwater ponds term permits.
Signed Tuesday, April 16, 2013:
· Senate Sub. for HB 2052 enacts new law and amends existing law concerning firearms, criminal law, and the Personal and Family Protection Act (concealed carry of handguns).
Winter & Spring collided in Western Kansas over the past 24 hours. Strong winds, various sizes of hail, blowing snow and extremely rough road conditions across portions of Western Kansas.
At 9:15 on Wednesday evening, I-70 west of Goodland was closed. It should reopen later this morning. Highways remain slick in the area. Roads are partially snow packed west and north of Hays. The roads have ice and slush east of Hays. A wind advisory remains in effect until noon.
Ellis County has received approximately .20 of an inch of moisture over the past 24 hours. The official totals will be available later this morning from the K-State Ag Research Center South of Hays.
For every performer who makes it to the Grammy stage, there was a teacher who played a critical role in getting them there. Dr. Joseph Perniciaro, assistant professor of music and theatre at Fort Hays State University, was nominated for the 2013 Grammy Music Educator Award.
Current educators in the U.S., who teach music in public or private schools — kindergarten through college — are eligible to be nominated for the award.
Ten finalists will be selected in May including one winner to be recognized for the impact they have had on students. The winner will be flown to Los Angeles, Calif., to accept the award and attend the Grammys. The winner also wins $10,000. All finalists will receive $1,000.
The Grammy Music Educator Award is supported by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation and the National Association for Music Education.
Perniciaro will also present a recital this summer at the International Conference of the College Music Society, June 18 through June 24, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The conference will include scholarly discourse and the presentation of new music by CMS members.
The Program Committee invites the broadest representation from the music profession and its interests, and welcomes proposals from students, faculty, retirees and independent musicians from all educational and professional settings. Perniciaro submitted a proposal and was selected out of hundreds of applicants.
“I will present works from an American composer,” said Perniciaro. Dr. Irena Ravitskaya, assistant professor of music and theatre at FHSU, will accompany him on the piano.
TOPEKA, Kansas (AP) – Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed legislation aimed at protecting medical and emergency workers that also repeals a 25-year-old ban on quarantining people diagnosed with AIDS and HIV.
Brownback signed the measure Wednesday, and the changes take effect in July.
The bill directs the state health department to draft rules making it easier for medical and emergency workers to learn if they’ve been exposed to infectious diseases.
The provision repealing the 1988 law protecting AIDS and HIV patients had faced strong criticism from gay rights advocates and civil libertarians.
But the state health department promised legislators its new rules would continue a ban, and critics accepted the changes.
Health department officials also said that even without a ban, it would never be medically necessary to quarantine AIDS or HIV patients.
Fort Hays State is ranked No. 1 in the first NCAA II Central Region rankings of the season, released Wednesday. The Tigers are one of five schools represented in the top 10 from the MIAA. Eight teams are selected for the regional of the NCAA Tournament at the end of the regular season.
Fort Hays State and Southeastern Oklahoma State from the Great American Conference are currently the top two teams in the region. Minnesota State-Mankato of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference starts at No. 3 in the rankings, but is only 18-4 against in-region competition.
Central Oklahoma, which currently sits atop the MIAA standings and ranked No. 7 nationally, is fourth followed by Winona State, Augustana, and Minot State, all of the NSIC. The MIAA represents the No. 8 through No. 10 spots with Missouri Western, Emporia State, and Truman. Fort Hays State is 7-0 against teams currently listed in the Top 10 of the region rankings.
Fort Hays State has eight more games remaining on its conference slate before the MIAA Tournament in Overland Park, Kan. Four of those eight games are this weekend on the road with doubleheaders at Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist.
Below are the Central Region rankings for April 17, 2013…
| RANK | SCHOOL |
OVERALL DII |
DII IN-REGION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Hays State | 35-7 | 32-4 |
| 2 | Southeastern Oklahoma | 36-7 | 35-7 |
| 3 | Minnesota State-Mankato | 25-7 | 18-4 |
| 4 | Central Oklahoma | 33-7 | 30-6 |
| 5 | Winona State | 20-6 | 16-5 |
| 6 | Augustana (S.D.) | 22-8 | 15-6 |
| 7 | Minot State | 21-5 | 14-4 |
| 8 | Missouri Western State | 29-11 | 25-9 |
| 9 | Emporia State | 27-12 | 27-12 |
| 10 | Truman | 21-13 | 21-13 |
The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission is hosting a series of public input meetings across the state this month.
The group will be at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau Friday, April 19, from 5:30 to 7:30p.m.
Hays resident and vice-mayor Henry Schwaller is an advisory board member.
The information will used for strategic planning and activities of the Creative Arts Industries Commission which generates creative industry-related jobs in Kansas.
Other meetings have been held in Fort Scott, Lawrence, Dodge City, and Salina. The final two sessions will be held in Shawnee Mission and Wichita.
The KCAIC is under the auspices of the Kansas Department of Commerce.
At Wednesday’s House Small Business Committee hearing entitled The Health Care Law: Implementation and Small Businesses, witness William J. Gouldin, Jr., President of Strange’s Florists, Greenhouses and Garden Centers, said: “[T]he constant rise in health insurance costs is regressively suppressing wages… I realized that this law would be the most disruptive instrument to the American workplace in my lifetime and no one seemed to know, or care, [that it was] right in the middle of the worst recession/depression since the Great Depression.”
Former OMB Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin said, “ACA’s 80 million hours of paperwork is the equivalent of 39,822 employees working an entire year filling out the law’s new paperwork (assuming a 2,000-hour work year). We can conceptualize paperwork burdens by examining gross domestic product per hour worked. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that figure was $61.59 in 2011. Thus, ACA’s red tape alone costs the U.S. approximately $4.9 billion annually, a figure that will grow as the pace of implementation quickens this year.”
Following his questioning of witnesses at the hearing, Congressman Tim Huelskamp
made the following statement:
“The costs of complying with Obamacare’s new paperwork, massive red tape, and uncertainty are crippling small businesses. Those that don’t go out of business cannot create new jobs. Others are laying off employees and demoting full-time employees to part-time. And others are passing the regulatory costs on to consumers in the form of higher prices for goods and services. I hope House Republican leaders paid attention to this hearing so that they will come to understand why defunding Obamacare is so vital.”
