Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement about his efforts as a member of the Senate Banking Committee to mitigate harms of the Dodd-Frank Act on American community banks:
On Thursday, June 13, 2013, the Senate Banking Committee held a hearing on the health of community banks. The hearing featured testimony from officials at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
“As smaller banks around the country continue to be closed and consolidated, it’s clear that Dodd-Frank regulations aimed at reining in dangerous-financial players have disproportionately impacted community banks. These misguided regulatory burdens put rural borrowers at risk of losing hometown financial services while doing little to prevent future financial crises. I will continue to push for needed relief for these important institutions as part of broader efforts to make certain people can continue to call rural America home.”
(AP) — A Kansas man who was a fugitive for nearly two years was sentenced to more than four years in prison for a Wichita homicide.
Thirty-two-year-old Donald L. Jackson was sentenced Monday to four years and five months in prison for killing 44-year-old Leroy Fields in May 2009. Police say Fields died after being shot by two masked men at his Wichita apartment.
Jackson was caught in Baltimore in September 2011 after a routine traffic stop.
Jackson was charged with murder but pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in March as part of a plea deal that included dropping charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated battery.
Brad Paisley is giving E! News a behind-the-scenes look at his Beat This Summer tour for their new E!’s Inside Track Summer Concert Series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the feature will begin Friday at 7 p.m. ET with footage from Pitbull and Ke$ha’s recent concert in Detroit. Matchbox Twenty, New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys are among the other acts taking part in the series.
Concert and backstage footage from Brad’s June 22 show in Tampa, FL will be shown on the Summer Concert Series soon.
It’s sandal wearing season and Stride Rite is recalling a popular girl’s shoe. According to a company press release, “Stride Rite is recalling girl’s sandals due to choking hazard. Consumers should stop using this product unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.”
Recall Summary
Name of product:
“Joanna” Girl’s Sandal
Hazard:
The metal flower on the shoe can detach, posing a choking hazard.
Remedy:
Stride Rite at (800) 365-4933, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, online at www.striderite.com and or e-mail [email protected].
(AP) — Hutchinson police say a man lost part of his arm in an industrial accident at the Tyson Foods plant in Hutchinson.
Lt. John Moore says the man’s arm was caught in a conveyor belt and he was pulled in the machine on Monday afternoon. He lost his arm from about the elbow down.
The man was taken by medical helicopter to Via Christi’s St. Francis in Wichita.
Ellis County Commissioners met last night at the Ellis County Courthouse. The hot topic for the Commission, fireworks. Commissioners voted 3-0 to revoke the of sale and discharge of fireworks for 2013.
Commissioners heard the Monthly Extension Report from Holly Dickman. Commissioners heard budget requests from Subsidized organizations including ACCESS Transportation, Humane Society of the High Plains, Hays Children’s Center, Ellis Free Fair, and the Care Council Funding Recommendations.
County Commissioners also considered the request of exemption Until January 15, 2013 for the upcoming Concealed Carry Law recently passed by state lawmakers.
Hays Police are investigating three recent cases of vehicle burglary and two cases of criminal damage to vehicles. According to Lt. Ron Rounkles, “The burglaries occurred on Thursday in the 1700 block of Elm Street and in the 200 block of East 21Street and in the 100 block East 20th Street.
On Friday a vehicle in the 3700 block of Summer Lane was damaged and on Saturday a vehicle in the 200 block of Ash Street was also damage.” More information will be released as it becomes available.
The Supreme Court has struck down a law requiring proof of citizenship when you register to vote. The decision could impact a Kansas Law.
Should proof of U.S.citizenship be required when you register to vote? Does that discriminate or intimidate people away from voting? What do you think? Tell us in the comments section below.
Justice Antonin Scalia said that the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, which requires states to “accept and use” the simple federal form, replaced more complicated state forms like Arizona’s. And the court said that if the state wanted to add requirements, it had to get permission from the federal Election Assistance Commission set up under the law. If the state was unable to prevail at the commission level, the court said, it could then appeal to the federal courts.
“No matter what procedural hurdles a State’s own form imposes, the Federal Form guarantees that a simple means of registering to vote in federal elections will be available,” Scalia wrote.
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach says the state’s proof-of-citizenship requirement for new voters can still be enforced after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against a similar Arizona law.
Kobach says the Kansas law differs enough from Arizona’s version that the high court’s Monday decision doesn’t apply to Kansas.
(AP) — A new report estimates that just 11 percent of the Kansas winter wheat is now ripe, with harvest in much of southern Kansas just days away.
The Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that last year by this late in the season, 97 percent of the crop had ripened. The average for this time of year is 44 percent.
The agency also rated wheat condition as 45 percent poor to very poor. Twenty-seven percent was reported in fair condition while 24 percent was in good and 4 percent in excellent shape.
The weekly snapshot of Kansas agriculture also showed that 98 percent of the corn crop had emerged. Its condition was rated as 8 percent poor to very poor, 31 percent fair, 54 percent good and 7 percent excellent.
Alan Moore was first appointed to the board in 2004.
Sharon Befort, board member since 1997 and also served 5 terms as board chair.
Rich Kraemer was first elected to the board in 2001
Three long time school board members were honored for many years of service at last night’s USD 489 board of education meeting. Near the end of the regularly scheduled meeting, outgoing board members Sharon Befort, Rich Kraemer and Alan Moore made final remarks.
Befort a board member for 16 years said, “It’s pretty simple; sometimes challenging, always rewarding. I just want to thank the community for trusting me for the past 16 years to be an advocate for your children. I hope I served you well.”
Rich Kraemer was first elected to the board in 2001. He said, “It’s been a pleasure to serve on the board and people often ask why would you serve on that board. It’s a thankless job. An example (of why) tonight is the track team. You go to musicals and plays. It has its benefits. Thank you.”
During emotional comments, Alan Moore, a board member since 2004 said, “I want to thank the constituents of the district for placing their trust in me. I just appreciate the opportunity to try and make our district better. So many times you don’t appreciate what you have until you lose it. I think the community of Hays is blessed with an excellent educational environment and district. We have some compassionate and caring members, teachers, staff, students, and parents. It’s a group effort. I just hope that the decisions I participated in truly did reflect what was best for the students and I appreciate the opportunity to serve.”
In other meeting highlights:
There will be no course fees for students next year. There will only be the $100 enrollment fee, a materials fee and a $30 technology fee.
Approved the Board of Education authorization for the board president to sign the superintendent’s contract.
Approved the personnel transactions except for new positions under the supplemental contract.
Approved the 403B Plan Document with the board president’s signature.
Approved purchase of the Rosetta Stone Software for Hays Middle School.
Approved the Nutrition Services Milk Bid with F & A.
Approved the date of July 1 for the Board of Education Organizational meeting.
Approved the Professional Negotiation Act Extension of Time with Hays NEA and SEIU.
Approved the Audit Request for Proposal bid by Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball.
Tom Thomas, president, Commerce Bank-Hays, was joined Monday by dignitaries and officials from the City of Hays and Hays Area Chamber of Commerce for a
Monday’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the new Commerce Bank location, 2200 Vine Street. Click on the picture for a closer look
ribbon cutting ceremony officially marking the grand opening of Commerce’s new state-of-the-art headquarters. The Bank at 2200 Vine opened Monday.
In a press release, Commerce said, “The new banking center offers a complete range of retail, commercial and investment services. The over 8,000 square foot facility includes lobby space for consumer, commercial and investment banking, four drive-up banking lanes, and a 24-hour drive-up ATM.”
