(AP) — An effort to restore lower interest rates on student loans has failed in the Senate.
The White House and most Senate Democrats favored restoring interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans to 3.4 percent for another year. But lawmakers on Wednesday were unable to muster the necessary 60 votes to overcome a procedural hurdle.
That left interest rates at 6.8 percent — a rate that leaders from both parties called unacceptable.
Interest rates doubled on July 1 because Congress was unable to send a bill to President Barack Obama for his signature.
Few students so far have been affected because few sign their loans during the summer. But roughly a quarter of all federal lending is through the program and the new rates could affect millions of students.
Month: July 2013
About 371K Kansas jobs supported by trade
(AP) — A new study finds that international trade supports about 371,000 Kansas jobs.
The Business Roundtable conducted the study. The group is made up of the CEOs of America’s 200 largest companies and has advocated for free-trade agreements with Panama, Colombia and South Korea.
The report estimated Kansas exported about $12.2 billion worth of goods in 2012. About $5.4 billion of the goods were sold to countries with which the United States has free-trade agreements.
Only about 19,800 of the Kansas jobs tied to trade in 2011 were in the manufacturing sector. Most — about 68,600 — were in consumer services.
Steve Kelly of the Kansas Department of Commerce says additional free-trade agreements could make it easier for Kansans to sell overseas.
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Endangered monkey has twins at Kansas Zoo
(AP) — An endangered species of monkey has given birth to twins at the Topeka Zoo.
Devra, a 3-year-old golden lion tamarin, gave birth to twins Wednesday. She and the babies’ father, Charlie, arrived in Topeka in December as part of the Golden Lion Tamarin Species Survival Plan.
Both tamarins are first-time parents.
The babies’ genders haven’t yet been released. The zoo says it will post updates and daily pictures of the baby monkeys on its Facebook page.
The National Zoo says golden lion tamarins are native to Brazil’s coastal rain forests, and have been threatened by habitat destruction. In the early 1970s, there were fewer than 200 alive. Their population has since rebounded to about 1,600 monkeys living in the wild.
Housing issues Among Commission topics tonight
CITY OF HAYS COMMISSION MEETING THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2013 – 6:30 P.M.
AGENDA
- Call to order by Chairperson.
- MINUTES: Consider approval of the minutes from the regular meeting held on
June 27, 2013. (PAGE 1)
- CITIZEN COMMENTS: (non-agenda items).
- CONSENT AGENDA: (Items to be approved by the Commission in one motion, unless objections are raised).
A. Mayoral Appointment for Approval: Hays Area Planning Commission (PAGE 9)
B. Mayoral Appointment Recommendations: Hays Beautification Committee (PAGE 11)UNFINISHED BUSINESS
(No business to review)
NEW BUSINESS
- RAG ADDITION FINAL PLAT: Consider approving Resolution No. 2013-019 accepting the final plat known as the RAG Addition. (PAGE 17)
- REQUEST FOR REZONING (A-L TO C-2) – PROPOSED LUECKE ADDITION (ZONING CASE #13-05): Consider approving Ordinance No. 3867 rezoning a portion of the proposed Luecke Addition from A-L (Agriculture District) to C-2 (General Commercial and Service District). (PAGE 23)
- RECONSIDER REQUEST FOR REZONING (A-L TO C-2) – PROPOED LUECKE ADDITION (ZONING CASE #13-01): Consider denying the proposed rezoning of a portion of the proposed Luecke Addition from A-L (Agriculture District) to C-2 (General Commercial and Service District). (PAGE 33)
- RECONSIDER REQUEST FOR REZONING (A-L TO R-3) – PROPOSED LUECKE ADDITION (ZONING CASE #13-02): Consider approving Ordinance No. 3868 rezoning a portion of the proposed Luecke Addition from A-L (Agriculture District) to R-3 (Two- Family Dwelling District). (PAGE 37)
- REPLAT OF LOT 2, BLOCK 9, GOLDEN BELT 8TH ADDITION – ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT: Consider approving the Engineering Services Agreement with Ruder Engineering & Surveying, LLC for the development of the Replat of Lot 2, Block 9, Golden Belt 8th Addition. (PAGE 45)
- AMENDED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY – RURAL HOUSING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (RHID): Consider approving the amended Economic Development Policy for the City of Hays containing the Rural Housing Improvement District Policy. (PAGE 55)
- ADDENDUM TO THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE HAYS FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE (FOP) LODGE 48 INC. FOR 2014: Consider approving the Addendum to the Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Hays and FOP Lodge 48 Inc. for 2014. (PAGE 75)
- REPORT OF THE CITY MANAGER (PAGE 79)
- COMMISSION INQUIRIES AND COMMENTS
- EXECUTIVE SESSION (IF REQUIRED)
- ADJOURNMENT
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.
Eagles Drop Opener in Blue Springs Wood Bat Tourney
The Hays Eagles Senior American Legion drops their opener at the Blue Springs (M0.) Wood Bat Tournament Wednesday, falling 9-2 to the Central (Mo.) Spartans from St. Charles, Mo. The loss drops the Eagles to 19-13 on the season.
The Spartans jumped on Eagles starter Brady Bieker with four runs in the first inning. Hays got on the board in the third on a Hayden Hutchison single.
The Spartans added two in the fourth to go up 6-1. Clayton Basgall scored on a wild pitch in the fifth to make it 6-2. Central then put the game away scoring three in the bottom of the sixth.
Bieker (2-5) takes the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, on six hits while walking three and striking out one.
Dan Bittel had four of the Eagles nine hits.
The Eagles continue pool play Thursday against the Hawthorne Bank Outlaws from Lee’s Summit, Mo. and SMCI from DeSoto, Kan.
Ellis Legion Splits With Lincoln
The Ellis American Legion baseball team splits their doubleheader Wednesday night with Lincoln. Ellis rallied from a seven-run deficit only to drop the opener 9-7. They win game two 10-2 in five innings. Ellis is now 14-6 on the season.
Game 1: Lincoln 9 Ellis 7
Several costly errors and lack of hitting had Ellis trailing 8-1 going into the sixth inning. They came back to score three in the sixth then added three more in the seventh and had runners at second and third when the game ended.
Game 2: Ellis 10, Lincoln 2 (5 innings)
Ellis scores 10 runs on 10 hits including three doubles and committed no errors in thegame. Craybill was winning pitcher striking out eight, walking four and only giving up one hit.
KHAZ Country Music News: Randy Travis Suffers Stroke In Hospital
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Country music star Randy Travis has suffered a stroke. He was already in a suburban Dallas hospital for treatment of congestive heart failure.
His publicist says Travis is out of surgery performed to relieve pressure on his brain and he’s in critical condition.
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2013 All-America Citizen Honored
Long-time local Boy Scout Leader Keith Eilts is this year’s winner of the All-America Citizen award, which was presented the final night of Wild West Fest in Hays:
Eilts’ Troop 101 currently has 53 youth and 20 adult members. It’s the second largest Boy Scout unit between Junction City and the Colorado border.
“It’s a labor of love,” says Eilts, and “yes, I’ll be back at summer camp again next year.”
KHAZ Country Music News: Jake Owen Undergoes Surgery on Right Hand Following Go-Kart Accident
Get well wishes go out to Jake Owen, who had surgery on his right hand Tuesday. Jake injured his fingers in a go-kart accident over the weekend that landed him in the hospital Sunday night. He tweeted on the way in for surgery, “I was trying to avoid it, but since I play guitar for a living I needed to get this done.”
Though he may have to hang up the guitar while his hand heals, Jake isn’t canceling any tour dates. He’s slated to open for Jason Aldean at Boston’s Fenway Park this Friday and Saturday night.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
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Three injured when SUV hits Mower on I-70
Three people were seriously injured when an SUV hit a tractor mowing along I-70 Wednesday.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, “Kevin R. Browne of Blacksburg, Virginia was driving a 2007 Chevy SUV eastbound on Interstate 70, at mile post 23, when the vehicle drifted left of center striking the rear of a New Holland tractor mower driven by Jonathan T. McClung, age 23 of Goodland.
McClung had been eastbound mowing in the median. The SUV rolled one time coming to rest on the roof facing southbound in the median. Browne and the passenger in the SUV Linda S. Browne, age 58, of Blacksburg, Virginia were transported by EMS to Goodland Hospital and later air lifted to Denver Health Hospital. McClung is being treated for injuries at Goodland Regional Medical Center. All three were wearing seat belts.”
KHAZ Country Music News: George Strait Moved to Write New Single, “I Believe,” Following Newtown School Shooting
George Strait lost his daughter, Jenifer, in a car accident in 1986, so his heart especially goes out to those parents whose children were killed in the Newtown, CT elementary school shootings last December. While watching the news coverage of the Newtown tragedy, George was moved to write down his thoughts for those parents. Those words eventually became his latest single, “I Believe.”
George says, “Man, it’s such a sad thing. Having been through something like that before myself, I just knew that I kinda wanted to say a little something.”
It turns out George’s son, Bubba, was on the same page watching the footage from Newtown.
“I wrote a few things down, and I called Bubba,” George says, “and I started talking to him about it. He said, ‘Dad, I was actually thinking the same thing.'”
George and Bubba continued writing separately, and then Bubba finished “I Believe” with hit songwriter Dean Dillon. The song appears on George’s latest album, Love Is Everything.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
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Moran Works to Delay ACA Individual and Employer Mandates Video
Today, U.S. Senator and Ranking Member for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor and Health and Human Services Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) joined Sens. Thune (R-S.D.), Cornyn (R-Texas), Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Blunt (R-Mo.) and all Republican Senators in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to permanently delay the Affordable Care Act (ACA). To bolster that effort, Sen. Moran is offering several amendments to the Senate Appropriations Bill on Thursday: two of those amendments are delaying the individual and employer mandates.
Two Western Kansans on Mental Health Task Force
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback announced Wednesday his appointments to the Governor’s Mental Health Task Force, established to re-evaluate the state’s mental health system and determine ways to make it stronger and more effective.
The Governor has asked the appointees to look for ways to enhance collaboration among state agencies that administer mental health programs and to better utilize the resources Kansas devotes to mental health services. Task force members will examine key factors necessary for enhancing community support structures and increasing the capacity of Kansas communities to help those with mental illness.
The state’s multi-faceted mental health care system includes the two state mental hospitals and Kansas’ 27 Community Mental Health Centers which, along with private contractors, residential facilities and providers, make up the mental health safety net that Kansas has created over many years.
The Mental Health Task Force goals set by Governor Brownback are to:
- Determine what State Agencies and communities can do to better identify, treat, and support individuals with mental illness to live meaningful and productive lives in their community. This includes individuals who:
- Currently use the mental health system
- Are not reached by appropriate mental health services
- Are at risk of serious life disruption due to exacerbation of mental health symptoms.
- Identify and recommend specific community solutions that have the potential to minimize and prevent the exacerbation of chronic mental health conditions and support individuals to live meaningful and productive lives in their community.
Appointed to the task for by the Governor are: Dr. Rick Goscha, Lawrence; Dr. Karen Countryman-Roswurm, Wichita; Captain Bill Cochran, Topeka; Judge Tom Webb, Sublette; Dr. Steven Davies, Horton; Dr. Rick Gaskill, Wichita; Amanda Adkins, Kansas City; Ric Dalke, LSCSW, Garden City; Dr. Charlie Griffin, Manhattan; Dr. Michael Leeson, Lawrence; Becky Gray, Pittsburg; Cathy Ramshaw, Topeka; Pastor David Redmond, Concordia; Les Sperling, Lindsborg and Mark Potter, Cheney; Father Richard L. Daise, Salina.