U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, today voted “no” on the motion to invoke cloture on the Continuing Resolution (CR). Additionally, he voted against Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) amendment to strip the language defunding the Affordable Care Act from the House-passed CR. Finally, he voted against final passage of yet another stop-gap measure to fund the federal government. Sen. Moran released the following statement on his votes:

“The short-term government funding bill passed by the Senate today is damaging to our country, our economy, and to the American people. The legislation ignores the constitutional responsibilities of Congress to pass a budget each year and set common-sense spending priorities through the appropriations process. Here we are, at the end of yet another fiscal year, and not one appropriations bill has been passed by the Senate. In fact, the last time all of the appropriations bills were passed individually before the September 30th deadline was in 1994. Nearly 20 years later, America faces a staggering $16.7 trillion national debt which is growing by almost $2 billion a day. I cannot support a short-term spending measure that simply enables Washington’s pattern of dysfunction to continue.

“With implementation of Obamacare just days away, many Kansans have been focused on the specific provision within the House-passed CR to defund this misguided law which is jeopardizing health care for millions of Americans. Today I voted ‘no’ on cloture to prevent Majority Leader Reid from restoring funding for Obamacare. Now is the time to defund, dismantle and replace the Affordable Care Act. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats are not listening to Americans.

“While the President and the law’s supporters promised Obamacare would lower health care costs and strengthen our health care system, the reality is such promises have been repeatedly broken. This law is increasing health insurance premiums for individuals and families, forcing Americans off of their current coverage, threatening the survival of hospitals and other providers in Kansas and across the country, and hindering economic growth through onerous new taxes and regulations. This law is causing real harm to real people. It is well past time for its supporters to admit their mistake. I will continue to work to defund and dismantle this disastrous law.”

(AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is seeking a federal disaster declaration for 47 of the state’s 105 counties to help residents and local governments recover from a string of severe storms and flooding.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management said Friday that Brownback sent the letter to President Barack Obama through the Kansas City, Mo., regional office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

A series of storms hit Kansas between July 22 and Aug. 16, producing significant damage from high winds and flooding. The storms were blamed on four deaths.

Brownback said in his letter that some of the areas received as much as 500 percent of their normal rainfall total for that time of year, resulting in many roads, bridges and other infrastructure being damaged.

Named in the declaration are Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Cherokee, Clark, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Comanche, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Edwards, Elk, Ellsworth, Ford, Geary, Greenwood, Hamilton, Harper, Harvey, Hodgeman, Kingman, Kiowa, Labette, Lane, Linn, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Meade, Montgomery, Morris, Ness, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Republic, Rice, Saline, Sumner, Washington, Wilson, Woodson Counties

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) samples publicly accessible bodies of water for cyanobacteria, commonly called blue-green algae, when the agency is alerted to a potential algae bloom in Kansas lakes.  When harmful algal blooms are present, KDHE, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) and other lake managers where appropriate, responds by informing the public of these conditions.

KDWPT reminds visitors that when a lake is under an Advisory or Warning, marinas, lakeside businesses, and park camping facilities remain open for business, although swim beaches will be closed.  Park drinking water and showers are safe and not affected by the algae bloom.  Also, it is safe to eat fish caught during a harmful blue-green algae outbreak, as long as consumers clean and rinse the fish with clean, potable water; consume only the fillet portion; and discard all other parts.  People should also wash their hands with clean, potable water after handling fish taken from an affected lake.

Kansans should be aware that during the summer months, blooms can develop rapidly, requiring lake visitors to exercise their best judgment.  If there is scum, a paint-like surface, or the water is bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present.

As a result of this week’s water sampling, the health advisory has been lifted at Colwich Memorial Park Lake in Sedgwick County. Based upon sampling results and established health risk levels, the following Warnings and Advisories are in place.

CURRENT WARNINGS & ADVISORIES

Public Health Warning: High levels of toxic blue-green algae have been detected. A Public Health Warning indicates that water conditions are unsafe and direct water contact (wading, skiing and swimming) is prohibited.

Kansas public waters currently under a Warning status:

HIAWATHA CITY LAKE, Brown County
LAKE WARNOCK (Atchison City Lake), Atchison County
LOGAN CITY LAKE, Phillips County
MEMORIAL PARK LAKE (Veteran’s Lake), Barton County

When a Warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Humans, pets and livestock do not drink lake water
• Water contact is prohibited. Avoid swimming, wading or other activities with full body contact of lake water
• Clean fish and rinse with clean water, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other parts
• Do not allow pets to eat dried algae
• If lake water contacts skin or pet fur, wash with clean potable water as soon as possible
• Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation

Public Health Advisory: Harmful blue-green algae have been detected. A Public Health Advisory indicates that a hazardous condition exists. Water activities like boating and fishing may be safe; however, direct contact with water (i.e., wading, swimming) is strongly discouraged for people, pets and livestock.

Kansas public waters currently under an Advisory status:

MISSION LAKE, Brown County
ROSE’S LAKE, Johnson County

When an Advisory is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Humans, pets, and livestock do not drink untreated lake water
• Clean fish and rinse with clean water, consume only the fillet portion, discarding other parts
• Do not eat or allow pets to eat dried algae
• If lake water comes in contact with skin or pet fur, wash with clean potable water as soon as possible
• Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation

Friday 10:45 a.m.   Courtesy Little Apple Post (Michael Pagels)    The jury took the stand at 9 a.m. on September 27th to hear the opening statements in the trial of Anthony Brown Sr., of Salina, at the Riley County Court House. The state prosecutor, Ellen Mitchell, gave her opening statement first, due to the burden of evidence being on the state to prosecute Brown.

Mitchell described the events that occurred leading up to the death of Brittney Betzold’s child, Clayden Urbanek. Brittney, as well as the defendant and one other friend Michael, moved into a house at 612 W. Prescot in Salina towards the end of February 2011. The house did not have electricity, and because Brittney worked at the Tony’s Pizza plant she left child care up to Brown during the week days. The father of Clayden, Jordan Urbanek, took care of Clayden every weekend since his and Brittney’s separation.

During the last week of September, a series of events led to Clayden’s death while being in the care of Brown. The day before and of his death, October 3rd and 4th, Clayden was very sick and would not keep food down. Brittney had noticed many bruises on the child, as well as a cut on his foot that Brown claimed was caused by the child being clumsy. The morning of the 4th Brown noticed the child was unconscious, and called Brittney to get her to leave from work.

Mitchell then explained how Brittney returned home, and after Brown told her not to call 911, he left to get Motrin for the child. Clayden stopped breathing at around this time, and Brittney calls the defendant to tell him she was calling the ambulance, and then called 911 around 9:45 a.m. The defendant did not come back to the house, instead leaving Brittney’s car he had taken abandoned down the street for their other roommate to pick up, and went to another house. Brown then called Jordan to tell him to go to the hospital.

Salina Police responded to the residence when they received a tip from Michael, the roomate, as to where Brown might be. Brown was found hiding from the police in the basement of the residence and was then arrested.

There was a total of 108 wounds to Clayden, and his death resulted in severe blunt trauma to his abdomen. Eleven inches of intestines were dead, and though ER doctors attempted to resuscitate Clayden he had passed by 5 p.m. that day.

Brown is charged with four felonies by the prosecution, including first degree murder, aggravated child abuse and obstruction of police officers.

The defense attorney Julie Effenbeck then came to the stand on behalf of Brown. Effenbeck stated that Brown loved Clayden and Brittney, and while he had admitted to spanking the child with a wooden paddle, he did not cause the injuries that killed Clayden. Brittney has been in jail for 9 months due to a plea deal of taking a 2nd degree murder charge.

Effenbeck told the jurors that the stories of the prosecution’s witnesses were going to be convoluted, and that the state did not hold sufficient evidence to charge Brown with 1st degree murder. Brown is, of course, innocent until proven guilty, which Effenbeck reminded the jurors.

The prosecution is expecting to deliver evidence for at least four more days, from Monday to Thursday, and then the jury will convene to decide their verdict.

The Little Apple Post will continue to monitor the case, including testimony for the prosecution and the defense.

 

5 a.m.  The trial of Antonio M. Brown has been moved from Salina to Riley County and begins on Friday.

Brown is charged with first-degree murder and child abuse in the October 2011 death of his girlfriend’s 14-month-old son, Clayden Lee Urbanek.

Brown was granted a change in venue after his case received much media coverage. Jury selection has already been completed.

Saline County District Court Administrator, Todd Heitschmidt, told the Post that opening statements will be held at 9 a.m. Friday morning.

Brown had pleaded no contest in the case but Young later allowed him to withdraw the plea after finding the Brown’s attorney gave him inaccurate advice.

In February, Brown escaped from custody from the Salina County Jail..  A little more than 64 hours after escaping he was back in the jail facing additional charges of aggravated escape from custody.

 

 

 

(AP) — A married couple in their 80s has died in a two-vehicle crash in Overland Park.

The 86-year-old man and his 80-year-old wife died Thursday when their vehicle collided with another car that ran a stop sign. Overland Park police said the victims’ names haven’t been released.

Police say the driver of the other car was not injured, but a passenger in his car had minor injuries.

Stay tuned to Eagle Radio and check Hays Post for more information as it becomes available.