1 p.m.  (AP) — A Kansas insurance department official says the agency is working with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas to provide guidance for continuing coverage for some 10,000 policies that previously were canceled under the federal health care law.

Linda Shepherd told a legislative oversight committee Monday that Blue Cross would renew the policies for one year and is working to get them reviewed and in place.

The company’s decision to restore the canceled policies came after President Barack Obama announced that insurers would be allowed to keep offering existing plans for at least another year, even if those plans don’t comply with federal coverage mandates.

At least 4 million Americans received cancellation notices because their plans didn’t meet the requirements of the 2010 health care law championed by Obama.

5:00 a.m.  (AP) — A legislative oversight committee is scheduled to receive a status report on changes made to the Kansas Medicaid program and services for the developmentally disabled.

Monday’s meeting will look at issues related to the state’s KanCare system that began implementation in 2012 and took effect earlier this year. Kansas has contracted with three managed-care organizations to administer Medicaid programs for the elderly, poor and disabled.

Among those scheduled to appear are representatives from several developmentally disabled and community-based service providers.

Legislators also will receive an update on the state’s health insurance marketplace from the insurance commissioner’s office. Kansas elected not to establish a state-run exchange to implement the federal health care law and is using the federal exchange that was developed.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback today issued a proclamation declaring Nov. 24-30 as “A Week of Reconciliation”.

“As we enter the holiday season, a time when families and friends gather to celebrate traditions, I encourage Kansans to consider the importance of reconciliation and forgiveness,” Governor Brownback said.

The Governor cited author M. Scott Peck’s writings that “the overall purpose of human communication is – or should be – reconciliation. It should ultimately serve to lower or remove the walls of misunderstanding which unduly separate us human beings, one from another.”

“Forgiveness is a sign of strength,” Governor Brownback said. “It may be difficult to reach out to those who have hurt us or those whom we have hurt, but I encourage all Kansans to build a bridge of reconciliation.”

(AP) — A report from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation shows that the number of domestic violence incidents in Kansas is at its highest since 1992.

The KBI’s new Domestic Violence, Stalking and Rape in Kansas report is based on 2012 statistical data submitted to the agency by Kansas law enforcement agencies.

The report shows that between 1992 and 2012, the highest number of domestic violence incidents occurred last year, when there more than 24,000 incidents reported. There were also fewer arrests made in those cases in 2012 than 2011. In 2011, there were about 13,500 arrests. Last year, there were about 13,200.

The report also shows that the number of rapes reported decreased 3.3 percent in 2012 from the number reported in 2011.

AP) — A federal judge has denied a motion for a new trial from a north Mississippi company sued by Monsanto Co. for saving seeds from one harvest and planting them the following season.

U.S. District Judge Michael Mills ruled that Mitchell and Eddie Scruggs owe Monsanto Co. $6.3 million damages as a jury found in 2010. Prejudgment interest dating back to 2000 has increased the amount to $8.9 million.

In 2006, as court found Mitchell Scruggs, Eddie Scruggs and their business in Lee County violated Monsanto’s licensing requirements and its patent for use of the company’s seeds.

Monsanto has a policy that prohibits farmers from saving or reusing the seeds once the crop is grown.

Farmers contend there is no patent on the seeds, which are products of nature.

A Semi-truck driver was injured in a Sunday crash in Phillips County.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol eighty-nine year old Doris Dixon Stowell of Phillipsburg was driving a 1997 Dodge Intreped southbound on U 183, just south of Phillipsburg.

Jason Glenn Hitchcock of Gilmer, Texas was driving a 1995 Kenworth Semi-truck northbound on 183.

The Intreped made a u-turn in front of the Semi Truck. The semi hit the Intreped in the back right corner panel.
The truck then drove into the east ditch and rolled one time coming to rest facing north.

The Intreped came to rest facing northwest on U183. Hitchcock was transported to the hospital in Phillipsburg and then flown to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. He was not wearing a seat belt. Stowell was not injured. She was wearing a seat belt.