Month: December 2013
Difficult Decisions Ahead
Kansas lawmakers will face difficult budget decisions when they return to the Statehouse for the 2014 legislative session. The Kansas Health Institute has produced an issue brief that details this situation and projects the combined impact on revenue that the 2012 and 2013 tax bills will have over the next few years.
A preliminary budget has already been approved for fiscal year (FY) 2015, which runs from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015. However, policymakers will need to consider extensive revisions in order to balance expenditures with projected revenue and leave a 7.5 percent ending balance, as required by Kansas law.
A change in Kansas tax laws in 2012 and 2013 caused projected collections to be significantly lower in FY 2014 and beyond. This has created a budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year. Last session, legislators modified some of the tax cuts and tried to reduce spending in order to close the gap. However, even with those changes, approved spending exceeds revenue. Projections show that the gap between expenditures and receipts will widen over the next several years, unless difficult decisions are made to bring them into closer balance.
To further complicate matters, there is pressure to increase spending. For example, a lawsuit before the Kansas Supreme Court could produce a ruling that requires the state to increase school funding levels. Medicaid spending and contributions to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) are also likely to increase yearly. And there have been specific requests to increase funding for corrections, higher education, the judicial branch, state employee salaries, and other state services.
“Kansas lawmakers face difficult choices concerning the budget in the upcoming legislative session,” said Duane Goossen, KHI vice president for fiscal and health policy and a former state budget director. “Their decisions will provide a visible reflection of their policy priorities as we head into an election year.”
The Kansas Health Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan and independent health policy and research organization based in Topeka, Kansas. Established in 1995 with a multi-year grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, the Kansas Health Institute conducts research and policy analysis on issues that affect the health of Kansans.
Fatal Monday evening injury accident – Update
12/24 – The driver in Monday evening’s motor vehicle accident has passed away. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the accident happened around 5:50 pm Monday evening about 4.8 miles North of K156 in Hodgeman county.
The driver, 83 year old Arylene F Jackson of Jetmore, was northbound on 208 road driving a 1998 Ford Taurus when she lost control of the vehicle. The car rolled one and half times in the east ditch, coming to rest on its top. Jackson was pronounced dead at the scene. She was wearing a seatbelt.
6:51 p.m. Emergency responders are on the scene of a rollover injury accident in Hodgeman County, south of Q road.
Early indication is that the driver is trapped inside the vehicle. The Kansas Highway Patrol is being asked to assist.
Stay tuned to Eagle Radio and Check Hays Post for more information as it becomes available.
Search for stolen trailer
Authorities in Rush County are investigating report of a possible stolen trailer.
The 1983 trailer is dark brown over light brown, has a tool box on the front of the bed, a silver and a rust colored fuel tank and a dent in the left front of the bed. No additional information is available.
If you see the trailer, contact police.
Beloved Kansas Zoo Tiger Dies
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — A 17-year-old Amur tiger has died at a Salina area zoo.
The tiger, Chanda, died Monday at the Rolling Hills Zoo. Chanda had been diagnosed with renal failure.
Vickee Spicer, director of marketing at the zoo, said the tiger was euthanized. Chanda came to Rolling Hills in 2004.
Rolling Hills, like each of Kansas’ seven accredited zoos, participates in the the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ species survival plan, which often determines the placement and breeding of animals.
Former Kansas pet shelter chief denies $40,000 theft
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — The former director of a northeast Kansas animal shelter has pleaded not guilty to stealing $40,000 from the shelter where she worked for seven years.
Lisa Junghans entered her plea Monday in Geary County District Court. Her attorney told said the state will have a hard time proving she did anything wrong.
Junghans began working at the Junction City-Geary County Animal Shelter in 2006 and resigned without explanation July 9. A criminal complaint charges her with one count of theft, which it says occurred “in two or more acts or transactions.”
Neither city nor county officials have confirmed what funds might have been stolen, but the City Commission recently approved changes in how pet license fees are handled.
Junghans is scheduled for trial in February.
Fire closes beef packing plant
(AP) Dodge City –Fire erupted inside the Cargill meatpacking plant near Dodge City Monday night, and kept firefighters busy for more than five hours.
Capt. Mark Elder with the Dodge City Fire Department told KAKE News the fire began around 9:00 p.m. in the kill floor area. Because the complex is so large, crews spent several hours trying to put out all the hot spots.
The plant was evacuated, according to fire department officials. The cause of the fire is still not known, and there were no injuries, according to the company.
Cargill’s beef plant, which had been scheduled to be shuttered on Tuesday and Wednesday for the Christmas holidays, is expected to remain closed for the rest of the week as damage is assessed and fire inspectors investigate what started the blaze.
The Cargill plant is located about two miles west of the Dodge City limits. A spokesman for Ford County Fire/EMS told KAKE News the fire may started from a heater.
Cargill has yet to release a statement about how the fire will affect production. The company’s website says the Dodge City plant employs more than 2,700 people, making it the city’s second-largest employer. It is the largest Cargill beef plant.
Cargill announced plans in late August to spend $48 million on a new automated system at the Dodge City plant. The goal was to increase capacity sixfold.
Holiday lights: New views of Saturn and its moons
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — A NASA spacecraft has sent holiday greetings from the outer solar space.
The space agency on Monday released dazzling new images of the ringed planet Saturn and its moons. The Cassini spacecraft took the pictures earlier this year.
Saturn resembled an ornament in one image, with a jet stream swirling at its north pole along with a hurricane-like storm.
Cassini also peered through the hazy atmosphere of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, revealing hydrocarbon lakes. The icy Saturn moon Enceladus appears as a white snowball.
Cassini, funded by NASA and the European and Italian space agencies, was launched in 1997. The spacecraft reached Saturn in 2004 and has been studying the planet and its many moons.
Judge outlines reasons for bomb suspect’s jailing
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has explained her reasons for continuing to detain a man accused of plotting a suicide bombing at a Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Humphreys issued a written detention order Monday against Terry Lee Loewen following last week’s detention hearing.
The 58-year-old avionics technician is charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, attempted use of an explosive device to damage property and attempted material support to al-Qaida.
Humphreys wrote that Loewen’s ties to his community and family do not appear strong enough to balance his professed beliefs in violent jihad and martyrdom. She said that he appears to have been radicalized and has expressed hatred of the government.
The judge also cited the nature of the alleged offense and the weight of evidence.
Hays Police Weekend Activity Log
201321222 13-21222 (Hays) DISN – Disturbance – Noise 2700 Block of Epworth St, Hays
12/22/2013 12:13:38 AM
201321232 13-21232 (Hays) DISN – Disturbance – Noise 400 Block of Walnut St, Hays
12/22/2013 02:30:03 AM
201321233 13-21233 (Hays) DRUG – Drug Offenses 400 Block of W 5th St, Hays
12/22/2013 02:53:42 AM
201321234 13-21234 (Hays) DISN – Disturbance – Noise 500 Block of Mission Mount Rd, Hays
12/22/2013 04:06:49 AM
201321238 13-21238 (Hays) CRIM – Criminal Damage to Property 500 Block E 18th St, Hays
12/21/2013 09:00:00 PM > 12/22/2013 09:37:00 AM
201321244 13-21244 (Hays) CIVIL – Civil Dispute 2900 Block of Vine St, Hays
12/22/2013 02:13:29 PM
201321245 13-21245 (Hays) THEF – Theft (general) 600 Block of E 13th St, Hays
11/22/2013 08:00:00 AM > 12/22/2013 08:00:00 PM
201321248 13-21248 (Hays) THEF – Theft (general) 100 Block of E 19th St, Hays
12/22/2013 03:19:05 PM
201321254 13-21254 (Hays) ACCI – MV Accident-Personal Injury 13th and Main, Hays
12/22/2013 07:30:00 PM
201321256 13-21256 (Hays) ACCH – MV Accident-Hit and Run 2100 Block Canal Blvd, Hays
12/22/2013 10:07:37 PM
201321257 13-21257 (Hays) ASSA – Assault 1900 Block Holmes Rd, Hays
12/22/2013 11:30:00 PM > 12/22/2013 11:46:00 PM
Lehman Named MIAA Athlete of the Week
Fort Hays State junior center Kate Lehman was named the MIAA Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week for the second time this year on Monday (Dec. 23) for her efforts in Fort Hays State’s two wins last week. Lehman was also named the Athlete of the Week on December 9.
Lehman continued a streak of double-doubles, pushing it to six while helping FHSU go 2-0 this past week with wins over University of Saint Mary and Northwest Missouri State. The center also broke the MIAA career blocked shots record last week, and now has 269 for her career. She broke the old mark of 262 held by Esmary Vargas-Sanchez of Emporia State (2002-05). She broke the record on Monday, December 16 in the 100-34 win over Saint Mary.
Lehman put up averages of 18.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 5.0 blocked shots, while playing just 58 minutes of 90 possible minutes (one regulation game, one double-overtime game). She hit 63.6 percent of her field goals. Against University of Saint Mary, Lehman pulled down 10 boards and put up 16 points with six blocks in 17 minutes of action. Against MIAA foe Northwest Missouri State, Lehman finished the night with a massive double-double of 21 points and 17 rebounds, also collecting four blocked shots in the 79-69 double-overtime win.
-FHSU Sports Information-
Kansas family heartened by response to burglary
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — What was shaping up as a gloomy Christmas for a Wichita family has turned a bit brighter thanks to generous strangers.
Burglars took $5,000 worth of Christmas gifts and other items Friday from the home of Erica Reyes, her husband and their three young sons. The burglars tipped over the Christmas tree and stole video games, a flat-screen TV, and even food from the freezer.
Jeff Travers and his family heard of the crime and gave the Reyes family a $1,000 Target gift card. The boys hugged Jeff Travers at the store as they on a mini-shopping spree.
Travers says his family just wanted to help the young Reyes family after seeing the chaos the burglars left behind. And Erica Reyes the gesture left her feeling blessed.
Layoffs at KDWPT
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Dozens of seasonal employees at the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism were laid off the week before Christmas.
Department spokesman Ron Kaufman said Monday 75 seasonal KDWPT employees were told last week that their last day of work for the department was Friday. He said they’d receive their final paycheck in early January. Seasonal employees work fewer than 1,000 hours a year.
Kaufman says the cuts include employees in the department’s divisions of law enforcement, education, information services and fish and wildlife.
Secretary Robin Jennison is moving to eliminate 157 seasonal positions to accommodate the agency’s constricted budget. Of those positions, 75 were filled.
Jennison says he plans to urge the 2014 Legislature to reverse reductions in the agency’s seasonal workforce.