TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas Bureau of Investigation deputy director has been charged with sexual exploitation of a child and trying to destroy evidence.
The Shawnee County prosecutor on Thursday filed the charges against 57-year-old Kyle G. Smith, of Topeka.
Smith was booked into jail on one count of sexual exploitation of a child. The charge alleges he possessed a photo of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He is also charged with two counts of interference with law enforcement, alleging he tried to destroy evidence on a telephone and on a computer.
Smith’s attorney, Thomas Haney, didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.
The prosecutor’s office announced the charges in a news release but provided few details.
The KBI said in November that Smith was no longer with the agency.
A water emergency back in 1991, when the wells ran dry, forced the city of Hays to begin a water conservation program.
Various local ordinances were implemented between 1992 and 1994 that determined allotments of water, water use restrictions and violation penalties as well as the implementation of low water use building codes.
Since then, according to the city’s new water conservation specialist Jason Riegel, Hays has invested money in several projects to reduce the need for new water supplies:
Riegel added that years of water line replacement projects have resulted in few water main breaks and leaks reaching the ground surface.
TOPEKA— University of Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little asked a House committee Wednesday to consider restoring at least some of the $13.5 million cut from KU’s budget last year. At least one legislator said the state’s tight budget would be an obstacle to restoring funds.
Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little
Testifying before the House Committee on Education Budget, Gray-Little said the university needs more state funding to achieve its mission.
“There are ways in which the cuts will keep us from meeting the aspirations that we have,” Gray-Little said. “And they also do damage in other ways that I think would be costly to the university.”
The Kansas Legislature approved a two-year budget plan last year that reduced state funding for higher education by $33 million. It resulted in cuts amounting to $5.3 million at KU’s Lawrence and Edwards campuses and $8.2 million at KU Medical Center.
Gray-Little said the university’s plans for moving forward will require more resources, especially investment in faculty.
“We can ask people to work harder, and they do, but ultimately everything requires resources,” Gray-Little said. “We can’t bring the number of faculty up to the level that we wish without additional funds.”
According to Gray-Little, since 2011 the university has made major efforts to reduce costs and increase efficiency as part of its Changing for Excellence project. Efforts include reorganizing the administrative staff to condense the amount of positions. Savings from these changes are being reinvested in teaching and research programs.
State Rep. Jerry Henry, D-Atchison, said the lack of state revenue leaves legislators with few options to restore funding for universities.
“The question the Legislature will have is, even if you want to fund it, can we continue to keep funding it if we don’t have the revenue stream,” Henry said.
Henry said that tuition increases are a major concern for legislators.
“You can see the pressures are coming from not only the budget, but it’s also coming from families at home saying it’s too expensive to go to school.”
In an effort to prevent tuition increases at the Lawrence and Edwards campuses, planned projects have been cancelled or postponed, such as undergraduate research funding and multicultural scholarships. According to Gray-Little, KU Medical Center tuition increased by 5 percent, which would have needed to increase by 12 percent to cover the State General Fund cuts. The cuts fell more heavily on KU Medical Center, which receives a larger portion of its revenue from state appropriations than tuition.
Restoration of funds and financial support from the Legislature is especially important to KU Medical Center. The university plans to construct a $75 million medical education building to replace its current facility, which Gray-Little has said is outdated. The Legislature hasn’t agreed to help cover the cost, though it has given KU permission to finance the project with bonds.
“Without a new medical education facility we won’t have an adequate place to train the physicians that we have, even if we don’t increase the number (of physicians).”
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas senators have approved a measure shortening the time for inmates to appeal death sentences to the state Supreme Court, despite concerns from opponents about the state rushing to judgment.
Thursday’s 27-13 vote sent the bill to the House.
The measure creates a 3½-year time limit for the appeals to be heard and decided by the court. The measure would not affect any subsequent appeals, including those made to the U.S. Supreme Court.
It also sets limits on the length of documents that can be filed in death penalty to appeals to the state court, and requires the appeals to be placed ahead of all other cases pending before the justices.
Opponents argued the changes weaken the death penalty’s integrity and increase the chances an innocent person will be executed.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — After weeks of propane shortages and high prices, some relief is coming to rural residents in the Midwest, South and other areas that have had trouble keeping their heating tanks filled during the bitterly cold winter.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday that residential propane prices have fallen for a second straight week, down from about $4 a gallon in late January to $3.76 a gallon on Feb. 10.
Supplies of the fuel the Energy Department says 5.5 million U.S. households use for heating have improved slightly thanks to efforts by the propane industry, the federal government and states.
But Propane Education & Research Council President Roy Willis says the nation’s propane supply remains low and more blasts of winter cold would quickly send prices back up.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas man whose getaway vehicle was a city bus has pleaded guilty to robbing a bank.
The U.S. Attorney’s office says 29-year-old Jamarr Dale faces up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty Thursday to one count of bank robbery.
The holdup occurred Jan. 2 at a Security Bank branch in Dale’s hometown of Kansas City, Kan.
Dale admitted handing a teller a note that said, “I need $3,000 or I will start shooting.” He left after the teller gave him a drawerful of cash.
Police received a call saying the robber had boarded a city bus outside a nearby WalMart. Officers boarded the bus within minutes and arrested Dale with what was described as a large amount of cash, but no gun.
As a child, Lauren Potter always wanted to be a cheerleader. The 23-year-old said she even tried-out for her school’s team as a junior high student in California.
The coach said “no.” In fact, the coach not only said no, she threatened to quit her job before she allowed someone with a disability to join her team.
Potter, who has Down syndrome, does not know where the junior high school coach is now. But Potter? She went on to become a cast member of one of the country’s most popular TV shows — and an acclaimed activist and White House adviser.
Potter plays the role of Becky Jackson, a cheerleader on the popular sitcom “Glee.” In a presentation at Fort Hays State University on Wednesday, Lauren said she gets recognized all the time, but her favorite part about being a cast member on “Glee” has nothing to do with fame.
“(Glee) has given me a voice about bullying, I now have a chance to speak up for other people,” said Potter.
Potter said she was bullied in school and even pushed down to the ground a few times. She asked the crowd to take part in preventing bullying.
“Try not to hurt others with your actions. Find your voice and and be whatever you want to be,” Potter encouraged.
While video was not allowed at the presentation, Hays Post did get a chance to speak to Lauren after the presentation and to others who received her message loud and clear.
Potter is a supporter of the international organization, “Best Buddies.” The organization is all about support and friendship for children with disabilities. For more information, visit bestbuddies.org.
The Ellis County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an attempted break-in at a rural home in eastern Ellis County.
The owner’s home security system captured video of the person attempting to kick in a door at the residence on Jan. 30.
A $1,000 cash reward is being offering for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Anyone with information about the crime or who can identify the person in the video, contact the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office detective division at (785) 625-1040 or submit a crime alert at www.ellisco.net.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Two distinguished Kansas State High School Activities Association registered officials have been recognized by the NFHS for their service to interscholastic activities. Herbert Schwartzkopf was awarded the 2013 NFHS National Contributor Award for Officials and Jim Knight has been dubbed the 2013 Section 5 Active Official of the Year.
Schwarzkopf’s contributions to Kansas schools, students and the KSHSAA during his more than forty years as an active official and area supervisor are too numerous to list. Herb began officiating in 1972 and served not only the KSHSAA and Kansas colleges, but continued officiating during his military service. For twenty-three years, the KSHSAA depended on Herb to conduct rules meetings, clinics and serve as an Area Supervisor of officials in football and basketball. He conducted mechanics clinics and has been actively involved in training scores of young officials. Herb personally mentored more than 50 young officials in his career and continues to track their progress and careers.
Herb Swartzkopf has been a dedicated supporter of the Kansas State High School Activities Association and the member schools of Kansas working over 4,000 games at all levels, grades 7-12, and the collegiate level. He is a proud veteran and family man who holds a statewide elective office as State Adjutant-Quartermaster for the Kansas VFW. In addition, he serves as an elected County Commissioner in Trego County, where he farms. The KSHSAA is proud to honor Herbert Swartzkopf with the NFHS National Contributor Award for Officials.
KSHSAA Official Jim Knight exemplify the highest standards of ethical conduct, moral character and has the full support of the Kansas State High School Activities Association as an active official. The Overland Park native is a 50 year veteran of Kansas basketball and football officiating. He has been selected to officiate a total 26 times at the State Championship level 14 times in basketball and 12 times football. In addition to officiating, Knight serves the KSHSAA and Kansas officials as an area supervisor of officials in basketball and football, and is also a member of the KSHSAA Official Advisory Committee. He continues to mentor young officials at all levels in clinics and camps in the Kansas City area. Knight is the Section 5 winner which includes the states of: KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD.
Dear Dave,
How can I get credit card companies to stop sending us preapproved offers? My wife continues to sign up for these, and now we have $40,000 in credit card debt. Dan
Dave Ramsey
Dear Dan,
Chances are you’ll never get credit card companies to stop sending stuff, but there a few things you can do that might help slow things down. Access your credit bureau report, and opt out of marketing offers. You can also freeze your credit report, and send direct requests to the credit card companies to take you off their mailing lists.
I’ve been telling people not to use credit cards for 20 years and, believe it or not, even I get offers in the mail. The more mailing lists you get on, the more your mailbox will fill up with junk mail. If you have magazine subscriptions and things like that, your contact information is circulating all over the place.
The next thing I’m going to say may sound cruel, but I really don’t mean it that way. You don’t have a junk mail problem, Dan. You have a relationship problem. You two are not on the same page about money. Either she doesn’t feel like you two have enough money, and she’s resorting to credit cards for this reason, or she does this because she’s a spoiled brat who thinks she should always have what she wants when she wants it. Her behavior is destroying your financial lives and driving a wedge between you.
My advice would be to sit down and have a gentle, loving talk with her about all this. Try to find out why she feels the need to have all these credit cards, and explain that you’re worried about what it’s doing to your marriage and your finances. That may mean having to spend some time with a marriage counselor, but that’s okay, too. There’s no reason to be ashamed of something like that. The truth is, most of us who have been married more than 20 minutes could use a little help in that area of our lives! —Dave
Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He’s authored four New York Times best-selling books: Financial Peace, More Than Enough, The Total Money Makeover and EntreLeadership. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 6 million listeners each week on more than 500 radio stations. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.
WICHITA (AP) — A Kansas military boarding school embroiled in a lawsuit alleging widespread abuse of its cadets is asking a federal judge to keep any mention about prior arrests or criminal convictions of its employees away from jurors at next month’s trial.
The request comes amid 21 sealed motions filed on Wednesday by St. John’s Military School in Salina seeking to restrict evidence when trial begins March 4 in federal court in Kansas City, Kan.
The school also seeks to keep out of the trial a police report, findings by a state child welfare agency and certain testimony.
Four sealed motions also were filed by the ex-cadets seeking to exclude references about illicit drug use, their own “prior bad acts,” and references to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
The Libertarian Party of Kansas is encouraging the Kansas Senate to use better judgment than they believe was demonstrated by the representatives in the Kansas House when they passed HB 2453, an Act concerning religious freedoms with respect to marriage.
The Libertarian Party has a number of serious concerns with the bill which they believe make the proposed law unacceptable for Kansas.
First, the LPKS points out that government officials and employees work for all Kansans, and that by choosing to accept a job paid for by tax-dollars those individuals have agreed to serve all citizens.
Second, the LPKS believes that Kansas businesses already have the liberty to choose who they do business with. If those businesses make choices that are distasteful to the majority of our citizens, the free market will remove their support from that business. More laws will not make the situation better nor move Kansas toward the Libertarian goal of “Liberty for All.”
Finally, the Libertarian Party finds this bill unacceptable because they believe it is clearly aimed at a single segment of our society. The LPKS believes that all good laws should apply equally to all people all of the time, and this bill clearly does not meet that basic tenet of good government.
Should their call for ‘better judgment’ fail in the Senate, both of the Libertarian candidates for Kansas governor are calling upon current Gov. Sam Brownback to veto the bill. Both Libertarian candidates say they would veto the bill if they were governor.
Tresa McAlhaney said, “As governor, I would veto HB 2453 based on the principle that it is inappropriate to use the force of law to justify discrimination by public employees.”
Her opponent, Keen Umbehr said, “We must remember that public employees are agents of the government and their actions within that role are the actions of the government. It is not acceptable for the government to choose to provide services to some Kansans while refusing to do the same for others. To do otherwise is contrary to the equal protection guaranteed within the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”
Regardless of which candidate wins the Libertarian nomination for Kansas governor, if Gov. Brownback does not veto this bill he will likely hear about it from his Libertarian opponent during the general election.
While LPKS Policy Researcher Stacey Davis doubts that Brownback will actually veto the bill should it be passed by the Senate, Davis hopes that Kansans understand that real Libertarians are not found within the ranks of the Republican Party.
“It has become very trendy for some elected Republicans to claim Libertarian leanings or to even claim that they are actually Libertarians, but that is simply not the case,” says Davis. “Real Libertarians understand that it is not enough to fight for the liberties that you personally agree with. Instead, real Libertarians understand that to finally break out of the political status-quo, our representatives have to commit to supporting everyone’s liberty. That’s why I expect the Libertarian Party to remain the fastest-growing political party in Kansas.”
DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is recalling nearly 780,000 compact cars in North America because the engines can shut down unexpectedly and cause crashes. The company says six people have been killed in crashes related to the problem.
The recall affects Chevrolet Cobalts and Pontiac G5s from the 2005 through 2007 model years.
U.S. safety regulators say the weight of the key ring and rough roads can move the ignition switch out of the run position, cutting the engine and electricity. If that happens, air bags may not work.
GM says there have been 22 crashes from the problem. All were off the road and happened at high speeds.
Dealers will replace the ignition switch for free. GM says owners should remove nonessential items from key rings until the problem is fixed.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas Bureau of Investigation deputy director has been charged with sexual exploitation of a child and trying to destroy evidence.
