February 2014 – Page 54 – Hays Post Archive

Hutch man in court Wednesday on child sex charges

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

HUTCHINSON — A 25-year-old Hutchinson man facing child sex charges is scheduled to be in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.

Michael Wayne Stahl is charged with four counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, two counts of electronic solicitation and one count of attempted indecent liberties with a child. Two of the counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child are alternate counts, meaning the state has different theories of the crimes.

Stahl is alleged to have been communicating with two 13-year-old girls through Facebook and text. Authorities say that led to him meeting the girls and then the sexual encounters occurring.

Police became involved in the case after two reports. A detective reportedly posed as a 14-year-old girl, which led to Stahl showing up at an abandoned residence where thought he was meeting the 14-year-old. He instead met police instead.

No. 2 Hays survives in overtime; Girls fall in Salina

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

GIRLS: #1 Salina Central 83 – Hays 19
The Hays High Lady Indians were looking for their first win on the season taking on the best team in 5A the Salina Central Lady Mustangs on Tuesday night in Salina. Hays hung around early down 5-3 midway through the first quarter and had a few shots at taking the lead. Central turned up their full court pressure and forced Hays into 10 first quarter turnovers leading to an 11-0 Central run to take a 16-3 Mustang lead. After a basket from Hays, Central went on a 12-0 run and led 36-11 at half time.

Salina Central outscored Hays 18-1 in the third quarter and 29-7 in the fourth to close out an 83-19 win for the Mustangs. It was the most points allowed by Hays all season and the fewest the Indians had scored.

Central had four score in double figures including Kansas State commit Shaelyn Martin along with Nebraska walk-on Emily Wood each scoring 16. The night though belonged to Brooke Peters who scored a career high 17, while Bailey Driver added in a season best 10.

Hays was led by Audra Schmeidler with six points and career best 10 rebounds.

Central is now 14-0 on the year while Hays falls to 0-14.

Game Highlights

Kirk Maska Postgame Interview

BOYS: #2 Hays 51 – #9 Salina Central 50 OT
The Hays High Indians hadn’t played a game in 11 days and only one over the past 16 showed little signs of rust jumping out to a 10-3 lead after eight straight points from Lane Clark. Hays would push the first quarter advantage to 14-6 with a little over two minutes remaining. Hays would score just two points over the next 10:15 seconds when Salina Central went on a 21-2 run to lead at half time 27-16.

Central grabbed their biggest lead of 13 over the first two and half minutes of the third quarter before Hays slowly reeled the hot three point shooting Mustangs back in. Hays got with in six on a 9-2 run and even pulled the game within three points on a Keith Dryden offensive rebound and stick back with 1:30 to go in the third quarter. Central though closed the third quarter and opened the fourth on a 8-2 run pushing their advantage to nine at 42-33 with 7:30 left in the game.

Hays would hold to Central to just a pair of free throws for the rest of regulation while reeling off an 8-0 run over the final 3:02 to tie the game with 1:00 to go on a Kyler Niernberger layup. Both Hays and Central had a chance to win the game in regulation. The Mustangs pulled the clock down to less than 12 seconds when Central attacked the paint but Brady Werth blocked Jordan McNelly shot in the lane. Isaiah Nunnery found Lane Clark on a outlet pass but Clark came up short on the potential game winning shot from three feet beyond the three point line.

In over time the score was tied at 46 and 47 before Brady Werth game Hays a 49-47 lead with 1:36 to go. Central responded back with a three pointer from Max Kuhn, his first field goal of the game giving the Mustangs a 50-49 lead with 53 seconds left. Hays ran their offense and Lane Clark found himself at the basket among three Central defenders and laid a shot in with 15 seconds left giving Hays a 51-50 advantage. Central used a timeout and got to the paint before the Indians blocked another shot that went out of bounds with 2 second remaining. Central’s last shot came on a fade away deep three from freshman Brayden Neuschafer who had already scored 11, keeping Hays record intact at 14-0. Salina Central drops to 8-6.

Hays shot 21 of 44 in the game and made just 3 of their 14 three’s. Central on the flip side made 9 of 17 three’s on a 16 for 36 performance overall from the field.

Central’s Jordan McNelly and Treyton Hines each scored 16 while Brayden Neuschafer added 11.

Hays was led by a game high 17 from Jordan Windholz, despite not scoring in the first half Brady Werth added 12 and Lane Clark scored 10.

Hays is on the road Friday to resume Western Athletic Conference play against Liberal.

Game Highlights

Rick Keltner Postgame Interview

No. 6 FHSU wrestling dominant versus Truman

Posted on February 12, 2014

FHSU Sports Information

Sixth-ranked Fort Hays State wrestling took down Truman State, 32-10, in the season’s dual finale on Tuesday evening in Kirksville, Mo.

FHSU finished the dual season at 9-5-1 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA.

No. 8 Adam Ludwin (125) started the night with a 10-2 major decision over Jabez Zinabu, and after an open weight in the 133 pound weight class, FHSU led, 10-0, in the team score.

At 141 pounds, No. 5 C.J. Napier pushed his winning streak to four matches with a 16-4 major decision over Mark Smith. Napier just missed the technical fall, but picked up his third major decision of the season.

Truman cut the deficit to eight at 149 pounds, as fifth-ranked Ryan Maus took down Ky Biddle and won by fall in 50 seconds.

Up 14-6 in the team score, FHSU used a decision by Mitchell Means at 157 pounds to push the lead back to 11 (17-6). Means won his ninth consecutive match by knocking off Colton Schmitz, 4-1.

In the 165 pound match, Bradley Little found himself in his second overtime match in a row. This time around, Little won by sudden victory over Devon Fenstermaker, 6-4.

Bryce Lewis’ 7-0 decision against Chase Wrisinger at 174 pounds all but sealed the match for FHSU, putting the Tigers up by 17 with three matches to go.

Jon Inman (184) would clinch the team victory for FHSU, shutting down Ryan Ward in an 11-0 major decision. The Tigers led by 21 at that point, 27-6.

At 197 pounds, Chad Rous dropped a major decision to Helmut Rentschler, 12-2, giving TSU its final team points of the evening.

No. 7 Trey Page (285) closed out the dual with a dominant performance, tech falling Ben Dudley, 16-0 in 3:15.

FHSU starts postseason action this weekend by hosting the MIAA Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 16. Competition begins at 10 a.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Match Results
125 – #8 Adam Ludwin (FHSU) def. Jabez Zinabu, MD 10-2
133 – Symon Seaton (FHSU) wins by forfeit
141 – #5 C.J. Napier (FHSU) def. Mark Smith (TSU), MD 16-4
149 – #6 Ryan Maus (TSU) def. Ky Biddle (FHSU), Fall 0:50
157 – Mitchell Means (FHSU) def. Colton Schmitz (TSU), Dec 4-1
165 – Bradley Little (FHSU) def. Devon Fenstermaker (TSU), SV1 6-4
174 – Bryce Lewis (FHSU) def. Chase Wrisinger (TSU), Dec 7-0
184 – Jon Inman (FHSU) def. Ryan Ward (TSU), MD 11-0
197 – Helmut Rentschler (TSU) def. Chad Rous (FHSU), MD 12-2
285 – #7 Trey Page def. Ben Dudley (TSU), TF 3:15 (16-0)

Amtrak suspends some trains ahead of latest winter storm

Posted on February 12, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amtrak is suspending some trains as a winter storm threatens the South and the Northeast.

Amtrak says the suspensions Wednesday are meant to reduce the exposure of passengers, crews and equipment to extreme weather.

The suspensions include trains between New York and several destinations in the South and the auto train between Washington’s northern Virginia suburbs and Orlando, Fla. Amtrak says other services, including the Northeast Corridor, are scheduled to operate.

The suspensions include Crescent trains between New York and New Orleans; Silver Meteor and Silver Star trains between New York and Miami; Carolinian trains between New York and Charlotte, N.C.; Palmetto trains between New York and Savannah, Ga.; and Piedmont trains between Charlotte and Raleigh in North Carolina.

Topeka to reinstate ban on domestic battery

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

TOPEKA (AP) — Domestic battery will be banned again in Topeka, but not until next year.

City governing body members voted Tuesday evening to reinstate the ban on domestic battery, beginning Jan. 1, 2015.

The delay was approved because City attorney Chad Sublet told governing board members it would cost $300,000 to effectively prosecute domestic battery cases this year, and that money is not in the city’s budget.

The city dropped the ban in 2011 when District Attorney Chad Taylor said budget cuts prevented his office from prosecuting domestic batteries committed in Topeka. After the ban was repealed, Taylor eventually resumed prosecuting the cases.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Sublet told governing body members the city would need to create four new jobs to resume prosecuting domestic batteries next year.

Kansas recycling center loses more than $100,000 in theft

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police say thieves cost a south Wichita pavement recycling center more than $100,000.

The theft at the Cornejo plant occurred sometime Monday night or early Tuesday. The plant crushes old highway pavement into small rock for new pavement.

Plant supervisor Jon Lewman says the thieves cut through a lock, shut off the power to the plant and began stripping out copper wire. They also took tools, tanks for acetylene torches and other items.

Lewman said the thieves also ruined a motor valued at $60,000.

The plant will be closed for up to two weeks.

Tuesday’s high school basketball scores

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Abilene 57, Silver Lake 43
Anderson County 60, Wellsville 46
Andover 65, Arkansas City 39
Axtell 59, Pawnee City, Neb. 36
Baileyville-B&B 61, Wetmore 33
Basehor-Linwood 77, Tonganoxie 69
Beloit 59, Southeast Saline 52
Berean Academy 66, Chase County 41
Blue Valley Stilwell 36, Blue Valley Southwest 32
Burlington 58, Fredonia 46
BV North 57, BV West 49
BV Northwest 70, Gardner-Edgerton 63
Central Plains 54, Ellinwood 28
Centralia 58, Troy 29
Centre 53, Elyria Christian 47
Chapman 69, Wamego 34
Cheney 43, Chaparral 36
Cherryvale 57, Caney Valley 46
Chetopa 62, Oswego 44
Cimarron 74, Sublette 32
Clearwater 50, Rose Hill 47
Clifton-Clyde 56, BV Randolph 47
Concordia 76, Riley County 44
Deerfield 50, Syracuse 34
Derby 82, Maize 78, OT
Derby Invasion 67, St. John’s Military 36
Dighton 50, Wichita County 33
Dodge City 60, Ulysses 41
Douglass 66, Bluestem 40
Dundy County-Stratton, Neb. 85, St. Francis 74
Eagle Heights, Mo. 69, Heritage Christian 45
Elkhart 84, Turpin, Okla. 48
Ellsworth 59, Minneapolis 56
Eudora 57, Baldwin 51
Eureka 72, Yates Center 36
Fairfield 77, Burrton 61
Flinthills 55, Cedar Vale/Dexter 40
Frontenac 60, Columbus 56
Garden Plain 64, Belle Plaine 45
Girard 61, Baxter Springs 46
Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 60, Tescott 45
Goddard 56, Valley Center 50
Goddard-Eisenhower 89, Andover Central 81, 2OT
Goodland 46, Scott City 42
Great Bend 77, Buhler 68
Guymon, Okla. 55, Liberal 51
Hays 51, Salina Central 50
Hesston 58, Nickerson 22
Highland Park 70, Topeka Hayden 47
Hill City 60, Golden Plains 34
Hillsboro 67, Smoky Valley 36
Hitchcock County, Neb. 58, Cheylin 39
Hodgeman County 58, Minneola 52
Hoisington 45, Victoria 43
Holcomb 53, Lakin 33
Holton 79, Perry-Lecompton 54
Horton 59, Pleasant Ridge 37
Hoxie 76, Plainville 61
Humboldt 75, Neodesha 38
Hutchinson 48, Wichita Campus 30
Hutchinson Central Christian 68, Cunningham 34
Hutchinson Trinity 46, Sedgwick 33
Immaculata 46, Bishop Seabury Academy 40
Independence 68, Chanute 36
Ingalls 68, Rolla 14
Inman 58, Bennington 51
Jefferson West 75, Santa Fe Trail 64
Kapaun Mount Carmel 40, Wichita North 36
KC Harmon 74, KC Schlagle 70
KC Piper 72, KC Turner 46
KC Washington 79, Atchison 62
Kingman 57, Lyons 46
Labette County 55, Coffeyville 50
Lansing 82, Bonner Springs 57
Lawrence Free State 74, SM North 61
Little River 59, Solomon 43
Macksville 60, Kinsley 31
Madison 56, West Franklin 25
Maize South 57, Wichita Collegiate 53
Marion 48, Ell-Saline 43
McLouth 73, KC Christian 68
McPherson 65, Winfield 42
Meade 85, Bucklin 20
Mill Valley 74, KC Bishop Ward 58
Moscow 72, Keyes, Okla. 41
Moundridge 63, Canton-Galva 42
Natoma 56, Lakeside 53
Nemaha Valley 63, Hiawatha 48
Ness City 59, Western Plains 45
Northern Valley 56, Franklin, Neb. 25
Oakley 55, Ellis 42
Oberlin-Decatur 46, Norton 40
Olathe Northwest 65, Leavenworth 63
Olathe South 58, SM East 57
Osawatomie 44, Iola 35
Osborne 52, Smith Center 46
Otis-Bison 65, Trego 47
Ottawa 51, DeSoto 48
Oxford 39, Udall 37
Peabody-Burns 47, Remington 46
Pike Valley 49, Wilson 39
Pittsburg 62, Parsons 54
Pratt 63, Haven 57
Quinter 48, Wheatland-Grinnell 38
Republic County 51, Clay Center 44
Riverton 63, Galena 61, 2OT
Rock Creek 58, Marysville 56
Rural Vista 53, Goessel 43
Sabetha 68, Riverside 53
Salina Sacred Heart 65, Russell 39
Salina South 56, Newton 52
Satanta 59, Spearville 47
Shawnee Heights 78, Washburn Rural 55
SM Northwest 63, Lawrence 62
SM South 59, Olathe East 48
SM West 49, Olathe North 45, OT
South Central 48, Fort Supply, Okla. 46
South Haven 39, Argonia 32
Springfield, Colo. 59, Johnson-Stanton County 52
St. John 62, LaCrosse 31
St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 52, Sylvan-Lucas 34
St. Mary’s Academy 53, Manhattan CHIEF 43
St. Thomas Aquinas 39, Bishop Miege 33
Stafford 62, Norwich 41
Stockton 68, Palco 35
Thunder Ridge 47, Rock Hills 45
Topeka 30, Emporia 25
Topeka Seaman 68, Junction City 56
Topeka West 69, Manhattan 59
Valley Falls 68, Oskaloosa 21
Valley Heights 66, Washington County 48
Van Horn, Mo. 54, Maranatha Academy 52
Wellington 52, El Dorado 48
West Elk 70, Elk Valley 29
Wichita East 66, Wichita Heights 61
Wichita Independent 49, Medicine Lodge 47
Wichita South 49, Wichita Northwest 47
Wichita Southeast 75, Wichita West 44
Wichita Trinity 53, Conway Springs 44

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Andover 65, Arkansas City 33
Andover Central 64, Goddard-Eisenhower 49
Atchison County 76, KC Washington 53
Axtell 51, Pawnee City, Neb. 28
Baileyville-B&B 60, Wetmore 38
Baldwin 55, Eudora 34
Basehor-Linwood 47, Tonganoxie 37
Beloit 56, Southeast Saline 40
Berean Academy 33, Chase County 32
Bishop Seabury Academy 32, Immaculata 27
Bonner Springs 52, Lansing 46
Burlington 66, Fredonia 21
BV Randolph 44, Clifton-Clyde 43
Caney Valley 48, Cherryvale 41
Cedar Vale/Dexter 52, Flinthills 37
Central Plains 56, Ellinwood 32
Centralia 43, Troy 33
Centre 55, Elyria Christian 54, OT
Chanute 41, Independence 29
Cheney 41, Chaparral 12
Cheney 41, Chaparral 12
Cheylin 57, Hitchcock County, Neb. 54
Cimarron 73, Sublette 26
Clearwater 58, Rose Hill 50
Coffeyville 63, Labette County 51
Cunningham 47, Hutchinson Central Christian 26
Dighton 44, Wichita County 17
Dodge City 51, Ulysses 37
Douglass 55, Bluestem 20
Dundy County-Stratton, Neb. 72, St. Francis 31
Elkhart 42, Turpin, Okla. 31
Ell-Saline 56, Marion 51
Ellis 54, Oakley 42
Fairfield 46, Burrton 37
Frankfort 56, Onaga 45
Frontenac 50, Columbus 39
Galena 46, Riverton 18
Garden Plain 53, Belle Plaine 21
Girard 44, Baxter Springs 40
Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 40, Tescott 29
Goessel 45, Rural Vista 38
Golden Plains 31, Hill City 30
Goodland 66, Scott City 33
Great Bend 74, Buhler 68
Hanover 58, Wakefield 30
Hesston 81, Nickerson 24
Hillsboro 55, Smoky Valley 30
Hoisington 53, Victoria 47
Holcomb 58, Lakin 36
Holton 40, Perry-Lecompton 30
Horton 52, Pleasant Ridge 33
Hoxie 91, Plainville 28
Ingalls 55, Rolla 44
Inman 48, Bennington 40
Jefferson North 52, Atchison County 22
Johnson-Stanton County 39, Springfield, Colo. 37
Kapaun Mount Carmel 60, Wichita North 23
KC Christian 52, McLouth 41
KC Piper 66, KC Turner 13
Lawrence Free State 83, SM North 51
Leavenworth 72, Olathe Northwest 47
Liberal 50, Guymon, Okla. 30
Lincoln 60, Chase 29
Little River 42, Solomon 25
Little River 42, Solomon 25
Lyons 61, Kingman 42
Macksville 56, Kinsley 38
Maize 61, Derby 37
Maize South 44, Wichita Collegiate 21
Maize South 44, Wichita Collegiate 21
Manhattan 60, Topeka West 17
Marais des Cygnes Valley 62, Cornerstone Alt. Charter 32
Marysville 64, Rock Creek 45
McDonald County, Mo. 57, Pittsburg Colgan 32
McPherson 49, Winfield 46
Medford, Okla. 47, Caldwell 44
Minneapolis 38, Ellsworth 36
Moscow 57, Keyes, Okla. 35
Moundridge 42, Canton-Galva 21
Natoma 65, Lakeside 21
Nemaha Valley 57, Hiawatha 49
Ness City 54, Western Plains 22
Newton 45, Salina South 24
Northern Heights 64, Herington 39
Norton 40, Oberlin-Decatur 33
Olathe East 58, SM South 39
Olathe South 44, SM East 27
Oswego 57, Chetopa 30
Ottawa 43, DeSoto 35
Paola 71, Spring Hill 59
Pike Valley 62, Wilson 42
Pittsburg 56, Parsons 48
Pratt 47, Haven 36
Pratt Skyline 42, Attica 36
Remington 62, Peabody-Burns 14
Sabetha 60, Riverside 14
Salina Central 83, Hays 19
Salina Sacred Heart 43, Russell 39
Santa Fe Trail 56, Jefferson West 19
Satanta 53, Spearville 50
Sedan 49, Central Burden 23
Sedgwick 50, Hutchinson Trinity 47
Silver Lake 65, Abilene 58
SM Northwest 71, Lawrence 52
SM West 44, Olathe North 14
Smith Center 43, Osborne 40
South Central 55, Fort Supply, Okla. 34
St. James Academy 52, Notre Dame de Sion 40
St. Paul 55, Jayhawk Linn 26
St. Thomas Aquinas 46, Bishop Miege 38
Sterling 69, Halstead 48
Stockton 47, Palco 34
Sylvan-Lucas 38, St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 34
Syracuse 46, Deerfield 17
Syracuse 46, Deerfield 17
Thunder Ridge 45, Rock Hills 17
Topeka 64, Emporia 52
Topeka Hayden 65, Highland Park 41
Topeka Seaman 48, Junction City 34
Trego 52, Otis-Bison 44
Udall 50, Oxford 44
Valley Center 38, Goddard 35
Valley Heights 55, Washington County 44
Wabaunsee 50, Mission Valley 27
Wallace County 55, Triplains-Brewster 41
Wamego 60, Chapman 34
Washburn Rural 60, Shawnee Heights 42
Wellington 41, El Dorado 13
Wellsville 41, Anderson County 32
West Elk 43, Elk Valley 11
Wheatland-Grinnell 54, Quinter 21
Wichita Campus 45, Hutchinson 37
Wichita Heights 52, Wichita East 20
Wichita Home School 59, Sunrise Christian 29
Wichita Independent 48, Medicine Lodge 37
Wichita South 53, Wichita Northwest 13
Wichita Southeast 43, Wichita West 26
Wichita Trinity 51, Conway Springs 38

Commissioner questioned about ACA’s impact on insurance companies

Posted on February 12, 2014

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger Photo by Jim McLean — Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger
Photo by Jim McLean

By Jim McLean
KHI News Service

TOPEKA — Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger said she has seen no evidence the Affordable Care Act is straining the finances of health insurance companies operating in the state.

Praeger, a Republican who has drawn criticism from some in her party for supporting the health reform law, made the comment today in response to questions from Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook, the chairwoman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.

Praeger said it is too early to tell whether early trends such as the sluggish enrollment by younger, healthier people would continue and result in more risk for companies. She also said the law has mechanisms to offset those sorts of costs and “equalize risk among the companies.”

Because the federal law left state insurance departments in charge of licensing and regulating companies, Praeger said her agency would continue to monitor the financial health of Kansas insurers.

“We have access to all of their financial information,” she said. “And we still have the ability to take whatever action is needed to get them back on sound footing.”
Pilcher-Cook, a Shawnee Republican and critic of the ACA, said her questions were based on concerns that the law could put insurers and their customers “at risk.”

“The level of risk is out of whack,” she said.

Sheldon Weisgrau, director of the Health Reform Resource Project — which is funded by several Kansas health foundations, including the Kansas Health Foundation, a major funder of the KHI News Service — said it was premature to conclude that insurance companies offering plans in the HealthCare.gov marketplace had failed to account for potential risks.

“The assumption behind the questions is that because not as many young people are signing up as would be ideal, rates are going to go up,” Weisgrau said. “You can’t make that assumption because if the actuaries did a good job of anticipating that, their rates are going to be on target.”

Blue Cross concerned going in

A couple of months prior to the October 2013 launch of the marketplace, Andy Corbin, chief executive of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, said the company was careful not to set its rates based on overly optimistic assumptions. Still, he acknowledged being a bit nervous about what lay ahead.

“Frankly, I don’t know what I’m going to get,” Corbin said at the time. “If I get all the people with illnesses, I’ll be in real trouble. If I get a cross-section, we can probably hope that our rates are OK.”

Praeger said only the three insurance companies offering plans in the Kansas marketplace — which is run by the federal government — know the risk profile of their new enrollees. She said if any of them are assuming more than their share, it will show up in the financial information reviewed by her agency and steps would be taken “to get them back on sound financial footing.”

Praeger said the decision this week by the Obama administration to further delay enforcement of the so-called employer mandate would allow more time to work out implementation details with affected businesses.

But she said the delay could further skew the enrollment numbers enough to increase premiums in 2015.

Kansas enrollment trends

Praeger said the good news in Kansas is that companies are enrolling a slightly higher percentage of people age 34 or younger than insurers nationally — about 32 percent of the 14,242 Kansans who enrolled from October through December were age 34 or younger.

“When you compare Kansas enrollment data to national data, we’re 2 percent higher in terms of that younger age cohort, which is good,” she said. “But it’s probably not as good as plans need it to be to help offset the cost of older, sicker folks.”

In addition, more Kansans are deciding to pay higher premiums in exchange for plans that provide comprehensive coverage and require lower out-of-pocket costs, such as co-pays and deductibles.

“Our enrollment in the ‘gold plan’ is 12 percent higher than the national data,” Praeger said, noting that likely means that the people enrolling in such plans have specific and potentially expensive health care needs.

About 74 percent of the Kansans who purchased coverage in the marketplace qualified for financial assistance — federal tax credits available on a sliding scale to those with annual incomes between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. That is 5 percent below the national average, Praeger said.

Through the end of December, approximately 5,500 Kansans who attempted to purchase coverage discovered that they qualified for Medicaid or CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
The current eligibility threshold for Medicaid in Kansas is among the lowest in the country at 33 percent of FPL, or $7,770 a year.

Kansas is one of 23 states that have decided not to expand Medicaid eligibility to everyone making up to 138 percent of FPL — $15,856 for individuals and $35,355 for a family of four.

If it stands, the decision is expected to leave approximately 78,400 Kansans without coverage, according to researchers at the Kansas Health Institute.

Such Kansans make too much to be eligible Medicaid but too little to qualify for federal subsidies to help cover the cost of private coverage. Those subsidies are available on a sliding scale to people between 100 percent and 400 percent of federal poverty guidelines.

No. 4 Wichita State beats Southern Illinois

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – Ron Baker scored 19 points, Cleanthony Early added 18 and fourth-ranked Wichita State overcame a sloppy start to beat Southern Illinois 78-67 on Tuesday night and remain unbeaten.

Tekele Cotton and Darius Carter added 12 points apiece for the Shockers, who became the first team to start 26-0 since Memphis in 2008. Wichita State has five games standing in the way of becoming the first team since Saint Joseph’s in 2004 to have a perfect regular season.

The Hawks didn’t lose that year until the Atlantic 10 tournament.

Wichita State (13-0 Missouri Valley Conference) certainly had its hands full, especially with Southern Illinois guard Anthony Beane. He scored 25 points, getting to the rim at will until late in the game, when the Shockers finally started to double- and triple-team him.

NBC’s Tom Brokaw diagnosed with cancer

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) — NBC News says veteran newsman Tom Brokaw has cancer.

The network says Brokaw was diagnosed in August with multiple myeloma, a cancer affecting blood cells in the bone marrow. Doctors are optimistic about his treatment.

In a statement released by NBC, Brokaw says he remains the luckiest guy he knows, and he looks forward to continuing his life and his work. He says he wants to keep his illness a private matter.

Brokaw turned 72 on Feb. 6.

The onetime national news anchor is a special NBC News correspondent, and NBC says he has continued to work on projects during his treatment.

Sunny, warmer Wednesday

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values as low as 4. North northwest wind 9 to 14 mph becoming light west in the afternoon.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. West wind 7 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West wind 7 to 13 mph.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 47. Breezy, with a northwest wind 11 to 21 mph.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.

KDOT crews plow 565,000 miles last week

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

According to a media release from the Kansas Department of Transportation, snow crews plowed and treated 565,000 lane miles of highway during last week’s snow storm at a cost of nearly $3 million.

KDOT drivers operated 591 trucks around the clock in 12-hours shifts to treat and clear roads of snow and ice in every region of the state. About 1,100 snow plow operators logged more than 37,000 hours from Feb. 3-6.

“The snow amounts, wind and frigid temperatures made this a dangerous storm for our crews. I can’t thank them enough for their hard work and dedication in keeping the roads safe for travel,” said Transportation Secretary Mike King.

“I also want to thank the many others at KDOT who supported the storm efforts, including mechanics, office staff and those who helped keep travelers informed of road conditions,” he said.

By the numbers:

591 Dump Trucks

565,000 Miles treated/plowed 37,000 Labor hours

8,600 Tons of salt

1,300 Tons of sand

Senate candidate Milton Wolf campaigns in Hays (VIDEO)

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

milton speaks — Republican senate candidate Dr. Milton Wolf, Kansas City, addresses the Big First Tea Party in Hays Tuesday night.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“Washington changes you.”

That’s the belief of Dr. Milton Wolf, a Kansas City radiologist who is challenging longtime U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.

The 43-year-old Lyons native announced his campaign in October and proudly considers himself “very conservative.”

He was the guest speaker at Tuesday night’s monthly meeting of the Big First Tea Party in Hays.

Wolf is a second cousin to President Barack Obama and has never run for public office. It’s his vehement opposition to ObamaCare that led Wolf to enter the political arena. He also believes Roberts is “not a true conservative” and considers Roberts’ 27 years in Washington “too long.”

The Republican Party itself is “not doing well,” contends Wolf, and “needs to be saved from itself.”

If elected, Wolf pledged he would serve “no more than two terms.”

An informal poll of audience members showed every attendee would vote for Dr. Milton Wolf if the Republican primary election were held today. — An informal poll of audience members showed the majority would vote for Dr. Milton Wolf if the Republican primary election were held today.

The crowd of about 50 people applauded each of his position statements which “re-embrace the Constitution and the American idea individual liberty, limited government and free-market values.”

More information about Wolf is available on his website.