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Month: May 2014

Obama: No act of terror can match strength of US

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President Obama at Thursday morning's Museum Dedication
President Obama at Thursday morning’s Museum Dedication

Screen Shot 2014-05-15 at 9.38.02 AMJOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — President Barack Obama says no act of terror can match the strength and character of the United States. He says, quote, “Nothing can ever break us.”

Obama spoke at the dedication in New York for the National September 11 Memorial Museum. He says this museum tells the story of 9/11 so that future generations will never forget.

Obama says it’s a moment to reflect on the true spirit of 9/11 and enshrine it forever in the nation’s heart. He says that spirit encompasses love, compassion and sacrifice.

Obama is praising the men and women who helped save lives in the attack, including those who gave their lives in the effort.

He says the deceased live on in us and in their friends and families.

Officer takes delivery driver’s place to break up meth deal

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WICHITA – Two Wichita men have been charged with drug trafficking after a Wichita police officer posed as a delivery driver at a meeting in which three pounds of methamphetamine were to change hands, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said in a news release Thursday.

Michael Ortega-Alvarez, 45, Wichita, and Manuel Bencomo-Rodriguez, 47, were charged Wednesday with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. It is alleged Wichita police stopped Ortega-Alvarez for a traffic violation on May 6. They found approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine in his vehicle. When investigators learned Ortega-Alvarez was on his way to make a delivery to a man he didn’t know, an officer working undercover took his place.

Using Ortega-Alvarez’s phone, the officer received instructions to drive to a convenience store at 31st and Hillside and wait for a man in a blue car. Bencomo-Rodriguez arrived driving a blue Chevrolet Lumina. He led the officer to another location, after which they returned to the convenience store and Bencomo-Rodriguez was arrested.

If convicted, the defendants face a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.

Free backpacks take weight off shoulders of local families

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Pre-school age Backpacks For Kids Program
Backpacks For Kids Program

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

As kids in Ellis County prepare to store their backpacks far from sight for the summer, Lois Magie, Hays, is ready to spend most of her summer thinking of nothing but backpacks.

Magie is the Backpacks For Kids program coordinator at First Call for Help.

For more than nine years, the organization has provided new backpacks — full of school supplies and personal hygiene products — for students ranging from preschool to high school.

Magie said the organization is preparing to provide at least 650 backpacks — up from the 588 backpacks handed out last year.

“I think the program is very important,” Magie said. “Kids need a chance to get some stuff they really need and apply towards school. And, with the cost of schooling going up, there are more parents who will be having trouble making ends meet.”

She said the organization can only accept new backpacks and are running low on backpacks for high school-age students, in particular.

Magie said boxes soon will be located at local churches and stores for donation drop-offs.

For a complete list of other needed supplies or to register for a backpack, call (785) 623-2800 or visit the First Call for Help website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Psssst, wanna buy my corporation?

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Where’s Charles Dickens when we need him? The novelist, who laid bare the shame of gross income inequality in 19th century England, came up with some perfect names for his more despicable characters, including Scrooge, Mr. Tulkinghorn, and Miss Havisham.

OtherWords columnist Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer and public speaker.
OtherWords columnist Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer and public speaker.

So I’m wondering what moniker Dickens would’ve given to Robert Marcus.

Who? He’s the CEO of Time Warner Cable who already won gold in the 2014 Greed Olympics for grabbing the most cash with the least effort in the shortest time.

Marcus became chief of the cable company on New Year’s Day. He immediately reached out to his corporation’s biggest rival, Comcast, offering to sell Time Warner Cable to the giant. Only six weeks later, the deal was done.

Why would a CEO rush to eliminate both his corporation and his own job? Perhaps because of a lucrative little provision in the contract he signed to become Time Warner’s honcho. It’s a CCC — a “change of control clause.”

This is yet another way for CEOs to feather their own nests, for that kind of clause hands a big golden parachute to the top executive of a corporation that gets sold.

In this case, Robert is pocketing $80 million. Yes, that’s roughly $1.8 million a day for each of the 44 days he “worked” to sell off the company.

What we have here is a perverse form of incentive pay for corporate chieftains. Rather than rewarding them for out-competing their rivals, a change of control clause encourages CEOs to sidle up to their competitors and whisper: “Psssst, wanna buy my corporation?”

Not only did Marcus sell off Time Warner, but his self-serving deal will also sell out untold numbers of its employees who’ll be made “redundant” by the merger.

We hear about America’s growing income inequality gap, but here we can actually see it widen: One rich man is gaining an extra $80 million while hundreds of workers will lose their jobs.

OtherWords columnist Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer, and public speaker. He’s also editor of the populist newsletter, The Hightower Lowdown. OtherWords.org

KHAZ Country Music: Brad Paisley and Kraft

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khaz brad paisley 20140515NORTHFIELD, Illinois (AP) – Go ahead – call Brad Paisley’s latest tour it a cheesy production. And you’d be right in a way. Among the sponsors is Kraft – the people who make everything from those individual slices encased in plastic wrap to Velveeta to Philadelphia Brand Cream Cheese. Paisley’s World Tour kicks off tomorrow in Philadelphia. The company is marking its 100th anniversary of cheese making. And some fans will have a chance to win a lifetime supply of cheese.

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

FHSU Foundation will honor Botz, Van Doren

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Foundation Color Logo with Tiger

The Fort Hays State University Foundation will honor two longtime employees at a retirement reception from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Brad Botz, senior director of gift planning, and Cathy Van Doren, development associate, each will retire from the foundation.

The come-and-go reception will be in the Robbins Center lobby and is open to all of FHSU and the Hays community. Drinks and light refreshments will be served.

HPD activity log, May 14

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AOBB-Logo-Main11

The Hays Police Department conducted 12 traffic stops and received 10 animal calls on Wednesday, May 14, according to the HPD activity log.

Abandoned vehicle, 2000 block Eisenhower, 1:50 a.m.
Driving under the influence, 1400 block Main, 2:08 a.m.
Driving under the influence, 100 block East 15th, 2:28 a.m.
Welfare check, 400 block West 11th, 8:06 a.m.
Theft, 200 block West 23rd, 8 a.m.
Water use violation, 3500 block Fairway, 9:28 a.m.
Traffic/driving complaint, 4500 block Vista, 7:43 a.m.
Animal call, 2500 block Vine St, 9:52 a.m.
Phone/mail scam, 200 block East 24th, 10 a.m.
Probation/parole violation, 1200 block Fort, 11:56 a.m.
Unwanted person, 4000 block General Hays Road, 1:58 a.m.
Suspicious activity, 500 block West 27th, 1:18 p.m.
Noise disturbance, 200 block West Fourth, 1:28 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident/hit and run, 500 block East 12th, 1:45 p.m.
Identity theft, 1000 block West 28th, 2:33 p.m.
Document service, 100 block East 22nd, 3:35 p.m.
Assist, 1700 block Eisenhower, 3:47 p.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 2000 block Metro, 4:24 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident, 25th and Main, 4:37 p.m.
Criminal damage to property, 200 block West 12th 3p.m.
Motor vehicle accident, Sixth and Main, 5:45 p.m.
Telephone harassment, 700 block East Sixth, 1 p.m.
Animal call, 1100 block Cody, 6:28 p.m.
Assist, 100 block West 12th, 7:30 p.m.
Animal call, 500 block East Eighth, 8:42 p.m.
Criminal transport, Larned, 9:06 p.m.
Liquor offense, 200 block West Eighth, 9:24 p.m.
Animal call, 2500 block General Lawton Road, 9:34 p.m.
Credit card violations, 3600 block Vine, 9:38 p.m.
Noise disturbance, 700 block West 12th, 10:11 p.m.
Found/lost property, 500 block West 27th, 10:11 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident, 3700 block Vine, 11:51 p.m.

10,000 gallons of oil spill on Los Angeles streets

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Crews have vacuumed up most of about 10,000 gallons of crude oil that sprayed into Los Angeles streets after a high-pressure pipe burst.

Fire Capt. Jaime Moore says oil spilled early Thursday over approximately half a mile and was knee-high in some parts of the industrial area of Atwater Village near the border of Glendale.

A handful of commercial businesses were affected, as well as a strip club that was evacuated.

Moore says four people at a medical business were evaluated with respiratory complaints, and two people were transferred to a hospital.

An environmental cleaning company is sopping up the remaining oil and will use high-pressure hoses to wash the streets. Officials previously said 50,000 gallons had spilled.

Moore says the pipe burst at a transfer pumping station along a pipeline that runs from Bakersfield to Texas.

GM adds 5 recalls; 2014 total above 11 million

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General Motors GMTOM KRISHER, AP Auto Writer

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors added five recalls to its growing list Thursday, pushing its total number of recalled vehicles to more than 11 million this year.

GM’s recalls alone have the U.S. auto industry on pace to break the record of 30.8 million recalled vehicles set in 2004.

The company said Thursday that it’s recalling nearly 2.7 million more cars and trucks to fix problems with brake lights, headlamps and power brakes.

The recalls brought GM’s total number for the year to 18. That includes 2.6 million small cars worldwide for a deadly ignition switch problem.

The company expects to take a $200 million charge this quarter for the added recalls.

Entries, volunteers sought for annual Otis-Bison All-School Reunion

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OTIS — The Otis-Bison All-School Reunion has been scheduled for May 23 to 25.

Otis Bison Reunion

Most of the events for the reunion will be at City Park and Main Street, Otis, with other portions of the celebration at the grade school and high school.

All former Otis-Bison COugars, Otis Eagles and Bison Buffalo graduates are invited to take part. Organizers still are seeking car show and parade entries, memorabilia for the alumni museum, quilts, auction items and volunteers.

For more information, email [email protected] or click HERE to visit the event on Facebook.

Click here for a complete schedule of events and activities.

Teen scoops 3-foot ‘river monster’ from flooded street (VIDEO)

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NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio (AP) — A northern Ohio teenager is reeling in attention for a big catch after he spotted a 3-foot carp swimming in receding floodwaters on his street and scooped it into his arms as his mother caught the scene on video.

Sixteen-year-old North Royalton resident Jake Sawyer waded through more than ankle-deep water as he stalked the big fish in the dark Monday night and eventually trapped it.

He says he suspects the large grass carp came from a nearby pond, which swelled during heavy rains that caused flash-flooding.

He says he wanted to ensure the fish didn’t become trapped and die in the street, so he carried it back to the pond. He estimates it weighed 40 pounds.

He says it’s a fishing tale he’ll never forget.

Watch the video HERE.

 

Kansas universities seek tuition, fee increases

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Screen Shot 2014-05-15 at 7.37.36 AMLAWRENCE (AP) — All six state universities in Kansas have asked the Board of Regents to increase tuition and fees for the next incoming freshman class, with a 3.4 percent increase sought by the University of Kansas among the most moderate.

Fort Hays State University requested the smallest increase at 2.5 percent.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports Wichita State’s 7.5 percent increase request on Wednesday was the highest, followed by 5.6 percent at Emporia State, 5.5 percent at Pittsburg State, 5.2 percent at Kansas State and FHSU’s 2.5 percent.

The KU increase means incoming resident freshman would pay $170 more than the previous freshman class per semester, while out-of-state freshmen would pay $429 more.

University of Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said the increases are necessary because state higher education funding remains at pre-recession levels.

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