GREENSBURG-  Two people were injured in an accident just before 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Kiowa County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy pickup driven by William N.L. Martin, 33,Weatherford, OK., was northbound on U.S.183 one mile west of Greensburg.

The pickup ran a stop sign and was struck by a 2007 Peterbilt semi that was east bound on U.S. 54.

Martin was ejected from the pickup and transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.  The semi driver Scott C. McKenzie, 52, Amarillo, TX., was transported to Kiowa County Hospital.

The KHP reported Martin was not wearing a seat belt.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts is getting help in his Republican primary race from a political action committee representing tea party challenger Milton Wolf’s fellow radiologists.

PAC Director Ted Burnes (burns) said Tuesday that the group believes Roberts will be more effective in the Senate than Wolf.

The American College of Radiology Association PAC this week disclosed spending almost $43,000 on statewide mailings praising Roberts.

Burnes also said it’s troubling that Wolf has acknowledged that in the past he posted graphic X-ray images on a personal Facebook page. Wolf apologized publicly, and he said Tuesday that many voters are upset with Roberts’ attacks over the issue.

Wolf said the PAC is a Washington special interest group that works to protect incumbents.

The state’s primary election in Aug. 5.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, today reiterated his support for Mr. Bob McDonald on the Senate floor and voted in favor of his confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Mr. McDonald was confirmed in the Senate today by a vote of 97 to 0.

“He is a leader in the tradition of the 82nd Airborne – paratroopers who are well regarded as the first to be called when there’s a military emergency, and as they say, ‘When the President calls, the 82nd Airborne will answer.’ In my view, that’s exactly what we have with Mr. McDonald. When the President called, he answered that call – he answered the opportunity to serve the veterans of this country,” Sen. Moran said.

“New leadership throughout the institution, starting with Bob McDonald at the top, must command the VA to head down a new path of redemption and hope,” Sen. Moran continued. “We must create an agency that is more cost-effective, more compassionate, more caring toward the veterans it serves.”

Sen. Moran was the first U.S. Senator to call for the resignation of former-VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. He believes earning back the trust of our nation’s veterans starts with new leadership throughout the agency, starting with Mr. McDonald at the top. Washington must create an agency that is more cost-effective, compassionate and caring toward the veterans it serves.

Later this week, the Senate will vote on the agreement struck between the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives on legislation to overhaul access to veterans’ health care. The compromise reached is another important step toward providing Kansas veterans with greater access, choice and flexibility in health care providers and increase accountability and transparency at the VA. Sen. Moran is a cosponsor of the Veterans Choice Act, the Senate version of the legislation that has been agreed upon to address the most pressing concern – giving veterans access to care in light of the ongoing VA scandal.

REGINA GARCIA CANO, Associated Press

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Three reporters for a food safety publication have been subpoenaed in the $1.2 billion defamation lawsuit against ABC related to the network’s coverage of a meat product derided as “pink slime.”

Court records show that the writers for the online Food Safety News have been asked to supply all communication they had with ABC in 2012.

Attorney Bruce Johnson said Tuesday that the subpoenas were “overreaching” and that the publication would fight the requests.

Beef Products Inc., with business in Southwest Kansas, sued ABC in 2012 alleging that its reports led to plant closures and layoffs because it misled consumers into believing the product was unsafe. The industry describes the meat product as “lean, finely textured beef.”

Attorneys for ABC and BPI have proposed a trial date in February 2017.

WASHINGTON, D.C.–At the weekly press conference with Republican leaders Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) discussed the 352 bills – 98% which passed with bipartisan support in the House– that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid refuses to bring up for a vote.  The numbers never lie.

Following are Congresswoman Jenkins’ remarks:

“The President is fond of referring to the House as the “Do-Nothing Congress.” But we have 352 reasons why it’s a “Do-Nothing Senate.”

“352 bills are sitting on Harry Reid’s desk, awaiting action.

“98% of them passed with bipartisan support. Republicans and Democrats working together to pass legislation.

“50% of the bills passed unanimously, with no opposition.

“70% of the bills passed with 2/3rds support in the House.

“And over 55 bills were introduced by Democrats.

“352 bills. Why won’t Harry Reid act? These are good bills; bills that put the American people back to work, put more money in hardworking Americans pockets, help with education, and skills training.

“We call upon Harry Reid to get to work before he adjourns in August to pass some of these bills. The American people deserve better.”

 Kansas State Treasurer’s Office

TOPEKA — Kansas State Treasurer Ron Estes warns Kansans of suspicious postcards labeled as an “Unclaimed Property Notification.”

“These postcards should be ignored as they are not being sent from our Unclaimed Property Division or any other state agency,” said Ron Estes, Kansas State Treasurer. “I urge all Kansans who have received these postcards to avoid responding in any manner.”

A series of postcards varying in color are instructing individuals to call a toll-free number and enter personal identification information. A recorded message then directs callers to search for unclaimed property at a website that is not the state treasurer’s official webpage.

The postcards, which are postmarked from Denver, have led to consumer complaints received by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) and unclaimed property administrators in multiple states.

Estes reminds Kansans that the state will never request individuals to provide personal information to a call-in number or charge a fee to return unclaimed property—both common indicators of scams related to unclaimed property.

“If you’re ever uncertain of any correspondence or phone calls regarding unclaimed property, please don’t hesitate to contact my office for verification or assistance,” said Estes. “We take great pride in the integrity of our program, and are dedicated to helping Kansans safeguard their personal information and hard earned money.”

Kansans who believe they may have unclaimed property available to claim at the State Treasurer’s Office should search the state’s official website, www.kansascash.com, or call the Unclaimed Property Division at 1-800-432-0386 (toll free).

By Bryan Thompson, KPR

TOPEKA — A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says Kansans on Medicare will save more than $10 million this year on prescription drugs thanks to one of the lesser-known provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

Medicare Part D, which offers insurance coverage for drugs, requires people to pay the full cost of their medications once their drug spending reaches a certain level. This is known as the “donut hole,” as the coverage eventually kicks in again once a person’s drug spending reaches catastrophic levels.
The health reform law gradually phases out the donut hole.

According to the federal report, 14,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Kansas will save an average of $721 each in 2014 because of the expanded drug coverage. That works out to more than $10 million saved in Kansas this year, and almost $107 million since the provision took effect in 2010.

According to HHS, nationwide more than 8.2 million seniors and people with disabilities with Medicare have saved $11.5 billion since 2010 because of the ACA.

This news comes on the heels of continued historic low levels of growth in Medicare spending. According to the recent Medicare Trustees report, the life of the Trust Fund has been extended to 2030, up from its projection of 2017 in 2009, and Part B premiums are expected to stay the same rather than increase for the second year in a row. Additionally, a new HHS report found that per capita Medicare spending growth averaged 2 percent in 2009–2012 and nearly 0 percent in 2013, one-third of the growth rate during the 2000-2008 period.

In 2014, people with a Medicare prescription drug plan who fall into the donut hole will save an estimated 53 percent on brand-name drugs and 28 percent on generic drugs, because of discounts and increased coverage.