WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, Representative Tim Huelskamp (KS-01), a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, appeared on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal to discuss issues and scandals at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

Following the broadcast, Congressman Huelskamp issued the following statement:

“As I shared on C-SPAN this morning, I wish it were as easy as throwing money at the massive problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs. But in order to ensure that our brave Veterans receive proper timely care, the problem is far deeper. Scandal after scandal at the VA has documented data manipulation, massive bonuses, irresponsible bureaucrats, and worst of all, Veterans who died because the system failed them.

 

“The President must get personally involved and step up to address the issues our veterans are facing at his VA—it’s more than just appointing a new Secretary, Mr. President. Real reform at the VA begins with demanding a culture of accountability – not a culture of deception. They must replace the culture of intimidation and retaliation with real leadership that puts Veterans before bonuses and protects brave whistleblowers from retaliation.  Only when both President Obama and his likely new VA Secretary, Mr. McDonald, step up to address these fundamental and systemic failures at the VA can we truly improve the VA system and provide real choices for those Veterans who want and deserve quality care closer to home.

 

“Rest assured, I will continue to push VA officials and demand quality care and timely access for our Veterans.”

 

 

 

 

JC Post

JUNCTION CITY-  The Junction City Police Department has arrested two more people in connection to Tuesday nights shooting in Junction City.

Lt. Jeff Childs with the JCPD explained that the investigation into the shooting continued into Wednesday afternoon.

“Upon conducting further investigation we’ve arrested two more people. One is a 34 year old Fort Riley soldier by the name of Jefferson James, and a 17 year old juvenile who is related to Mr. James. They both were residing in Junction City at the time,” explained Childs.

Police also seized a 2011 Infinity vehicle and a handgun they believe were used in the shooting.

Officers responded to a call of shots fired at approximately 8:36 p.m. Tuesday at the Wendy’s Restaurant located at 440 West 6th Street. Upon their arrival they discovered shots had been exchanged and all parties that were involved had left the area.

Just after responding to the shots fired call they received another call informing them of a subject being treated at Geary Community Hospital for a non-life threatening gun shot wound.

Upon investigating Officers arrested Robbie Dewayne Fountain Jr., 21, of Junction City. Fountain was charged with suspicion of attempted murder in reference to the incident.

Childs confirmed that Fountain was the victim that was treated at GCH.

“He was injured in the incident, but he was also involved in the incident,” Childs said.

Fountain and James are scheduled to make their first appearance in Geary County District Court Thursday morning.

No other information is being released at this time. The investigation continues.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran says a veterans medical center in Wichita left its laboratories unstaffed for entire shifts and sometimes resorted to “begging, borrowing and manipulation” just to obtain vital surgical equipment.

Moran made the allegations in a letter sent last week to Sloan Gibson, the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affair. The Kansas Republican senator says the problems at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center put veterans’ lives at risk and forced employees to work under conditions of fear and retribution.

Moran cited whistleblower complaints and 177 pages of internal documents, including meeting minutes, budgets and equipment request lists.

The VA medical center Wichita confirmed it had received the letter a day earlier but was still reviewing it Wednesday.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The highway worker who was standing outside his work truck when he was hit in a five -vehicle accident Tuesday evening has died.

 Dylan Snyder, 22,  Kansas City, died today at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita.

Snyder was working on a highway crew on Kansas 61 collecting work signs, when a line of stopped cars were hit from behind by a trash truck driven by Jonathan Yoder, 36, Partridge.

Yoder rear ended a car driven by Cynthia Nelson, 41, Pratt.

The truck then side swiped two work vehicles, one driven by  David Holzknecht, 21, Kirksville, Mo.

Snyder was standing next to the second work truck at the time of the accident. He was transported to St Francis.

The fifth car driven by 30-year-old Kally Stauffer of Cunningham was southbound on K-61 and was struck by flying debris.

She was uninjured. Nelson and a passenger in Holzknecht’s truck, 24-year-old David Holloway, of Camden, Mo., were transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. No other injuries were reported.

The KHP reported all were properly restrained at the time of the accident.

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback says he supports phasing out a renewable energy requirement for Kansas utilities over four years and is urging critics of the rule and wind-energy advocates to work on a compromise.

Brownback said Wednesday that he’s backing a four-year phase-out of the requirement. It’s part of a 2009 law.

The law requires utilities to have wind and other renewable sources account for 15 percent of their peak electricity-generating capacity by 2016 and 20 percent by 2020.

The mandate has been targeted by the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity and the powerful Kansas Chamber of Commerce. But wind-energy advocates have successfully blocked efforts to repeal the rule.

Brownback had an impromptu news conference with reporters, saying the debate’s big players should have talks toward striking a deal.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) announced that Ashland, Kan., native Tyler York is returning to Kansas to serve as his new district representative. York will represent Sen. Moran in the state – primarily in Southwest Kansas – when he is working on behalf of Kansans in Washington, D.C.

“I’m delighted to have Tyler back in the state serving Kansans as a district representative,” Sen. Moran said. “Born, raised and educated in Kansas, Tyler understands first-hand the challenges facing our state. I am confident that he will serve Kansans well in his position.”

York added, “While serving fellow Kansans in Washington, D.C., has been a great privilege, I couldn’t be more thrilled to move back home and continue that service in Kansas.”

York previously served as a legislative correspondent in Sen. Moran’s Washington, D.C. office where he focused on a myriad of issues related to agriculture, energy, the United States Postal Service and the Second Amendment. York has a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University, and he will reside in Wichita, Kan.

 

MANHATTAN- Authorities in Riley County are investigating two cases of arson. On Tuesday, the Riley County Police Department and Manhattan fire responded to a pair of structure fires in the 800 block of Colorado Street.

One fire was at an unoccupied residence. The second blaze was at a garage of a residence. A vehicle at the scene was also damaged. Both fires were easily extinguished and no injuries were reported.

Both fires were believed to have been set intentionally.

If you have information that could lead to an arrest please contact the Riley County Police Department, the Manhattan Fire Department, or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Those choosing to utilize the Crime Stoppers service may remain anonymous and could qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00 dollars.  The Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers can be contacted through their website.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri has apparently won another round in the continuing border war with Kansas that involves using tax incentives to entice businesses to move across the state line that runs through the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Leawood, Kansas-based Cbiz Inc. and Mayer Hoffman McCann PC have announced plans to move their headquarters and 450 employees to Kansas City, Missouri’s Country Club Plaza next summer.

The Kansas City Star reports the moves come as officials in Missouri and Kansas have been seeking a truce in the border war, in which each state has used tax incentives to lure businesses away from the other.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development says the moves will trigger millions of dollars in potential incentives from Missouri if the companies meet job creation and investment criteria.

 

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A Texan has been diagnosed with measles after attending a softball tournament in Kansas where health officials later warned of possible exposure to the virus.

Tarrant County Public Health officials in Fort Worth on Wednesday announced a resident tested positive for measles after traveling outside Texas.

Texas Department of State Health Services spokeswoman Christine Mann says the person attended a July Fourth weekend softball tournament in Wichita, Kansas. Officials from both health agencies declined to release further details on the individual.

Health officials on July 17 announced more than 30 people from Texas who traveled to the tournament may have been exposed to the measles virus. At least three recreational softball teams from Texas played in Wichita.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that spreads through coughing and sneezing.