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Month: July 2014

Chiefs QB Smith focusing on football, not contract

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith says that the time is approaching where he will shelve all talk about a contract extension and focus solely on football for the remainder of the season.

Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have been discussing a new deal with Smiths’ representatives for months, though the sides remain far apart. Smith said after practice Wednesday that he’s yet to set a date to break off negotiations, but he acknowledged that “at some point mentally it’ll come to me.”

Smith is due $7.5 million this season, the final year of his contract, and many expect him to get an extension similar to what Colin Kaepernick received from the San Francisco 49ers.

Kaepernick signed a six-year, $126 million deal that includes $61 million guaranteed.

Chiefs S Commings leaves field with ankle injury

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Oft-injured Chiefs safety Sanders Commings was carted off the practice field Wednesday after getting juked to the ground by running back Jamaal Charles and hurting his right ankle.

Commings broke his collarbone in his first practice as a rookie and was finally getting up to speed. He was trying to tackle Charles in the open field when he whiffed, turning his ankle in such a way that he was unable to put any weight on it.

Commings was in a heated competition for a backup job, and the Chiefs hoped he would push veteran Husain Abdullah for the free safety spot that opened when Kendrick Lewis departed.

Meanwhile, right tackle Donald Stephenson returned to practice after missing Monday’s workout with a left ankle injury. The Chiefs had Tuesday off.

Sunny, mild Thursday

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Screen Shot 2014-07-31 at 4.26.42 AMPleasant weather is in store for the last day of July. A cool airmass and moist ground from recent rains will keeps highs in the upper 70s to middle 80s. Winds will be fairly light as well.

Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Light and variable wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. East wind around 7 mph becoming west after midnight.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 90. West northwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 63. North northeast wind 6 to 10 mph.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 90. West wind around 7 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Sunday Sunny, with a high near 92.

 

Survey finds 1 In 5 uninsured don’t want coverage

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Health insuranceBy Phil Galewitz
Kaiser Health News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Though millions of people gained health coverage this year as a result of the Affordable Care Act, millions more remain unaware of their options or have no interest in getting insured, a new survey has found.

Among those who were uninsured last year and remain uninsured, only 59 percent were familiar with the new Obamacare marketplaces and 38 percent were aware of federal subsidies to lower their insurance costs, according to the survey conducted in June by the nonpartisan Urban Institute.

About 60 percent of respondents list cost as the main reason for not having insurance. But 20 percent say they don’t want health insurance or would rather pay the fine for not having coverage.
The survey estimated about 8 million people gained health care coverage since last fall. In the past month, a New England Journal of Medicine study found that 10 million people gained coverage. The Rand Corp. has estimated 9.3 million people gained coverage.

“A lot of people who remain uninsured never looked on the marketplace,” said Stephen Zuckerman, co-director of the Urban Institute Health Policy Center. “If you build it, they do not always come.”

Zuckerman said while many people say health insurance costs are too high, many don’t understand its value. “People are paying for something but not seeing an immediate return,” he said.

While the poll results have implications for next year’s open enrollment, which starts Nov. 15, the first year sign-ups still outpaced expectations, said Sharon Long, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute. “It really has been an impressive rollout, not perfect but good.”

The survey was based on an Internet sample of 7,500 adults between 18 and 65.

GOP committee boosts Roberts in Kansas Senate race

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JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer

Milton Wolf and Sen. Pat Roberts
Milton Wolf and Sen. Pat Roberts

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A national Republican group has contributed $45,400 to Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts in his GOP primary race against tea party challenger Milton Wolf.

The donation from the National Republican Senatorial Committee helped Roberts raise more than $200,000 so far this month.

Finance reports filed by the campaigns showed that Wolf raised more than $120,000 in contributions this month and also loaned his campaign an additional $20,000. Wolf is a Leawood radiologist making his first run for public office.

Roberts is seeking this fourth, six-year term and has enjoyed a significant fundraising advantage ahead of the Aug. 5 primary.

He’s raised about $3.4 million since the beginning of last year. Wolf formally entered the race in October and saw his total contributions top $1 million this month.

 

Kansas man hospitalized after Wednesday accident

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MHP motorcycle accident crashKansas City- A Kansas man was injured in a Wednesday evening motorcycle accident in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Harley Davidson ridden by Larry William Crowley, 40, Atchison, was northbound Interstate 35 at Lenexa approaching the exit ramp for westbound Interstate 435.

The vehicle failed to negotiate the ramp, left the roadway and overturned.

Crowley was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

The KHP reported he was not wearing a helmet.

Perez helps Royals struggle to win over Twins

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By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

Salvador Perez triggered a go-ahead rally with a double in the sixth inning and made several spectacular plays behind the plate, helping the Kansas City Royals to a scrappy 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

 

Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas had RBI doubles during the Royals’ charge, which wiped away a 1-0 deficit. Jason Frasor earned his first win since arriving in Kansas City by striking out Chris Colabello to leave the bases loaded in the sixth inning.

 

Scott Downs and Kelvin Herrera gave back a run in the seventh, but Herrera struck out Brian Dozier and Josh Willingham with runners on second and third to preserve a one-run lead.

 

Wade Davis worked a perfect eighth, and All-Star closer Greg Holland survived two wild pitches that sent Eduardo Nunez to third base by striking out Sam Fuld for his 28th save.

 

Phil Hughes (10-8) showed no lingering effects from a comebacker off his right ankle that cut short his last outing. He allowed only three singles before the sixth inning, when the Royals were able to finally string together a series of hits that gave them the lead.

 

Omar Infante led off the sixth with a single and Perez added his double moments later, finally matching Willingham’s homer in the second inning. Gordon followed with his RBI double to center, and Moustakas pulled another run-scoring double just inside the first-base line for a 3-1 lead.

 

The Royals’ bullpen and defense made each run seem huge.

 

Perez made the first of his memorable plays in the third inning, when he picked Nunez off first base with a snap throw. Royals starter Danny Duffy picked Fuld off first in the fourth, and Dozier was thrown out at the plate on a base-running mistake later in the inning.

 

Perez’s best play may have come in the seventh, when he leaped from the behind the plate to grab a sacrifice bunt and throw the runner out at first. Herrera followed with back-to-back strikeouts to leave the go-ahead run standing on second.

 

Duffy allowed one run, but he gave up four hits and a season-high six walks. He still hasn’t won since June 30, a stretch of five starts, though Wednesday night was the first of those starts in which his team scored more than two runs.

 

TRAINER’S ROOM

 

Twins: Catcher Joe Mauer (strained right oblique) took batting practice in the cage without any problems. Right-hander Mike Pelfrey began his throwing program after surgery on June 10 to relieve numbness caused by a nerve in his throwing elbow.

 

Royals: First baseman Eric Hosmer was in the lineup for the second straight night after missing time with a bruised right hand. He finished 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

 

ON DECK

 

Twins: Right-hander Kevin Correia (5-12) attempts to beat the Royals for the first time in 10 career starts. He has a 0-5 record with a 4.91 ERA against them.

 

Royals: Right-hander Yordano Ventura (7-8) tries to improve his fortunes at Kauffman Stadium, where he is 3-6 this year. His last home win came in relief July 13 against Detroit.

 

GOP-led House approves lawsuit against Obama

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House of Rep CongressALAN FRAM, Associated Press

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A sharply divided House has approved a Republican plan to file an election-season federal lawsuit against President Barack Obama. The suit will contend that Obama has exceeded his constitutional powers in the way he has enforced the 2010 health care law. The vote was 225 to 201.

Democrats say the suit is a campaign-year stunt designed to draw conservative voters to the polls in congressional elections. They also say it may be a prelude to an effort to impeach Obama — a contention top Republicans say is groundless.

Republicans say Obama has gone too far in selectively enforcing parts of the health overhaul, such as by delaying the requirement that many employers provide health insurance for their workers. They say they are protecting the Constitution’s division of powers.

 

Walter A. Klaus

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Walter A. Klaus, age 88, of Hays, passed away Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at Via Christi Village, Hays. He was born August 18, 1925 in Munjor, Kansas to Alex and Adeline (Leiker) Klaus. He attended St. Joseph Military Academy. He married Bernice Ruder on April 21, 1947 in Hays at St. Joseph’s Church. She preceded him in death on November 17, 2007.

OI1126470825_walter

Walter was a lifelong contractor owning and operating Klaus Construction for many years. He was a US Navy veteran serving from 1944 – 1946. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and the Hays American legion for 67 years. He enjoyed boating and fishing a Cedar Bluff and spending time in his cabin that he built on the north shore.

He is survived by a son, Alexander W. Klaus and wife Dorothy of Hays; two daughters, Theresa Fraley and husband Kent of Kearney, NE and Kayleen Schmidt and husband Ramon J. of Catharine; a brother, Joseph Klaus and wife Janet of Hays; four sisters, Ruby Binder and husband Paul of Munjor, Lillian Schlyer of Hays, Velma Pfannenstiel of Hays and Violet Mermis and husband Robert of Salina; six grandchildren, Lee Fraley and wife Alicia of Omaha, Kevin Fraley and wife Kristi of Grand Island, NE, Christine Burgardt and husband Lester “Jeff” of Catharine, Jason Schmidt of Catharine, Martin Klaus and wife Dr. Nichole Klaus of Wichita and Luke Klaus of Hays and 9 great grandchildren, Nick and Dani Fraley of Omaha, Kyler Ace Fraley of grand Island, Gabe, Ellianna and Noah Klaus of Wichita, Kade Burgardt, Ascher Burgardt of Catharine and Brayden Schmidt of Hays.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Friday, August 1, 2014 at Immaculate heart of Mary Church in Hays. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery with military honors by the Hays VFW and the Legion Riders.

Visitation will be held 4-8 PM Thursday, July 31st and Friday 9 AM – 9:30 AM at Brock’s – Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine St.

A parish vigil and rosary service will be 7 PM Thursday at the funeral chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the hays American Legion or Hays Area Children’s Center

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]

The Forum: Ellis singer Rylee Werth

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rylee werth

In a recent episode of The Forum, Eagle’s Gary Shorman got a chance to talk with acclaimed national anthem singer Rylee Werth of Ellis.

The young singer has received national acclaim for her rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Click HERE for the entire interview.

Foster parent charged with murder in hot car death

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Jackson
Jackson- courtesy photo

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a Kansas foster parent with murder in the death of a 10-month-old girl who was left in a hot car.

Seth M. Jackson made his first court appearance Wednesday to hear the charges against him. A criminal complaint shows Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office is charging the 29-year-old Wichita man with first-degree murder. An alternative count of second-degree murder charge has also been filed.

He is being held on a $250,000 bond. His defense attorney did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

The girl died Thursday after being left for more than two hours inside a sweltering car. Police say Jackson had apparently forgotten about her until something on TV jogged his memory. Temperatures in Wichita at the time were around 90 degrees.

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