TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A budget shortfall predicted for Kansas for July 2016 has grown to $260 million after tax collections fell short of expectations during the past three months.
The previous figure from the Legislature’s nonpartisan research staff was $238 million. But researchers noted that tax collections in July, August and September fell a total of $22 million short of expectations.
The Legislative Research Department confirmed the new figure Friday.
The budget shortfall represents the predicted gap between anticipated revenues and current spending commitments, and it can fluctuate month to month with tax collections.
Gov. Sam Brownback and lawmakers must prevent any shortfall because the Kansas Constitution does not permit a budget deficit. Brownback’s administration has said it has identified $101 million in potential budget savings and is working to find other efficiencies.
SHAWNEE, Kan.- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 6:30 p.m. on Friday in Johnson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Harley Davidson driven by Richard A. Mcgrath, 54, Shawnee was north bound on Interstate 435 just south of Midland Drive in Shawnee.
The vehicle made an evasive maneuver to avoid road debris and the driver lost control of the motorcycle.
Mcgrath was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
Fort Hays State dropped a 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-19) match to No. 17 Central Missouri on Friday evening in Warrensburg, Mo. The road loss moved FHSU to 7-8 overall and 2-5 in the MIAA. UCM started the match on 5-0 run, pushing the lead to 8-2 before an FHSU timeout. After allowing one more point, the Tigers started a five-point rally that cut the lead to two (9-7). That, however, was it for Fort Hays State, as the Jennies recovered and ran away with the set, 25-13. FHSU put together a strong effort in the second set, leading near the end of the 20-point mark, but ultimately dropped the point, 25-19. Tied 4-4 early on, the squads played back-and-forth until FHSU led 13-12. Ahead one, the Tigers allowed a 4-0 burst by UCM (16-12), and would need to rally to stay close. Fort Hays State did just that after falling behind 17-14, putting together a five-point spurt (including two kills from Sara Hewson) to give the Tigers a 19-17 lead. Central Missouri, however, ran off eight unanswered to close the set. Both teams played evenly through the first half of the third set, when tied 14-14, UCM broke away to a 17-14 lead, which gave the Jennies separation in the deciding set. Though FHSU would fight, they dropped the set, 25-19.
Mallory Flagor led the team with seven kills, but saw her streak of 13 double-digit kills’ performances come to an end. Rebekah Spainhour and Sara Hewson each had six kills, as Hewson added five digs and Spainhour had one block assist.
Kristin Conor (nine assists) and Teresa Wade (three kills) led the team with 10 digs, while Kelsey Broadwell had nine digs. Libby Ary’s 16 assists was a team-high. The Tigers head further east on Saturday (Oct. 4) to face Lindenwood at 3 p.m.
NASHVILLE (AP) – Vince Gill has been named to the Nashville Predators Foundation’s board of directors. Gill is a longtime season ticket holder for the team. He will also join the Predators broadcast team for some games this season. Gill is already working with the Predators on scholarships for kids who want to play hockey or take up skating.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are looking for one or more intruders who they say broke into the Wichita home of a 100-year-old woman and sexually assaulted her.
Police told reporters Friday that the victim walked to a neighbor’s house Tuesday morning, saying there were two people inside her home. The woman told police she was awakened during the night by intruders.
Wichita Police Captain Troy Livingston says that rape is always a deplorable crime but that this victim’s age makes the case even more disturbing.
Police believe burglary was the main motive for the break-in. The woman lives alone.
WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday morning, Congressman Huelskamp (KS-01) became aware that the Obama Administration intended to deny the Global War on Terror Expeditionary or Service medals to soldiers sent to serve in the Iraq region as part of a deployment to combat ISIL. This includes the 500 soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley Kansas, who are to be deployed to that region after the Casing Ceremony on October 8th.
In response to the Combat Medal denial, Huelskamp’s office immediately contacted the Pentagon. That was followed up with an emergency letter from Huelskamp to Secretary of Defense Hagel concerning this snub of our brave service members. After an initial response from the Department of Defense (DOD) that this matter would be reviewed next week, news broke later that evening that the Administration has reversed course.
Congressman Huelskamp issued the following response to this news:
“I was shocked that the Obama Administration intended to show such disrespect to our brave soldiers. However, after our letter and likely pressure from numerous other sources, I am pleased that Obama has apparently and abruptly reversed course and is recognizing the military action in the Iraq and Syrian region for what it is – a combat mission. It should go without saying that our President and Military commanders have an obligation to our brave soldiers to define the mission they are risking life and limb for and reward them for their service. I look forward to honoring our valiant men and women of the Big Red One at Fort Riley.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge has ruled that the state must recognize same-sex marriages that were legally performed in other states.
Jackson County Circuit Judge J. Dale Youngs ruled Friday that the Missouri Constitution and state laws banning same-sex marriage are invalid for unions legally performed in other states.
Youngs made the ruling in a lawsuit filed by 10 same-sex couples who were legally married in states. They argue that their right to equal protection and due process are being violated by the state’s ban on gay marriage.
Young agreed, saying the couples deserve the same recognition as opposite-sex couples who were married in other states.
Martie Ross, a health care consultant from Overland Park, talked Thursday about new ways of delivering care outside of urban areas during a conference in Kansas City, Mo., put on by the National Rural Health Association-Photo by Mike Sherry
By MIKE SHERRY Hale Center for Journalism
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A new health care partnership, looked upon as a potential model for the rest of the country, is taking direct aim at heart disease and stroke in northwest Kansas.
The federally funded initiative – the Kansas Heart and Stroke Collaborative — encompasses the University of Kansas Hospital along with 13 rural health centers and hospitals, including Hays Medical Center. Heart disease and stroke are responsible for about 20 percent of the deaths in the state.
“We are not going to try and boil the ocean,” said Martie Ross, speaking about the narrow focus Thursday during a session of a national conference in Kansas City, Mo., put on by the National Rural Health Association. Ross, an Overland Park-based health care consultant, is helping to administer the collaborative.
The model of the consortium, she said, is to have separate organizations maintain their independence while formalizing a relationship aimed at better coordination of care for patients.
One aspect, Ross said, is establishing a shared-savings program where the partners benefit financially from improved outcomes that lower the cost of care.
The collaborative began in July when the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation awarded a $12.5 million, three-year grant to KU Hospital. Ross said the consortium was one of 39 projects across the country included in the funding round.
The aim of the collaborative, she said, is to reduce the incidence of heart disease and stroke in northwest Kansas by 20 percent. The partners also expect to produce cost-of-care savings of about $13 million.
She said the consortium is similar to the Health Network of Missouri, announced in June, which includes University of Missouri Health Care in Columbia along with community hospitals in Sedalia, Jefferson City, Hannibal, and Osage Beach.
One key to success in these ventures, Ross said, is establishing an organizational structure designed to meet many goals, including collaborative decision making and a lean management structure.
“You can’t do any of these things informally,” she said.
Along with KU Hospital and Hays Medical Center, members of the collaborative are:
Space Week 2014 at Fort Hays State University will open with a rocket launch, and this year the universe will throw in a total lunar eclipse.
The rocket launch is from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. The public is welcome to bring personal rockets or watch the one that the Science and Mathematics Education Institute will launch.
Dr. Paul Adams
The lunar eclipse will start at about 4:14 a.m. Wednesday.
“As the moon continues to move further into the shadow of the Earth it will begin to become dark and can possibly take on a blood-red color from the light that filters through the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere to light up the Moon’s surface,” said Dr. Paul Adams, SMEI director and interim dean of the College of Education and Technology.
The moon will be totally eclipsed at around 5:25 a.m., and the event will end around 7:34 a.m., said Adams.
“The best way to view a lunar eclipse is to take a lawn chair or blanket, dress warmly, and sit back and enjoy. It is safe to look at a lunar eclipse without eye protection,” he said.
Other Space Week events include:
• Live NASA TV from11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7 in the Memorial Union Cody Commons.
• An opportunity to look at Jupiter, Mars, Saturn and the moon. The FHSU Astronomy Club will have an observation from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, on the Tomanek Hall observation deck.
• Science Café with John Ross presenting “NACA & NASA: The Early Years” at Gella’s Dinner starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at 117 E. 11. He will discuss the original planes and roots of NASA.
All events are open to the public.
Also occurring this month is a partial solar eclipse on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 4:34 to 5:44 p.m. The FHSU Astronomy Club will host a viewing for the public using sun-safe observing practices. Solar eclipses are not safe to look at without proper sun safe practices, said Adams.
World Space Week was declared by the United Nations in 1999. FHSU’s observation of the week is one of more than 1,400 worldwide.
For more information, contact Adams at (785) 628-4538.
LONDON (AP) — A Swedish doctor says a woman has given birth to a baby after receiving a womb transplant, a world first.
The 36-year-old mother received a uterus from a close family friend last year. Her baby boy was born prematurely but healthy last month, and he and the mom are now at home and well.
Dr. Mats Brannstrom says the baby is “fantastic.” He is the professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Gothenburg and Stockholm IVF who led the research.
Details of the case are to be published soon in the medical journal, Lancet.
The identity of the woman or where she lives was not disclosed.
NEW YORK (AP) — Marriott International will pay the government a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees’ own Wi-Fi networks at one of its hotels, forcing them instead to pay as much as $1,000 each to use the hotel’s own connection.
Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots — tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Last year, a conference attendee at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee — which is managed by Marriott — found that the hotel was jamming their device in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that it had happed previously at another Gaylord property.
The FCC said Marriott charged conference exhibitors $250 to $1,000, per device, to use the Gaylord’s Wi-Fi connection.
While agreeing to the fine, Marriott on Friday defended the practice of jamming guests’ own Wi-Fi networks.
“Marriott has a strong interest in ensuring that when our guests use our Wi-Fi service, they will be protected from rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft,” the company said in a statement, adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices.
AUGUSTA, Kan.- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 11 a.m. on Friday in Butler County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 GMC Sierra driven by Marvin D. Winter, 46, Augusta, was eastbound on South West 70th three miles northwest of Augusta.
The vehicle left the right side of the roadway onto the shoulder and the driver over corrected. The vehicle crossed the roadway, entered the north ditch, overturned, and the driver was ejected.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A budget shortfall predicted for Kansas for July 2016 has grown to $260 million after tax collections fell short of expectations during the past three months.
