HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Hutchinson police are investigating after officers found a homemade explosive device behind a bar.
Sgt. Eric Buller says officers went to Gold Diggers bar after receiving a report of an explosion Sunday afternoon. He says the bar was evacuated as police and fire officials tried to determine what happened.
The Hutchinson News reports investigators determined the explosion occurred in a fenced-in area behind the bar that has a seating area and a fire pit.
Buller says officers later found a device that included a couple of pipes welded to a metal base. Gunpowder had been poured and on the device and then ignited.
Officers dismantled the device. No injuries were reported.
Steve Coen, president and chief executive officer of the Kansas Health Foundation, and Brenda Sharpe, president and CEO of the REACH Healthcare Foundation, speak at a meeting of the Kansas Dental Project coalition this week in Topeka. The group is preparing to push again for approval of mid-level dental practitioners during next year’s legislative session.-photo by Andy Marso
By ANDY MARSO KHI News Service
TOPEKA — Advocates of licensure for mid-level dental providers have been stymied in Kansas for five years. They say the need for dental care remains high, especially in the state’s rural areas, and they’re pushing for legislative movement next session.
Members of the Kansas Dental Project coalition met this week in Topeka to discuss the issue and hear from Steve Coen, president and chief executive officer of the Kansas Health Foundation, and Brenda Sharpe, president and CEO of the REACH Healthcare Foundation. Both groups are part of the Kansas Dental Project. The health foundation is the primary funder of the Kansas Health Institute, which is the parent organization of the editorially independent KHI News Service.
Sharpe said their response to those who have blocked mid-level providers by raising fears about their safety should be simple: Show me the studies.
“The mid-level providers can provide safe care,” Sharpe said. “Frankly, after five years I’m sick to death of hearing the ‘they’re not safe’ argument.”
The mid-level providers, tentatively called registered dental practitioners, would be trained and licensed to perform higher-level dental procedures than hygienists, but not as high as dentists. Advocates say they could fill a critical public health need in a state where 95 of 105 counties have a shortage of dental providers.
“That’s something we’ve heard again and again (in rural communities),” Coen said.
The state’s dentists have opposed the move. Kevin Robertson, chief executive of the Kansas Dental Association, did not respond by Friday afternoon to messages left for him Thursday, but in the past has said allowing mid-level providers would lower the standard of dental care in the state.
Sharpe said she’s seen no evidence that mid-level practitioners provide lesser care than dentists, while several studies show they have a favorable effect on public health.
Coen said groups are working on economic models that show dentists concerned about a financial hit how adding the mid-level providers to their practices actually can increase revenue. Sharpe said the goal in Kansas is for the providers to be “part of a dental team” rather than working solo.
Alaska has employed mid-level providers for 10 years, while Minnesota and Maine have approved them more recently.
Some at this week’s Kansas Dental Project meeting suggested that the advocates try to engage physicians who initially were wary of licensing for physician assistants and nurse practitioners, or the mid-level medical providers themselves, to try to calm fears about mid-level dental practitioner proposal.
But Shannon Cotsoradis, president and CEO of Kansas Action for Children, said those groups have been reluctant to wade into scope-of-practice issues on the dental side.
Cindy Luxem, president and CEO of the Kansas Health Care Association, confirmed that statement and expressed frustration with doctors who see patients in poor oral health but won’t advocate for expanded dental licensure.
“They will not talk to each other about this issue,” she said. “They don’t want to talk about it. It is unbelievable to me that the professionals at the top of the food chain of health care, we can’t get them to talk about this.”
Instead, Luxem said the best legislative strategy might be to encourage rural lawmakers whose districts have a strong stake in mid-level providers to promote the issue and work against urban lawmakers who oppose it. A similar battle occurred last legislative session in the discussion of whether to repeal the state’s renewable energy standards.
“If we can figure out how to make this a wedge issue between those two constituencies, we can win it,” she said.
Legislators have resisted having hearings on the mid-level dental provider for several years, but that may change next year.
Rep. Susan Concannon, a Republican from Beloit who is vice chairwoman of the House Health and Human Services Committee, said there has been enough study done to merit the next step.
“I think that’s got some legs,” Concannon said. “I think that’s going to come (next session) in the form of a bill.”
Concannon is unopposed in the November election and the current chairman of the health committee, Rep. David Crum, has said she would be his pick to succeed him in that role.
Cotsoradis, whose organization has made the mid-level dental provider a top priority for several sessions, said “meaningful policy change takes time.” But she thinks the issue is reaching a tipping point.
“I do believe we are on the cusp of change,” Cotsoradis said.
Andy Marso is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.
Precipitation chances increase Wednesday with the best chance Wednesday night.
Today Sunny, with a high near 74. North wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Tonight Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 46. South southeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Tuesday Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 73. South southeast wind 6 to 15 mph. Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. South southeast wind 11 to 13 mph. Wednesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Breezy, with a south wind 11 to 16 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday Night Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1am, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Thursday A 10 percent chance of showers before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and his challenger Paul Davis will meet for back-to-back debates this week in Wichita amid a close race as the election nears.
The two candidates will face off for a televised debate Monday at the KWCH studios in Wichita, followed on Tuesday by another debate before the Kansas Association of Broadcasters meeting.
Tuesday’s debate will be broadcast LIVE on Hays Post at 1:15 p.m.
Recent independent polling shows the race has tightened in Brownback’s favor.
Davis is wooing moderate Republicans and unaffiliated voters worried about tax cuts enacted at Brownback’s urging. The cuts dropped the state’s top personal income tax rate by 26 percent and exempted the owners of 191,000 businesses from income taxes altogether.
Brownback contends the reductions are boosting the economy, but the Legislature’s nonpartisan research staff predicts a $260 million budget shortfall by July 2016.
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A south Kansas man has been arrested after police say he threated employees at a cafe with a softball bat.
The Wichita Eagle reports the 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two counts of aggravated assault and battery. Arkansas City police say he was arrested Saturday night after an incident at Daisy Mae’s Cafe. It’s unclear if he has been charged.
Restaurant employees say he threatened them following a complaint about a call-in order. They say he swung at one of the workers and missed. Another employee says the man punched him in the head.
HERRINGTON- Two men were injured in an accident just before 4:30 p.m. on Sunday in Morris County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford F 150 driven by Christopher McIntyre, 42, Herrington, was traveling southbound on U.S. 77 ten miles south of I-70.
The vehicle crossed the centerline and came into oncoming traffic striking a northbound 2013 Chevy van on driver’s side.
The driver of the van Alan Bentz, 61, Tampa, was transported to Herrington Community Hospital.
McIntyre was transported to Geary County Hospital.
The KHP reported McIntyre was not wearing a seat belt and the license plate displayed on the truck did not belong to the vehicle.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan isn’t just endorsing politicians now.
The 2012 GOP nominee for vice president is throwing his support behind the Kansas City Royals. Ryan was in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park last Friday to stump for Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts in the three-term incumbent’s tight re-election race against independent Greg Orman.
During the campaign stop, Ryan joked that he was “going to endorse the Royals” as well.
The Royals are headed to the World Series after winning a record eight straight games in the postseason. Ryan said that with the Milwaukee Brewers defeated, he was “happy for the Royals.”
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs have made the AFC West a three-team race.
Cairo Santos kicked a 48-yard field goal field goal with 21 seconds left and the Chiefs beat San Diego 23-20 Sunday, snapping the Chargers’ five-game winning streak.
The Chiefs moved into field goal range thanks to Smith, who completed three straight passes on the drive for 53 yards, including a 29-yarder to Dwayne Bowe.
Smith was playing on the same field where he led Helix High to consecutive San Diego Section championships.
Coming off their bye, the Chiefs (3-3) pulled within 1 ½ games of San Diego (5-2). The Denver Broncos (4-1) hosted San Francisco on Sunday night. Had the Chiefs lost, they would have dropped three games behind San Diego.
The Chargers flunked their sternest test in a month and lost for the first time since a defeat at Arizona in the season opener.
Jamaal Charles scored once and gained 95 yards to give him 6,113 for his career, moving him to the top of Kansas City’s career list. He passed Priest Holmes, who had 6,070.
The Chargers, facing an established quarterback for the first time in four games, allowed Smith to complete 19 of 28 passes for 221 yards.
San Diego’s Philip Rivers was 17 of 31 for 205 yards and two touchdowns.
Smith had given the Chiefs a 20-14 lead with an 11-yard touchdown pass to fullback Anthony Sherman with 14:50 left.
Sherman broke a tackle inside the 10 and scored to cap an 11-play, 70-yard drive. On the previous play, a holding call against Chargers cornerback Richard Marshall nullified a sack of Smith and gave the Chiefs a first down at the 11.
The Chargers got to the Kansas City 6 before Rivers threw two straight incompletions and San Diego had to settle for Nick Novak’s 24-yard field goal to close to 20-17.
Novak kicked a 48-yarder to tie the game with 1:57 left.
Novak has 31 straight field goal conversions, breaking John Carney’s team record of 29 set in 1992-93.
Antonio Gates caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Rivers just before halftime. It was the 67th career TD pass from Rivers to Gates, the most in NFL history from a quarterback to a tight end. Rivers also extended his team record to 27 straight games with at least one touchdown pass.
The pass was tipped by 6-foot cornerback Ron Parker but the 6-4 Gates made the catch to give the Chargers a 14-10 lead just before halftime.
San Diego backup tight end John Phillips made his first catch of the season a big one, a 1-yard touchdown reception late in the first quarter to cap a drive that was kept alive by a holding call and a pass interference call against the Chiefs.
The Chiefs came right back on a drive capped when Charles weaved in and out of traffic to score on a 16-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Former teammate Brandon Flowers leveled him a yard into the end zone, too late to keep the Chiefs from tying it at 7.
Flowers later left the game with a concussion.
After forcing the Chargers to punt, the Chiefs ate up 9 minutes, 29 seconds in moving to the San Diego 10, where Santos kicked a 28-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead.
Fort Hays State Women’s Soccer pushed its shutout streak to four matches with a 1-0 victory against Missouri Western on Sunday(Oct. 19) afternoon.
The win was an important for the Tigers (8-4-2, 6-2-2 MIAA) in the MIAA standings, as FHSU entered the game tied for third in the conference standings with Central Oklahoma, while Missouri Western sits fifth in the MIAA.
A defensive battle with neither team hitting double-digits in shots, the wind played a factor in possession throughout the day at FHSU Soccer Stadium. FHSU fired eight shots on the afternoon, putting two on goal, while Missouri Western had five shots (three on goal).
After a scoreless opening half, FHSU grabbed a 1-0 lead early in the second period on Kelsey Steffens’ fifth goal of the season. Hailey Davey. who assisted on the play, dribbled deep in the field on the right side of the box before dishing a late, low cross towards the far post.
The pass slipped through two Griffon defenders into Steffens’ control, who finished past the keeper from five yards out at 49:18.
Davey picked up her fourth assist of the weekend (and ninth assist on the year) after tying her own school record with three in Friday’scontest. Steffens’ score regained her possession of the team-lead in goals.
Hannah Smith led the team in shots, fired three over 81 minutes of play. Steffens, Bailey Schmitz, Kylee Loneker and Vianei Sanchezhad the Tigers’ other shots on the afternoon.
Kristen Thompson once again followed script in goal, saving three shots in a complete game performance. The shutout was Thompson’s (and the team’s) ninth of the year, setting a school record for team shutouts in a single-season. Thompson broke the season’s individual shutout mark last week.
FHSU begins a three-game road stretch next weekend, traveling to Topeka, Kan., on Friday (Oct. 24) against Washburn. The Tigers will square off with Emporia State and Nebraska-Kearney before returning to FHSU Soccer Stadium on Nov. 2, for Senior Day against WU.
Aloysius J. Rohr, age 86, of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at his home in Lincoln.
He was born on August 19, 1928, in Liebenthal, Kansas, to Jacob L. and Francis (Herman) Rohr.
Aloysius spent most of his life in the WaKeeney area. On April 2, 1951, he was united in marriage to Wilma Jean Bell. They also spent time as a couple in Pratt and Hutchinson, until Wilma’s death on May 7, 2012. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage together. Aloysius then moved to Lincoln, Nebraska to be nearer to family.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Aloysius was known for his talent as a woodworker. He loved to go on fishing trips with his grandchildren, and enjoyed any time he had with family. He could also occasionally be found watching car races on television, cheering on his favorite driver.
Aloysius will be dearly missed by many.
Survivors include one son, Jerry J. of Lake Ritchie, Florida; one daughter, Alice J. Sorensen of Lincoln, Nebraska; thirteen grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a brother Celestine of Denver, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and infant son, Steven A.; two sons Mark, G. and Allen W.; three brothers, Matt, Alvin, and Leonard; and two sisters, Irene Baalman and Francie Carlman.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at Christ the King Catholic Church of WaKeeney with Father Charles Steier as celebrant. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9:0 0 a.m. to noon, Wednesday at the funeral home.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorial contributions are suggested to the Aloysius Rohr Memorial Fund. Checks made to the fund may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.
Condolences may be left online at www.schmittfuneral.com.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Washburn University has received a $1.4 million donation for athletic scholarships.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the money comes from the estate of Dorothy Reichart. Her late husband, Jerry Reichart, was a standout lineman on the WU football team, earning all-conference honors in 1949. He was inducted into the Washburn Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.
About 20 years ago, the Jerry W. Reichart Athletic Scholarship Fund was created. With the latest gift, the fund now totals nearly $2 million.
Dorothy Reichart’s sister, Nancy Erwin, was on hand Saturday at Washburn for the check presentation. She said her sister and brother-in-law loved Washburn and sports.
Washburn University Foundation president JuliAnn Mazachek said the gift “creates a meaningful, lasting legacy” for the couple.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Hutchinson police are investigating after officers found a homemade explosive device behind a bar.
