KANSAS CITY- A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 8 a.m. on Thursday in Wyandotte County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford Expedition driven by Heather M. Roehr, 40, Overland Park,was northbound on Interstate 635 at Gibbs Road in the middle lane.
The driver lost control of the vehicle. It crossed all lanes of traffic and struck the barrier wall.
Roeher was transported to Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
The KHP reported she was properly restrained at the time of the accident.
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Pittsburg State University says the FBI and Internal Revenue Service are looking into questionable financial procedures attributed to the former director of the university’s master’s degree in business administration program.
The Joplin Globe reports an internal review by the university found questionable financial procedures for Michael Muoghalu, who taught finance at the school for 23 years.
Muoghalu was placed on unpaid administrative leave and submitted his resignation letter in September. He told the Globe he was unable to comment on the matter.
University spokesman Chris Kelly says the school can’t comment, either, but has informed the IRS and FBI it planned to publicly identify the agencies with which Pittsburg State is cooperating.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is urging tea party supporters in Kansas to vote for Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, warning that staying home would empower Democrats.
Cruz appeared with Roberts and Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn Thursday in Wichita, helping to kick off a four-day bus tour with stops in 11 eastern Kansas communities.
Cruz says he recognizes the tea party had a hard-fought primary in Kansas, but he’s stressing the primary is over.
Roberts told the more than 100 supporters that the road to a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate runs through Kansas.
The three-term Kansas incumbent faces a tough race against independent candidate Greg Orman.
Orman is running as a centrist, pledging to break partisan gridlock.
Airline delays and cancelations are up slightly from last year’s peak travel season.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said Thursday that flights on the nation’s largest airlines arrived on time 77.7 percent of the time in August. That is down from 78.8 percent in the same month last year, although it is better than July.
The 14 airlines covered in the government report canceled 1.2 percent of their U.S. flights in August, up from 1.0 percent a year earlier.
The airlines blame bad weather for an increase in delays and cancelations this year. The first six months of 2014 were the worst for delays since 2008.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A new report shows Kansas job growth is lagging well behind the nation but predicts the employment outlook will be better next year.
Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research on Thursday released its employment forecast for the Kansas and the Wichita metropolitan area.
It shows that while employment nationwide grew by 1.9 percent nationally in the last 12 months, Kansas jobs increased by just 1 percent.
It forecasts employment statewide will grow next year by 23,239 jobs, for an anticipated employment growth of 1.7 percent.
The strongest growth is expected to be in the service sectors such as education and health with a growth rate of 2.6 percent.
The Wichita economy is projected to improve next year but still grow more slowly than the national average.
RUSSELL — Since 1969, the ROAR Show (Russell’s Original Art Review) has given Kansas artists the opportunity to show and sell their work as well as compete for prize money. Visitors last year viewed more than 250 works of art by professional and amateur Kansas artists in categories including watercolor, oil, sculpture and mixed media.
The 2014 exhibition will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 10 and 11 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12 at the 4-H Building on the Russell County Fairgrounds.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Sedgewick County records show Southwest Airlines lost nearly $7 million in its first eight months of offering flights from Wichita to Dallas and Chicago.
The Wichita Eagle reports the airline’s service from Wichita to Las Vegas made a modest profit of $57,600 during the same time from July 2013 to February 2014.
Southwest was able to recoup most of its $6.8 million loss through a state program and some local funds.
An airline analyst says that without the guarantee, the airline could leave Wichita at some point en route to more lucrative markets.
A Southwest spokesman declined to comment on specific routes or dollar figures, but says the airline is working to develop a self-sustaining operation in Wichita.
Since he was 14 years old, Josh Dechant has been interested in growing entrepreneurship in Hays.
Today, the Fort Hays State University graduate is the “Entrepreneur in Residence” within the FHSU College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
“It’s a volunteer position which comes with an office,” explained Dechant.
“Business growth in Hays is stagnant. There are lots of creative people out there with good ideas who don’t know how to get started. There are also a lot of people in Hays who can offer guidance and investment dollars to entrepreneurs. We need to get them connected,” Dechant said.
After attending a roundtable meeting in Wichita last month where Dechant was approached by many want-to-be business owners asking him to develop customized web sites and computer apps for their companies, Dechant decided a similar event needs to happen in Hays.
The inaugural meeting of JoinUp Hays is tonight, Oct. 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at K’s Diner, 3402 Vine. There is no charge to participate.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people who want to bring more businesses to Hays. We need the ‘idea people,’ everyone from students to the stay-at-home moms, along with developers and designers. Several influential established business people — “big thinkers” — plan to be there to offer advice and assistance,” he said.
Dechant is so enthused about the project he’s already developed a mobile JoinUp Hays computer app to connect the participants.
“Anyone with unique perspectives and skill sets who would like to participate is welcome to attend. It’ll be a great networking event.”
For more information about JoinUp Hays, call Dechant at (785)-650-9736.
WICHITA — Alleged drug and credit card violations have led to federal charges after an investigation in Sherman County.
The office of U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Justin Russell Bennett, 29, was charged Wednesday with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of unlawfully using a credit card, one count of unlawfully possessing a machine to make credit cards, and one count of unlawful possession of credit cards. No town of residence for Bennett was made available.
The crimes are alleged to have occurred Sept. 22 in Sherman County.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million on the cocaine charge, a maximum penalty of 10 years and fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful use of a credit card, a maximum penalty of 15 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawfully possessing a machine to make credit cards, and a mandatory two years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawfully using a credit card.
The U.S. Secret Service investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Don and Chris Bickle, long known for their philanthropy, announced today a gift of $1 million for scholarships at Fort Hays State University.
“Don and Chris Bickle and their family have been major contributors to the community of Hays for many years, and today is no different,” said Dr. Mirta M. Martin, FHSU president. “Don and Chris recently established two scholarship funds. One will help student-athletes pay for their education, and the other will benefit Hoisington graduates.”
From left, Don and Chris Bickle; FHSU President Mirta Martin; Mallory Flagor, junior volleyball from Hoisington; and Hoisington Superintendent Bill Lowry.
The Don and Chris Bickle Student Athlete Scholarship and the Don and Chris Bickle Scholarship Fund for Hoisington Graduates were established with $1 million worth of Commerce Bank stock. The annual athletic scholarship will be awarded to student-athletes who are full-time undergraduate students majoring in any curriculum at FHSU. In addition, three $500 scholarships will be awarded annually to FHSU students who are Hoisington High School alumni.
“There is no denying that these scholarships will enable future Tigers to make their dreams come true in both the classroom and in their chosen athletic program,” President Martin said. “Thanks to the generosity of the Bickle family, athletes and Hoisington High School graduates now have even more incentive to become part of the FHSU family by making our university their destination of choice.”
Don Bickle thanked Commerce Bank and his business partners through the years for giving him and Chris the wherewithal to make the gift for FHSU students.
“As the Lord says, ‘You do good and I’ll do better,’ ” he said. “I think it’s good that we can give this to you, Mirta, and you’ll do better.”
Curtis Hammeke, FHSU athletic director, thanked the Bickles for their generosity and talked about the difference the gift would make for student-athletes.
“It is hard to describe our sense of gratitude to the Bickles for their major commitment to FHSU, especially our Athletic Department,” Hammeke said “At the NCAA Division II level, scholarships are dispersed in equivalencies rather than full rides. Consequently, this generous contribution will positively impact a significant number of student-athletes for many years to come.”
“This gift will make a huge impact for students at FHSU and will enable the Foundation to hit our extended goal of $12 million for the Power of One Scholarship Campaign,” said Tim Chapman, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation. “Don and Chris made this commitment based on their dedication and loyalty to student success, but they also wanted to help us ensure that the campaign goal would be met. Their generous gift was made in recognition of their relationship with Dr. Edward H. Hammond, former FHSU president.”
Courtesy FHSU University Relations
The Power of One Scholarship Campaign is a one-year effort in recognition of 27 years of service and leadership by Dr. Hammond to Fort Hays State.
The former president thanked the Bickles and others who have contributed to the scholarship campaign. Like Hammeke, Hammond emphasized the importance of the gift for student-athletes, most of whom not only have to attend classes and exhausting practices, but also have to work at part-time jobs to make ends meet. He said it was important to him that his last fund-raising effort would help FHSU students.
Over the years, the Bickles have made a substantial impact at Fort Hays State University. Because of their generous contributions to ensure the future success of the university, the couple was welcomed as “Diamond Level” members in the President’s Leadership Circle in 2010, an achievement that acknowledges those who have given more than one million dollars to FHSU. In 2013, the couple was recognized for 20 consecutive years of giving to the university. Don and Chris are also part of the FHSU Athletic Difference Makers, the most elite club of donors to FHSU athletics. One of their most significant contributions was made in 2010, when they made a donation toward the completion of an indoor training facility at FHSU, today known as the Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility.
WICHITA — A Denver woman was charged in federal court Wednesday with meth possession with intent to distribute for an incident that occurred in Ellis County.
The office of U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Adina Aguilar-Miranda, 25, Denver, Colo., was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of interstate travel in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The crimes are alleged to have occurred Sept. 23 in Ellis County.
If convicted, she faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $4 million on the charge of possession with intent to distribute, and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the other count.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Glen Campbell and family appeared on NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams Tuesday to discuss Campbell’s battle with Alzheimer’s. Watch here. Reporter Cynthia McFadden discussed her Campbell story further on the network’s Today Wednesday. Watch here.
KANSAS CITY- A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 8 a.m. on Thursday in Wyandotte County.
