WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have muscled a $1.1 trillion bill financing government agencies through the House after President Barack Obama phoned Democratic lawmakers and urged them to back the measure.

The House approved the measure late Thursday by 219-206.

The compromise bill keeps agencies funded through next September.

Many conservatives opposed it because it did not block Obama’s recent executive actions on immigration. A large majority of House Democrats opposed it because of provisions easing some restrictions on banks and allowing higher political contributions by big donors.

Obama backed the bill and called wavering Democratic lawmakers to persuade them to help it pass.

The bill must now be approved by the Democratic-run Senate.

Funding for federal agencies was expiring at midnight. Lawmakers were ready to pass short-term legislation keeping government doors open.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Jurors have convicted a man of snatching an 8-year-old girl from a Topeka apartment, raping her, killing her and stashing her body in a dryer.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Shawnee County jurors found 31-year-old Billy Frank Davis Jr. guilty Thursday afternoon of 10 counts, including capital murder, in the March 2012 death of Ahliyah Nachelle Irvin. Her parents wept as the verdict was read.

Jurors will return Friday to hear more evidence before deciding whether to recommend whether Davis should receive the death penalty or life without parole.

Prosecutors said Davis killed the child to hide that he had sexually assaulted her. But the defense said Davis didn’t have the mental wherewithal to form the intent to kill the girl because he been drinking and using cocaine.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new report from the Kansas Legislature’s nonpartisan research staff shows that Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan for closing a shortfall in the current budget mostly pushes the problem into the next fiscal year.

The researchers released new budget projections Thursday for the Legislative Budget Committee, a panel of lawmakers from both chambers.

It shows that Brownback’s plan eliminates a projected $279 million deficit for the current fiscal year. But it also shows that under his plan, a projected $436 million gap for the fiscal year beginning in July grows to $648 million.

Brownback proposes curing much of the current shortfall in the state’s main bank account by diverting funds from other accounts to it for general government programs. Those funds aren’t included in the next fiscal year.

ATCHISON – A Missouri man was injured in an accident just before 12:30 p.m. on Thursday in Doniphan County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Mack trash truck driven by Steven Lee Guyer, 41, St. Joseph, MO., was traveling northbound on Kansas 7 seven miles north of Atchison.

The truck left the roadway, rolled multiple times and struck utility pole.

Guyer was transported to Mosaic Life Care.
The KHP reported he was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

The accident was also responsible for a knocking out electrical power to portions of the city of Troy for over an hour.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, the U.S. Senate passed the American Savings Promotion Act (S. 1597/H.R. 3374) by unanimous consent. U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), members of the Senate Economic Mobility Caucus, introduced the American Savings Promotion Act in October 2013 to allow the creation of prize-linked savings accounts (PLS). PLS accounts would incentivize personal savings by offering participants chances to win prizes based on savings account deposit activity while never putting their savings at risk. The legislation passed the House in September 2014 and now heads to the President.

“With broad support, Congress has sent to President Obama the American Savings Promotion Act, bipartisan legislation that clears the way for banks and other financial institutions to promote personal savings,” Sen. Moran said. “This policy will help American families become more financially secure and upwardly mobile. In passing the American Savings Promotion Act, the House and Senate have shown that good ideas may still have a chance in Washington.”

“Too many families in Ohio – and across the nation – are living paycheck to paycheck,” Sen. Brown said. “Between stagnant wages and an insufficient minimum wage, it’s hard for families to prioritize savings. That’s why this legislation is so important. Families should be encouraged and excited to save. This bill accomplishes that and I am proud to have worked with Sen. Moran to get this bill passed.”

The American Savings Promotion Act would promote savings by creating a narrow exemption for prize-linked-savings (PLS) products. By removing federal barriers to banks and thrifts offering PLS products, the legislation clears the way for states to enable all interested financial institutions under their jurisdiction to offer these valuable financial tools. Forty-four percent of American households lack the savings needed to cover basic expenses for three months, leaving families vulnerable to financial uncertainty. In 2013, the personal savings rate dipped to just 3.8 percent, down from 10.5 percent in 1963.

Prize-linked saving has been identified as an attractive way to incentivize saving by a broad range academics and financial policy professionals:

• Stuart Butler of the Heritage Foundation and author of Boosting Economic Savings Through Prize-Linked Savings: “The dearth of savings in America, particularly among lower-income Americans, is a major obstacle to upward mobility and achieving the American Dream. The creative idea of prize-linked savings has proved to be very successful in boosting savings, but red tape blocks federally chartered financial institutions from offering these pro-savings products.”
• In a 2011 Financial Times op-ed, former Obama OMB Director Peter Orszag advocated for PLS: “In the coming decade, we need a comprehensive effort to raise household savings. As part of that push, let’s give savings accounts linked to lotteries a chance.”
• Tim Flacke, Executive Director of D2D Fund: “Based on our last five years of work on prize-linked savings, we believe this is a proven and promising innovation to help engage Americans to save. We applaud the leadership of Senators Moran and Brown to help expand PLS through this bill so that more Americans can experience a fun and successful way to save.”

Chanute- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 3 p.m. on Thursday in Neosho County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Silverado driven by Jack E. Haverty, 56, Colony, was southbound on Harper Road three miles north of Chanute.

The truck left the road, struck a tree and caught fire.
Haverty was transported to the Neosho County Hospital.
The KHP reported he was not wearing a seat belt.

JOSH BOAK, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new government report shows that nearly 20 percent of U.S. consumers — nearly 43 million people — have unpaid medical debts.

The findings from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggest that many Americans are being trapped by debt because they are confused by the notices they get from hospitals and insurance companies about the cost of treatment.

As a result, millions of Americans may be surprised to find they are stuck with lower credit scores, making it harder for them to borrow to buy a home or an automobile.

The report by the federal regulator indicates that much of this trouble could be avoided. About half of consumers who only carry medical debt have no other signs of being under financial distress.

St. Joseph Post

ATCHISON – Officials say as many as 6 people were injured in an explosion at a rail car repair business southwest of Atchison just after 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The Atchison Police Department reported the explosion occurred just off of U.S. 59 highway and 258th Road.

According to the Atchison County Sheriff the explosion took place in a metal building used to clean out railcars. There were 6 people injured out of around 15 people working in that building at the time. The Sheriff said most were minor burn injuries however, two individuals have reportedly been transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center.

The Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office is expected to begin an investigation into the cause of the accident.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors say a man has punched his defense attorney during his rape trial in northeast Kansas.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that attorney David McDonald was taken by ambulance to a hospital during the fourth day of Lance Franklin’s trial in Shawnee County District Court.

Assistant district attorney Mike Kagay said he heard a smacking sound after McDonald finished questioning the rape victim.

Senior assistant district attorney Dustin Curry said he had stood to question the witness and turned around to find McDonald on the floor. Curry said a corrections officer grabbed Franklin.

Prosecutor’s office spokesman Lee McGowan told The Associated Press no charges have been filed over the courtroom incident. The senior partner for McDonald’s firm, Tenopir & Huerter, said through a staff member that he didn’t want to comment.

DAVID A. LIEB, Associated Press

Lower oil prices are raising new financial worries in some states that rely on oil taxes to pay for roads and other government services.

With oil prices around a five-year low, budget officials in about a half-dozen states have begun paring back projections for a continued gusher of revenues. Spending cuts have started in some places, and more reductions could be necessary if oil prices remain at lower levels during the coming year.

How well the oil-rich states survive the downturn may hinge on how much they have saved and how greatly they depend on oil revenues for basic services.

Texas has diversified its economy since oil prices crashed in the mid-1980s and isn’t expressing concern. But Alaska remains heavily dependent on oil and will have to tap into savings.

By Dave Ranney
KHI News Service

WICHITA — A Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services decision last week to limit admissions to Osawatomie State Hospital has had an immediate effect on the state’s mental health system.

Marilyn Cook, executive director at COMCARE, the community mental health center in Wichita, said the state’s decision to suspend admission of voluntary patients and more closely screen involuntary admissions at the Osawatomie facility recently prevented the center from transferring several patients thought to be a danger to themselves or others.

“Last Friday, we screened three people who were determined to need involuntary treatment,” Cook said. “We had two more on Saturday, and two more on Sunday for a total of seven over the weekend.”

All seven, she said, were denied admission to the state hospital. They were instead placed in “medical (hospital) beds somewhere in this community.” COMCARE, Cook said, was told the seven would-be patients were denied admission to Osawatomie because they were “already in a safe place,” a reference Cook understood to mean emergency rooms in the city.

After court appearances Wednesday, all seven patients were admitted to Osawatomie State Hospital.

While in Wichita, some of the patients — it’s unclear how many — were hospitalized at Via Christi Health System.

“We were able to meet their needs, although not without considerable effort on the part of physicians we work with,” said Roz Hutchinson, a spokesperson for Via Christi.

Carol Manning, executive director at the Wichita-based Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas, said the delayed Osawatomie admissions underscore persistent gaps in the state’s network of mental health programs.

“Seven in one weekend? That’s a lot,” she said. “What we’re seeing here, I think, is that demand for higher-acuity services is outpacing the resources that are available both locally and at the state level.”

On Wednesday, 61 of the 226 patients at Osawatomie State Hospital were from Sedgwick County, according to a KDADS report.

The numbers cited by Cook match those provided by KDADS Secretary Kari Bruffett, who said Tuesday that 11 “involuntary” patients were admitted to Osawatomie State Hospital over the weekend and seven from COMCARE were denied admission.

KDADS last week announced an immediate suspension of voluntary admissions to Osawatomie after federal surveyors threatened to block a significant portion of its Medicare payments.

The agency also said involuntary admissions would be “aggressively triaged” and that would-be patients were not to be sent to Osawatomie unless their transfer had been pre-approved by an “admissions officer” or an on-duty physician.

The new policy is designed to reduce the number of patients at Osawatomie, which in recent months has often exceeded its licensed capacity.

Bruffett said state officials know the policy creates “challenges” for community mental health centers. But she said conversations in recent days with several center directors have led her to believe that they “understand and appreciate the need for the policy.”

Cook understands the reasons for the policy but predicts that it will have ripple effects throughout eastern Kansas, the hospital’s catchment area.

“It’s looking like people who have a need for involuntary admission to the state hospital may have delays getting that level of care,” she said. “That care is going to have to come from somewhere. I’m not sure where.”

Sandy Horton, executive director at the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association, said he expected to policy to lead to more people ending up in jail.
“I don’t like saying it, but when the resources that we’re talking about here aren’t available in the community, we see more people getting arrested for minor violations and being taken to jail,” Horton said. “It’s probably not the best place for them to be, but it may be the only place.”

He added: “I’ll be surprised if this doesn’t have an adverse effect on law enforcement.”
Prompted in part by the Osawatomie census issues, federal surveyors inspected the hospital in October and cited it for several deficiencies. Among other things, the surveyors uncovered several instances of poor care. One resulted in a diabetic patient having to have a toe amputated. Another led to a patient whose blood clots weren’t properly treated being transferred to another hospital’s intensive care unit.

A survey report obtained from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also documented an instance where a pharmacist discontinued a patient’s heart medication without consulting the patient’s doctor.

State officials said last week that after a second inspection, federal officials had approved a plan for improving conditions at the Osawatomie hospital.

KDADS continues to work with CMS on a “plan of correction” related to census issues at the 206-bed hospital. The agency has 90 days to implement the plan.

Dave Ranney is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.