WASHINGTON (AP) — Negotiators for the U.S. Postal Service and a major postal union are opening talks on a new contract.
The Postal Service’s current contract with the American Postal Workers Union expires on May 20.
Among the issues on the table is whether Saturday deliveries should be pared down in some areas. Congress has refused to allow the Postal Service to eliminate Saturday deliveries.
The union has proposed that the Postal Service be allowed to offer some banking services. Under the proposal, customers would be able to set up accounts where they could get checks cashed and pay bills.
The agency faces deep financial problems because it is required to pre-fund retiree health care benefits.
KANSAS CITY – An Atchison man has been indicted on federal charges of kidnapping a child according to U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
Marcas McGowan, 30, Atchison, Kan., was charged Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., with one count of kidnapping a child, one count of discharging a firearm during the kidnapping, one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm following a felony conviction, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask and Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson will be prosecuting the case. Mr. Thompson has been designated as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.
“This is a very serious case and my office will be working closely with the Leavenworth County Attorney to see that it gets the attention it deserves,” U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
“My office has always had a great working relationship with U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom and his staff, so I appreciate the opportunity to work with them to pursue this matter federally,” said Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson. “My office always strives for what is in the best interest of the Leavenworth community, and will continue to do so through our collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s office.”
The federal indictment alleges that on July 18, 2014, McGowan kidnapped a minor victim. He traveled from Kansas to Missouri and back to Kansas with the child.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Kidnapping: Not less than 20 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000.
Discharging a firearm in a crime of violence: Not less than 10 years and not more than life, consecutive to any other sentence, and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful possession of a firearm following a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
The Atchison Police Department, the Platte County (Mo.) Sheriff’s Office, the Weston (Mo.) Police Department, the Leavenworth Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the FBI investigated.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A new government report shows Kansas had 800 fewer farms last year compared to 2013.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Thursday that the state had 61,000 farms and ranches in 2014.
A breakdown by size shows small operations with less than $100,000 in agricultural sales decreased by 900 farms from a year earlier. But the number of farm operations which had more than $100,000 in ag sales actually grew by 100 farms.
The agency also reported that the state had 46 million acres of land in farms and ranches. That’s down 100,000 acres from the previous year.
Kansas farms averaged 754 acres, up 8 acres from the previous year.
Kansas is one of only five states that do not require massage therapists at businesses like Massage Envy in Lawrence to be licensed by the state. Credit Ashley Booker / Heartland Health Monitor
By Ashley Booker
The House Health and Human Services Committee tabled a bill that would require massage therapists to be licensed by the state.
The bill’s main proponent, Stuart Little, a lobbyist for the Kansas chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association, said the group is disappointed that House Bill 2123 likely is done for this legislative session.
“There will be a license to practice massage in Kansas someday, but sadly that process was slowed down today,” Little said. With this move, Kansas remains one of five states that do not regulate massage therapists. Massage therapists who are willing to protect the public will continue to advocate for a fair regulatory system, Little said.
Ashley Booker is an intern for KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has given first-round approval to a bill to ban a procedure used in 8 percent of the abortion in the state.
The measure that advanced on a voice vote Thursday after a bitter and personal debate would outlaw the dilation and evacuation procedure and redefine it in state law as “dismemberment abortion.”
Senators plan to take a final vote Friday to determine whether the bill goes to the House.
Kansas City Democrat and abortion rights supporter David Haley criticized the measure’s supporters. He suggested that abortion opponents were ignoring good science and the state would face an expensive court battle if the measure becomes law.
Several senators who oppose abortion said Haley’s remarks were insulting and castigated him. They said the bill bans a gruesome procedure.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A bill to ban a procedure used in 8 percent of the abortions in Kansas is up for debate in the state Senate.
The measure on the Senate’s calendar Thursday afternoon would outlaw the dilation and evacuation procedure and redefine it in state law as “dismemberment abortion.”
Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce says he expects senators to take a final vote on the bill Friday morning. Passage would send the measure to the House.
Kansas already bans most abortions at the 22nd week of pregnancy, but the bill could prohibit some earlier abortions. Some abortion rights advocates say it could bar some first-trimester procedures.
The bill would prohibit using clamps, forceps or other similar instruments on a fetus so it can be removed from the womb in pieces.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Penalties for Kansas scrap theft would rise significantly under a bill passed unanimously by the state Senate.
Thursday’s move sends the measure to the state House for consideration.
Senators from both major parties spoke supportively of the measure Wednesday, arguing that scrap thieves often do thousands of dollars in damage by removing metal components from equipment.
The bill would make scrap theft a level six felony, putting repeat offenders behind bars. It also would create a scrap database to help authorities track down offenders and punish dealers trading in stolen goods.
Lawmakers objected to an earlier version that would have made scrap theft a level five felony and put first-time offenders behind bars for 11 to 34 months. First-time offenders without prior convictions would get probation under the amended version.
This warm season buffalo grass lawn uses considerably less water than a cool season grass such as fescue.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The newest water conservation program launched by the city of Hays has a “huge potential” in water savings, according to the city’s Water Conservation Specialist Jason Riegel.
He says the turf conversion program targets lowering outdoor water use and “essentially pays people to convert their water-thirsty landscapes to less water-intensive landscapes.”
Rebates of up to $1,000 are available for changing to warm season lawns, xeriscaping and even artificial turf.
“This program is groundbreaking for us. It’s our first, and from our research, it’s also the first ‘Cash for Grass’ program east of the Rockies and north of Texas,” Riegel said. “So this is something we haven’t seen in our area before. It kind of puts us on another level for incentives for water conservation.”
There are only 50 “Cash for Grass” rebates available, and Riegel said there have been a “lot of inquiries” about it, with two people already signed up.
“If we maximize the potential of this program–50 participants–this will best our other rebate programs combined for water savings,” Riegel said.
More turf conversion information is available at www.haysusa.com or by calling Riegel’s office at (785) 628-7350.
PRATT–For some waterfowl hunters, seasons seem to come and go all too fast. It may feel like hunters and their canine companions have just warmed up when the regular seasons close. However, hunters looking to enjoy a few more weeks afield hunting geese can participate in the Light Goose Conservation Order from Feb. 16-April 30, 2015. During this special season set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hunters may take an unlimited amount of snow and Ross’ geese.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established this special season in 1999 in an effort to increase the harvest of light geese, a population that has increased more than 300 percent since the mid-1970s. These historic numbers of geese have denuded portions of their fragile tundra breeding habitat in the arctic, which may take decades to recover. This impacts other bird species that nest there, including semi-palmated sandpipers and red-necked phalaropes.
To increase hunter success, the conservation order authorizes hunting methods not allowed during the regular seasons, including the use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Gerald “Jerry” Braun, one of seven candidates running for four open positions on the Hays USD 489 Board of Education, says he is a “pay-it-forward” kind of person.
Until two years ago, Braun was a math teacher for 15 years at Hays Middle School. He said he wants to be on the school board to “give back” to the community and students the support he received as a teacher.
Braun admitted because of state funding issues “it is not a good time” necessarily to be running for school board, but he believes strongly “kids are not a commodity” and there needs to be a balance between efficiency and “alienating” the workforce.
“A business is only as good as the employees they employ and, if we can’t keep teachers and keep people working in our district, then our business is going to fail,” Braun said. “And I really see that teacher morale and all those types of things are really a huge, huge issue and so I think some educational background needs to be on the board.
“By no means should everybody on the board be a teacher or a former teacher — that would not be good either — but to have (no teacher) there I think is a detriment to a balance. I think there needs to be a balance on the board,” he added.
Braun said he knows hard decisions are going to have to made and decisions will sometimes come down to “choosing the lesser of two evils,” but he said wants more “transparency and communication” so the public is aware of all the the alternatives and the basis of decisions made.
Braun has worked as and education consultant throughout western Kansas and is currently a supervisor at Sunflower Child Support Services in Hays.
The 2015 city-school election is April 7.
Check Hays Post for more candidate profiles as the election nears.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A hearing on whether to approve a domestic protection from abuse order against Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle has been postponed.
The attorney representing Randle’s ex-girlfriend told The Wichita Eagle Thursday’s scheduled hearing was delayed for three weeks.
The delay comes as the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office considers whether to file criminal charges against Randle.
Dalia Jacobs, the mother of Randle’s son, told investigators that during a Feb. 3 altercation at a Wichita hotel Randle brandished a gun and broke a car window while they argued.
His attorney has said Randle did not threaten the woman or show a gun at any time.
Randle, a member of the Dallas Cowboys, was arrested after a small amount of marijuana was found in his hotel room but those charges were dropped.
TOM RAUM, Associated Press
