WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is announcing a five-year plan to fight the threat posed by antibiotic-resistant germs.
It’s an effort to fight the fact that once-treatable germs can kill. Repeated exposure to antibiotics can lead germs to become resistant to the drugs, so that they are no longer effective.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that drug-resistant bacteria cause 23,000 deaths and 2 million illnesses each year in the United States. Antibiotic resistance also threatens animal health, agriculture, and the economy.
The White House goal is to prevent and contain outbreaks of infections at home and abroad. It’s aiming to maintain the ability of current antibiotics to fight illnesses and develop new treatments.
109th Dist. State Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill
March 27, 2015 Troy L. Waymaster, State Representative, Kansas House district, 109
Senate Bill 34: Election Crimes
Even though we had a relatively short week, we conducted Legislative session on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we were on the House floor all three days, all day debating, amending, and voting on an array of different issues affecting the state of Kansas.
A bill that we will most likely debate next week is Senate Bill 34, which relates to election crimes, the prosecution of those crimes, and election definitions. The bill expands the definition of election crimes and would do the following:
• Creates a separate crime of voting more than once, which currently is incorporated in the crime of voting without being qualified. The new crime would be defined as intentionally voting or attempting to vote more than once in the same jurisdiction in an election, voting more than one U.S. jurisdiction in an election, or inducing or aiding any person to take the before mentioned actions.
• Creates a new law that would give the following officials the prosecutorial authority for a Kansas election crime: the district attorney or county attorney of the county where such violations occurred, the Kansas Attorney General, and the Kansas Secretary of State.
• Increase the severity level for the crimes of election tampering and false impersonation.
The bill would also amend the declaration signed by voters replacing the phrase “at this election” to “in the election held on this date, in this or any other jurisdiction in the US, for any offices or ballot issue.”
Antler Bill Discussed, Again
During the 2014 legislative session, the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee debated a bill regarding deer antlers that were illegally hunted on a landowner’s property. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism confiscated the antlers, claiming their authority to do so under the Public Trust Doctrine. During our Agriculture and Natural Resources committee last year, we debated the bill which clarified that the landowner had the right of first refusal of said antlers if they were illegally hunted on their land. I presented an amendment, which passed, that changed the wording of “antlers” to “all wildlife,” the amendment and bill passed out of committee, the legislature, and was signed by Governor Brownback.
However, this year it appears that the Department does not want to adhere to the law that was passed, so we needed to address this legislation again. This year, there are provisions in the bill that would require retroactivity as it relates to deer antlers, antler sheds, and horns seized by the Department after 2005 and still in the Department’s care, custody, control, management, or possession when the landowner or tenants whose property on which the above mentioned items were unlawfully taken requests to have such wildlife parts returned to the landowner or tenant.
Oil and Gas Drilling: Land-Spreading
On Monday, March 23, I carried Senate Bill 124 on the House floor. This bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Environment to adopt rules and regulations on the land-spreading of solid waste generated by drilling oil and gas wells. The bill would extend indefinitely the land-spreading program managed jointly by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Corporation Commission. Currently, land-spreading requirements are that no operator may land-spread without having obtained prior written approval from the KCC and, before drilling, each operator that wants to land-spread must submit an application to the KCC.
The bill requires that the seller of any property where land-spreading has occurred within the three previous years must disclose a potential buyer that land-spreading has occurred on said property prior to closing. The bill also requires that the KCC, in coordination with KDHE, presents a report annually on land-spreading to the Committee on Natural Resources and Ways and Means in the Senate and committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources and Appropriations in the House. An amendment passed to include the committees of Utilities and Energy and Environment.
The bill would allow for the disposal of waste containing low concentration of naturally occurring radioactive materials, NORM, and technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials, TENORM, by underground burial. Currently, the underground burial of all low-level radioactive waste is prohibited. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Environment to establish rules and regulations on or before July 1, 2016, regarding the allowable concentrations and sources of NORM and TENORM waste.
Finally, Senate Bill 124, would allow the Secretary of Health and Environment, through rules and regulations, to establish variances to water quality standards that may apply to specified pollutants, permitees, or waterbody segments that reflect the highest attainable condition during the specified time period for the variance. The bill passed the House 100-25.
This Week and Contact Information
The intent of passing the budget bill out of the House Appropriations Committee was to have a full debate in the House Chamber by the end of this week. Unfortunately, we did not hold that debate this week and hopefully we will before we go on legislative break in April.
Instead, the House debated and voted on an array of bills as we spent each day on the House floor.
Many of the pieces of legislation that we discussed were impactful bills addressing the needs of the state of Kansas. Some of these bills have generated much media attention this session and are pieces of legislation regarding firearms, alcohol, the issuance of bonds for KPERS, and abortion.
We will be back on the floor on Monday morning to address more legislation before our April break which begins Friday, April 3. Veto Session will then begin on April 27.
It is an honor to serve the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns and questions. I appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas.
Troy L. Waymaster, State Representative 109th Kansas House
300 SW 10th
Topeka, KS 66612
YATES CENTER- Two people were injured in an accident just before 10 a.m. on Friday in Woodson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1982 Chevy S-10 pickup driven by Shirl K. Jones, 51, Toronto, was eastbound on U.S. 54 five miles west of Yates center and passing another vehicle.
The pickup experienced mechanical problems. The driver hit the brakes, lost control and traveled into the north ditch.
Jones was transported to Wesley Medical Center.
A passenger , Matthew D. Jones, 41, Toronto, was transported to Greenwood County Hospital.
The KHP reported they were not wearing seat belts.
From her past work of rescuing pit bulls and working as a shelter house advocate for Hays-based Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Crisis Intervention Services, Mandy Wallgren, the new executive director at Options, said she is ready to take on a new role that “speaks to my soul.”
Wallgren, a Phillipsburg native, took the position in early February and is currently introducing herself to the community and receiving some guidance from former Executive Director Charlotte Linsner, who led the agency for more 20 years before announcing her retirement last year.
Wallgren said one of her first goals is see Options reopen the outreach office in Phillipsburg, which was forced to closed last year due to lack of funds.
“So we can better serve people,” Wallgren said. “Unfortunately, one of the things that can happen is you have someone who needs services but they may not have access to gas money or a car or access to a phone to call us on a regular basis. And usually one-on-one, in-person services, are going to be a lot more effective.”
Wallgren said she is also working with her staff to raise awareness about Options by becoming more involved in communities and creating partnerships with local social service agencies in the 18 counties Options serves.
Wallgren has a degree in criminal justice studies from Fort Hays State University and was working in Omaha, Neb., when decided she decided to look for a career closer to family and friends in the Hays area.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Students attending public, four-year universities and colleges in Kansas may see cuts in their financial aid due to a legislative action on a program governing school grants.
Kansas Board of Regents spokeswoman Breeze Richardson said the grants go to the students, not the institutions themselves.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the clause added to Gov. Sam Brownback’s request to the Comprehensive Grant program would only leave $2.4 million for students attending public institutions. The clause says that private independent colleges should not receive less than 75 percent or about $13 million of all need-based grants funded by Kansas.
The grant program was started in 1998, and funds have traditionally been split evenly between public and private institutions in Kansas.
Republican Sen. Vicki Schmidt made a motion Wednesday to restore the even allocation of funds, but the amendment failed on a vote of 15-23.
The city of Hays’ new turf conversion program and rebate is now available to more property owners following a change implemented this week.
“If you have city water — irrigate with city water — a manual system is now also eligible. … As City Commissioner Ron Mellick likes to call it, ‘a hose-dragger’ can apply now,” Assistant Hays City Manager Paul Briseno told city commissioners during their Thursday night meeting.
Previously, only residential or business turfs with automatic irrigation systems qualified for the “Cash for Grass” program.
The turf conversion program allows a rebate of one dollar per square foot of warm season grass, up to 1,000 square feet, to be replanted with cool season grass. Xeriscaping and artificial turf allow qualify for the program.
Cool season grasses, such as buffalo and Bermuda, require 80% less water than warm season grasses, such as fescue or bluegrass.
“Homeowners can save an average 250,000 gallons of water a year in watering their lawns,” Briseno added, “or roughly $1,000 to $1,500 dollars in maintenance as well as water savings (on their water bill.)”
As of Thursday, there were 10 homeowners signed up for the program, according to Briseno.
Up to 50 rebates will be paid by the city this year.
More turf conversion information is available on the city’s website.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) â A Kansas bill introduced Wednesday would allow a county’s voters to decide if their grocery stores can sell liquor, wine and spirits; and convenience stores to sell full-strength beer.
The Hutchinson News reports that the bill introduced Wednesday would allow a county’s board of commissioners to submit a ballot to voters in the general election about the sale of beer and liquor. If the commission does not pass a resolution to submit a ballot, then citizens may petition for an election.
A spokeswoman for Uncork Kansas, a group that believes that Kansas’s liquor laws are outdated, says the bill has merit.
The general counsel and director of legislative services for the Kansas Association of Counties said the group supports local control, but that it will take a neutral stance on the bill until it can be reviewed.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A food safety manager at Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums in Kansas City says he was fired after complaining about dirty conditions.
Jon Costa shared with ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” a letter that he said came from his former employer, Aramark. The March 17 letter said Costa was being fired “for cause” for several reasons, including that he violated the company’s media policy by taking his concerns public.
ESPN says Costa’s complaints prompted a Nov. 3 inspection that found violations at 20 out of 26 food stands. The stadiums later passed a follow-up inspection.
Aramark said in a written statement that it considers personnel matters confidential. It added that food safety is “a top priority.” Costa’s attorney, Ryan McClelland, didn’t immediately return phone or email messages from The Associated Press.
Carnival Films and MASTERPIECE on PBS announced on March 26 that Season 6 will be the final season of the hit drama series Downton Abbey.
Carnival’s Managing Director and Executive Producer of Downton Abbey, Gareth Neame said, “Millions of people around the world have followed the journey of the Crawley family and those who serve them for the last five years. Inevitably there comes a time when all shows should end and ‘Downton’ is no exception. We wanted to close the doors of Downton Abbey when it felt right and natural for the storylines to come together and when the show was still being enjoyed so much by its fans. We can promise a final season full of all the usual drama and intrigue, but with the added excitement of discovering how and where they all end up…”
GARDNER, Kan. (AP) — Two police officers in the Kansas City suburb of Gardner, Kansas, are on administrative leave after shooting and killing a woman during a reported disturbance at a house.
Olathe police say 53-year-old Deanne Choate of Gardner died at the scene of the shooting Thursday night. No officers were injured.
Police say after Choate’s boyfriend reported that Choate had fired a gun inside the house, two of the responding officers fired at Choate.
Police say one of the officers is a 10-year veteran of the police force, and the other has been with the department for a year and a half.
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GARDNER, Kan. (AP) — Officers have shot and killed a woman in eastern Kansas after her boyfriend called for help.
Olathe police identified the victim Friday as 53 year old Deanne Choate of Gardner. Police said the shooting happened Thursday night after the boyfriend told dispatch that his girlfriend had fired a handgun inside a Gardner home. The release said two Gardner officers shot at the woman upon arriving at the home. The woman died at the scene.
Neither officer was injured. They’ve both been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Police said the two officers had a total of 11 ½ years of experience with the Gardner Police Department.
The release provided no other details about what led up to the shooting.
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GARDNER, Kan. (AP) — Officers have shot and killed a woman in eastern Kansas after her boyfriend called for help.
Olathe police said in a news release that the shooting happened Thursday night after the boyfriend told dispatch that his girlfriend had fired a handgun inside a Gardner home. The release said two Gardner officers fired at the woman upon arriving at the home. The woman died at the scene, and her name wasn’t immediately released.
Neither officer was injured. They’ve both been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
The release provided no other details about what led up to the shooting.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have charged a man in Kansas for his role in a money laundering scheme that crossed interstate and foreign boundaries.
An indictment unsealed Friday charges 46-year-old Victor Javier Morales Bencomo with one count of money laundering for allegedly attempting to conduct a financial transaction involving nearly $360,000 in U.S. currency. He also faces three additional money laundering counts involving a total of $19,000 in bank transactions.
The indictment also charges him with one count each of bulk cash smuggling of more than $10,000 and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Court documents do not indicate whether he has an attorney, and the U.S. attorney’s office said it had no further information on his hometown.
