WICHITA – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 2 a.m. on Saturday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Ford Focus driven by Shelby L. Alcorn, 24, Wichita, attempted to enter northbound Interstate 235 from westbound U.S.54.

The driver lost control on the entrance ramp and the vehicle rolled onto its side. The accident briefly shut down the interchange.

Alcorn was transported to Wesley Medical Center.

The KHP reported she was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

HUTCHINSON— This month the Hutchinson-Reno County Drug Enforcement Unit and the Reno County Sheriff’s Office arrested six individuals for various drug offenses.

In a media release, authorities reported the investigation started over five months ago and used an undercover officer posing as a high school student at Hutchinson High School, Nickerson High School and Buhler High School.

The Administrations of the schools, worked in cooperation with law enforcement, being proactive while at the same time overseeing the rights of the students.

The undercover investigation started after several drug overdose incidents involving kids. The intent of this investigation was to continue into other school districts, however was terminated due to student safety concerns.

Arrested on March 5, was Colton Gomes, 16, 24 Detroit, South Hutchinson.

Charges include the sale of LSD within 1000 feet of a school, no tax stamp and unlawful use of a communications device.

Arrested on March 20 was Jonathan Thiessen, 21, South Hutchinson, with a bond of $5,500. Charges include the sale of marijuana, within 1,000 feet of a school. He had an additional charge of possession of marijuana at time of his arrest.

Jaedan Kidd, 19, Hutchinson, has a bond of $5,000 for the sale of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school.

Deonte Tiniakos, 16, Hutchinson, was arrested for two counts of the sale marijuana, sale of amphetamines and unlawful use of a communications device.
A
nika Gabhart, 17, Hutchinson, was arrested for the sale of Valium and the sale of marijuana within 1000 feet of a school.

Eric Crow, 15, South Hutchinson, was arrested for the sale of LSD.

Sheriff Randy Henderson said “these arrest should not reflect negatively on these school districts.”

MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press
KEITH RIDLER, Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Potatoes that won’t bruise and apples that won’t brown are a step closer to grocery store aisles.

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the genetically engineered foods as safe, saying they are as nutritious as their conventional counterparts.

The approval covers six varieties of potatoes by Boise, Idaho-based J. R. Simplot Co. and two varieties of apples from the Canadian company Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc.

Simplot’s potatoes go by the trade name “Innate,” while Okanagan’s apples are called “Arctic Apples.”

The agency’s review process is voluntary, and both companies asked for a review to ensure their products met safety standards.

Aware of potential resistance to its genetically modified potatoes, Simplot officials note that Innate potato traits come exclusively from domestic potato varieties.

ELLSWORTH- A Kansas man was injure in an accident just before 10 p.m. on Friday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1995 GMC Sierra pickup driven by Kyle P. Lee, 27, Herrington, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of Kansas 14.

The driver lost control of his vehicle due to a blown rear passenger side tire. The truck rolled in the median.

Lee was transported to the hospital in Ellsworth.
The KHP reported he was not wearing a seat belt.

WASHINGTON – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) participated in a Finance Committee hearing designed to examine the broken promises and wasted tax dollars of Obamacare, five years after Democrats drafted the law behind closed doors and forced the flawed bill through Congress without a single Republican vote.

View Senator Roberts comments here 

“Obamacare is bad for the economy, it’s bad for employers and employees, and it’s bad for the doctor-patient relationship,” Roberts said after the hearing. “I continue to be frustrated by the broken promises of this law and the constantly moving goal posts through which its supporters are claiming success.”

At the hearing Senator Roberts delivered the following statement:

“The broken promise of this law that I currently hear most about from my constituents is the impact on their premiums. The President told them this law would reduce premiums for the typical family by $2,500 a year.

“Jim from Overland Park, Kansas, tells me his 2015 premium went up 21%.

“William from Olathe’s monthly premium more than doubled if he wanted to keep his same plan. But as he says, ‘the devil was in the details as the deductible increased and virtually none of our doctors were in the new network.’

“And as April 15th approaches, the confusion and frustration with the law is bubbling up again as folks prepare their taxes.

“An independent contractor told me that due to an unexpected contract he received, his estimated income was off for last year. As a result, all of the premium tax credit he received over the course of the year is now taxable income. Instead of forgoing coverage and paying a $700 penalty, he now owes the IRS $6,700. He tells me he has since dropped his coverage.”

Roberts then questioned Dr. Doug Holtz-Eakin, President of the American Action Forum and former Congressional Budget Office Director, about the vast differences in the reported number of enrollees in Obamacare and if these new enrollees, regardless of the number, actually have access to timely and quality care.

STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal agencies reported making $125 billion in improper payments last year, a new high after several years of declines.

The errors included overpayments and underpayments as well as benefits to people who did not qualify.

The Government Accountability Office said Monday that three programs accounted for a majority of the errors: Medicare, Medicaid and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Together, they accounted for more than $93 billion in improper payments.

The increase comes after three years of steady declines. The Obama administration says reducing improper payments is a priority.

David Mader, the controller at Obama’s budget office, says the time has come for a more aggressive strategy. He outlined several proposals in President Barack Obama’s proposed budget for next year.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A bill overhauling how Kansas distributes more than $4 billion in aid a year to its public schools has been delivered to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s office.

The Legislature reported that the bill was presented Friday to Brownback.

He has until March 30 to act, but he’s expected to sign the measure. It was drafted by top Republican lawmakers and incorporates Brownback’s proposal to replace the state’s current funding formula with “block grants” for districts based on their current aid.

The new system would remain in place for two years to allow legislators to create a new formula.

Many educators contend the existing formula is sound and adjusts funding for districts quickly as circumstances change. Brownback and other critics say it’s too complex and doesn’t put enough money into classrooms.