SALINA — An extensive investigation by the Salina-Saline County Drug Task Force led to the arrests of five suspects at a Salina motel, and also shut down two illegal drug operations.
According to police, search warrants were executed in two rooms of the Airliner Motel, 781 N. Broadway, on Thursday following a months-long investigation.
Police say information they received about drug activity at the motel led to the initial investigation, while confidential police informants who purchased drugs led to the execution of the warrants.
Police reportedly discovered methamphetamine in Room 39 and subsequently arrested Eric Lavon Poole, 39, and Jamie Lynn Smith, 38, on a variety of charges including drug possession and illegal distribution.
Police said additional arrests were made at the hotel involving members of another independent group selling drugs in Room 29.
In that room, officers reported finding a large amount of marijuana and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Members of a gang known as the “Get Money Boyz” or “GMB” are alleged to be running a drug operation in this room. Police have not said how much marijuana was found, because they are still in the process of recording all the evidence.
Bobby Lee Wilson, 23, Farouk Akim Deen, 28, and Demetrius Lorenzo Carruthers, 28, were all taken into custody. They face charges including possession and distribution of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The three also face charges for recruiting members of a criminal street gang.
All five suspects are being held without bond in the Saline County jail.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible.
When America entered World War II in 1941, we faced an enemy that had banned and burned over 100 million books and caused fearful citizens to hide or destroy many more.
Marleah Augustine is Adult Department Librarian at the Hays Public Library.
Outraged librarians launched a campaign to send free books to American troops and gathered 20 million hardcover donations. In 1943, the War Department and the publishing industry stepped in with an extraordinary program: 120 million small, lightweight paperbacks, for troops to carry in their pockets and their rucksacks, in every theater of war.
This is an ideal book for World War II historians as well as librarians, or anyone who wants to read about something positive that happened during those difficult years.
I’d never heard of the Armed Services Editions, but how they came to be and what they did for the soldiers overseas was fascinating. It made me, as a librarian, consider what more could be done during current times to create something similar. I was also inspired by the fact that veterans credited the ASEs with their success in college after returning from the war. Simply by having these books available (and in need of distraction), men who had never read a book through became voracious readers.
The book itself was repetitive in parts, but was generally well-written and intriguing. A few days after finishing this book, I watched a movie set during WWII, and I kept watching to see if ASEs would make an appearance. I think this epic and worthwhile task needs more attention, and Manning’s book is a start.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House committee has rejected a proposed ban on using multistate Common Core academic standards in the state’s public schools.
The Education Committee on Friday voted 10-7 against a bill preventing any school district or official from giving “any measure of control” over academic standards to any group outside Kansas.
Common Core foes split Friday over whether to pursue softer language for the bill to help it advance.
The State Board of Education in 2010 adopted Common Core standards for reading and math developed by the National Governors Association and education associations. Supporters see them as rigorous standards emphasizing critical thinking.
The standards have been strongly criticized over changes in how material is taught, but opponents haven’t been able to get a ban through the Legislature.
He’s rocked the world as a solo artist and as the frontman of Black Sabbath, he’s starred in a popular reality show with his family, and he’s been the subject of documentaries.
Now Ozzy Osbourne is featured in his own comic book. Ozzy Osbourne: The Metal Madman tells the famed heavy-metal singer’s outrageous life story in graphic novel form.
The comic is being released this week in print and digitally. The physical version is available exclusively at ComicFleaMarket.com, while the digital version is available at numerous online ebook sellers.
Ozzy Osbourne: The Metal Madman was co-written by Michael L. Frizell and Jayfri Hashim, the latter of whom is also responsible for the artwork. The comic also features a cover by respected horror artist Stefano Cardoselli.
“Ozzy’s legacy is well-known,” says Frizell. “A lot of research went into creating the script. One misstep, and the fans will know! Jayfri and I wanted to respect that legend — and the fans — by giving them something both familiar and unexpected.”
Ozzy Osbourne: The Metal Madman is part of Bluewater Productions‘ popular Orbit series. The company also has issued biographical comics about such other music stars as Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Keith Richards, Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson, Jerry Garcia, Kurt Cobain and others.
KANSAS CITY- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 8:30 a.m. on Friday in Wyandotte County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Yamaha motorcycle driven by Garet A. Kraft, 22, Leavenworth, was southbound in the number 1 lane on U.S.73. just north of Polfer Road in Kansas City.
The driver realized he was not going to get stopped in time and laid the bike onto its side.
According to the KHP Kraft was transported to St. Johns and was not wearing a safety device.
Photo by Dave Ranney Kari Bruffett, secretary of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, discusses potential changes to state regulation of prescription mental health drugs. At right is Amy Campbell, director of the Kansas Mental Health Coalition. –
By Dave Ranney
TOPEKA – State officials say they’ve reached an agreement with mental health providers for regulating Medicaid patients’ access to antipsychotic medications. “We are all working toward a common goal: Providing safe access to mental health drugs for those who need them,” Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Susan Mosier said in a prepared statement Wednesday.
Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Kari Bruffett and Kyle Kessler, executive director for the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, expressed similar support for the measure.
“I think this is a positive step forward in improving and expanding upon sound mental health drug prescribing practices,” Kessler said.
Under the agreement, a nine-member panel of hands-on mental health practitioners – psychiatrists and pharmacists, primarily — will be charged with developing evidence-based guidelines for prescribing antipsychotic medications. The advisory committee will spell out the circumstances under which KDHE, the state’s Medicaid agency, and the Drug Utilization Review Board can intervene in prescribing decisions.
Currently, Kansas law guarantees Medicaid patients ready access to whatever mental health drugs their physicians or psychiatrists see fit to prescribe.
Kessler and several mental health center directors last month testified against a KDHE-introduced measure, Senate Bill 123, that would have repealed the guarantee. Opponents of the bill said delaying or depriving patients’ access to medications could put them and others in their communities at risk.
KDHE and KDADS insisted the repeal would reduce the risk to patients, children in particular. They cited reports that documented instances of providers prescribing adult antipsychotics to children. The agencies said tighter regulation of behavioral health drugs could also save KanCare – the state’s Medicaid program — more than $7 million.
The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee endorsed the bill but it stalled in the full Senate. The committee revived the bill on Wednesday using a complicated set of procedural maneuvers. The compromise language and parts of the original bill are now folded into a new bill, – Senate Substitute for House Bill 2149.
The full Senate is expected to vote on the compromise proposal next week, after which, assuming it passes, it will be sent to the House. Compromise a surprise to some The Wednesday vote caught many mental health advocates off-guard. “We were surprised that statutory language got dropped into committee yesterday,” said Amy Campbell, executive director for the Kansas Mental Health Coalition.
Even so, Campbell said, the coalition is cautiously supportive of the compromise. “We feel like what’s being proposed is an improvement over the original (SB) 123,” Campbell said. “But we continue to communicate with the agencies (KDADS and KDHE) to get some questions answered.
There are some things we’d like to see formalized.” Under the compromise, patients whose drug regimens are currently considered effective will not be altered. The advisory committee will be chaired by the KDHE secretary or a designee.
Its membership will include two psychiatrists nominated by the Kansas Psychiatric Society, two psychiatrists nominated by the association of community mental health centers of Kansas, two pharmacists nominated by the Kansas Pharmacy Association; one physician nominated by the Kansas Medical Society; and one advanced practice registered nurse nominated by the Kansas State Nurses Association.
The nominee will be selected by the KDHE secretary. At least one of the psychiatrists must specialize in treating children; another in caring for the elderly.
“The hope now is that this committee’s representation will be broad enough to cover the concern of all our constituencies and patients.” said Dr. Eric Atwood, a psychiatrist and medical director at Family Service & Guidance Center, Topeka. If KDHE and KDADS “are approaching this in good faith and if the spirit of this is to ensure safety, I think this can be a workable process,” Atwood said.
The compromise bill requires that the advisory committee meet at least four times a year. Consumer representation absent from committee Rick Cagan, executive director for the Kansas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said his consumer constituents are noticeably absent from the proposed advisory committee. “No one consulted us,” Cagan said. “At this point, it looks as though there won’t be a consumer on the committee.
That’s a disappointment, but there don’t appear to be any representatives from the managed care companies on there either.”
Three private managed care companies operate the KanCare program for the state. Cagan said he remains troubled by KDADS and KDHE’s assertion that regulating access to mental health drugs will save millions of dollars. “They say that,” he said, “but that’s not been substantiated and I don’t see it happening.”
Dave Ranney is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.
PLAINVILLE — A fire earlier this week in Plainville destroyed a house in the southwest part of town.
According to Rooks County Emergency Manager Butch Post, firefighters were dispatched to the 300 block of South Meridian at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday after a passerby noticed smoke coming from the home.
Post said no one was home at the time of the fire, and the cause is undetermined.
The state fire marshal’s office was called into investigate the blaze, but Post said the damage was too extensive to determine a cause.
He said the home was completely destroyed.
A rebuilding fund has been set up through the website gofundme.com to help the family rebuild.
TOKYO (AP) — For hamburger aficionados who can’t get enough of it, Burger King has an answer: a grilled burger-scented fragrance.
Burger King said Friday that the limited “Whopper” grilled beef burger-scented cologne will be sold only one day on April 1, and only in Japan.
Sounds too good to be true? But it’s not an April Fools’ Day joke. The date marks the “Whopper” burger day for the company.
The limited “Flame Grilled” fragrance can be purchased at 5,000 yen ($40) per purchase of the burger that comes with flame-grilled beef. There will be only 1,000 of them.
Burger King said it hoped the scent would also seduce new grill-beef burger fans.
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced The Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act (S. 774). The bipartisan legislation would reform the examination process for financial institutions by requiring regulatory agencies to issue examination determinations promptly, as well as give banks and other supervised financial institutions the right to have those determinations reviewed.
“I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Financial Institutions Examination Fairness Reform Act to provide much-needed changes to the financial institution examination process,” Sen. Moran said. “The legislation allows for independent review and promotes greater uniformity among the various regulators. By improving the examination process, banks and credit unions can better serve their local customers and contribute to economic growth in their communities.”
“An effective and fair examination process of financial institutions is vital to the health of our banking system and is beneficial to the consumers it serves,” Sen. Manchin said. “This commonsense legislation would make sure that any bank or financial institution that undergoes a supervisory exam is allowed to have an impartial third party also review the exam findings before agencies can take action against that company. This independent review would not only strengthen transparency and openness during the review process, but it would also promote greater uniformity among the various regulatory agencies and impose much-needed accountability on those agencies.”
“By creating a reasonable process for financial institutions to appeal examination reports, our community banks and credit unions will have the clarity they need to provide small businesses with loans, spur investment and create jobs. Our economy needs certainty and confidence, and this bipartisan legislation puts us on the right track to achieve those goals,” said Sen. Capito.
Specifically, S. 774 would:
Impose reasonable limits on examiners to provide their conclusions to the institutions they examine and to make available upon request the information relied upon for those determinations;
Establish an independent examination review director. This individual would be retained by the Federal Financial Examinations Institution Council and would be authorized to address examination complaints and review examination procedures; and
Provide financial institutions with the right to seek review of supervisory determinations with the Independent Examination Review Director. The legislation authorizes the director to review the examination record and – at the institution’s request – direct an evidentiary hearing to enable the director to decide whether the agency’s examination determination shall be upheld.
The Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act also incorporates important safeguards to ensure that financial institutions will not abuse the review process to delay or evade appropriate supervisory action. An institution can seek review of an agency determination only if the determination is significant – such as a rating downgrade, imposition of a “matter requiring attention,” or suspension of the institution’s ability to open new bank branches or engage in other significant transactions. The review process also incorporates strict time limits. Finally, S. 774 will not prevent a regulatory agency from imposing supervisory restrictions on an institution or pursuing administrative enforcement of agency rules and regulations.
The bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.). The bill is supported by the American Bankers Association (ABA), Credit Union National Association (CUNA), National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU), and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA).
109th Dist. State Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill
March 20, 2015 Troy L. Waymaster, State Representative, Kansas House district, 109
Appropriations “Mega” Bill
On Monday, March 16, the Kansas Senate concurred with the block grant funding for K-12 education, 25-14, that the Kansas House passed on Friday, March 13, 64-57. After their concurrence, that bill now will go to Governor Brownback’s desk for his signature.
Even though I voted “No” on the block grant funding measure due to uncertainty on the impact it could possibly have on rural schools during and after the block grant period, with its passage it does address over fifty percent of the state of Kansas’ budgets for fiscal years 2015, 2016, and 2017.
On Tuesday, March 17, the House Appropriations committee began working on the adjusted budget for fiscal year 2015 and the proposed budgets for 2016 and 2017. Since this budget contains the spending measures for the state of Kansas for the next coming years, it is often referred to as the “Mega” Appropriations Bill.
One of the first measures that we adopted into the “Mega” Bill was the insertion of funding for the Judicial Branch of approximately $6.6 million in 2016 and $11 million in 2017. The additional funds were approved by the General Government Budget committee and then the full House Appropriations Committee when I reported this budget to them. While presenting their budget to the General Government Budget Committee, the Judicial Branch provided testimony that in order to have sustained funding, as in 2015; this branch of government would need $11 million in 2016 and $17 million in 2017.
Through many meetings and deliberations, I asked the branch for the necessary amount of funding that they needed above the Governor’s recommendation to prevent the layoffs and furloughs, which they claimed would happen without the additional funds. The amount that was submitted to the Appropriation Committee is the compromised amount needed for this third branch of government to operate in 2016 and 2017.
Other budgets we amended while working the “Mega” Bill affected many important programs and institutions throughout the state.
Some of those are the reinstatement of funds for the Parents as Teachers Program, allowing Kansas State University to have bond authority for the purpose of renovating Seaton Hall on the university’s campus, and potentially contracting with an outside auditor to evaluate the state of Kansas’ agencies, which would specifically identify redundancies and make the state more fiscally efficient.
The total amount of state spending for fiscal year 2016 is estimated at $6.2 billion.
Now that we have a tentative budget, the tax committee will meet to generate a tax plan to address the revenue side of the balance sheet and to ensure that we will balance the budget by the end of session.
Judicial Selection
There has been much discussion about changing the selection process for the Supreme Court since I was sworn in in 2013. Governor Brownback introduced the notion in his State of the State speech in 2013 and again in 2015. Currently this legislative session, we have two resolutions that would address the selection of the Supreme Court.
The altering of the selection process is in the form of a resolution and not a bill due to changing the Kansas Constitution, which requires a two-thirds approval vote in the House followed by a majority vote by the populous of Kansas.
There are currently two versions awaiting debate on the House floor regarding judicial selection.
One calls for having partisan elections for the Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals judges. The other is allowing the Governor to appoint Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals judges. The nominations would be subject to confirmation by the Kansas Senate. Both would abolish the current Supreme Court nominating commission. Being a political scientist, I prefer the latter version which is similar to the model on a Federal level.
Constitutional Carry Bill
There has been much discussion this session on Senate Bill 45, also referred to as the “Constitutional Carry” Bill. SB 45 would amend current law regarding firearms and adds language allowing the concealed carry of a firearm without needing a concealed carry license issued by the state of Kansas, as long as the individual is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal or state law.
The bill specifies that the carrying of a concealed handgun cannot be prohibited in any building unless the building was posted in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Attorney General. Concealed carry licenses would still be issued by the state, but the availability of those licenses could not be construed to prohibit the carrying of handguns without a license, whether carried openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded.
Related to concealed carry licenses, the bill also would allow the Attorney General to create a list of concealed carry handgun licenses or permits from other jurisdictions that have training requirements greater than or equal to the Kansas requirements. This list could be used by the Attorney General when reviewing concealed carry license applications and making a determination about whether an individual has completed an approved handgun safety and training course required for issuance of a concealed carry license.
The bill amends the definition of “criminal carrying of a weapon” clarifying that it is not legal for anyone under 21 years of age to conceal carry any pistol, revolver, or other firearm unless this individual is on his own land, home or place of business.
This bill passed out of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee on Tuesday, March 17.
Visitors and Contact Information
As we approach what is legislatively called “Drop Dead Date” of April 3, there are many other bills that we will have the opportunity to debate and vote on.
The bills that we have remaining vary in topics.
There are currently two other bills regarding firearm possession, eight bills regarding alcohol, including the Uncork Kansas legislation, and there are numerous tax bills encompassing all taxable items.
One of the tax proposals that had a hearing this week had to do with possibly increasing the state sales tax back to 6.3%, which it was until we reduced it in 2013. The House Tax committee conducted hearings on that proposal on March 17, and there is a possibility that there may be momentum to increase the sales tax rate from the current 6.15% to 6.3% in order to address the state budgetary shortfall.
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
Continued development of residential and business areas in north Hays was reviewed by Hays City Commissioners during their Thursday night work session.
Information was presented by Jesse Rohr, Superintendent of Planning, Inspection and Enforcement, for a replat in the North Hays Addition east of Carrico Implement, the final plat and rezoning of Clubhouse Gardens II adjacent to the Smoky Hill Country Club, and for establishing a benefit district as well as an engineering services agreement in King’s Gate Addition Phase II on the north side of 41st Street.
Rohr told commissioners the Hays Planning Commission had already unanimously approved each project.
However, Rohr did not support the final plat of Clubhouse Gardens II Addition. “The two large lots do not conform with the spirit of the city’s comprehensive plan,” he explained.
Commissioners also heard from Finance Director Kim Rupp about special assessments for two Special Improvement Districts within the city which are ready to be finalized and assessed to the property owners. The SIDs are 46th Street Second Addition and Golden Belt Estates Fifth Addition for water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and streets.
All items will move forward for consideration at next week’s regular Hays City Commission meeting, Thursday, March 26.
HUTCHINSON -The Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmate charged with attempted capital murder made an initial court appearance Thursday where he was told the charge against him and possible penalty.
Corey Jeffery, 43, actually appeared initially via-video from the jail, but they apparently had some trouble with that system, so he was brought to the courtroom under heavy guard.
He is accused of stabbing a corrections officer on September 17, 2014.
Corrections Officer Tim Russell who was working at the central unit received multiple stab wounds and was transported to the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center by EMS for treatment.
A weapon was reportedly recovered at the scene where the stabbing occurred.
The case now moves to a waiver-status docket in front of District Judge Joe McCarville on April 1.
