KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Environmentalists are contesting the federal government’s decision to allow more widespread use of a new version of a popular weed killer.
Motions filed Monday in the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco challenge the Environmental Protection Agency’s handling of Enlist Duo.
The weed killer is designed to be used with genetically modified corn and soybeans. But a coalition of environmental groups, including the Center for Food Safety, says it could endanger wildlife and public health.
Environmentalists first sued after the EPA in October approved the herbicide’s use in six states. The latest motions were filed after the EPA decided last month to allow its use in nine more states, including Kansas and Missouri.
Dow AgroSciences has said the new version has been engineered to solve potential problems.
KANSAS CITY – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 2 p.m. on Monday in Wyandotte County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Honda Accord driven by Krystal Anderson, 20, Kansas City, was northbound on Interstate 35 in the number four lane just north of U.S. 69.
The vehicle driver’s side rear tire went flat at highway speeds.
The vehicle rotated clockwise, entered the grass, rotated counter-clockwise and overturned.
Anderson was transported to Truman Medical Center.
She was properly restrained at the time of the accident according to the KHP.
SCOTT CITY — The 2015 edition of the K-State Cattle Feeders College is planned for May 14 at the Scott County Indoor Arena and Activities Center, 610 E. Fairground Road in Scott City.
Joe Wolter, who has built a reputation for his work with horses and people, is the featured speaker. More information about Wolter is available at www.joewolter.com. Cattle feeders and others are welcome to attend, but must pre-register.
The day starts with registration at 3:30 p.m., and also features the “Top Hand” Cattle Feeding Industry Awards. Those awards recognize hard work, honesty, reliability, integrity and animal stewardship. Nominations in 100 words or less, are due by May 8 to Dr. Justin Waggoner, 4500 E. Mary St., Garden City, KS 67846.
There is no cost to attend the K-State Cattle Feeders College, but registration is required, by contacting either Justin Waggoner at (620) 275-9164 or [email protected] or John Beckman, (620) 872-2930 or [email protected]. More information is available at www.southwest.ksu.edu.
SOLOMON – A Kansas woman is in custody in Dickinson County on drug distribution charges.
Dickinson County Sheriff Gareth Hoffman reported his department’s drug enforcement officers witnessed an alleged drug transaction of methamphetamine in the 300 block of East 4th Street in Solomon on April 14.
A traffic stop was conducted, and Melanie Jo Smith, 29, Salina, was subsequently arrested. Hoffman alleged that Smith had been observed by Drug Enforcement agents selling methamphetamine in Solomon. A search was conducted, and authorities located U.S. currently, digital scales, baggies, marijuana, and more than five grams of methamphetamine that was packed for sale and distribution.
Smith was arrested on suspicion of Conspiracy to Distribute Methemphetamine, Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine With the Intent to Sell, Possession of Methamphetamine, Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor Possession of Parphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Unlawful Use of a Telecommunications Device, Receiving Drug Proceeds, and three counts of Failure to Obtain a Kansas Drug Tax Stamp.
The case is ongoing and further arrests are possible.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback’s top budget adviser says Kansas legislators must find about $400 million through tax increases or spending cuts during the state’s next fiscal year after the release of new, more pessimistic revenue projections.
Budget Director Shawn Sullivan said Monday that the Republican governor is working on proposals to trim from $80 million to $90 million in spending from the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
He said much of the savings will come from lower-than-anticipated costs for social services. Sullivan said the governor wouldn’t propose cutting aid to public schools.
Republican legislative leaders had been working on budget proposals that would have required about $150 million in general tax increases to avoid a deficit.
Brownback already has proposed raising alcohol and tobacco taxes.
Fort Hays State Justin Hersch rebounded from a five-run third inning with five straight scoreless frames leading the Tigers to a 12-10 win over Emporia State in game two of their doubleheader Monday afternoon at Larks Park. The Hornets broke open a 3-3 game to win the opener 11-5.
The Tigers are now 15-27 overall and 12-20 in the MIAA while the Hornets fall to 30-11 and 20-11 in the conference.
Steve Johnson Postgame Interview
Game 2 Highlights
Hersch (2-3), who threw 141 pitches, struck out a season-high 10 and retired 11 straight before giving up a one-out double in the ninth falling short of the compete game.
Cooper Langley led the Tiger offense with four hits including a two-run homer in the fourth. Langley drove in five. Andre Vieyra also hit a two-run homer and drove in three. Alex King hit a solo blast in the third after the Hornets had scored five in the top of the inning to tie the game 7-7.
Emporia State hit five home runs, in the first game, four of them in the final two innings. ESU scored eight of their 11 runs in the last two frames, breaking open a 3-3 game with five in the sixth and three more in the seventh.
Starter Joe Mapes (1-1) takes the loss for the Tigers allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits over five innings. Kevin Czarnecki had two doubles and drove in two. Andre Vieyra homered.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback has vetoed a bill that would have increased regulations on ride-hailing companies like Uber.
Brownback announced his decision in a statement Monday, saying the bill was “premature” and might stifle growth.
The bill would require some drivers for Uber and other ride-hailing companies to provide proof of broader insurance and undergo state background checks. Uber connects drivers to riders through a mobile app and lobbied fiercely against the bill, saying its passage would have forced the company to leave the state.
The bill passed with large majorities in both chambers and Republican Rep. Scott Schwab from Olathe said the Legislature would attempt to override the governor’s veto. This would require 84 votes in the 125-seat House and 27 votes in the 40-seat Senate.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback must decide whether to sign a bill that ride-hailing company Uber has said would drive it out of the state if it becomes law.
Monday is the last day before Brownback is required to act on the bill, which was passed in early April by the Legislature.
Uber connects drivers to riders through a mobile app. Its pool of subcontracted drivers has since grown to 700 in the state.
The Kansas bill would require some drivers for Uber and other ride-hailing companies to provide proof of broader insurance and undergo state background checks.
Will McCollum, Uber general manager for Kansas, says those requirements are unwarranted. Kansas lawmakers say they are necessary regulations for Uber’s business model.
SALINA -The winner of the 2014 “Peoples Choice Award” in the 2014 Sculpture Tour Salina was damaged over the weekend.
Officials say late Saturday or early Sunday.
The sculpture of a tennis player titled “Next Up,” which was located on the southwest corner of Santa Fe and Walnut in Salina had the tennis racket broken off late Saturday or early Sunday.
The sculpture, which will eventually be located near the tennis courts at Oakdale Park was removed from its downtown location.
The sculpture is valued at $15,000 and is owned by Sculpture Tour of Salina.
TOPEKA — A former Kansas state legislator was sentenced Monday to 18 months in federal prison for defrauding Farmers and Merchants Bank of Colby of more than $460,000, some of which he deposited in his campaign account, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said in a news release. He also was ordered to pay $461,000 in restitution.
Trent K. LeDoux, 40, Holton, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. In his plea, he admitted he applied for three loans from the bank, falsely representing that he was going to use all the funds to buy cattle that would serve as the collateral for the loans. In fact, he used some of the money to pay off existing debts and to make contributions to his political campaign account.
Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway for their work on the case.
Sierra Jones, like most mothers, admits to worrying about her child. But by the time her daughter, Tailynn, was 10 months old, it became obvious that something wasn’t quite right.
Melissa Ginther, an occupational therapist on HACC’s early intervention team, laughs as she works with Tailynn Jones in late March.
The child was not achieving normal milestones for this age, such as beginning to crawl, and she seemed to have a hard time pointing and grasping on to toys, bottles and other objects.
The family was referred to Hays Area Children’s Center for a complete developmental evaluation in November. During a visit from a registered nurse and occupational therapist, a startling discovery was made.
“They found she is severely far-sighted,” Sierra Jones said.
HACC staff was able to make the initial assessment during a home visit using Spot Vision Screener technology, which gives a detailed report of a child’s vision in less than 1 second. The technology, which checks alignment of the eyes, vision acuity, astigmatism and pupil size, was purchased with a grant from the Children’s Miracle Network.
In Tailynn’s case, she failed the initial exam and was referred to an ophthalmologist, then later outfitted with a pale green pair of special glasses.
“She picked them out herself,” Her mother said of the color.
From November until the time the family moved out of state in April, HACC staff continued to visit Tailynn regularly to assess her progress and help her achieve new skills.
Four months after the initial diagnosis, Tailynn was not only crawling, but learning to walk. She is able to grab on to toys and feed herself a bottle, and continues to gain motor skills. And for the first time, she is able to see others smiling and return the gesture.
The difference, Sierra said, has been astonishing.
After being referred to HACC for a suspected developmental delay, it was discovered the 10-month-old child was severely far-sighted.
“It seemed like she was just amazed by everything she could see,” she said. “She was just taking it all in. It’s just amazing how far she’s come.”
HACC provides early intervention services to children who have been referred for a developmental delay or disability. These services are provided at no cost to the families, and are funded with help from United Way of Ellis County and funds from the Ellis County mill levy.
Qualifying concerns include a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities or delays. It is gratifying for HACC staff to watch the children make significant improvements as a result of these services, said Beth Fisher, the registered nurse on the early intervention team.
“That was so heartwarming,” Fisher said of Tailynn’s experience, “because it was easy to see what difference was made.”
For children with developmental concerns, the benefits of proper early intervention services will last a lifetime. Many studies have linked early childhood intervention to improved outcomes in school and in society later in life.
If parents suspect their young child might be struggling with a developmental delay, they are encouraged to schedule a free developmental screening through Hays Area Children’s Center. Screenings are offered once a month, and are available to children ages birth to 3, and 3 to 5 if parents have a concern.
The screenings provide a quick assessment of all areas of development, including speech, language, vision, hearing, social and personal skills, thinking, self-help and motor development. If a concern is identified, the child might qualify for free services through the early intervention program.
For more information or to schedule a free developmental screening, contact HACC at (785) 625-3257.
Six men were arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct in connection with a fight at the Wild Rose, 109 W. Seventh, early Sunday morning, and two Hays Police Department officers received minor injuries trying to make arrests.
According to Assistant Chief of Police Brian Dawson, at approximately 2 a.m., officers were flagged down by a crowd outside the Wild Rose informing them a fight had broken out inside the nightclub.
Dawson said officers entered the facility and “started taking people into custody.”
“The crowd outside started circling the officers,” he added. “Some people in the crowd were trying to pull officers away to keep them from arresting some of the suspects.”
Arrested as a result of the incident were Tanner Brunner, 21, Manhattan; Wesley Girk, 42, Protection; Kyle Jones, 18, Hays; Nathan Kuhn, 42, Greensburg; Taylor Shipman, 19, Lamar, Colo.; and Tray Snyder, 41, Coldwater.
Sometimes it takes one good year to make everybody take notice. In the spring of 2014, that is exactly what Mattie Schlaefli did in javelin. A year ago she placed second in the 5A State Javelin Throw, uncorking a throw of 128′-11″. It wasn’t her best throw of the year, having thrown 130′-9″ earlier in the year, just three inches short of the Western Athletic Conference meet record. All of that was enough to put collegiate coaches on alert of her ability. On Monday the senior signed her National Letter of Intent to compete at Fort Hays State University.
Mattie Schlaefli
The Tigers are well known in NCAA D-II for their javelin throwers. Current FHSU freshman Estefania Lopez has the best throw in the nation by over nine feet. Sophomore Madison Wolf is third in the nation, trailing second place by two inches. And sophomore Megan Honas currently ranks 13th in the nation.
Coach Kirk Maska
Schlaefli has only thrown in one meet this season after suffering an ankle injury in the next to last regular season game of basketball season. Her event coach Kirk Maska said he expects Mattie to be back to the 130′ mark or better by the regional and state competition, now that she has been cleared to participate again.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Environmentalists are contesting the federal government’s decision to allow more widespread use of a new version of a popular weed killer.
