TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka woman and her 5-month-old daughter have survived after being flung from their SUV when a truck struck it from behind on the shoulder of Interstate 70.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Passion Hendricks was feeding the baby in a Chevrolet Suburban parked alongside the highway with mechanical problems around 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says Michael Saulsbury of Kansas City, Missouri, was westbound when his GMC Sierra left the road and struck Hendricks’ vehicle.
The impact sent the SUV onto its side and into the ditch, ejecting Hendricks as she held the baby. A 16-month-old girl who was restrained in a child seat remained in the SUV.
Saulsbury’s vehicle also overturned.
All four were taken to a Topeka hospital, where they were treated and released.
Photo by Andy Marso Rep. Tom Sloan, a moderate Republican from Lawrence, has provided House leaders with a plan that covers the estimated $68 million annual cost of Medicaid expansion and generates an additional $39.1 million to help balance the state budget. –
By Jim McLean
Frustrated by their inability to muster more than a handful of votes for any tax plan, Kansas Republican legislative leaders are asking rank-and-file members the “What will it take to get out of here?” question.
They’re getting a variety of answers as the session, on its 103rd day, inches closer to record territory as the longest in state history. In 2002, legislators met for 107 days. Some committed fiscal conservatives are saying they must be given an opportunity to vote on a budget that cuts state spending more substantially than a tentatively agreed to $6.5 billion plan. They’ll likely get an opportunity to show their strength in the next few days.
House and Senate negotiators are preparing several variations of the budget for test votes, including one that would impose across-the-board cuts of more than $350 million.
Holding out for Medicaid expansion
Other lawmakers are insisting that taxes be reinstated on more than 280,000 business owners and 50,000 farmers. Their profits — pass-through and passive income — were exempted from taxation by a 2012 law backed by Gov. Sam Brownback that also cut individual income tax rates.
A proposal to reinstate the business tax has strong support among moderate Republicans in the House despite Brownback’s pledge to veto any substantial changes to his signature policy, which he maintains will spur economic growth if given time to work.
Several House members who support reinstating some tax on business profits also continue to hold out for expanding Medicaid eligibility.
Rep. Tom Sloan, a moderate Republican from Lawrence, is one of them. He said he has provided House leaders with a plan that covers the estimated $68 million annual cost of expansion and generates an additional $39.1 million to help balance the state budget.
“You can fund Medicaid expansion without using state general fund money and, with the provider assessments that are proposed, actually help balance the budget,” Sloan said Tuesday.
The proposal increases an existing assessment on hospital revenues and imposes new surcharges on services provided by chiropractors, podiatrists, pharmacists, optometrists, mental health providers, and physical and occupational therapists. It also extends a nursing home “bed tax” that is set to expire.
Collectively, the proposed assessments on health care services would generate an estimated $106.4 million a year, according to estimates compiled by the Kansas Legislative Research Department. Given all of the issues in play, Sloan isn’t confident that lawmakers will get an opportunity to vote on a package that includes the Medicaid expansion and business tax proposals even though he said such a combination could sway as many as 15 or 20 votes.
“It’s not been dismissed out of hand, which is about as far as I’d want to go in terms of a positive statement,” Sloan said. “It is being discussed.”
‘A difficult sell’
So far, Brownback and Republican leaders have been pushing for large increases in the state sales tax to close what is conservatively estimated to be a $406 million budget gap in the fiscal year that begins July 1. Sloan said he and other moderate Republicans would consider supporting a tax package that includes a smaller sales tax hike if it also includes the proposals they favor. “There are people who say, ‘
If we get a combination of a tax on those businesses that otherwise are exempt and we get Medicaid expansion, then the rest of the package might be bearable,’” he said.
“But if all you’re doing is saying that Medicaid is off the table and business taxes are off the table, then there is no reason for most moderate Republicans or any Democrat to vote for it.” Rep. Jim Ward, a Wichita Democrat and a leading advocate for Medicaid expansion, applauds Sloan’s efforts to keep the issue alive.
But he said he and other members of the Legislature’s Democratic minority would have to think long and hard about supporting a bill that packages it with a sales tax increase. “That will always be a difficult sell in the Democratic caucus,” Ward said. “It becomes one of those Faustian choices.”
Questions about the details
Some of the providers that Sloan is counting on to help fund his expansion plan either oppose it or have questions about it. Cindy Luxem, president and chief executive officer of the Kansas Health Care Association, said her organization, which represents the state’s for-profit nursing homes, supports Medicaid expansion but opposes Sloan’s funding proposal.
“The bottom line here is that we’d be telling providers who are already underpaid to step up to help fix a problem — the whole thing about balancing the budget — that they didn’t create,” Luxem said.
Kyle Kessler, executive director of the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, said his members strongly support Medicaid expansion. But he said he would need to review “the details of the financing plan” before deciding whether to support it.
Expansion population
Currently, the state’s privatized Medicaid program, KanCare, covers about 425,000 children and low-income, disabled and elderly adults. But that number includes relatively few non-disabled adults.
Adults with dependent children can participate in KanCare, but only if they have annual incomes below 33 percent of the federal poverty level, about $8,000 for a family of four. Non-disabled adults without children aren’t eligible for coverage no matter how poor they are.
Expansion would make all Kansans with incomes up to 138 percent of poverty eligible for KanCare: $16,105 for an individual and $32,913 for a family of four. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 324,000 Kansans age 19 to 64 have incomes that would qualify them for Medicaid under expansion. Of those, about 131,000 are uninsured.
The Kansas Hospital Association has lobbied hard for expansion, telling legislators that a growing number of its members need it to offset cuts in Medicare and other federal programs.
Jim McLean is executive editor of KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team.— Dave Ranney of the KHI News Service contributed to this story.
SALINA – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a case of criminal threat at a school.
Saline County Sheriff Glen Kochanowski said Saige Horn 18, and Alexander Harms, 16, both students with St. Francis Community Services were arrested after they typed a bomb threat on a computer and printed it.
The teens said a staff member of the residential program west of Salina was being mean to them according to the sheriff.
The threats stated they were going to blow up the building and a vehicle.
Horn is also alleged to have thrown rocks and used a hard plastic milk crate to damaged a Jeep owned by the staff member.
Horn is in the Saline County Jail on requested charges of criminal damage to property, and criminal threats. Harms has been placed in juvenile detention in Junction City on a charge of criminal threats.
TOPEKA– Kansas Governor Sam Brownback today announced recent appointments to boards and commissions.
“Thank you to these Kansans who are willing to serve fellow citizens with their time and talents. Kansas will be a better place because of their dedication,” said Governor Brownback.
The Governor’s Office is always looking for qualified, interested Kansans to serve the state on commissions and boards in their areas of expertise. If you are interested in serving on a commission or board, visit https://governor.ks.gov/serving-kansans/office-of-appointments.
Bill Snyder, Manhattan, is being reappointed to the Sports Hall of Fame Board of Trustees.
Robert O’Connor, Leawood, is being appointed to the Real Estate Appraisal Board.
Rodney “Shane” Pearson, Assaria, is being appointed to the Emergency Medical Services Board.
David Ricketts-Kingfisher, Topeka, is being appointed to the Emergency Medical Services Board.
Jennifer Rhodus, Shawnee, is being reappointed to the REACH Healthcare Foundation.
Debra Tucker, Grantville, is being appointed to the Volunteer Commission.
Michael Radke, Garden City, is being appointed to the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. Radke is a sergeant with the Garden City Police Department.
Morgan Anderson, Goddard, is being appointed to the Advisor Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Democrats have announced a plan to avoid state worker furloughs if a budget deal is not passed by June 7.
House Minority Leader Tom Burroughs said Wednesday the measure would prevent state workers from being held hostage by the budget deadlock.
Administration officials have said that the state does not have the authority to pay non-essential workers beyond June 6 if a budget is not passed. The Democratic proposal would provide enough money for employee salaries over the next eight weeks.
The Kansas House GOP responded to the Democratic bill by tweeting that the House is scheduled to vote on a budget that would avoid furloughs. But that budget would need to also be approved by the Senate and signed by the governor.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A new terminal at the Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita is officially open.
State and local officials were on hand Wednesday morning as the terminal mark its first day of business.
Wichita media report the first flight was supposed to be an American Airlines flight to Dallas but that flight was delayed because of a power problem on the airplane — not because of any problems in the terminal. So a United Airlines flight to Chicago became the first plane out of the terminal. The American Airlines flight was able to take off a short time later.
The new terminal has 12 gates on two levels, although three of the gates won’t be open until further work is done, which could take up to a year.
From Monument Rocks in Gove County to the Arikaree Breaks in northern Cheyenne County, northwest Kansas fared well in a listing of “Jaw-Dropping Places in Kansas.”
The listing, compiled by OnlyInYourState.com and published today, also listed a blanket entry for western Kansas.
The Hays Police Department said it has received an increased number of calls regarding water violations as summer restrictions have begun.
“This time of year water violations are going to become pretty common,” Lt. Brandon Wright said. “According to the ordinance, 65-69, you are not allowed to have it escape your property while watering your lawn. If there is a discernible flow coming from your property, you are in violation.”
In recent years, Hays has been in a water watch or warning, with stricter regulations in place. But even in the current drought status of “normal,” outdoor watering is prohibited between noon and 7 p.m. from June 1 to Sept. 30.
Vehicle washing also has sparked calls, and Wright reminded residents of the water-conservation rules.
“You have to be controlling the water. You cannot spray your car down and let it run down the street. he said. “You also need to use a nozzle or you can turn it off.”
The first violation over a 24-month period is a warning. The second comes with a $50 fine, the third is $200, and the fourth is $250. The city also reserves the right to disconnect water services for scofflaws.
Visit the city of Hays website for a complete list of ordinances — www.haysusa.com
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration is asking a judge to dismiss or immediately decide a lawsuit filed over his refusal to release the names of applicants for the Saline County Commission.
The Associated Press, The Salina Journal and The Topeka Capital-Journal are suing the governor, contending that names of applicants to public boards are public record. The administration argues the records are exempt from the Kansas Open Records Act.
Attorneys for the governor filed their motion Monday in Shawnee County District Court seeking immediate action. Salina attorney Nathanael Berg told The Salina Journal the motion is routine in such lawsuits and that he will file a response by July 1.
Arguments in the case have been scheduled for Sept. 17.
The Republicans have a big problem. Their presidential primary contest is beginning to resemble the New York marathon — hordes of contestants as far as the eye can see.
How is a voter expected to choose among them, particularly since virtually all say pretty much the same thing?
To name a few examples, the entire gang of 15 or more politicians wants to cut taxes, roll back the Affordable Care Act, ban abortion, crack down on undocumented immigration, keep gun laws weak, and do nothing about global warming.
They also uniformly despise Hillary Clinton.
As part of my continuing effort to make the world a better place, here’s a brief analysis of a few top GOP candidates. I hope it helps you tell them apart.
Jeb Bush: The former governor of Florida and latest member of the Bush dynasty angling to occupy the White House is the nice-guy conservative of the bunch.
He’s no less conservative than the others, mind you — except for the suspicion that he’s soft on immigrants because his wife grew up in Mexico — but an iron fist in a velvet glove nevertheless. Jimmy Stewart would play him in the movie, if there were a movie and if Jimmy Stewart were still around.
Carly Fiorina: The former CEO of Hewlett Packard is easily spotted since she’s only woman seeking the Republican nomination.
She’s a failed corporate executive who thinks she’s the perfect answer for voters who’d like to vote for a woman but can’t stand Hillary. Maybe.
Rand Paul: The senator from Kentucky passes for this gang’s anti-war candidate. Even if Paul did sign that silly GOP letter that tried to sabotage nuclear talks with Iran, he’s still way, way out to the left of mainstream Republicans, who are nothing if not bellicose.
Paul also has other libertarian-based ideas that make him an odd goose in this company of ducks — especially his opposition to the NSA spying on us all.
Lindsey Graham: The senator from Mars — I mean, South Carolina — has yet to meet an international problem that he doesn’t think U.S. troops can fix. I get the feeling that he’d bomb Canada if he got the chance.
Marco Rubio: The senator from Florida is the closest thing to John F. Kennedy the Republicans have had in years.
He’s young, he’s good looking, and he gives a good speech. He gets a lot of mileage from how hard his parents, Cuban immigrants, had it when he was growing up. He’d be the ideal vice president for Bush if they didn’t both hail from the same state.
Ben Carson: As the only African-American contender, he’s as easy to pick out in this crowd as Fiorina. He’s a brilliant brain surgeon, and a rip-roaring speaker prone to saying some strange things.
Ted Cruz: As the leader of the Senate’s does-not-play-well-with-others caucus, it’s unclear how he would forge requisite alliances with Congress if he were elected. He sees his function as being the sand in the gears of government. People who love him, love him a lot. To the rest of us, he’s Darth Vader.
Chris Christie: The New Jersey governor is Tony Soprano on the hoof. If a blustering bully is your idea of a national leader, he’s your man.
Scott Walker: The Wisconsin governor is the one wearing a little label on his lapel that says: “If found, return to the Kochs.” His viability as a candidate depends on whether he remains the billionaire brothers’ favorite.
Mike Huckabee: The former Arkansas governor did quite well in his failed 2008 presidential bid as the pick of the religious right, which dominates the Iowa GOP caucuses.
This growing flock also includes the following sure-to-lose politicians: Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, Ohio governor John Kasich, businessman Donald Trump, former Texas governor Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum.
Remember Santorum? The former senator from Pennsylvania and father of seven kids is the biggest zealot and easily the least likable guy in the race. If he wins, expect a mass exodus to Canada.
OtherWords.org columnist Donald Kaul lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Classes have started this week at Pittsburg State University for the school’s first group of students working toward a doctorate degree in nursing practice.
The coursework comes amid a need for highly educated nurse practitioners in the southeast Kansas area, largely because of a recent growth of rural health clinics.
The Joplin Globe reports that around 16 students are in the program. Director Mary Carol Pomatto of the university’s nursing school says the program’s goal was to admit 12. She says students should finish their degree in December 2016.
Students say they selected the program because of affordability and location. Others said the program would help them provide the highest level of care for patients.
SALINA – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday in Saline County.
The Saline County Sheriff’s office reported a 1999 Honda Accord driven by Tammy Armstrong, 42, Beloit, was northbound on U.S. 81 near the K143 Junction north of Salina.
Armstrong said she fell asleep according to the sheriff’s office. The vehicle left the road and rolled.
Armstrong was extricated from the vehicle and transported to Salina Regional Medical Center with cuts, bruises and a possible broken collarbone according to the sheriff.
