WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 45-year-old man has died after his car crashed into the side of a house in Wichita.
According to Wichita police Lt. James Espinoza, a crash was reported around 5:38 a.m. Thursday. Espinoza said a sedan crashed into a house and caught fire. No one in the house was injured.
According to authorities, witnesses say a man pulled the driver out of the burning car before leaving the scene. Espinoza said police believe the man was a Good Samaritan.
The identity of the driver has not been released pending notification of his family.
Bieker, a Garder, Kansas resident spent most of his early life in Trego County
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A plea hearing has been delayed for one of four men charged with killing a suburban Kansas City gun store owner.
Deanthony Wiley is charged in Johnson County court with first-degree murder in the January shooting death of Jon Bieker at the She’s A Pistol gun store in Shawnee. Bieker was killed while defending his wife during a robbery at the store. His wife suffered minor injuries.
Wiley had been scheduled to enter a plea Thursday, but defense attorneys said they needed additional time to review sentencing documents.
The plea hearing was postponed Thursday until Sept. 18.
Three other men are also charged in the case. All four suspects are being held in the Johnson County Jail.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The second of two men found guilty in the killing of a 23-year-old man in Wichita has been sentenced to about two years in prison.
The Wichita Eagle reports 38-year-old Jeremy Anspach was sentenced Wednesday to 27 months in prison for his role in the death of Eric Salazar. According to prosecutors, Anspach drove 25-year-old Manuel Rivas to Salazar’s apartment on Nov. 6, 2013 where the victim was shot in the head.
Authorities say Anspach guarded the door whole Rivas confronted Salazar about money.
Rivas was sentenced to more than 33 years in prison for his role in the slaying.
From left to right: David Barfield, Dick Wolfe and Jeff Fassett(Photo courtesy RRCA)
Kansas Department of Agriculture
LINCOLN, NEB.–The states of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska reached an agreement today, Aug. 27, that will ensure more certainty to the basin’s water users in both Nebraska and Kansas. The agreement, in the form of a Resolution approved by the Republican River Compact Administration (RRCA), was achieved through collaborative negotiations that began in April 2015 and will provide timely notice and access to water for the 2016 irrigation season.
The agreement provides additional flexibility for Nebraska to achieve its Compact obligations while ensuring that the interests of Kansas are protected. The additional flexibility will allow the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources to provide a portion of the forecasted compliance water early in 2016 and provide any additional shortfall later in 2016 and through April 1, 2017. This also provides some improved operational predictability for Nebraska water users in that water users will not be subjected to closing notices related to the 2016 irrigation season.
The 2016 agreement builds upon the agreement reached for the 2015 irrigation season with further beneficial developments for water users. This agreement provides more advanced notice to irrigators in the basin of compliance activities that will likely occur in 2016, allowing for an advanced planning period producers desire for their efficiently run operations.
The States’ agreement is contingent upon the Nebraska and the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation Districts, working with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, – reaching agreement on modifications of certain contract provisions contained in their Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) also adopted last year. Thus, ensuring the availability of the water pumped from Nebraska augmentation projects for RRCA compliance.
Current RRCA Chairman, Gordon W. “Jeff” Fassett, Director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, said, “Today’s agreement is good news for Nebraska water users and represents the continuation of the cooperative and positive collaboration we’ve fostered between our states as we work to find mutually agreeable solutions that best serve our citizens. Additionally, we are hopeful that this positive momentum will continue to move us closer to the goal of securing a long-term agreement. With significantly more planning time, Nebraska’s water users will have greater certainty in their water supply and make the best decisions for their operations.”
“We are pleased to collaborate with Nebraska and Colorado as we continue to develop balanced and fair water solutions benefiting all of the basin’s water users that reflects good water management,” said Kansas Commissioner David Barfield. “This fourth in our series of recent agreements with Nebraska allows Kansas to make effective use of its water supply in 2016 and allows the states additional time and experience with Nebraska’s compliance activities as we continue to move toward long-term agreement.”
Colorado Commissioner Dick Wolfe said, “This agreement exemplifies the success that can be achieved through collaboration and cooperation of the RRCA and the water users in the basin.”
The RRCA is comprised of one member each from the States of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. The purpose of the RRCA is to administer the Republican River Compact. This Compact allocates the waters of the Republican River among the three states. The next RRCA annual meeting is scheduled for August of 2016 and will be hosted by the State of Colorado in a location of their choice.
She started work on it in 2012. Three years later, Dr. Amanda Fields admitted she was thrilled to see it published.
Fields, assistant professor of English at Fort Hays State University, published a collaborative webtext in issue 20.1 (fall 2015) of Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology and Pedagogy. The webtext highlights and analyzes youth slam poetry performances in Tucson, Ariz.
“I felt more excited than something on the printed page I’ve written,” Fields said. “Way more excited, because you can jump around. The screens move quickly.
“We felt the designs reflected some of the things we were trying to say about young people,” she added. “It made it maybe a little more accessible to people outside of academics.”
Fields is new on campus after receiving a Ph.D. in rhetoric, composition and teaching English from the University of Arizona. She was a Crossroads Scholar for the Crossroads Collaborative, a Ford Foundation-funded research collective focused on youth sexuality, health and rights.
The purpose of the text is to shift conversations about young people, where they are valued for the knowledge they bring to the table. Youth poetry slamming is in this format, and Kairos seemed the way to go, Fields said.
“Webtexting seemed like a really great way to do that,” Fields said. “There’s a lot more breathing room in the webtext.”
The webtext could help Fields become more involved on campus.
“It might be a good thing to show,” Fields said. “It’s my first year, and I’m looking for youth organizations to work with in Hays.
“I’m really interested in organizations that serve underserved populations,” added Fields, who is co-advisor for the FHSU Gay Straight Alliance. “In Tucson, that involved a lot of the Latino youth.”
For more information, contact Fields at [email protected] or (520) 837-9063.
Soldiers with the 2nd GSAB, 1st Avn. Regt., 1st CAB, 1st Inf. Div., conduct cold load training with Soldiers from the 17th FA Bde., assigned to Task Force First Round on Aug. 24 on the Kalispel Tribe of Indians Reservation. (U.S. Army photo)
FORT RILEY – Soldiers stationed at Fort Riley are providing around-the-clock medevac support to civilian and military agencies fighting the massive wildfire in northeastern Washington state, according to a release from Fort Riley.
Soldiers assigned to 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division are supporting Task Force First Round, which was formed around the 17th Field Artillery Brigade from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to combat what is being called the Tower Fire. About 95 large wildfires are burning 1.1 million acres in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada and Colorado, according to information from U.S. Northern Command.
“The 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley are once again on point for our nation,” said Maj. Gen. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr., commanding general of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley. “Fort Riley’s central location in Kansas is key to the ‘Big Red One’s’ ability to provide ready Soldiers to support operations on either coast or around the world. Our brave and responsible Big Red One Soldiers are proud to support this interagency effort – they can and will accomplish any mission set in front of them.”
On Aug. 17, the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, mobilized active-duty Soldiers to serve as firefighters to assist with wildfire suppression efforts, according to information from NORTHCOM. This is the first time since 2006 the NIFC has called upon active-duty Soldiers to assist in firefighting efforts.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A child advocacy group’s leader says parts of a new Kansas welfare law appear to conflict with federal child care policies, potentially jeopardizing more than $40 million a year in federal funds.
Kansas Action for Children CEO Shannon Cotsoradis raised additional issues Thursday about the welfare law approved by legislators this year. Her comments came weeks after the state dropped a $25-per-day limit on ATM withdrawals with cash assistance cards following questions from federal officials.
Congress last year reauthorized a program providing federal grants for child care.
Cotsoradis said penalties in the new Kansas law for parents who don’t comply with regulations appear to run afoul of a policy in the federal reauthorization.
A spokeswoman for the state Department for Children and Families didn’t immediately return telephone messages seeking comment.
Paulo Orlando homers in Kansas City’s win over Baltimore Thursday. (Chris Vleisides)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yordano Ventura struck out a career-high 11 in just six innings, Paulo Orlando homered and the Kansas City Royals hung on to beat the struggling Baltimore Orioles 5-3 on Thursday.
Ventura (9-7) allowed two hits and four walks to improve to 5-0 in his last seven starts.
Mike Moustakas is congratulated in the Royals dugout. Thursday. He extended his hitting streak to 8 games.(Chris Vleisides)
The Royals’ usually solid bullpen nearly gave it away, though. Kelvin Herrera served up a homer to Ryan Flaherty in the seventh, and Greg Holland allowed two more runs in the ninth before getting Gerardo Parra to ground out with a runner on to end the game.
Chris Tillman (9-9), who tossed a five-hitter at Kauffman Stadium last May, followed his first loss since May 31 with another.
The game wasn’t all that Baltimore lost, either.
All-Star outfielder Adam Jones left soon after crashing into the wall trying to track down a fly ball in the first. Jones lay on the warning track for a few minutes before standing up and finishing the inning. There was no word on the nature or severity of the injury.
TOPEKA -A federal jury on Thursday returned a guilty verdict in the case of a Junction City man who stole his father’s identity to apply for a loan to buy a $490,000 house, according to U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
Matthew Williams, 47, Junction City, was convicted on one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Williams filled out a loan application with Pulaski Bank using his father’s name, social security number and other identifying information in an attempt to get a loan to purchase a house in Shawnee, Kansas. The defendant was in bankruptcy proceedings at the time.
The government presented evidence that Williams claimed to be an Army veteran and recipient of a Purple Heart award for valor in Vietnam. In fact, Williams’ father, Earl, fought in both Vietnam and Desert Storm and earned a Purple Heart, as well as other commendations.
BILL DRAPER, Associated Press
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A man accused of killing three people at two Kansas Jewish sites has been ordered to begin his defense this week, but it’s unclear how much evidence he will be allowed to submit.
Frazier Glenn Miller Jr. is facing a possible death sentence if convicted of capital murder in the 2014 shootings at two sites in Overland Park, Kansas. Johnson County prosecutors rested their case on Thursday morning.
Miller is representing himself. He told Johnson County judge Thomas Kelly Ryan he wasn’t prepared to start his defense and needed the case postponed until Monday. Ryan instead set Miller’s defense for Friday morning.
Ryan warned Miller that he would not be allowed to present evidence about his motives for the shootings. Miller accused the judge of violating his constitutional rights
—————
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors have rested their case in the capital murder trial of a Missouri white supremacist who acknowledges killing three people at two Jewish centers in suburban Kansas City.
Jurors on Thursday heard recordings of two phone calls Miller made from the Johnson County jail, in which he admitted killing a 69-year-old man, his 14-year-old grandson and a 53-year-old woman in Overland Park, Kansas, in April 2014.
District Attorney Steve Howe announced afterward that he was finished presenting his case.
Miller asked Judge Thomas Kelly Ryan to postpone the defense part of the case until Monday because he’s not prepared. Ryan reminded the 74-year-old he’s the one who demanded a speedy trial and fired his attorneys.
Ryan said he would rule on the request after speaking with Miller behind closed doors.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas says it’s reached a settlement agreement over the release of documents to a student group looking for ties between an economic research center and Charles and David Koch.
Art Hall, a lecturer and executive director of the Center for Applied Economics in the University of Kansas School of Business, sued the university to prevent the release of emails, correspondence and notes to Students for a Sustainable Future. Hall previously was chief economist for the Public Sector Group of Koch Industries Inc.
The case was set for trial in November.
Under the agreement announced Thursday, the university and Hall released several pages of documents, including correspondence between Hall and the Kochs’ foundations discussing funding.
The student group’s president, Schuyler Kraus, didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.
Kari Bruffet, secretary of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, says that having to pay home care workers more will reduce access to services. CREDIT DAVE RANNEY / HEARTLAND HEALTH MONITOR
Kansas officials are reviewing a recent federal appeals court ruling that requires the state’s Medicaid program to pay in-home care workers minimum wage and overtime.
Officials at the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services issued a statement shortly after the ruling was handed down Friday saying they were attempting to determine its “potential impact” on the state’s Medicaid program, known as KanCare.
In part, the statement read: “KDADS is committed to minimizing any negative impact this may have on consumers, direct service workers and providers while ensuring the health, safety and welfare of those who receive services from HCBS programs.”
HCBS refers to Medicaid-funded home and community based services.
Previously, KDADS Secretary Kari Bruffett had said that having to pay home care workers more — particularly those who provide sleep cycle support — would increase costs and reduce access to services that help frail seniors and people with disabilities live in community-based settings rather than in nursing homes.
Sleep cycle support workers provide overnight care to individuals who need help toileting, taking medications and being repositioned to prevent bedsores.
Having to pay them minimum wage — $7.25 an hour — would cost the state an additional $12 million, Bruffett told Kansas lawmakers last spring.
Kansas and eight other states filed friend-of-the-court briefs opposing a U.S. Department of Labor regulationrequiring third-party employers to pay in-home care works minimum wage and overtime.
Deane Beebe, a spokesperson for the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, a national organization that represents home health aides and personal care attendants, hailed the ruling.
“The (appeals) court has ruled and recognized that home care workers are doing hard work and deserve the same labor protection as most workers in this nation, and that states need to prepare to implement the new rule and get ready to pay workers what they rightfully deserve,” Beebe said.
Much of the ruling, Beebe said, focused on whether the Department of Labor had the authority to alter regulations that have long exempted so-called companions — employees who live with the people they’re caring for — from minimum wage laws.
The decision upheld the Department of Labor’s authority to repeal the exemption, which states had long used to justify paying sleep cycle support workers less than minimum wage.
In Kansas, sleep cycle support workers are paid roughly $25 for a six-hour night or $31 for an eight-hour night.
“That’s less than minimum wage,” said Ami Hyten, assistant director at the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center, which helps people with disabilities find, hire and train caregivers.
“That will be the single, most profound effect that this decision is going to have on us because we don’t have the money in our budget to make that happen,” Hyten said. “It’s not in KDADS’ budget either.”
Hyten said about 25 percent of the 400 people who receive in-home services through the Topeka center rely on sleep cycle support. Without it, she said, many likely would have to move to nursing homes.
It’s not yet clear when the new regulation will take effect.
The plaintiffs in the case, Home Care Association of America v. Weil, are trade associations representing the nation’s home care providers. They have until early October to ask the appeals court to reconsider. They also have the option of asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.
William Dombi, vice president for law with the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, last week said he and other industry officials had yet to decide whether to appeal the ruling.
Dave Ranney is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.
LENEXA, Kan. (AP) — Investigators have determined that the windshield on a Lenexa patrol cracked from a stress fracture and not from a bullet as earlier believed.
The Kansas City Star reports a stress fracture in the glass caused the rear window to shatter on the parked police car Thursday.
Authorities shut both a section of Kansas 7 for about three hours while police searched for a possible shooter after the officer reported the broken windshield.
Police said investigators determined that the stress fracture caused the window to “buckle and make a loud noise.”
They reopened the road shortly later Thursday afternoon.
During the search for a shooter, three schools in the area were placed on lock down.
—————–
LENEXA — Authorities are investigating after a parked Lenexa patrol car was struck by a bullet.
Lenexa police reported an officer stopped on the side of Kansas 7 Highway near Prairie Star Parkway was shot at from an unknown location.
A window was broken out of the patrol car, but the officer was not injured.
At the present time we don’t know if the shot was fired from a passing vehicle or the wooded area adjacent to the highway.
K7 Highway was closed temporarily between K10 Highway and 83rd Street while officers searched the area.
