EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) — A man has died after being shot in El Dorado in rural Butler County.
According to Butler County Sheriff Kelly Herzet, officers responded to a call Sunday night at a residence and found a man with a gunshot wound. Herzet said the victim was shot after an altercation with the homeowner.
An autopsy was scheduled for Monday morning.
Authorities said the homeowner is cooperating with police in their investigation.
KINGMAN COUNTY- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 9 p.m. on Monday in Kingman County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1979 single engine plane piloted by Patrick A. Livingston, 63, Pratt, was attempting to take off eastbound at the Kingman airport when a deer ran out in front of the plane, struck the left front tire and tore it off.
The plane went to the north side of the runway and overturned.
Livingston suffered minor injuries and drove himself to the Kingman hospital, according to the KHP.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas corn and soybean crops were generally in good shape last week as farmers got into their fields an average of 5.7 days.
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service says temperatures were above normal in the eastern half of the state and below normal in the west for the week ended Sunday.
Most of the state received half an inch or more of precipitation over the period. Topsoil moisture was rated 5 percent surplus, 70 percent adequate, 22 percent short and 3 percent very short.
The statistics service says 89 percent of the state’s corn crop was fair or better, with 8 percent poor and 3 percent very poor. The soybean crop rated 5 percent excellent, 45 percent good, 41 percent fair, 8 percent poor and 1 percent very poor.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today voted in favor of legislation they helped introduce to defund Planned Parenthood.
The bill was introduced following the release of gruesome footage showcasing Planned Parenthood’s role in the harvesting of the organs of unborn babies.
“It is extremely disappointing that the Senate has failed to protect life, protect women’s health, and allowed these disgusting practices to continue while taxpayers foot the bill,” Roberts said following the vote. “I will continue to fight to make sure that Planned Parenthood receives no federal funding. Every life is a precious gift that we have a responsibility to protect.”
“I am deeply disappointed the U.S. Senate today rejected legislation to protect both women’s health and the lives of unborn children,” said Moran. ” If individual organs and tissues can be harvested from aborted babies, how can the case be made that these are not human lives being destroyed? Why do we place more value on the parts and pieces of a life than the life as a whole?
“Kansans have made it clear they don’t want their taxes contributing to abortion providers, and I have worked to make their voices heard here in Washington. Women deserve affordable health care, which is already being offered by a number of organizations that have nothing to do with abortions. We can and should support these health providers, and we can and should protect the unborn. S. 1881 would be a significant step in accomplishing both goals, and I believe it should have passed with broad support.”
Last week, Sen. Roberts and Moran joined senators from across the country in asking Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell to cooperate fully as Congress investigates this organization that receives hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback says the final version of a federal rule for cutting carbon emissions from power plants is “twice as bad” for the state as the original version outlined a year ago.
The Republican governor said Monday that changes announced by Democratic President Barack Obama will force Kansas to reconsider how it responds.
A law enacted earlier this year authorizes the state’s health and environment secretary to draft a plan to comply with the federal rule. It can include voluntary agreements with utilities to cut emissions of greenhouse gases linked to climate change but a legislative committee must sign off on it.
The final federal rule requires more aggressive emission reductions for Kansas by 2030.
The rule drew praise from the environmental group Kansas Interfaith Power & Light.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
A three year grant awarded to the Pawnee County Health Department by the Kansas Health Foundation as part of the Kansas Breastfeeding Initiative will also benefit Ellis, Rooks, Rush, Russell and Trego counties.
The Lactation Assistance Access in all Counties Taking Action (LAACT-Action) will address the need to increase breastfeeding rates in Kansas by providing professional breastfeeding support to expectant women through prenatal breastfeeding classes and support to breastfeeding mothers after delivery.
Public health departments in 20 counties have agreed to assist in linking physician-referred women to an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in their area.
Monique Holmes, a Hays mother of five children and La Leche League leader for nearly 16 years, is the IBCLC for the local area. The Region 3 classes and services are scheduled to start no later than January 2017. Two other regions will start in January 2016.
“Kansas actually has one of the lower breastfeeding rates in the United States,” Holmes said.
The 2014 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Breastfeeding Report Card reports just 11.4 percent of Kansas mothers are exclusively breastfeeding at six months, ranking 48th out of 50 states.
“It’s kind of strange,” she added, “because Kansas also has one of the highest IBCLC rates per capita but they are not being utilized.” The national average for the number of IBCLCs per 1,000 live births is 3.48; Kansas is at 3.76.
“This is actually a public health initiative,” Holmes explained. “With the ‘blanket’ of the public health departments, we are able to utilize IBCLCs’ expertise in providing services to the residents in the 20 counties. The end goal is for the whole community to be more healthy and one of the best ways we can start that is through breast feeding. Not only is it important for babies there are important health benefits for mothers as well.”
Holmes listed several advantages of breastfeeding.
“Babies develop immunities through breast milk as antibodies are passed from the mother to the child, reduced risk of obesity in children, better oral and facial development, and less chance of orthodonture work.
“For the moms, there’s lower risk of certain types of cancer, including breast cancer. After delivery it can help reduce the risk of bleeding. It can also help us get back to our pre-pregnancy weight,” she said.
Breastfeeding is good for the community as well, contends Holmes.
“There’s less trash. It’s ‘green,’ should we say,” she laughed.
According to Holmes, sustainability of the project will be built upon with financing strategies for breastfeeding support under the national Affordable Care Act. The recent Preventative Services rule change allows insurance reimbursement for non-licensed health workers who provide a preventive service upon referral from a licensed health care provider.
Dr. Jenny Manry, associate professor and coordinator of advanced practice in the Fort Hays State University nursing department, as well as a family nurse practitioner in Larned, will serve as data analyst for the grant.
“It’s a really great opportunity for moms to get the support they need in order to breastfeed. It is natural and babies are ‘hardwired’ to breastfeed so we think it may be an easy process, but there are a lot of myths out there and some ‘old wives tales,'” Holmes acknowledged. “So it’s really important to get good information from somebody knowledgeable in lactation. It’s a great opportunity for us to create an ideal continuum of breastfeeding care all the way from prenatally through weaning.”
Holmes anticipates the Hays/Region 3 program will start sooner than scheduled and encourages women to contact their doctor or public health office for more information.
Submitted
The Hays Interagency Coordinating Council Hospital to Home Committee is sponsoring a Baby Care Street Fair in downtown Hays Wednesday evening, Aug. 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The free community event is being held in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week.
Activities include a car seat check lane, nursing station, balloon animals and live music, along with local agencies and services providing information about caring for babies.
The fair will be on Main Street between 10th and 12th Streets.
TOPEKA – A Kansas man was injured in a three-vehicle accident just after 6 p.m. on Monday in Shawnee County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Ford Freestar driven by Norman Edward Elmer, 76, Leavenworth, was northbound on Topeka Blvd.
The vehicle failed to stop and struck the rear of a 2008 Harley Davidson driven by James M. Cowan, 45, Topeka.
The motorcycle was pushed into the rear of a 2014 Ford Explorer driven by Kenneth L. Evans, 45, Topeka,
Cowan was ejected and pinned under the Freestar. He was transported to Stormont Vail. He was wearing a helmet and eye protection according to the KHP.
No other injuries were reported.
By Bryan Thompson
A Lyon County resident has been diagnosed with a mosquito-borne disease that had never been seen in the Western Hemisphere before 2013. The adult patient is believed to have been bitten by an infected mosquito while traveling in Central America.
The virus, called chikungunya, was first seen in Kansas last year.
Sara Belfry, communications director for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said this is the eighth case of chikungunya in Kansas this year. In addition to the Lyon County case, there have been three cases in Johnson County, two in Reno County, one in Harvey County and one in Sedgwick County.
While all cases in Kansas this year have been associated with travel, health officials are concerned that the virus could become established in mosquito populations here.
Renee Hively, a nurse at Flint Hills Community Health Center in Emporia, said there is no evidence of direct human-to-human transmission of chikungunya in Kansas.
“Now, as far as a mosquito biting her while she’s infectious, and then going on and biting someone else, I would say it’s highly possible,” said Hively.
In fact, that’s the main method of transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. But in this case, Hively said the risk that mosquitoes could transfer chikungunya from this patient to others was low.
“Theoretically, I think by the time you find out that you have chikungunya virus, you’ve already passed your infectious state,” she said.
The name chikungunya (pronunciation: chik-en-gun-ye) comes from a word in an African tribal language that means “to become contorted.” It describes a person whose joint pain is so severe, he or she can’t stand up straight. The disease is rarely fatal. Hiveley said symptoms typically appear three to seven days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito.
“It can be serious,” she said. “But most cases people just experience fever, some joint pain, swelling, headache, muscle pain, some rash even.”
State health officials offer these tips to guard against chikungunya and other diseases that mosquitoes carry:
Use insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin. Follow label directions.
Empty standing water from tarps, old tires, buckets and other places where rainwater is trapped. Use larvicide in low-lying areas where water cannot be removed.
Refresh water for birdbaths, pet bowls and wading pools at least every three days.
Bryan Thompson is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.
Listen for daily updates from Kansas City Chiefs training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri with the Voice of the Chiefs, Mitch Holthus. The reports air Monday – Friday at 6:30 on KFIX (96.9-FM).
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Seven young basketball players in Wichita for a weekend tournament are arrested after police say they went on an assault spree over the weekend.
The Wichita Eagle reports the boys were from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and ranged in age from 12 to 18 years old. Police say they were in town for the Mid America Youth Basketball tournament.
Police spokesman Lt. James Espinoza says officers responded around 11 p.m. Sunday to a home where a 48-year-old man reported the group of teens approached him as he stood on his front porch.
Espinoza says the youths yelled at him and threw rocks, bottles, bricks and concrete chunks. Espinoza says the group beat a 28-year-old man who fled the house, and a later 32-year-old man who was riding his bicycle.
RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are investigating a report of guns taken during a pair of home burglaries over the weekend.
Riley County police say that a rifle and shotgun were taken from a home in the13000 block of Crooked Creek Road in Leonardville.
The total estimated loss is approximately $520.00 and this crime is thought to have occurred between the 27th and 31st of last month. Police continue to investigate the matter.
In addition, police say on Sunday, an antique gun was taken from a home in the 7800 block of Marie Lane in
Officers on the scene found that a variety of tools and the gun were removed from the residence. The total estimated is $2,194.00.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Members of a semi-pro Kansas baseball team say the 9-year-old batboy who died after being accidentally hit by a follow-through swing was energetic and hard-working, and had a nearly constant smile.
The coach and players of the Liberal Bee Jays said Monday that Kaiser Carlile was an important member of their team and always reminded them to play hard and have fun.
Kaiser died a day after he was hit in the head with a bat Saturday during the Bee Jays’ game at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita. The boy, who lived in Liberal, was wearing a helmet at the time.
His parents have insisted that the team continue playing. The National Baseball Congress is planning several events to honor Kaiser.
