EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) — An El Dorado student has been arrested in connection to threats that were made against the school on social media.
According to El Dorado school district officials, a student was arrested Wednesday afternoon. El Dorado school superintendent Sue Givens said in a statement that the student is a minor, and the student’s name will not be released.
Authorities say the threat was made Monday, and the high school was locked down for about two hours. All rooms were searched before students were released on schedule.
Photo by Jim McLean Jeff Korsmo, CEO of Wichita-based Via Christi Health, spoke in support of Medicaid expansion in January before a legislative committee.
Kansas’ “failure” to expand Medicaid is putting health care providers in jeopardy, the head of the state’s largest health system said Wednesday. Jeff Korsmo, CEO of Wichita-based Via Christi Health, issued a statement calling on Gov. Sam Brownback and Republican legislative leaders to drop their opposition to expanding KanCare, the state’s privatized Medicaid program.
“Kansas’ failure to expand its KanCare program has resulted in almost $14 million in annual lost revenue to Via Christi — nearly $28 million over the past two years,” Korsmo said in a statement. “This failure already has contributed to the pending closure of a hospital in Independence, Kansas, and has put many other health organizations in a precarious financial position.”
The Via Christi system includes four hospitals and a behavioral health center in Wichita as well as hospitals in Manhattan, Pittsburg and Wamego. Korsmo said the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act was intended to help offset planned reductions in Medicare reimbursements.
The state’s rejection of expansion has denied hospitals access to those offsetting revenues, he said. “Our financial pressures have been intensified because of the refusal of Gov. Sam Brownback and the Kansas State Legislature to approve expanding the KanCare Medicaid insurance program for the poor and vulnerable,” Korsmo said, adding that two months into the fiscal year Via Christi’s income is $3.3 million below budget projections.
Korsmo said Via Christi would take several steps to manage costs, including focusing on hiring critical clinical staff, moving employees in low-volume areas to other positions that serve more patients, reducing the number of management positions and halting discretionary spending for travel, education and meetings.
Via Christi has reduced its full-time employee count by more than 110 in the last year and a half, Korsmo said. “While difficult, these cost-reductions are necessary,” he said. “Financial challenges in health care are intensifying, so we must constantly be focused on controlling costs while also seeking opportunities for growth.”
Without expansion, Kansas hospitals stand to lose approximately $132 million in 2016 because of reimbursement reductions in Medicare and other federal programs, according to the Kansas Hospital Association. Expanding KanCare would not only offset those reductions, it would generate a net gain of nearly $100 million.
A coalition of hospitals and other expansion advocates have failed to gain traction on the issue in the Legislature. The House Health and Human Services Committee conducted a hearing on an expansion bill backed by KHA but didn’t vote on the proposal. Brownback reiterated his opposition to expansion in a recent speech to students at Hutchinson Community College. “I don’t think we have the resources to get it done,” he said, according to the Wichita Eagle.
Previously, the governor has said he won’t consider any expansion plan that isn’t budget neutral and that doesn’t include a work requirement for recipients. In addition, he has said, KanCare services must be extended to Kansans with disabilities now on waiting lists before providing them to more low-income but able-bodied adults.
However, there are some indications that the pending closure of the Independence hospital and evidence that other providers are under increasing financial pressure are softening the GOP opposition to expansion.
Senate Vice President Jeff King, a Republican from Independence, now says he’s willing to consider the kind of conservative, private-sector approach to expansion that some other red states are taking.
“I don’t want to expand Medicaid just copying the Affordable Care Act, but want to take the model that we’ve seen in Arkansas, seen in Indiana, that Pennsylvania attempted, to have a Kansas-based Medicaid program that expands to meet the needs of those it currently isn’t covering,” King said.
Arkansas used federal Medicaid money to purchase private coverage for more than 200,000 low-income residents. Indiana’s expansion plan required some participants to contribute to health savings accounts. A coalition of expansion advocates is planning to focus on these “red state plans” at an “educational meeting” for Kansas policymakers scheduled Nov. 3 at the Kansas Leadership Center in Wichita. In addition to KHA and Via Christi, the coalition includes Wichita’s Wesley Medical Center, the University of Kansas Hospital, the Kansas City-based St Luke’s Health System and the Kansas Health Foundation. The health foundation is the primary funder of the Kansas Health Institute, the parent organization of the editorially independent KHI News Service.
The hospital association has done several studies that show KanCare could be expanded at no additional cost to the state. The ACA requires the federal government to pay 100 percent of Medicaid expansion costs through 2016. After that, its share of cost goes down incrementally until it reaches a floor of 90 percent, with states paying the remainder. KanCare now covers about 425,000 low-income children and families and disabled and low-income elderly adults.
But that number includes relatively few non-disabled adults. Adults with dependent children are eligible for KanCare coverage only if they have incomes below 33 percent of the federal poverty level, annually $7,870 for a family of four.
Non-disabled adults without children aren’t eligible for KanCare regardless of income. Expansion would expand KanCare coverage to non-disabled, childless adults with incomes up to 138 percent of poverty: annually $16,105 for an individual and $32,913 for a family of four.
Jim McLean is executive editor of KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team.
MANHATTAN–Governor Sam Brownback recently proclaimed Sept. 24, 2015, as Kansas Teach Ag Day in recognition of the more than 13,000 Kansas students enrolled in agriculture education and the 210 educators in 179 schools teaching agriculture courses.
Kansas Teach Ag Day, in conjunction with National Teach Ag Day, celebrates agriculture teachers and encourages students to focus on the opportunities and potential of agriculture education as a highly rewarding and extremely valuable career choice. According to a study jointly conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Purdue University, between 2015 and 2020, it is projected that there will be nearly 58,000 average annual openings for graduates with expertise in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources or the environment, with a projected average of 35,400 new U.S. graduates with degrees in those areas.
Agriculture education programs serve approximately one million students nationwide. Realistic, hands-on classroom experience, opportunity for membership and participation in the National FFA Organization, and supervised agriculture experiences help prepare high school students to pursue higher education and career opportunities in the high-demand agriculture-related fields.
“Pursuing agriculture education as a field of study and professional career is highly rewarding for both the teacher and students,” said Kurt Dillon in a news release. Dillon is the Kansas State Department of Education Agriculture Education Program Consultant and Kansas FFA Advisor. “We need and encourage passionate and dedicated teachers to prepare today’s youth to work in the highly technical and continually evolving agriculture industry.”
The Kansas Department of Agriculture advocates for and promotes the agriculture industry in Kansas in part by supporting education and training programs to help prepare and strengthen the agricultural workforce. Through agricultural education programs, Kansas students receive essential knowledge and skills that prepare them for future careers serving the state’s largest industry and economic driver.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An attorney for four Kansas judges says they will continue pursuing a lawsuit over the court system’s budget despite an order in another case protecting its funding.
Lawyer Pedro Irigonegaray questioned Wednesday whether a petition filed Tuesday by Attorney General Derek Schmidt in Neosho County District Court was flawed.
Schmidt successfully sought to block enforcement of a law dealing with the judiciary’s budget until March 15.
The law was enacted this year to preserve a change in how chief district court judges are selected. The law said if the change was overturned, the judiciary’s entire budget was nullified.
A Shawnee County judge last month struck down the selection-process change. The judges represented by Irigonegaray then filed their lawsuit against this year’s budget measure in Shawnee County.
The women of the Delta Zeta, Alpha Gamma Delta and Sigma Sigma Sigma sororities of Fort Hays State University are celebrating a successful recruitment as they welcome 50 new women into the Greek Community.
A series of events was held each day of recruitment week, allowing the women to get to know the sororities and find a home away from home.
This was the first formal recruitment week since the return of Sigma Sigma Sigma to the FHSU campus.
“Sorority recruitment week is simply a kickoff for welcoming new members into these organizations,” said Jacob Ternes, coordinator of student involvement and Greek life. “Recruitment is an ongoing process, and students are encouraged to meet members and learn more about these organizations throughout the year.”
Delta Zeta now has 55 members, Alpha Gamma Delta has 32 members, and Sigma Sigma Sigma has 46, for a total of 133 women in Greek life at FHSU.
For more information on these organizations, contact Ternes at (785) 628-4664 or at [email protected].
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas health care worker has been convicted of second-degree murder in the asphyxiation death of a disabled client.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports the Douglas County jury on Wednesday found 49-year-old Ronald Eugene Heskett guilty in the September 2014 death of 65-year-old Vance Moulton, who suffered from cerebral palsy.
The jury, which deliberated about four hours, could have found Heskett guilty of first-degree murder.
Heskett admitted he helped Moulton die by twisting a towel around his neck. But he said he did so after repeated requests from Moulton to help him die.
Prosecutors argued throughout the trial that Moulton was murdered. They contended during closing arguments that no evidence was presented to show Moulton was suicidal. They said Heskett killed Moulton for money.
SkyWest, flying as United Express, at the Hays Regional Airport
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Marketing for the Hays Regional Airport is now being done by the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, City Manager Toby Dougherty announced recently.
CVB Director Rick Rekoske has marketing and advertising experience; Airport Manager Nathan Marcucci does not, Dougherty told Hays City Commissioners last week.
Commissioners will be asked at Thursday’s Hays City Commission to authorize $25,000 from the City Commission Financial Policy Projects fund to help pay for airport marketing efforts. Another $25,000 would come from the CVB, combining the monies to be used in a “fall push” to promote use of the Hays airport, according to Dougherty.
“We lost passengers when we had Great Lakes (carrier service) because they basically had their fill of the airport with Great Lakes (poor service) and we may never get those passengers back. We did get a few of those passengers back when we received SkyWest’s service. Because of that six-month turnaround, and then losing the early morning flight by SkyWest, some of the people left and just haven’t come back.
“In the interim, SkyWest has actually modified their morning flight a little bit. They moved it up a little bit to take better advantages of the non-stop flights and mid-morning backs in Denver.
“It’s a lot easier now to get out of Hays to pretty much anywhere in the United States in one day–very easy.”
“This is the word we need to get out to the people who could utilize our airport. You need to check the Hays schedule first; don’t assume it’s not going to work for you and don’t assume it’s not going to work based on past practice.”
“People are working under the assumption ‘I can’t get east out of Hays in one day.’ I checked and I can go one-stop and get to Hartford, Conn. I can get to New York City. I can get to D.C. I can get to a lot of places on the eastern seaboard in the early evening with one connection. To me that’s a pretty good schedule out of Hays, Kansas, and if you’re going north or west, the schedule is absolutely great.”
Dougherty said a targeted message needs to be developed that stresses convenience, reliability and affordability in using the Hays airport.
The loss of the early morning flight was “purely a business decision on the part of SkyWest,” he said. Dougherty has talked with the SkyWest network planner and was told that “he’s happy with the way the enplanement projections are going. They understood that modifying the schedule would take away passengers. SkyWest still sees potential here,” Dougherty added.
“They feel confident the smaller number of enplanements will not cause them issues in the next bidding period of EAS (Essential Air Services).
“There’s money to be made in the Hays market,” Dougherty emphasized.
First meeting of the Social Services Policy Council -photo office of the Governor
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback meets for the first time with members of a newly formed council that will make recommendations on how the state should approach poverty and other social issues.
The governor appointed the Social Services Policy Council in February to advise him on issues related to social service policies. Several state agency chiefs met Wednesday with council members at Sporting Park in Kansas City in a largely introductory session.
Several members listed concerns they have about issues such as prison recidivism, the chain of welfare from generation to generation and where money dedicated to providing social services is being spent.
The group is expected to meet at least twice a year. It will receive ongoing staff support from the Kansas Department for Children and Families.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The former recreation director for Osawatomie has admitted embezzling more than $125,000 from the city.
Federal prosecutors said in a news release that 53-year-old Ron Maring of Osawatomie pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of tax fraud and false statement, and one count of money laundering.
He admitted that he wrote checks on the Osawatomie Recreation Commission’s account to himself and to American Legion Baseball and used the money for personal expenses.
Maring said he persuaded recreation commission board members to sign blank checks, used his own signature as an endorsement and instructed a recreation commission employee to endorse checks.
He also failed to report the embezzled income on his 2010 federal tax return, which would have added $14,902 in taxes owed.
As the sporting world mourns Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, the Poynter Institute’s Roy Peter Clark offers a closer look at the sometimes-veiled wisdom behind the “Yogi-isms.”
Thomas More Prep-Marian is pleased to announce this year’s Point of Light Award recipients. The Point of Light Award is given annually at homecoming to people who have contributed to the traditions of excellence of Thomas More Prep-Marian through their service, stewardship, and example. We honor these Points of Light and strive to follow their example.
As is tradition, this year’s awardees will be honored at halftime of the homecoming football game. For a complete list of homecoming events, visit tmp-m.org/homecoming2015.
Juleen Stecklein
Juleen Stecklein faithful faculty and friend
Juleen Stecklein is being honored as a Point of Light for her sincere dedication to the students of Thomas More Prep-Marian. Juleen received a Master Degree of Arts in English at Fort Hays State University. As a native of Ellis County, Juleen Stecklein has taught 43 years in the county, the last 36 years spent at TMP-M. As she often said, “Teaching at TMP was a labor of love.” Her classes ranged from English to German, with the final years being devoted specifically to Senior English and Advanced Placement English. Juleen also taught a college composition class concurrent with Senior English. She is married to George Stecklein, and they have 3 sons, Douglas ’86, Steven ’93 and Michael ’99; all are graduates of TMP-Marian and the University of Kansas. Douglas, a pharmacist, and his wife Stephanie are the owners of U-Save Pharmacy in Hays; they have 3 children, Christopher ’17 and Joshua, ’19, both of whom attend TMP, and Haley, who attends Holy Family. Steven lives in Prairie Village, KS. He has four children, twins Katie and Sophie, Lilly, and Vivian who attend St. Ann’s Catholic School. Michael, also a pharmacist, works at U-Save Pharmacy. He and his wife Carrie ’95 (Rohr) have three children: Julianne, Allison & George. Since retirement in 2013, she volunteers at the Hays Public Library and the TMP-M Alumni Office, aids with activities as a member of the St. Nicholas Ladies Guild, and enjoys her grandchildren. The students of Thomas More Prep-Marian were truly blessed to have Juleen as their educator. God bless you for your love, devotion and commitment to Christian education.
Jim Dinkel
Jim Dinkel faithful faculty and friend
Jim Dinkel is being honored as a Point of Light for his deep commitment to the education of students at Thomas More Prep-Marian. Jim is married to Shirley ’67 (Gnad) Dinkel and between them they have 76 years of teaching at TMP-Marian and St. Joseph’s-Holy Family Elementary. Jim graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1973 with a Master of Arts in mathematics and has taught algebra, geometry, chemistry, earth science & space science for 43 years at TMP-Marian. He teases, “I tell jokes periodically in chemistry, but usually don’t get any reaction.” As head baseball coach for 27 years, he took his teams to state championship titles in 1974 (5-4-3A) and 1981 (4-3-2-1A). He was also assistant coach in football, basketball and wrestling. They have four children. James ’89 (Sprint manager in Lenexa, KS) and wife Michelle have three children; their daughter Deborah ’90 Sisbarro (State Department in Washington, D.C.) has two children, their son Michael ’97 (environmental specialist for Anadarko Oil in Brighton, CO) and his wife Roxy have two children and their youngest son Christopher ’03 graduated with a law degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Many alumni remember his “don’t touch the chrome” lecture at the beginning of each school year. It is with sincere appreciation that we thank Jim for his devotion and deep commitment to the students of Thomas More Prep-Marian.
Linda Braun
Linda Braun dedicated alumna and faithful faculty
Linda Braun is being honored as a Point of Light for her deep commitment to Thomas More Prep-Marian. Linda (Leiker) Braun is a 1963 graduate of Marian High School and graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1967 with a major in English and minors in Latin and journalism. In her 46 years as a teacher at Marian High and Thomas More Prep-Marian, Linda taught English, journalism and Latin. In addition, she sponsored classes, clubs and STUCO. While she was teaching journalism, her students won three consecutive state championships. Students in her Latin classes, ranging from Latin I-IV, garnered many National Latin exam honors. Linda was married to Don Braun in 1966, and they celebrated 41 years of marriage before Don’s death in 2007. They have two children, Don ’88 Braun Jr., a physician in Burlington, KS and Christina ’94 (Braun) Garrison, a therapist at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, KS. After her retirement in 2013, Linda moved to Wichita to be closer to her children. In her retirement, she continues to volunteer her time delivering groceries to a cloistered convent, praying weekly at the Adoration Chapel at the Church of the Magdalen and watching her grandsons’ various activities. We thank Linda for her devotion and deep commitment to educating the students of Thomas More Prep-Marian.
Glenn & Becky Diehl
Glenn & Becky Diehl faithful friends and dedicated alumnus
Glenn and Becky Diehl are being honored as Points of Light for their deep commitment to Thomas More Prep-Marian. Glenn is a 1976 graduate of Thomas More Prep and a 1980 graduate of Fort Hays State University with a degree in geology. Becky Diehl is a 1981 graduate of Fairbury High School, Fairbury, NE and a 1985 graduate of FHSU with a degree in accounting. Glenn and Becky have two children, Magen ‘07 (Diehl) Kroetsch and Ryan ‘08 Diehl. They are the owners/operators of Diehl Oil, Inc. Glenn began working as a consultant in the oilfields in 1979 and has been drilling oil wells since 1982. They began Diehl Oil Inc. in 1990. Becky works as the company bookkeeper. Glenn is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Kansas Geological Society and Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association. Past activities include Deputy Grand Knight for the St. Nicholas Knights of Columbus, along with seats on the St. Nicholas of Myra Parish and Finance Councils. He has also served on the Advisory Council and Strategic Planning Committee at Holy Family Elementary. Glenn was an Ellis County Commissioner and served on the boards of the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development, Northwest Kansas Community Corrections, Northwest Kansas Juvenile Services Boards and the Kansas Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations. Glenn and Becky Diehl have shared their abundant gifts of time, talent and treasure with the Catholic community of Hays, and we honor them for their generosity, kindness and continued support.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput genuine spiritual leader
The Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Capuchin, Doctor of Divinity (D.D.), and Archbishop of Philadelphia is being honored as a Point of Light for his deep commitment to his Catholic faith. He is a 1962 graduate of St. Francis Seminary in Victoria, KS and joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, St. Augustine Province, in 1965. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from St. Fidelis College Seminary in Herman, PA in 1967, Archbishop Chaput completed studies in psychology at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. in 1969. He earned a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Capuchin College in Washington, D.C. in 1970 and was ordained to the priesthood on August 29, 1970. After receiving a Master of Arts in theology from the University of San Francisco, CA in 1971, he then served as an instructor in theology and as spiritual director at St. Fidelis (1971-1974) and executive secretary and director of communications for the Capuchin Province of St. Augustine in Pittsburgh (1974-1977). Moving to Thornton, CO, he became pastor of Holy Cross Parish and vicar provincial for the Capuchin Province of Mid-America. In 1980 he became secretary and treasurer for the Capuchin province and chief executive and provincial minister in 1983. Archbishop Chaput was ordained Bishop of Rapid City, SD in 1988, and Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Denver in 1997. As a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribe, Archbishop Chaput was the first Native American archbishop. He was appointed Archbishop of Philadelphia in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI. Archbishop Chaput’s writings are insightful and encourage spiritual growth within the Catholic faith and laity. We honor Archbishop Charles Chaput for his religious leadership and courage.
FORT RILEY -Juwuan D. Jackson, 18, who lives on the Fort Riley Army base, is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter. The indictment alleges that on Sept. 11, 2015, he handled a firearm in a reckless manner resulting in the death of 16-year-old Kenyon Givens, who also lived on Fort Riley, according to U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
On September 16, federal prosecutors in the U.S. District Court in Topeka on September 16, filed an involuntary manslaughter charge against Jackson in connection with a shooting death.
If convicted, Jackson faces a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison. Army Criminal Investigations Division and the FBI investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi are prosecuting.
EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) — An El Dorado student has been arrested in connection to threats that were made against the school on social media.
