WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is urging “humility and restraint” to ease tensions between the state’s legislative and judicial branches.
Schmidt made the plea Friday in a statement over two pending lawsuits filed against the state by district court judges.
A state judge earlier this month struck down a 2014 law stripping the Kansas Supreme Court of its ability to appoint chief judges. The judge ruled the law violated the state constitution by infringing on the Supreme Court’s power to administer the courts. That order is on hold while the state appeals.
Legislators this year passed another law nullifying the judicial branch’s entire budget if the policy change was struck down.
Schmidt plans to ask the justices to remove themselves from the case because it directly involves their own power.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is nominating longtime Pentagon official Eric Fanning to be the Army’s new secretary. If confirmed, Fanning would be the nation’s first openly gay leader of a military service.
Obama says Fanning brings years of experience and leadership to the role. He says in a statement that he’s confident Fanning will lead U.S. soldiers with distinction.
Fanning is currently the Army’s acting under secretary and has served as the Air Force’s acting secretary and chief of staff to the Defense secretary.
The nomination comes as the Obama administration works to eliminate barriers to military service based on sexuality or gender.
Fanning’s nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. He would replace John McHugh, who has said he plans to step down no later than November 1.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents is asking state lawmakers for more than $10 million in funding to build new science facilities at the University of Kansas.
The board approved its budget request for the next legislative session on Thursday. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the board plans to forward the request to Gov. Sam Brownback by the Oct. 1 deadline.
To construct the integrated science buildings, the university is requesting $3.5 million in fiscal year 2017 and $7 million in fiscal year 2018.
Tentative plans call for two facilities as part of a broader initiative to enhance and link science facilities across the campus.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A California company has recalled several brands of soft cheeses after they were linked to 24 illnesses around the country and a death in Ohio. The cheese was distributed nationwide.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that Karoun Dairies, Inc. has voluntarily recalled and stopped production of several cheeses, including those sold under the brand names Karoun, Arz, Gopi, Queso Del Valle, Central Valley Creamery and Yanni.
The CDC said that five of the illnesses were in pregnant women, and one resulted in a fetal loss. Fourteen of the listeria illnesses were in California. The other illnesses were in Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Tennessee and Washington.
Listeria generally only affects the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborn infants.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years for the shooting death of a Kansas woman just hours after her wedding.
Awnterio Dwan Lowery, 31, was sentenced Thursday for the death of 42-year-old Tiffany Davenport-Ray.
Prosecutors say in May 2014 Lowery and two other men shot at the Topeka woman and her husband, Melvin Ray, as they were driving to a post-reception gathering. Prosecutors say Melvin Ray, who was driving, returned fire and his wife was hit by in the crossfire.
Lowery was convicted in July of premeditated first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
A second man, 38-year-old Thomas Earl Brown Jr., is charged with premeditated first-degree murder in Davenport-Ray’s killing. His case is pending.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge says applications for two county commission openings filled late last year by Gov. Sam Brownback are not exempt from the state’s open records law.
Shawnee County District Judge Rebecca Crotty on Friday denied a motion by Brownback’s attorneys to dismiss a lawsuit filed in January by The Salina Journal and The Associated Press seeking information on applicants for the newly created Saline County Commission seats.
The governor’s attorneys also requested a summary judgment declaring the requested records were exempt under state statute, but Crotty denied that motion, too.
Saline County residents voted in November to expand the commission from three to five members. The AP and the newspaper argued that applicants’ names and other details are public information, but Brownback’s office insisted they were a personnel matter.
Knoll Clinic, 1106 E. 27th, Hays, is getting ready for some major upgrades in preparation for a big move into a facility currently under construction on 22nd Street, just east of Vine.
Dr. Tonya Knoll
While the clinic is relatively new, having started in June of 2009, Dr. Tonya Knoll is no stranger to medical care in Hays – having been a longtime physician at Hays Medical Center – and a lifelong resident.
“I love (Hays). I was born and raised here,” Knoll said. “Born and raised and never leaving.”
The move to the new facility is necessary, according to Knoll, as the clinic has expanded over the years.
“We’ve outgrown this clinic,” Knoll said. “We just need more room in general, so we decided to build a bigger facility.”
During the expansion, a variety of expanded services are being considered.
“We’d like to start setting up where we can do IV and fluids, so they don’t have to go to special nursing or the emergency room,” Knoll said. “We’re also talking to a company right now that does ultrasound and other types of tests.”
Those services could start this month, before the move to the larger facility, but the expansion will help accommodate new services and expanded staff.
“We do a lot of procedures here. We do allergy testing, and I’m planing on increasing the amount of procedures that are able to be done on site so we don’t have to send people places to get them done,” she said.
“I also do urgent care,” she added, noting the clinic can take walk-in patients with minor emergencies, if necessary.
As far as the building, Knoll, along with her husband, who works as the office manager, are fully invested into the building and hope to make the move in November.
They are using a local contractor for the construction.
“Our builder is amazing, and he is working really hard to keep costs down,” Knoll said.
The construction could prompt other business moves, as well, as the current facility is being looked at by interested parties as Knolls prepare to exit the building, which they own, and the new facility will not be completely occupied by the clinic.
“Its also big enough that we plan on renting space to other physicians or other entities that would work in that building,” Knoll said.
When asked to sum up the clinic, Knoll offered a simple response: “We offer comprehensive health care to people of all ages.”
The Hays High School Academic Booster Club wants you to enjoy the “Best Seat in the House” during the Hays High Homecoming game Friday, Sept. 25, at Lewis Field.
Stadium press box seats are for sale now and all proceeds will go to the HHS Academic Booster Club to be used for scholarships, according to club president Patty McCullick.
“As of Friday afternoon, there were still about 10 seats available,” McCullick said.
To purchase a press box seat as a donation to the Academic Booster Club, contact HHS Principal Martin Straub at (785) 623-2600 or email him at [email protected].
HUTCHINSON -The inmate who died last week after an altercation with another inmate and facility staff at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility has been identified, according to a media release.
He is Vincent E. Scott, age 49. He had been incarcerated due to several convictions from both Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was notified of the inmate’s death in accordance with state law and is conducting an investigation.
Due to the ongoing investigation no further information is available at this time.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A panel of Kansas lawmakers is seeking a consulting firm that can identify significant saving opportunities in the state budget.
The Legislative Budget Committee started interviewing firms on Thursday and is expected to make a selection on Friday. The committee is considering pitches from four consultants and is holding each session behind closed doors.
Republican state Rep. Ron Ryckman Jr. of Olathe says the committee wants to be “as open as possible,” but the closed sessions are necessary in order to protect “trade secrets.”
Budget director Shawn Sullivan says it’ll be difficult for the firms to come up with new budget cut ideas, but he’s hopeful that the process will be productive.
Lawmakers earmarked $3 million for a contract with a firm that will perform a study and recommend efficiencies.
Logan resident Berneda G. Voss passed away Friday, September 18, 2015 at the Norton County Hospital in Norton, KS at the age of 86.
Berneda was born January 20, 1929 in Graham County, Kansas, the daughter of Aldey & Evelyn (Saindon) Manny.
She is survived by 2 sons, Louis Voss of Logan & Richard Voss of Norton; 4 daughters, Carol Bales of Logan, Leona Favre of Hill City, Janet Smith of Hutchinson and Diane Phillips of Selden; 4 sisters, Lenor Irby of Bogue, Ruby Jennings of Salina, Aldea Webb of Reno, NV and Delores Colbert of Phoenix, AZ; 16 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, 2015 in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Logan, KS with Pastor Ted Stapleton officiating.
Berneda will lie in state on Monday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Logan Funeral Home, 102 E. Church Street, Logan, KS 67646 with the family receiving friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. that evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Logan Manor Nursing Home. Online condolences may be left at www.olliffboeve.com.
Logan Funeral Home, Logan, KS, is in charge of arrangements.
ATCHISON, Kan. (AP) — A Missouri man is charged with second-degree murder after a fatal shooting outside an Atchison, Kansas, convenience store.
Nineteen-year-old Terell Dixon of Clinton, Missouri, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder. Prosecutors say he shot 24-year-old Winston Dowling of Atchison, Kansas, Wednesday at the convenience store.
Dixon is being held in Henry County, Missouri, where he was arrested after the shooting. He refused to waive extradition earlier this week.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Jurors in the first-degree murder trial of a Kansas health care attendant have watched a video of the man telling police why he killed a client.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports that 49-year-old Ronald Eugene Heskett, of Eudora, is on trial for the 2014 death of 65-year-old Vance Moulton.
In a recording shown Thursday, Heskett says Moulton wanted to die so he could “see his mom and be able to walk again.” Moulton had cerebral palsy.
The interrogation video also shows Heskett cutting himself with a pocketknife when detectives left the room. Upon returning, detectives disarmed Heskett. He’s heard saying he cut himself because he felt “so guilty.”
Prosecutors say Heskett had money problems and some of Moulton’s money is missing. The trial is expected to continue through next week.
