NEW YORK (AP) — About 35,000 Safety 1st highchairs are being recalled following reports that children were able to remove the tray and fall off causing chipped teeth, cuts and bruises.
Safety 1st says it received 11 reports of injuries and 68 reports of children removing the trays. The recall is for three types of Safety 1st highchairs with model numbers HC144BZF, HC229CZF and HC229CYG.
The highchairs were sold at Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores and its websites between May 2013 and May 2015. They were also sold online at Amazon.com and Walmart.com. The highchairs cost about $120.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says customers should stop using the recalled highchairs and call Safety 1st at 877-717-7823 to receive a free repair kit.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The Shawnee Mission School District, which is blocked from joining a school finance lawsuit, has filed a brief in the case calling the state’s funding policy “crippling.”
The Kansas City Star reports the Kansas Supreme Court last month affirmed a lower court ruling that Shawnee Mission could not intervene in the school finance lawsuit against the state brought by the Kansas City, Kansas, Wichita, Dodge City and Hutchinson districts.
The district was told it could file a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, Gannon v. Kansas. The district’s brief released Thursday says underfunding of the state’s school finance system “has led to a crippling loss of teachers,” foreign language program, neighborhood schools and property values.
The Supreme Court hears oral arguments in November on whether Kansas schools are equitably funded.
The Medicaid expansion debate in Kansas is heating up. Big time.
Photo by Mercy Hospital Independence A message sent to Brownback supporters criticizes “Democrats” and “liberals” for using the pending closure of Mercy Hospital in Independence to make their case for expanding KanCare, the state’s privatized Medicaid program.
The pending closure of Mercy Hospital in the southeast Kansas community of Independence appears to be the catalyst. Soon after hospital officials announced plans to close the facility, expansion advocates went on the offensive, charging that the state’s rejection of Medicaid expansion helped seal its fate.
Now, expansion opponents, including Gov. Sam Brownback and Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, are firing back.
A message sent to Brownback supporters Tuesday by Melika Willoughby, the governor’s deputy communications director, criticizes “Democrats” and “liberals” for using the hospital’s closure to make their case for expanding KanCare, the state’s privatized Medicaid program. “Medicaid expansion will not fix the Obamacare-induced problems facing local hospitals,” Willoughby says in a message forwarded by Colyer.
Colyer, a plastic surgeon who is thought by many to be the administration’s staunchest opponent of expansion, made similar arguments in responding to a recent Salina Journal editorial in favor of Medicaid expansion.
In the message sent Tuesday, Willoughby says that reductions in Medicare reimbursements triggered by the Affordable Care Act and exacerbated by automatic budget cuts initiated in 2013 to avert a shutdown of the federal government are the main problem faced by struggling rural hospitals.
“Let’s be clear: Medicaid expansion would primarily benefit a small number of big city hospitals, not smaller rural hospitals like Mercy,” Willoughby writes.
“Those who say Medicaid expansion would save the Independence hospital are lying. It wouldn’t. Instead, this Obamacare ruse funnels money to big city hospitals, creates a new entitlement class and fails to rightly prioritize service for disabled citizens.”
Talking points memo
The arguments in the message to Brownback supporters mirror those contained in a memo written for Republican legislative leaders and obtained by the KHI News Service.
The GOP talking-points memo says that costs have far exceeded estimates in many states that have expanded their Medicaid programs. It also asserts that the low-income adults who would gain coverage under expansion are capable of taking care of themselves.
“The population Medicaid expansion would cover mostly consists of healthy adults without children, who could receive private coverage if they work 33 hours a week at the minimum wage,” the Republican memo says, referring to the earnings threshold at which low-income Americans become eligible for federal tax credits to help them purchase private coverage through the online marketplaces established by health reform law.
Willoughby sharpens the point in her message, writing that Brownback’s primary objection to expansion is a moral one. She says: “Medicaid expansion creates new entitlements for able-bodied adults without dependents, prioritizing those who choose not to work before intellectually, developmentally and physically disabled, the frail and elderly, and those struggling with mental health issues.”
The claim that expansion would put those newly eligible for Medicaid ahead of the disabled evokes strong reactions from expansion advocates. “I think it’s deliberately misrepresenting what sort of services people are getting and what they’re eligible for,” says Sheldon Weisgrau, director of the Health Reform Resource Project, a pro-ACA initiative funded by several health foundations in the state.
“We still seem unable to have an honest discussion about this based on facts. We’re still just mired in politics and misinformation, and it’s disappointing.”
For instance, Weisgrau says, most of the low-income adults who would gain coverage work at least part time. In addition, he says, Kansans with physical and developmental disabilities aren’t on waiting lists for health care services and wouldn’t be displaced by expansion. “The disabled folks are in KanCare and getting medical services,” Weisgrau says. “They’re waiting for the state to make home and community-based services available to them.”
Hospitals respond
A point-by-point response to the GOP memo prepared by the Kansas Hospital Association says that only 18.2 percent of the Kansans who would be covered by expansion are unemployed. It says that 54.4 percent of them have jobs.
“These Kansans work as dishwashers, housekeepers, health care support workers, janitors, nursing assistant, landscapers, bus drivers, child care workers, medical assistants, retail sales people and fast food workers in Kansas communities,” the KHA memo says.
The remainder of those who would gain coverage are either disabled or women with children under 18. KanCare now covers about 425,000 low-income children and families, plus disabled and low-income elderly 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 regardless of income. Expansion would extend 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.
In response to other arguments mounted by opponents, the KHA memo says that the billions of federal dollars that would flow into the state under expansion would more than offset the Medicare reimbursement reductions for many Kansas hospitals. “Medicaid expansion is the solution to recouping these lost federal funds,” the memo says, noting that the state’s smallest critical access hospitals would see an average net gain of about $370,000 a year.
Expansion would generate an average of approximately $1.3 million a year for medium-size hospitals and $9.2 million for large providers in Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City, Kan., according to the KHA memo.
A previous KHA analysis says that expansion would provide Kansas hospitals overall with nearly $100 million more per year than they will lose in Medicare reimbursement reductions. In the memo, KHA officials acknowledge that Medicaid expansion costs have exceeded estimates in some states but notes that “not one has decided to repeal” its expansion plan.
“While Medicaid expansion has not always been implemented smoothly, the information provided (by opponents) does not tell the whole story,” they say in the memo.
Jim McLean is executive editor of KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett has decided to file no criminal charges in the shooting death of a suspect who fired multiple shots at police and others.
Bennett told reporters at a news conference Friday that Wichita police officers “reasonably believed” 18-year-old Jeffrey Holden presented an imminent lethal threat to their lives. He said the three officers acted in an “objectively reasonable manner” in defending themselves.
Bennett used photos and surveillance video clips to publicly detail the events surrounding into the Oct. 26, 2014 shooting.
His office then released a 26-page report on the investigation which established Holden fired two different handguns multiple times while walking down a Wichita street. The investigation found Holden then repeatedly fired at officers who responded to citizen calls to 911.
GARDEN CITY–Where today sits a small pile of freshly turned western Kansas soil soon will be Meadowlark Dairy Nutrition, a Dairy Farmers of America milk processing plant. According to Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey, the new plant could be an important catalyst to spur additional growth in the Kansas dairy sector. Secretary McClaskey attended a groundbreaking ceremony near Garden City on Thursday, Oct. 8.
“Kansas is one of the fastest growing regions for dairy production in the United States, growing 7.5 percent in 2014 alone, and more than doubling in the last 20 years,” said Secretary McClaskey in a news release. “We are proud to welcome DFA to Kansas and are confident this milk processing plant will make Kansas even more attractive to dairies looking to grow or relocate.”
The state-of-the-art plant will produce whole, skim and nonfat dry milk powder, as well as cream, and is a partnership between DFA and 12 of its member farms in southwest Kansas.
Slated for operation by the end of 2017, the 214,000-square-foot plant, located at 330 S. Highway 83 in Garden City, will bring 60 new, full-time jobs to the area.
Since 2010, total milk output in Kansas has increased 24 percent. In 2014, the approximately 143,000 dairy cows in Kansas produced 3.1 billion pounds of milk, valued at $746.6 million. According to KDA economic data, in 2013, the dairy industry in Kansas supported more than 5,800 jobs and contributed $1.02 billion to the state’s economy.
Dairy-farmer owned, DFA is the nation’s largest milk marketing cooperative and is the sixth-largest global dairy company, with exports going to nearly 50 countries. When completed, the plant in Garden City will process 4 million pounds of raw milk daily from local dairy farms to be used for milk powder for domestic and global customers.
“As we work to continue growing the dairy sector in Kansas, a limiting factor has been the proximity to a milk processing plant. That’s a significant factor dairies consider as Kansas dairy farmers look to successfully grow their operations,” said Secretary McClaskey. “Expanding the milk processing capacity in Kansas will enable us to add more value to milk and dairy products in Kansas and will make our state even more competitive in the future. We look forward to working together with DFA and all our partners in the dairy sector to grow and enhance Kansas agriculture.”
The Downtown Hays Development Corporation is excited to announce 19 Downtown Hays businesses will be participating in “The Taste” Friday, October 23 from 6-9 p.m.
Check-in for the event will be at 13th and Main under the awning of the Fox Pavilion. Participants must check-in for this event.
Since several businesses will be serving alcohol IDs will be checked. Participants will also be given a map of the event locations which will serve as a ticket into each of the participating businesses as well as their entry form into the prize drawing.
All event patrons will be entered to win one of five prizes. The grand prize will contain a $25 gift card to every participating business, a value of over $450!
The following is a list of participating businesses and what they are serving (if available):
Bella Luna (1013 Main)
Body + Soul Day & Med Spa (107 W 15th) Refreshments, Chair Massages, and Paraffin Hand Dips
Couture for Men & Women (1109-1111 Main) Refreshments and Live Models
C.S. Post & Regeena’s Flowers (117 W 11th) Punch and a taste of customer favorites from their last 18 years of business
Design by Paisley Pear (106 W 12th) Sangria and “B” Cheese Crackers
Diamond R Jewelry Corp (807 Main) Eight O Nine (809 Main) Spiced Sangria, Cheese, and tours of their suite
Elements of Massage & Spa (1308 Main) Chair Massages
Farmers National Company Real Estate (809 Main)
Gella’s Diner & Lb. Brewing Co (117 E 11th) Chicken Pesto Pasta Prepared LIVE by Chef Manuel and Homemade Beignets
Goodwin Sporting Goods (109 W 11th) Dessert Assortment from Augustine’s Bakery
Herb Haus (1308 Main) Mocha Me Crazy Wine, Herb Massimo Wine, Hot Damn Cookies, Lavender Shortbread Cookies, White Chocolate Covered
Pretzels with Coco Chipotle and Deep Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels with Lavender Sugar
Jump Start Health & Fitness (1301 Main)
Paint the Towne (810 Main) Sangria and LIVE Painting demonstration
Sake 2 Me (700 Main) Seared Ahi Tuna with Avocado and Jalapeño Sauces on Sliced Cucumber
Simply Charmed (1011 Main)
The Paisley Pear (1100 Main) Hot Ruby Drink, Ferridies, Nuts and Crunch
The Paisley Pear Café (107 E 11th) Specialty Coffee and Dessert
Turquoise Ranch Boutique (719 Main) Finger Snacks
Tickets are selling quickly, so please call the DHDC office or visit www.DowntownHays.com to check availability and purchases. DHDC looks forward to seeing you on The Bricks in Downtown Hays, Friday, October 23!
SALINA- Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating an accidental shooting.
Police reported they conducted a traffic stop in 6000 Block of South 5th Street just after 5:30p.m. on Thursday.
Police believed Shane D. McMillin, 24, was possibly wanted on a warrant.
When McMillin got out of the car, officers noticed he had a gunshot wound above his left knee.
A resident near the traffic stop thought they had heard a gunshot about the time the traffic stop occurred, according to police.
McMillin was taken to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment and then booked into the Saline County Jail on drug charges and criminal discharge of a firearm.
Officers recovered a handgun and personal use amounts of methamphetamine, marijuana, and mushrooms.
TOPEKA– Governor Sam Brownback announced Friday that Secretary of Corrections Ray Roberts will step down at the end of the year. Roberts has served as Corrections Secretary since 2011.
“I am grateful for the wealth of leadership and experience Ray has provided to the state,” Governor Brownback said. “In a corrections career spanning more than 40 years, he has worked with the utmost integrity, serving Kansans through his dedication to public safety, and by actively encouraging and assisting offenders through mentorship programs to become law-abiding citizens.”
Roberts was formerly the warden of El Dorado Correctional Facility. He has also served as a correctional counselor, director of faith-based ministry, warden of five correctional facilities, and deputy secretary of facility management. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Southern Mississippi, and his masters of education in Counseling and Guidance from Delta State University.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve Governor Brownback and the people of the Great State of Kansas,” Roberts said. “Governor Brownback has supported me through good and difficult times and taught me about leadership and humility. Serving as secretary has been the highlight of my career for which I am forever grateful. I have been honored to work alongside incredible staff that has devoted their time and talents to making Kansas a safer place and I know that the agency and its mission are in good hands.”
The mission of the Kansas Department of Corrections is to make a safer Kansas through effective correctional services.
Fort Hays State Athletics will enshrine several new members into the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 31, 2015. The inductees include Jeff Bieker (baseball), Jayme Eichner (volleyball), Daryl Henning (wrestling), Jim Montgomery (track & field), Vicki Thom Smith (gymnastics), and Ed & Donna Stehno (contributors). The induction ceremony will take place the morning of October 31 at the Memorial Union Ballroom on the campus of Fort Hays State University at 10 am. The inductees will also be recognized at halftime of the football game vs. Nebraska-Kearney at 2:30 pm.
Jeff Bieker – Baseball
Bieker played three years at Fort Hays State from 2003-2005 and did not play his senior year after getting drafted by the Oakland A’s in the summer of 2005. He is arguably the best hitter to ever play at FHSU as he tops the all-time lists in batting average (.421), home runs (58), and slugging percentage (.879). He is second all-time in RBI (191) and total bases (430) and would have easily passed those marks as a senior, had he opted to stay at FHSU. He was a three-time All-RMAC selection in the outfield, the 2003 RMAC Freshman of the Year, 2005 RMAC Player of the Year, 2005 West Region Player of the Year, 2005 All-America First Team selection by the NCBWA and a All-America selection by the ABCA in both 2004 and 2005. He hit a single-season school record 23 home runs in both 2004 and 2005, only one of two players with 20 or more homers in a season at FHSU. He led all NCAA divisions in home runs per game (.53) and slugging percentage (1.013) as a sophomore in 2004. He is the only player to ever slug over 1.000 in a season at FHSU. He led NCAA Division II in home runs as a junior in 2005. His .436 batting average in 2004 is also a single-season record at FHSU. He played for two years in the Oakland A’s minor league system.
Jayme Eichner – Volleyball
Jayme Eichner is arguably the best setter and one of the best all-around players in FHSU Volleyball history, competing from 2001 to 2004. She owns the school record for assists with 5,878, over 3,000 more than the next closest player in FHSU history, NAIA or NCAA era. She averaged 12.61 assists per set for her career, helping the Tigers to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004. She was the catalyst for Fort Hays State’s best team in NCAA history in 2004, helping the Tigers to a record of 31-5 overall and a top-10 ranking in the nation. She helped lead FHSU to the regional final as a senior, falling just a win short of the Elite Eight. In 2004, she recorded an FHSU single-season record of 1,644 assists and she appears in the school’s top 10 list for all four of her seasons, recording 1,456 in 2002 (3rd), 1,454 in 2003 (4th), and 1,324 in 2001 (7th). She also owns the top three single-season assists per set marks in school history with 13.37 per set in 2004, 13.22 per set in 2003, and 12.34 per set in 2002. Her 11.51 mark in 2001 ranks seventh. She owns the top four single-game assist performances during the rally scoring era at FHSU, the best being 74 against Rockhurst in a 5-set match in 2003. She had three matches with 70 or more assists in her career. Along with being the table-setter for a potent offensive attack, she also thrived defensively by ranking fourth in career digs at FHSU during the Division II era with 1,393, averaging 2.99 per set. She also owns the school record for career service aces in the Division II era at FHSU with 153 and the single-season rally scoring era record with 44. Eichner was a four-time All-RMAC selection, including first-team honors as a senior. She was also an all-region first team selection as a senior.
Daryl Henning – Wrestling
Henning was a two-time All-American for the Tigers in wrestling. He was the 1981 National Champion at 158 pounds in his senior year, helping the team to a sixth-place finish as a team at nationals. He finished fourth nationally in 1979 as a sophomore, helping the team to a seventh-place finish that year. Henning was the second-ever national champion for FHSU in wrestling, ending an 11-year drought without a champion after Leland Tresner was the first national champion at FHSU in 1969.
Jim Montgomery – Track & Field
Jim Montgomery was one of the first NAIA individual national champions in FHSU outdoor track and field history and a two-time All-American. He, along with teammate Alan Feist, who is already in the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame, both won individual outdoor national championships in 1953. Montgomery was a national champion in the pole vault with a mark of 13-feet, 3-inches as a sophomore in 1953. He backed that up with another All-American effort in the pole vault in 1954 as a junior, finishing second with a better effort of 13-feet, 6.875-inches. He qualified for the national meet once again in 1955, but was unable to attend.
Vicki Thom Smith – Gymnastics
Vicki Thom Smith was a three-time All-American performer in women’s gymnastics. As a freshman in 1982, she placed second nationally in the floor exercise and uneven bars to earn two All-America honors. She, along with fellow All-American Shae Donham helped the team to a fourth-place finish at nationals in 1985. Smith finished fifth in the floor exercise to earn All-American honors that year. She was also a member of the team that finished fifth at nationals in 1984, placing seventh in the balance beam and eighth in floor exercise.
Ed & Donna Stehno – Contributors
Ed and Donna Stehno are members of Fort Hays State Athletics’ Difference Makers and in 2013, the couple pledged a $1 million gift to the FHSU Foundation. The bulk of their donation is going to athletic scholarships. They served as national co-chairs of the Cornerstone Campaign, which was the largest capital campaign in the history of the university. The goal of the campaign was to raise $60 million, but when the campaign ended, nearly $69 million had been raised.
The Latest: Arizona shooting suspect faces court appearance
The Associated Press
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The latest on the shooting at Northern Arizona University (all times local):
12:30 p.m.
An 18-year-old Northern Arizona University student accused of fatally shooting another student and wounding three others faces an initial court appearance in Flagstaff Friday afternoon.
University officials said Steven Jones was arrested immediately after the shooting and faces one count of first-degree murder and three of aggravated assault.
Police said the shooting occurred early Friday morning in a parking lot near a dorm following a confrontation between two groups of students.
Delta Chi executive director Justin Sherman said that the four victims were members of the fraternity. Sherman also said the suspect was not a member.
___
11:50 a.m.
A Northern Arizona University student who was killed in an overnight campus shooting loved to play lacrosse and wanted to be successful so he could help others.
Ryan Jernegan, of Woodbury, New Jersey, says his cousin, Colin Brough, was “the happiest person that you probably would ever meet.”
Jernegan says he and Brough were close growing up and reunited during a chance meeting in Las Vegas in June.
Jernegan says now he keeps thinking how lucky he was to spend those days with him.
Brough was killed in a shooting that left three other students wounded.
___
11:20 a.m.
The four victims in the overnight shooting at Northern Arizona University were all members of the same fraternity.
Delta Chi executive director Justin Sherman said in a letter in the aftermath of the shooting that Colin Brough, Nicholas Prato, Kyle Zientek and Nicholas Piring were members of the fraternity.
The alleged gunman was not a member of the fraternity.
___
11:05 a.m.
Northern Arizona University says an error in its alert system kept some people on its distribution list from getting an initial message warning of an active shooter.
The university says its police department was notified at 1:20 a.m. of shots fired and responding police had the suspect detained two minutes later.
The initial alert sent at 1:30 a.m. warned of an active shooter and an “imminent threat” and advised people to avoid the area where the shooting took place and “take immediate cover.”
The university says an error resulted in only “partial distribution” of the initial alert. University spokesman Eric Dieterle declined to elaborate or to say how many people didn’t get the initial message.
A final all-clear message was sent to the entire campus at 2:52 a.m.
___
11 a.m.
Northern Arizona University officials say campus police had the suspect in an early morning fatal shooting in custody within two minutes of first word of the incident.
A statement released by the university said NAU police were notified at 1:20 a.m. of shots fired and that the suspect was detained and the situation secured at 1:22 a.m.
The statement didn’t say what was going on at the shooting scene in a campus parking lot when police arrived.
Emergency medical personnel were on the scene a 1:33 a.m.
The university said one student was killed and three others wounded and that the suspect is a fellow student.
___
10:20 a.m.
Officials say a student who was fatally shot at Northern Arizona University was from Colorado.
Douglas County Schools say that Colin Brough, who was killed in the shooting that wounded three others early Friday, graduated from Castle View High School in Castle Rock, Colorado, in 2013.
Spokesman Randy Barber says a crisis team has been sent to support students and staff at the high school about 30 miles south of downtown Denver.
Authorities say the shooting erupted in a confrontation between two student groups.
___
8:30 a.m.
Authorities have released the names of the victims in the overnight shooting at Northern Arizona University.
The student who died was identified by the school as Colin Brough. The victims being treated at Flagstaff Medical Center are Nicholas Prato, Kyle Zientek and Nicholas Piring.
Police say the shooting erupted in a confrontation between two student groups.
The parking lot where the shooting happened is just outside Mountain View Hall dormitory on the Flagstaff campus, which provides housing for many of the campus’ sororities and fraternities.
___
7:30 a.m.
Arizona political leaders say the city of Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University are in their thoughts and prayers after a campus shooting left one person dead and three others wounded.
Gov. Doug Ducey said the incident, which officials say began as a fight between groups of students, was “heartbreaking” and that the state stands ready to help in the investigation and response.
Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick lives in Flagstaff. She said her heart and those of other Flagstaff residents are hurting. But she expressed confidence that the city “will only grow stronger in difficult moments like these. ”
Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake also expressed sympathy for the victims, their families and the Flagstaff community.
___
6:45 a.m.
A fraternity says some of its members were involved in an early morning shooting involving Northern Arizona University students in Flagstaff.
University officials said the shooting Friday in a parking lot left one person dead and three others wounded. The suspected shooter is in custody.
Iowa City, Iowa-based Delta Chi Fraternity said Delta Chi members were involved, but Executive Director Justin Sherman said in the statement that the organization doesn’t have detailed information about the identity of the victims.
Sherman said it was an isolated incident and not fraternity related.
The shooting occurred near a large residence hall that the university’s website says is home for most students in the Greek system on campus.
___
6:30 a.m.
Police say the shooting at Northern Arizona University that killed one student and wounded three others began as a fight between two groups.
University police chief Greg Fowler identified the suspect as 18-year-old Steven Jones. He is believed to be a freshman at the Flagstaff school.
The shooting happened at 1:20 a.m. in a parking lot outside a dorm. The university called the shooting an “isolated and unprecedented” incident and said classes will go on as planned Friday.
___
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Officials say one person is dead and three others are wounded following an early morning shooting at Northern Arizona University
#NAUAlert: Details confirmed 4 victims, 1 fatality, 3 wounded. Shooter is in custody. Situation is stabilized. Campus not on lockdown.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Recently released reports show that 154 same-sex couples wed in Kansas during a volatile period in late 2014, months before the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that legalized the unions nationwide.
Newly compiled data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment show that those unions made up less than 1 percent of the 17,655 marriages statewide in 2014. The agency says marriage data so far for 2015 isn’t yet available.
Tom Witt of the gay rights group Equality Kansas says roadblocks to marriage in 2014 were “substantial,” but he expects far more same-sex unions this year.
Confusion reigned in Kansas after the U.S. Supreme Court in October turned away appeals from five states seeking to retain gay-marriage bans. One was in the same federal appeals court circuit as Kansas.
GREAT BEND–As many as 500 waterfowl hunters from across the U.S. will flock to Cheyenne Bottoms for the opening weekend of duck season, which begins Saturday, Oct. 10, in the Low Plains Early Duck Zone.
Knowing all too well how important a good breakfast can be, staff at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC) invite each and every one of those hunters to their 3rd Annual Hunter Appreciation Breakfast. Visiting hunters will enjoy a hot plate of biscuits and gravy, as well as coffee and juice. And the best part? It’s all free. Hungry hunters can stop by KWEC, located at the southeast corner of Cheyenne Bottoms along K-156 Highway, from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. and refuel after their morning hunts.
Following breakfast, hunters can explore Cheyenne Bottoms’ history at the education center, peruse through items in the Cheyenne Bottoms Ducks Unlimited Chapter raffle and silent auction, and brush up on their waterfowl identification.
Hunters can also get a complimentary waterfowl boat inspection done, courtesy of Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Boater Education staff.
For more information, call the KWEC at (877) 243-9268.
This event is sponsored by Great Bend Regional Hospital.
