TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers will study instituting a statewide policy requiring law enforcement officers to wear body cameras. A similar proposal failed to gain traction last spring.
Rep. John Rubin, a Shawnee Republican, will hold a hearing next week of a joint committee on corrections and juvenile justice oversight. He supports police body cameras.
The Kansas City Star reports that the issue has bipartisan support but lawmakers don’t agree on the specifics. For example, the committee will consider whether to require all levels of law enforcement to use body-worn cameras, how to pay for them and rules about the storage and access of recordings,
In Missouri last year, some lawmakers stalled a statewide requirement for body-worn cameras because they did not believe the state should impose an unfunded mandate.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A meat company based in Nebraska is recalling 167,427 pounds of ground beef that might be tainted with E. coli bacteria.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Sunday that All American Meats Inc. is recalling the meat that was sold to retailers nationwide. No illnesses have been linked to the beef.
The recalled meat was produced on Oct. 16, and it was sold in either 60-pound or 80-pound packages.
All the meat that is being recalled had a sell-by date of Nov. 3 and establishment number 20420 in the USDA inspection stamp.
LUCAS – Two people were injured in an accident just before 12:30p.m. on Sunday in Russell County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Dodge Ram truck driven by David A. Schoen, 20, Sylvan Grove, was eastbound on Kansas 18 in Lucas.
To avoid a rear end collision with another vehicle, the Dodge swerved left into the westbound lane and was struck in the passenger side by 2013 Toyota Prius driven by Kerry R. Lindh, 64, McPherson.
Lindh and a passenger Mary K. Lindh, 57, McPherson, were transported to the Ellsworth Medical Center.
Schoen was not injured. All were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new multimillion-dollar forensic science laboratory is set to open Monday on the Washburn University campus in Topeka.
The four-story building, which had a $55 million budget, will be used by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. It replaces an old lab in the basement of a renovated junior high school.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the public will be able to tour the building later this week.
KBI Director Kirk Thompson says the new building was designed to meet current and future needs of the KBI. The current lab processes about 10,000 pieces of evidence each year for law enforcement agencies across the state.
Washburn University’s forensic science classes will also be located in the building.
Title insurance is an insurance policy that covers you if title problems come up after you buy or refinance a property. Possible complications include lost, forged or incorrectly filed deeds, property access issues and liens on a property.
We at the Kansas Insurance Department (KID) and our colleagues at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offer you the following information on ways to protect your investment from potential title defects or liens.
For example, if there is an unpaid mortgage on the property you just bought, you may be held responsible. Without title insurance, you might have to pay legal costs to settle a dispute. If you lose a dispute, it could cost you money, the equity you have in your home and perhaps even ownership. Title insurance is designed to cover associated legal costs to settle the dispute and/or to resolve the problem.
When purchasing real estate, your lender will likely require title insurance. The coverage allows the lender to sell the mortgage to their investors and keep more money available for other loans. If you are considering title insurance, you might have the following questions.
Where can I buy title insurance?
You can buy title insurance directly from a title insurance company or a title agent who sells title insurance for a company. Licensed title insurance companies, agencies and agents can sell title insurance.
What are my rights when buying title insurance?
You have the right to purchase title insurance and settlement services from any company or agent, not just the agent suggested by your real estate agent or lender. You’ll need to know the cost of the house to make price comparisons on title services.
You can search for licensed title companies and make a list of questions to ask title insurers prior to signing a contract. Be sure to ask what services and fees are included in the title premium and closing services, as well as any fees charged separately. Ask whether discounts apply.
Some title insurers may be affiliated with lenders, real estate companies, developers or home builders. Ask the person making the referral if his/her company is affiliated with the recommended title insurer. Federal law requires affiliated relationships be disclosed in writing.
Types of policies
There are two types of title insurance policies: owner’s and lender’s. An owner’s policy protects you for the cost of your home plus legal costs if a title or ownership issue arises after you buy your home. This type of policy is issued for the amount you paid for your home, and will cover you as long as you own an interest in the property. You are not required to purchase an owner’s policy.
If an owner’s policy doesn’t cover a specific issue, often you can add specific coverage, known as a policy endorsement. For example, if you’re buying a new home and the owner’s policy doesn’t cover claims (often known as a mechanic’s lien) filed by a contractor, you can add a policy endorsement to ensure you are covered if the prior owner failed to fully compensate the contractor. Some endorsements are free while others cost an additional fee.
If you borrow money to buy your home or property, your lender is likely to require you to buy a lender’s policy. A lender’s policy only protects the lender if a title or ownership problem comes up after the property is purchased. A lender’s policy is issued for the amount of the mortgage, and the coverage decreases as you pay down your loan. Unlike an owner’s policy, the lender’s policy ends when you pay off your mortgage. You may be expected to pay the premium for this type of coverage.
Because a lender’s policy only protects the lender from title problems, you may want to consider an owner’s policy to protect your interests.
For more information about title insurance, or if you believe you have been treated unfairly, contact KID’s Consumer Assistance Division at 800-432-2484.
Ken Selzer is the Kansas Commissioner of Insurance.
TOPEKA– Kansas consumers wanting health insurance through the federally-facilitated marketplace beginning Nov. 1 continue to have choices of health insurance companies, despite the recent loss of some company options.
Companies available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) federal marketplace enrollment are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Inc., BlueCross BlueShield Kansas Solutions, Inc., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (for consumers in Johnson and Wyandotte counties), and UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest, Inc.
Two Coventry health insurance companies will not participate in the state’s 2016 federally-facilitated marketplace, officials announced last week. They are Coventry Health and Life Insurance Co., which offers preferred provider plans; and Coventry Health Care of Kansas Inc., a health maintenance organization. Both companies are part of the corporate structure of Inc., a national health insurance organization.
Consumers wanting to look at the marketplace plan information prior to enrollment will be able to do so on a special section of the Kansas Insurance Department’s website, www.ksinsurance.org
Department statistics now show that fewer than three percent of the Kansas population of 2.9 million has insurance through marketplace enrollment.
“Coventry’s departure from the federal marketplace was a company decision, but Kansans still have a choice of other companies for the upcoming open enrollment period,” said Ken Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance. “Those who currently have Coventry health plans purchased from the online marketplace should be prepared to change companies when the open enrollment period begins Nov. 1.”
The two Coventry companies covered approximately 45,000 lives through federal marketplace plans as of Sept. 30, 2015, according to the Kansas Insurance Department (KID).
“We know that marketplace consumers will have questions of both KID and of the navigator programs in the state,” Commissioner Selzer said. “We will assist callers through our Consumer Assistance Division by answering questions they have or by referring them to the proper agencies for help. We are expecting Coventry to send notices to their customers explaining their position and providing information on their coverage now and in the future.”
The online marketplace exchange in Kansas is operated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, whose website is www.healthcare.gov.
“Kansans’ concerns about insurance are a major priority for the department, and we will assist those impacted by the Coventry decision in working through their health insurance issues,” Commissioner Selzer said.
The department’s Consumer Assistance Hotline is 800-432-2484.
Photo by Ashley Booker Shawn Sullivan, Gov. Brownback’s budget director
JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A budget deficit is all but certain to emerge in Kansas with new, more pessimistic revenue projections expected in the coming week.
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback already has ruled out further tax increases after sales and cigarette taxes went up in July. And legislators aren’t much interested anyway after the bitter, record-long annual session.
State officials learn Monday whether tax collections in October met expectations after falling short in recent months.
Then, economists, legislative researchers and state officials are scheduled Friday to issue new revenue projections to guide budget decisions.
Brownback budget director Shawn Sullivan said the governor and his aides are likely to consider targeted spending cuts and other budget adjustments, such as shuffling money among various government accounts.
LONDON (AP) — Alex Smith threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 78 yards and a touchdown to lead the Kansas City Chiefs over the Detroit Lions 45-10 Sunday at Wembley Stadium.
Smith scrambled his way through the Detroit defense for some big plays, including a career-high 49-yard run in the second quarter that set up his 12-yard touchdown run.
The Chiefs (3-5) were playing at Wembley for the first time, while the Lions (1-7) played in London for the second straight season.
De’Anthony Thomas, Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware also rushed for touchdowns for the Chiefs. Thomas ended up with 100 total yards, while West ran for 97. Travis Kelce and Jeremy Maclin caught TD passes in the second half.
DSNWK’s Fallfest celebration for its staff, parents, and persons served by Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas is Nov. 3.
Thanks to the generosity of Nex-Tech, Conrade Insurance and Hays Tees, Fallfest returns to the Ellis County Fairgrounds, 1344 Fairground Road, in Hays.
Fallfest will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will include a variety of games, bowling, a dance, and barbecue lunch.
“We are truly grateful to our sponsors for their support of this special event. Fallfest is one of DSNWK’s most anticipated days of the year for the people we serve,” said Steve Keil, DSNWK Director of Development.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals from two Maine men who say their guilty pleas for hitting their partners should not disqualify them from owning guns.
The justices on Friday said they would review lower court rulings that upheld convictions against Stephen Voisine and William Armstrong III for owning guns even after Voisine was convicted of slapping his girlfriend and Armstrong was convicted of hitting his wife. Voisine’s gun ownership came to light only after an anonymous report that he shot a bald eagle.
Federal law bars a person convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence involving the use of physical force or a deadly weapon from possessing a firearm. Voisine and Armstrong argue that Maine’s law and their guilty pleas are too vague to bar them from gun ownership.
A recent study by the Docking Institute at Fort Hays State University showed discontent over Kan. Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax policies, among other findings. Click HERE for more.
Mike Moustakas delivers the go-ahead single in the 8th inning of the Royals World Series Game 4 win over the Mets. (Keith Kowalski)
NEW YORK (AP) — Second baseman Daniel Murphy was a huge reason for the New York Mets’ ability to beat the Dodgers and Cubs en route to the National League pennant. On Saturday, it was Murphy’s error that helped the resilient Kansas City Royals put together a three-run eighth in a 5-3 triumph over the Mets at Citi Field. The rally gives the Royals a three-games-to-one lead in the World Series.
Rookie Michael Conforto’s second solo homer of the night put New York ahead 3-1 in the fifth, but the Royals scored once the following inning and rallied against Tyler Clippard and Jeurys Familia in the eighth. Ben Zobrist and Lorenzo Cain worked out one-out walks against Clippard before Familiar got Eric Hosmer to hit a grounder that skipped underneath Murphy’s glove for a game-tying error. Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez followed with RBI singles to make it 5-3.
Salvador Perez collects one of his three hits in Gam 4 of the World Series. (Keith Kowalski)
Perez had three of the Royals’ nine hits, while Zobrist scored twice.
The Mets had a chance to win it in the ninth after Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes hit one-out singles off Royals closer Wade Davis. Cespedes then elected to take off for second on Lucas Duda’s soft liner to Moustakas at third. Moustakas grabbed the liner near his shoetops and had no trouble doubling off Cespedes at first for the final putout.
It was Familia’s second blown save of the series. The last pitcher to blow two saves in a single World Series was Ryan Madson, who worked a perfect seventh on Saturday to pick up the victory.
The Royals can claim their second World Series title, and first in 30 years, as early as Sunday night in New York. Kansas City will send Edinson Volquez to the hill against Matt Harvey in a rematch of Game 1 starters.
Daylight Savings Time ended last night/early this morning at 2am and clocks were set back one hour. Sunrise and sunset will now be about one hour earlier.
Beginning today, there will be more light in the morning and the sun will set sooner in the evening.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers will study instituting a statewide policy requiring law enforcement officers to wear body cameras. A similar proposal failed to gain traction last spring.
