WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge says Kansas can’t require people to show proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote for federal elections at motor vehicle offices.
U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday in a lawsuit over Kansas’ proof-of-citizenship requirements. She put it on hold until May 31 so the state can appeal.
Robinson said that more than 18,000 eligible voters would be disenfranchised in the November federal election under the Kansas law.
The judge says Kansas’ requirements violate a provision in the National Voter Registration Act requiring only minimal information to determine voter eligibility.
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach says he plans to appeal.
The American Civil Liberties Union says the ruling sends a signal to other states that may be considering similar registration requirements.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) on Tuesday issued the following statement about the Obama administration’s plans to relocate terrorist detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to Ft. Leavenworth, KS:
“I have pledged to the people of Kansas that I would do everything in my power to stop President Obama from moving terrorist detainees to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, the intellectual center of the Army. I believe today that I can tell Kansans that the threat from this administration will go unfulfilled.
“Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work, who would be responsible for leading the plans to relocate terrorist detainees at Ft. Leavenworth, assured me at a May 10 meeting that, ‘I am the person who would have to execute it [the moving of detainees to the mainland], and the clock has run out.’
“Now I want to be clear that I know this will not change the president’s on-going insistence that he will close the facilities before he leaves office.
“But I take Deputy Secretary Work at his word. He understands the significant and costly changes that would need to be made at Ft. Leavenworth to change the post’s mission. He understands the myriad of challenges that Ft. Leavenworth poses after reviewing earlier analyses. Most importantly, he understands the legal restrictions on funding to move the detainees to Ft. Leavenworth by January 20, 2017.”
In recent years, Congress has withheld funding for all detainee transfers to the mainland. Those same funding prohibitions are moving through the process now as the Congress considers funding for the new fiscal year beginning October 1.
Senator Roberts thanked Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) for working with him to strengthen prohibitions on funding for the transfer of detainees to the mainland in this year’s National Defense Authorizations Act.
“Looking at the task before the administration, it is increasingly improbable that they can jeopardize our national security by bringing high-value terrorists and their associated risks to an American community like Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
“Because of assurances given to me by the Department of Defense and Congress’s continued opposition, today I have lifted my hold on the nomination of Eric Fanning to be the Secretary of the Army.
“I look forward to voting for Mr. Fanning who has always had my support for this position. My hold was never about his courage, character or capability, but rather about our nation’s security if the detainees were moved to Ft. Leavenworth. I believe Eric Fanning will be a tremendous leader for the Army, including those who serve at Ft. Leavenworth and Ft. Riley in my state. I thank Mr. Fanning for his efforts and look forward to working with him.”
“As the Secretary of Defense and the Attorney General have testified before Congress, moving detainees to the mainland is prohibited by law and will remain so through the end of this president’s term.”
Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, is the home to the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, which houses military prisoners. Enemy combatants may not be housed with members of the U.S. military. Fort Leavenworth is also home to the Command and General Staff College, the Intellectual Center of the Army, where all Army officers study. The post is located in the town of Leavenworth, Kansas.
In March, Roberts introduced a Senate resolution formally rejecting President Obama’s plan to transfer prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities to an alternate location in American communities. The resolution is cosponsored by Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). The full text of the resolution is available here.
Senator Roberts is the most senior Marine in the Congress. He was Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence from 2003-2007. He has visited Guantanamo Bay twice.
HAYS, Kan. – The Hays High girls’ soccer team jumped out early and never looked back as they beat Winfield 5-1 in their 4-1A Central/South Central regional opener Tuesday at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.
Goals from Lanie Schmidt and Sydney Sulzman gave the Indians an early 2-0 lead. Hannah McGuire, Kallie Lieker and Tressa Becker also scored as Hays improves to 10-6.
Hays will now travel to Towanda Thursday where they will play Circle HS at 6 pm. They Thunderbirds knocked off Wichita Independent 1-0 on penalty kicks in their opener Monday.
John Redmond Dredging project photo Kan. Water Office
BURLINGTON, Kan. (AP) — Dredging underway at an east-central Kansas reservoir is being touted as important in ensuring that area’s water supply to customers who include a nuclear power plant.
Gov. Sam Brownback on Tuesday directed the dredging of the John Redmond Reservoir near Burlington to begin. He calls it a significant step in preserving the water resource for future generations.
The Kansas Water Office says that since 1964, the reservoir has lost an estimated 42 percent of its conservation pool storage capacity, partly through sediment accumulation. That’s 80 percent more than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers originally projected when it was first construction.
The water office’s director, Tracy Streeter, says the reservoir serves 19 communities, six industrial users and the Wolf Creek nuclear power plant.
ST. JOHN, Kan. (AP) — The same mindset that has fueled online ride-sharing services like Uber has come to the farm.
The Hutchinson News reports that some farmers are now listing their combines and other machinery on a new sharing website. Kansas City-based MachineryLink has more than 1,300 growers signed up.
MCPHERSON COUNTY – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday in McPherson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Hyundai Elantra driven by Patrick D. Johnson, 42, Hutchinson, was traveling on Kansas 61 and rear-ended a 2007 Kenworth semi driven by Todd A. Arnold, 48, Hillsboro, that turned from Comanche Road onto Kansas 61 highway.
Johnson was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.
Arnold was not injured.
Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
WaKEENEY, Kan. – Trego finished first and Plainville second at the Trego 2A regional golf tournament Tuesday at the Big Creek Golf Course. Both qualify for the 2A state tournament next week in Salina. The Golden Eagles shot a 340 and won by 26 strokes over the second place Cardinals.
Trego placed three in the top-ten led by Emmit Owens who finished second with a 7-over-par 77. He finished two shots behind Oberlin’s Kelly Brown. Dion Reetz finished fourth with an 83 and Dalton Mai was sixth with an 84.
Gunner Kerns shot an 86 and led Plainville with an eighth place finish. Jared Copeland finished 10th with a 90.
Chase Hudson of Ellis also shot a 90 and locked up the final individual spot to state with an 11th place finish.
The 2A state tournament is Monday at the Salina Country Club.
The latest overtime lawsuit against Cerner Corp. alleges it failed to pay overtime to help desk workers. CREDIT FILE PHOTO
By Dan Margoiles
Another class-action lawsuit alleging Cerner illegally failed to pay employees overtime wages has been filed against the health care technology company.
The latest was filed in federal court in Kansas City on behalf of so-called AMS delivery consultants at Cerner, basically help desk workers who offer technical support and troubleshooting assistance.
The lawsuit says they were expected to work at least 48 hours a week but were not paid overtime. The suit, which was filed by Jonathan Taylor, seeks unspecified damages under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Missouri’s overtime law.
A Cerner representative said the company does not comment on pending litigation. But Cerner has argued elsewhere that the workers in question are “computer professionals” or “administrative employees” who are exempt from overtime requirements under FLSA.
Eric Dirks, an attorney for Taylor, said the class of affected workers in the case probably numbers in the hundreds.
“There are multiple different job titles which we believe have been misclassified,” Dirks said. “This is just yet another one of the job titles and organizations that we believe is misclassified.”
Dirks along with attorneys from other firms have filed at least two other pending overtime lawsuits against Cerner. One, in Jackson County, was filed on behalf of workers who configure user settings for Cerner’s hospital and other customers. The other, in Cass County, was filed on behalf of employees who train customers to use Cerner’s software.
A fourth case over Cerner’s overtime policy is pending in federal court in Kansas City. That lawsuit alleges Cerner pays its nonexempt employees – workers who must be paid overtime for any hours worked beyond 40 a week – a full pay period late and fails to include all additional compensation in their regular rate of pay.
In March, U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. agreed to let the case move ahead as a “collective” action under the Fair Labor Standards Act, finding that the workers were “similarly situated.”
A collective action is similar to a class action, except that plaintiffs must actively opt in to the class. Up to 850 Cerner employees may be eligible to opt in.
Gaitan’s ruling came just a few months after Cerner asked its nearly 17,000 workers in the United States to submit labor disputes to arbitration rather than sue it in court.
Workers who didn’t agree are not eligible for performance-based raises. Most of the company’s employees signed the agreement.
Dan Margolies, editor of the Heartland Health Monitor team. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. –Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Commissioner Dr. Bob Boerigter has announced his retirement effective January 31, 2017 after 45 years of service to intercollegiate athletics. Boerigter, the fourth full-time commissioner in MIAA history, has served in the position since the fall of 2010.
“It has been my honor to serve as the Commissioner of America’s finest Division II athletics conference. The experiences I have had, and the relationships I have been able to develop with CEO’s, athletics administrators, faculty athletics representatives, coaches and officials will be treasured for my entire life. I will remain committed to serving our membership and to assist with the transition to a new Commissioner in the months ahead,” commented Boerigter.
During his time as Commissioner he has implemented an expansion program of both full-time and associate members to the MIAA. In addition, in 2012 he directed a year-long celebration of the MIAA Centennial and has been the principal figure in attracting NCAA national championships to sites within the MIAA. Boerigter has overseen a great era of success in the MIAA. In his tenure, the conference has produced 10 national team champions in six different sports, in addition to a number of individual national champions.
“All of us in the MIAA are deeply grateful for the leadership Dr. Boerigter has provided to our conference and to the entire membership of NCAA Division II,” said University of Central Missouri President Chuck Ambrose. “Of course we are biased, but we consider Bob the best commissioner of the best Division II Conference in the NCAA. His work ethic, integrity, and service to our member institutions provides direct benefits to our student-athletes and the quality of their experience across the MIAA. The quality of his leadership has been extended to the entire Association with significant gains in the overall quality of the DII experience. The MIAA is a better conference and is recognized as a leader because of Dr. Boerigter’s service,” added Ambrose.
“Bob Boerigter has been an outstanding commissioner for the MIAA during the past six years,” said Southwest Baptist University President Pat Taylor. “I have always believed that we have the very best commissioner in the NCAA. Bob has wonderful people skills. He is kind and considerate, but has the ability to make difficult decisions and to be tough when it is necessary. He is very knowledgeable concerning NCAA policies and procedures. Bob has had numerous leadership roles within the NCAA and is looked upon as a leader. He has a tremendous work ethic. We will miss Bob’s leadership for the MIAA and I will miss his personal friendship,” added Taylor.
With extensive experience within the NCAA governance structure, Boerigter’s impact has been felt far beyond the footprint of the MIAA. He has served as Chair of the Division II Football Committee, a member of the Division II Championships Committee and the Planning and Finance committee as well as having served on many other association-wide and Division II task forces and project teams. In 2013 he was the Chair of the Division II Management Council and has previously served as a member of the NCAA Executive Committee.
Boerigter came to the conference office after spending nine years as the director of athletics at Northwest Missouri State University. In his time at Northwest he served as the lead administrator for the department of athletics/HPERD including recreational sports, club sports, campus recreation and the campus fitness center.
Prior to his time at Northwest Missouri State University, Boerigter served as the director of athletics, chair of the physical education department and professor of physical education at Hastings (Neb.) College for 13 years. He is a recipient of the NAIA National Athletics Director of the Year award and he is a member of the Hastings College Athletics Hall of Fame.
In all, Boerigter has served as the director of athletics at five collegiate institutions, including Adams State (Colo.) College, Northwestern (Iowa) College and Whitworth (Wash.) College.
Boerigter is a graduate of Northwestern College with a bachelor of science in physical education in 1970, and received a Master of Arts degree in 1974 from the University of Northern Colorado and a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Utah in 1978. Boerigter’s career in collegiate athletics began in 1972 at Northwestern College where he coached basketball, baseball, football and golf.
Boerigter and his wife, Mary, have two sons – Marc and John and four grandchildren.
The MIAA CEO Council will immediately commence a search for Boerigter’s successor, led by Doug Kristensen, Chancellor of the University of Nebraska Kearney, and chair of the council.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday criticized the Obama administration’s directive that public schools allow transgender students to use bathrooms that match their gender identities, not their sex at birth.
Board members called the directive an encroachment on local control, but voted 6-4 against issuing a public statement rejecting the federal mandate. Members agreed to discuss the issue again next month after consulting with their attorney and reviewing school districts’ policies.
State board member Ken Willard, a Hutchinson Republican, asked that the Legislature and Gov. Sam Brownback protect the state from what he called federal overreach. The board needs to take a stance on the issue, he said.
The Hays Public Library offers Hoopla, a digital streaming service, to all patrons with library cards. You can stream ebooks, audiobooks, movies, television shows and music to your own personal devices for free!
To help people get better acquainted with this service, the library is offering two “How-to Hoopla” classes on Thursday May, 19th. The classes will be at 10 AM and 4 PM in the Schmidt Gallery. Patrons will learn how to log in to the online service, how to search for items and how to download items. Patrons can bring along their devices and download their first Hoopla item in the class!
Each library card holder is eligible to download 8 items per month through Hoopla.
For more information on this and other programs, check out the online calendar at www.hayspubliclibrary.org or call 785.625.9014.
Fort Hays State women’s javelin throwers Estefania Lopez and Madison Wolf have been announced as Fort Hays State’s lone representatives at the 2016 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Bradenton, Fla. Ranked among the top four in the nation in the event, they will compete on Saturday, May 28 at 2:25 pm (ET).
Lopez and Wolf remain ranked No. 2 and No. 4 nationally in the event heading to the championships. Wolf set a new school record in the event at the KT Woodman Classic at 170 feet, 10 inches, but Lopez topped that mark a week later at the Kansas Relays at 173 feet, 8 inches. FHSU is the only school to have two athletes throw over 170 feet this year in the event.
Western Washington also has a powerful duo in Bethany Drake and Katie Reichert. Drake ranks third in the nation with a throw of 171 feet, 7 inches, while Reichert ranks fifth at 164 feet, 8 inches. Both school’s duos will look to chase down 2015 national champion Allison Updike, who has the top throw in the nation this year at 175 feet, 11 inches. She threw a career-best 181 feet, 10 inches last year at the NCAA Championships to win the national title.
Both Lopez and Wolf earned All-America status last year, placing exactly where they rank going into this year’s championship. Lopez was the national runner-up and Wolf finished fourth. Lopez joined the Tigers last year, while Wolf is a two-time All-American as she was sixth as a freshman in 2014.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge says Kansas can’t require people to show proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote for federal elections at motor vehicle offices.
