WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) sponsored a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution this week to formally object to the Obama Administration’s latest regulation, which redefines exemptions to overtime rules. The rule will have negative consequences for Kansas nonprofits, higher education institutions and thousands of employers and hard-working Kansans.

“This new Department of Labor rule is the latest example of this administration’s misguided approach to federal regulations that forces Americans to endure the costs of bad policies,” Sen. Moran said. “Though the goal of helping low- and middle-class workers is commendable, the real-world application of this rule would do harm to the very Americans it claims to protect. This legislation will give Kansas organizations, employers and workers a voice against this detrimental act of government intrusion.”

On May 18, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) finalized an update to its overtime rules increasing the minimum threshold salary by which companies must provide overtime compensation to its employee from $23,660 to $47,476 annually. The practical effect is that thousands of Americans will have their work arrangement flexibility restricted and their weekly hours slashed by companies moving to comply with the new rule. Furthermore, the rule will cost many colleges and universities millions of dollars per year in additional operating costs, threatening to raise tuition costs for college students at a time when many can scarcely afford such a hike.

Sen. Moran has been actively fighting against this overtime rule for several months. In April, he sponsored the Protecting Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act (S. 2707), which would prevent the DOL from finalizing a proposal that will limit opportunities for employees and place significant burdens on job creators.

The passage of this resolution of disapproval signals Congress’ intent to stop DOL from implementing the rule. Under the CRA, the House and Senate vote on a joint resolution of disapproval to stop, with the full force of law, a federal agency from implementing a rule or regulation or issuing a substantially similar regulation without congressional authorization. The resolution of disapproval must also be signed by the president; if vetoed, Congress can only overturn that act with a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.

SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Seward County are investigating the murder of a woman and the attempted murder of a man on Monday. The search for a suspect has ended, according to a media release.

Just after 4pm on Friday, Christopher Dewayne Hoskins was arrested at a residence in Wichita. The arrest occurred without incident. No injuries were reported, according to Liberal police.

Hoskins was taken into custody with the assistance of the Wichita Police Department and the United States Marshals Service.

Hoskins is being held at the Sedgwick County Jail under a $500,000.00 bond.

Just before 1:30 p.m. on Monday, emergency responders were called to 188 West Pancake in Liberal for a reported shooting.

Responding officers found a 27-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman had been shot, according to a media release. Both victims were transported to Southwest Medical Center by Seward County EMS in serious condition and then transferred to Wesley Medical Center.

Investigators learned on Monday afternoon that the female victim had died. Her name is being withheld until the family has been notified. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

Investigators learned that a dispute between several people occurred in the parking lot when the shooting occurred.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas wildlife officials say it will take weeks and perhaps months to determine why 30 federally protected egrets turned up dead in Wichita.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism is trying to pinpoint what killed the birds last week in a residential area.

As the department’s law enforcement chief, Larry Hastings says uncovering what caused the deaths could take some time. He says the probe would entail interviewing people and finding any witnesses.

Hastings says the investigation likely will involve federal wildlife officials because of the birds’ protected status.

Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, harming or disturbing the birds is punishable by up to $500 in fines or up to six months in prison.

SCOTT MAYEROWITZ, Associated Press
JOAN LOWY, Associated Press

HAVANA (AP) — The Obama administration has granted permission for the first U.S. airlines to start the first scheduled flights to Cuba in more than five decades.

The Department of Transportation said Friday that six airlines have been selected for routes to nine Cuban cities other than Havana. They are American, Frontier, JetBlue, Silver Airways, Southwest and Sun Country.

Arrangements must still be worked out with the Cuban government, but the carriers say they plan to start selling tickets in the next few weeks while they wait for signoffs from Cuba.

Currently, all flights operating between the two countries are charters.

U.S. airlines have requested more routes to Havana than the 20 daily roundtrip flights available, complicating the selection process. A decision on the Havana routes is expected later this summer.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kansas and Nebraska are among 21 states suing the State of Delaware to give back more than $150 million in uncashed money orders.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Thursday the states are suing Delaware over an escalating dispute involving uncashed money orders from Dallas-based MoneyGram.

MoneyGram has been submitting unclaimed money to Delaware, where the company is incorporated. The other states argue that the money should go back to the state where purchased.

Abandoned property is the third-largest source of general fund revenue for Delaware and is expected to total more than half a billion dollars in the current fiscal year. The huge amount stems from Delaware’s status as the legal home to more than 1 million businesses.

An audit shows that if other states join the lawsuit, the lawsuit could threaten an even larger portion of Delaware’s budget. $400 million could be slashed out of Delaware’s budget if the remaining states were to join the lawsuit and win. That amount would be equal to one-tenth of Delaware’s $4 billion budget.

Of the 21 states listed as plaintiffs, Texas would receive $10 million. Other states in the lawsuit are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia.