Warmer temperatures can be expected today with highs in the lower to mid 90s. Winds will be from the south-southeast at 10 to 20 mph. An isolated thunderstorm can’t be ruled out late this afternoon and evening, mainly across far southwestern Kansas.
Warm again Sunday with highs in the 90s. Winds will be from the south at 20 to 30 mph. Heat index values will be around 100 degrees. There is a slight chance for thunderstorms Sunday night.
Today: Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 92. South southeast wind 8 to 15 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South southeast wind 8 to 14 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 97. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Breezy, with a south wind 17 to 23 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 97. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 18 to 21 mph.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment samples publicly accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on sampling results, KDHE reports on potentially harmful conditions.
Lakes under a Warning are not closed. Marinas, lakeside businesses and park camping facilities are open for business. If swim beaches are closed, it will be specifically noted. Drinking water and showers at parks are safe and not affected by algae blooms. Boating and fishing are safe on lakes under a Warning, but contact with the water should be avoided. It is safe to eat fish caught during a harmful blue-green algae outbreak, as long as the fish is rinsed with clean water; only the fillet portion is consumed and all other parts are discarded. Hands should also be washed with clean water after handling fish taken from an affected lake. Zoned lakes may have portions fully open for all recreation even if other portions are under a Warning.
Kansans should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can develop rapidly and may float around the lake, requiring visitors to exercise their best judgment. If there is scum, a paint-like surface or the water is bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.
Public Health Warning: High levels of toxic blue-green algae have been detected. A Public Health Warning indicates that activities like boating and fishing may be safe; however, direct contact with water (i.e., wading, skiing and swimming) is strongly discouraged for people, pets and livestock.
Kansas public waters currently under a Warning status:
CENTRAL PARK LAKE, Shawnee County LAKE AFTON, Sedgwick County MARION COUNTY LAKE, Marion County MILFORD RESERVOIR, (Zones B and C) Clay, Dickinson and Geary Counties
When a Warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:
Lake water is not good to drink for pets or livestock
Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans
Water contact should be avoided
Fish can be eaten as long as they are rinsed with clean water, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other parts
Do not allow pets to eat dried algae
If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible
Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation
KDHE will update these statements as conditions warrant.
Photo by Sarah Long/Joyful Photography A TARC client and her father play during a group outing at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center in Topeka. TARC, a Shawnee County nonprofit that serves people with developmental disabilities, and other children’s programs across the state are dealing with the realities of budget cuts in the new fiscal year –
By MEGAN HART
Funding cuts and changes for children’s programs across the state became a reality at the start of this month — and that means fewer Kansas families will receive some services.
An official with TARC, a Shawnee County organization that serves people with developmental disabilities, said the nonprofit was out of options for administrative cuts in the wake of state funding reductions.
Sherry Lundry, the group’s development director, said TARC had left some nonessential positions vacant.
But that wasn’t enough to make up for the loss of some funding from the Kansas Children’s Cabinet, lower Medicaid reimbursements and an increasing number of young children with developmental delays who have been referred for services, she said. “Our administrative costs have been reduced as much as we can reduce them,” she said. –
With tax revenues repeatedly falling below expectations, Gov. Sam Brownback and other state policymakers reduced spending to balance the budget. They cut $3.3 million from the Children’s Cabinet, shifted Parents as Teachers to a federal funding source with more strings attached and trimmed $56 million from Medicaid by reducing payments to most medical and home and community-based service providers.
In some cases, organizations had only a few weeks to prepare between when cuts were announced and when they took effect July 1.
Lundry said TARC employees are trying to raise additional funds from donors and applying for grants to avoid cutting support services for parents, such as respite care. “We’ve written three or four grants in the past week for help,” she said. “We are going to persevere and do the best we can.”
Fear of setbacks
TARC isn’t the only group coping with reduced funding following cuts to the Children’s Cabinet, which funds children’s programs with the state’s share of the 1998 master settlement agreement with large tobacco companies.
Rich Minder, collaborative projects coordinator for the Success by 6 Coalition of Douglas County, said it reduced the number of early childhood classrooms where it partnered to educate teachers about improving their interactions with students, didn’t fill a position in its partnership to work with homeless parents and will stop offering sensory assessments to some children with special needs.
Parents may have to pay for the assessments, which cost about $500, Minder said. They are used to identify if certain behaviors or tendencies for self-harm are the result of the child being easily over-stimulated or having an unusually high need for stimulation, he said.
The coalition also cut the job of a social and emotional development coach, who works with teachers in early childhood centers to improve classroom management and reduce behavior problems among higher-risk children, Minder said. Success by 6 may have to focus more on slightly older children, in pre-kindergarten classrooms, who are more likely to have established behavior problems, he said.
“In the pre-K years, you’re going to see more need for intervention,” he said. Responding to funding changes isn’t as simple as cutting a line item from a budget, Minder said.
For organizations that have public-private partnerships, losing state support could mean losing other sources of funding as well as wasting effort trying to minimize the cuts, he said.
“That sets everybody back,” he said. “It makes everybody less effective and less efficient.”
The Children’s Cabinet cuts were particularly difficult because they came after years of reductions in funding from the state and other sources, said Pat Hanrahan, president and CEO of United Way of the Plains in Wichita.
The organization distributes its Children’s Cabinet funds to five groups that run eight programs for children. Facing a 14 percent overall budget cut, the groups decided to reduce the number of families they serve from about 500 to around 350, he said.
“The agencies all said there’s no way to absorb it, make it up. It’s pure and simple,” he said. “Somebody’s going to do without.”
Some organizations were able to limit the direct impact of the cuts on children. Craig Cornell, superintendent of Coffeyville USD 445, had feared the cuts would limit the school district’s ability to open and staff its recently completed preschool building.
The district will have existing employees oversee the preschool program’s finances and assessments, and a custodian already on staff will be responsible for the building, he said.
Four County Mental Health, a community mental health center based in Independence, previously provided two case managers and half of a parent educator’s time to work with parents of young children in the Coffeyville district.
Now, Cornell said, a full-time employee from the community mental health center will work in the preschool building. “We’re hopeful, since she’s centrally located, that we won’t lose services,” he said.
“We just hope that there aren’t any more cuts coming up in the future, because if there are any more, it will impact our students.” ‘
On the back burner’
For Parents as Teachers, which offers home visits to teach parents about child development, a funding shift will limit some families’ access to the program.
The state’s decision to use federal funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program means families must meet certain risk factors.
The federal funds also can’t be used for administrative costs or overhead, such as rent.
Wes Topel, program supervisor for Parents as Teachers in the USD 636 North Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative in Phillipsburg, said its two parent educators will continue to serve four participating families that don’t qualify under TANF, as well as the 26 that do.
But the program may not be able to take non-qualifying families in the future unless funding becomes available, he said.
“We’ll have to tell them if they’re not TANF eligible, we’ll have to put you on the back burner,” he said.
The state typically funds Parents as Teachers services for 8,000 to 9,000 families, according to the Kansas State Department of Education.
An estimated 30,000 Kansas families will qualify for the program, based on their income and their children’s ages.
The Kansas State Department of Education has done a good job sharing information about how the new funding stream will work, Topel said, but he still has some questions, such as how to report costs when a parent educator drives to see both a TANF-eligible and non-TANF family.
Another question is about cash flow, because the federal funds are reimbursed instead of being paid at the beginning of the fiscal year, he said. “How that works, I have no idea,” he said.
“We’ve had to do quite a bit of work just to get ready. Hopefully we’re on the right track.”
Megan Hart is a reporter for KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team. You can reach her on Twitter @meganhartMC
The Hays Police Department will be conducting training on July 11 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at 202 ½ E. 6th Street, Hays.
Police officers will be training with special tactical equipment. This training is being done with great care and safety.
As a homeowner, you may see law enforcement officers move through your area. There is no need to be alarmed. The officers are merely conducting a realistic training exercise and there is no danger to the community.
If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the on-site supervisor (Team Commander Tim Greenwood or Team Leader Aaron Larson), or Chief Scheibler at 785-625-1030.
TOPEKA – On Friday, Kansas filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Obama administration’s unilateral expansion of Title IX to cover gender identity, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
The filing follows through on Schmidt’s announcement last month that Kansas would bring a legal challenge to the federal administration’s threat to withhold funds from schools that do not follow its new “guidance” on the issue.
The lawsuit filed Friday in federal district court in Lincoln is led by Nebraska. In addition to Nebraska and Kansas, the plaintiffs are Arkansas, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wyoming. The lawsuit notes that the Kansas State Board of Education voted unanimously not to implement the new federal guidance but instead to leave to local school districts discretion in how to accommodate transgender students.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination in federally funded education on the basis of sex. The new “guidance” attempts, without an act of Congress, to redefine “on the basis of sex” to cover gender identity in addition to biological sex. In some cases, the new federal “guidance” has been construed to govern the policies used by local school districts in providing bathroom facilities for their students.
HAYS – Haysville scored a run in the first inning then added another in the sixth and shutout the Larks 2-0 in the opening game of their three-game series at Larks Park.
The Aviators (13-14, 11-13 Jayhawk League) took advantage of two singles and an error to score the games first run. They scored the games second run on a two-out wild pitch.
Austin O’Brien had two of the Larks (22-6, 18-6 Jayhawk League) five hits. Hays couldn’t take advantage of the six walks issued by Haysville starter Denson Hull and stranded 12 base runners as they are shutout for the first time this summer.
Starter Stephen Yancey allowed both runs on five hits with six strikeouts and a walk over six innings and suffered the loss. Sam Reed pitched three scoreless innings and struck out six.
The two teams continue the three-game series Saturday. It’s Pink the Park Night with free admission courtesy A&A Coors and Horizon Appliance and Electronics.
The Hays Eagles Sr. American Legion nearly erased an early 4-0 deficit but the comeback bid fell short in a 7-6 loss to 316 2.0 Friday. The Eagles cut the gap in half with two runs in the fourth inning. The scored four in the sixth to grab a 6-5 lead but 316 2.0 rallied with two in the bottom of the seventh for the walk-off win.
Ricky Hockett drove in two runs with a sixth inning triple.
Ryan Ruder allowed two unearned runs on one hit in 1 1/3 innings of relief and suffered the loss.
HAYS – Ellis raced out to a 4-0 lead then held off the comeback bid of the Hays Monarchs Jr. American Legion and won 4-0 Friday evening. Ellis scored three runs in the second inning and another in the fourth. The Monarchs then scored single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings but came up short on on the comeback bid.
Tate Garcia drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Luke Ruder’s RBI single in the seventh closed the gap to two. Eston Brown’s run scoring single an inning later pulled the Monarchs to within a run.
Cole Zimmerman allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits over 4 2/3 innings and suffered the loss.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Hisashi Iwakuma pitched into the seventh inning, Seattle scored the go-ahead runs on Yordano Ventura’s wild pitch and the Mariners held on to beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Friday night.
Iwakuma (9-6) allowed one run, five hits and three walks over 6 2/3 innings, striking out six. He kept the Royals off balance with his usual herky-jerky delivery, the only run he allowed coming on Cheslor Cuthbert’s base hit in the fourth inning.
Steve Cishek, who blew the save in the series opener, allowed Salvador Perez’s homer in the ninth inning before finishing off the inning. It was his 21st save of the season.
Ventura (6-6) was nearly as stingy, giving up only a sacrifice fly to Ketel Marte in the fifth, before things unraveled for him after Seth Smith’s single and Robinson Cano’s double in the sixth inning.
In July, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers will travel to Cleveland to provide assistance to the City of Cleveland and the Ohio State Highway Patrol during the 2016 Republican National Convention, according to a media release.
The convention runs from July 18-21, 2016. The Patrol’s assistance aids in answering an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request for mutual aid.
While in Cleveland, troopers will provide support to federal, state, and local entities as a high visibility deterrent, observing/reporting, and interacting with the public. Kansas is one of several state patrol organizations across the country that will be assisting in Cleveland.
This is not the first time the Kansas Highway Patrol has sent members to assist public safety partners across the nation during critical events. Following Hurricane Katrina, Patrol personnel deployed to various locations in the south to assist local authorities with manpower in affected areas.
EMAC is a national interstate mutual aid agreement that allows states to share resources during times of disaster. EMAC has grown to become the nation’s system for providing mutual aid through operational procedures and protocols that have been validated through experience. EMAC acts as a complement to the federal disaster response system, providing timely and cost-effective relief to states requesting assistance from others who understand the needs of jurisdictions that are struggling to preserve life, the economy, and the environment. EMAC can be used either in lieu of federal assistance or in conjunction with federal assistance, thus providing a “seamless” flow of needed goods and services to an impacted state. EMAC further provides another venue for mitigating resource deficiencies by ensuring maximum use of all available resources within member states’ inventories.
RILEY COUNTY -Following Thursday night’s tragic shooting in Dallas, residents in Manhattan came together outside the Riley County Police Department on Friday to honor and pray for the five police officers who lost their lives.
“Today we mourn with those who mourn,” said Riley County Police Chief Brad Schoen.
“I remind all of those here who work for RCPD to look to your core values to guide what you do and how you react, and how we treat and interact with our local community.”
The impromptu vigil saw a turnout of several dozen local residents and law enforcement officials who shared their thoughts and prayers openly to those in attendance.
Angela Christian and Police Chief Schoen
“We all have to do our part,” said event coordinator Angela Christian.
She said she hopes similar events can help bring the people of America closer together.
“We can set back and complain, but we have to take action. It’s time to investigate and find out what the real facts are. And the facts are these men and women are here for us,” she said.
“A reminder of who we are as a country. What our constitution means, that we need to stand for what we believe in. Enough is enough.”
Sukchan Lee, Orthopedic Surgeon at HaysMed performed the first direct anterior approach hip replacement surgery at HaysMed in June. The surgery offers patients the potential for a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery time. Lee is one of the only physicians in Western Kansas who performs this type of surgery but he will be joined by fellow Orthopedic Surgeon Gulraiz Cheema who will begin offering the procedure this fall.
With the direct approach anterior hip procedure, the surgeon makes a small incision at the front of the hip instead of through the back or the side of the hip. This approach allows the doctor to reach the hip socket without cutting through major muscles and tendons. The procedure often results in less pain and fewer complications for patients than standard hip replacement.
“Patients recover quicker, discontinue use of a cane or walker sooner, and have a quicker return to a normal gait,” Lee said.
The operation is less invasive on muscles so patients don’t have as many movement limitations during recovery. “You can bend over; you can reach down to the floor. You can cross your legs – all movements that patients with a traditional hip replacement surgery have to be careful about,” Lee said.
Anterior hip replacements were first described in the United States in the 1970s and have gradually gained popularity. During the surgery patients lie on their backs rather than their sides and the procedure requires special operating tables other equipment that HaysMed purchased earlier this year. Lee received the special training on this procedure at Harvard Medical School.
Surgeons who perform the procedure also say the anterior position makes it easier for them to use fluoroscopy, a real-time x-ray technique that allows doctors to precisely position the implanted artificial hip. That, in turn, may allow artificial hips to last longer.
“It’s exciting to be able to offer patients this option in hip replacement surgery,” Lee said. “Not every patient meets the criteria for direct anterior hip replacement but if they do qualify they should experience a quicker recovery and shorter hospital stay.”
For more information contact the HaysMed Orthopedic Institute at 785-261-7599.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Overland Park police are investigating an online post allegedly made by one of their officers that appears to be threatening a child.
The Kansas City Star reports reports the Facebook post was apparently made by an officer from his personal account after the killing of police officers in Dallas. The post was on the page of a woman who had posted a picture of a small child.
The officer allegedly posted this: “We’ll see how much her life matters soon. Better be careful leaving your info open where she can be found 🙂 Hold her close tonight it’ll be the last time.” See more here
The department said Friday in a statement it’s investigating the post “reportedly made by one of our officer’s” and that the department doesn’t tolerate discrimination or threats.
Warmer temperatures can be expected today with highs in the lower to mid 90s. Winds will be from the south-southeast at 10 to 20 mph. An isolated thunderstorm can’t be ruled out late this afternoon and evening, mainly across far southwestern Kansas.
The Hays Police Department will be conducting training on July 11 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at 202 ½ E. 6th Street, Hays.
TOPEKA – On Friday, Kansas filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Obama administration’s unilateral expansion of Title IX to cover gender identity, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Sukchan Lee, Orthopedic Surgeon at HaysMed performed the first direct anterior approach hip replacement surgery at HaysMed in June. The surgery offers patients the potential for a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery time. Lee is one of the only physicians in Western Kansas who performs this type of surgery but he will be joined by fellow Orthopedic Surgeon Gulraiz Cheema who will begin offering the procedure this fall.
