BUNKER HILL — Earlier this month, Smoky Hills Public Television hosted a forum featuring candidates for the 111th District State House of Representatives.
Incumbent state Rep. Sue Boldra, R-Hays, is facing off against former state Rep. Eber Phelps, D-Hays, in the November general election. The forum was moderated by Eagle’s Becky Kiser, and Patrick Lowry, editor/publisher of the Hays Daily News, asked questions of the candidates.
Click below to view the forum, which also will air on Eagle Ch. 14 and 614 at 1 p.m., 5 p.m. and midnight Oct. 10, 13 and 16.
Hays Post offers its appreciation to SHPTV for making this forum available for viewers.
Gene Policinski is senior vice president of the First Amendment Center.
As we hurtle through the innovative and endlessly updated second decade of the 21st century, the prospects seem brighter and better than ever that our new web and social media tools will help us better communicate and more effectively confront serious challenges like terrorism.
But then, there are the reminders that the Algorithmic Age is still in its infancy and that all the programming in the virtual world sometimes falls short of good old people brainpower. And therein are the early warning signs that tech companies need to take in consideration of free expression rights into the inevitable — and perhaps even desirable — tilt toward AI over human “editors” controlling the flow of information.
Why not just use people instead of machines to oversee our posts, tweets, website content and such? ISIS is a good example of why not to do so. The terror group is in a running battle with social media sites to promote itself to the current and next generation of young people. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of bits of propaganda have been tossed into the internet information flow of billions of images, messages, rants and raves. Recruiting videos, images of beheadings, even a slick feature film threatening Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, are among the social media posts by ISIS and its offshoots.
The response to the persistent and global electronic tactics by these inhumane criminals requires constant sifting through the billions of messages, posts, sites and images that make up the World Wide Web — and that requires algorithmic surrogates to constantly prowl the internet.
Earlier this year, Twitter announced it had eliminated more than 125,000 accounts linked to ISIS. Facebook has deleted posts and blocked accounts. Google and subsidiary operation YouTube have aggressively moved to block content submitted by the extremists. Hence, the video threat days later from ISIS aimed at Dorsey and Zuckerberg.
But with the good comes the bad — or at least actions that are not in keeping with the web’s promise of free expression for all. Machines and methods are only as good as the people who create and instruct them, and technology alone does not guarantee freedom.
For example, you may have seen the brief international flap over an automated decision by Facebook to ban a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of a young girl, naked and facing the camera, running down a road. The image — posted by several Norwegians — was removed because it violated the social media behemoth’s rules on nudity and child pornography.
If you viewed the photo through the lens of a mechanical eye, case closed. Full-frontal nudity, perhaps even child porn. Check. Delete.
Except that the image was photographer Nick Ut’s Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of nine year old Phan Thi Kim Phuc, screaming as she ran in 1972 from a napalm attack by U.S.warplanes in Vietnam.
As Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg admitted in a Sept. 10 letter to Norway’s prime minister about Facebook restoring the photo on its pages: “We don’t always get it right.”
Sandberg explained that the photo was restored because of its “global and historical importance,” even though on the surface, the photo conflicted with “global community standards.” Sandberg added that “screening millions of posts on a case-by-case basis every week is challenging. Nonetheless, we intend to do better.”
Well, that’s good — but not a guarantee.
Facebook and the U.S.-based social media community are not bound by the First Amendment. As private companies, they have the right to make their own decisions on overall standards. The amendment’s reach in any case only applies in the U.S., a fraction of the global communities now engaged in instant interaction. The insistence by Google, Facebook, Twitter and others that they are merely “technology” companies would seem to argue content considerations are not their domains.
Still, it’s incumbent on the titans of social media to “do better” on considering and defending free expression. The tremendous impact on our lives elevates them to “quasi-government” status, where core freedoms must be protected. A report by the Pew Research Center and the Knight Foundation found that Facebook and Twitter are now seen as a prime news provider by 63 percent of their audiences.
Even as real governments turn to social media companies to help combat terrorism, there are concerns that the blocking tactics will have negative impacts: eliminating the shock and horror that the civilized world may need to see; to fully appreciate the depravity of its enemies; limiting full understanding and discussion of things like recruiting videos that are placed beyond the reach of discussants; perhaps even hampering the work of anti-terrorist forces by pushing would-be ISIS supporters off the screen into untraceable means and methods.
Human editors have always had to form a balance between reporting the news we need against being manipulated by groups for their own needs, particularly when it involves media-savvy groups. But that balance historically tilted toward “news” — more information, rather than less.
As social media operations increasingly deploy cyber editors to make those same decisions, users in their “communities” ought to insist that somewhere in those zillion bits of code and autonomous commands is at least the electronic spirit of the 45 words of the First Amendment.
Gene Policinski is chief operating officer of the Newseum Institute and senior vice president of the Institute’s First Amendment Center. [email protected]
Humans are funny creatures. Some imagine we control much that happens in our world. Because technological advances during the last two centuries eradicated small pox and put men on the moon, it’s easy to buy this idea. Believing we direct our lives makes us feel safer. However, anyone who lives in Kansas understands our species doesn’t control of much of anything but putting satellites in orbit and operating a remote that allows us to picture what weather might do. With that little button and functioning electricity, we can react to nature but we can’t regulate it. Recent weather has made that abundantly clear.
Though memory tends to be short, few of us have forgotten the multi-year dry spell that parched ponds, streams, and rivers into dried mud, shriveled prairie grasses to sere curls, and decimated trees. Watching evening news programs offered no comfort. Grim-faced forecasters highlighted maps of nearly every Kansas county in bright colors that confirmed what we saw daily—we suffered extreme drought.
Native Kansan Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.
In reaction, town councils voted to restrict watering while individuals opted to place rain barrels and other systems in yards and fields to capture every bit of moisture available. Gardeners promoted drought resistant plants and xeriscaping to manage a non-existent resource. Appliance and hardware stores marketed low-flow washers, toilets, faucets, and showerheads to conserve water.
Amazingly, in only a few months, the scenario has changed. Instead of facing a water shortage, businesses advertise sump pumps and dehumidifiers to waiting customers. Home improvement departments that promoted fixing foundations weakened due to dry conditions now publicize efforts to prevent leaky basements. Ironically, area residents must figure out how to channel water away from properties rather than to them.
Our ancestors faced similar issues. Where do you build a town? Those who build along a creek, river, or stream in dry years, have easy access to drinking and household water. Heck, enterprising sorts might build a mill to grind grain or produce electricity to light homes.
One wet season changes everything. Overnight, residents who prided themselves on wise planning and convenient services find raging torrents sweeping houses from foundations or eroding roadways. Such experiences have occurred far too often in the last month. More than one first responder team has recently rescued folks from cars or houses.
Not only do storms that tint the radar in shades of red, pink, and purple dump deluges on saturated soil, plunging temperatures alter those molecules into baseball-size ice chunks. Heavy winds turn such projectiles into artillery that shatters glass, pulverizes siding, shreds crops, and convinces anyone living through the assault that Mother Nature knows how to wage war. Goodland residents will stay busy repairing and rebuilding property for months after this latest weather event.
Over a single summer, Mother Nature has reminded us life can change overnight. Ponds overflow, rivers surge over banks to wipe out roads or flood communities, and wind-driven hail shreds siding and splinters glass. Pressing a remote’s on button provides a preview of the show to come and sometimes offers time to prepare ourselves for the result. However, it doesn’t control what’s about to happen. Neither do we.
Native Kansan Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.
A cool front crossed the region overnight bringing cooler and drier air. Today will be sunny and cool, with high temperatures in the 70’s. Tonight will be the coolest night so far of the young fall season. Clear and calm with all locations falling into the 40’s.
High pressure will strengthen over the area and take over for the rest of the week. Very nice weather is expected Monday through Thursday, with mostly clear skies, seasonable temperatures, and very comfortable humidity levels. The next chance of rain is not expected until Friday or Saturday.
Today: Sunny, with a high near 73. North northwest wind 14 to 16 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 42. North northwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind around 7 mph. Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 47. South southeast wind around 6 mph becoming west southwest after midnight. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 80. West northwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon.
Even as the cost of EpiPens dramatically rose, so did the number of prescriptions written for patients in Medicare, sending the program’s spending on EpiPens skyrocketing nearly 1,100 percent from 2007 to 2014, a new report shows.
Photo by Mylan Global Communications Medicare spending on EpiPens grew nearly 1,100 percent from 2007 to 2014, according to a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The rise is notable because many people think that life-threatening allergies are less common among the elderly. In addition, epinephrine — the active ingredient in EpiPens — can pose greater risks to older adults.
During the same period, the total number of Medicare beneficiaries using EpiPens climbed 164 percent, from nearly 80,000 users in 2007 to more than 211,000 in 2014, according to the analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
While the report does not delve into what’s behind the increase, factors could include increased awareness among people with allergies, marketing efforts and access to insurance coverage.
The abrupt rise is notable because many people think that life-threatening allergies are less common among the elderly. In addition, epinephrine — the active ingredient in EpiPens — can pose greater risks to older adults.
Food and Drug Administration labeling urges caution when prescribing to this age group. “That level of increase gives me pause,” said Martha Twaddle, senior medical officer for Illinois at Aspire Health, which provides home-based supportive care for people with serious illness.
She did not work on the study.
Epinephrine — the active ingredient in EpiPens — can cause side effects including chest pain, rapid increase in blood pressure or irregular heart rhythms, which could be fatal for people with certain medical conditions, including heart disease. The foundation study comes amid ongoing scrutiny — including congressional testimony Wednesday by Mylan CEO Heather Bresch — over EpiPen price increases.
EpiPens are used in cases of severe allergic reactions. Costs for a two-pack of the pens has gone from about $94 in January 2007 to $609 in May of this year.
In response to criticism of its price increase, Mylan announced in late August that it would make a generic version and price it at half of its current brand name price.
Photo by Kaiser Family Foundation Since 2007, Medicare Part D spending per EpiPen prescription has grown substantially — nearly fivefold — from $71 in 2007 to $344 in 2014.
The new numbers from Medicare could add fuel to the debate over these price increases and voters’ demands that Congress take action to roll back the cost of the popular medication.
The health insurance program for senior citizens and disabled people spent about $6.4 million on the devices in 2007, but that climbed to $75.3 million in 2014, with sharp price hikes by the manufacturer driving much of the increase.
Those figures reduce the amount spent based on estimates of how much Medicare saved in rebates from manufacturers, although the agency would not disclose the exact amounts. Still, when patients show up in emergency rooms with life-threatening allergic reactions, epinephrine is a first line of defense, said Robert Glatter, emergency room physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
Those whose allergic reaction isn’t immediately life threatening would more likely get a mix of steroids and antihistamines, he said. All patients with suspected severe allergic reactions — even the elderly — are given either a prescription or an actual epinephrine auto injector upon discharge, he said.
“We tell them to have it and use it if they have a lip or tongue swelling, shortness of breath, a skin rash [or other symptoms] of a problem,” said Glatter, adding that adults tend to become more susceptible to food allergies as they age.
Increased awareness among doctors and patients about the importance of epinephrine could account for some of the increase seen in the study, said Richard Lockey, a past president of both the World Allergy Organization and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
“Most people survive an allergic reaction … the people who don’t survive are those who don’t get epinephrine or don’t get it soon enough,” said Lockey, who says it is necessary to balance this idea with the possible risks epinephrine poses for older patients. “It’s a matter of clinical judgment.”
Although Medicare is generally thought of as the government health program for older people, about 16 percent — or 9.1 million beneficiaries — are younger than 65. They are generally disabled or have kidney problems requiring dialysis. According to foundation researchers, although the majority of Medicare EpiPen users were older than 65, a disproportionate share – 35 percent — were younger than 65. Additionally, 26 percent were between 65 and 69. Use fell off with age, with only 15 percent of the users being between age 75 to 85.
“You can come up with a ton of reasons why the under-65 population might see an increase in EpiPen use,” said James Goodwin, an expert in geriatric medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He did not work on the study.
As for the overall increase, Goodwin said there are likely many factors and it isn’t necessarily evidence of overutilization. Still, Goodwin said he specializes in patients older than age 80 and has never prescribed an EpiPen, nor had three of his colleagues, who work with slightly younger elderly patients.
One geriatrician said he has patients who are on it with prescriptions from their allergists, who weigh the pros and cons of having the drug. Those physicians “are the ones to say your allergy is serious enough to potentially become life threatening.”
“When you look at in context of someone having a severe anaphylactic reaction, which is life threatening, you want access to treatment,” Brandt said. Doctors should caution patients about the appropriate use of the devices and encourage them to seek additional medical attention if they experience side effects, she said.
She suggested the increase in Medicare prescriptions seen in the study reflects access to insurance more than overuse.
Since Medicare drug plans cover part of enrollees’ total drug costs, beneficiaries in prescription drug plans pay less that the full retail price. But beneficiaries still paid significantly more of their own money for EpiPens during the seven-year period studied in the report. Average out-of-pocket spending for beneficiaries with Medicare drug coverage nearly doubled for each EpiPen, from $30 to $56. The report does not include price increases beyond 2014.
Still, those costs are far less than what some people with private insurance might pay, particularly those with high deductibles. As a result, at least one doctor — geriatrician David Barile from Princeton, New Jersey — who did not work on the study, speculated that the rise in Medicare use of EpiPens might simply be older people getting them for their grandchildren.
— Liz Szabo contributed to this report. Kaiser Health News coverage of prescription drug development, costs and pricing is supported in part by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.
Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a nonprofit news organization committed to in-depth coverage of health care policy and politics. The Washington, D.C.-based news service is a partner of KHI News Service.
It is late September. The November election in which I am running for Treasurer is fast approaching. But right now I am helping my dad prepare for wheat planting season. After my mother and I load grain into the drill, I walk to get a drink from the same hillside spring my dad drank from when he was a child 50 years ago and I find myself wondering, how can county citizens begin to get to know me? After all, I am asking you to elect me as your Treasurer on November 8. As I sip water from this spring that runs cold and clear from deep underground, I realize that this September moment captures my deep connection to the land of Kansas, its resources, and the citizens using those resources. That love of place and people is the first thing I want you to know about me. As I wrote in my June editorial, I feel it is a poignant time in our history, a time when we need caring leaders with courage to make tough decisions, use common sense, and move thoughtfully onward.
What else do I want you to know? I want you to know my interest in being a civil servant did not start on June 1 when I threw my hat in the ring for Treasurer. That interest had its beginnings over a decade ago when I pursued Organizational Leadership as part of my college studies. All the volunteer and leisure activities I have participated in since then, in addition to jobs in higher education, office administration, libraries, and the banking industry have deepened my interest in being civically involved.
I began studying Leadership as a freshman at FHSU over a decade ago, because I wanted to make the world better. How, I did not know. I enjoyed getting out in the community, doing things such as working with Habitat for Humanity, then speaking about my team’s project, and I enjoyed learning how things get accomplished at a city-wide level. I knew majoring in Leadership would prepare me to interact in local or national government someday. During my undergraduate education, I was in the top 2% of students at FHSU in the College of Business and Leadership, and was nominated for the Torch Award, FHSU’s highest award for graduating seniors, in 2008. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Leadership Studies, and my Master’s degree from KU, where I graduated with Honors, in 2011. During both my time as a student and as a working professional, I have always worked to promote interests of volunteer communities during my free time. While at KU, I participated in the award-winning Environs Club, working to promote locally grown foods in Lawrence, KS, and to protect and conserve the Wakarusa Wetlands. The Douglas County Food Policy Council commended my club for our organization of the first “local foods” section in Lawrence’s biggest grocery store. When I worked at the Hays Public Library I did research and then set up a well-received display to inform citizens how water from the Ogallala Aquifer was being utilized by Kansans, and how we could be more responsible stewards of its waters.
Along the way, I learned that making the world better meant making myself better, making my family stronger, and my city more united. It meant supporting the friends, colleagues and students in my life in their efforts to be happy individuals. How do I do that? Any way I can, often in small ways, always because I enjoy it. Whether I’m educating the public about water conservation, teaching yoga, shingling a roof, changing oil in my grandma’s car, or making a lesson plan, I do it with excellence because it is what I want to being doing. When I decided to run for Treasurer, many years of varied experience all came together and I knew this was the next step for me to take to do good work for my community.
What does this have to do with being Treasurer, you ask?
An outstanding Treasurer must understand the always changing Kansas statutes as they apply to the taxation process. An outstanding treasurer must interface effectively with other government officials and taxpayers as well as manage a staff of various specialists, while working to implement those statutes in a way that advocates for constituents. In other words, a good Treasurer must be a quick learner, a good people person, a skilled supervisor and able to attend to detail. My leadership degree taught me how to keep an eye on the big picture while attending to the details and provided training in effective interaction with all sectors of the community. As a former college professor, I have excellent bookkeeping and organizational skills, and successful supervisory experience. If elected Ellis County Treasurer, I aim to provide sound judgement and fiscal responsibility. There will be new things to learn, but I am an excellent learner, as evidenced by my professional record, and I look forward to the professional training sessions all treasurers attend regularly. It is my goal to work in the spirit of togetherness to make the best decisions we can to improve and unify Ellis County. I will perform the duties of Treasurer in the same way I have performed all the many duties during my 13 years of work experience: with excellence and integrity.
I love Ellis County and I want to be a part of making our county strong for the future. We need strong families that work together and leaders that care for those working families that make our county what it is. We need to decide what our priorities are, get creative, and take advantage of the fact that we have the option to vote in new people when the old ways of doing things need to evolve. In running for Treasurer, I know my talents can serve our county. But on top of knowing how to navigate within communities to make meaningful change occur through my experience in several volunteer programs, I have “hard skills” that will serve the office of Treasurer well. I also possess “soft skills” that include being outgoing, friendly, enthusiastic, and level-headed, and I will do my best to get along well with all county employees to provide excellent service to county citizens.
As part of a farming family that has also worked different supplemental jobs, I grew up learning the value of hard work, frugality, common sense, and excellence in all I do. I have managed my money well and feel confident in investing and budgeting Ellis County’s money responsibly. I have always enjoyed travel to foreign places, but I know Ellis County is the place I want to be, and I aim to show people the beauties of our place so they can appreciate it like I do, and as a result, be good stewards of the place we all call home. I think I am not alone in wanting government officials who care for the health and longevity of our community and who appreciate and understand its nuances.
My leadership and supervisory experience have made me comfortable navigating different community systems statewide, working with a large variety of people, and looking for commonalities we can build upon. So much of getting good work done is how one gets along with others. We need an environment where commissioners, employees, and citizens can come together to make smart, innovative choices. Many people who have interacted with Ann in her role of Treasurer have encouraged me to run in opposition this election because they have found her challenging to work with in ways that hinder the smooth implementation of Treasury issues in this county. In many ways her three years of experience are a three-year track record of missed opportunities and missed good will. I can assure you that if elected Treasurer, I will not alienate those I work with, and as a result, our county will be stronger.
Like most people in Ellis County, I want to live the best life I can, do right by people, land and resources, and my family. I want to make the world better for having been here, and do my part in uniting us all in one goal: to make our county strong. I need your help to do it, starting on election Tuesday. We are all critically important. With humility and a great sense of responsibility I ask for your vote on November 8.
Lisa Schlegel is the Republican candidate for the office of Ellis County Treasurer.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Jesse Ertz threw two touchdown passes, Winston Dimel added two touchdown runs and Kansas State beat Missouri State 35-0 on Saturday night in a game called at halftime as lightning lit up the skies around Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
With rain having already lashed the area and more lightning on the way, Kansas State (2-1) made quick work of the overmatched Bears (2-1). The Wildcats jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and added three more touchdowns by halftime to make it an easy choice to call the game complete.
Ertz was 7 of 8 for 94 yards with TD passes to Byron Pringle and Dominique Heath, and the junior quarterback also ran for 85 yards on just three carries in a Collin Klein-esque performance.
Brodie Lambert and Michael Briggs were a combined 3 for 12 for 24 yards with an interception, and Missouri State only managed four first downs and 54 yards of offense in the first half.
THE TAKEAWAY
Missouri State: The Bears don’t have to play anymore Football Bowl Subdivision opponents. And they got a nice paycheck for their trip to Manhattan.
Kansas State: The Wildcats once again dominated on defense. They have not allowed an opponent to gain more than 300 yards in their first three games.
UP NEXT
Missouri State: The Bears begin Missouri Valley Conference play at Indiana State.
Kansas State: The Wildcats open their Big 12 schedule next Saturday at West Virginia. The Mountaineers have yet to defeat coach Bill Snyder’s team since joining the league in 2012.
GARDEN CITY, KS-The Hays High Lady Indians had a busy day on Saturday at the Garden City Varsity Round Robin Volleyball Tournament. The Lady Indians played six matches against Lakin, Cimarron, Ulysses, Holcomb, Garden City and Hugoton. Hays High won their first three matches against Lakin, Cimarron and Ulysses before losing two in a row against Holcomb and Garden City. The Lady Indians rebounded with a win in the final match of the day against Hugoton.
Hays High went 4-2 on the day and finished in second place. The Lady Indians have now evened their record on the season at 7-7. They will have their next action at home on September 29th against Abilene, Salina South and Norton.
LAKIN W 16-25, 25-16, 25-18 Stat Leaders: Tasiah Nunnery 12 kills, Hannah McGuire 17 assists, Jaysa Wichers and Jaycee Dale 6 blocks, Kallie Leiker 7 digs
CIMARRON W 25-23,25-13 Stat Leaders: Tasiah Nunnery 10 kills, Hannah McGuire and Mattie Hutchison 8 assists
ULYSSES W 16-25, 28-26, 25-17 Stat Leaders: Tasiah Nunnery 10 kills, Hannah McGuire 14 assists, Rachel Taylor and Jaysa Wichers 5 blocks, Kallie Leiker 12 digs
HOLCOMB L 16-25, 18-25 Stat Leaders: Jaycee Dale 5 kills and 5 blocks, Hannah McGuire 8 assists
GARDEN CITY L 10-25, 17-25 Stat Leaders: Tasiah Nunnery 7 kills and 7 digs, Mattie Hutchison 8 assists
HUGOTON W 25-14, 25-20 Stat Leaders: Jaycee Dale and Jaysa Wichers 7 kills, Hannah McGuire 15 assists, Dale 6 blocks, Kallie Leiker 7 digs
Other Tournament Action:
Hays High Freshmen won their tournament in Holcomb going 4-0. Their record improves to 17-2.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Obama administration has proposed barring states and other recipients of federal family planning grants from placing their own eligibility restrictions on where the money can go.
The move undermines efforts by 13 Republican-led states to prevent such money from going to Planned Parenthood.
The Department of Health and Human Services is accepting public comments about the proposed changes until Oct. 7.
Title X is a federal program designed to provide contraception services, pregnancy tests, screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and cancer screenings at little or no cost to low-income patients. It does not pay for abortions.
Planned Parenthood relies on Title X to provide services to 1.5 million patients across the country, making it the medical provider for about a third of patients served by the program.
BURLINGTON, Wash. (AP) — The Latest on a fatal shooting at a mall in Washington state (all times local):
BURLINGTON, Wash. (AP) — Authorities say the suspect in the deadly Washington state mall shooting said nothing when he was apprehended and was “zombie-like.”
Island County Sheriff’s Lt. Mike Hawley said he spotted 20-year-old Arcan Cetin Saturday evening in Oak Harbor, Washington, from a patrol car and immediately recognized him as the suspect.
OFFICIAL: Here is a DOL photo of the suspect: Arcan Cetin, 20-yr-old Oak Harbor resident. pic.twitter.com/fypj6aBBJ2
Hawley said at a news conference that his office had received information that Cetin, who is from Oak Harbor, was in the area. Hawley said Cetin was unarmed: “He said nothing. He was kind of zombie-like.”
A gunman opened fire at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, Friday night, killing four females and a male before fleeing. Law enforcement staged a massive search over more than 20 hours for the suspect.
Authorities say Cetin had a previous arrest for simple assault and had immigrated from Turkey. At a news conference Saturday night, Lt. Chris Cammock of the Mount Vernon Police Department said the suspect was a “legal, permanent resident of the United States.”
The Seattle Times cites Skagit County court records showing three domestic-violence assault charges for 20-year-old Arcan Cetin in both Burlington, Washington, and Island County, with the victim identified as Cetin’s stepfather. The newspaper reports Cetin also was arrested for drunken driving.
Court records show Cetin was told by a judge on Dec. 29 that he was not to possess a firearm, the newspaper reported.
However, the stepfather urged the judge not to impose a no-contact order, saying his stepson was “going through a hard time.”
—-
7:31 p.m.
Authorities say the suspect in a deadly shooting at a Washington state mall shooting is in custody.
The Skagit County Department of Emergency Management said via Twitter Saturday evening that the suspect had been captured. No other details were immediately available. A news conference was set for Saturday night.
A gunman opened fire at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, Friday night, killing four females and a male before fleeing. Law enforcement staged a massive search over more than 20 hours for the suspect, initially described by witnesses as a young Hispanic male wearing black.
Authorities had said that a rifle had been found at the scene.
The motive was unknown for the shooting about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Seattle. The FBI was assisting local authorities, but it said there was no evidence to point to terrorism.
___
Gunman captured tonight by authorities, Details forthcoming, Press Conference tonight at 1800 Continental Pl. Time TBA
Dozens of people attended a prayer service for the victims of a deadly mall shooting in Washington state.
The Saturday evening gathering was held at Central United Methodist Church in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. The Rev. Cody Natland lit five candles on a table in front of the church, one for each victim.
Authorities say a gunman opened fire at Cascade Mall in nearby Burlington Friday night, killing four females and a male.
No identities have been released yet, and a search for the gunman continued.
Relatives and friends of victims in a deadly mall shooting in Washington state have gathered at a church.
Red Cross counselors and a golden retriever therapy dog were on hand Saturday at His Place Community Church in Burlington, Washington.
Authorities say a gunman opened fire at Cascade Mall Friday night, killing four females and a male.
No identities have been released yet, and a search for the gunman continued.
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2:10 p.m.
Noel Cuevas says he was eating dinner with his family at a Washington state mall when a gunman opened fire, killing five people.
He said Saturday that he saw people running and a woman told them to evacuate. He described a chaotic scene Friday night as people ran and businesses shut their doors.
Cuevas grabbed his 5-year-old daughter and ran with his wife outside and across the street.
He said everyone was terrified.
The 39-year-old Cuevas later returned to Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, to retrieve his truck parked near a cordoned off area.
He said he went home Friday and made sure his doors were locked because the gunman remained on the loose.
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11:22 a.m.
A woman who was inside a Washington state mall when a gunman opened fire – fatally shooting five – says she’s “thankful for my life this morning.”
Nineteen-year-old Joanne Burkholder was watching the movie “The Magnificent Seven” in a theater at the Cascade Mall on Friday night when police and security came in and told them they needed to evacuate.
She said she heard screaming as they were escorted out into the parking lot in Burlington.
She said: “I’ve never been so terrified in my life.”
Authorities say a gunman who killed four females and a male in the Macy’s store at the mall was still on the loose Saturday.
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10:30 a.m.
Worried residents fear for their safety as authorities search for a gunman who killed five people at a mall in Washington state.
Maria Elena Vasquez of Burlington attended a community gathering Saturday following the Friday evening slayings at the city’s Cascade Mall. She said “it’s nerve-wracking” and she’s nervous about taking her 7-year-old daughter to her soccer game.
Police said early Saturday they didn’t know the gunman’s identity and urged the community for help in identifying him.
Burlington is a city of about 8,000 people about 60 miles north of Seattle.
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9:21 a.m.
Authorities say a gunman who fatally shot five people at a Washington state mall initially entered the shopping center without a weapon, but 10 minutes later, went inside Macy’s with a rifle and opened fire.
Mount Vernon Police Lt. Chris Cammock said Saturday that authorities recovered the weapon from the scene. He described it as a “hunting type” rifle.
Cammock says officers are reconstructing the entire scene at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, scanning for evidence.
More than 200 officers from more than two dozen agencies responded to the mall following the shooting Friday evening. Four females and a male were fatally shot.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — More lawsuits have been filed against a former physician assistant accused of sexual battery and other crimes at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Leavenworth.
At least three lawsuits were filed earlier this year in U.S. District Court in Kansas accusing Mark Wisner of conducting unnecessary and improper genital examinations at the Leavenworth VA Medical Center.
Wisner surrendered his medical license last year after at least seven patients accused him of abuse. He agreed in a consent order last year that he violated the law by having inappropriate sexual contact with patients and overprescribing medication.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports court records show Wisner now faces a dozen lawsuits, with the latest filed last week. The new lawsuits also accuse Wisner of improper genital examinations.
ELLIS COUNTY – A woman from Hays was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. on Saturday in Ellis County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Chevy Avalanche driven by Matthew Hayes, 40, Hays, was towing a trailer eastbound on Interstate 70 one mile west of U.S. 183.
The trailer started whipping and the driver lost control of the vehicle.
The trailer overturned in south ditch.
A passenger in the vehicle Crystal Hayes, 45, was transported to Hays Medical Center.
The driver and another passenger Christopher Mitchell, 40, Hays, were not injured.
All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Fort Hays State took to the road for the second time in 2016 as they took on Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The two played to a first quarter stalemate with neither team getting inside of the other’s 45 yard line.
The Tigers looked to have their fist score early in the second quarter, but a holding penalty brought back a passing touchdown. The Tigers would have that drive end on a missed 51 yard field goal. Fort Hays defensively continued to pressure the Riverhawks and eventually forced quarterback Dimonick McKinzy into mistakes. The sophomore quarterback hadn’t thrown an interception in the first three games of the season. That all changed when Rashad Dunigan picked off a pass. The Tigers turned that into a five play drive capped off by a one yard run by Malik Thomas to put Fort Hays up 7-0. On the very next drive McKinzy threw his second interception when DeAndre James intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown and 14-0 lead.
Highlights
The Tiger special teams then came up with a big play at the end of the first half when Layne Bieberle blocked a punt to give the Tigers the football in Riverhawk territory with twenty-five seconds left before half time. Fort Hays converted on third down on a pass to Isaiah Maxi and stopped the clock with a spike at the 15 yard line allowing Brandon Brown to come onto the field for a 32 yard field goal and 17-0 half time lead.
Northeastern State opened the second half on a 105 yard kickoff return for a touchdown but was called back on a hold. The Riverhawks though would score on the drive on a 38 yard pass from McKinzy to Reshawn Eubanks cutting the Tiger lead down to 17-7. Fort Hays responded on the next drive with a 27 yard scoring run from Shaq Cooper to regain a three possession lead at 24-7. The Tigers put the Riverhawks out of reach early in the fourth quarter when Doyin Jibowu blocked a field goal attempt and Raheeme Dumas returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. Fort Hays added a 17 yard field from Brandon Brown following a Tanner Hoekman interception for the final margin of 34-7.
Coach Chris Brown
Fort Hays moves to 3-1 on the season. Northeastern State falls to 1-3. The Tigers are at home on Saturday versus Lindenwood for homecoming.
A cool front crossed the region overnight bringing cooler and drier air. Today will be sunny and cool, with high temperatures in the 70’s. Tonight will be the coolest night so far of the young fall season. Clear and calm with all locations falling into the 40’s.
