SHERMAN COUNTY – A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. on Thursday in Sherman County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Chevy Monte Carlo driven by Mersedes M. Garza, 17, Goodland, was traveling at the intersection of 12th and Montana in Goodland.
The driver made an improper turn in front of a 2013 Dodge Truck driven by Timothy J. Erwin 28, Goodland. The Dodge collided with the Chevy.
Garza was transported to Goodland Regional Medical Center. Erwin was not injured.
Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
ULYSSES, KS-Hays High Volleyball ran into three buzz saws in Ulysses on Thursday night. The Lady Indians lost in straight sets to Ulysses, Garden City and Pratt. Both Ulysses (7th, 4A-Division 1) and Garden City (9th, 6A) entered play ranked in the most recent KVCA rankings. Hays High drops to 3-5 on the season and will be off until next Saturday when they play in Garden City.
LEAVENWORTH -A Kansas man already serving prison time was found guilty by a jury Tuesday after he shot a man in the leg while his former girlfriend and her infant daughter were nearby.
Clayton Wilmer, 26, Leavenworth, was found guilty after a two-day trial on four counts: Criminal Discharge of a Firearm at an Occupied Vehicle causing great bodily harm, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Endangering a Child and Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, according to media release from Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson.
The charges arose from an incident on October 24, 2014 near a residence on South 10th Street. Witnesses testified during the trial that Wilmer had been texting his former girlfriend throughout the day. He then approached the former girlfriend as she was getting into her car with another man and her infant daughter.
According to the testimony, Wilmer fired a shot from a 9 mm handgun into the car and struck the man in the right leg. He then pointed the handgun at the man. The daughter of Wilmer and his former girlfriend was in the backseat of the car.
A witness who was driving in the area observed Wilmer running north on 10 Street, stop and throw the handgun into a storm drain and continue running north.
He was then observed discarding a coat and hat into a creek north of Shawnee Street on 10th.
Leavenworth Police Officers retrieved the handgun, hat and coat. Forensic testing by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation found that DNA on those items matched the DNA of Wilmer.
Wilmer is currently serving a sentence in the Kansas Department of Corrections for Aggravated Battery, Robbery, Criminal Restraint and Intimidation of a Witness. Those offenses occurred in August, 2014. He was convicted of those charges following a jury trial in January, 2016.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 4.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge in Kansas has ordered courthouse surveillance video preserved in a case involving a prosecutor’s visit to the judge’s chambers.
U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson’s order Wednesday directs authorities to produce all video from Aug. 25 to early Aug. 26 showing Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Tomasic and a deputy marshal on the floor where Robinson’s office is.
The Kansas City Star reports (https://j.mp/2cMaVx4 ) the allegation that Tomasic entered the judge’s chambers without authority was made public during a recent hearing involving an investigation into recordings of attorney-client meetings at a private prison.
The U.S. attorney’s office says Tomasic wanted to deliver materials Robinson requested and had the marshal open a door to a hallway leading to the chambers, where she intended to slide the documents under the door.
Former Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, speaking at the Topeka YWCA on Wednesday, said that elected officials who ignore problems with the Affordable Care Act and advocate for its repeal aren’t being realistic. JIM MCLEAN / HEARTLAND HEALTH MONITOR
By JIM MCLEAN
Former Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger says members of Congress should set aside partisan differences and fix problems with the Affordable Care Act.
Failing to do so, she warns, could hasten consideration of a single-payer system.
Praeger, a Republican who crossed party lines while in office to support the ACA, says the problems that are causing some insurance companies to pull out of the online health insurance marketplace are fixable.
“There are some things that could be done if we could get Congress to be willing to come to the table to try to solve problems,” Praeger said during a luncheon speech Wednesday at the Topeka YWCA. “That really hasn’t been the case now for a few years. But they could fix it.”
Three in Kansas marketplace
Some of the nation’s largest health insurance companies have withdrawn from the ACA marketplace, including UnitedHealthcare, Anthem and, most recently, Aetna. In addition, many of the companies staying in the marketplace are limiting their offerings to plans that are more restrictive than many offered on the open market.
In Kansas, only three companies are offering plans in the marketplace for 2017. Medica, a nonprofit company based in Minnesota, agreed to join when United withdrew. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City remain but have requested large premium increases.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, which operates in 103 of the state’s 105 counties, has requested a 47.4 percent rate hike. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, which operates in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, has requested an increase of 28.1 percent.
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer, who succeeded Praeger, is expected to make rate-setting decisions next week.
Coventry Health and Life, an Aetna subsidiary, withdrew in August after initially indicating it would participate but sell only exclusive provider organization, or EPO, plans, which pay only for in-network care.
Four companies are expected to offer plans in Missouri: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (Healthy Alliance Life) and Humana. They are proposing rate increases ranging from Cigna’s 9 percent to Humana’s 34.9 percent.
Approximately 90,000 Kansans and 252,000 Missourians have marketplace plans, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Pressure for single-payer?
Insurance companies are withdrawing from the ACA marketplace because they’re losing money, Praeger said. In part, that is because a high percentage of the people purchasing marketplace plans are older and sicker than anticipated. She said too many younger, healthier people are choosing to pay tax penalties rather than buy insurance.
“The companies are saying, ‘Wait a minute. If only the older, sicker group is buying in and the younger, healthier group isn’t, we can’t do this anymore,’” Praeger said.
Congress could help solve that problem by increasing the penalties for not purchasing insurance and allowing companies to charge young consumers significantly less, she said.
Elected officials who ignore the problems and continue to advocate for repeal of the health reform law aren’t being realistic, Praeger said.
“The notion that somehow we would repeal this and go back to a system where people could be denied coverage based on their health conditions, or their age, or their sex, I just can’t imagine that could possibly happen,” she said.
What is more likely, she said, is that pressure will build for converting to a government-run single-payer system.
That is also the prediction of former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, who served under President Bill Clinton.
In a recent opinion piece published in several newspapers across the country, Reich said while “Obamacare can be patched” by increasing subsidies and forcing more healthy Americans to buy insurance, those would be “Band-Aids,” not long-term solutions.
He said the “real choice” is whether to continue propping up an unnecessarily expensive system run by insurance companies, in which sick people will find it increasingly difficult to get affordable coverage, or transitioning to a government-run single-payer system “dedicated to lower premiums and better care for everyone.”
“We’re going to have to choose eventually,” he wrote.
Republicans in Congress continue to call for repeal of the ACA as a part of their recently announced “Better Way” agenda.
Kansas 2nd District Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins said the GOP plan is a set of common-sense proposals to “get the government out of the way by implementing practical solutions to real problems.”
Jim McLean is executive editor of KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A judge has entered a not guilty plea for a man accused of burning a missing Missouri woman’s vehicle last week.
Kylr Yust is charged with knowingly burning 21-year-old Jessica Runions’ vehicle. The woman from the Kansas City suburb of Raymore was last seen leaving a party a week ago.
Police say Yust is a person of interest in the 2007 disappearance of an ex-girlfriend, Kara Kopetsky, who was 17 when she vanished days after filing for a protection order against Yust. She was last seen at her high school in Belton, south of Kansas City.
Runions -courtesy photo
Yust has not been charged in the disappearance of Runions or Kopetsky.
During Yust’s brief court appearance Thursday, the judge also read Yust his rights and scheduled his next court appearance for Sept. 29.
MANHATTAN -A former K-State student’s Snapchat selfie has drawn the attention of the university after the photo was shared by another student on social media.
The Snapchat photo went viral Thursday after two girls in blackface posted a selfie with the caption, “Feels good to finally be a n—–.”
K-State Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Pat Bosco addressed the issue with this statement:
Dear students, faculty and staff,
I have become aware that one of our students posted a racially offensive photo today on social media and used one of the most derogatory words in the English language. This photo has students, faculty, staff and other members of the K-State family upset. It rightly should, as there is no place for racism at our university, regardless of what the intentions may have been. K-State prides itself on being one family, no matter your race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or abilities. All members of the K-State family deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
As always, I want to applaud our students for their maturity and actions when it comes to these issues. Our students, faculty, administration and the Office of Diversity have done phenomenal work in areas of diversity and inclusion on our campuses. I especially want to note the diligent work of the K-State Black Student Union and its efforts and legacy of addressing these issues in an effective and pragmatic way. Over the past few years, BSU has worked in unison with the Staley School of Leadership Studies on its Cats for Inclusion Campaign. This campaign works to create effective dialogue around issues of race, and teaches would-be allies on how to take an effective anti-racist stance: catsforinclusion.wordpress.com.
I also am proud of the preliminary work that a cross section of student leaders from various organizations, including the Black Student Union, Hispanic American Leadership Organization, Asian American Student Union, Native American Student Association and the Student Governing Association, has done to create a student initiative around issues of diversity. Even
K-State’s Beta Upsilon Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha released this response:–click to ENLARGE
with these initiatives, we obviously still have work to do. We are firmly committed to the principles of community at Kansas State University, and it is important that we educate our students daily on these principles. We must do better, and we will do better.
Pat Bosco Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
DETROIT (AP) — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling more than 1.9 million vehicles worldwide because their air bags might not deploy in a crash.
The recall affects certain Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Lancia vehicles from the 2010-2014 model years. Most are in the U.S., but 224,860 were sold in Canada and Mexico and 284,051 were sold outside North America.
FCA says an air-bag and seat-belt control module with a certain wiring design may not deploy the air bags or tighten the seat belts if the vehicle is involved in a frontal crash. That could increase the risk of injury.
The automaker says three deaths and five injuries may be related to the issue.
FCA will contact owners and replace the defective parts for free.
WASHINGTON — The Senate has approved a $10 billion water projects bill that includes six projects to improve flood damage and risks in Kansas
The legislation, with provisions from Senator Pat Roberts includes flood control in the city of Manhattan, the Upper Turkey Creek Basin affecting Merriam, The Blue River Basin affecting Dodson, The Swope Park Industrial Area, and the Armourdale and Central Industrial District Levee Units, Missouri River and Tributaries affecting Kansas City
Senators approved the bill by a 95-3 vote.
The legislation goes to the House, where approval of a similar bill — minus money for Flint, Michigan to fix the lead-contaminated water problems, is expected as soon as next week.
The legislation is supported by many municipal governments across Kansas and is expected to save taxpayers $6 million over the next ten years, according to a media release from Senator Roberts.
Gary “Chub” Lynn Jamison, age 59, of Garnett (formerly of Quinter), passed away Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at his residence in Garnett. He was born December 7, 1956 in Quinter, to William Richard and Anna Lucille (Garber) Jamison.
Gary grew up and always helped out on the family dairy farm. He enjoyed playing basketball and showing others tricks he learned to do with the ball. He was known for crafting latch hook rugs, having done well over a hundred in his lifetime. One thing many friends and family felt was remarkable about Gary was his ability to recall most anyone’s anniversary or birthday. He always looked forward to his birthday parties and especially enjoyed his pizza and Pepsi. Gary’s kind heart and ability to make anyone a friend will be missed by many.
Survivors include his two brothers, Calvin (Ethel) Jamison of Quinter, and Galen of Quinter; his sister, Janet (Galen) Edgecomb of Garnett; his brother-in-law, Leon (Loriene) Hirt of Westphalia; and his sister-in-law, Donna (Marlin) Flory of Modesta. Gary was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Maxine Jamison and Anna Mae Hirt; brother, Charles Jamison; and sister-in-law, Brenda Jamison.
Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m., Sunday, September 18, 2016 at the Quinter Grade School Gymnasium. Burial will be at the Big Creek Cemetery, southeast of Quinter.
Visitation will be Saturday, from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., at the Old German Baptist Church, at the intersection of X and 76 Roads, southeast of Quinter.
The family requests and suggests any gifts or contributions of love, instead of flowers, be given to the Gove County Medical Center, Long Term Care Facility or Hospice for the loving care given to Gary.
Spencer Stone, left, with FHSU junior Micah Fabarez, a management major from Topeka.
By RANDY GONZALES FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Looking back, Spencer Stone said it feels like he was meant to be a passenger on a train to Paris on Aug. 21, 2015.
Stone, an Airman First Class at the time, and two of his friends, Anthony Sadler and Army Specialist Alec Skarlatos, were vacationing in Europe. They were headed from Amsterdam to Paris when they heard a commotion on the train. A terrorist with an AK-47 automatic rifle emerged from the bathroom.
Mark Moogolian, an American-born Frenchman, wrested the rifle from the terrorist, later identified as Ayoub El Khazzani. After the scuffle, the terrorist shot Moogolian in the back with a pistol. The bullet broke two ribs and nicked his carotid artery. Moogolian dropped the rifle, and the terrorist picked it up.
Then, Stone and his friends took action.
“I figured it was now or never,” said Stone, who was the guest speaker Tuesday night at Fort Hays State University’s Memorial Union’s Black and Gold Room. “I’m not going to die sitting down.”
Stone’s talk was part of the Quest Leadership curriculum, sponsored by FHSU’s Department of Leadership Studies and the Center for Student Involvement. Stone and his friends charged the terrorist, who attempted to shoot Stone, but his AK-47 misfired.
Stone, who had just recently taken up jujitsu, attempted to subdue the attacker with a choke hold. El Khazzani first attempted to shoot Stone with his pistol, then pulled out a box cutter and stabbed Stone in his back and his left hand, severing the tendon and nerve by his thumb.
Stone, with the aid of British businessman Chris Norman, eventually subdued the attacker. Stone’s choke hold rendered the terrorist unconscious.
“Even though it spanned all of two minutes, it seemed like an eternity,” said Stone.
After the attacker was tied up, Stone turned his attention to Moogolian. A medical technician in the Air Force, Stone knew he had to stop the bleeding. He found the carotid artery and applied pressure. He kept that pressure on for the next 30 minutes until the train reached Paris and medical help arrived.
Ironically, Stone wouldn’t have known what to do if he hadn’t been unsuccessful in the Air Force. He was disqualified from being a member of the Pararescuemen due to a difficulty in depth perception and was unsuccessful in a survival, evasion, resistance and escape program. That led to Stone becoming a medical technician instead.
“Throughout my military career I was kind of guided into this direction,” Stone said. “I almost feel like I was destined to be on that train. I had the skill to save Mark’s life.”
Stone said leadership and followership are both important, and failure is an important part of leadership.
“I’ve failed a ton in my life,” he said. “Failure is one of the most important experiences.”
Stone was promoted to staff sergeant shortly after the attack on the train, and he and his two friends received a phone call from President Obama, and later met him at the White House. Stone and his two friends were also presented with medals, France’s Legion d’Honneur.
Hays resident Sue Bickle heard Stone was coming to town, so she ordered a book, “The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes,” so he could sign it. Bickle’s younger sister, Paula Carlson, knew Stone when he was growing up in Sacramento, Calif., and Bickle wanted to meet him. Bickle was impressed with Stone’s talk.
“I think he’s got a really good message for people as far as the way we need to believe in ourselves and do what we need to do,” she said.
Looking ahead, Stone, 24, plans to leave the Air Force in the next few months and go to college at San Diego State University and major in international security and conflict resolution.
“I kind of live my life with a sense that I still have a lot to do,” he said. “I’m alive for a reason. I don’t know what that reason is. I guess I’m trying to find it. I’m on a journey.”
Recently, Gov. Brownback held a press conference to invite Kansans to email him ideas for a new school finance formula. That sounds nice. Can anything be wrong with asking people for input? Well, actually, quite a bit.
The big problem: A new school finance formula requires resources—money—and Kansas does not have any. The governor asks Kansans to think expansively, but offers no means to make those ideas real.
Duane Goossen
Tell someone to imagine their dream home. Encourage them to draw plans, and do it up just right. But if that home is financially out of reach, cheerleading has done little for them. The exercise is just something fleeting, a dream, a temporary escape from reality.
The governor’s own policies created the grim education finance situation that Kansas now faces. Income tax cuts and the LLC exemption caused a large block of general fund revenue to disappear. Before the tax cuts, Kansas had a workable school finance formula, but one which logically boosted funding for schools when enrollments and operational costs went up. With state finances spiraling downward, a formula requiring increased state aid could not stand. The governor and his legislative allies summarily scrapped it for block grants, first cutting classroom aid and then freezing that lowered funding level in place.
The block grants have not worked well. They immediately caused unequal funding between school districts, and further, they have failed to provide for the future as student counts rise and needs increase.
Beyond these problems though, the dirty little secret is that Kansas cannot even afford the block grants. In the fiscal year that just ended June 30, the Kansas general fund spent $500 million more than it took in, even with block grants in place. That happened despite the fact that $100 million in bills were deferred for payment in a future fiscal year. The general fund only stayed afloat by grabbing huge amounts from the highway fund, and raiding the balances of other funds, including those set aside for kids.
In our current fiscal year, the same thing. Higher education and Medicaid providers—doctors, hospitals, nursing homes—have already been hit hard with emergency budget cuts, but more reductions will have to be applied somewhere, just to keep the general fund solvent.
Yet, suddenly the governor wants citizens and schools to dream about a new education formula. For now he instructs you to not even talk about what a new formula might cost. That’s for later. Just concentrate on the components you want.
This approach is nothing more than a big diversionary tactic that takes the voters’ focus off the real issue until the November elections pass.
Participate if you wish. Email those ideas in, but don’t be deceived. Until the governor faces up to the severe budget problems his policies have caused, until lawmakers close the LLC exemption, until Kansas rights its financial ship, any hope for an improved school funding formula remains completely unrealistic. You—and the governor—are just dreaming.
Duane Goossen formerly served 12 years as Kansas Budget Director.
