COUNCIL GROVE – Law enforcement authorities in Morris County are investigating an officer involved shooting.

At approximately 9:00 a.m.,  on Thursday, police officers in Council Grove received reports of shots being fired at a vehicle in Council Grove, according to a media release.

After responding to the scene, additional 911 calls were received at approximately 9:06 a.m. advising that the same subject was now firing a weapon near the intersection of 7th and Main Street in Council Grove.

When officers and Morris County deputies arrived they located the armed subject and gave him verbal commands. The subject then fired at officers. A Council Grove police officer returned fire, striking the individual.

The 17-year-old male subject was first taken to a local area hospital, and then transported to a Topeka hospital. His injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.

No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.  Council Grove Elementary School was briefly placed under a lockdown during the incident.

The KBI will complete a thorough and independent investigation into this matter. Once completed, the findings will be turned over to the Morris County Attorney for review.

WICHITA. – A jury on Wednesday convicted a Kansas man on federal drug and firearm charges, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.

Jesus Reyes, 42, Wichita, was convicted on one count of possession of with intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction.

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Wichita police stopped Reyes May 20, 2015, near 11th and Perry for a traffic violation. They found two loaded firearms and two plastic bags containing methamphetamine in the car. He was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction.

Sentencing is set for Jan. 30. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on the drug charge, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the firearm charges.

ATCHISON, Kan. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say there is not sufficient evidence to charge the owner of a northeast Kansas grain elevator where a 2011 explosion killed six people and injured two others.

U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said in a statement Thursday that his office has closed its inquiry into the Oct. 29, 2011, explosion at the Bartlett Grain Co. elevator in Atchison, about 50 miles northwest of Kansas City.

Kansas investigators previously determined the grain dust explosion was accidental.

The announcement does not dismiss pending enforcement actions by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which has said the deaths could have been prevented had operators addressed known industry hazards.

The explosion killed Bartlett employees John Burke, Ryan Federinko, Curtis Field, and Chad Roberts, as well as grain inspectors Travis Keil and Darrek Klahr.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Trump says he very much looks forward to dealing with Obama in the future, calls it a ‘great honor.’

Obama says he was ‘encouraged’ by conversation with Trump, calls Thursday’s Oval Office meeting ‘excellent’ and wide-ranging.

Ensuring the smooth transition of presidential power has been a democratic hallmark of the United States for more than 200 years.

On Wednesday, the Trump team launched a new web site to assist with the transition, according to a media release.

In 2015, Congress reinforced the importance of transition planning with the passage of the Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 2015, which was signed into law in May of 2016.

This new law built on the reforms of the Pre-Election Presidential Transition Act of 2010, which provided major party candidates with office space and services immediately following party nomination to ensure continuity of government and to protect the institutions of the United States.

The Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 2015 established the White House Transition Coordinating Council and an Agency Transitions Director Council. These councils facilitate information sharing between candidates and agencies, provide guidance to federal agencies to prepare for a smooth transition of power, and create an integrated strategy for addressing interagency responsibilities. This Council is co-chaired by the Federal Transition Coordinator at the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and comprised of senior career officials from 21 agencies, to manage day-to-day agency transition activities. In addition, each agency designates a senior career executive to oversee transition activities, and identifies career executives to fill political appointments in an acting capacity during critical vacancies.

Following the July nominating conventions, each candidate’s transition teams were provided the use of facilities and related services to prepare for the coming change in government. These teams focused on the development of their candidate’s policy agenda and personnel, readying for a role of governing.

During the 73-day period between Election Day and Inauguration Day, the President-Elect will deploy Agency Review Teams to each federal agency to ensure a smooth transition between administrations. Simultaneously, the incoming administration will identify, vet, and select candidates for approximately 4,100 presidential appointments. Numerous announcements for key positions will occur during the transition period, while nominations of individuals for Senate-confirmed appointments, confirmation of nominees, and appointments to positions not requiring Senate confirmation will begin after January 20, 2017.

The smooth transition of power is an enormous task given its size and complexity, with the added challenge of numerous domestic and global issues demanding attention. The Presidential Transition process can be viewed as a great protector of the democratic process.

On January 20, 2017, the Trump Administration will be ready to hit the ground running due to the planning and hard work that has been underway since the Conventions.

 

 

SEDGWICK COUNTY – A semi driver was injured in an accident just before 2a.m. on Thursday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Turnpike  Authority reported a semi driven by Chase Allen Lee, 30, Springfield, MN., was southbound on Interstate 35.

The driver failed to negotiate a curve and struck a guardrail. The vehicle rolled and released approximately 40-head of cattle.

The accident shut down southbound lanes between Kansas 15 and Kellogg.

Lee was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Deputies herded and penned the cattle until another truck arrived to transport them away, according to the KTA.

 

By LAURA ZIEGLER

“There’s no question the law has worked well in some areas and it’s still struggling in others.”

That’s the response from former Secretary of Health and Human Services and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to a question about the signature initiative of the Obama administration.  The program is in jeopardy following Donald Trump’s election.

“We definitely need in the future to have more competition in the states,” Sebelius said in a telephone interview.

Tuesday, November 1, was the first day to sign up, re-enroll or change a 2017 insurance plan through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Critics contend the law, commonly known as Obamacare, has failed to offer a wide choice of insurers as promised, with many companies and co-ops claiming mounting losses and pulling out.

“That could be (helped) both by Congress funding the law as it was meant to be funded and by taking up the public option, which introduces another alternative, particularly in areas where individuals only have one or two insurance company choices,” Sebelius said.

The public option, which has been promoted by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, would be a government-run health insurance plan competing with or substituting for private companies, with the aim of lowering premiums.

Sebelius acknowledges some people will see their rates go up during the current open enrollment period. But that’s not because of Obamacare, she said.

“The people seeing very significant rate hikes are a limited number in the marketplace and don’t qualify for subsidies,” she said.

Only individuals who make less than 400 percent of the poverty level qualify for the subsidies.

Sebelius chastised Congress for refusing to address problems with the law and criticized states that have not expanded Medicaid, as contemplated by the Affordable Care Act. Kansas and Missouri are among 19 states that have refused to do so.

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

“Unfortunately, most who complain about (the law) have had coverage forever,” Sebelius said. “They’re complaining on behalf of someone else.”

Laura Ziegler is a community engagement reporter and you can reach here on Twitter @laurazig or at [email protected]