TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — New data shows that Kansas’ expected low return on pension investments over the past year is a reflection of a national downward trend.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts released its report on Wednesday. The report comes days after the one-year anniversary of a $1 million pension bond that infused the state’s public pension system, KPERS, with cash to invest.
According to KPERS director Alan Conroy, early indications show the investments likely earned just enough over the past year to pay the bond’s annual interest of about 5 percent or generate a small profit.
The annual return target is 8 percent.
Pew’s report says public pension systems across the country only produced an average return of 0.9 percent during fiscal year 2016.
RILEY COUNTY – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is assisting the Riley County Health Department to determine the cause of an illness that sent numerous students home this week from Manhattan High School.
Principal Greg Hoyt said in a note to parents that the school nurse reported she had sent more students home from school with vomiting and related symptoms than she ever had in her many years of experience.
Hoyt’s memo said he did not want to alarm anyone or over react, but reminded parents and students of simple steps that may be taken to protect yourself and others including thoroughly washing your hands, keeping your hands away from your mouth and nose and do not share food or drink.
Maintaining a healthy environment is a shared responsibility for all of us, he wrote.
The plane involved in Thursday’s crash-photo courtesy KWCH
RICE COUNTY- A pilot from Ellsworth was injured in a small plane crash on Thursday in Rice County.
A 1968 Cessna Pawnee piloted by Bradley Fitchett, 51, Ellsworth, was spraying pesticide on a field south of Bushton, according to KHP Master Trooper Dave Jacobs.
The plane developed an engine problem. Fitchett attempted to make an emergency landing near 5th Road and Avenue B when the plane flipped.
Rice County EMS transported Fitchett to a hospital in Great Bend and then he was transferred to a hospital in Wichita.
The pilot was wearing a helmet. The helmet was crushed in two places, according to Jacobs and it saved him from a more serious head injury.
The accident remains under investigation.
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RICE COUNTY- Investigators are working to determine the cause of a small plane crash in Rice County.
The accident near Avenue B and 5th Road southwest of Bushton on Thursday afternoon involved a crop dusting aircraft, according to the Rice County Sheriff’s Department.
Just after 4 p.m., first responders had cleared the scene according to the sheriff’s department.
There were no initial report of injuries.
Check Hays Post for additional details as they become available.
The Hays Arts Council is set to host the 32nd annual Fall Art Walk on Friday.
This year’s featured exhibit in the Hays Arts Council gallery is titled “e’Scapes” and features 52 paintings from 11 artists across the state of Kansas. Visitors to the gallery will see paintings of landscapes, seascapes, cloudscapes and open vista paintings.
“The whole theme this exhibit is escape,” said Brenda Meder, director of the Hays Arts Council.
There are several other events happening downtown, including an iron pouring demonstration, pottery throwing and live music at several venues.
Despite the less-than-ideal weather at the last few art walks, Meder says she’s confident the third time is the charm.
“Our fingers are crossed for good weather,” Meder said, “but rain or shine, there will be an art walk!”
For more information on the event, visit the Arts Council website.
To find specific times for events and details about participating artists, click HERE.
SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County continue to investigate the murder of woman in her rural Saline County home.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are still working on leads in the case on a daily basis, according to Undersheriff Roger Soldan.
“Any leads that come in from outside our jurisdiction, KBI investigators follow up on.”
Heimer, 57, was found brutally murdered in her home southeast of Assaria at 10525 S. Hopkins Road just before 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 25th.
Heimer ran a dog breeding business out of her home called “Lori’s Poodle Patch,” where she sold a variety of dogs including poodles, teacup poodles, toy poodles, yorkiepoos, and golden doodles.
Investigators working the case need to speak to anyone that had contact or a business appointment with Heimer anytime between June 20th and June 25th.
Investigators are also still actively looking for two vehicles of interest in the case.
Investigators at the home of Lori Heimer on June 26th (Courtesy Photo)
A flatbed pickup truck, possibly a Chevy, which is described as “beat-up”, maroon in color, with a white front bumper, silver grill, wide-style side mirrors, with a driver that is approximately 50 years of age or older with “salt and pepper” hair.
The second vehicle is an older-style, small pickup truck, possibly a Chevy S-10, with a two-tone color – dark blue on top and bottom, with light blue in the middle. The back bumper is silver, but the tailgate is blue, similar to the body of the truck, and is newer or appeared to have minimal damage when compared to the body of the truck.
The remainder of the vehicle is described as “beat up” and “scratched up”. There may be two animal cages or crates in the back.
The driver of the vehicle was described as a white male, approximately 40 years of age, with shoulder length hair, wearing glasses.
Residents near where the crime occurred have been very cooperative and have even reported some unusual activity in the days and weeks since Heimer’s murder, according to Soldan.
Carrie Pruter, a crime analyst with the Salina Police Department, said the reward in the case has grown to well over $5,000.
Anyone with information on Heimer’s murder is asked to immediately contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, 24 hours a day, at 1-800-KSCRIME, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office at 785-826-6500 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or Salina/Saline County Crime Stoppers at 785-825-TIPS. Callers to Crime Stoppers are not required to give their name.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has set a new sentencing date for a Kansas man who has admitted aiding a wannabe Islamic State jihadist’s plan to detonate what they thought was a bomb at a Kansas military post.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree on Thursday continued the sentencing hearing for Alexander Blair to Sept. 8.
The 29-year-old Topeka man has admitted his role in a foiled plan to kill or maim as many U.S. service members as possible at the Fort Riley in Kansas. He blames a genetic disorder for allowing others to take advantage of him.
Blair pleaded guilty in May to a conspiracy count that carries up to five years’ imprisonment. He admitted loaning John T. Booker $100 to pay for the storage of the device during an FBI sting.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Highway Patrol has responded to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on Tuesday that says law enforcement officials in Kansas cannot stop and search motorists for having nothing more than out-of-state license plates from states that have legalized marijuana.
The Kansas Highway Patrol issues a response regarding the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals’ recent decision on a case: pic.twitter.com/e1WT5C9zVW
The court said the officer’s reasoning would justify the search of citizens from more than half of the states in the country.
The court reinstated the lawsuit filed by a Colorado motorist against two Kansas Highway Patrol officers who stopped and searched his vehicle while he was driving alone at night on I-70 in Kansas.
It found the officers violated Peter Vasquez’s Fourth Amendment rights in searching his car.
Twenty-five states permit marijuana use for medicinal purposes, with Colorado, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Washington, D.C. permitting some recreational use under state law.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas has announced cuts to several programs, totaling nearly $1.3 million in an effort to deal with a $7 million cut in funding by the state.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports that university provost Neeli Bendapudi announced the list of cuts on Wednesday. Programs that will take significant budget cuts include Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas Geological Survey.
Bendapudi says the announced cuts make up less than half of what will be needed to be made at the Lawrence and Edwards campuses this year.
Officials at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City say they will face significant difficulties this year as they handle an additional $3.7 million in cut state funding for the medical school.
A pest called the Sugarcane Aphid, has moved its way into Kansas from states such as Texas and Oklahoma. The sugarcane aphid originally feeding on only sugarcane, is now threatening sorghum fields here in Ellis County. Stacy Campbell visits with Entomologist, J.P. Michaud about the pest.
Just after 3:15 p.m., Interstate 70 was reopened in both directions, according to the KHP. Officials determined gas levels were reduced to safe readings. No injuries were reported.
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LINCOLN COUNTY -First responders are on the scene of a gas line explosion in Lincoln County, according to the sheriff’s department.
Law enforcement is re-routing Interstate 70 traffic west of Salina in both directions just east of the Beverly, Carneiro exit. In some instances traffic was being diverted prior to exit 228 in Ellsworth County, according to the KHP.
Officials in Lincoln County were expected to take an hour or more to complete an inspection at the scene, according to the KHP.
There are no injuries reported according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — New data shows that Kansas’ expected low return on pension investments over the past year is a reflection of a national downward trend.
