BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A trade group for the energy industry is accusing federal officials of illegally canceling or postponing the sale of more than two dozen oil and gas leases over the past two years.
The Western Energy Alliance sued the Obama administration in U.S. District Court on Thursday to force it to hold lease sales four times a year.
The group says sales have been called off in Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
U.S. officials say at least some cancellations stem from companies’ limited interest. Of more than 2.2 million federal acres offered for sale last year, just over a half-million acres received bids.
The government expects low oil and gas prices will reduce drilling on public lands by 40 percent versus historical levels in coming years.
WICHITA – It was the longest game in the modern wood bat era and it put the Hays Larks in the 82nd NBC World Series championship game. The Larks (43-10) raced out to a 6-0 lead then had to come back with three in the 17th inning to beat the Kansas Stars 9-6 in Friday’s semifinals at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
The Larks will take on the Santa Barbara (CA) Foresters at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Foresters beat the San Diego Force 7-6 in 12 innings.
Game Highlights
Jacob Boston gave the Larks the lead with a single to left which scored Mike Mioduszewski. Connor Ross hit a sac fly to right which scored Alex Weiss then Micheal Burns singled to score Boston.
Daniel James (2-0) retired the final 10 batters he faced to pick up the win. James pitched eight scoreless innings of relief with six strikeouts and no walks for the win. He worked around a runner at second with no outs in the 12th then got a strikeout with the bases loaded to end the 14th.
The Larks struck for two in the first inning and four in the third and led 6-0.
The Stars, comprised primarily of former major league players, came back with four in the sixth thanks to two walks and two hit batters. They added a run in the eighth on a Ryan Langerhans two-out single then tied the game in the bottom of the ninth when Jayson Nix doubled to right and scored Brandon Inge from first base. Nix was thrown out trying to stretch the double into a triple, sending the game to extra innings.
Larks starter Keegan Curtis retired the first nine batters he faced before being chased in the sixth. Stars starter Tim Hudson gave up six runs on four hits with six walks over 2 1/3 innings.
The Larks will play in their fifth NBC World Series title game at 7 p.m. Saturday.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Yordano Ventura won consecutive starts for the first time in two months, Kendrys Morales homered in his return from a one-game suspension and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 7-3 Friday night.
Ventura (8-9) struck out nine in seven innings, allowing four hits, one walk and three runs, pitching the Royals to their fifth win in the last six games. After posting a 5.15 ERA in the first half, Ventura has a 3.26 ERA after the All-Star break.
Miguel Sano homered for the fifth time in the last seven games and Brian Dozier hit a two-run shot, giving Twins starter Kyle Gibson (4-7) a one-run lead he took into the fifth inning. The Royals hit the ball plenty hard, but the softest one made the biggest impact.
Salvador Perez’s bat broke on a two-strike, two-out, two-run bloop single with the bases loaded the gave the Royals a 4-3 lead. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe awkwardly backpedaled for the slowly rising ball, but it cleared his head and landed in front of diving shortstop Jorge Polanco.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A preliminary hearing has been delayed for a former physician assistant accused of sexually abusing patients at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Leavenworth.
Mark Wisner’s hearing on a charge of aggravated sexual battery was scheduled for Thursday but it was continued until Sept. 15.
The Leavenworth Times reports Wisner also is charged in a second case. He’s charged with aggravated criminal sodomy and three misdemeanor charges of sexual battery. Those crimes allegedly occurred in 2014 while Wisner worked at the Eisenhower VA Medical Center.
Wisner’s attorney, John Bryant, asked for the continuance for the first case because he is having difficulty meeting with his client.
Wisner surrendered his medical license after at least seven patients accused him of abusing them.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A government report is forecasting record corn and soybean harvests in Kansas.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Friday that it expects corn production in the state of 660 million bushels. That is 14 percent higher than a year ago.
Anticipated soybean production of 164 million bushels will also set a record if realized. That is 11 percent higher than a year ago.
The agency also estimated the sorghum harvest to come in at 244 million bushels, down 13 percent from a year ago.
Production of this year’s winter wheat crop is estimated at 462 million bushels, up 43 percent from last year’s crop. Record yields of 57 bushels per acre help offset the fewer wheat acres planted.
Alfalfa hay production is forecast at 2.58 million tons.
SALINE COUNTY – Private donations have increased the reward for information in the murder of a Saline County woman.
Donations directed to the reward fund in the murder of Lori Heimer near Assaria, have increased the total amount to about $5,000. This includes $1,000 from Crime Stoppers of Salina-Saline County, according to Carrie Pruter, a crime analyst with the Salina Police Department,
Heimer was found brutally murdered in her home at 10525 S. Hopkins Road near Assaria on June 25, where she maintained a dog breeding business called “Lori’s Poodle Patch.”
She sold a variety of dogs and investigators want to speak to anyone that had contact or a business appointment with Heimer between June 20th and June 25th.
Investigators at the home of Lori Heimer on June 26th (Courtesy Photo)
Authorities ask that anyone with information on Heimer’s murder contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, 24 hours a day, at 1-800-KSCRIME or the Saline County Sheriff’s Office at 785-826-6500 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Daisy Tackett’s lawsuit against KU seeks damages under the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education. TRISTAN BOWERSOX / CREATIVE COMMONS-FLICKR
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A former University of Kansas rower who says she was raped by a Jayhawk football player contends in an amended lawsuit that the school’s athletic department requires rowers to attend Kansas football games and encourages rowers to socialize with football recruits.
The Kansas City Star reports an attorney for Daisy Tackett filed the amended federal lawsuit Tuesday.
Tackett and another rower have alleged they were raped a year apart in university housing by the same Kansas football player. They and their parents are also part of a class-action lawsuit claiming that the university misled the public by saying campus housing was safe.
The university has consistently declined to comment on the lawsuits, except to say it takes all reports of sexual assault seriously.
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating a suspect in connection with a series of robberies
The robberies this month included Papa Murphy’s at 2110 N. Maize, Stop and Shop at 1826 W. 13th, Phillips 66 at 10723 W. Kellogg and Presto at 2356 S. Seneca, according to a media release.
A citizen was able to provide vehicle tag information from one of the robberies.
Just after 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, detectives and the FBI Task Force located the suspect Christopher J. McColm, 34, at a residence in the 700 block of south Bonn in Wichita.
He was taken into custody without incident and booked into jail for four counts of aggravated robbery.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Despite the first day of school fast approaching, a federal judge isn’t ruling immediately on 13 states’ request to halt an Obama administration directive on bathroom rights for transgender students in public schools.
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor heard arguments in Fort Worth on Friday from Texas and 12 other states seeking an injunction against the policy, and from federal attorneys defending it. He didn’t rule right away.
In May, federal officials told public schools nationwide that transgender students must be allowed to use bathrooms consistent with their chosen gender identity.
State Republican leaders argue that undermines privacy safeguards.
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Virginia school board can, for now, block a transgender male from using the boys’ restroom once school resumes.
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) —Twelve states will ask a federal judge Friday to halt an Obama administration directive on bathroom rights for transgender students in U.S. public schools. Here’s what you need to know:
Q: WHAT STARTED ALL THIS?
A: The Obama administration told U.S. public schools in May that transgender students must be allowed to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their chosen gender identity. That announcement came days after the Justice Department sued North Carolina over a state law that requires people to use public bathrooms that correspond with the sex on their birth certificate — which U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch had likened to policies of racial segregation. Republicans have argued such laws are commonsense privacy safeguards.
Q: A NEW SCHOOL YEAR IS ABOUT TO START. WHAT IF DISTRICTS DON’T COMPLY?
A: Schools were not explicitly told to comply or lose federal funds. But the Obama administration also didn’t rule out that possibility in court documents filed in July, saying recipients of federal education dollars “are clearly on notice” that antidiscrimination polices must be followed. Texas alone gets roughly $10 billion in federal education funds, and argues along with the 11 other states that they shouldn’t potentially lose money over what they criticize as a “massive social experiment.”
Q: WHAT’S AT STAKE FRIDAY?
A: U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth is considering a preliminary injunction that would temporarily halt the directive, meaning schools wouldn’t have to worry about complying for now. He may not rule immediately.
Q: WHAT STATES ARE INVOLVED?
A: The lawsuit was filed in May by Texas, Alabama, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Utah and Georgia, and the Republican governors of Maine, Mississippi and Kentucky. Two small school districts in Arizona and Texas, which have fewer than 600 students combined and no transgender persons on their campuses, also joined the effort to prevent the directive from being enforced.
Q: AREN’T THERE OTHER ONGOING LEGAL BATTLES OVER TRANSGENDER RIGHTS?
A: Yes. Perhaps most notably was the U.S. Supreme Court ruling this month that a Virginia school board for now can block a transgender male from using the boys’ restroom when school resumes.
Q: HOW MANY TRANSGENDER STUDENTS MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THE SCHOOL DIRECTIVE?
A: There’s no known number of transgender students in U.S. public schools, but in June, a team of experts estimated that about 1.4 million adults in the country identify as transgender. That’s double the estimate from a decade ago, according to demographer Gary Gates, who worked on the survey with other scholars at the Williams Institute, a think tank at the UCLA School of Law that specializes in research on issues affecting lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.
HUTCHINSON – A Kansas man who at one time operated a convenience store and entered a plea in the criminal case against him was granted one year of probation on Friday.
Chris Patel, 43, was accused of selling items police believed were stolen from Dillon’s and being in possession of K-2 or synthetic marijuana.
He entered pleas to possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, possession of stolen property and a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.
The state dropped a charge of possession of K-2 with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school and no drug tax stamp.
Police say Patel, the owner of the Zip Trip Foods at 200 E. Ave. A in Hutchinson was purchasing what he believed to be stolen goods from a member of Kroger’s organized retail crime unit.
The stolen goods included cases of Red Bull energy drinks, Tide laundry detergent and cigarettes.
Patel had made numerous purchases, then stored the items in another building. The items were secretly marked and eventually showed up on his store shelves. A search warrant of Patel’s home turned up more items as well as 45 bags of K-2.
Sales tax revenues are projected a continued decline in 2017, according to Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Hays city commissioners unanimously approved the 2017 budget of $37,990,318 following a public hearing Thursday night.
The mill levy still remains at 25, although that required some belt-tightening. Commissioners issued a warning to outside agencies that receive city funding to expect cuts in that funding in 2018.
City Manager Toby Dougherty again outlined the 2017 budget highlights:
25 mill cap maintained
Balanced budget
No hiring of more full-time employees
No salary increases for employees
Continues funding of reserves and payment of cash for large capital projects
Full funding of Street Maintenance Program
Reconstruction of Eighth Street and Allen Street projects schedule moved up in Capital Improvement Plan
Emphasis on sustainability to take care of capital assets
Dougherty also noted the “continued shallow decline in sales tax revenues.”
“We are budgeting a reduction of $250,000. … We offset that with $300,000 in expenditure cuts,” Dougherty explained. “We’re still $50,000 ahead of the game and, with our unreserved fund balance and the cushion we have in there, if we do have that protracted decline (of sales taxes) … we’re OK with that, too.”
Commissioner Henry Schwaller said it was “important to point out the vast majority of the city’s revenue comes from sales tax.”
“Over 10 years ago, we decided we would no longer rely on property taxes to fund the general operations of the city,” Schwaller recalled.
“We are the only city that actually has this kind of mechanism whereby which we fund our general fund with sales tax revenue strictly,” Hays Mayor Eber Phelps pointed out.
After thanking Finance Director Kim Rupp and city staff for their work on the budget, Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil said, “I think it’s important we do everything we can to get raises for city employees next year.” He referred to Commissioner Lance Jones’ comments in an earlier meeting about city funding for outside agencies.
“I’ll be honest with you. I think that’s probably going to be where we cut next year,” Musil said.
“You’re reading my mind, Commissioner,” interjected Schwaller.
“We can’t give money we don’t have,” said Commissioner James Meier, who praised the recent work of city employees in the wake of a major water leak July 4th and the July 13 storm damage.
“We tried to do a reset on these outside agency funding requests a long time ago,” Schwaller said. “I think, for the first time, our expectation going into 2017 that there are no guarantees for any outside funding in 2018 and that we start with a fresh slate.
“It doesn’t matter what they got this year. They have to justify what they want, and what they’re going to do with it, and what the outcomes are. I don’t see that happening anymore.”
Commissioners agreed the outside agency funding issue should be discussed within the commission between now and the next budget cycle,” discussing it publicly as this is the standard moving forward,” Commissioner James Meier said.
“It’s not an entitlement program. It’s over,” added Schwaller.
Commissioner Lance Jones agreed to a harder look at outside agency funding in 2018.
Commissioner Lance Jones clarified he “didn’t bring up the issue because he was frustrated with any agency.”
“I just don’t understand the city’s funding of the DHDC (Downtown Hays Development Corporation). I don’t see how they’re any different from the (Hays Area) Chamber of Commerce, whom we don’t fund at all, and who does a lot for our community, like the DHDC does,” Jones said.
“Yes, definitely. I think we have to look at the outside agencies a little harder next year if it comes down to the same budget crunch that we’re looking at right now,” Jones agreed with his fellow commissioners.
City funding in 2017 for the seven outside nonprofit agencies remained at the 2016 levels for a total of $437,508. That’s the same total amount distributed for social services, economic development and quality of life groups each year since 2014.
City of Hays 2017 Budget Outside Agency Funding
Care Council: $164,000
FHSU Scholarship Program: $100,000
Ellis Co. Coalition for Economic Development: $87,550
