WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts legislation to prohibit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from threatening the privacy and security of charitable donors’ personal information was approved by the Senate Finance Committee. The legislation passed as an amendment to the Taxpayer Protection Act of 2016.
“Last year the IRS proposed an unnecessary and burdensome rule that threatened the security of charitable donors’ private information and would have had a chilling effect on charitable donations,” Roberts said. “Luckily they scrapped the plan, and my amendment will prohibit the IRS from simply recycling this short-sided plan and proposing a similar rule in the future.”
The attempt by the IRS to change charitable donation reporting rules began in September of 2015, when the IRS proposed a rule calling on charitable organizations to ask for additional personal donor information including the name, address, Social Security or tax identification number of any donor making a contribution of $250.00 or more. Under current law, the responsibility to substantiate the contribution is on the donor. Most non-profits provide that information to the donors for their record-keeping.
Roberts first introduced a stand-alone bill to block this rule in December 2015. To view his speech on the Senate floor about the bill, click here.
A mild day is on tap with high temperatures expected to top out in the mid 70s. Breezy conditions are expected along and west of highway 83 where south winds will increase to 15 to 25 mph.
Today Sunny, with a high near 75. North northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 53. South southeast wind 11 to 13 mph.
SaturdaySunny, with a high near 85. Very windy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 27 to 32 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 43 mph.
Saturday NightA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 11pm and 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Windy, with a south wind 23 to 28 mph decreasing to 17 to 22 mph after midnight.
SundayA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph.
With increasing populations at risk, it is now more important than ever that we help the poor adapt to climate change as it occurs—Africans suffering from drought, Inuit affected by permafrost melt, etc.
But aid agencies are unable to adequately support these vulnerable people. Overconfidence about our ability to forecast and even control future climate states has encouraged governments to dedicate most of the public money spent on climate finance to mitigation, trying to affect events that may, or may not, someday happen. The San Francisco-based Climate Policy Initiative demonstrated that, in 2014, 83% of all public climate finance went to mitigation, with only 17% going to adaptation.
When you count funds spent by private enterprise in the total, 94% of the over $1 billion spent worldwide EVERY DAY on climate finance is dedicated to mitigation, leaving a relatively trivial 6% to help people today.
One of the reasons for this imbalance is that mitigation projects are far more profitable for large corporations than are the smaller scale boots-on-the-ground strategies needed to help populations adapt.
By focusing their activism on mitigation, groups such as Citizens’ Climate Lobby unwittingly encourage a continuation of this travesty. Make Earth Week about people in need instead.
Sincerely,
Tom Harris, B. Eng., M. Eng. (Mech.)
Executive Director
International Climate Science Coalition (ICSC)
28 Tiverton Dr.
Ottawa, Ontario K2E 6L5
Canada
www.climatescienceinternational.org
April 22, 2016, marks the 46th year of celebrating Earth Day, a day dedicated to focusing human energy toward environmental issues.
The Office of the Kansas Fire Marshal, which is focused every day of the year on protecting the land of Kansas and its citizens from catastrophic fires and hazardous chemical spills, offers actionable tips that Kansans can take to be both good stewards of our planet’s resources while also being fire safe.
Every Kansan has a role in preserving our state as both a beautiful and healthy place to live. We always encourage our citizens to take steps to protect their loved ones and property from fire and chemical hazards. On Earth Day, whether you have just a few minutes to spare or the entire day, everyone has time to do something which can have a positive impact on our planet while also improving their own safety from fire and chemical hazards.”
Following are activities that Kansans can take that are good for the environment and improve fire safety:
Switch to LED lightbulbs. These light bulbs contain no mercury, and they operate cooler than a traditional light bulb or even a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) resulting in less fire risk.
Take advantage of Hazard Drop Offs available on Earth Day. Get rid of old paint, cleaning chemicals, solvents, stains, etc. Not having these highly flammable chemicals on shelves will greatly reduce fire risk as well as the possibility of them contaminating ground soil.
Start a compost pile of paper, leaves, etc., rather than having a burn pile which could result in floating embers starting fires elsewhere.
Do a home energy audit, which could identify areas of fire risk. Get your HVAC system checked out by a licensed professional and be sure to replace filters monthly.
Clean out your dryer lint trap and filter, which will make your dryer operate more efficiently and reduce fire danger.
Much of Kansas was recently involved in battling wildfires, and these out-of-control grass fires destroy property, increase the release of carbon dioxide into the air, destroy habitats, and take up a lot of natural resources, including water, which could lead to periods of needed water preservation in the area. All Kansans should take measures to be sure they are protecting themselves and their neighbors from wildfires.
Most wildfires are completely preventable. The largest amount of fires are started by “controlled” or planned fires which have either rekindled or spread out of control. These fires could have started out as simple backyard fire pits for entertaining or burning a pile of dead leaves and limbs after cleaning up a yard. Floating embers can quickly spread to dry, overgrown vegetation and shifting winds can push heat and flames where people never meant for them to go.
Homeowners can take a few simple steps, such as weeding around their property, keeping grass mowed to shorter than 4 inches, and removing leaf litter around buildings and propane tanks, to protect themselves from not only spreading wildfires but creating structure fires as well.
On this Earth Day, every Kansan should find some time to do something which not only protects our environment, but keeps themselves and their loved ones safer from fire. For more fire prevention tips, visit FireMarshal.ks.gov<https://firemarshal.ks.gov>.
The students accused in alleged assault on a Great Bend School bus were in court on Thursday, according to a press release from Ellsworth County Attorney Joe Shepack:
Conner Furrey, age 17, a resident of Barton County appeared with retained counsel, M. Levi Morris, at the Ellsworth County Courthouse. He was personally served with a Juvenile Complaint charging him with a Class “B” misdemeanor criminal offense, battery done in a rude manner, in violation of K.S.A. 21-5413.
Mr. Furrey opted to proceed to arraignment. He entered a not guilty plea.. The Court accepted his plea and set this case for a pre-trial conference at a date to be determined later. Mr. Furrey is not under any order of detention and he is free on his own recognizance. All persons charged in criminal and/or juvenile offender cases are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to a trier of fact.
Alan Matthew Bobbitt, age 16, a resident of Barton County appeared with retained counsel, Lisa A. Beran, at the Ellsworth County Courthouse. He was personally served with a Juvenile Complaint charging him with a Class “B” misdemeanor criminal offense, battery done in a rude manner, in violation of K.S.A. 21-5413.
Mr. Bobbitt opted to proceed to arraignment. He entered a no contest plea. The Court accepted same and he was convicted of the Class “B” misdemeanor battery. Sentencing is set for June 1, 2016, at 1:00 p.m., in the Magistrate Courtroom of the Ellsworth County Courthouse. This sentencing hearing is open to the public in that the convicted Juvenile Offender is over 14 years of age. Per Local Court Rule, cameras are not permitted in the courtroom.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the 1988 shooting deaths of two people in Kansas City, Kansas.
Wyandotte County authorities charged Melvin L. Shields Thursday in the deaths of 27-year-old Jolene Jones and 33-year-old Steve Ray.
The Kansas City Star reports the victims were longtime friends who had a daughter together. Their bodies were found in a secluded area near the Kansas River.
Prosecutors say the initial investigation didn’t identify a suspect. The investigation was recently reopened, which led to Shields’ arrest. Prosecutors didn’t say what evidence led to the charges.
Shields is being held in Wyandotte County on $1 million bond. He was sentenced to prison shortly after the double killing for unrelated convictions and has a record of criminal convictions.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — An interactive video game has been developed to train Army command teams on how to respond to accusations of sexual harassment and sexual assault.
ELITE SHARP CTT was introduced for Army use earlier this month. Army members can download the game for free.
The Leavenworth Times reports the game was developed with help from the Games for Training Program at Fort Leavenworth. Maj. Greg Pavlichko, who heads the program, acknowledges some of the language in the interactive game is colorful, but says that makes the game more realistic.
Lt. Col. Jeff Bevington says officials involved with the ELITE game are now trying to get the word out.
Bevington says “we are trying to educate the Army on this tool.”
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas’s Unified Softball is set to take the field.
Unified Softball is a unique opportunity for children with disabilities and their non-disabled peers to join together and participate in a game of softball. Oftentimes children with disabilities are relegated to the sidelines, rarely having the chance to play. Unified Softball offers them the opportunity to finally get out of the stands and on to the field.
Area teams participate in several days of fun and true sportsmanship. The first game is set for Sunday, April 24, at 1:30 p.m. at the Dusty Glassman Fields, 4th and Milner, Hays.
Money raised for the games will provide each child with a team shirt and trophy.
All additional funds raised will go into DSNWK’s Children’s Special Needs Fund. The Children’s Special Needs Fund helps families who have children with disabilities. Families who have limited resources can access this fund to help pay for the high costs of equipment and other needs associated with their child’s disability.
DICKINSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a man and woman involved in a high-speed chase and accident just after 11a.m. on Tuesday in Dickinson County.
The Geary County Attorney will make a decision on charges since the initial interaction with law enforcement and the alleged stolen Toyota passenger vehicle from Florida began in that county, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The suspect ran one vehicle off the road in a construction zone just east of Abilene and drove around deployed stop sticks just west of Abilene.
The chase ended on Interstate 70 just east of Solomon Road when the KHP used a tactical vehicle intervention, which caused the suspect’s vehicle to roll, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The man and woman in the vehicle were transported to area hospital. One by air to Wichita and the other by ground to Salina Regional Medical Center.
Until the case is presented to the Geary County Attorney, the names of those involved will not be released, according to the KHP.
NEW YORK (AP) — Sears Holdings Corp. is announcing Thursday that it will close 68 Kmart stores and 10 Sears stores as it struggles to restore profitability. The Kmart at 1320 East 30th in Hutchinson is on the list to close this summer.
The ailing company had said in February that it would accelerate the closing of unprofitable stores. The move is expected to generate a “meaningful level” of cash from the liquidation of store inventories and from the sale or sublease of some of the related real estate, it said.
The closings follow a comprehensive review of the company’s store portfolio that took into account store performance and the timing of lease expirations.
The Sears stores will close in late July; two Kmart stores will close in mid-September.
Sears has long been struggling with a sales slump, unable to keep up with rivals like Wal-Mart.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats have again blocked a Republican proposal that would have forced the Obama administration to withdraw a federal rule to protect small streams and wetlands from development and pollution.
An amendment sponsored by North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven did not get the 60 votes needed Thursday to stop the controversial rule.
Thursday’s vote was the latest effort by Republicans to check the water rule, which they call an example of President Barack Obama’s overreach. Most Democrats support the Environmental Protection Agency rule, saying it will safeguard drinking water for 117 million Americans.
The Senate voted multiple times last year on GOP measures to thwart the rule. The efforts moved forward when a simple majority was required, but failed when 60 votes were needed. Fifty-six senators supported Hoeven’s amendment on Thursday.
Thursday’s fatal accident scene in Reno County-photo courtesy KWCH
RENO COUNTY – A man and woman from Hutchinson died in an accident just after 11a.m. on Thursday in Reno County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Buick Century driven by Dakota Tate Heim, 17, Hutchinson, was northbound on Kansas 14 between Yaggy and Wilson Road.
The vehicle traveled left of center and hit a 2002 Buick Century driven by Jimmie Ray Narron,
Narron and his wife Carolyn Sue Narron, 68, were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Sedgwick County Forensics Center.
Heim was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.
The drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
The accident remains under investigation.
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RENO COUNTY, Kan.– Two people were killed Thursday morning in an accident northwest of Hutchinson.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol the accident happened just before 11 a.m. just north of the interchange with Nickerson Blvd and Kansas 14 and 96 highway.
A northbound vehicle crossed the centerline and hit another car head on killing a husband and wife.
The driver of the first vehicle was taken to the Hutchinson hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts legislation to prohibit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from threatening the privacy and security of charitable donors’ personal information was approved by the Senate Finance Committee. The legislation passed as an amendment to the Taxpayer Protection Act of 2016.
DSNWK
