Traffic backup due to the cleanup of Tuesday’s accident -WICHway camera view
SEDGWICK COUNTY- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 2 p.m. on Tuesday in Sedgwick County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Sterling Dump Truck driven by Baudelio Ricar Marquez-Morales, 43, Wichita, was northbound on Interstate 135 at 21st Street,
The driver lost control of the truck when the tire blew.
The truck over turned and struck the inside barrier wall.
Marquez-Morales was transported to St. Francis Medical Center.
He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two fired employees of a troubled union district office in Wichita are suing.
Frank Molina Jr. and Becky Ledbetter allege wrongful termination, breach of contract and defamation in lawsuits filed this month in Sedgwick County. The Wichita Eagle reports that both lawsuits seek more than $75,000 in damages.
The suit names the International Association of Machinists, its District 70 and several union officers.
Molina is the former president of District 70, while Ledbetter was a business representative.
The lawsuits come after the international union assumed operations of District 70 in February. In announcing the move in a letter to union members, Machinists International President Robert Martinez Jr. described “mass overspending.” He also said there was “no proper approval for Lodge expenses.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey defended the club’s handling of Pro Bowl linebacker Justin Houston, who underwent surgery on his ACL last month and could miss the upcoming season.
In his first comments since news of the surgery became public, Dorsey said the Chiefs’ medical staff and renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews worked in concert in diagnosing and treating Houston’s injury.
Houston hurt his left knee against Buffalo in November, and at the time he was diagnosed with a hyperextension. He returned for the playoffs but was so limited that he was rendered ineffective.
He ultimately had surgery to repair the ligament in mid-February.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Agribusiness giant Cargill says it’s considering moving several operations out of the Wichita buildings where they are headquartered.
But the company hasn’t said whether it’s looking into moving the operations to another location within the city. Spokesman Mike Martin told The Wichita Eagle that all he could say was that the Minneapolis-based company was “looking at a variety of options.”
Wichita is home to the company’s beef business; its turkey and cooked meat business, which includes deli meats; its value-added protein services, including its North American egg business; and its food distribution.
Most of the 900 employees that work in those Wichita-based operations are housed in a 10-story building. But Martin says its classic configuration isn’t a good thing for the company going forward.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Kansas guard Wayne Selden Jr. is skipping his senior season to enter the NBA draft.
Selden and Jayhawks coach Bill Self announced his decision in a statement Tuesday, three days after a season-ending loss to Villanova in the NCAA Tournament. Selden plans to hire representation in the coming weeks, which means he won’t be able to pull his name out of the draft.
Selden averaged 13.8 points this past season, helping the Jayhawks win their 12th consecutive Big 12 championship. He shot 47 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc.
Freshman forward Cheick Diallo has also indicated plans to enter the draft, though he has not hired an agent. That means he could back out of the draft by May 25 and return to school.
Police on the scene of a body found in a creek on Monday in Shawnee County- photo courtesy WIBW TV
SHAWNEE COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Shawnee County have identified a body found in a creek.
Just before 10 a.m. on Monday, the body of James Otis Martin, 49, Topeka was found by a citizen in Shunga Creek near 21st and Lakewood, according to a media release from Topeka Police.
Martin was transported to the Corner’s Office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
After hosting several clean energy days at the state Capitol, the Climate + Energy Project sought to expand advocacy efforts to include water, land, and food policy. While our work has focused primarily on renewable energy and energy efficiency, we understand that energy use is connected to water, land management, and food systems. We wanted to bring together our state’s outstanding nonprofits and businesses to discuss and highlight the important impacts of water, energy, land and food policies in Kansas. We were enormously pleased with the turnout of this event!
The first Kansas Water, Energy, Land, & Food Forum brought over 175 Kansans and 22 organizations together on March 17 to learn about and advocate for water, energy, land, and food policy. The day began with a Climate Prayer Vigil led by Rev. Thad Holcomb, Lawrence Ecology Teams United in Sustainability, and Rev. Chad Cooper, Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition. Immediately following the vigil, attendees gathered to learn about priority bills impacting water, energy, land, and food in Kansas. Paul Johnson and Natalie Fullerton of the Kansas Rural Center, Donn Teske with the Kansas Farmer’s Union, Zack Pistora from the Kansas Sierra Club, Dawn Buehler, Friends of the Kaw, Sharon Ashworth with the Kansas Natural Resources Council, and Dorothy Barnett with the Climate + Energy Project discussed the priority bills and answered questions from the audience. Speakers also offered some tips to make the day’s advocacy efforts as effective as possible.
Following the advocacy overview, attendees were treated to a delicious lunch made from locally sourced ingredients prepared by Raven’s Table Catering. It was a busy day at the Capitol, and the House remained in session throughout the lunch hour. While we were disappointed that some of our speakers were unable to join us, Senators Tom Hawk and Marci Francisco, and Representatives Steven Becker and Sharon Schwartz all shared valuable information about water, energy, land, and food policies at the Capitol.
Throughout the day, some of the state’s finest environmental organizations staffed booths in the first floor rotunda to answer questions, share information, and make great connections. It was one of the most diverse gatherings of organizations that I can remember, and I expect we’ll see great things from this group in the future. We ended the day on a sweet note, together once again in the rotunda for some cookies and conversation.
In my almost-five-years at CEP, this event goes down as one of my favorites. For those of us who work on environmental issues, it’s easy to get too narrowly focused. While CEP works primarily on energy issues, we know that energy use is intricately connected to water, food, and land. With a small staff of three, we surely can’t cover all of these critically important issues. What we can do is invite all of the movers and shakers to come together, share resources, and reach out to the public. The Water, Energy, Land, & Food Forum amplified the voices of all participating organizations and raised the profile of these important issues affecting all Kansans. We are stronger together!
Rachel Myslivy, is Program Director for the Hutchinson-based Climate and Energy Project. CEP is a Kansas-based non-partisan 501(c)3 working to find practical solutions for a clean energy future.
SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a suspect for aggravated battery.
Just after 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Justin Hatton, 25, Salina, was having an argument with a woman in her 20s in the 800 block of Sherman Street in Salina, according to Police Captain Mike Sweeney.
The woman got into a car and was beginning to leave when Hatton allegedly got into the passenger side of the car, bit the woman on the shoulder, and pushed her out of the driver’s door. She narrowly missed being run over, according to police.
Hatton then drove away in the car. While being interviewed by police, the woman told officers that Hatton had damaged her cell phone, and sprayed mace in her face during an another argument on Saturday morning.
Hatton was located Monday afternoon in Lincoln County and taken into custody on requested charges of aggravated battery, DV battery, and damage to property.
SMITH COUNTY – Classes were in session as scheduled Tuesday in Smith Center following Monday’s bomb threat, according Smith County Public Information Officer Sharon Wolters.
The juvenile suspect arrested in connection with the threat remained in custody, according to Wolters.
On Monday, a student found a note at Smith Center High School claiming there was a bomb.
No additional details on the threat have been released.
Just after 10:30 a.m., students were evacuated from the elementary and high school buildings. Just after noon, parents were allowed to pick up elementary students.
Smith County Sheriff Bruce Lehman and County Attorney Tabitha Owen were releasing no new information Tuesday.
Smith Center High School was completely searched on Monday afternoon with the assistance of special canine units from the Kansas Highway Patrol, which were dispatched to Smith Center from Topeka, Scott City and Salina, according to Wolters.
“The Smith County attorney has prosecutorial authority and may have to make a decision in the case,” said Wolters.
FHSU President Dr. Mirta Martin and Cowley County President Dr. Dennis Rittle, sign the Tiger2Tiger agreement.
FHSU University Relations and Marketing
ARKANSAS CITY–Thanks to a new partnership, students who earn an associate degree from Cowley College will now be able to transfer their credits more easily to Fort Hays State University in pursuit of four-year degrees.
Officials from both schools met Monday, March 27, on the Cowley College campus in Arkansas City to sign a memorandum of understanding that creates the new partnership, which is being called Tiger2Tiger Pathways — both schools’ athletic teams compete as Tigers.
The partnership is a version of the traditional 2-plus-2 agreement, which assures participating students that all their hours will transfer when they move from a two-year school to a four-year school. However, Tiger2Tiger Pathways has additional benefits, including establishing a number of transfer scholarships for Cowley College graduates who have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and who transfer to Fort Hays State.
Dr. Mirta M. Martin, FHSU president said: “Dennis and I started to dream about the endless educational possibilities we could envision for the Cowley Tigers. Today, through our Tiger2Tiger partnership, the FHSU Tiger family welcomes the Cowley Tigers. Today, the dream that started months ago becomes a reality.”
Speaking specifically about Tiger2Tiger Pathways, Dr. Martin continued: “Community colleges play an essential role in creating pathways to education for many students. They are the ‘on-ramp’ to education. We are honored to be able to provide a seamless educational opportunity for individuals who wish to pursue degrees above an associate. We are honored that the Cowley Tigers have chosen to make Fort Hays State University their destination of choice.”
Dr. Dennis Rittle, Cowley president, also talked about the new partnership during the signing ceremony. “This partnership between Fort Hays State University and Cowley College illustrates the supreme priority both institutions place upon developing forward-thinking solutions which reduce time and cost for students to complete an education and which equip students with relevant skills to better their lives,” he said.
Monday’s signing took place at the Calder-Bonfy Amphitheatre on Cowley College’s main campus in Arkansas City.
An effort will be made to refine and further develop additional 2-plus-2 agreements between the institutions with the goal of a seamless transfer of credit so that entire two-year degree programs of study transfer to a comparable four-year degree program of study.
Clean diesel grants aimed at cleaning up old diesel engines have greatly improved public health by cutting harmful pollution that causes premature deaths, asthma attacks, and missed school and workdays, according to a new report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since its start in 2008, the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) program has significantly improved air quality for communities across the country by retrofitting and replacing older diesel engines.
Diesel exhaust significantly contributes to the formation of dangerous soot and smog and is likely to increase the risk of cancer. The funding from the program has helped clean up approximately 335,200 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 14,700 tons of particulate matter (PM), which are linked to a range of respiratory ailments and premature death. The program has also saved 450 million gallons of fuel and prevented 4.8 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions from more than 900,000 cars. EPA estimates that clean diesel funding generates up to $13 of public health benefit for every $1 spent on diesel projects.
EPA is making a visible difference in communities that need it most through the funding of cleaner trucks, buses, trains, and other heavy equipment. The report on DERA’s impact offers striking evidence that this program is succeeding in providing Americans with cleaner air where they live and work while also cutting the pollution that fuels climate change.
Operating throughout our transportation infrastructure today, 10.3 million older diesel engines – the nation’s “legacy fleet,” built before 2008 – need to be replaced or repowered to reduce air pollutants. While some of these will be retired over time, many will remain in use, polluting America’s air for the next 20 years. DERA grants and rebates are gradually replacing legacy engines with cleaner diesel engines. Priority is given to fleets in regions with disproportionate amounts of diesel pollution, such as those near ports and rail yards.
This third report to Congress presents the final results from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and covers fiscal years 2009-2011. It also estimates the impacts from grants funded in fiscal years 2011-2013.
Additional report highlights include:
Environmental Benefits
• 18,900 tons of hydrocarbon prevented
• 4,836,100 tons of CO2 prevented – equivalent to the annual emissions from about 900,000 cars
• 450 million gallons of fuel saved
Public Health Benefits
• Up to $12.6 billion in monetized health benefits
• Up to 1,700 fewer premature deaths
• Although not quantified in the report, NOx and PM reductions also prevent asthma attacks, sick days, and emergency room visits.
Program Accomplishments
• 642 grants funded
• $570 million funds awarded
• 73,000 vehicles or engines retrofitted or replaced
• 81% of projects targeted to areas with air quality challenges
• 3:1 leveraging of funds from non-federal sources
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The World Champion Kansas City Royals are excited to announce great renovations and additions to Kauffman Stadium for the 2016 season. Rivals Sports Bar, the Royals Hall of Fame and Frank White Lounge all will have a new look for the season. In addition, walk-through metal detectors have been added to stadium entrances.
Rivals Sports Bar During the offseason, the fan-favorite Rivals Sports Bar has been remodeled, giving it more streamlined character. Open-air and spacious, more people will now be able to enjoy Rivals during the game than ever before. The bar, which has been relocated and now offers an indoor/outdoor model, will allow fans inside of Rivals and those on the concourse the opportunity to enjoy the extensive selection of beverages. A new large HD projection screen and twelve 60-inch televisions have been added.
The kitchen will offer a refined sports bar menu featuring items such as a grilled ribeye steak sandwich, signature “Stack’d & Stuff’d” burgers and parmesan garlic street fries. The bar will highlight eight different brands of draft beer and 30 different varieties of packaged beers. Rivals will also offer signature milkshakes and frozen signature cocktails featuring a variety of 360 flavored vodkas.
Royals Hall of Fame The Royals Hall of Fame will feature many great exhibits from the 2015 Championship season including the World Series Champions trophy. The building received an external facelift, featuring photos from last year. The front glass is now wrapped with an aerial shot of the World Series celebration at Union Station. The photo, which was taken by Roy Inman, is on sale as print versions in the Majestic Team Store and as limited-edition framed pieces in the Royals Authentics store. The north side of the hall of fame that faces the concourse features photos of great moments from the World Series. The Royals Hall of Fame store will sell discounted postseason and World Series gear.
Frank White Lounge The Frank White Lounge has recently been turned into two suites now available for game rental and can be used together or separately. Previously windowed rooms with outside access, the rooms now have open-air capabilities with windows that slide to the side to give an open-air and more natural feel. The suites, located on the first base side of Loge Level and near Barrel Bar, fit 35 people in one room and 40 in the other.
Gate Entrances As a part of Major League Baseball’s recommendations for security standards at ballparks, full-body metal detectors have been added to all entrances to Kauffman Stadium. The change is expected to speed up entry for fans. Each person who enters The K will walk through a metal detector and will be asked to remove only keys, phones and wallets from pockets unless otherwise requested. All other security measures remain the same and can be found at www.royals.com.
(L to R): Rush Co. Sheriff Ward Corsair, Spc. Jacob Schluckebier, ESGR Employer Outreach Representative Howard Partington
ESGR
LACROSSE – Kansas Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program, announced today Rush County Sheriff Ward Corsair, was honored with a Patriot Award Tue., March 2,2 in recognition of his extraordinary support of an employee serving in the U.S. Army Reserve.
According to Walt Frederick, Kansas ESGR state chair, “The Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve. “Supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units,” Frederick said.
Spc. Jacob Schluckebier, a member of the 129th Transportation Company, Detachment 2 in Great Bend, nominated Sheriff Corsair for the award because “Corsair has gone above and beyond to support my decision to extend my time in the Army Reserve. Sheriff Corsair has been supportive and understanding with my hectic schedule.”
Corsair accepted the award from Spc. Schluckebier and Kansas ESGR Employer Outreach Representative, Howard Partington.
For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs of ESGR volunteer opportunities call 800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.
