HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State was unable to avoid a three-game sweep by Southwest Baptist on Sunday (Mar. 13). The Bearcats defeated the Tigers 13-8, moving to 9-9 overall and 4-5 in the MIAA. The Tigers fell to 9-11 overall and 3-6 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State fell down 6-0 before scoring its first run of the game in the third. A three-run fifth brought them within two at 6-4, but SBU countered with three runs in the sixth to push its lead back out to five. FHSU scored one in the sixth, two in the eighth, and one in the ninth, but it was not enough as the Bearcats added two in the seventh and two in the ninth.
Austin Unrein and Connor Ross each had two RBI in the game. Unrein went 3-for-6 at the plate, which included a solo home run, double, and single, just a triple shy of the cycle. Ross had a single and a double, going 2-for-5 at the dish. Caleb Cherryholmes had a three-hit game and scored a run.
Kyle Vogt took the loss, going 5.1 innings in his start. He allowed nine runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Giles Fox and Unrein also pitched in relief.
The Tigers hit the road to play at Emporia State next weekend in another three-game conference series. Games are scheduled Friday through Sunday (Mar. 18-20).
Mostly sunny, breezy and warmer conditions can be expected on Monday. Fire danger will be extreme across far western Kansas where very dry conditions will exist along with breezy westerly winds. A fire weather watch is in effect for parts of far western Kansas from Lakin and Hugoton west to the Colorado state line.
Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 11 to 16 mph after midnight.
TuesdaySunny, with a high near 62. Very windy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 31. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 23 mph decreasing to 8 to 13 mph after midnight.
WednesdaySunny, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a northwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 30.
ThursdayMostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Thursday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 32.
GRAY COUNTY-Amtrak officials worked all night and just before 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, placed the last of the derailed train cars back on the track.
The NTSB continues to investigate Monday’s Amtrak train derailment. They expect to be on the scene for a few more days.
The Gray County Sheriff’s Department issued thanks to many who helped during the emergency.
Sheriff Jim Kramer thanked the emergency medical techs, the county fire department, Gray, Ford and Finney County emergency responders and the fire and life care helicopter for all the hard work and working together like a tight fit glove, according to a social media report.
Kramer also thanked his sheriff’s deputies, emergency management and issued special appreciation for the Gray County dispatchers.
Amtrak’s Southwest Chief was carrying more than 140 people when several rail cars derailed early Monday. Authorities say the accident happened moments after an engineer noticed a significant bend in a rail and applied the emergency brakes At least 32 people were hurt, two of them critically.
Local authorities are checking whether a vehicle crash may have damaged the track before the accident
Travelers sheltered at the Gray County 4H- Rec Center -photo courtesy Daniel Szczerba
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5:20 p.m.
A federal transportation official says the condition of the track will be the focus of the investigation into an Amtrak derailment in Kansas.
Earl Weener is part of the National Transportation Safety Board. He says it’s too soon to know what caused the derailment and that the train was traveling at the normal speed limit.
Weener says there was some initial indication of a “misalignment” on the rail. But he says it’s unclear what that was or what caused it. He also says the engineer was vigilant and noticed a variation on the track, causing him to brake.
The track was inspected last week. Investigators will also review recorded data from the train.
1:30 p.m.
Authorities say they’re investigating whether an unreported vehicle crash may have damaged the railroad tracks before an Amtrak train derailed in southwest Kansas.
Gray County sheriff’s Deputy J.G. Sharp says there was a separate vehicle accident that may have damaged the rails before the passenger train derailed early Monday outside Cimarron. A few people remain hospitalized.
Authorities are examining tire tracks leading to the train tracks and preserving the scene with crime scene tape, he said.
He says the damage doesn’t appear to have been intentional.
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board have arrived at scene.
12:25 p.m.
Passengers on an Amtrak train that derailed in western Kansas say they feared for their lives.
Dave Gibbs, of Colorado says he was headed to Lawrence, Kansas, for a possible chef’s job when he felt the train “rattling back and forth” early Monday. He says the shaking lasted several seconds before the train began tipping, then coming to an abrupt stop that sent a woman tumbling into him.
Fifty-seven-year-old David Tisdale, of Arizona, says he was “waiting for the worst” and was afraid he was “going to die.”
At least 32 people were injured in the derailment, which happened near Cimarron, a rural community about 160 miles west of Wichita.
Nearly all of the injured were treated and released, but two are in critical condition.
12 p.m.
Officials say two of the people injured when a passenger train derailed in western Kansas are in critical condition.
Caytie Martin, a spokeswoman for the Northwest Texas Healthcare System, says the two were airlifted to the Amarillo, Texas, hospital after the early Monday derailment near Cimarron, a rural community about 160 miles west of Wichita.
Amtrak says 32 people were treated at hospitals and nearly all of them had been released by late morning.
A hospital in Dodge City says it admitted a patient who is in stable condition and a hospital in Garden City says it admitted a patient in good condition.
The train with 131 passengers and 14 crew members was headed from Los Angeles to Chicago. An Amtrak spokesman says one crew member was treated at the scene.
9 a.m.
A passenger aboard an Amtrak train that derailed in southwest Kansas says he felt “shaking” and realized something was “definitely wrong” when it stopped.
KWCH-TV reports that Daniel Szczerba said he was in the front of the train when it derailed early Monday about 20 miles west of Dodge City. Amtrak says the train had about 128 passengers and 14 crew members on board.
He says that when he got out, he saw several trains in the back on their sides.
Szczerba says that even though emergency responders arrived quickly to the scene, it was still chaotic for passengers. He says many were wandering around searching for relatives after becoming separated from them while making their way out of emergency exits.
7:45 a.m.
An Amtrak passenger recalls feeling “shaking” before her car and several others overturned in southwest Kansas.
Twenty-one-year-old Kelsey Wilson says she was traveling on the train to return to Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, when she was awoken early Monday. Wilson, of Pueblo, Colorado, says she hit her head as the car became disconnected and overturned about 20 miles west of Dodge City.
She says she escaped through the top of the flipped car and then slid down the side. She said she then “passed out” and was among at least 29 people taken to hospitals for treatment. She was released with a neck brace.
Her traveling companion, 21-year-old Daniel Aiken, of Lenexa, Kansas, says he heard people scream. He said they calmed down when they realized the train “wasn’t going to blow up.”
6:50 a.m.
Authorities say 29 people have been taken to hospitals after an Amtrak train derailed in rural southwest Kansas.
Grey County spokeswoman Ashley Rogers says of the 29 people hurt, none has life-threatening injuries.
NTSB is sending a team to investigate the Amtrak train derailment
in Kansas. More information will follow when the team arrives in Kansas.
An Amtrak statement says the train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago early Monday when it derailed just after midnight about 20 miles west of Dodge City. Amtrak says the train had about 128 passengers and 14 crew members on board.
photo courtesy Daniel Szczerba
Rogers says she went to the scene and saw five cars on their sides and two others that were off the tracks but still standing. She says buses and ambulances have taken the passengers who are not hurt to a community building in the small town of Cimarron to wait while Amtrak makes arrangements to take them to their destinations.
4 a.m.
Amtrak now says about 20 passengers have been hospitalized after a train derailment in southwest Kansas.
An Amtrak statement says the train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago early Monday when it derailed just after midnight about 20 miles west of Dodge City.
Kansas Highway Patrol communication specialist Patricia Munford says five train cars are on their side.
Amtrak says about 20 passengers were brought to hospitals in Dodge City and Garden City. All others were brought to a recreation center and will be given alternate transportation to their final destination.
Amtrak says the train consisted of two locomotives and nine cars and had about 128 passengers and 14 crew members on board.
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3:15 a.m.
An Amtrak train derailed in southwest Kansas, sending eleven people to the hospital.
An Amtrak statement says the train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago early Monday when it derailed just after midnight about 20 miles west of Dodge City.
Kansas Highway Patrol communication specialist Patricia Munford says five train cars are on their side.
Amtrak says eleven passengers were brought to a hospital in Dodge City. All others were brought to a recreation center and will be given alternate transportation to their final destination.
Amtrak says the train consisted of two locomotives and nine cars and had about 128 passengers and 14 crew members on board.
KDHE Secretary Susan Mosier says the agency has added 20 full-time staff members to process applications and 19 more to its customer service call center, in addition to implementing other reforms. CREDIT FILE PHOTO
Federal officials are concerned about a growing backlog of Kansas Medicaid applications and have asked state leaders to provide regular updates about what they’re doing to fix the problem.
James Scott, associate regional administrator for the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sent a letter to Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials Feb 17, citing concerns about “recent reports” of the Medicaid application backlog in the state of Kansas.”
Scott asked KDHE to submit within 14 days a plan to correct the backlog.
He also asked the agency to address issues at the customer service call center, or Clearinghouse, for KanCare, the state’s privatized Medicaid program.
“Based on recent articles it can take hours for a beneficiary to get through to a KanCare representative,” Scott wrote. “Please provide call center response times and dropped call rates as well as an action plan on how the KanCare Clearinghouse plans to decrease the call times for beneficiaries.”
In a response dated March 4, KDHE Secretary Susan Mosier said the agency has added 20 full-time staff members to process applications and 19 more for the call center, in addition to implementing other reforms.
The state’s response also shows that the number of unprocessed applications ballooned from about 10,000 at the end of January to 18,216 by mid-February. Precisely 7,745 of those had been pending for more than 45 days, which is the most allowed under CMS rules unless the applicant needs a disability determination.
The call center is being run by a state contractor, Maximus, which reported average hold times of about 20 minutes for the month of February. However, some callers were kept on hold for almost an hour and a half.
Mosier’s letter says the backlog resulted from a rush of 13,000 Medicaid applications during the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment, which ran from November through January.
The letter does not mention a computer system switch last summer that state officials have previously said contributed to the backlog.
Gov. Sam Brownback, in his budgets for the current fiscal year and the next, has banked a total of $10 million in Medicaid savings because of lagging enrollment since the implementation of the Kansas Eligibility Enforcement System, or KEES.
Scott’s letter asks state officials to set a date for eliminating the backlog but Mosier didn’t specify one in her response
Nursing home groups unsatisfied
In Kansas, Medicaid serves about 450,000 low-income children, pregnant women, people with disabilities and the elderly.
Scott’s letter requests that the state submit information on the backlog on a bi-weekly basis. He also asks state officials to describe how they plan to address unreimbursed care provided to people whose Medicaid applications are pending.
That request is of particular interest to nursing homes, which rely heavily on Medicaid and are carrying, in some cases, more than $1 million in unpaid bills.
The state’s response, which was to tell Scott that providers would be reimbursed retroactively once Medicaid applications have been processed, did not satisfy representatives of nursing home associations.
Rachel Monger, director of government affairs for LeadingAge Kansas, said the state is already required to retroactively reimburse nursing facilities and it doesn’t solve their current cash flow issues.
“The entire issue we are having is that providers are being forced to provide uncompensated care, and elders are being turned away from care, until their application is processed,” Monger said. “Our providers need payment now.”
Retroactive payments might help providers of services that allow seniors to stay in their homes.
Monger’s group, which represents non-profit nursing homes, and the Kansas Health Care Association, which represents for-profit homes, have asked the administration to give presumptive Medicaid eligibility to their residents.
Cindy Luxem, executive director of the KHCA, said her organization has heard little about the state’s response to CMS, but some of the state’s previous efforts to help have not lived up to expectations.
She said KHCA and LeadingAge met with KDHE officials recently and were told that while the backlog persists, no one waiting on a Medicaid review will be dropped.
“As soon as we send that (message) out (to members) we get an email from a member who had three folks drop off the Medicaid rolls since the first of March,” Luxem said.
Luxem said she welcomes the involvement of the federal government, which funds about 60 percent of Medicaid in Kansas.
“It’s a good sign,” Luxem said. “Something’s going to happen.”
Mitzi McFatrich, who runs an advocacy group for nursing home residents called Kansas Advocates for Better Care, said something needs to happen soon.
Her group has documented instances of frail and elderly Kansans unable to find nursing facilities that will take them while their Medicaid applications are pending for months.
“It is inexcusable that the state hasn’t followed its own rules and federal law, and a sad commentary that someone from the federal government has to point that out,” McFatrich said. “We remain hopeful but skeptical until we see the State take action and clear the backlog.”
Andy Marso is a reporter for KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team. You can reach him on Twitter @andymarso
Sens. Moran, Gardner and Daines meet Feb. 29 with Joint Task Force Guantanamo Commander Rear Adm. Peter J. Clarke, and Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Jeffrey W. Burkett.
The headlines are hard to ignore: “Freed Guantanamo Bay Detainee Promotes Jihad in Somalia,” states a Feb. 26 ABC News report; “Several More Ex-Guantánamo Detainees Suspected of Militancy,” shouts a March 7 New York Times piece; and “Ex-Gitmo Detainees Returning to Terrorism Double Under Obama,” reads a March 8 article from The Hill.
Yet, for President Obama, these realities are simply an inconvenience. Shortly after taking office, he ordered the closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay (GITMO) within one year.
Now, more than seven years later, Republicans and Democrats, the American people and military leaders stand in staunch opposition to his proposal to close GITMO and move detainees to American soil. With threats from Iran, the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a resurgent Russia, the military build-up by China and an unpredictable North Korea, the president should focus on enhancing our national security and protecting the American people rather than putting time and attention toward closing GITMO.
Yet, the president’s desperate push continues as the administration releases GITMO detainees at a frightening rate – creating an unnecessary risk to America. In fact, just this week the Office of the Director of National Intelligence reported that nearly a third of detainees released from GITMO have re-engaged in terrorism. And, in just one year, 12 detainees released by the president have re-engaged with terror networks.
President Obama recently submitted a “plan” to Congress in a last-ditch effort to close GITMO. The flawed plan confirms what we already know: This administration is incapable of presenting a comprehensive, legally justifiable closure and relocation strategy that maintains the safety and security of Americans. The Secretary of Defense Department has confirmed it is against the law, and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has affirmed on multiple occasions that, “the law currently prohibits a transfer to U.S. soil.”
Unfortunately, the president’s track record of executive overreach shows he has little regard for the rule of law.
This is something that is of particular concern to Kansans, as one of the U.S. facilities being considered by the president to detain GITMO terrorist detainees is the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. Fort Leavenworth’s 14,000 soldiers and families and the greater Kansas City-region should not be forced to unfairly bear the burden and consequences that accompany detaining terrorists. Additionally, the critical mission of the Command and General Staff College in educating military members from ally nations across the world would be compromised. Foreign military partners will take into consideration the proximity of detainee terrorists whose allegiance to terror organizations brought devastation and terror to their home countries.
To confirm my belief that detainees should remain at GITMO, I led a congressional visit this month with Senators Cory Gardner of Colorado and Steve Daines of Montana. We spoke with military leaders including Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GITMO) Commander Rear Admiral Peter J. Clarke. His team oversees the detainees firsthand, and they provided unfiltered insights and details regarding their 24/7 mission.
The mission of JTF-GITMO is difficult as they safeguard our nation from those who wish to do us harm. However, the service members we met on the ground – including several Kansans – are fully committed to carrying out their duties. The facilities themselves are among the best in the world. They are secure, isolated and our military standing guard executes their responsibilities with the highest degree of professionalism.
As the United States continues to face threats of terrorism and conducts combat operations against ISIL, I believe captured militants should be held at Guantanamo Bay. I introduced a Senate Resolution this week with Sen. Daines and several of my Senate colleagues to push to have ISIL captives detained at GITMO. I also joined Sen. Roberts in introducing a Senate Resolution that once again reiterates Congress’ strong opposition to the administration’s unlawful plan to move detainees to the United States.
I remain committed to blocking the transfer of Guantanamo detainees anywhere in the United States, but especially to Fort Leavenworth. The president should shift his priorities to focus on threats to our nation across the globe, and away from fulfilling a flawed campaign promise.
The TMP Monarchs had three players selected to the All Mid-Continent League teams.
TMP seniors Jared Vitztum and Peyton Hoffman were selected to the first-team along with Hill City juniors Claibrone Kyles and Zech Wilson. Ellis’ Brendon Brenner was also selected to the first-team.
TMP had five players named to the 2015-16 All Mid-Continent League basketball teams.
The Hill City Ringnecks, regular season league champions and TMP each placed two players on the first-team. TMP was led on the first-team by sophomore Kayla Vitztum and junior Megan Koenigsman. Lexie McDowell, senior and sophomore Conner Keith were first-team selections for Hill City. Phillipsburg Senior Katelyn Swanson was also a first-team selection.
TMP’s Madyson Koerner was a second team selection and Melissa Pfeifer and Katelyn Zimmer were both honorable mention selections.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A quiet office in a Kansas City entertainment district offers a rare space for LGBTQ people to find help in times of crisis and several other social services.
The Kansas City Anti-Violence Project recently opened the only domestic violence and sexual assault services center for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. Advocates say such centers are helpful to populations who are still misunderstood.
From today forward anyone can drop in at our office without an appointment 10 am – 6 pm on weekdays! pic.twitter.com/nyc7Lke7ts
While the project does not provide overnight shelter for domestic violence victims, it will find hotels or other safe housing. It also provides a 24-hour crisis line and services such as clothing, food, job counseling and group meetings.
Executive Director Justin Shaw says project is a step forward in helping LGBTQ people but much more needs to be done.
TOPEKA – Lawmakers are discussing a state constitutional amendment to protect Kansans’ right to hunt, fish and trap wildlife, with the hope the issue can be put on the ballot in November.
The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee held a hearing Wednesday on House Concurrent Resolution 5008, which passed the House 117-7 on Feb. 22. If approved, the amendment would help ensure the protection of hunting, fishing, and trapping rights for generations to come, supporters say. The Committee Report recommended the resolution be adopted by Committee on Federal and State Affairs
The Kansas Bill of Rights currently states: “A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and state, for lawful hunting and recreational use, and for any other lawful purpose.”
The proposed amendment gives people the constitutional right to hunt, fish and trap “including by the use of traditional methods, subject to reasonable laws and regulations,” and it says that “public hunting and fishing shall be the preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.” The bill does not define traditional methods.
Travis Couture-Lovelady, state liaison for the National Rifle Association (NRA), says the bill would ensure future wildlife conservation and management decisions are based on scientific research in order to preserve Kansas’ hunting heritage.
“I don’t care about tomorrow. I want to do things for the benefit of Kansans 50 and 100 years from now, and I think that is what this (amendment) will do,” said Christopher J. Tymeson, the chief legal counsel for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
Currently, 19 states have adopted some form of hunting, fishing and trapping rights, the National Conference on State Legislatures (NCSL) reports. Proponents of such amendments believe they are necessary because of “increasing urbanization, decreased habitat, declining numbers of sportsmen, and more restrictions on hunting,” NCSL reported.
States that have not adopted constitutional protection for hunting are beginning to see the negative effects, supporters said.
Couture-Lovelady explained that he works with Colorado government leaders who wish the state had put similar provisions in its constitution before the state became urbanized. This urban population doesn’t understand or value hunting traditions, he said, and a recent surge in wildlife population is causing Colorado legislators to revisit current trapping bans.
However, Tymeson told legislators a constitutional amendment may face opposition.
“There is a potential that this issue could serve as a rallying cry for anti-hunting, fishing, and trapping groups, where none currently exist in Kansas,” Tymeson said.
He also warned that opposition might come from individuals who view this as a firearms issue.
Rep. Sydney Carlin, D-Manhattan, who voted in opposition of the bill on Feb. 22, said it is rare for a constitutional amendment to pass, mainly because it’s costly. She says she doesn’t understand the purpose of the bill since Kansans already have the right to hunt and fish.
“I just didn’t think it raised itself to the level of necessary constitutional change,” Carlin said.
Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, D-Wichita, has raised concerns about how the amendment would be placed on the ballot.
“It’s a presidential election (year), and you’re going to have a lot of names on that ballot, and we have talked about voters having fatigue voting where they don’t go all the way down (on the ballot),” Faust-Goudeau said.
She feels it is important to include the necessary critical language but that “less is best” in this case.
Secretary of State Kris Kobach estimates that HCR 5008 would require approximately $30,000 from the state’s general fund. Additionally, counties would be required to spend a total of $76,000 for ballot programming costs.
The bill will move to the full Senate and must pass by a two-thirds majority vote. If approved by the legislature, the amendment would be placed on the Nov. 8 ballot for approval by voters.
HOYT, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man and woman are charged after authorities say sheriff’s deputies found a 1-year-old baby and an improvised explosive device in a stolen van.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Jackson County authorities arrested 34-year-old Christopher Dollen of Valley Falls and 28-year-old Cassandra Reveles of Denison on Friday.
Sheriff Tim Morse says deputies made the arrests after responding to a report Friday night of a suspicious vehicle parked near a pasture in Hoyt.
Reveles- photo Jackson Co. Sheriff
Morse says authorities found the baby, the explosive device, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the van, which had been reported stolen in Shawnee County.
Dollen and Reveles are charged with various felonies including drug counts, child endangerment and trespassing. It’s unclear if they have attorneys.
SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Shawnee County are investigating a fatality accident involving 6 vehicles.
Just before 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, police responded to report of a collision involving a Capital City Cab and a Nissan Altima at 5322 Southwest 22nd Place in Topeka, according to a media release from police.
The male driver of the Altima and a female passenger drove away before officers arrived. As they drove away, the Nissan hit two parked vehicles, according to police. The driver of the cab was transported to a local hospital.
Just before 10:40 p.m. officer received another report that the Nissan had been involved in another collision on Southwest 6th between Fairlawn and Gage.
The driver of the other vehicle followed the Nissan and relayed information on the direction of travel to police.
The Nissan hit a fourth vehicle at 6th Street and MacVicar and a 5th vehicle, a Chevy Trailblazer, at 29th and Topeka Boulevard.
The driver of the Nissan was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman driver of the Trailblazer was also transported for treatment.
Names of the victims have not been released as the investigation continues, according to police.
