HUTCHINSON – A Kansas man was taken to jail on Wednesday after police responded to a grocery store after report of a person shoplifting.
When police made contact with William Meyers III, 27, Hutchinson, they discovered that he had what they believe was in possession of a distribution amount of marijuana as well as methamphetamine and related drug paraphernalia.
He is alleged to have stolen a bottle of water from the store.
When police attempted to arrest him for shoplifting he allegedly tried to run from officers, but was quickly apprehended.
He then pulled a black case from his pants and threw it.
Inside the bag, officers reported they found five small baggies of suspected marijuana, as well as another bag they believe was methamphetamine.
Myers is being on suspicion of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony interference with law enforcement and a misdemeanor count of theft.
In court Thursday, Myers alleges that officers used unreasonable force when they apprehended him.
TOPEKA–Old Man Winter may be heading for the door – although he may decide to hang around for a while longer; after all, this is Kansas. But even when he is gone, Kansans will still have to contend with Mother Nature and her annual “In like a lion” arrival that heralds severe weather season, bringing with it the potential for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, high winds, hail, and flooding.
To remind Kansans to be prepared, Gov. Sam Brownback has signed a proclamation designating March 14-18 as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Kansas.
During the week, the Kansas Division of Emergency Management will urge Kansans to check their emergency kit supplies for their home, office and vehicle, and review their emergency plans to make sure they are prepared for whatever severe weather is thrown our way.
“It doesn’t take a lot of time or a lot of money to ensure you and your family are prepared,” said Angee Morgan, KDEM deputy director. “If you don’t already have an emergency kit, start now by buying a few extra batteries and high-energy snacks during your weekly shopping. Throw a change of clothes, an old pair of glasses and a pair of shoes in your kit.
“Check your first aid kit and make sure it’s complete and up-to-date,” said Morgan. “Doing a little bit each week makes it easier to prepare for unexpected events, particularly when you get the entire family involved in gathering the supplies and making an emergency plan.
“If you don’t have a specially-constructed storm shelter or a basement, do you know where the safest place in your home is? Do you know how to safely shut off the gas or electricity? If you become separated, do you have a meeting area? How will you communicate with family members who may not be at home when a disaster hits or your loved ones who will be wondering about your safety? These are the things you will need to think about when making your plan.”
Morgan said more information on emergency preparedness and building an emergency kit can be found online at www.ksready.gov.
Kansans are also urged to take part in the statewide tornado safety drill Tuesday, March 15, at 6:30 p.m. across most of the state. If severe weather is imminent for a community, the tornado drill will be cancelled for that community.
According to the National Weather Service, the first tornado of 2015 occurred April 2 in Labette County and the last tornado was on Nov. 16. Last year, there were 33 days with more than one tornado reported. The most tornadoes reported in one day was 22.
In all, there were 126 confirmed tornadoes in the state last year, 85 more than hit the state in 2014. On average, Kansas experiences 96 tornadoes a year.
Two of the elephants that made the journey.- courtesy photo
WICHITA -With all the activity involved in transporting the new elephants to the Sedgwick County Zoo on Friday, the Sheriff’s Department, who helped escort the elephants into town, shared the Omaha Zoo’s statement on why these elephants had to be rescued and relocated.
Seventeen African elephants were en route from drought-stricken Swaziland to the United States as part of an ongoing rescue mission to provide safe haven and a more secure future at three accredited zoos in Wichita, Omaha, and Dallas
“The elephants are doing well, and we’ve just received word from the veterinarians with them on the flight that they are eating, drinking and resting,” said Dennis Pate, executive director and CEO of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. “We are ready to welcome them to their new homes.”
Relocating elephants from Swaziland is an extremely complex logistical process undertaken with great care and attention to detail. No aspect of the process can be rushed. The three partner zoos and wildlife officials in Swaziland have been carefully planning for months and have been coordinating details since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the permit to move these animals. The intricacy of such a move has required coordination with multiple governmental agencies, all of whom have been kept apprised of plans along the way.
“There has been a lot of false, misleading information spread by activists about this rescue mission, but the permit to relocate these elephants is legal and was issued after an intense review and approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The zoos were legally entitled to transport the elephants, and we knew we needed to act without further delay because the situation in Swaziland is deteriorating,” said Gregg Hudson, president/CEO of the Dallas Zoo. “Here in Dallas, and in Omaha and Wichita as well, our communities can take pride in helping save these elephants from certain death and giving them a healthy future at our zoos.”
Elephants in the crates arrive in Wichita
The drought is causing one of the most significant health threats to the people and wildlife in the region, and Swaziland has declared a national state of emergency. The United Nations is providing food assistance to more than 200,000 people in the country.
Swaziland’s conservation management plan called for removal of 18 elephants from the parks to ease overpopulation of elephants and provide additional space and resources for critically endangered black rhinos.
The urgency of the situation increased in December when the three zoos were notified by wildlife managers in Swaziland of the death of one of those elephants that was awaiting relocation to the U.S. The death resulted from an acute gastrointestinal medical condition, which was impossible to treat. The zoos recognized it was their duty to act promptly on behalf of the remaining 17 elephants, by relocating them quickly so they could receive the veterinary care the zoos can provide. They are now en route to the U.S.
“In addition to the well-being of these elephants, we are resolute in our commitment to Swaziland’s conservation efforts, and are continuing to contribute funds for food being trucked in for the animals living in the national parks that desperately need it,” said Hudson. “We have a long-term commitment to the conservation of elephants and critically endangered rhinos in Africa that are facing extreme threats to their survival from poaching, drought, loss of habitat and human conflict. We are proud of our ongoing conservation partnership with the people of Swaziland.”
For more information about this relocation project and the drought conditions threatening Swaziland’s people and wildlife, please visit: www.RoomForRhinos.org.
MANHATTAN – Eagle Communications, based in Hays, is expanding the management team in the Junction City and Manhattan markets.
Just over four years ago, Eagle acquired radio stations KJCK, Power Hits 97.5, and KQLA Q Country 103.5. “This is such a dynamic growth market,” said Gary Shorman, President/CEO of Eagle Communications. “Building relationships with business and focusing on the specific needs of each market is critical to our success. Junction City continues to grow economically, due in part to their partnership with Fort Riley.”
Mark Ediger
Mark Ediger will become Market Manager of Eagle’s Junction City operation and focus on continuing to build relationships in that market.
Kansas State University, the advent of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility and other business opportunities have also helped Manhattan experience exciting growth. Scott
Scott Olesky
Olesky has been name Market Manager for Eagle properties in Manhattan.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be promoted to an Eagle General Manager. We have a dynamic team here in Manhattan and I look forward to the challenge of growing and expanding our presence,” said Olesky.
Olesky’s experience in sales management in Manhattan over the past three years will help him continue to connect with the community.
“Eagle’s success is based on taking care of the marketing needs of each business,” Ediger said. “With the changing dynamics in today’s marketplace, radio, digital, and video all-play an important role in building successful businesses.”
In addition to Eagle’s top radio stations in the market, the Google Partnership, JCPost, and LittleApplePost, allow business to also reach the digital marketplace.
Eagle Communications, Inc. is a Kansas-based Broadband Services and Media Company with over 290 employee-owners. The company operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri as well as cable TV systems in 60 Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado communities. The company also offers e-business solutions, web hosting, telephone service, high-speed Internet, and wireless Internet in most service areas.
Don’t forget to change your clocks. It’s time to spring into action: Daylight saving time is upon us.
Daylight Savings Time began last night/early this morning at 2am and clocks were set ahead one hour. Sunrise and sunset will now be about one hour later.
Beginning today, the sun will set later in the evening allowing people to enjoy more daylight during the upcoming spring and summer months.
It’s also a good time to put new batteries in smoke detectors and weather warning radios.
Poll results released Monday by the Kansas Hospital Association show a majority of Kansans continue to favor expanding Medicaid to cover more low-income adults. PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES
By JIM MCLEAN
Poll results released this month by the Kansas Hospital Association show a majority of Kansans continue to favor expanding Medicaid to cover more low-income adults.
The statewide poll conducted in mid-February found that 62 percent of Kansas voters supported expanding KanCare, the state’s privatized Medicaid program, to cover approximately 150,000 non-disabled adults earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, or $16,243 for an individual and $33,465 for a family of four in 2015.
Support increased to 76 percent when respondents were told that an expansion bill introduced by the hospital association was “budget neutral” and would provide coverage only to U.S. citizens who helped pay for their care.
“These are things that we’ve heard from the (Brownback) administration, from legislators and from Kansans that are really important,” said Cindy Samuelson, a KHA spokesperson.
The KHA bill, called The Bridge to a Healthy Kansas, was modeled after a so-called red state expansion plan implemented by Republican Gov. Mike Pence in Indiana.
The poll of 500 likely voters, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38 percent, found majority support for KanCare expansion among Republicans, Democrats and independent voters. When “base” Republicans were given a description of the KHA bill, 74 percent said they supported it.
Previous KHA polls also have found strong support for expansion . But public opinion on the issue hasn’t reduced opposition among Republican legislative leaders, who have expressed doubt that the federal government would cover no less than 90 percent of expansion costs as the ACA requires it to do.
More recently Gov. Sam Brownback and GOP leaders have said they don’t want to expand basic health coverage to non-disabled adults until all Kansans with developmental and physical disabilities are getting the support services they need. Currently, thousands are on waiting lists for such services.
Like other recent polls, the KHA survey found that a large majority of Kansans believe the state generally is headed in the wrong direction. When asked, “Would you say that things in Kansas are going in the right direction, or have they pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?” 67 percent answered “wrong track.” That’s up from 63 percent in the KHA poll conducted in April of last year.
Download the Kansas Statewide Survey Questions and Results
Several issues — from the state’s ongoing budget problems to its rejection of expansion — are combining to make Kansans pessimistic, Samuelson said.
“That could mean lots of different things, but we believe the fact that the state has not made a decision to try a Kansas solution for expanding the KanCare program is one of the factors,” she said.
No hearings have been held on the KHA expansion bill in the House or Senate and none are scheduled.
Jim McLean is executive editor of KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team.
KIOWA COUNTY – Two people were injured in an accident just after 9p.m. on Saturday in Kiowa County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Kenworth semi driven by Jeffery Allenn Fuhrmann, 28, Greensburg, was northbound on U.S. 183 just north of U.S. 54 and struck a black bull that was in the roadway.
The truck veered to the left, entered the left ditch and struck a tree. Both the tractor and trailer flipped end over end.
Fuhrmann and a passenger Riley Rosenburger, 7, Greensburg, were transported to the hospital in Greensburg.
They were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
TOPEKA–The Brookings Institution has released a report on six states—including Kansas—which evaluated the competitiveness of the health insurance marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Kansas was chosen for the study because it managed to attract four insurance companies in 2014 to compete in the marketplace, even though it is a mostly rural state.
The Kansas Health Institute (KHI) conducted the field research for the Kansas portion of the study, which included interviewing stakeholders involved in the ACA marketplace in Kansas, including health care providers, health insurance agents and former insurance regulators. KHI is a member of a network of health policy and public management experts coordinated by the Rockefeller Institute of Government and the Brookings Institution to study the ongoing implementation of the ACA at the state level. A previous report by KHI described the early implementation process in Kansas.
The report was requested by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The purpose of the study was to focus on states that had one or more potential indicators of “insufficient competition”—such as few insurers offering plans, low enrollment, high premiums, inadequately informed consumers or sparsely populated rural areas—and to understand how competition was working in these markets and what might make it work better.
Although the insurance markets vary among the six states (Alaska, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas), some common themes emerged, including:
Despite education and outreach efforts by insurance agents, navigators and health policy experts, many consumers lack a good understanding of health insurance and how plan provider networks and premiums are related to out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance.
The size of the population in a state’s insurance market is an important determinant of insurer participation.
The ability of insurers to negotiate favorable contracts with health care providers is key to their success and interest in participating in an insurance market.
Enrollment in marketplace plans is generally driven by low premiums, which has implications for consumers who purchase lower-cost plans that may not meet their health care or financial needs.
The report includes recommendations to improve competition, including:
Encourage insurers to co-brand and risk-share with established health care provider systems as a way to obtain price concessions for their marketplace plans.
Have navigator/assistor organizations provide culturally and linguistically sensitive, simple explanations of health insurance that also remind people of the need to have coverage to protect themselves and their families.
Stress the emphasis on available subsidies and rising penalties.
Provide larger fees or commissions for agents/brokers to motivate them to assist and enroll eligible participants through the marketplace.
The Kansas Health Institute delivers credible information and research enabling policy leaders to make informed health policy decisions that enhance their effectiveness as champions for a healthier Kansas. The Kansas Health Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan health policy and research organization based in Topeka, established in 1995 with a multi-year grant from the Kansas Health Foundation.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Fort Hays State couldn’t overcome a couple of cold shooting stretches and poor free throw shooting in the first half as they fall to Nebraska-Kearney 79-67 in the first round of the NCAA II Central Regional at the Sanford Pentagon. Connor Beranek scored 37 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead the Lopers (21-11) to the second round where they will face top-seed Augustana.
FHSU Post Game Press Conference
Game Highlights
Nebraska-Kearney used a 10-0 run midway through the first half to build a 10-point lead. A Kenny Enoch layup at the end of the first half pulled the Tigers (20-11) within six at halftime. UNK quickly pushed the lead to 12 early in the second half before the Tigers mounted an 11-2 run to pull within three with 9:45 to play. FHSU was within four with the ball with 6:40 to go but could get no closer. The Lopers responded with an 11-4 run to go up 11.
UNK hit 25-of-29 free throws including 16-for-16 in the second half. The Tigers went 15-of-25 from the line but were just 3-of-9 in the first half.
Craig Nicholson led Fort Hays State with 19 points while Jake Stoppel added 16 and Dom Samac 12 along with 12 rebounds.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A jury has convicted a 31-year-old man in the 2014 death of another man.
The Lawrence Journal World reports that Dustin Walker was found guilty Friday of first-degree felony murder in the March 2014 death of 39-year-old Patrick Roberts. It was Walker’s third trial in connection with Roberts’ death after two previous juries failed to reach decisions on the murder charge.
Walker was accused of breaking into Roberts’ duplex to steal marijuana and money. During the incident, police say, Walker shot and killed Roberts.
Another defendant, Archie Robinson, was found guilty earlier of first-degree murder and aggravated burglary in Roberts’ death. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 20 years.
DODGE CITY – For the third time in school history the Victoria Knights finished third at the state basketball tournament after beating Hanover 63-60 Saturday in Dodge City.
The Knights opened the game on a 7-2 run and built a seven point first quarter lead at 19-12 on three straight field goals by Joe Dortland. Victoria then used a 19-2 run to end the first quarter and into the second quarter to go up 38-16 late in the second quarter.
But Hanover would not go away. The Wildcats finished the first half on an 18-1 run and cut the halftime lead to 39-34 for the Knights.
The Wildcats got three straight field goals on the inside to take to start the fourth quarter and took their second lead of the game at 53-48. But the Knights answered right back with a 10-1 run to take the lead back and they would never trail the rest of the way in the 63-60 win.
Eric McAlonan finished with a new season-high 21 points. Joe Dortland finished with 19 and Taylor Corely added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Knights finished the year 15-10.
In the championship game Centralia used a 20-3 first half run to build a double-digit lead as they beat the Osborne Bulldogs 38-27 Saturday in Dodge City.
Osborne opened the game on a 5-2 run but Centralia finished the first quarter on a 9-1 run and extended it to 20-3 late in the first half as they took a 22-8 lead. Cullen Grabast was the only Bulldog in double-figures with 10 points and six rebounds.
The Bulldogs finish the year 20-7. It is the second time in school history they have finished second at the state tournament.
The two teams combined for 65 points a new 1A boys record for the fewest combined points scored in a championship game. The 38 points by Centralia also goes down as the lowest ever scored by the winning team in a 1A boys championship game.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL Class 6A Third Place
Lawrence 74, BV Northwest 66 Championship
SM North 80, Wichita Southeast 56
Class 5A Third Place
KC Washington 67, Highland Park 54 Championship
Mill Valley 87, Kapaun Mount Carmel 82
Class 4A Division I Third Place Andover Central 81, Paola 70 Championship Bishop Miege 69, McPherson 59
Class 4A Division II Third Place
Rock Creek 85, Girard 74 Championship
Wichita Collegiate 68, Hugoton 49
Class 3A Third Place
Southeast Saline 48, Garden Plain 44 Championship
Osage City 56, Sabetha 49
Class 2A Third Place
Central Plains 56, Hill City 25 Championship
Jackson Heights 68, Salina Sacred Heart 48
Class 1A Division I Third Place
Victoria 63, Hanover 60 Championship
Centralia 38, Osborne 27
Class 1A Division II Third Place
St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 56, Logan 40 Championship
Attica 54, Hartford 52
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Class 6A Third Place
Olathe East 56, Olathe South 44 Championship
Wichita South 36, SM Northwest 30
Class 5A Third Place
Wichita Bishop Carroll 45, Salina Central 44, OT Championship
St. Thomas Aquinas 39, Leavenworth 38
Class 4A Division Third Place
Wellington 65, Labette County 62 Championship
Bishop Miege 67, Paola 56
Class 4A Division II Third Place
Hugoton 61, Girard 59
Championship
Clay Center 56, Topeka Hayden 50
Class 3A Third Place
TMP-Marian 76, Sterling 70 Championship
Silver Lake 57, Sabetha 44
Class 2A Third Place
Valley Falls 54, Hill City 50 Championship
Central Plains 62, Olpe 51
Class 1A Division I Third Place
St. Paul 31, Hoxie 30 Championship
Centralia 54, Waverly 36
Class 1A Division II Third Place
Ingalls 64, Wetmore 51 Championship
Dighton 64, Axtell 56
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Devonte Graham matched a career-high with 27 points, Wayne Selden Jr. added 21 and top-ranked Kansas overcame a remarkable performance by West Virginia’s Devin Williams for an 81-71 victory over the ninth-ranked Mountaineers in the Big 12 Tournament title game Saturday night.
Perry Ellis added 17 points for the Jayhawks (30-4), who almost certainly locked up the No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament by winning their 10th Big 12 Tournament championship.
Kansas trailed the Mountaineers (26-8) at the break before taking control behind Graham, their sophomore guard. He hit five 3-pointers, was 10 of 10 from the foul line and had a career-high four steals, effortlessly dealing with West Virginia’s trademark pressure all night.
Williams finished with a career-best 31 points and 10 rebounds, but the junior forward was forced to carry the load by himself. Jevon Carter was held to four points after scoring 26 in a semifinal win over No. 6 Oklahoma, and leading scorer Jaysean Paige managed just six points while committing four turnovers.
Don’t forget to change your clocks. It’s time to spring into action: Daylight saving time is upon us.
By LISA JONES
BOYS’ BASKETBALL