WICHITA- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump brought his campaign to Wichita on Saturday.

A large crowd gathered outside Century II Auditorium, site of the Sedgwick County caucus, early Saturday morning. The event started at 9 a.m.

Trump was originally scheduled to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland Saturday alongside fellow candidate Marco Rubio, but canceled on Friday with the announcement of plans for the Kansas rally instead.

 

By MEGAN HART

Sheryl Crosier only found out after her infant son had died that he had a “do not resuscitate” order — a measure she said she and her husband never would have agreed to. Crosier, who is from the St. Louis area, spoke Thursday to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee in support of Senate Bill 437, also known as Simon’s Law.

It would forbid health care facilities or providers from withholding “life-sustaining procedures, food, medication or nutrition” from any patient younger than 18 without written permission from one of the patient’s parents or a legal guardian.

“When Simon’s oxygen levels began to fall, we were told it was the end and we could do nothing,” she said. “If somebody in this audience was struggling to breathe, how many of you would stand here and do nothing?”

A similar bill was introduced in Missouri but has yet to receive a hearing.

Crosier said she and her husband wanted to do everything medically possible for their son Simon, who was born in September 2010 and diagnosed with Trisomy 18 after three days.

Trisomy 18 often causes problems with the heart and other organs, as well as developmental delays, though the effects can vary widely. According to the Trisomy 18 Foundation, about 10 percent of children with the condition survive their first year of life. Some live into adulthood, however.

After Simon was diagnosed, the hospital turned off his heart monitor and only provided “comfort feedings”— minimal nutrition typically used with dementia patients — which the Crosiers didn’t find out about until after his death. “Someone decided our son’s life didn’t have any value,” she said.

The one-page bill would require doctors and facilities to provide patients with a copy of any policies they have regarding life-sustaining treatment or treatments not deemed to be beneficial.

A physician also couldn’t institute a do-not-resuscitate order without permission from at least one of the patient’s parents or a guardian.

Kathy Ostrowski, legislative director of Kansans for Life, testified in favor of the bill but suggested some amendments. The amended language would allow providers to withhold treatments if “reasonable medical judgment” dictated withholding the treatment wouldn’t hasten the patient’s death or if providing the treatment would create a greater risk to the patient than withholding it.

Ostrowski said children with disabilities were more likely to be denied medical interventions, even if their parents wanted them, and the bill would prevent doctors from making “value judgments” about treatment. No one testified in opposition to the bill.

The American Medical Association’s Code of Ethics says that physicians should consult with the patient, or his or her representative, before making decisions regarding life-sustaining treatment.

Megan Hart is a reporter for KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team. You can reach her on Twitter @meganhartMC

RENO COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities in Reno County are investigating a school bus accident.

Reno County Sheriff’s Department reported a 2005 GMC pickup driven by Shelby Spence, 57, Hutchinson, was eastbound on 6th Avenue just after 7:15 a.m. on Friday.

The pickup rear-ended a Nickerson School District Bus driven by Elizabeth Martin, 56, Hutchinson, with 23 children on board.

The bus was stopped with all lights and warning lights on and signs out after picking up a student at 6th Avenue and Town and Country.

No injuries were reported. USD 309 was already in the process of informing the parents of the students on board when deputies arrived.

Spence was cited for following too closely, according to Deputy David Radke.

Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the Reno County Sheriff’s office.

By: Carter Moelk

KU Statehouse News Service

GOP Leaders Expect Large Turnout at Saturday’s Caucus

The Kansas Republic caucuses will be held in at these locations.

Democrats will find polling places here.

RELATED: Details on Hays-area caucuses.

The Kansas Republican Party is preparing for a larger-than-usual turnout at the state’s GOP presidential caucus Saturday.

“We’ve already had to double the normal amount of ballots to around 60,000,” said Clayton Barker, Kansas GOP executive director. “We’re even making more (ballots) in case more people decide to attend.”

The increased number of attendees means more education is necessary to explain the process to voters, Barker said.

“We’re trying to combat the low knowledge about how the system works,” he said.

Barker explained that a caucus is a meeting where all registered Kansas Republicans can discuss and vote on which candidate they believe should be the party’s nominee for president.

After voting has occurred, the 40 delegates and 37 alternative delegates allotted to Kansas by the National Republican Convention are divided among the candidates.

“Kansas proportionally allocates our delegates, instead of using a winner- take-all system,” Barker said. “This gives candidates a more accurate delegate representation.”

The Republican nominee needs a total of 1,237 delegates to secure the party’s nomination and face the Democratic challenger in the November election.

What many people don’t know is that any eligible citizen can, and is encouraged to, participate in the caucus.

Shelby Clothier, a University of Kansas student and registered Republican from Wichita, said she plans to vote in the caucus, and she’s pleased the GOP is working to keep voters informed.

“You have to go out and seek the knowledge to know how a caucus or a voting system works,” she said. “I’m happy to see the Kansas GOP is taking that initiative to help.”

For Clothier and other Kansans participating the caucuses, the stakes are high.

“Caucuses are hugely important,” she said. “You’re literally deciding the candidate who is going to potentially change you and your children’s futures.”

Barker agreed.

“Because the turnout at caucuses is smaller than a national vote, every individual has a higher effect,” he said.

Barker said that college students need to know that they can participate in the caucuses near their university campuses, even if they originally registered in a different county.

“It makes it easier for college kids who’ve traveled across the state to participate,” he said.

For Clothier, this makes all the difference.

“I really want to participate,” she said. “And instead of having to drive around three hours home, I can just drive five minutes to the Lawrence location.”

 

Marco Rubio was in Topeka on Friday and was  planning to stop in Wichita. GOP front-runner Donald Trump is also planning a Saturday stop in Wichita.

Cruz was in Overland Park Wednesday for a campaign rally at Johnson County Community College.

Caucuses are March 5 in 126 counties throughout the state from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Kansas Republic caucuses will be held in at these locations.

Or call party headquarters at (785) 234-3456.

 

Edited by Maddy Mikinski

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 ½ years in prison for the killing of his girlfriend in the parking lot of a home improvement store in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Kansas City Star reports that George Lingenfelser of Bonner Springs was sentenced Thursday. He was convicted of second-degree murder in the December 2014 killing of 29-year-old Janet Billings.

Lingenfelser was originally charged with first-degree murder for shooting Billings in the parking lot of a Lowe’s Home Improvement store.