TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are unlikely to advance a bill to toughen the punishment for hate crimes two weeks after a gunman killed a man and wounded two more in an Olathe shooting that may have been racially-motivated.
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony Wednesday. The bill would double the sentences for hate crimes and require the state attorney general’s office to collect data on them.
The hearing comes two weeks after one man from India was killed and another injured in a shooting the FBI is investigating as a possible hate crime.
The hearing was scheduled before the shooting happened. A third man was also injured when he intervened. Adam Purinton is jailed on murder and attempted murder charges in the case.
The proposed hate crimes law isn’t new but sponsor Sen. David Haley says Kansas is being portrayed as intolerant since the shooting.
BROWN COUNTY -A Kansas man was sentenced this week for the serious beating of a two-year-old child.
Frank Lee Rodriguez, 25, Hiawatha, was found guilty after a bench trial in January.
On Monday a Brown County judge ordered Rodriguez to serve 52 months for aggravated battery, and an additional 34 months for felony abuse of a child, for a total sentence of more than seven years, according to the county attorney’s office.
Rodriguez originally denied hitting the child. He ultimately told Hiawatha police he got upset when the girl was not eating. He said he slammed her onto the floor and punched her in the head.
The child sustained severe head injuries in the beating on August 26, 2016.
A large crowd attended a busy Lawrence city commission meeting on Tuesday
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Lawrence will officially be a welcoming city for immigrants but the city commission stopped short of using the term sanctuary city.
The commission on Tuesday approved a proclamation that Lawrence is an inclusive community that values immigrants.
The proclamation also says the safety of all people should be protected.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports commissioners said the term “sanctuary city” wasn’t used because of executive orders from President Donald Trump and potential state
legislation that could threaten millions of dollars of federal and state funding if Lawrence declared itself a sanctuary city.
Commissioners also approved five other recommendations, including authorizing staff to write letters of opposition to the pending state legislation, discussing the city’s position with interested agencies and co-sponsoring a presentation on immigration law with the University of Kansas.
ELLIS COUNTY–The wildfire in northeast Ellis County is finally extinguished.
According to a news release from Ellis County, the fire was “100 percent contained as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday with no spot fires at this time. Three brush trucks and one water tanker are remaining on scene for the next few hours to ensure no additional re-ignition.”
According to Ellis Co. Director of Fire and Emergency Management Darin Myers the cause of the fire appears to be accidental.
“This appears to be an accidental fire. A disconnect failed on a lightning arrester at an oil lease site. The disconnect shorted out, started to spark and started nearby grass on fire,” Myers said in the release.
The mile-wide fire started started in the 2500 block of Codell Ave. about mid-afternoon Tuesday and moved east eight miles through Ellis County and into Russell County. Myers said it was 80 to 90 percent contained as of 8 a.m. this morning.
No damage to buildings or injuries were reported.
Ellis County EMS and Public Works were also on the scene assisted by units from Russell County.
Wednesday was the third consecutive day of wildfires in Ellis County with emergency personnel battling shifting winds with gusts of more than 45 mph and extremely low humidity.
In a news conference based on the theme of “every gift matters,” the Fort Hays State University Foundation announced today that gifts to the university have passed $52 million so far in the $100 million Journey Campaign, the largest ever in the university’s history.
Steve Shields, co-chair of the campaign, made the announcement. He built on the themes introduced by a 90-second video and by Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation. Those themes were of community and giving, and the importance of small gifts as well as large.
Fort Hays State, said Shields, has a rich history of “not only educating but forming character and instilling in people a sense of purpose.”
“Campaigns like this are what we are made of,” he said. “They are what separate us, they are what lift us up to continue making a deeper, richer world.”
Williby, in his introduction, said he wanted to emphasize two numbers before Shields announced the dollar total. Those numbers are 17,000 donors and 50,000 individual gifts that make up the total so far. Only a few of those are the million-dollar gifts that gain the most attention.
Shields made the point that “you don’t have to have a lot of money to be able to help build,” and that much of the total so far comes from $100 gifts. The small gifts are also important, he said, in teaching people to give, both as students and as young people just starting out in their careers.
“So together,” he concluded, “we are all one body of philanthropy, and I am so excited and pleased and proud to announce that we have now officially passed the halfway mark, and in this $100 million campaign as of this morning we are at $52 million.”
He finished with thanks to the audience of about 70 people on behalf of the Foundation and the university for the $52 million given so far, ending, “and we’ve got 48 more to go.”
The next speaker was an example of young professionals giving back. Dr. Cole Engel, an assistant professor of economics, finance and accounting at FHSU, graduated from Fort Hays State in 2007 with two undergraduate degrees and again in 2009 with a graduate degree.
“During my seven years as a student here,” said Engel, “I benefited greatly from the time, the talent and the treasure that was invested in me by the faculty, the staff, the alumni and the friends of our university. So in December of 2014, near the conclusion of FHSU’s Power of One Scholarship campaign, I decided it was time to say thank you, by paying it forward.”
That was when he created the first of his two $1,000 annual accounting scholarships. Later, after earning his doctorate, and to recognize and honor all the help he received in that “journey,” he said it was time to “pay it forward one more time” and he created the second scholarship.
Melanie Arellano-Luna, a Kansas City junior majoring in social work, gave her thanks for the support she has received in her three years at Fort Hays State. Coming to live in Hays, four hours away from home, was difficult, she said, but “Fort Hays State made sure to welcome me with open arms.”
Scholarships allow her to concentrate on her education and on the professional and service activities that are preparing her for her career. “With the scholarship support I have received from Fort Hays State University, I don’t have to worry about working more and more hours every week.”
Dr. Andy Tompkins, interim president at FHSU, reiterated the morning’s theme.
“Obviously the message today is, ‘Every gift matters,’ and you’ve heard that several times,” he said, “and I think that’s a wonderful message when you’re in a campaign like this.”
In the three months he has been at FHSU, said President Tompkins, he has learned that this university “is a special place.”
“It’s one that values students and their success. It’s one where the skill and expertise of the faculty and staff is greatly admired and lifted up. It’s a place that feels a special bond with its community and region, and it’s a place where great alumni and friends want to see their university thrive.”
He could not be in a better place, he said.
“So,” he concluded, “my thanks to each one of you, to those today who have given us a nice message about the importance of this campaign and for your continued support for the university. Thank you very much.”
For more information on the FHSU Foundation and how to join the Kelloggs in supporting your Fort Hays State, visit https://foundation.fhsu.edu, call (785) 628-5620 or email [email protected].
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on wildfires burning in Kansas.
4:15 p.m.
A massive grass fire raging in two Kansas counties has set a state record for the biggest involving a single blaze.
Kansas Division of Emergency Management spokeswoman Katie Horner says an estimated 861 square miles of land have been blackened in Comanche and Clark counties as of Wednesday. The 625 square miles charred in Clark County is about 85 percent of that county’s land.
Horner says the previous record came last year, with the Anderson Creek fire consuming 488 square miles of land in Barber and Comanche counties.
Horner says that since Saturday, large grassfires have been reported in 23 Kansas counties, consuming more than 1,000 square miles.
———
TOPEKA -More than 659,000 acres in the state have burned so far during the course of multiple wildfires that have plagued Kansas since March 4, causing one death and destroying numerous homes and other buildings.
Clark and Comanche Counties have been the hardest hit, with estimated 351,000 acres and 151,000 acres affected, respectively, according to The Kansas Division of Emergency Management news release. Complete damage estimates may take several weeks.
In addition to property destruction, the fires have killed an unknown number of livestock in several counties. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Waste Management is providing guidance to livestock owners for the disposal of dead animals. For information, go to the KDHE website (kdheks.gov/waste/p_techguides.html) or call Ken Powell (785) 296-1121.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management urges anyone wishing to contribute to ongoing disaster relief efforts to donate cash to disaster relief organizations rather than donating goods. KDEM recommends Kansans donating to reputable disaster relief organizations of their choice or local organizations within the affected communities.
The State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka will remain staffed 24/7 until further notice. State agencies supporting the emergency response operations include the Kansas Division of Emergency Management; Kansas National Guard; Kansas Department of Agriculture; Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Kansas Department of Transportation; Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism; Kansas Forest Service; Kansas Highway Patrol; State Fire Marshal; and Department for Children and Families. The American Red Cross and Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters are also providing support to fire victims and first responders.
Currently, there are still active fires in Clark, Comanche, Ellis, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Reno, Rooks, and Russell Counties. Regional coordinators and emergency operations support teams have been dispatched by the Kansas Division of Emergency Management to Clark, Comanche, Reno and Rooks Counties. Local fire departments and mutual aid are assisting with fire suppression across the state.
The Kansas National Guard has deployed four UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with collapsible 660-gallon water buckets to Reno County assisting with fire suppression. Two Army Reserve Chinook helicopters from Gardner are in Clark County for fire suppression. Two Black Hawks were assigned to Clark County, but have been diverted to Comanche County to assist with fire suppression there.
Sprinklers saved this Kansas home. photos Kansas National Guard
Federal Fire Management Assistance Grants have been approved for fires in Clark, Comanche, Ford complex, Highland Area (Reno, Rice and McPherson); Ness, Rooks, and the Wilson Lake complex of Russell, Ellsworth and Lincoln. Additional requests may be made as the current emergencies continue.
FMAG grants are available to states, local and tribal governments, for the mitigation, management, and control of fires on publicly or privately owned forests or grasslands, which threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. The program provides a 75 percent federal cost share.
The National Forestry Service deployed a support service incident management team from South Dakota to support the local incident management team in Reno County.
The Federal Air Administration closed the airspace to all nonemergency air traffic, including drones, in a 10-mile radius encompassing most of Hutchinson and the area north of the city. Airspace closures have also been instituted for areas in Clark, Comanche and Rooks Counties. The closures were established to allow Kansas National Guard Black Hawk helicopters to safely conduct water drop operations in support of ground firefighting efforts.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management deployed their Communications on Wheels vehicles to Reno and Clark Counties to assist with communication with area residents. KDEM’s Geospatial Information System vehicle was sent to Reno County to provide mapping support for the local incident commander in Hutchinson. KDEM is also providing GIS support to Clark County.
Three shelters remain open: one in Ashland for first responders, one in Hutchinson, and one on stand-by in Coldwater.
There were multiple road closures and openings due to the fires. Current information is available from the Kansas Department of Transportation by calling 5-1-1 or visiting the Kandrive website at kandrive.org.
——–
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on wildfires burning in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado (all times local):
New estimates indicate Kansas wildfires have burned more than 1,000 square miles, up from 625 square miles.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management said late Tuesday that the heaviest damage is in Clark County, where 548 square miles have burned. That fire started in Oklahoma before moving into the Kansas ranching community.
Another 235 square miles have burned in neighboring Comanche County, Kansas.
The state says six other counties are battling blazes. Among them, estimates of the burned land range from a single square mile to about 90.
Kansas National Guard Black Hawk helicopters have been assisting with the firefight. They dropped about 138,000 gallons on fires near Hutchinson in Reno County, where 10,000 to 12,000 people voluntarily evacuated their homes.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management continues to coordinate the state’s response to the multiple wildfires that have cropped up across the state due to dry and windy conditions.
According to a media release form the Kansas Adjutant General, the counties of Clark, Comanche, Ellsworth, Hodgeman, Lincoln, Reno, Rooks and Russell continue to battle active fires. Additional damage assessments will be completed when crews can enter restricted areas.
The Federal Air Administration has closed the airspace to all nonemergency air traffic, including drones, in a 10-mile radius encompassing most of Hutchinson and the area north of the city. The airspace was closed to allow Kansas National Guard Black Hawk helicopters to safely conduct water drop operations in support of ground firefighting efforts.
The four Kansas Army National Guard Black Hawks that assisted with firefighting operations today dropped 230 buckets which is approximately 138,000 gallons of water in Reno County.
Fires in Clark County have scorched more than 351,000 acres of land. On Wednesday, March 8 two U.S. Army Reserve Chinook helicopters from Gardner will partner with two Kansas Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopters out of Salina and two Forest Service fixed-wing aircraft in firefighting operations in Clark County. Chinooks are larger than Black Hawk helicopters and can drop approximately 2,000 gallons of water per run.
Officials estimate approximately 656,420 acres have burned across the state. Estimated totals by county are: Wilson Lake Complex 28,600 acres; Reno County 7,200 acres; Clark County 351,000 acres; Ford Complex 700 acres; Rooks County 5,000 acres; Ness County 3,000 acres; Lane County 57,000 acres; Lincoln 49,920 acres, Ellis County 3,000 acres, and Comanche County 151,000 acres.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management has deployed their Communications on Wheels vehicles to Reno and Clark Counties to assist with communication with area residents. Reno County has also requested the Geospatial Information System vehicle to provide mapping support for the local incident commander in Hutchinson.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management is urging anyone wishing to contribute to disaster relief efforts ongoing in Kansas to donate cash to disaster relief organizations rather than donating goods. KDEM recommends Kansans consider donating to reputable disaster relief organizations of their choice or local organizations within the affected communities.
FEMA has approved Federal Fire Management Assistance Grants for fires in Clark, Comanche, Ellsworth, Ford, Lincoln, Ness, Rooks, and Russell Counties. Additional requests may be made as the current emergencies continue.
FMAG grants are available to states, local and tribal governments, for the mitigation, management, and control of fires on publicly or privately owned forests or grasslands, which threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. The program provides a 75 percent federal cost share and the state pays the remaining 25 percent for actual costs.
KDEM has received additional firefighting resources from other states through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and from the National Forestry Service.
The American Red Cross opened shelters for displaced residents in Coldwater and Dodge City. Current plans call for those shelters to shut down today. The shelter at the Kansas State Fairgrounds, 2000 N Poplar Street, in Hutchinson will remain open until further notice. An additional shelter has been opened at the Ashland High School, 311 J.E. Humphreys Street. The shelter can house up to 75 residents.
A shelter also was opened in Jetmore at the 4-H Building on the Hodgeman County Fairgrounds.
There were multiple road closures and openings due to the fires. Current information is available from the Kansas Department of Transportation by calling 5-1-1 or visiting the Kandrive website at kandrive.org.
Marilyn Jane (Krug) McEvoy, 76, of Russell, Kansas, was called to be with her Lord on Monday, March 6, 2017. She was residing at the Via Christi Village in Hays, Kansas.
Marilyn was born January 28, 1941 in Hays, Kansas. She was one of six children born to Herman A. and Esther (Bitter) Krug. She grew up in the Russell area and graduated from Russell High School.
Marilyn met, fell in love, and was united in marriage to Gary D. McEvoy on October 8, 1961 in Russell. This union was blessed with three daughters; Lisa, Michele and Tammy. They also were foster parents to Brenda and Laurie. They made their home in Russell before moving to Salina. Then in 1972, they returned to Russell.
Marilyn was a secretary and bookkeeper for many business including; M&M Drive In, Home State Bank, Louie Mai Oil, Graves Truck line and McEvoy’s Furniture and Carpet. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and the Bethany Lutheran Church in Overland Park, Kansas. She also belonged to the Russell V.F.W. Post 6240 Ladies Auxiliary and the American Legion Post 99 Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed typing, playing the piano, playing cards, attending church, camping, boating, watching game shows, attending live music concerts and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a strong willed lady with a firm faith base that battled M.S. for over 45 years.
Surviving family include her husband of 55 years, Gary of the home; three daughters, Lisa R. McEvoy and Michele J. McEvoy both of Olathe, Kansas, and Tammy S. Weigel (Joe) of Russell, Kansas; foster daughters, Brenda Smith of Hays, Kansas and Laurie Smith of Salina, Kansas; two brothers, Don Krug (Sandy) and Monte Krug (Connie) both of Russell, Kansas; three sisters, Joetta Hartman (Eldon) of Creighton, Nebraska, Norma Branch (LeRoy) of Mesa, Arizona and Lois Davis (Jim) of Olathe, Kansas; four grandchildren, five foster grandchildren, one great granddaughter and eleven foster great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Celebration of Marilyn’s Life will be held at 10:30 am Friday, March 10, 2017 at St. John Lutheran Church of Russell. Burial will follow at the St. John Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from Noon to 8:00 pm Thursday, March 9, 2017 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be given to St. John Lutheran Church or Bethany Lutheran Church. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
Gertrude Louise Flegler, 84, of WaKeeney, Kansas, and formerly of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, March 08, 2017, at the Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney.
Gertrude was born on March 29, 1932, in Madison, Kansas, the daughter of Robert L. and Helen O. (McDowell) Madden. She grew up in Madison and Russell, Kansas, and graduated from Russell High School. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Clarence V. Flegler on January 28, 1951, in Russell, Kansas. From this union they were blessed with a son Bob and daughter Mitzi. She worked for the Russell High School in the kitchen as a cook manger for many years. She was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell. She enjoyed walking, gardening, cooking and being a care giver. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Surviving family include her daughter Mitzi Harrison of WaKeeney, Kansas, 4 grandchildren Sarah Shepard, Ben Flegler (Nicole), Rachel Moore (Chuck) and Paige Putnam and 6 great grandchildren Connor, Cobie, Trevor and Ty Flegler, Noah and Sophia Shepard.
She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence on February 13, 2006, son Bob Flegler, two brothers Bob and Phillip Madden and infant daughter Nancy Jo Flegler.
A celebration of Gertrude’s life will be held at 2:30 P.M. on Friday, March 10, 2017, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Jim Alexander officiating. Burial will follow at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Bender Hill, Kansas. Viewing will be from 9 A.M. to service time on Friday, March 10th, at the mortuary. Family will greet guest before and after the funeral service.
Memorials may be given to the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary and can be sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita car dealer will pay restitution after the engine in a car he sold failed 25 miles from the dealership.
The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office said in a news release Wednesday that Jones & Co. Auto Group entered a consent judgment with his office.
Spokesman Dan Dillon says the auto dealer will pay about $6,300 in restitution to the customer, civil penalties, expenses and court costs.
The office says the vehicle fell below legal standards and selling it was “unconscionable acts and practices” involving car sales.
In Kansas, automobile suppliers are prohibited from selling cars “as is,” and must disclose specific defects to consumers.
Under the consent judgment filed March 1, Jones & Co. Auto Group agreed to refrain from the deceptive or unconscionable practices.
TOPEKA –The Kansas Lottery is looking to implement lottery ticket vending machines at lottery retail locations such as grocery and convenience stores.
Proponents of the machines testified at the hearing of HB2313 in the Kansas House’s State and Federal Affairs committee meeting Tuesday morning, explaining that the machines could bring an estimated $8 to $10 million to the state’s General Fund.
Representing the Kansas Lottery, Deputy Executive Director Sherriene Jones-Sontag said that retailers would greatly benefit from these machines.
“They want a better way to track inventory, help reduce labor costs and also to help reduce customer wait times,” Jones-Sontag said.
According to the Kansas Lottery, the electronic dispensers are also projected to increase lottery sales by $25 to 30 million annually, and increase retailer commissions by $1.3 to 1.5 annually.
Of the states with lottery systems, 38 out of 44 already have electronic dispensers, including Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado. Retailers who have locations in other states report a 30 to 50 percent increase in lottery sales and 50 percent cut in lottery labor costs.
Hy-Vee’s Director of State Government Relations Dick Stoffer testified in favor of the bill, explaining the success the machines have had in other states.
“The electronic dispensers would give our customers another purchase point alternative,” Stoffer said in written testimony.
Representatives on the committee had concerns with the accessibility minors would have to the machines. Rep. Eric Smith (R- Burlington) said that minors participating in the lottery is illegal, and said should be treated accordingly.
“If this was a beer machine, would we be more concerned about it?” Smith said.
Jones-Sontag explained the machines would be required to be in a line-of-sight of the clerk, and would come with a fob that clerks can use to shut the machine down if a minor is seen trying to purchase lottery tickets. Although there is no data, she said that minors are not interested in purchasing lottery tickets.
No opponents testified against the bill. Further discussion on the bill has not been scheduled.
Mallory Houser is a University of Kansas junior journalism major from Dallas.
Flood safety awareness activities in Kansas should include knowing basic insurance needs.
All homeowners and property insurance policies exclude damage from flood or rising water.
However, Kansans can purchase flood insurance through the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
The Kansas Insurance Department does not regulate the federal NFIP program, but the department’s Consumer Assistance Division representatives can answer basic flood insurance questions.
To obtain a flood brochure listing insurance companies that offer policies, contact the NFIP toll-free at 888-379-9531 or go to www.floodsmart.gov.
If a person’s home is located in a floodplain, that home’s lender will require flood insurance.
Gertrude Louise Flegler, 84, of WaKeeney, Kansas, and formerly of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, March 08, 2017, at the Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney.
