Mike Cooper visits with the new Kansas Forest Service district forester, Jami Seirer.
Month: March 2017
American Royal barbecue will return to Kansas Speedway
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The American Royal Barbecue contest will return to the Kansas Speedway this year but it’s moving to an earlier date.
American Royal officials say the barbecue, which attracts more than 50,000 people, is scheduled for Labor Day weekend. It was held in October last year.
The national contest moved to the Speedway last year, where it had substantially more room than in previous venues.
The Kansas City Star reports organizers hope moving the contest to the holiday weekend will attract even more barbecue fans and cooks.
The agreement with the Speedway is for one year. American Royal officials say the venue and the dates may change in coming years, depending on the need for more space and scheduling around Kansas City’s sports teams.
Indictment: Kan. woman embezzled $5M; withdrew cash at casinos
WICHITA – A Kansas woman was indicted Tuesday on federal charges of embezzling more than $5 million from a credit union that was declared insolvent and liquidated, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.
Nita Rae Nirschl, 64, Parsons, Kan., is charged in an 81-count indictment including 22 counts of embezzlement, 37 counts of money laundering, 18 counts of interstate transportation of stolen property and four counts of attempting to evade taxes. The indictment alleges the crimes took place while Nirschl worked for the Parsons Pittsburg Credit Union based in Parsons.
Following an audit that found the credit union was insolvent, the credit union was placed in conservatorship and ultimately liquidated in March 2014. The audit revealed that from 2010 to December 2014 Nirschl embezzled more than $5 million from the credit union. The indictment alleges she deposited money stolen from the credit union into her personal accounts. She withdrew the funds as cash from ATMs at Harrah’s North Kansas City casino, the Buffalo Run casino in Miami, Okla., the Stables casino in Miami, Okla., the Downstream casino in Quapaw, Okla., Harrah’s News Orleans casino and Harrah’s Lake Tahoe casino.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Embezzlement by a credit union employee: Up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on each count.
Money laundering: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Interstate transportation of stolen property: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Attempt to evade taxes: Up to five years and a fine up to $100,000.
The FBI and the Internal Revenue Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
1 dead, 1 hospitalized after SW Kansas crash
GRAY COUNTY – A Kansas man died in an accident just before noon on Wednesday in Gray County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Dodge pickup driven by Koll T. Graybill, 23, Satanta, was westbound on U.S. Highway 56 three miles west of Ensign.
The driver attempted to pass a semi pulling a trailer.
The pickup struck an eastbound 1995 Ford passenger car driven by Richard L. Hixson, 27, Ensign, in the eastbound lane.
Graybill and Hixon were transported to the hospital in Dodge City where Hixson died.
Two children in the pickup were not injured.
Both drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.
The Latest: Kan. Senate advances budgets with move on pensions
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the Kansas Legislature’s debate the state’s budget problems and increasing taxes to address them (all times local):
3:50 p.m.
The Kansas Senate has decided to short state contributions to public employee pensions under the state’s 2018 and 2019 budgets to give lawmakers more options in raising taxes to make the books balance.
But senators expect to revisit the pension issue later.
They gave first-round approval Wednesday to proposed budgets for the 2018 fiscal year starting in July and the 2019 fiscal beginning in July 2018.
The Senates’ voice vote on the single “mega” budget measure for two years advances the measure to a final vote Thursday. The House is working on its own bill.
Senators decreased state contributions to public employee pensions by a total of $330 million over two years. The move lowers the amount of new revenue needed from higher taxes to $545 million for the period.
11:10 a.m.
Republican legislators in Kansas are working on multiple proposals for raising personal income taxes that would move the state to a single rate for all filers.
The House Taxation Committee planned to vote Wednesday on a bill imposing a “flat” personal income tax of 5 percent for all filers. The state has two tax brackets, with a lower rate of 2.7 percent and a top rate for higher-income filers of 4.6 percent.
Supporters believe the proposal would raise $871 million in new revenue over two years, starting in July. The state is facing projected budget shortfalls totaling more than $1 billion through June 2019.
In the Senate, the Assessment and Taxation Committee is working on its own proposal for a single, 5 percent personal income tax rate.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators are considering a new proposal to raise personal income taxes that would move to a single rate for all filers.
The House Taxation Committee reviewed a measure Tuesday for a so-called flat income tax favored by conservative Republicans. The panel plans to vote on it Wednesday.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling more than $1 billion through June 2019. Lawmakers have considered rolling back past personal income tax cuts championed by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback.
The House committee’s bill would move Kansas from two income tax brackets to a single tax rate of 5 percent. Supporters say it would raise $871 million over two years.
The measure would offset higher income taxes for poor and middle-class families by doubling standard deductions and lowering the sales tax on groceries.
Some Kan. roads closed due to heavy rain, water rescues
LYON COUNTY – Roads are closed due to heavy rain is some of Kansas. Fire crews rescued a delivery driver attempting to drive in the 1200 Block of 210 Road north of Emporia on Wednesday.
“He misjudged the rapidly rising water on the road,” according to Lyon County Sheriff’s Detective Jacob Welsh.
The driver was not injured.
An additional 2 inches of rain fell of portions of southeast Kansas Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Topeka and more rain is in the forecast.
Moran has productive meeting with Supreme Court nominee
WASHINGTON – Kansas Senator Jerry Moran met with U.S. Supreme Court Nominee Neil Gorsuch at the White House Tuesday.
Moran wrote on social media, “The meeting allowed me to learn more about his judicial philosophy and commitment to the Constitution. We discussed a number of the rulings he made presiding in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which gave me a better understanding of his decision-making process.
Judge Gorsuch is undeniably qualified and fully prepared for the responsibilities bestowed on the justices of the highest court in the land, and I look forward to supporting his confirmation.”
Democrats announced they are going to filibuster Gorsuch’s nomination during floor debate next week, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to lead an effort to change Senate rules to permit Gorsuch to be confirmed by a simple majority vote. Current rules set a 60-vote threshold.
Successful Kansas small businesses receive awards at Kansas SBDC event
FHSU University Relations
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Small Business Development Center statewide network recognized 17 small businesses across the state in the 2017 Existing, Emerging, and Exporting Businesses of the Year ceremony in Topeka, Kansas.
The winners were selected from more than 2,000 businesses that received Kansas SBDC one-on-one advising services in 2016. Each of the eight Kansas SBDC regional centers selected one emerging and one existing business for the award. One business received the Kansas SBDC Exporter of the Year for 2017.
“The selected businesses were given careful consideration by our Kansas SBDC regional directors and consultants,” said Greg Panichello, Kansas SBDC state director. “Collectively, the KSBDC team believes these 17 small businesses are excellent examples of small business adaptation and success in challenging times.”
Kansas Secretary of Commerce Antonio Soave addressed the audience of about 200 to start the awards portion of the evening. The evening’s event was emceed by WIBW-TV Anchor Melissa Brunner.
The 2017 businesses of the year:
Emerging Businesses of the Year
HECO Heating & Cooling LLC, Rafael Figueroa, Liberal.
Cowgirl Creations and Design, Allison Grice, St. Francis.
Reverie Coffee Roasters, Andrew Gough, Wichita.
Sprout Communications, LLC, Caleb Asher, Topeka.
Mulready’s Pub, Rick Becker, Emporia.
Limestone Pizza, Debbie Howe, Lawrence.
Town Square Paola / MMK Management, LLC, Michelle Kaiser, Paola.
Gorilla Country, Steve Scott, Pittsburg.
Existing Businesses of the Year
Heartland Mill, Inc., Mark Nightengale, Marienthal.
Second Chance Ranch, Todd Trzcinski, Goodland.
PWI, Inc., Judy Baldwin and Robi Lorik, Wichita.
Toto’s Tacoz, Craig and Colleen Lord, Wamego.
Quality Profile Services, Inc., John and Karen True, Council Grove.
Primary Color Music, Sam Billen, Lawrence.
Jason Wright Electric, Jason Wright, Olathe.
Audacious Boutique, Kelly Sigg, Iola.
Exporting Business of the Year
GT Manufacturing Inc., James Sampson and Dennis Pedersen, Clay Center.
About the Kansas Small Business Development Center:
The Kansas Small Business Development Center (Kansas SBDC) is a statewide small business (typically less than 500 employees) advising, consulting, and training service funded by federal, state, and local partners. Funding through tax dollars allows the Kansas SBDC to provide advising and training (i.e. cash flow, marketing, and market data) to businesses across the state at low or no cost. The SBDC is part of a larger national association committed to helping small businesses reach their development, improvement, and transition goals.
To learn more, visit https://www.kansassbdc.net or call 877-625-7232.
Kansas House bill ‘not an effort to decriminalize marijuana use’
By Deanna Ambrose
KU Statehouse Wire Service
TOPEKA – A bill that would lower penalties for owning drug paraphernalia and give harsher penalties to those convicted of domestic aggravated assault was unanimously passed in the House on Tuesday, after being consolidated with several other bills.
Originally, Senate Bill 112 focused on matching the penalty for possession of paraphernalia, objects for ingesting or using drugs, to the penalty of owning drugs.
Last year, legislators dropped marijuana to a slightly lower offense. Now SB 112 includes what used to be four separate bills, but all relate to crime.
Kim Parker, the prosecutor coordinator of the Kansas County and District Attorney Association, said the legislation needed to be updated.
“Last year when they changed possession of marijuana classes they essentially kind of forgot about paraphernalia and left it higher than possession of marijuana, which was unintended,” Parker said. “For prosecutors, it was very unusual to start thinking about prosecuting people for a higher class than the drug itself.”
Rep. Blaine Finch (R-Ottawa) said the bill is not an effort to decriminalize marijuana use.
“I wouldn’t characterize it as a step in decriminalization; I would characterize it as a step in proportionality,” Finch said.
The bill also classifies strangulation of a partner as aggravated domestic assault. The new definition would include any people who are or were in a dating relationship, not just couples living together.
“Oftentimes [choking] doesn’t leave physical marks; because of that it becomes a different type of proof than what you’re normally used to,” Parker said.
It already is a crime if a person attempts to strangle a partner but the new bill would give it a higher penalty.
The bill would also require audio recording of police interrogations and reclassify the felony charge on home burglaries to reflect the personal nature of a home burglary.
Parker also said the association supported all the bills separately and still does after being added together to SB 112. The bill now needs to be approved by the Senate with the additions before it can be sent to Gov. Sam Brownback’s desk.
Deanna Ambrose is a senior studying journalism at the University of Kansas from Frankfort.
Survey: What do Kansas businesses need?
What do Kansas businesses need?
Here’s the premise. Several entities that offer financial, technical and resource support to Kansas businesses and entrepreneurs want to sharpen their focus in order to meet your needs.
How do they know what you need? Take this survey and tell them.
Please click on the link below:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KSsbna2017 If you are using a mobile device, simply download the Survey Monkey App.
The survey should take 4-6 minutes and will be open until Fri., March 31, 2017.
Network Kansas and the Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) are two of the entities working together on this assessment.
Who should take this survey? Businesses and those that serve them (lenders, chambers of commerce, economic developers, etc.).
Physician assistant permanently banned from providing service in Kansas
GARDEN CITY – A Garden City physician assistant has been permanently banned from providing medical services in Kansas, according to a media release from Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Under the terms of a consent judgment approved today by Judge Michael Quint in Finney County District Court, Joel Erskin, who is part owner and operator of Renovo Medical LLC, and University Medical LLC, is permanently banned from engaging in any medical consumer transactions, providing any medical services or being employed by a provider of medical services. As part of the agreement, Erskin was also required to pay investigative fees, refund all payments received from consumers after June 1, 2016, and forgive or cancel accounts receivable as of June 1, 2016.
Schmidt filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Erskin in June 2016 after a lengthy investigation of the defendant’s business practices conducted by federal authorities and the attorney general’s office. The lawsuit alleged the defendant violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act by failing to tell customers he used Botox purchased from overseas suppliers that was not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States, misrepresenting to patients that he was a medical doctor and operating without the appropriate physician supervision required by Kansas law. The consent judgment references court filings in a separate federal criminal case in which Erskin pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor related to the same conduct.
A copy of the consent judgment is available here.
HPD: Investigation into Hays daycare incident could take several weeks
By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
Authorities continue to investigate last week’s incident at a Hays daycare that left a Hays infant with a brain injury.
But as officials continue to gather evidence, they are urging people to keep an open mind and not jump to conclusions.
According to Hays Police Investigator Jeff Ridgway, first responders were called to Smart Sparks Daycare, 1202 Motz, on Tuesday, March 21, just before 2 p.m. due to concern of the medical wellbeing of a child. A 5-month-old was taken to Hays Medical Center and then airlifted to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. There, the infant was diagnosed with a brain injury.
Ridgway said Tuesday investigators do not have any new information on the health of the child and that the family is in Kansas City.
Currently, officials are in the very early stages of the investigation, according to Ridgway. He said, with the assistance of several agencies, they are working to put together a timeline of what happened.
“Each has their respective interests and focus of the investigation but altogether, the totality of the investigation is the overall interest of the safety of the child,” Ridgway said.
The Kansas City (Mo.) Police Department, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Department of Children and Families and the Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center are all assisting or partnering with the Hays Police Department on the investigation.
Ridgway said, from a law enforcement perspective, they are looking to see if any crimes were committed.
“We’re going to be looking at not only is there evidence to show that a crime was committed, but we’re also reviewing, does the evidence show that a crime was not committed?” he said.
Officials believe there were other adults, besides operator Tandra Reif, at the daycare at the time of the incident. Ridgway said they are working to interview those individuals. They are also trying to determine how many children were at the daycare on that particular day. They will work with the Child Advocacy Center to interview any children who might have witnessed what happened.
He said when it comes to potential abuse cases, it can take several weeks to complete the investigation. Officials have to set up interviews with all parties involved and those people eventually might be interviewed by multiple agencies.
“I think everybody would like to see us go faster than what we’re doing, even I perhaps would like to see it go faster but also recognize there are scheduling conflicts,” Ridgway said.
Ridgway said he was aware of prior complaints received about the daycare but referred questions on the severity level to the KDHE.
According to the state’s records, Smart Sparks Daycare had three minor violations between 2014 and 2016, two of which were corrected on-site during the annual survey.
Because authorities are so early in the investigation Ridgway urged people to be “open minded.”
“It becomes important not to jump to conclusions,” he said that past complaints “may be unfounded or may be not relevant.”
State law allows the Secretary of KDHE to issue such an order when, in the opinion of the Secretary, the order is necessary to protect children in the home from any potential threat to health or safety. The order is subject to appeal. Compliance history on this daycare facility can be found by searching the Child Care and Early Education Portal for license No. 0068929 at https://kscapportalp.dcf.ks.gov/oids/.
KHP: Driver hospitalized after semi overturns on I-70
GEARY COUNTY – A semi driver was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. on Wednesday in Geary County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 semi pulling a flatbed full of concrete powder and driven by Matthew Weah, 40, Kansas City, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of the U.S. 77.
The driver lost control of the truck. It entered the center median, overturned and the trailer separated from the truck.
Weah was transported to Geary Community Hospital.
He was wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.