BRADENTON, Fla. – The Fort Hays State track and field team had another successful day at the 2017 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships Friday (May 26), with three individuals advancing to the finals in their respective events.
Decano Cronin won his heat and finished second overall in the 800m run, crossing the line in 1:50.47. After running the majority of the race in the middle of the pack, the junior turned on the jets with 200 meters to go, passing the two runners in front of him to secure a spot in the finals. Cronin will run in the finals of the event on Saturday (May 27).
Brett Meyer will join Cronin in the 800m final after finishing sixth overall and third in the first heat of the day. The sophomore completed the race in 1:50.97, just a step behind the top two finishers in his heat. The time held up as the fastest non-automatic qualifying time, even beating the second place finisher from the third and final heat.
TJ Dozier took ninth in the discus after advancing to the finals with the eighth-best throw following the first three attempts. The junior posted a mark of 173-10 on his final attempt of the first round, a new personal-best. In the finals, Dozier was passed by one centimeter for the final All-American spot.
Dillando Allotey and Kelly Wycoff both competed in their second event of the weekend, running in the 200m dash. Allotey finished in 21.39, placing third in his heat and 13th overall, while Wycoff posted a time of 24.58 to finish 19th overall.
Cronin and Meyer will return to the track to race for the 800m title tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. ET (6:05 p.m. CT). Also competing for the Tigers will be Alexcia Deutscher in the javelin throw at 11:30 a.m. ET (10:30 a.m. CT) and Kolt Newell in the high jump at 5:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. CT).
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 71-year-old Kansas man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison and ordered to pay $8.4 million in restitution for tax evasion.
David Pflum, of St. Marys, was sentenced Thursday for tax evasion and obstruction to the Internal Revenue Service.
Prosecutors say Pflum claimed on Internal Revenue Service documents that he had less than $475 in assets and a monthly income of $470.
Pflum, who owned Coil Springs Specialties, actually owned more than $2 million in real estate and made more than $16,000 a month.
Prosecutors say he encouraged people who owed him money to ignore IRS collection efforts.
RUSH CENTER–A vendor fair and collectors show will be held Sat., June 3 in the Rush Center Township Hall, 220 W. Union St. (on K-96 Highway), from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Breakfast and lunch will be served by the Triple C Wildcats Relay For Life Team.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A lawyer who worked for Secretary of State Kris Kobach will replace his father-in-law in the Kansas House.
Republican leaders from the Derby and Mulvane area on Thursday selected Jesse Burris to replace Pete DeGraaf in the Kansas Legislature. Burris, a lawyer who worked for Kobach until this week, was the only nominee for the 82nd House District seat.
DeGraaf is leaving the Legislature after nine years because of health issues caused by Parkinson’s disease.
Burris, an Air Force veteran, is a staunch conservative, who opposes all tax increases, abortion and same-sex marriage. He says he supports school choice and gun rights.
Burris resigned his job with the secretary of state’s office Wednesday in anticipation of his appointment.
RUSH CENTER–The Walnut Valley Senior Center, 220 Washington, Rush Center, will hold its June Jaunt June 2-4.
Friday and Saturday you can shop our large flea market, view work by local artists, browse the museum and library, and meet with local authors and have their books signed, all from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.. Free tea and cookies will be available.
Sunday, June 4, will feature Potato Bar Sunday serving from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sandy Jamison, 76, of Richmond, Virginia, died May 22, 2017. She was born February 1, 1941, in Denver, CO, to Orval and Evelyn (Bradshaw) Durham. She grew up in Oakley, KS and lived in the Washington, DC area for many years. She more recently lived in Wichita and Lawrence before returning to Virginia briefly before she passed. On November 27, 1965 she married Harold Jamison. Sandy was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt and friend to many. She enjoyed collecting Native American art, watching KU sports, playing games and traveling with friends, decorating cakes, volunteering at the hospital in Lawrence and especially spending time with her grandchildren.
Sandy was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; parents, Orval and Evelyn and sister Betty.
She is survived by her son, Troy and wife Jackie; grandchildren, Kyle, Carly and Trent; brother Gene and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will take place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at the Oakley United Methodist Church, with inurnment in the Oakley City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For Condolences or information, visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
In 2016 John B. King, Jr.-served as U.S. Education Secretary-courtesy photo
WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of Congress are criticizing the Education Department over $6 billion in improper payments made as part of the federal student aid programs.
Government data shows the improper payments were made in 2016. They include payments made to wrong recipients or for incorrect amounts.
Jay Hurt — chief financial officer of Federal Student Aid — tells a House hearing that a zero-percent rate of improper payments isn’t feasible.
But GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina says she thinks the Education Department should strive for no mistakes.
The official in charge of managing federal student aid resigned abruptly Tuesday night and didn’t testify.
John B. King, Jr. served the Obama administration as Education Secretary in 2016.
Harris-photo Sedgwick CountyBrown-photo Sedgwick County
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Wichita reported the arrest of 38-year-old Steven Harris. He is wanted in connection with a shooting death in Manhattan.
On Thursday, Wichita Police Department (WPD) received information that a vehicle matching the description in connection with the crime was at a Motel 6 on E. Kellogg Dr. in Wichita, according to a media release.
WPD responded to the scene and were able to determine the vehicle was a match. WPD officers then made contact with Steven Harris. Harris and Cora Brown, who was also at the Motel 6, were arrested without incident.
Police on the scene of Thursday night’s arrest-photo courtesy KWCH
Harris was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for 1st degree murder and attempted 1stdegree murder. Harris’ bond was set at $2,000,000.00. Harris remains confined in Wichita at this time.
WPD also arrested Cora Brown on a Riley County District Court warrant for possession of methamphetamine. Brown’s bond was set at $20,000.00. Brown also remains confined in Wichita at this time.
Both Harris and Brown will be transferred to the Riley County Jail.
There are no indications at this point in the investigation that Brown was in danger.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Wichita reported the arrest of 38-year-old Steven Harris. He is wanted in connection with a shooting death in Manhattan.
Police took Harris and his girlfriend Cora Brown into custody Thursday evening at a motel in Wichita.
Just before 6p.m. on Sunday May 21, police received several 911 calls stating there had been a shooting on Nelson’s Landing in Manhattan, according to a media release.
When officers arrived on scene to the 2800 block of Nelson’s Landing, they found one male, identified as German Gonzalez-Garcia, 39, of Manhattan, dead from gunshot wounds.
A second man was found on scene, also suffering from gunshot wounds. He was lifeflighted to Stormont Vail in Topeka in critical condition.
On Monday, police issued a warrant for Harris in connection with the shooting.
A spray plane was blown into a hanger at Hays Regional Airport Thursday evening by wind gusts in excess of 70 mph.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Thursday evening’s severe thunderstorm that blew through Hays left some minor damage in its path.
A crop duster plane tied down at the Hays Regional Airport was pushed into a nearby airplane hanger, according to Ovid Siefers, airport manager.
“Winds of a little more than 70 mph went through and broke the plane tie-downs, blowing the spray plane southeast. The tail end hit on a hanger,” Siefers reported Friday morning.
The plane still had unrepaired tail damage from an April 6 storm, Siefers added. He said the plane is not locally owned.
According to Flight Aware, the spray plane is owned by Novasoar in New Orleans.
Lightening sparked a house fire at 418 E. Fifth just before 9:30 p.m. Thursday.
The Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall, received 1.07 inches of rain. Catherine reported 1.18 inches.
City Manager Toby Dougherty announces the appointment of Jason Riegel as the new Wastewater Superintendent for the city of Hays. Mr. Riegel is currently serving as the Water Conservation Specialist.
In announcing the appointment, City Manager Dougherty stated, “Jason has excelled as the city of Hays’ Water Conservation Specialist. His background in wastewater will serve him well as he transitions to Wastewater Superintendent.
In October 2013, Mr. Riegel started his employment with the city of Hays as Kansas’ first municipality Water Conservation Specialist.
Before joining the city of Hays, Mr. Riegel worked eight years at the city of Lawrence’s wastewater treatment plant. He holds a Class IV Wastewater Certificate and a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Kansas.
Mr. Riegel is a member of the Hays Area Young Professionals and a 2015 graduate of Leadership Hays.
Kansas is operating its Medicaid program under a five-year “waiver” that allows three private insurance companies to administer the program. The state’s waiver ends Dec. 31, and officials have asked for a one-year extension. FILE PHOTO / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
Federal officials this week approved a corrective plan for Kansas’ privately managed Medicaid program, easing pressure on the state before a year-end deadline.
As part of the plan, state officials agreed to keep track of the number of grievances and appeals they receive from Kansans in Medicaid who say they were denied appropriate services. That and other elements of the plan were outlined in a letter the state received Monday from James Scott, associate regional administrator for Medicaid and children’s health operations at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
In Kansas, the privatized Medicaid program known as KanCare provides health insurance to about 425,000 Kansans, mostly children in low-income families, people with disabilities and low-income elderly Kansans who need nursing home care.
Kansas is operating its Medicaid program under a five-year “waiver” that allows three private insurance companies to administer the program. Through waivers, states can make changes to Medicaid as long as they cover required services and don’t increase federal costs.
The state’s waiver ends Dec. 31, and officials have asked for a one-year extension after then to allow KanCare to continue while the Kansas Department of Health and Environment prepares an application for a new program. CMS has yet to approve the extension, but the corrective plan removes one barrier.
CMS officials denied the extension request in January, however, because of concerns the state wasn’t adequately overseeing the three insurance companies that administer the program. Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer attributed the denial to a “parting shot” from the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama and said the state expected more cooperation under new President Donald Trump.
If CMS doesn’t approve an extension before the waiver expires, Kansas theoretically could be forced to return to traditional Medicaid, though records don’t show any precedent for that. So far, CMS has only disapproved two waiver applications, according to its database. Both were for new waivers.
Mike Oxford, executive director of the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center, said Wednesday that he hopes better tracking will improve services for people with disabilities. Until now, the state has only looked at health outcomes, not whether people are satisfied with their services or able to participate in their communities, he said.
“From where I sit today, it looks like the state is getting it,” he said.
If the state acts on the information it collects, it could reduce KanCare recipients’ distrust in the system, Oxford said. Some people in KanCare who were denied services told state officials during public meetings that they felt they were being mistreated to increase the profits of the insurance companies that administer KanCare, he said.
Meanwhile, state officials are moving forward with plans for the next phase of KanCare.
State officials have kept quiet about what a new KanCare program might include, citing uncertainty in Washington, D.C. Angela de Rocha, spokeswoman for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, said she expects changes would be “fairly extensive.”
“It is too soon right now to say exactly how or in what ways,” she said in an email. “One of the reasons we have applied for an extension is to wait for clarity on what the federal government is going to do.”
Meg Wingerter is a reporter for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of kcur.org, Kansas Public Radio and KMUW covering health, education and politics. You can reach her on Twitter @MegWingerter.
DOUGLAS COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in a May 15, armed robbery and have suspect in custody.
On Thursday, police in Kansas City arrested Mark X. Young, 25, on a warrant in connection with the robbery, according to a media release.
Just after 8:30 p.m. May 15, police responded to a restaurant at 1501 West 23rd Street after report of a robbery.
Based on investigation it was determined that a black male wearing a red sweatshirt entered the business brandishing an edged weapon and demanded money.
The suspect fled the business with an undetermined amount of cash.
An employee reported that during the incident he was struck by the suspect, not with the weapon, causing minor injuries that did not require medical attention. No other injuries were reported.
