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Month: February 2018

Uninsured rate in Kansas continues decline

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KHI

TOPEKA – The Kansas Health Institute (KHI) has released its Annual Insurance Update 2018: Health Insurance in Kansas. This publication reports the latest-available data describing insurance coverage in Kansas.

Key points from the report include:

  • In 2016, there were 239,578 Kansans who were uninsured, including 36,752 children age 0-18. This translates to an uninsured rate of 8.4 percent, ranking Kansas below 30 other states, and similar to the U.S. average of 8.5 percent.
  • ​​The uninsured rate in both Kansas and the U.S. dropped by about one-third between 2009 and 2016.
  • People living in states that expanded Medicaid had an uninsured rate almost half that of people living in non-expansion states (6.5 percent compared to 11.6 percent).
  • Racial and ethnic minorities in Kansas were much more likely to lack insurance than non-Hispanic Whites. For instance, Kansans who are Hispanic, Any Race, were three times more likely, and non-Hispanic Blacks were two-and-a-half times more likely,
    to be uninsured than non-Hispanic Whites (19.8 percent, 16.1 percent, and 6.0 percent, respectively).
  • Four out of ten (43.1 percent) uninsured adult Kansans had family income at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), and may qualify for Medicaid if expanded.
  • Two-thirds (67.8 percent) of uninsured children in Kansas were in families with income below 243 percent FPL, and may have already been eligible for Medicaid or CHIP.
  • Three-fourths (75.3 percent) of uninsured adult Kansans were working. Those working part-time were more than twice as likely to be uninsured as those working full-time, year-round (18.1 percent compared to 7.4 percent).

Check out the infographic, Health Insurance in Kansas 2016, for a visual depiction of how many Kansans had insurance coverage or remained uninsured.

The Annual Insurance Update 2018 uses data from the 2009 through 2016 U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) as the primary data source. To view reports from previous years, visit this page.

The Kansas Health Institute (KHI) delivers objective information, conducts credible research, and supports civil dialogue enabling policy leaders to make informed health policy decisions that enhance their effectiveness as champions for a healthier Kansas. Established in 1995 with a multiyear grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, KHI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization based in Topeka.

 

Kan. Supreme Court observes National Court Reporting and Captioning Week

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OJA

TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court issued a proclamation Wednesday recognizing February 10 through 17 as National Court Reporting and Captioning Week and encouraged all Kansans to join the state court system in its observance of the week.

“In ancient Egypt, scribes were considered the literate elite, recording laws and other important documents,” said Chief Justice Lawton Nuss. “Since that time, scribes have served as impartial witnesses to history, including when America’s founding fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.”

Today, court reporters and captioners are present in Congress, preserving members’ words and actions, and in courtrooms nationwide.

They are also responsible for closed captioning on television, at sporting events, and in other community and educational settings, bringing information to millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing people every day.

“Court reporters and captioners, like their scribe predecessors, play an important role in capturing and preserving court proceedings and in preserving our nation’s history,” Nuss said. “They truly are guardians of the record, and I invite my fellow Kansans to join with me to recognize their important contributions.”

Danielle Murray, an official court reporter for Johnson County District Court and president of the Kansas Court Reporters Association, said she hopes the proclamation helps publicize the need for more court reporters and captioners.

“Court reporters play a vital role in our system of justice in the state of Kansas, and we are experiencing a shortage of qualified court reporters in our state,” she said. “We have many unfilled positions, and it is our hope that this week will bring awareness to the profession and help get students into our court reporting schools and eventually fill our positions.”

For more information about the organization, go to www.kcra.net.

Sternberg to offer activities on evolution, free admission during Darwin Day Sunday

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By CRISTINA JANNEY

Hays Post

The Sternberg Museum of Natural History will celebrate Darwin’s Birthday from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday with free admission to the museum and activities centered on everyday evolution.

Charles Darwin was actually born on Feb. 12, 1809, but the celebration is still giving the museum an opportunity to further science education in the community.

The four main aspects of evolution that will be presented will be animal husbandry, genetically modified organisms or GMOs, vaccinations and deforestation.

Jessica Barnett, who helped organize the event, said each topic will have stations manned with museum staff and FHSU graduate students and will have opportunities not only to discuss the topics, but also participate in hands-on activities.

“Every single day you come in contact with organisms that are evolving,” she said. “Whether that is humans that have evolved from other organisms or the corn that you are eating for dinner or your dog that has been selectively bred to be the modern-day equivalent of the wolf.”

The museum is using dog breeding as a way to illustrate artificial selection as opposed to natural selection. Barnett gave the example of floppy ears in dogs. Puppies have floppy ears, but in the wild in adult wolves, they are replaced by perky ears that are better for pinpointing sound during hunting.

“We choose to breed animals with floppy ears because they are so cute. It is so nice to rub their ears and let them flop around everywhere. It is adorable when they are adults, but we chose that,” she said. “That is not necessarily advantageous in the wild.”

Children will be able to “Build a Dog.” They will make dog puppets using features that have been artificially selected through breeding by humans.

Another example of artificial selection is the brassica plant. The plant was a leafy edible plant in about 4000 BC. It was bred into kale and eventually cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli.

As part of the GMO activity, the museum hopes to dispel some of the misconceptions of GMOs and focus on the science. Laura Wilson, PhD, said the definition of a GMO varies greatly depending on the source, whether it is a scientific, government or pro-organic group.

“We are not taking sides, we are just trying to keep a just-the-facts-mam attitude,” she said.

The vaccine presentation will look at how viruses mutate or evolve and how scientists have to modify vaccines to keep up with the changing organisms. Wilson said this is particularly pertinent with the flu epidemic in the U.S right now.

Children will be able to create their own viruses, and then the activity coordinators will try to develop vaccines that will keep the kids from accidentally killing everyone.

“That is a fun activity for kids to let them see how the flu virus evolves over time and how scientists do their best to anticipate what flu viruses might become problematic and how that changes year to year and why that is important to get [the flu shot] every year,” Barnett said.

On the subject of deforestation, the museum is trying to show how evolution changes plants and animals on an ecosystem scale.

The museum staff found a study on palm trees in the South American rain forest. The palm trees are being cut down and the groves fragmented, Wilson said. Toucans that feed off the palm trees are going extinct in these areas. Toucans typically carry the seeds of the palm trees. Now scientists are seeing palm trees with smaller seeds that can’t disperse their seeds as far because there are no toucans to carry the seeds.

“These kind of cascading effects within ecosystems due to deforestation and fragmentation make little islands out of what was a big expanse of land,” Wilson said. “This can cause changes to plants and animals.”

The museums live animal collection also will be on display during the event, and all of the normal exhibits will be open.

Several new exhibits will also be available to the public. The museum recently mounted a display of a new collection of minerals. The museum is constructing a new paleontology lab. Although it is not yet equipped, visitors can view the new space. A history of paleo art exhibit will also be on display.

 

 

 

 

 

Friday night high school basketball scoreboard

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Girls
Western Athletic Conference
Hays  38   Liberal 46
Garden City 48  Great Bend 38
Nickerson 45  Dodge City 35

Mid-Continent League
TMP 53  Phillipsburg 36
Smith Center  55  Ellis  39
Oakley  13   Hill City  41

Central Prairie League
Otis-Bison  37   Ness City  28
Victoria   19  St. John  51
Central Plains  74  LaCrosse  17
Ellinwood  28  Kinsley  39

Northern Plains
*Stockton  66  Osborne  25
Wilson  51  Sylvan Lucas  21
Pike Valley  60  Natoma  48
Chase  29  St. Johns-Tipton  49

Western Kansas Liberty League
Triplains/Brewster  48   Northern Valley   79
Cheylin  22  Golden Plains  50
Palco  26  Wheatland-Grinnell  62

 

Central Kansas League
Larned  22  Hesston  54
Hoisington  29  Halstead  42
*Lyons  26   Haven  55

Great Western Kansas League
Hugoton  40  Colby  31
Ulysses  41  Scott  38
Goodland  39   Holcomb  51

Boys

Western Athletic Conference
Hays  68   Liberal  57
*Nickerson  66   Dodge City  84

Mid-Continent League
TMP  61   Phillipsburg  79
Oakley  33  Hill City   36

Central Prairie League
Victoria  30  St. John  66
Central Plains  62  LaCrosse  46

Northern Plains
*Stockton  40  Osborne  62
Tescott  25  Thunder Ridge  41
Pike Valley  58  Natoma  32

Western Kansas Liberty League
Triplains/Brewster  6  Northern Valley  77
Cheylin  50  Golden Plains  58

Central Kansas League
Smokey Valley   60  Pratt  36

Great Western Kansas League
Ulysses  59  Scott  69
Goodland   47  Holcomb  63

*Non-league

 

Friday’s Scores
By The Associated Press
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Abilene 64, Wamego 57
Andale 71, Wellington 33
Anderson County 71, Iola 57
Andover Central 63, Valley Center 35
Arkansas City 74, Andover 53
Ashland 71, Satanta 49
Augusta 59, Winfield 41
Axtell 57, Linn 53
Basehor-Linwood 61, KC Turner 43
Baxter Springs 54, Galena 51
Belle Plaine 55, Chaparral 46
Bishop Miege 65, St. James Academy 44
Blue Valley 56, BV Southwest 33
Bonner Springs 91, KC Piper 74
Buhler 55, Circle 38
Burlingame 59, Lebo 37
Burlington 79, Prairie View 36
Burrton 66, Stafford 55
BV Northwest 60, BV West 32
BV Randolph 88, Wetmore 84
Caldwell 50, Flinthills 6
Cedar Vale/Dexter 54, Argonia 38
Central Heights 52, KC Christian 47
Central Plains 62, La Crosse 46
Centralia 47, Valley Heights 41
Centre 57, Wakefield 49
Chapman 60, Concordia 54
Cheney 65, Medicine Lodge 26
Clifton-Clyde 51, Frankfort 41
Conway Springs 58, Garden Plain 46
Crest 68, Oswego 30
Dodge City 84, Nickerson 66
Douglass 62, Wichita Independent 61
Ellinwood 52, Kinsley 51, OT
Ellsworth 49, Republic County 34
Eureka 72, Bluestem 51
Garden City 51, Great Bend 38
Gardner-Edgerton 62, SM North 49
Girard 57, Independence 50
Goddard-Eisenhower 77, Goddard 50
Goessel 40, Peabody-Burns 27
Golden Plains 58, Cheylin 50
Halstead 59, Hoisington 43
Hays 68, Liberal 57
Hesston 53, Larned 39
Hiawatha 42, Atchison County 37
Hill City 36, Oakley 33
Hillsboro 50, Kingman 38
Hodgeman County 52, Kiowa County 47
Holcomb 63, Goodland 47
Hoxie 64, Dighton 63, OT
Hugoton 55, Colby 41
Humboldt 66, Fredonia 38
Hutchinson Central Christian 55, South Barber 45
Hutchinson Trinity 72, Marion 67
Inman 49, Moundridge 47
Jackson Heights 63, Oskaloosa 39
Jefferson West 48, Holton 46
Junction City 62, Shawnee Heights 55
Kapaun Mount Carmel 59, Wichita Southeast 49
KC Sumner 35, Atchison 24
KC Wyandotte 85, KC Harmon 72
Labette County 66, Fort Scott 61
Lakin 76, Elkhart 46
Lansing 62, Tonganoxie 48
Lawrence 70, SM West 48
Lawrence Free State 74, SM South 56
Lee’s Summit Community Christian, Mo. 66, Heritage Christian 27
Lyndon 81, Hartford 56
Maize 53, Hutchinson 38
Manhattan 62, Emporia 61
McPherson 71, El Dorado 32
Meade 73, Minneola 26
Mill Valley 72, St. Thomas Aquinas 60
Nemaha Central 67, Royal Valley 42
Ness City 81, Otis-Bison 50
Newton 68, Derby 65
Northern Valley 77, Triplains-Brewster 6
Nowata, Okla. 62, Caney Valley 58
Olathe East 71, SM East 60
Olathe North 56, Olathe West 52
Olathe Northwest 50, Olathe South 27
Olpe 49, Osage City 40
Osborne 62, Stockton 40
Ottawa 49, Louisburg 39
Paola 55, DeSoto 41
Parsons 69, Coffeyville 53
Perry-Lecompton 61, Riverside 12
Phillipsburg 79, Hays-TMP-Marian 61
Pike Valley 58, Natoma 32
Pittsburg 75, Chanute 59
Pittsburg Colgan 48, Frontenac 45
Pleasant Ridge 39, McLouth 35
Pleasanton 58, Uniontown 46
Pretty Prairie 69, Fairfield 42
Remington 58, Ell-Saline 46
Riley County 50, Wabaunsee 45
Riverton 57, Southeast 50
Rock Hills 58, Lincoln 33
Rose Hill 86, Mulvane 71
Salina Sacred Heart 75, Council Grove 45
Salina South 44, Wichita Campus 42
Santa Fe Trail 76, Osawatomie 59
Scott City 69, Ulysses 59
Sedan 67, Udall 43
Sedgwick 67, Bennington 43
Silver Lake 63, Rossville 58
SM Northwest 56, Leavenworth 55, OT
Smoky Valley 60, Pratt 36
Solomon 57, Elyria Christian 45
South Central 63, Pawnee Heights 40
South Gray 58, Southwestern Hts. 31
Southeast Saline 54, Minneapolis 51
Spring Hill 40, Eudora 33
St. John 66, Victoria 30
St. John’s Military 52, Flint Hills Christian 46
St. Paul 69, Altoona-Midway 28
Sterling 65, Berean Academy 51
Syracuse 60, Sublette 27
Thunder Ridge 41, Tescott 25
Topeka 67, Topeka Seaman 63
Topeka Hayden 69, Washburn Rural 58
Topeka West 59, Highland Park 52
Veritas Christian 44, Bishop Seabury Academy 8
Wellsville 66, West Franklin 39
Wichita Bishop Carroll 53, Wichita South 41
Wichita East 68, Wichita West 43
Wichita Heights 78, Wichita North 57
Yates Center 79, Erie 57
POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
Weskan vs. Logan, ccd.
Norton vs. Plainville, ppd.
Beloit vs. Russell, ppd. to Feb 19.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Abilene 46, Wamego 35
Andale 55, Wellington 42
Andover 58, Arkansas City 48
Andover Central 44, Valley Center 33
Atchison County 42, Hiawatha 26
Augusta 38, Winfield 32
Axtell 65, Linn 27
Bishop Miege 52, St. James Academy 31
Blue Valley 54, BV Southwest 52
BV Randolph 47, Wetmore 44
Caldwell 44, Flinthills 33
Central Plains 74, La Crosse 17
Centralia 78, Valley Heights 56
Chapman 50, Concordia 34
Cheney 54, Medicine Lodge 31
Cimarron 56, Stanton County 26
Circle 64, Buhler 36
Clay Center 44, Marysville 42, OT
Clifton-Clyde 50, Frankfort 46
Conway Springs 42, Garden Plain 38
Council Grove 54, Salina Sacred Heart 47
Crest 44, Oswego 31
Cunningham 42, Pratt Skyline 24
Derby 35, Newton 32
Elkhart 54, Lakin 38
Elyria Christian 36, Solomon 24
Eureka 68, Bluestem 63
Fairfield 50, Pretty Prairie 28
Fort Scott 49, Labette County 46, OT
Fredonia 46, Humboldt 40
Frontenac 67, Pittsburg Colgan 56
Galena 57, Baxter Springs 44
Garden City 48, Great Bend 38
Gardner-Edgerton 42, SM North 40
Goddard 48, Goddard-Eisenhower 40
Goessel 84, Peabody-Burns 13
Golden Plains 50, Cheylin 22
Greeley County 61, Deerfield 42
Halstead 42, Hoisington 29
Hartford 61, Lyndon 51
Haven 55, Lyons 26
Hays-TMP-Marian 53, Phillipsburg 36
Hesston 54, Larned 22
Highland Park 38, Topeka West 27
Hill City 41, Oakley 13
Holcomb 51, Goodland 39
Hoxie 45, Dighton 23
Hugoton 40, Colby 31
Independence 45, Girard 42
Iola 48, Anderson County 31
Jackson Heights 61, Oskaloosa 50
Jefferson West 37, Holton 28
Junction City 63, Shawnee Heights 52
Kapaun Mount Carmel 50, Wichita Southeast 36
KC Piper 62, Bonner Springs 28
KC Schlagle 73, KC Washington 33
KC Sumner 63, Atchison 43
Kingman 55, Hillsboro 30
Kinsley 39, Ellinwood 28
Kiowa County 61, Hodgeman County 36
Lansing 43, Tonganoxie 27
Lebo 58, Burlingame 42
Lee’s Summit Community Christian, Mo. 52, Heritage Christian 40
Liberal 46, Hays 38
Lincoln 40, Rock Hills 34
Little River 43, Rural Vista 37
Louisburg 48, Ottawa 44
Maize 51, Hutchinson 29
Manhattan 57, Emporia 43
Marion 58, Hutchinson Trinity 50
McPherson 81, El Dorado 18
Meade 43, Minneola 36
Moundridge 49, Inman 41
Nemaha Central 54, Royal Valley 43
Neodesha 58, Northeast-Arma 43
Nickerson 45, Dodge City 35
Northern Valley 79, Triplains-Brewster 48
Olathe East 60, SM East 22
Olathe North 49, Olathe West 46
Olathe South 54, Olathe Northwest 51, OT
Olpe 72, Osage City 34
Otis-Bison 37, Ness City 28
Paola 42, DeSoto 39
Parsons 64, Coffeyville 35
Perry-Lecompton 41, Riverside 38
Pike Valley 60, Natoma 48
Pittsburg 46, Chanute 39
Pleasant Ridge 49, McLouth 40
Pleasanton 39, Uniontown 29
Pratt 47, Smoky Valley 36
Quinter 34, Rawlins County 28
Remington 59, Ell-Saline 44
Rose Hill 48, Mulvane 23
Salina South 57, Wichita Campus 34
Santa Fe Trail 66, Osawatomie 42
Satanta 58, Ashland 56
Sedan 39, Udall 35
Sedgwick 42, Bennington 29
Shawnee Mission Christian 52, Topeka Heritage Christian 40
Silver Lake 58, Rossville 50
SM Northwest 40, Leavenworth 39
SM South 51, Lawrence Free State 41
SM West 46, Lawrence 44, OT
Smith Center 55, Ellis 39
South Barber 36, Hutchinson Central Christian 34
South Central 64, Pawnee Heights 30
Southeast 47, Riverton 39
Southeast Saline 36, Minneapolis 23
Spring Hill 51, Eudora 32
St. John 51, Victoria 19
St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 49, Chase 29
St. Mary’s 50, Rock Creek 40, OT
St. Paul 61, Altoona-Midway 6
St. Thomas Aquinas 47, Mill Valley 36
Stafford 45, Burrton 29
Sterling 54, Berean Academy 29
Stockton 66, Osborne 25
Sublette 41, Syracuse 39
Thunder Ridge 50, Tescott 14
Topeka Seaman 43, Topeka 42
Ulysses 41, Scott City 38
Valley Falls 36, Jefferson North 28
Washburn Rural 47, Topeka Hayden 24
Wellsville 72, West Franklin 32
West Elk 46, Oxford 16
Wheatland-Grinnell 62, Palco 26
Wichita Collegiate 55, Clearwater 24
Wichita East 50, Wichita West 18
Wichita Heights 62, Wichita North 21
Wichita Independent 38, Douglass 25
Wichita South 57, Wichita Bishop Carroll 46
Wilson 51, Sylvan-Lucas 21
Yates Center 52, Erie 42
POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
Beloit vs. Russell, ppd. to Feb 19.
Logan vs. Weskan, ccd.

TMP/Phillipsburg Basketball

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By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post

Girls: TMP 53, Phillipsburg 36

PHILLIPSBURG, Kan.-TMP and Phillipsburg opened up with a sluggish offensive first quarter with the Lady Monarchs leading 9-7 after the first. TMP would get the offense going in the second quarter as they outscored the Lady Panthers 20-4 to take a 29-11 halftime lead. The story of the half was the TMP defense as they forced 14 first half turnovers.

The two teams played a far even second half with TMP coming out on top 53-36. Phillipsburg drops to 5-11 on the season and 2-6 in the Mid Continent League. The Lady Monarchs improve to 14-2 overall and 7-0 in the MCL. Ashley Babcock and Kylie Soliday led the Lady Panthers with seven points apiece. TMP was led by Aubrey Koenigsman with 16 and Jillian Lowe with 10.

TMP will host Great Bend on Tuesday night, their first home game since January 16th.

ROSE MCFARLAND INTERVIEW

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Boys: Phillipsburg 79, TMP 61

PHILLIPSBURG, Kan.-Phillipsburg used an early 12-0 run and pushed their lead to 15-7 after the first quarter. The Panthers continued their run in second quarter and led 27-9 midway through the quarter. That is when TMP woke up. The Monarchs would go on a run of their own to make it a game. TMP used an 18-4 spurt at the end of the second quarter to pull within four points at 31-27 at the half.

TMP would cut the the Panther’ lead to two points early in the third quarter but that would be as close as the Monarchs would get. Phillipsburg would outscore TMP 25-12 the rest of the quarter to take control of the game. The Panthers would control much of the fourth quarter and picked up the 79-61 win.

Phillipsburg improves to 16-1 on the year and 8-0 in the Mid Continent League. TMP drops to 11-5 and 6-1 in the MCL. TMP will host Great Bend on Tuesday night in Hays.

JOE HERTEL INTERVIEW

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

 

Hays basketball splits at Liberal

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Girls

#3-5A Liberal 46 – Hays 38

The Hays High Lady Indians entered Friday’s nights game in Liberal as the leaders in the Western Athletic Conference at 4-0.  The one game lead that Hays held onto in the league race was because of a victory over Liberal.  That loss was still the only loss for Liberal on the season entering Friday night.

All of the Lady Indians’ first quarter points came off the bench after neither team scored for the first three and a half minutes.  Brooke Denning hit three three pointers to trigger an 11-2 run.  Hays led by seven at 11-4 at the end of the run.  Liberal’s first four points came from the free throw line and they didn’t make their first field goal until the first quarter buzzer sounded on an offensive put back.

The basket pulled Liberal back to a 11-6 deficit and started a 12-2 run to take a 16-13 lead.  Hays tied the game at three on a Madyson Flax three point play that included the Lady Indians only free throw attempt of the first half.  Liberal made 9 of 11 attempts including two in the final thirty seconds to take a 20-18 lead at half time.

Highlights

Hays outscored Liberal 12-5 in the third quarter that allowed a the Lady Indians to take a 30-25 lead to the fourth quarter.  After scoring just 25 points through three quarter, the Lady Red got in a groove from the free throw line.  After a 6-0 run by Liberal to take a lead at 34-32, Savannah Schneider would convert on a three point play to tie the game at 36.  The Lady Indians would only score two points in the final 3:24 and lose 46-38.  Liberal made 7 of 9 free throws over the decisive stretch of the game.

Liberal made 24 of 33 free throw attempts while Hays made 11 of 14.  Neither team shot above 25% for the game from the field.

Coach Haley Wolf

Hays was led by the 16 of Brooke Denning and Savannah Schneider scored 11.

Hays falls to 10-6 on the year and 4-1 in the WAC.  Liberal is now 15-1 and 4-1 in conference.  Liberal is ranked #3 in 5A.

Boys

Hays 68 – Liberal 57

The first half featured runs from each team that led to a 32-30 lead for Hays at half time.  Liberal opened the game on a 10-4 run that was followed by an Indian 10-3 run.  Liberal took a 18-17 lead after the first quarter following a Cole Murphy three pointer that cut the Hays deficit down to one.

Liberal gained a five point lead in the second quarter after a 9-3 run with two minutes left in the half.  The Indians responded with a 7-0 run to close that half and take a 32-30 lead.  The Indians started the game just two of their first fourteen shots from the field and then made eight of their next fourteen shots.

Highlights

 

After hitting six three pointers in the first half but made just two of twelve in the second half.  Hays never did trail in the second half and took a six point lead early in third quarter.  Liberal did tie the game at once at 42 and then had the ball three times down to the Indians 43-42.  The Indians though held on defense and scored points in the final ninety seconds to take a lead to the fourth quarter 48-42.

Liberal got within three thirty seconds into the fourth quarter before the Indians made three straight three pointers to grab their first double digit lead of the night.  The separation provided on those three shots allowed Hays to keep the Redskins at arms length for a 68-57 win.

Coach Rick Keltner

Hays was led by Ethan Nunnery with 16.  Cole Murphy added 14, Kyler Koenke 13 and Tradon McCrae 12.  Peyton Kieffer scored eight and grabbed a career high 13 rebounds.

Hays improves to 11-5 on the year and is 5-0 in the Western Athletic Conference.  Liberal falls to 6-10 and 0-5.

Tiger softball falls twice in San Antonio

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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Fort Hays State was just one out away from a shutout win in its first game Friday (Feb. 9), but a two-out rally led to an extra-inning loss against Cameron University before falling by run-rule to Tarleton State in game two. FHSU fell in eight innings to Cameron, 3-2, then in five innings to Tarleton State, 16-3. The Tigers moved to 1-4 overall on the season.

Cameron 3, Fort Hays State 2 (8 inn.)
Hailey Chapman was throwing a gem against Cameron through 20 outs in the first contest Friday. However, in a stunning turn of events, she and the Tigers could not find the 21st before Cameron rallied for a pair of runs in the blink of an eye. In just two batters, the Aggies used a pair of timely hits to turn a 2-hit, 12-strikeout shutout for Chapman into a tie game. With the international tiebreaker incorporated right away in the eighth, the Tigers could not score before the Aggies pushed across a run in the bottom half of the inning to steal away the game.

Chapman was nearly unhittable through the first 6.1 innings, racking up 12 strikeouts with just one hit allowed. A first inning single was all that interrupted what could have been a no-hit bid at that point as Chapman sat down 13 consecutive batters from the third inning all the way to one out in the seventh. The only other blemish besides the hit was a batter hit by pitch to start the third. Annie Combs disrupted Chapman’s dominance in the seventh with a one-out double.

The double did not rattle Chapman as she induced an infield pop out of a pinch hitter. All she needed was the final out, but a stroke of luck for pinch hitter Raley Long triggered an instant two-run rally. Long managed to hit a dribbler right in front of the plate and was able to beat the ball to first base. All the while, Combs wheeled around third on the play and scored. Lauren Mason re-entered the game to run at first base for Combs, stole second, then came in to tie the game on a single to left center field by another pinch hitter, Madyson Marvulli. Chapman finally got another infield pop up to end the inning, but not before the Aggies found a way to force extra innings.

The game went to the international tiebreaker right away. Terran Caldwell started on second base to open up the top of the eighth, but could not get to third right away as Grace Philop was ruled out on batter’s interference. Two groundouts later, Caldwell was stranded at third leaving the Aggies with a chance to win the game in the bottom half of the inning. Following a walk to the first batter to set up a force at second and third, the Aggies executed classic international tiebreaker procedure by getting a sacrifice bunt down to move the runners up to third and second with one out. Then Kaylyn Smith hit a ball to second that Veronica Knittig mishandled and the winning run came across to score for Cameron.

Chapman took a tough luck loss in 7.1 innings pitched, while Rylee Wilmon benefitted from her team’s late rally to get a complete-game win. Wilmon moved to 2-1 on the year by allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out six. The Aggies moved to 5-2 overall on the year with the win.

Tarleton State 16, Fort Hays State 3
Fort Hays State held an early 2-0 lead in its second contest of the day, but undefeated Tarleton State put up bunches of runs in the second, third, and fourth innings to down FHSU 16-3 by run rule. Tarleton State (7-0) produced at least seven runs for the sixth time in seven games this season

Bailey Kennedy put the Tigers on top with a two-out, two-RBI single in the bottom of the first, but starting pitcher Carrie Clarke ran into control issues that triggered an eight-run second inning for the TexAnns.

Clarke issued a pair of walks before Marisa Flores doubled down the right field line to plate two runs and tie the game. Clarke got the second out of the inning on a fielder’s choice, leaving just a runner at first. A full-count walk issued to Maddie Quintanar began more struggles for Clarke. She issued two more walks in a row, one on five pitches and the next on four to force in the go-ahead run. A hit parade for the TexAnns broke out immediately after. An infield single plated the fourth run of the inning and a double plated two more before Clarke turned the ball over to reliever Sierra Rodriguez, who struggled as well. Rodriguez gave up a two-run single to the first batter she faced and allowed a walk before getting a fly out to end the rally. All eight runs in the inning were the responsibility of Clarke.

Rodriguez went on to allow eight runs of her own on eight hits over the next two innings as Clarke re-entered the pitching circle with one out in the fourth. Clarke got a line-out double play to end a five-run fourth for Tarleton State.

A pinch-hit single in the fifth inning by Jeni Mohr would help the Tigers get their final run of the game. Moving up to second on a Terran Caldwell walk, Mohr came in to score from second on a two-out RBI single by Grace Philop. Tarleton State picked up the final out immediately following to invoke the run rule after five innings. Clarke took her first loss of the season in the pitching circle.

Haley Freyman of Tarleton State picked up the win, allowing two runs on four hits over four innings of work. TSU reliever Julia Wernet pitched the fifth inning, allowing one run on two hits and a walk to the Tigers.

Fort Hays State looks to get back in the win column on Saturday when it faces Eastern New Mexico at 10 am and St. Edward’s at 4:45 pm.

Kansas Legislature updates sexual harassment policy

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top leaders updated the Kansas Legislature’s policy against sexual harassment on Friday without requiring an outside review of complaints or altering their longstanding approach of having them handled as privately as possible.

The revised policy approved by the top seven legislative leaders is more specific about how allegations of misconduct will be handled, particularly from legislative interns. It specifically says lawmakers identified in “well-founded” complaints could face formal — and public — discipline in the House and Senate, such as censure.

But the revised policy stops short of mandating annual sexual harassment training for legislators and their staff, and complaints still will be handled by legislative leaders or the Legislature’s director of administrative services. It still says complaints will be “handled as discreetly as possible.”

Leaders from both parties said they will keep working with the Women’s Foundation, a Kansas City, Missouri-based nonprofit that promotes gender equity and that further updates are possible. They said they wanted to make some improvements quickly; the previous policy had not been updated since 1994.

“It’s not the final product, but this a step in the right direction,” said Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican.

Legislative leaders initiated their review of the policy after the ex-chief of staff for a former Democratic legislative leader said publicly in October that an unnamed lawmaker once asked her for sex in 2015 and described harassment as “rampant.” She said female college interns regularly served as after-hours designated drivers for intoxicated lawmakers in 2016.

Her statements came amid a national wave of misconduct allegations against prominent figures in multiple industries. Legislators in at least nine other states have been forced to step down during the past seven months.

Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer issued an executive order Monday mandating annual sexual harassment training for roughly 20,000 executive branch employees under his control. He sent a letter Friday to the state’s elected attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer and insurance commissioner, urging them to adopt similar policies.

But Kansas House Minority Leader Jim Ward, a Wichita Democrat, said the Legislature’s new policy is not strong enough, partly because it lacks an outside review of complaints.

“We need independent folks that are trained in this area,” Ward said.

Other legislative leaders said setting up an independent review — and figuring out how to pay for it — will take time.

Also, legislative leaders view their director of administrative services as nonpartisan and independent, even though they hire him. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, said in the past, the director has acted as a “disciplinarian” to enforce leaders’ administrative policies.

The Legislature’s new policy requires sexual harassment training for legislative employees at least once every two years. Top lawmakers have said they can’t mandate training for legislators because they are elected, but the policy calls for it to be made available. The old policy did not require training.

“It’s far better than what we’ve had,” Hensley said.

Deputies arrested Kansas man for Tuesday night robbery

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SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement are investigating a robbery and have made an arrest.

Just before 9p.m. Tuesday, deputies received a call of a robbery at the Viking BP, 4700 NW Hunters Ridge in Topek

photo courtesy Shawnee Co. Sheriff

a, according to Sgt. Todd Staulbaumer.

Upon arrival deputies were told a white male, approximately 6-foot1, thin build, early 20’s, dressed in black with his face covered, entered the store and demanded money.

No weapon was displayed. The subject left the store and fled to the northeast.   A K-9 officer checked the area but lost the trail in the Hunters Ridge Apartment Complex parking lot.

Shawnee County detectives were able to develop a suspect through the course of the investigation.  On Friday, deputies booked Mason J. Wages, 21, Topeka, into the Shawnee County Dept. of Corrections for Robbery.

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a robbery and asking for help to identify a suspect.

Just before 9p.m. Tuesday, deputies received a call of a robbery at the Viking BP, 4700 NW Hunters Ridge in Topeka, according to Sgt. Todd Staulbaumer.

Upon arrival deputies were told a white male, approximately 6-foot1, thin build, early 20’s, dressed in black with his face covered, entered the store and demanded money.

No weapon was displayed. The subject left the store and fled to the northeast.   A K-9 officer checked the area but lost the trail in the Hunters Ridge Apartment Complex parking lot.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007 or Detective Kevin Kasl 785-251-2248

Errors prove costly in Tigers loss at Newman

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WICHITA, Kan. – Defensive miscues and timely hitting allowed the Newman Jets to rally in the late innings and defeat the Fort Hays State baseball team on a chilly Friday afternoon at McCarthy Field (Feb. 9), 10-3. The Tigers dip to 4-2 on the year, while the Jets move to 1-1 after evening things out in their first series of the year. The teams are scheduled to return to Larks Park on Monday (Feb. 12) for the rubber game of the series. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

Fort Hays State limited Newman to just two runs over the first five innings of the game, but the home team erupted for eight runs over its final three at bats to pull away.

The Tigers committed five errors in the loss, nearly as many as the team made in its first five games combined (eight).

Newman jumped in front with a pair of runs in the second inning before the Tigers finally broke through in the top of the fourth. Addison Kaasch pulled a 2-2 pitch down the left field line, legging out the first triple of the year for a Tiger. The junior sprinted home in the next at bat when Jordan Wilkerson tapped an RBI groundout to short, cutting the Jet lead in half.

Alex Ruxlow came out of the bullpen to get the Tigers out of trouble in the bottom of the third, getting a strikeout to leave the bases loaded. The senior silenced the Jet bats for the next two innings, giving the FHSU offense a chance to rally back.

Wilkerson opened a two-out rally in the top of the sixth with an infield single before swiping second. A walk to Colton Helm loaded the bases after Bryce Whitchurch was hit by a pitch, forcing Newman to go to the bullpen. Cody Starkel stepped into the box as a pinch hitter and came through with a big base knock, putting the Tigers in front 3-2 with a two-RBI single to left center.

Newman went back in front for good in the sixth with four unearned runs on three errors before tacking on four more insurance runs in the eighth. FHSU was unable to capitalize on a pair of hits over the final three frames, twice leaving runners in scoring position.

Jason Nicholson and Kaasch each collected a pair of hits, accounting for four of FHSU’s eight base knocks on the day.

Ruxlow (0-1) was charged with the loss despite giving up just two unearned runs on five hits over three innings of work while striking out a pair. All five pitchers to toe the rubber were charged with two runs.

Youth camp for muscular dystrophy moves from Kansas

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LINWOOD, Kan. (AP) — A summer camp for children with muscular dystrophy is moving from Kansas to Missouri, causing confusion for families on both sides of the state line.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association announced Feb. 1 it’s merging its annual camps in Linwood, Kansas, and its camp in Springfield, Missouri. The new regional camp will now be held at Camp Barnabas, a Christian ministry at Teas Trail near Purdy, Missouri.

Families, campers and camp counselors in both states have expressed sadness and confusion about the decision. Those in the Kansas City area are now faced with extra fees, longer travel distances, uncertainty about long-term camper-counselor relationships and questions about the new venue’s religious mission.

The association says it’s looking to improve the camping experience for its families nationwide.

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