KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — An expert witness called by Secretary of State Kris Kobach in a trial over Kansas’ voter registration law endured intense questioning over his estimation that 18,000 noncitizens have voted in the state.
Richman-photo courtesy Old Dominion University
Jesse Richman, an associate professor of political science at Old Dominion, testified Tuesday in the sixth day of a federal lawsuit challenging the law, which requires people to show documentation when registering to vote.
Richman has offered various estimates, ranging from 1,000 up to 18,000, based on surveys he conducted. Kobach has said the 18,000 estimate is the best available number to show the law is needed to address widespread voter fraud.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Richman acknowledged under cross-examination that his surveys weren’t peer reviewed. Instead, 200 political scientists signed a letter criticizing Richman’s work.
All Kansas counties are in drought condition according to the March 6 U.S. Drought Monitor map.
OFFICE OF GOV.
TOPEKA – Today Governor Jeff Colyer, issued Drought Declarations for Kansas counties with Executive Order 18-11 at a press conference with Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey and Kansas Water Office Director Tracy Streeter. The declaration includes all 105 counties either in an emergency, warning or watch status.
“The entire State of Kansas has been considered in drought or abnormally dry conditions for the past several weeks,” said Governor Colyer. “This has led to an extremely high risk of fire hazards and many have already occurred.”
The drought declaration placed 28 counties in emergency status, 29 into a warning status and 48 into a watch status. This action was recommended by Tracy Streeter, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. Over the past six months the state-wide average precipitation was only 66 percent of normal and in January and February the state-wide average precipitation was even less, at 43 percent of normal.
“While wildfires are the most urgent concern at this point, water supplies can be dramatically impacted in a very short period of time, especially as we start to enter into spring and summer months,” said Streeter. “The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to monitor the situation closely as future outlooks call for drought persisting and make recommendations to the Governor as necessary.”
Secretary of Agriculture McClaskey, who was also present at the press conference, remarked on the potential impact the drought could have on Kansas agriculture, saying “The Kansas Department of Agriculture is committed to serving Kansas farmers and ranchers, especially during challenging times like the current drought. Whether that means making sure regulations and statutes are in place to move hay or working with our federal partners to gain access to additional grazing land, we stand ready to work with farmers and ranchers and all of our partners in agriculture.”
Counties who are in emergency stage are eligible for emergency use of water from certain state fishing lakes due to the Kansas Water Office (KWO) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism (KDWPT).
For more detailed information about current conditions, see the Kansas Climate Summary and Drought Report on the Kansas Water Office website at: www.kwo.ks.gov
The Fort Hays State University blood drive is going on today and Wednesday.
Give blood until 5 p.m. today and between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday in the FHSU Union Ballroom. Contact 1-800-RED CROSS or go online at redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor Code: FHSUTigers for appointment.
Kansas politicians are closely watching developing trade policies with an eye to whether they could start a trade war that might hurt industries in the state that rely on exports.
President Donald Trump’s administration has been in talks with Canada and Mexico to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.
A trade war might hurt the export of wheat and other Kansas exports, some of the state’s politicians worry. FILE PHOTO / HARVEST PUBLIC MEDIA
“NAFTA is the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere,” Trump said while campaigning for office, “but certainly ever signed in this country,”
Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer said he supports the negotiations. Yet Colyer and industry trade groups asked Trump in a letter last week not to scrap the deal because that could hurt major Kansas export industries such as agriculture and aviation.
“We want to make sure that Kansas industries continue to thrive and grow,” the governor said. “We’re a very competitive state.”
“A strong steel and aluminum industry are vital to our national security, absolutely vital,” Trump said at a ceremony announcing the tariffs.
State Rep. Jim Ward, the top Democrat in the Kansas House, said he’s concerned Trump’s actions could spark retaliatory tariffs, which could impact industries beyond manufacturing.
“Agriculture would be devastated by tariffs or a trade war,” Ward said
The south central part of Kansas is highly focused on manufacturing, specifically aviation.
At a recent stop at Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran pointed to an airplane fuselage as an item that could be impacted by aluminum tariffs.
“The fuselage that we’re celebrating here at Spirit is 100 percent aluminum,” Moran said. “(A tariff) has a consequence in the price.”
Aerospace Industries Association CEO Eric Fanning said commercial aviation relies on imported aluminum and steel.
President Trump’s tariff on the metals was softened, though, by excluding Canada and Mexico.
Canada has been the top source of imported aluminum in the U.S. in recent years, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Three cases of the measles have been confirmed at a child care facility in suburban Kansas City.
CDC photo-skin of a patient after 3 days of measles infection
The Johnson County, Kansas, Department of Health and Environment says on its website Tuesday that all three cases are in children under the age of 1, who are too young to be vaccinated. The department says it has reached out to contact those at risk for the disease.
The affected children and people they have been in contact with will be excluded from the facility for three weeks.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. Cases in the U.S. are rare since creation of the vaccine, but the illness kills 146,000 people worldwide each year.
The disease is spread through the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing.
WASHINGTON— Member of the Kansas congressional delegation are applauding President Trump’s nomination of Mike Pompeo, former 4th District Congressman from Kansas and current CIA Director, to be Secretary of State
Kansans are proud to have Mike Pompeo selected as Secretary of State, and I look forward to working with him to advance our interests around the globe. I also thank Rex Tillerson for his principled service to our country.
What a great choice by @realDonaldTrump, @RealMikePompeo is a proven leader! As Sec. of State I know he will serve with honor and integrity as he has done for our military, Kansas, and the @CIA.
Very proud of my friend and fellow Kansan Mike Pompeo, who @realDonaldTrump has selected as the next Secretary of State. Mike continues to serve and be a valuable asset to our nation & I couldn’t think of a better nominee. My best to you and your wonderful family. #Pompeopic.twitter.com/3BmtGstVrw
Mike Pompeo is an excellent choice to serve as America’s 70th Secretary of State. Kansans already know and trust Mike’s leadership and I’m confident he will represent us well abroad. I wish him and his family the best as he begins this next phase of service to our nation.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Wichita Police Department recruit after a weekend arrest.
Just after 11:30 a.m. Sunday, March 11, police were contacted by a 21- year-old woman at the patrol west police station, according to officer Paul Cruz.
She reported an incident in which she was battered and her property was damaged by her 21-year-old boyfriend.
Police arrested and booked the boyfriend, a WPD recruit, into jail for domestic battery and criminal damage to property.
The recruit began his employment in January 2018 and has been attending the police academy. This recruit is no longer employed with the WPD, according to Cruz.
The investigation is being handled by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office as part of an agreement to investigate potential criminal cases involving WPD personnel.
Hays firefighters Travis Hageman and Justin Choitz test a fire hydrant in the 2000 block of Vine Street.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Hays firefighters are testing the city’s more than 1,100 fire hydrants this month.
Each test takes 8 to 10 minutes, according firefighter Travis Hageman.
He and firefighter Justin Choitz were working on the east side of Vine Street Friday afternoon, in front of Dillons and Peerless Tires. Those two hydrants happened to be the ones used by the Hays Fire Department during a recent structure fire at C & E Doors.
The testing is done annually and compared with the previous year’s results.
“If there’s a discrepancy from year to year, we investigate to see if there’s a problem with the system,” said Choitz. “Maybe a valve is closed somewhere or the supply is getting used a lot more than we anticipated.”
The water supply for fire hydrants comes from static underground tanks at the Hays Water Department on south Vine Street and the city’s two water towers.
“We find out how much water pressure there is in the system,” Choitz explained. “Then we exercise the system and check the quantity of water for a minute or so.”
“It also helps purge the line of sediment whether it’s rust, mud, dirt or debris. It’s just like the water lines in your house. If you don’t flow the water once in a while, you’ll see some rusty water.” The associated flushing of water mains allows chlorine to be distributed throughout the system to eliminate bio-filming in the water mains.
The top of each fire hydrant is painted one of four colors – red, orange, green or blue – depending on how much water flows through it. The base of all Hays fire hydrants is yellow.
Inspecting the fire hydrants also ensures there is no damage or obstruction that would interfere with the prompt use of the hydrants in an emergency.
Slight discoloration of the water supply may occur during the hydrant flushes, although there is no health risk to the consumer.
Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center is hosting several free activities over spring break (Saturday, March 17 through Sunday, March 25).
The KWEC, 592 NE K-156 Highway, is at the southeast side of Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, northeast of Great Bend. KWEC’s spring break hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Programs are listed by date:
Saturday, March 17: “Casting Skills” – Visitors who want to show off their fish casting skills can put their talent to the test at the KWEC for a chance to win a prize. FHSU graduate student Jared Engelbert will give instructions on how to make the perfect cast. After some practice, it’s time for a little contest for children. Those that are able to drop the end of their line in the target area will have their names put into a raffle for a prize.
Sunday, March 18, and Monday, March 19: “Birds and Bernoulli” – How do birds fly? Birds are the masters of aeronautical engineering. Curtis Wolf, KWEC director, will use some simple methods to show the concepts of bird flight. Visitors can then put what they learn into practice by making a paper airplane bird.
Tuesday, March 20: “A Bird’s Life” – FHSU graduate student Katya Frank will explore the life of birds, beginning with an activity to learn some important ways to help identify common local birds. Then, visitors can build their own bird feeders or nesting material balls to take home and help their backyard feathered friends flourish this spring.
Wednesday, March 21: “Casting Skills, Take Two” – For those who could not make Saturday, here’s a second chance to hone fish-casting skills! Engelbert is back with a fish casting workshop and contest. Prizes are available to the best casters.
Thursday, March 22: “Ready to Rock?” – Young geologists can join FHSU graduate student Gentry Holaday to learn about some of the awesome properties of rocks and minerals.
Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24: “A Photosynthesis Battle” – FHSU graduate student Tayler Kriss will give the ins and outs of photosynthesis using corn and wheat plants to teach how plants use light and air differently from each other. Visitors will also be able to plant seeds to take home to watch grow.
Sunday, March 25: “Ready to Rock, Again?” – Holaday returns to repeat Thursday’s program for those who just can’t get enough of rocks, or who could not be there the first time around.
The free, come-and-go activities are open to all ages. For more information, visit wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu or call 877-243-9268.
Congratulations to the Northern Valley Huskies on their state basketball championship over the weekend.
We are anticipating the arrival of the cost study report on K-12 education as the legislature forms the response to the Kansas Supreme Court on the school funding formula which was ruled unconstitutional last year. Once the numbers are analyzed, it is the hope the response is delivered back to the court by the March 30 deadline.
Speaking of schools, last week, House Republicans unveiled the Kansas Safe and Secure Schools Act, a comprehensive approach to make schools safer for our kids by ensuring coordination with schools and local law enforcement to improve school security infrastructure. Principally, HB 2773 would do the following:
Coordinate with the Kansas State Board of Education and other agencies to develop statewide standards for safe and secure school buildings.
Empower local school districts to coordinate with local law enforcement and emergency management agencies to review and evaluate current building infrastructure policies and procedures.
Establish the Safe and Secure Schools Grant Program with funds that can be used for improvements to any facet of the school safety and security plan including infrastructure and training.
Provide standardized firearm safety education programs that may be offered by school districts.
Appropriate funds to the Department of Education, which will be used for two FTE positions to review and evaluate school safety and security plans.
The provisions of this bill would encourage schools to make improvements, such as reinforced doors, additional security cameras, and training opportunities to enhance the overall security of school grounds. The Safe and Secure Schools Act will advance communication between local school districts and law enforcement. A safe and secure learning environment is one of the highest priorities in our state, and this establishes an opportunity for all Kansas school districts. Additionally, for the purposes of promoting the safety and protection of students via education, the State Board of Education would be required to establish curriculum guidelines for a standardized firearm safety education program.
I serve on the House Taxation Committee and we worked HB 2572, which concerns making economic incentives data more centralized and transparent. House Sub. for HB 2572 requires that the Department of Commerce collect data from economic development incentive programs that provide more than $50,000 in annual incentives. This data from multiple years would be stored in a database and would be searchable on the Department’s website. Specific information would be provided, including names or counties and recipients who receive benefits from various programs, including STAR bonds. Descriptions and histories of the programs, along with purpose, goals, and qualifications would also be included. Another component is the program cost and return on investment. The Committee adopted the Substitute bill amendment and advanced it favorably to the House for its consideration. On Thursday, the House Committee of the Whole debated the measure. On Friday, the bill passed the House with a vote of 114-7.
Over the past week, fires have burned across the state, fueled by dangerously dry conditions and strong winds. Governor Jeff Colyer issued disaster declarations for the following counties: Barber, Clark, Ellis, Greenwood, Harper, Kingman, Logan, Reno, Smith, and Stevens.
The National Guard reported approximately 50 fires were reported to the State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka since Monday, burning more than 25,000 acres. Aerial and ground firefighting resources were coordinated by the SEOC through the Kansas Forest Service and Kansas Army National Guard to augment fire suppression efforts by local responders. Soldiers of the Kansas National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation, along with troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol and personnel from the Kansas Forest Service provided aerial and ground support to local crews battling fires.
The State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka is providing support and coordination of state and federal resources as requested by the counties. County emergency managers may continue to report incidents and request state assistance to augment local response and recovery actions through the state’s 24-hour emergency notification line.
A big thank you to the volunteer firefighters and first responders! Please continue to pray for rain.
Oh by the way, I have moved offices in the statehouse. I am now on the 5th floor at 512-N. The phone number stays the same. Please feel free to reach out with concerns and questions, I will do my best to respond it a timely manner. My phone number is (785) 296-7463 and email is: [email protected], my cell number is (785) 302-8416. You can also check out kenforkansas.com.
Hays Post is launching its inaugural Triple-Chance Bracket Challenge! Enter your picks for the upcoming men’s college basketball championship and have a chance to win $250 CASH or Popt Gourmet Popcorn gift baskets.
Click HERE to play! Fill out the simple registration form, and make your picks.
Plus, pick all 63 games correctly, and you have a chance to win $1 million!
Brought to you by Popt Gourmet Popcorn, Hays Greenhouse, Kaiser Liquor and Wendy’s of Hays.
