House and Senate negotiators struck a tentative deal Wednesday to prevent changes in federal tax law from ratcheting up state taxes for Kansans.
If lawmakers don’t act, changes in federal tax filing could trigger an increase in state income taxes for some Kansans. FILE / CREATIVE COMMONS-FLICKR
The Senate wanted broader tax cuts in the same bill, but couldn’t coax the House team to go along.
Rep. Steve Johnson, who chairs the House tax committee, said his chamber didn’t want to go beyond addressing the federal impact in ways that would produce deeper cuts to state government revenue.
“It’s all of the tax cuts and these targeted tax cuts that have given us heartburn,” he said.
Legislative staff and the Kansas Department of Revenue estimate the bill now on the table would cost the state about $80 million in revenue for the fiscal year that starts in July.
After Congress’ overhaul of taxes last year, it seemed some Kansans would end up paying more to the state because of changes to deductions and itemizing.
Legislative leaders want to avoid that by ensuring those Kansans can still itemize on state tax returns. The Senate pushed through a bill to that effect last month, arguing the state couldn’t, in good conscience, profit from the federal reforms.
“The surplus from this unanticipated windfall,” Republican Senate President Susan Wagle urged, “should be returned to the Kansas taxpayers.”
But the Senate wanted tax cuts for Kansans beyond that. Its bill raised the standard deduction and fully reinstated deductions for mortgage interest, property taxes and medical expenses.
Senate negotiator Caryn Tyson, who is running for Congress, argued that after the Legislature passed a two-year $1.2 billion hike last year, raising the standard deduction would help all Kansans now looking at larger tax bills.
But with the state recovering from years of fiscal woes and facing pressure from the Kansas Supreme Court to increase funding for public schools, the House balked at that idea.
Ultimately senators backed down on the standard deduction during Wednesday’s negotiations. They compromised with the House, too, on restoring the mortgage interest and other targeted deductions immediately. Instead those will be phased in.
Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for KPR a partner in the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda.
Celia Llopis-Jepsen is a reporter for the Kansas News Service You can reach her on Twitter @Celia_LJ.
Something Blue in Hays has expanded its business and split into two different spaces with two different merchandise lines.
The store has moved its wedding dresses and accessories to 1012 Main St.
Kayla Rathbun, owner, said the new space gives more visibility to the store’s wedding dresses. The dresses had been stored on the second floor of the Something Blue’s space at 1008 Main St. Something Blue moved into the new 1,500-square-foot space on April 1.
The space was formerly occupied by Gypsy Rose. Some of the products lines at Gypsy Rose, including purses, are now available across the street at Salon Ten O Seven.
“We were hoping expanding would put more of our gowns in the view of people,” Rathbun said. “It has worked already. We have had a lot more appointments. We have had a lot more walk-ins. We see a lot more people stopped at the stoplight look in, so it is obviously working.”
The store is carrying about 400 wedding gowns with more coming. Rathbun said she is seeing new trends in gowns with many brides opting for ivory, champagne or blush over white. The store has also seen an increase in couples opting for fall and December weddings over the usual spring and summer events.
“It is becoming a trend. People don’t want to stand out there in 90-degree, 100-degree weather,” Rathbun said. “They would rather have their ceremony in the church and then have their reception and not take as many pictures outside and wedding gowns in snowy weather can make beautiful pictures.”
The store carries some mother-of-the-bride dresses, bridesmaid dresses and flower girl dresses, but Rathbun said she plans to expand those offerings. The store carries about 100 bridesmaid gowns currently and more online. Rathbun said the store didn’t have room to carry the bridesmaid dresses at the former location.
Rathbun said the bridal store is a needed service in the community. To find much of a selection, most brides would have to go to Wichita or Kansas City.
“I’d rather keep our money local,” she said, noting the store donates to a variety of local charities.
Something Blue will be open noon to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m to 3 p.m Saturdays and by appointment.
Something Blue at 1008 Main St. is now Bluetique.
The 1,350-sqaure-foot space at 1008 Main St. has been renamed Bluetique and will be a boutique. It will focus on clothing for men, women and children. The store also sells food items, decorative items and still stocks some of Something Blue’s wedding accessories.
The store has expanded its children’s clothing line. The store carries kids’ clothing from newborn to size 10/12.
“I have two kids,” she said. “I know it is hard to find places around here to shop for them.”
In women’s clothing, Bluetique carries small to 3X and in men’s the store carries up to a 2X.
Bluetique’s hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
Something Blue has grown significantly over the last three years. Rathbun started making paper flowers and bouquets and selling them on Etsy. A year ago, she opened Something Blue as a bridal store, and her enterprise has grown from there. Although the store still offers paper flowers and bouquets for weddings, Rathbun has had to delegate most of that hand work to her employees.
She said the two stores keep her busy, but thought they are complimentary.
Bluetique carries men’s, women’s and children’s clothing as well as gift items.
“I think it works really well because over (at Something Blue) it is a more serious side. It is a big decision,” she said. “Over (at Bluetique) we get to have fun, and we get to participate in all the downtown events. I feel we get the best of both worlds.”
Rathbun, 33, said she had difficulty deciding what she wanted to do with her life, but she says she feels she has finally found her passion.
“Under my name in the yearbook, it said ‘undecided’, but now I feel like I finally figured it out,” she said.
“I love the boutique stuff,” she said. “I get to show my personality when I am looking for items to purchase for the store. I look for things that I think are fun or styles that I like and that I think other people will like too.”
Thursday A slight chance of rain and thunderstorms after 3pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 75. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night A 10 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Northwest wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
FridaySunny, with a high near 76. North wind 8 to 10 mph.
Friday NightMostly clear, with a low around 47. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.
SaturdaySunny, with a high near 85.
Saturday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 53.
DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have a suspect in custody.
Just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, police attempted to perform a traffic stop in north Lawrence on a green Dodge pickup driven by a suspect believed to have committed a previous armed robbery, according to Sgt. Amy Rhoads.
The driver, identified as 29-year-old Theoplis Lee Ellis of Kansas City fled southbound on 2nd Street toward downtown Lawrence. Police decided to terminate the pursuit due to safety concerns.
At approximately 12:43 p.m. the same vehicle was observed westbound on 7th Street from the downtown area. Officers swarmed the area to locate the vehicle, and witnesses reported seeing the vehicle driving recklessly on Iowa Street and attempted to stop the vehicle, but it fled southbound.
The driver then entered Kansas 10 eastbound from Iowa Street, with officers pursuing. Somewhere between Michigan Street and Louisiana Street the suspect vehicle left the highway to the south and officers lost sight of the vehicle as it traveled off road.
A county deputy in the area then located the vehicle a short time later, wrecked down an embankment in the area near where E 1400 Road crosses the Wakarusa River.
Deputies located and took Ellis into custody. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries sustained in the crash.
During the pursuit, a police vehicle was involved in a collision at 25th Street and Iowa Street. Initial information indicates the marked police vehicle was southbound on Iowa Street, involved in the pursuit, when an eastbound vehicle entered the intersection. The two vehicles collided. The driver of the other vehicle was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The officer involved was not injured. The department’s Accident Investigations Unit is conducting the investigation into the crash.
FORD COUNTY — A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Wednesday in Ford County.
Wednesday accident scene -photo courtesy Ford County Fire and EMS
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chrysler passenger vehicle driven by Frank Nall, 88, Offerle, was westbound on US 50 two miles west of Offerle.
Due to weather the driver could not see. The Chrysler traveled left of center and struck the fourth axle of the trailer on an eastbound semi driven by Almir Pracic, 47, Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
The accident temporarily blocked traffic on U.S. 50
TOPEKA – The Kansas Workers’ Compensation Fund (Fund), administered by the Kansas Insurance Department (KID), has closed more than 2,000 unresolved workers compensation cases during the past two-and-a-half years, according to Ken Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance.
“Our legal division has worked hard to reduce costs to the State of Kansas by finding a resolution to more than 2,000 of its workers compensation cases, some dating back to 1985,” Commissioner Selzer said. “These 2,000 cases represent more than half of the open files of the Workers Compensation Fund.”
The Fund resolution team, headed by Grace Lancaster, staff attorney; and assisted by Debbie Johnson, legal assistant, has closed the backlog by seeking dismissal of cases, modification of claims, or settling cases outright.
The Workers’ Compensation Fund, formed in 1993, provides swift recovery to employees affected by workplace injuries in situations where the employer does not have insurance and is unable to pay the claim.
If an administrative law judge finds that the case is valid; that the employee was uninsured at the time of the accident; and that the employer is unable to pay expenses related to the injury, then the Fund will begin to make payments, upon order from the court. Afterward, the Fund may seek reimbursement from the employer in a separate civil action.
In addition to the uninsured employer cases, the Workers Compensation Fund has assumed liability over Second Injury Fund cases. The Second Injury Fund law, which was repealed in 1993, was enacted to encourage employers to hire people with previous injuries or disabilities. Currently, Second Injury Fund cases continue to make up 57 percent of the open Workers’ Compensation Fund cases and are the focus of the fund’s efforts to lower its caseload.
“I am pleased with our department’s efforts to defray legal costs and provide efficient state government to Kansans,” Commissioner Selzer said.
PAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas man had admitted his role in the 2015 drug related death of a 33-year-old man in Larned.
Roe-photo Pawnee Co.
On Tuesday, James Allen Roe, 58, Larned, waived his preliminary hearing in District Court and entered a no contest plea to involuntary manslaughter, a severity level 5 person felony, according to the Pawnee County Attorney.
Authorities originally charged Roe with one count of distribution of a controlled substance causing death alleged to have occurred in Pawnee County on or about July 27, 2015.
The controlled substance alleged to have been distributed was a fentanyl transdermal patch. The charge stems from an ongoing investigation by the Larned Police Department and Coroner Dr. Lyle Noordhoek related to the accidental overdose death of Ryan J. Henderson.
Henderson was found non-responsive at his residence in Larned the morning of July 28, 2015. He was 33 at the time of this death.
Larned Police Department arrested Roe at his home on January 30, 2018, without incident. He currently released on a supervised bond. Sentencing has been scheduled for June 25.
KANSAS CITY (AP) – A Honduran man has admitted in federal court in Kansas City that he entered the U.S illegally for the 11th time.
Federal prosecutors say 33-year-old Jose Salazar-Aguilar pleaded guilty Wednesday. It was his second conviction for illegally entry into the country.
He faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison because he already was a convicted felon.
Salazar-Aguilar was arrested in February 2017 in Kansas City for drunken driving and resisting arrest. After he was released on bond, he was arrested by federal agents.
He also has previous convictions for delivery and possession of a controlled substance and forgery.
Prosecutors say he was last deported from the U.S. in August 2013.
SEWARD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect on drug charges.
Just after 4:30a.m. Tuesday, the Liberal Police Department Special Response Team served a search warrant at a residence in the 100 block of Harold Boulevard in furtherance of an ongoing drug investigation, according to Captain Patrick McClurg. Police seized quantities of suspected marijuana, heroin and methamphetamine.
The residence was occupied by three persons at the time of the search warrant service. A 22 year old male and a 21 year old female were taken into custody without incident. The couple’s child was taken into protective custody. No injuries were reported.
Affidavits of probable cause will be submitted to the Seward County Attorney’s Office seeking charges of distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of marijuana, distribution of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp, aggravated child endangerment and interference with law enforcement.
BOSTON (AP) – Mookie Betts belted three solo homers and J.D. Martinez also went deep, powering the Boston Red Sox to a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.
It was the fourth three-homer game for the 25-year-old Betts, who snapped a tie with Hall of Famer Ted Williams for most three-homer games in franchise history. Betts also became the first player in major league history with four three-homer games before turning 26, according to STATS.
AL East-leading Boston won for the third time in four games after losing 7-6 in 13 innings on Tuesday night.
Cheslor Cuthbert homered for Kansas City, and Drew Butera had a two-run double. The Royals were trying for consecutive wins for just the second time this season.
Promotions and grants of tenure will be celebrated at Fort Hays State University at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 3, in the Memorial Union’s Black and Gold Room.
Eight faculty members were granted tenure and promoted to the listed academic rank. The changes will take affect during the next academic year.
Tenured and Promoted
Dr. Gordon Carlson, associate professor of communications.
Dr. Carol Ellis, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders.
Dr. Justin Greenleaf, associate professor of leadership studies.
Dr. Trey Hill, associate professor of psychology.
Dr. Christopher Jochum, professor of teacher education.
Dr. Michael Martin, associate professor of applied business studies.
Tanya Smith, associate professor of nursing.
Dr. Valerie Zelenka, associate professor of teacher education.
Six faculty members were promoted to the listed academic rank:
Promoted
Dr. Rosa Maria Castaneda, associate professor of modern languages.
Dr. Tim Davis, professor of social work.
Dr. Eric Deyo, associate professor of physics.
Dr. Jenny Manry, professor of nursing.
Dr. Jian Sun, professor of political science.
Dr. Brett Weaver, professor of English.
Two faculty members were granted tenure:
Tenured
Dr. Melissa Hunsicker-Walburn, chair of the Department of Informatics.
Dr. Juti Winchester, assistant professor of history.
CLEVELAND (AP) – The Cleveland Browns traded tight end Randall Telfer to the Kansas City Chiefs for defensive end Dadi Nicolas.
A sixth-round pick in 2015, Telfer is the sixth veteran dealt by new Browns general manager John Dorsey, who continues to remold a team that has just one victory over the past two seasons.
Telfer started 19 games for Cleveland and was used primarily as a blocker. He caught five passes for 40 yards. After he was selected in 2015, Telfer sat out his rookie season while recovering from a foot injury.
Nicolas has history with Dorsey, who was Kansas City’s GM from 2013-16. He selected the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Nicolas in the 2016 sixth round.
The 25-year-old Nicolas appeared in 11 games as a rookie, but injured his knee in the regular-season finale and sat out 2017.
Since joining the Browns in December, Dorsey has traded quarterbacks DeShone Kizer, Kevin Hogan and Cody Kessler, cornerback Jason McCourty and defensive tackle Danny Shelton.
