Registration is now open for Biking Across Kansas 2019 and this year’s route will wind through northwest Kansas.
The event is scheduled for June 8 to 15 and starts at the Colorado border near Goodland. Other stops include Colby, Hill City, Hays and Wilson. The route ultimately ends in Atchison.
Click HERE for registration information or HERE for more details.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
This is the first time in years the Kansas Legislature will be entering the session without a budget deficit to battle.
Instead of looking for cuts or ways to increase revenue, local legislators said they will be looking at tax relief.
They also said they hope to give attention to programs that have suffered during the budget struggles, including KPERS and transportation.
Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, in a recent interview for Eagle TV’s Forum, said he would like to see a “decoupling” of state income taxes from federal income taxes.
As a result of Congress increasing the standard deduction on federal income taxes, many filing Kansas tax returns would no longer be able to itemize.
This would mean about a $40 million increase in tax revenue for the state of Kansas.
Billinger said he believed even if small businesses or individuals claimed a standard deduction on their federal taxes, they should be able to itemize their state taxes, which would put a portion of that $40 million back into the hands of taxpayers. Billinger said he would like to see this changes made retroactive for 2018.
Several local legislators said they also would consider reducing or eliminating the state sales tax on food, a campaign promise of Gov.-elect Laura Kelly.
Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, who is a member of the Taxation Committee, said he thought there was a firm resolution among legislators this year to not raise taxes. He said he would support a reduction in the sales tax on food, but he did not think it would be eliminated.
“I think we need to have a realistic look at where our dollars are,” he said. “Our economy in our area is still very much challenged in agriculture and oil production. Once we get those things back in, the economy will be a little stronger. If you look at the overall economy, it is doing well, but it could do better.”
Just as Billinger, Rahjes said he supports legislation that would address the changes in the federal tax code and send back money to the working Kansans.
Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, has been reappointed as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
“As far as the budget, my main goal is to do some corrective strategy and basically realigning our budget,” he said. “We have done some work on that in the last couple of years since I have been chairman, but there is still some of what I would call creative accounting techniques being used — mainly transfers not going to the Kansas Department of Transportation. There are some things we need to strategically correct with the state budget.”
In terms of transportation, Rahjes said he would specifically like to see KDOT put a priority on a project to widen and straighten Kansas Highway 383 in Norton and Phillips counties. That project has been on the KDOT project list for some time and has become a safety issue, Rahjes said.
The state is heading into the session with about a $900 million surplus, but Waymaster said the state needs to meet the obligations it already has before spending that money on new programs.
Those obligations include KPERS as well as increasing funding to the K-12 education by $90 million to satisfy a ruling by the Kansas Supreme Court in the ongoing school funding lawsuit.
Waymaster said he sees some additional funds coming into the Kansas coffers due to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that will allow states to collect sales tax on online purchases and another Supreme Court ruling that has legalized sports betting. However, he said he did not think either one of the changes will be significant revenue producers.
Waymaster said he did not think the Legislature would eliminate the sales tax on food, as that tax generates $300 million to $340 million in state revenue annually.
Gov.-elect Kelly said during her campaign that she would support Medicaid expansion, but some Republicans still oppose that measure, including Waymaster and Rahjes.
Although the federal government pays 90 percent of Medicaid expansion, both House members expressed concerns about how the state would pay for the other 10 percent, about $30 million to $80 million annually. The legislators also said they were concerned the federal government might decrease its contribution for Medicaid expansion in the future, leaving the state with a larger bill.
Billinger, however, said many of the state’s rural hospitals would benefit from Medicaid expansion.
“As long as there is a work component in it and it is revenue neutral, I am good with it,” Billinger said. “I think it is something we should look at.”
Legislation was passed last session that created a test program for cultivation of industrial hemp in Kansas. The federal Farm Bill further opened opportunities for growers nationwide by declaring industrial hemp a farm commodity. However, local legislators noted changes would have to be made to the state legislation to conform to the Farm Bill.
They hoped this corrective action could be made in time for the beginning of the hemp growing season in April.
Waymaster said he hopes to reintroduce a version of the Ad Astra Jobs Act, which he sponsored in 2017. The legislation would create a tax incentive program for businesses to move into rural communities and create jobs.
Rahjes said he would support a piece of legislation, which has been pre-filed for the 2019 session, that would place tougher restrictions on telemarketing calls to cell phones.
“What it has done is cause people to not pick up their phones anymore,” Rahjes said. “Everybody is screening their calls.”
Freshman Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, was contacted for this story, but said she would be better able to comment on the issues after she has been in Topeka for a few weeks.
Dedric Lawson had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Lagerald Vick added 12 points and four assists and No. 7 Kansas defeated No. 25 TCU 77-68
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Dedric Lawson had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Lagerald Vick added 12 points and four assists and No. 7 Kansas defeated No. 25 TCU 77-68 on Wednesday night.
Kansas City native Ochai Agbaji also added seven points four rebounds for Kansas (12-2, 2-1 Big 12) after relinquishing his redshirt eligibility on Tuesday following the season-ending injury to Udoka Azubuike. Agbaji made an immediate impact for the Jayhawks, scoring off an alley-oop in Kansas’ first possession with him on the court.
TCU (12-2, 1-1) continued to have troubles in Allen Fieldhouse, falling to 0-7 all-time there.
The Horned Frogs trailed 40-31 at halftime, but managed to stay in the game throughout. They got within two points of the Jayhawks with 10:33 remaining, but nine consecutive points from Lawson made it an 11-point deficit, which the Horned Frogs would ultimately fail to close.
RJ Nembhard scored a season-high 14 points for TCU while shooting 3-of-6 from behind the arc. He helped offset the absence of Jaylen Fisher, who led the Big 12 in 3-point percentage (44.1) before a right knee injury ahead of TCU’s conference opener sidelined him.
The first half saw seven lead changes before Kansas finally opened the gap to four points following a 3-pointer from Lagerald Vick. Three turnovers by the Horned Frogs and a missed 3-pointer from JD Miller on TCU’s last possession of the half allowed Kansas to extend the lead to 40-31 at halftime.
TCU cut the deficit to two points following Kouat Noi’s third steal of the game followed by a layup.
Kansas extended the lead back to as many as nine points, but TCU cut the lead to three with under two minutes remaining. But Marcus Garrett’s offensive rebound and layup and subsequent turnover on the inbounds allowed Kansas to gain control of the game.
The Jayhawks made all four of their final free throws to finish the game.
BIG PICTURE
Bill Self improved his record at Kansas to 87-11 following a loss, after the Jayhawks fell to Iowa State on the road last Saturday. The win also moved Self’s record in Allen Fieldhouse to 48-3 following a loss.
The Horned Frogs’ shooting let them down. They shot 46.3 percent from the field, despite coming into the game leading the Big 12 in field goal percentage (49.9). The Horned Frogs missed six of their last seven field-goal attempts.
UP NEXT
Kansas: travels to Waco, Texas, to take on Baylor on Saturday.
TCU: will stay on the road to play Oklahoma on Saturday.
Barry Brown scored 29 points, including the go-ahead layup with 28.9 seconds to go, and Kansas State rallied from a 21-point second-half deficit to beat West Virginia 71-69
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) – Barry Brown scored 29 points, including the go-ahead layup with 28.9 seconds to go, and Kansas State rallied from a 21-point second-half deficit to beat West Virginia 71-69 on Wednesday night.
Mike McGuirl added 18 points and Kamau Stokes, dealing with a lingering foot injury, added 12 as the Wildcats (11-4, 1-2 Big 12) used the largest comeback in school history to beat the Mountaineers for only the second time in their last 11 meetings.
West Virginia (8-7, 0-3) led 42-21 early in the second half before Kansas State used a 17-0 run to get back in the game. Still, the Mountaineers had a shot to win the game in the final seconds, but Derek Culver’s off-balance shot in the lane missed wide and the Wildcats secured the rebound.
Xavier Sneed added a foul shot and West Virginia couldn’t get off a half-court heave.
Lamont West scored 21 points and Culver finished with 17 for the Mountaineers, who have never lost their first three conference games. In fact, they’ve won at least 11 each of the past four seasons.
Many fans showed up to Bramlage Coliseum to see the Big 12’s two worst offenses wondering whether the first team to 50 would win, and for a while it looked as if 40 might do it.
Kansas State’s only field goal over the first 11-plus minutes came on a goaltending call, and at one point the Wildcats went more than seven minutes without a point. It wasn’t until Stokes hit a jumper just before the final media timeout that they scored from more than 3 feet out.
Not that West Virginia was lighting things up.
The Mountaineers were 6 of 14 from beyond the arc in the first half, and a series of turnovers and sloppy execution allowed the Wildcats – down 20-3 at one point – to stay within 36-21 at halftime.
Kansas State’s comeback bid appeared to be in jeopardy when big man Makol Mawien picked up two fouls in the first minute of the second half, sending him to the bench with four. The Mountaineers were able to push their lead to 42-21 with 18:45 to go, but they couldn’t bury the Wildcats.
What came next was as stunning as it was unexpected.
The Wildcats, so inept on offense, ripped off 17 points during a run that never slowed even when West Virginia coach Bob Huggins called timeout. Brown led the way with nine during the charge, but it was McGuirl – averaging just 2.4 points a game – that provided the emotional lift.
His 3-pointer got the Wildcats within 44-41 with 12:10 to go.
West Virginia stretched the lead back to 10, but the Wildcats kept answering every run, and Sneed finally gave them their first lead when he converted a four-point play with 2:30 remaining.
Their first but not their last.
BIG PICTURE
West Virginia has struggled without Sagaba Konate, their best offensive and defensive player, who has been out with a knee injury. Brandon Knapper made the trip after serving a one-game suspension, but he only played three minutes off the bench.
Kansas State twice rallied from 17-point deficits during the 1995 season, but never had the school come back from 20-plus. The Wildcats did it without their own star, Dean Wade, who is still a couple of weeks away from returning from a foot injury.
UP NEXT
West Virginia returns home to face Oklahoma State on Saturday.
Kansas State starts a two-game trip at No. 20 Iowa State on Saturday.
RENO COUNTY — A Kansas man was arrested around 2:20 a.m. Wednesday after he failed to stop for a Hutchinson police officer.
William Allen, 51, McPherson was driving his pickup in the 800 block of North Maple in Hutchinson, according to police.
The officer began to follow when Allen ran a stop sign at 9th and Maple. The officer turned on his lights and Allen eventually crashed into a parked vehicle, then ran from the scene.
He was found hiding from officers and taken into custody.
Officers then searched his vehicle and allegedly found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
According to police, Allen faces charges that include attempted felony flee or elude, felony interference with a law enforcement officer, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, driving on a suspended license, having an expired tag, no proof of insurance, and leaving the scene of an accident.
Allen is scheduled for another court appearance January 16.
Thursday Sunny, with a high near 50. South southeast wind 7 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night Increasing clouds, with a low around 30. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Friday Rain likely before 2pm, then rain and snow likely between 2pm and 5pm, then snow likely after 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 37. North wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Friday NightSnow. Low around 30. North wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
SaturdayA 30 percent chance of snow before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 37.
Saturday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 22.
SundayMostly sunny, with a high near 40.
BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a central-Kansas man on new drug charges.
Just before 1:15 p.m. January 4, police executed a narcotics-related search warrant in the 200 block of South Center Street in Hoisington, according to a social media report.
Police found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Officers arrested 33-year old Cori Galliart on requested charges that included possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, and an outstanding arrest warrant for parole violation.
He has a previous drug conviction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
The Hoisington Police Department was assisted by the Great Bend Police Department, Barton County Sheriff’s Office, and a parole officer with the Kansas Department of Corrections.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The former owner of an Olathe barbecue restaurant was sentenced Wednesday to serve one year and one month in prison for using customers’ credit cards to fund spending sprees.
Matthew Sander, former owner of Smokin’ Joe’s Bar-B-Q, pleaded guilty in November to seven counts of identity theft, four counts of theft and one count of criminal use of a credit card.
Court documents filed by Sander’s attorney say he had a “significant drug and alcohol problem” that he has since addressed.
Prosecutors said Sander went on spending binges with credit cards that customers left behind at the restaurant. In one case, Sander used a debit card from a purse he took at an Overland Park restaurant.
Sander was ordered to pay restitution of $11,400.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farmers already reeling from low prices and uncertainty amid the nation’s trade dispute with China are welcoming a decision to extend a deadline for federal aid because of the partial government shutdown.
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on Tuesday announced the Agriculture Department would extend a Jan. 15 deadline for farmers to apply for payments to offset losses they had incurred due to the trade dispute, which led to new tariffs that lessened demand and lowered crop prices. About $9.5 billion in direct payments have been set aside for growers of soybeans, corn, wheat and other commodities.
Many farmers already have received the first of two payments to offset some of their losses, but others haven’t been able to apply for aid because snow and rain delayed their harvest. Farmers can’t apply for federal payments until they can specify the size of their crop. It’s unclear how much of the federal money has been spent.
“People didn’t have time to get all this done, and then the government shutdown happened,” said John Newton, chief economist with the American Farm Bureau. “This is very, very welcome.”
Farmers can apply online for the aid, but Perdue noted they couldn’t complete the application because the USDA’s Farm Service Agency has been closed since Dec. 28. Under Perdue’s new order, the application deadline will be extended by an equal number of days to the business days the government was partially closed.
Newton said the shutdown also meant growers who had questions about the process couldn’t reach out to USDA employees.
“I’ve been waiting 19 days to get a call returned from the USDA,” Newton said.
Perdue’s announcement was welcomed by Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, a farmer who earlier had said he’d seek the federal aid.
“Farmers who haven’t been able to apply for trade assistance would’ve missed the deadline through no fault of their own,” Grassley said in a statement. “It’s worth recognizing that farmers applying for assistance in the first place are hurting because of a trade war they didn’t start.”
The government shutdown comes as farmers were already enduring a fifth year of low prices even as the cost of land, fertilizer, chemicals and seed have remained high, leading to a drop in net income. As they make plans for this year’s crop, farmers have been left guessing about the market and other issues because the shutdown has forced the USDA to delay the release of crop reports providing key information about global demand.
Brian Duncan, a farmer and vice president of the Illinois Farm Bureau, said the trade dispute and shutdown are difficult for growers, but most are taking it in stride.
“Farmers generally are pretty level-headed and used to being thrown some curve balls,” Duncan said. “As we get closer to planting season, their patience will ebb.”
WAKEENEY — At approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday, law enforcement was dispatched to Cleland Pharmacy, 202 S. First, WaKeeney, after an unknown individual reportedly presented a firearm to the clerk and stole prescription narcotics.
The Trego County Sheriff’s Office, WaKeeney Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol responded.
As of late Wednesday afternoon, the suspect had not been apprehended, the Trego County Sheriff’s Office said in a social medial release.
“Multiple law enforcement agencies are active in the western Kansas area searching for the suspect and suspect vehicle,” the release said. “Pictures of the suspect and suspect vehicle are pictured below. Be advised the picture of the suspect vehicle is NOT the actual suspect vehicle, but is the same make, model and color as the one used by the suspect. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the WaKeeney Law Enforcement Center at (785) 743-5721.”
LACLEDE COUNTY, MO-The five month search for missing 6-year-old has ended.
Just before 5p.m. Tuesday, detectives acting on information received by the United States Marshals Service Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force, were able to obtain a search warrant for a residence on Highway N in Laclede County, Missouri, according to media release from the Camden County Sheriff.
The task force has been working with the Camden County Sheriff’s Department and other agencies for several months in hopes of getting a lead that would assist them in finding missing Braedence Jones.
After the search warrant was executed, deputies arrested the boy’s mother Aubrey Ferguson of Camdenton, and her boyfriend 41-year-old Woodrow Ziegler.
They were hiding the child in an attic crawl space that had been nailed shut and concealed. Deputies found him in the crawl space.
The boy was returned to his father, who had court-ordered custody of the boy.
Ferguson was charged in August with child abduction. She is being held on a warrant for child abduction as well as a Capias Warrant out of Crawford County, according to the sheriff’s department. Additional charges are being sought in Laclede and possibly Camden Counties.
Zampieri previously worked for the NorthWest Kansas Library System as the assistant director and library services consultant. She graduated from Southwestern College in her hometown of Winfield and received her master of library science degree from Emporia State University.
When asked why she wanted to work at the Hays Public Library, Zampieri said she loves what the library does for the Hays community and is excited to get integrated into the services and programs, especially for the children of Hays and Ellis County.
Zampieri began working at the library on Jan. 2.
— HPL
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Court documents say a man facing charges after he was wounded by a Kansas sheriff’s deputy had fired a handgun near a child welfare office.
The affidavit released in the case against 63-year-old Richard Gore says he appeared intoxicated and was “waving around and firing” the gun before he was shot in the upper shoulder in November in Wichita. Gore is jailed on $100,000 bond on charges that include aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.
A sheriff’s detective alleged in the affidavit that Gore first “fired in the direction” of three Wichita police officers and an Eastborough officer before a sheriff’s sergeant “decided to neutralize the threat of the gunfire.” The Kansas Department for Children and Families building was locked down during the melee.
