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Month: March 2019

🎥 Registration now open for 2019 Sternberg Science Camps

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FHSU University Relations

Registration for the 2019 Summer Camps, hosted by Fort Hays State University’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History, is now open. Elementary, middle and high school students are given an opportunity to engage in science through a series of outdoor field camps and day camps.

Elementary school camps are divided between first- and third-graders, and fourth- and fifth-graders. Grades 1 to 3 will have two available weeks of half-day camps, while grades 4 and 5 will have one week of full-day camps.

“This will allow us to customize the camps a bit more for different age groups and better challenge our older elementary students with more advanced content and activities,” said David Levering, camps director at Sternberg.

“We’re excited about the opportunities this will create for new activities for our students that best fit their interest and development,” he said.

Middle school camps will take part in Kansas Paleontology and Naturalist programs, with addition of a new field paleontology camp in Oregon in collaboration with the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History. This camp, taught by Kellum Jones, UO doctoral candidate, will take students from the rocky high desert of eastern Oregon to the coast for a week-long fossil hunting adventure.

“Students will get to explore over 40 million years of prehistory, including sabertooth cats, tiny ancestral horses, horned rodents and ancient sea lions,” said Levering.

High school camps will focus on paleontology and wildlife biology programs, along with a Research Methods Camp, which will be on FHSU’s campus, taught by Dana Reuter, UO doctoral candidate. The first-ever Fossil Preparation Methods Camp will also be offered, which will use the new fossil prep lab at the Sternberg Museum.

New field camps include: Field Paleontology; Australia; Field Volcanology; and Ecuador Wildlife Biology Camp, taught by Dr. Megan Patterson.

“Field Volcanology is being conducted in cooperation with the UO, and will take students to active research sites in Washington, Oregon and California,” said Levering.

“This camp is being instructed by UO doctoral candidate Michelle Muth and will take students from Mount St. Helens in Washington to the massive lava flows and features of Eastern Oregon in just the first week,” he said.

In Field Paleontology: Australia, students will have the opportunity to join American and Queensland paleontologists in the outback to explore Australia’s ancient seaway of fossil fish, ammonites and marine reptiles.

For more information on dates, prices, camps, or to register, visit https://sternberg.fhsu.edu/active-learning/camps/.

HAWVER: Watching the Kansas tax bill battle

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Martin Hawver

Well, the clock, or rather, calendar, is ticking–or whatever calendars do to make noise—on the tax bill that the Republican legislature sent to Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly, who doesn’t want it.

And…that ticking clock is aiming toward Friday, the 10th day that the governor will have had the tax bill–that she didn’t want passed–on her desk. By or on Friday, she can sign the bill (in which case, we suspect a breath alcohol test would be in order), veto as expected or allow it to become law without her signature (another breath test?).

You know the story, the $220 million bill that she continues to say she doesn’t like and which she said would return Kansas to the former Gov. Sam Brownback “tax experiment” days that drained the state budget and caused massive reduction in services.

The bill is good for an initial estimated $137 million in tax cuts for businesses which have international earnings the federal government is now taxing, about $50 million for individual income taxpayers, about $42 million in reduced sales taxes on food and about $21 million in additional revenues to the state from taxing some Internet purchases. That all adds up to about $220 million less money coming into the State General Fund in the year which starts July 1.

(OK, time for the cultural explainer: Conservatives say that the income tax bill’s provisions aren’t a tax cut, they are merely a tax stabilizer. Those conservatives say Kansas didn’t change the federal tax code that makes more money available for Kansas to tax, and those “adjustments” just keep Kansas from profiting from the federal tax law change.)

Timing is the big issue here. Kelly will have to do something with the tax bill before there are solid numbers on how the federal tax law changes the state’s tax receipts from corporations and individuals.

Kansas leaders aren’t likely to know just how much “extra” federal trickle-down money the state is going to receive from that December 2017 federal tax law change until April 18. That’s when the state’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Group figures out how much money the state is going to take in next year, and presumably how much of it is from those federal tax law changes.

By the way, the Legislature will be on Spring Break on April 18, will return for its “Veto Session” May 1, and have 16 days to work out the tax/budget issue before coming to the end of its traditional 90-day session.

Hmmm…taxes and spending, the two major duties of the Legislature, and so far, there’s been passed a major tax-cutting bill before lawmakers know how much they need to spend next year. Admittedly, lawmakers are working on what they call the “Mega” budget, which is essentially, well…the essentials for operating government. There will be at session’s end the “Omnibus” bill to deal with new expenditures, to reshuffle spending once they know just how much money they will have to spend and to figure out what they can afford.

But the tax bill action this week is going to shuffle everything. Veto the bill, there’s more money to spend, sign (or allow it to become law without the signature of Kelly) and there’s less money to spend.

Who’s in the gunsights: Look for the real scrap to be over the biggest tax reduction, that for corporations, which want the tax cut badly but don’t vote.

The tax bill, interesting fight between the governor and the Republican-dominated Legislature. We’ll see whether the revenue report April 18 resuscitates any of those tax cuts…

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com

Hundreds celebrate groundbreaking for new terminal at Kansas City International Airport

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KANSAS CITY — Hundreds of Kansas Citians attended Monday’s long awaited launch of the construction phase of the a $1.5B modern single terminal at Kansas City International Airport. The event included the ceremonial first turning of the dirt and the start of demolition activities at Terminal A, according to a media release from FlyKCI.com

“On behalf of the entire airline community, we are excited to be part of this journey and celebrate such an incredible milestone for the city,” said Kyle O’Neal, Senior Regional Leader, Airport Affairs at Southwest Airlines. “The new terminal will support more efficient airline operations and allow airport users to enjoy the convenience of modern air travel in a facility with updated technology and amenities, close parking, spacious gate areas, and ample food and beverage options.”

At just over one million square feet, the Kansas City International Airport New Terminal is the largest single infrastructure project in the City’s history. It will have a profound and lasting economic impact on the region in the form of new jobs, opportunities for local and small businesses, and a first-class traveler experience for airport users. The facility will open with 39 gates and the ability to expand up to 50 gates in the future. The project will also include a 6,300 space parking structure, which will be constructed adjacent to the terminal building, a central utility plant, and landside and airside improvements.

“We’re excited to move forward on this landmark project for Kansas City and eager to put men and women to work,” said Geoff Stricker, Edgemoor Managing Director. “This has been a great partnership with the City and airline partners, and we look forward to building on that to delivering an exceptional new terminal for travelers and the airlines alike.”

Edgemoor has partnered with design-builder Clark | Weitz | Clarkson (CWC) to construct the New Terminal. The construction joint venture, which is comprised of Clark Construction Group, LLC, The Weitz Company, and Clarkson Construction Company, has collectively delivered more than 40 aviation projects nationwide; Skidmore Owings & Merrill is the project designer.

The New Terminal project is expected to generate up to 5,000 construction-related jobs. Sixty local partners are already at work on the project, including 41 minority- and women-owned businesses. Edgemoor has pledged to maximize opportunities for local minority and women-owned firms, setting ambitious participation goals for 20% minority-owned and 15% women-owned businesses for professional and construction services, respectively.

The new KCI is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to benefit working families and our broader community in a number of ways,” said Alise Martiny with the Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council. “Kansas City has one of the strongest and best qualified labor communities in the country. This will be an outstanding project with all the skilled trades and crafts from throughout our region, working together.”

The New Terminal project will be funded using 100 percent tax-exempt debt – the most cost efficient approach for the project. When complete, the new facility will replace the airport’s aging terminals, which opened in 1972.

“With the launch of the ‘Build KCI’ phase of the project, it will serve as the official source for up-to-the-minute construction news for passengers and members of the greater Kansas City community,” said Pat Klein Kansas City Aviation Director. “We will continue to champion the benefits of the new single terminal and how it will be a valued asset to Kansas City.”

The New Terminal will be built in the footprint of the airport’s existing Terminal A, which has been decommissioned. Interior demolition operations will begin this spring; structural demolition is expected to begin to mid to late-April. The new terminal is expected to open in early 2023.

Tatyana Legette named All-America Honorable Mention by WBCA

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FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State women’s basketball senior Tatyana Legette was named a WBCA All-America Honorable Mention selection on Monday evening. Legette is the fourth All-America selection in the program’s history and first since Kate Lehman in 2015. Legette adds this honor to her great list of accomplishments this year after being named the MIAA Player of the Year, MIAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and a D2CCA All-Region First Team selection.

Legette led Fort Hays State in points, rebounds, and assists, helping the Tigers to a stellar 32-2 overall record and advance to the NCAA Central Regional Final. She averaged 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while ranking second on the team in blocks per game (1.5) and third in steals per game (1.4). She scored in double figures 24 times, compiling 10 double-doubles in the process. Legette was named MIAA Athlete of the Week three times this year.

For her career, the Topeka, Kan. native has amassed 1,256 points, ranking 11th on the all-time list at FHSU, and 865 rebounds, good for fourth in program history. She ranks fifth in program history for blocked shots (126) and free throws made (352), sixth in free-throw attempts (487), and 10th in field goal percentage (50.3 percent).

Legette helped lead the Tigers to a 30-1 record entering the NCAA Championship Tournament, the fewest losses in the regular season in program history. She helped FHSU capture both the MIAA regular season and MIAA tournament championships, becoming the first team to do so since 2012. The Tigers earned an automatic bid into the 2019 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship, their fifth trip to the big dance. The Tigers were the No. 1 seed in the Central Regional of the tournament.

2019 WBCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team
Seairra Barrett California University of Pennsylvania
Marissa Brown West Liberty University
Hailey Diestelkamp Drury University
Camille Giardina Florida Southern College
Lexy Hightower West Texas A&M University
Jessica Kelliher Lewis University
Alexy Mollenhauer Anderson University
Hailey Tucker Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Dana Watts American International College
Mikayla Williams University of California – San Diego

Honorable Mention All-America
Michaela Barnes Edinboro University
Daejah Bernard Drury University
Ay’Anna Bey Benedict College
Cassidy Boensch Grand Valley State University
Toni Brewer University of West Florida
Addy Clift Oklahoma Christian University
Marquita Daniels Angelo State University
Natalie Diaz Dominican University
Jaylyn Duran Colorado Mesa University
Raziyah Farrington University of Charleston
Anja Fuchs-Robetin Florida Southern College
Savanna Hanson Azusa Pacific University
Jessica Harris Lander University
Felecity Havens University of Mount Olive
Jodi Johnson Ashland University
Tyra Jones Emporia State University
Tatyana Legette Fort Hays State University
Ellie Logan Northwest Nazarene University
Kylie Lorenzen Southern New Hampshire University
Shareka McNeill Virginia Union University
Halee Nieman University of West Florida
Haris Price Carson-Newman University
Hayden Priddy Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Paige Redmond University of Central Missouri
McKayla Roberts Le Moyne College
Olivia Robertson Lubbock Christian University
Alex Thomas University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Hannah Wandersee University of Alaska – Anchorage
Kianna Wynn Barton College
Irisa Ye University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

Hays school board in split vote approves purchase of iPads

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By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

About a half dozen HMS teachers sit in the front row Monday night at the school board meeting ready to answer questions about the district’s purchase of iPads for the school.

The Hays USD 489 school board approved on a split vote Monday night the purchase of new iPads for Hays Middle School students.

The district will purchase 680 iPads and cases for $238,000.

Board members Lance Bickle and Greg Schwartz advocated for purchasing less expensive Chromebooks without touchscreen capability. The difference between buying devices with touchscreens was $40,000.

“At this point it is the process of this whole thing that frustrates me,” Bickle said. “We can absolutely get by without touchscreens without a doubt. Probably 90 percent of the other districts out there can get by without other touchscreens, but for some reason, we can’t here at USD 489. Those other districts also do it and save money, but again, we don’t seem to be able to do that.”

During the fall, the district Technology Committee conducted a Chromebook pilot study in which the Learning Center, and select HMS and elementary classes participated. After that study, the Technology Committee recommended purchasing iPads.

The district’s Technology Committee surveyed HMS teachers to determine how often they use the touchscreen function and how eliminating touchscreens would affect student learning.

Of the 36 teachers surveyed, 21 of the 36 said their students used the touchscreen function hourly. Thirty-one of 36 teachers said student learning would be negatively impacted by the elimination of touchscreens.

The teachers were then asked to elaborate on how the touchscreens were used in their classes. Many of them said the students took notes or completed assignments by writing or drawing using the touchscreen function. A group of HMS teachers as well as Principal Tom Albers attended the meeting so they could answer the board’s questions if necessary.

Bickle said he found many of the comments from the teachers who were surveyed perplexing, such as a comment which said it would be difficult for middle school students to take notes on paper and keep them organized.

“Seriously?” he said. “Have we really fallen that far that our kids can’t keep their notes in order now on paper and pencil?”

Bickle continued, “At the end of the day, it is frustrating because all of this shouldn’t be looked at now. It should have been looked at all the way along here, because it seems at the end of the day, the decision was made we are going to go with iPads and every one’s mind was made up that we’re going with iPads and we are going to find every reason we can to why we shouldn’t look at anything else.

“I can honestly say the thing that we have to look at as a board is, ‘Is this the most important place to be spending money?’ Right now, I can’t say that it honestly is. We have enough other things going on. We can’t even pass a bond. For me, it is awfully hard to go back and ask a community to support a bond when we can come up with money and spend more money than we need to get by.”

Schwartz said he was not happy with the bidding process on this technology purchase or other recent purchases.

“We go out and pick a brand and then we figure out how to make it fit,” he said. “Those aren’t good ways to save money. They are not sound ways to do this.”

Board member Paul Adams spoke in favor of the Technology Committee’s recommendation.

“I think we entrusted the Technology Committee with that. On our part we probably should have put a board member on there. I think it is something we may want to do in the future. I appreciate the effort and the work you put in. I think the fact is that you are closer to what the students do need and don’t. We are forming uniformed opinions often, whereas you are there at the classroom with them and may be closer to the research.”

Board member Mike Walker agreed the committee and teachers were closer to the students than the board. He also said he appreciated the committee had stayed within budget and was continuing with a four-year replacement rotation as the the board had requested.

“I respect your position and opinions,” he told the Technology Committee, “however, that doesn’t mean that next year we can’t change things up by putting a board member on the committee or have some more discussions about how the process goes on.”

The final vote was 4-3 with Schwartz, Bickle and Board President Mandy Fox voting against.

The new iPads should be ready for students to use this fall.

Next year, the district is scheduled to replace devices for grades three, four and five. Those students are also currently using iPads.

Hydrant testing set for area between Canterbury, Commerce Parkway

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City of Hays

The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Tuesday, March 26 in the area of Canterbury Drive to Commerce Parkway between 22nd Street and 13th Street. This is part of a coordinated effort by the City of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.

Inspecting fire hydrants ensures that the valves operate properly and that there is no damage or obstructions that will prevent or interfere with the prompt use of fire hydrants in an emergency. Firefighters are also checking the pressure and volume of water mains in each neighborhood for firefighting purposes. The associated flushing of water mains allows chlorine to be distributed throughout the system to eliminate bio-filming in the water mains.

Slight discoloration of the water supply may be encountered although there will be no health risks to the consumer. All reasonable efforts will be taken to minimize the inconvenience to the public. Drivers are asked to avoid driving through water discharging from a fire hydrant during the short flushing period.

For more information, contact the Hays Fire Department at 628-7330.

Sunny, windy Tuesday

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Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Breezy, with a south wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 50. South wind 13 to 17 mph.

WednesdaySunny, with a high near 78. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 16 to 22 mph.

Wednesday NightScattered showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 13 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

ThursdayMostly sunny, with a high near 73.

Thursday NightIsolated showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FridayScattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Kan. congresswoman not committing to Green New Deal, Medicare-for-all

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OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas says she is committed to expanding health care access and combatting climate change.

But during a town hall meeting Sunday in Olathe, Davids stopped short of endorsing “Medicare For All” or a “Green New Deal” pushed by many leading Democrats.

Davids says she is focusing on health care legislation that would get bipartisan support. She says she can’t say yet whether she supports a bill to give all Americans access to government-run health care.

She notes she is co-sponsoring legislation to give states incentives to expand Medicaid eligibility.

Davids said she isn’t currently backing the Green New Deal because it contains some specific policies she doesn’t support. But she agrees the country needs to find bold ways to address climate change.

Kan. man admits distributing meth from Satan’s Disciples gang

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KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced Monday to nine years in federal prison for trafficking in methamphetamine, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Crawford -photo Atchison Co.

Earnest Preston Crawford, III, 30, Atchison, Kan., pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In his plea, Crawford admitted that investigators arranged to make a series of controlled buys from Crawford at his residence in the 600 block of North 10th Street in Atchison.

Investigators learned Crawford was getting his methamphetamine from members of the Satan’s Disciples street gang. He was regularly purchasing pounds of methamphetamine for $6,000 to $10,000.

Video shows Kansas officer shooting, wounding man

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Dashcam video released Monday shows a Kansas police officer shooting and wounding a man in a case in which the rookie officer told investigators she mistakenly fired her firearm instead of her Taser.

Police on the scene of the officer-involved shooting investigation-photo courtesy WIBW TV

The video provided in response to an open records request is from the patrol vehicle of an officer who pulled over 35-year-old Akira Lewis for a suspected seatbelt violation in May 2018 near downtown Lawrence.

Lewis is heard in the video telling the white officer that he was pulled over because he is black and insists on seeing a supervisor. When he refuses to provide identification and continues arguing, backup officer Brindley Blood, who also is white, was summoned.

She is seen shooting Lewis when he punches and tackles the officer who initiated the traffic stop. Blood, who resigned from the police force in January after being placed on paid leave, is charged with aggravated battery. Lewis was treated at a hospital and is charged with several misdemeanors, including battery against a law enforcement officer.

The affidavit in the case against Blood said she didn’t realize she had shot Lewis until she looked for the Taser wires to see if they had hit their mark and realized there weren’t any. She said during her interview with investigators, “I shot, shot him, I pulled my firearm instead of my Taser,” the affidavit said.

The city initially denied the Journal-World’s request for the video, saying at that time the materials were “part of an ongoing investigation” and “criminal investigation records.” The newspaper again requested the video last week, after it was played in Douglas County District Court during a hearing for Blood.

Judge Peggy Kittel is weighing whether to bind Blood over for trial. Her attorneys argue that while Blood made a mistake she was not reckless, as the charge alleges, and that the case against her should be dropped. Kittel is scheduled to announce her ruling later this week.

Lewis’ attorney, Shaye Downing, said in a statement Monday that during the officers’ attempt to arrest Lewis for a “seatbelt violation” the officers “initiated physical contact and escalated a situation that could have been easily de-escalated by any number of interventions.”

“After this incident, there are serious concerns about the training officers receive and ongoing certification required to ensure that if an officer is faced with a situation where force is used, that they use only that level of force reasonably necessary for the given circumstances,” Downing said.

She also said Lewis has not received any help from the city of Lawrence for medical expenses for injuries he suffered during the confrontation.

 

 

 

Kansas man jailed for burglary, child endangerment after weekend standoff

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after a weekend standoff.

Kobel -photo Shawnee Co.

Just after 11:00 a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of SW Saline Street in Topeka for a report of a domestic disturbance, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.

That call resulted in the issuance of a “BOLO” (Be On the Look Out) for 22-year-old Andrew Kobel of Topeka. The BOLO was for Kobel’s arrest based on suspicion of committing aggravated burglary, attempted kidnapping, battery (domestic) and child endangerment.

Just before 3p.m. Sunday, an officer checking the area saw Kobel near the house. When Kobel saw the officer he ran into the house and remained inside despite notifications via knocking on the door, emergency sirens, and hailing by a public announcement speaker to surrender to officers.

At approximately 4:15 pm, Kobel did surrender to officers and was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for aggravated burglary, attempted kidnapping, domestic battery, child endangerment and Interference for running into the house and refusing to exit, according to Lt. Jones.

Kansas House gives 1st round approval to abortion ‘reversal’ bill

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House gave first-round approval Monday to a bill that would require medical facilities and doctors to inform women that some medically induced abortions could be “reversed” if a doctor intervenes.

Rep. John Eplee, R-Atchison, a physician

Opponents of the bill say the “reversal” method is scientifically unproven and disputed in medical circles, while supporters contend women should be made aware of the option.

The bill passed by a voice vote after more than two hours of debate. After a final vote Tuesday, it’s expected to head to the Senate, The Kansas City Star reported .

Medical abortions involve women taking Mifepristone, generally called RU-486, followed by a medication called Misoprostol. The bill approved Monday would require women be told that an abortion can be stopped after the first medicine is taken if a doctor administers a dose of progesterone.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, a strong supporter of abortion rights, was skeptical about the bill.

“I’m not sure that’s based on science,” she said during a news conference Monday.

The bill claims “it may be possible to reverse its intended effect if the second pill or tablet has not been taken or administered. If you change your mind and wish to try to continue the pregnancy, you can get immediate help by accessing available resources.”

“I want you to understand clearly this is a pro-women’s health bill, said Rep. John Eplee, R-Atchison, a physician who introduced the measure in committee. “We’re not putting a gun to their head, we’re not forcing them to have this procedure. We’re giving them an option.”

However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 2017 disputed the usefulness of the procedure.

“Claims regarding abortion ‘reversal’ treatment are not based on science and do not meet clinical standards,” the group said. “Unfounded legislative mandates represent dangerous political interference and compromise patient care and safety.”

Democratic opponents of the bill repeatedly referred to the medical group’s statement and questioned whether the process detailed in the bill is safe.

“I think this really inserts politics into a private discussion between physician and patients and complicates that and interferes with that relationship,” said Rep. Eileen Horn, D-Lawrence.

If passed, any private office, surgical outpatient clinic, hospital or other facility that fails to post a sign about the reversal process could be fined up to $10,000. If a medical abortion is provided without the notification, the woman, the father of the unborn child, or the grandparent of a minor undergoing the abortion could sue for damages.

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