SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide that left a 23-year-old dead.
Just after 8:30p.m. Monday, police responded to a drive by shooting call in the 1200 Block of North Minnesota in Wichita, according to Captain Brent Allred. A citizen called 911 after hearing gunshots in the neighborhood. At the scene, police found the black male victim outside a residence with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Allred. “The shooting was not a random incident,” he said.
Police have received a description of possible suspect vehicles and have located one of them. They are looking for a second vehicle but have not released additional details, according to Allred.
Police believe one of the individuals involved is a gang member. The victim’s name has not been released while authorities work to contact family.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call police.
Topeka – On behalf of thousands of Kansans struggling to secure affordable healthcare, Governor Laura Kelly held a press conference Tuesday morning calling on the Kansas Senate leadership to allow a vote on Medicaid expansion this week.
The time for blocking progress has long since passed. Now is the time for a vote in the Senate on Medicaid expansion. #kslegpic.twitter.com/vfQGWQzRYP
— Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) April 2, 2019
“By design, the legislation I presented was very similar to a plan that passed the legislature in 2017 with strong bipartisan support. That’s why I’m disappointed with Senate leadership for blocking the debate and the committee process,” Governor Kelly said. “Now with the regular session winding down, “halfway there” isn’t good enough.”
Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle issued her own statement against Medicaid expansion.
@GovLauraKelly is pushing for a socialist, Bernie Sanders-endorsed health care plan. Medicaid needs reform, not expansion. We cannot surrender to the mess of Obamacare in Kansas. #kslegpic.twitter.com/i0bJb3sOVm
Almost two weeks ago, a bipartisan coalition in the Kansas House passed Medicaid expansion. Governor Kelly applauded this coalition during Tuesday’s press conference, recognizing their strength and determination in moving Medicaid expansion forward.
“I have always endorsed efforts to carefully study issues before taking action,” Governor Kelly said. “But when it comes to Medicaid expansion, “study” is a code word for “stall.” The House did what’s right for Kansas – I’m calling on the Senate to do the same.”
During Tuesday’s press conference, Governor Kelly outlined the timeline of Medicaid expansion in recent years. In 2011, Governor Sam Brownback asked Kansans to wait until after the 2012 Presidential Election to act on Medicaid. After the 2012 election, Kansas still failed to act. Brownback then insisted Medicaid could not be expanded until the Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Supreme Court upheld the ACA in 2015. Kansas still did not act. When the Legislature overwhelmingly approved Medicaid expansion in 2017, Brownback vetoed the bill.
In a media release from the governor’s office, she reminded that by not expanding Medicaid, Kansas has forfeited over $3.2 billion of our tax dollars to other states. The economic benefits of expansion have been clearly documented. The governor noted in the press conference that there have been 300 published studies and reports on the positive impact of Medicaid expansion in other states, including:
• A reduced poverty rate;
• A growth in the number of healthcare related jobs, spurring economic growth;
• A healthier, insured population;
• A significantly lower level of uncompensated care for health facilities.
Medicaid expansion passed the Kansas House of Representatives on March 21. The governor released her plan on January 29, 2019. Neither chamber held hearings on the bill or scheduled a floor vote.
Alley collection of trash and recyclables in Hays will resume April 8.
The city implemented a temporary curbside-only pickup March 18 due to deteriorated conditions in alleys caused by snow, frost and rain.
“We had trash trucks getting stuck and some areas were completely impassible for a period of time,” said Jesse Rohr, public works director. “That forced us to go curbside for a short period of time. However, we’ll get back to normal collections starting Monday.”
Two crews have spent the last two and half weeks improving the alleys. The majority of the work has been completed and Rohr expects it to be done next week. Ongoing alley maintenance will continue for the next couple of months.
A road grader and a tractor with a box plate on the back are being used to smooth out tire ruts, “knocking the ruts down and getting the rock back on the surface of the alleys that has been driven below the surface,” Rohr explained. Rock is also being added to the alleys.
During the temporary change in pickup sites, some blue polycarts were not moved by residents from alley to curbside and the bins are overflowing, with more trash bags on the ground.
Rohr says communicating notice of the temporary change to 7,000 refuse customers was a “big challenge on short notice.”
“People who call who say they weren’t aware of it and their trash is full, we’re going and taking care of it. Just like if they say they need assistance moving their cart, we’re helping with that.”
As workers have seen overflowing polycarts and blue bags for recycling still in alleys the past three weeks, they’ve also taken care of those.
“Our solid waste crews have done a great job,” Rohr added.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an altercation with a police officer.
Graham-photo Saline Co.
Just after 9p.m. Tuesday, police were asked to do a welfare check on a person in the 800 block of State Street in Salina, according to police captain Paul Forrester. While talking with the person via telephone, police were made aware that the person had several outstanding warrants from outside Saline County. They also were made aware of an earlier domestic disturbance involving the subject.
A 35-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy both from Salina, told an officer that Jonathan Graham, 38, Salina, first got into a verbal argument with the woman outside the residence, and then shoved her and allegedly kicked a hole in the screen door, Forrester said. They also reported that Graham threw a barbecue grill grate at the boy but missed him, Forrester added.
As the officer talked with the victims about the alleged domestic disturbance, Graham came to the door of the residence and threatened to kill the officer, according to Forrester said. Graham, who had his knuckles taped as boxers do, then began advancing on the officer and the officer tased him.
Police arrested Graham on requested charges of criminal threat, assault of a law enforcement officer, domestic battery, domestic criminal damage to property, assault, interference with a law enforcement officer, and the multiple out-of-county warrants.
WAKEENEY – Dive deeper into the history and landscape of the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway at each of our recently installed interpretive panels! Each one tells the story of the historical markers and significant natural features that make our byway a Kansas state treasure.
An Eight Year Project Becomes Reality
The Smoky Valley Scenic Byway allows travelers to explore the history and landscape of our Northwest Kansas region. They are part of a larger joint effort between several state and tourism agencies to provide more information at 39 tourist attractions on twelve routes located across the state.
In 2010, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) received a $220,000 National Scenic Byway grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for development of the Kansas Byways Interpretive Plan. Using this funding, Fermata, Inc. of Austin, TX began collecting the historical information & developed the storylines for the project.
In 2015, RDG Planning and Design of Omaha, NE began the design phase and, once finished, general contractor GSR Construction, Inc. of Lawrence, KS started working on the construction of the project. WaKeeney’s Travel and Tourism Director Cathy Albert gathered the stories and images included on the panels and in November 2018 the finished panels were installed at points of interest along the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway.
Interpretive signs at Eisenhower Park with F-14 jet in WaKeeney
Exploring the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway is now easier than ever! The 60-mile, U-shaped loop is one of the easiest routes included in the Kansas byways’ system. With starting points at either Exit 127 in WaKeeney or at Ogallah, Exit 135. If you begin your journey in WaKeeney, we recommend starting at the F-14 Jet in Eisenhower Park, where you’ll find three signs that tell the story of WaKeeney and Trego County.
Traveling Through the Smoky Valley
For over a hundred years people have been traveling through the Smoky Valley. Early trails brought settlers to our prairies and a few decades later the American love of the road got them out on the highways that followed those same routes. In 1956, Kansas native President Dwight D. Eisenhower directed his engineers to route his massive interstate project through the Smoky Valley, and, today, I-70 brings people from all over the world to Trego County.
Settling the Western Smoky Valley and the “Queen City of the High Plains”
Before WaKeeney was the “Christmas City of the High Plains” it wore the crown of a queen. Originally assigned the moniker of “Queen City of the High Plains,” WaKeeney began as a frontier town in 1878 and soon grew to be a center of trade in our county. All this information and much more is detailed on the panel entitled “Settling the Western Smoky Valley.”
“The Earth Provides Shelter and Beauty”
Ingenuity has always been a part of the history of the Smoky Valley. Evidence of this is found in the beautiful creamy-white limestone buildings that dot our landscape. Using rock cut from local quarries, our founding fathers created the churches, schools, and civic and government buildings that were the anchors of Trego County communities. Find out more about the sturdy construction and quality materials that were created by these innovative builders on the “Stone Buildings” interpretative panel. The Smoky Valley Scenic Byway
The kiosk located 12-miles south of WaKeeney on Hwy. 283 features a double-sided informative panel. It features facts and images about the natural beauty you’ll find along the landscape, as well as a replica of a Butterfield Overland Dispatch marker. The original markers helped to guide the earliest travelers along a pioneer trail.
Cedar Bluff Reservoir and State Park
A favorite stop along the byway is Cedar Bluff Reservoir and State Park. The reservoir and its dam were constructed in 1949 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to provide water for flood control, irrigation, and the region’s water supply, as well as for recreation. Throughout the decades it has become a natural wildlife reserve and popular playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Three interpretative panels placed in the parking area south of Smoky Hill River Bridge tell the story of Cedar Bluff and include a map of the many inlets where camping, fishing, and water sports are enjoyed.
Kiosk 12 miles south of WaKeeney on Highway 283
Planning Your Trip on the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway
Take a trip on the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway and look for our new interpretive signs to learn more about Western Kansas and the history of Trego County!
If you begin your journey in WaKeeney we recommend starting at
F-14 Jet in Eisenhower Park.
Go South 12 miles on Hwy. 283 to the kiosk.
Continue South 14 miles to Hwy. 4 at Ransom.
Turn East and travel 9-miles on Hwy. 4 to Brownell.
Travel North 10-miles on Hwy. 147 to Cedar Bluff Reservoir.
Continue traveling North on Hwy. 147 for 16-miles to end at I-70 in Ogallah, Exit 135.
Each sign provides directions along the route where you can stop and enjoy the wonders of nature, historical sites, and geological wonders of the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway.
A variety of crafts, workshops and fun – the Biosphere Blockparty – will celebrate Earth Day at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center northeast of Great Bend on K-156 Highway on Saturday, April 13.
“Various organizations will be on hand to help us celebrate the third rock from the sun,” said Mandy Kern, program specialist at the center.
Free come and go activities are offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day.
“Eat a warm cookie fresh from the solar oven,” said Kern. “Say no to single-use plastic bags while you decorate a reusable tote to take grocery shopping. Use pedal power to see the difference in energy usage between incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs, and step into the Fort Hays State University Maker Van to turn two-liter plastic bottles into a rope!”
Families will also receive free native wildflower and milkweed plants as well as a variety of seeds to grow at home, said Kern.
All the events are free, but two of them require registration because of limited space: the two make-and-take rain barrel workshops (9 .m. and again at noon), and the workshop on making folding crafts from recycled books at 10:15 a.m.
To register, call the KWEC at 1-877-243-9268 or go to https://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu/ for more information.
“We received a $1,000 Greenworks Grant from Project Learning Tree to offer the rain barrel workshop,” said Kern. “Forty families will decorate and construct a rain barrel they can take home.”
During the summer months, she said, it is estimated that nearly 40 percent of household water is used for lawn and garden maintenance. A rain barrel can collect water and help lower water bills, conserve natural resources and decrease the amount of storm water runoff.
A one-inch rainfall can produce more than 700 gallons of runoff from the roof of a typical house, she said. Area schools will also construct barrels for their outdoor classrooms.
“This event will allow people of all ages to learn how to be more sustainable,” said Kern. “Rain barrels can help families become good stewards of the local watershed.”
Another scheduled activity is free outdoor yoga, beginning at 11 a.m. Participants should bring comfy clothes and a mat if they can.
The free come-and-go activities from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. include:
• Great Bend’s Brit Spaugh zoo will have a make-and-take recycled crafts.
• Barton County Women for Kansas will conduct a decorate-and-take, reusable grocery tote activity.
• A Be Well Barton County activity will involve fun with bicycles.
• The Kansas Energy Program will have hand- and bicycle-powered generators on available to show much energy is needed to run different types of lights.
• The Fort Hays State University Maker Van will make rope from plastic bottles.
• Heartland Farm, a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace near Pawnee Rock, will help visitors make solar oven cookies.
• Buffalo Brand Sharp Bros. Seeds, Healy, will have information on native grasses and wildflowers.
• Members of the Hoisington High School Electric Car Club will demonstrate their project.
• A trailer equipped with a model of a stream bank, from the Barton County Conservation District, will enable visitors to manipulate erosion.
WASHINGTON (AP) — As he threatens to shut down the southern border, President Donald Trump is considering bringing on a “border” or “immigration czar” to coordinate immigration policy across various federal agencies, according to four people familiar with the discussions.
President Trump and Kobach during a campaign rally in Topeka -photo courtesy Kobach for Governor Campaign
Trump is weighing at least two potential candidates for the post: former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, according to the people, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the conversations publicly.
Kobach and Cuccinelli are far-right conservatives with strong views on immigration. Cuccinelli was seen at the White House on Monday.
The planning comes as Trump is threatening anew to close the U.S.-Mexico border as soon as this week if Mexico does not completely halt illegal immigration into the U.S. And it serves as the latest sign that the president plans to continue to hammer his hardline immigration rhetoric and policies as he moves past the special counsel’s Russia investigation and works to rally his base heading into his 2020 re-election campaign.
Aides hope the potential appointment, which they caution is still in the planning stages, would serve as the “face” of the administration on immigration issues and would placate both the president and his supporters, showing he is serious and taking action.
White House press aides, Kobach and Cuccinelli did not immediately respond Monday to requests for comment. Kobach previously served as vice chair of the president’s short-lived election fraud commission, which was disbanded after finding little evidence of widespread abuse.
A Department of Homeland Security official noted that White House czars have been appointed in the past when there has been an “urgent need” for sustained, inter-agency policy coordination. While Homeland Security often plays a leading role when it comes to immigration policy and enforcement, the department is not in charge of officials at the departments of Health and Human Services, State, Defense and Justice, which often play key roles.
Trump has often complained, both publicly and privately, about how he has not been able to do more to stop the tide of illegal immigration, which he has likened to an “invasion” and described as a national security crisis. Arrests along the southern border have skyrocketed in recent months and border agents were on track to make 100,000 arrests or denials of entry in March. More than half of those are families with children.
Still, Trump has been pushing. He has deployed National Guard troops to the border, forced a government shutdown to try to pressure Congress to provide more money for his long-promised border wall, and eventually signed an emergency declaration to circumvent lawmakers. He also moved Saturday to cut direct aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, where citizens are fleeing north and overwhelming U.S. resources at the southern border.
Those moves have involved a swath of government agencies. The Justice Department manages the immigration courts that decide whether a migrant is deported; Health and Human Services manages the care of migrant children apprehended at the border; agencies within Homeland Security manage the allocation of legal status, immigration enforcement and asylum requests; and the Pentagon and the Army Corps of Engineers manage facets of border wall construction.
But not all are always on the same page.
Earlier this year, for example, Health and Human Services closed down a temporary facility being used to house migrant children in Tornillo, Texas, creating a problem for border agents who ran out of bed space when the number of unaccompanied children crossing the border spiked. Homeland Security is not allowed to hold children in detention facilities for longer than 20 days.
And last year, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions instituted a “zero tolerance” policy at the border without consulting others, causing a spike in the number of migrant children separated from their families.
The separated children were placed in HHS custody, but there was no tracking system in place to link parents with their children until a federal judge ordered one, causing widespread fear and concern about whether families would ever see each other again.
It has yet to be decided whether the czar position would be housed within Homeland Security or within the White House, which would not require Senate confirmation.
A person positioned within the White House could coordinate immigration policy across various agencies, working closely with aides who are deeply involved in the issue, including senior advisers Stephen Miller and Jared Kushner, national security adviser John Bolton and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who supports the idea.
Appointing a person based within Homeland Security could be trickier because the department’s agency heads are all Senate-confirmed positions and, in the case of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, are longtime immigration officials with decades of experience dealing with the border.
While immigration officials would welcome an adviser focused specifically on policy across the varying agencies, the names being floated are likely to spark backlash and criticism.
Kobach, an immigration hardliner, ran a failed bid for governor promising to drive immigrants living in the U.S. illegally out of the country. He has recently been working for a nonprofit corporation, WeBuildtheWall Inc., which has been raising private money to build Trump’s wall.
Cuccinelli has advocated for denying citizenship to American-born children of parents living in the U.S. illegally, limiting in-state tuition at public universities only to those who are citizens or legal residents, and allowing workers to file lawsuits when an employer knowingly hires someone living in the country illegally for taking a job from a “law abiding competitor.”
Thomas Homan, the former acting ICE director, has also been mentioned as a potential pick, according to one of the people familiar with the talks.
——————
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is considering hiring a “border” or “immigration czar” to coordinate the president’s policies across various federal agencies.
President Trump and Kobach during a campaign rally in Topeka -photo courtesy Kobach for Governor Campaign
That’s according to three people familiar with the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss them publicly.
Trump is considering two potential candidates: Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli — both far-right conservatives with strong views on immigration.
It has yet to be decided whether the post would be housed within the Department of Homeland Security or the White House.
White House press aides, Kobach and Cuccinelli did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The discussion comes as Trump is threatening to close the U.S.-Mexico border if Mexico doesn’t halt all illegal immigration.
A cast of 27 Fort Hays State University students and Hays residents will bring “The Marriage of Figaro,” the opera by the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, to the Felten-Start Theatre stage from Thursday, April 4, through Sunday, April 7.
Directed by Dr. Ivalah Allen, associate professor of music and theatre, the cast has been rehearsing since being selected in late November. The entire cast has been rehearsing together since January.
Most of the parts have been double-cast, with one set of performers on Thursday and Saturday and another for the Friday and Sunday performances. For performances when they are not in character, they will sing with the chorus.
Performances are all in Malloy Hall’s Felten-Start Theatre. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the curtain opens at 7:30 p.m. Sunday’s matinee begins at 2:30 p.m.
The cast: Count Almaviva:
Adam Flax, Hays senior majoring in music education. Countess Almaviva:
Kiran Muetz, Loveland, Colo., senior majoring in music education, performing on Thursday and Saturday. Shelby Matlock Laird, Hays, singing on Friday and Sunday. Susanna:
Dannielle Dickerson, Riley junior majoring in music education, Thursday and Saturday, and Raeanna Peacock, Hays senior, music performance, on Friday and Sunday. Figaro:
Cody Kreutzer, Hays senior, general studies (theatre), Thursday and Saturday, Braydon Boyer, Salina junior, music performance, Friday and Sunday. Cherubino:
Matea Gregg, Hays senior, communication studies, Thursday and Saturday, and Jenna Confer, St. Francis junior, elementary education, Friday and Sunday. Marcellina:
Ciara Calhoon, Beloit senior, music education, Thursday and Saturday, and Cheyenne Rowe, Dighton junior, music education, Friday and Sunday. Bartolo:
Andrew Burnett, Scott City junior, music, Thursday and Saturday, and Jeremy Claude, Hays sophomore, criminal justice, Friday and Sunday. Basilio:
Luis Valencia, Leoti freshman, music education, Thursday and Saturday, and Eric Adams, Hays sophomore, music, Friday and Sunday. Don Curzio:
Micheal Hernandez, Hays freshman, music technology, Thursday and Saturday, and Hayden Sillmon, Hays sophomore, music education, Friday and Sunday. Barbarina:
Rachelle Lumpkins, Hays junior, music education. Antonio:
Ryan Will, Hays freshman, psychology. Chorus:
Sarah Wyse, Hays freshman, music performance. Shelby Knoll, Hays freshman, elementary education. Alexis Karabinas, Salina junior, art education. Taylor Drees, Hays freshman, elementary education. Mackenzie Bowers, Westmoreland freshman, music education. Veronica Guerrero, St. George, Utah, music performance. Allison Muth, Great Bend sophomore, organizational leadership. Katy Walters, Hays freshman, music performance.
Sen. Billinger with Reps. Wasinger, Mastroni, and Rahjes at the Feb. Legislative Coffee in Hays
HACC
The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce (HACC) will host a Legislative Coffee Saturday, April 6 in the Fort Hays State University Memorial Union Stouffer Lounge from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Guests will include First Dist. Congressman Roger Marshall (R-Great Bend), and Kansas state legislators Sen. Rick Billinger (R-Goodland), Rep. Barbara Wasinger (R-Hays), Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra), and Rep. Leonard Mastroni (R-La Crosse).
Light pastries and beverages will be provided.
There is no charge for the event and the public is encouraged to attend.
Eagle Communications is collecting monetary donations at its Kansas radio stations for victims of the recent catastrophic flooding in Nebraska.
A GoFundMe account is now available for online donations.
Hays-area residents wishing to make a contribution may bring cash or checks to the Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall Street, Hays. Checks should be made out to the Nebraska Red Cross.
Donations will be collected through Thu., April 4.
The Hays contributions will be combined with those collected by our Eagle Radio stations in Great Bend, Salina, Hutchinson, Manhattan and Junction City. The final amount will then be matched by the Schmidt Family Foundation and will be distributed to the Nebraska Red Cross.
For more information, contact the Hays Eagle Media Center at 785-301-2211.
Disclosure: Eagle Communications is the parent company of Hays Post.
Gertrude (Vlasin) Lankas, 102, formerly of Atwood, KS, died Monday, April 1, 2019, in Lee’s Summit, MO. She was born to Joseph and Rose (Kucera) Vlasin, near Hayes Center, NE, in Hayes County, on March 7, 1917. She was baptized into the Catholic Faith at Sacred Heart Church in Hayes County. She attended rural school in Hayes County. She was married to Anton Lankas on August 24, 1937. To this union were born three children. They lived on the farm west of Atwood, until her husband died. She then moved in to Atwood.
The joys of her life included her faith, family, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She loved the farm, garden and flowers. She was a terrific cook and was known for the best cinnamon rolls around. She also enjoyed making kolache’s and did so until recently. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Christian Mothers Altar Society.
Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents; husband Anton; brothers, Edward, Ladik, George and Joe; sisters, Velma and Agnes; brothers-in-law, Maurice Schuman and Charley Kurth; sister-in-law Betty Vlasin and son-in-law George Hammons.
Survivors include her children, Dean (Sheila) Lankas, of Atwood, Dan (Sally) Lankas, of Atwood and Diane Hammons, of Lee’s Summit, MO; sister-in-law Doris Vlasin; 10 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Visitation is from 5-7pm on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood, with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Friday April 5, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Atwood, with burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Atwood. Memorials are suggested to the Prayer Garden at Sacred Heart Church in Atwood in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
Our dear mother and grandmother now walks in the radiance of eternal life. The bond between our hearts will always hold fast. It is strengthened by love and many fond memories.
TOPEKA — Late last month, the Federal and State Affairs Committee held a hearing over HCR 5004, which would amend Section 1 of the Kansas Constitution to extend the rights of Kansans to include fertilized eggs, thus effectively banning abortion.
The resolution is one of several “personhood” bills introduced across the United States in recent months.
Rep. Garber courtesy photo
Proponents of the resolution included representatives from several religious and pro-life organizations. Most of their arguments at the March 21 hearing centered around the morality of abortion.
“The truth is, no nation ever survives that kills its babies. So, if we want our nation to survive, we need to stop,” said Rep. Randy Garbner (R-Sabetha), sponsor of HCR 5004.
Opponents of HCR 5004 pointed to other states that have failed to pass the amendment.
“State after state, from North Dakota to Colorado to deep red Mississippi, has rejected personhood initiatives when they appeared on the ballot because they know the consequences are too dire,” said Rachel Sweet, regional director of Public Policy and Organizing for Planned Parenthood Great Plains.
HCR 5004 is not the only bill of its kind currently working its way through state legislatures.
Last month, South Carolina’s legislature introduced the “Personhood Act of South Carolina,” which, like HCR 5004, would alter the state’s constitution to give rights to “preborn human being vests at fertilization.” A similar act was introduced the year before, but was blocked by the Senate.
Georgia’s “Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act,” which would ban abortions once the fetus has a heartbeat, recently passed in the Georgia House and Senate, and is pending approval by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. The Writers Guild of America wrote a letter in response to the bill that states if it passes, Georgia will not be a preferable place for people in the film and television industry to work.
The ACLU also released a statement regarding the bill, stating that if passed, the organization would take legal action.
“If Gov. Kemp signs this abortion ban bill into law, the ACLU has one message: we will see you in court,” said Andrea Young, executive director of the ACLU of Georgia.
In February, 27 Republican Kansas senators sponsored Senate Resolution 1606, also known as “condemning the Reproductive Health Act of New York.” The aforementioned health act was passed in January and clarifies that abortion is legal in New York if it occurs before the 24th week of pregnancy, is “necessary to protect the patient’s life or health” or if the fetus is not viable.
SCR 1606 called for New York legislatures to “reinstate protections for women and unborn children in their state.”
Current Kansas abortion law requires patients to receive counseling then wait 24 hours to have the procedure. Additionally, abortion is only legal after 20 weeks if the pregnant woman’s life is in danger.
The amendment needs to be passed by the House and Senate with a two-thirds majority to make it on the ballot in November 2020.
Kate Mays is a University of Kansas senior from Lenexa majoring in journalism.
