Wednesday, the Kanas Board of Regents released tuition and fee proposals for the 2019-2020 academic year, with Fort Hays State University seeking no tuition increases.
However, students still may see higher costs next year from fee increases.
Cost increases are expected to be absorbed by a 2 percent growth in enrollment, according to the proposal to the regents.
“Fort Hays State University will be the lowest cost four-year institution in the State, and is expected to continue to be the fifth lowest in the nation as reported in U.S. News and World Report,” the proposal said.
“The University believes it has a responsibility to operate as efficiently as possible as is evident by its utility management operations, blended use of full-time and part-time faculty, and continued use of internal construction resources.”
Fort Hays is the only school in the Regents system seeking no tuition increase.
Despite the request to keep tuition the same, on-campus students may still see higher costs next year.
The university asked for fee increases that would raise the cost of attendance by up to 2.8 percent or to $70.80 per semester.
The majority of the proposed fee increase was approved by the University Student Government or by referendum. Additional fee increases are based on a matching a three-year rolling average of the Higher Education Price Index.
The report lists Fort Hays as having the lowest cumulative tuition increase for resident undergraduate students over the last decade with an increase of 35.7 percent, with all other Regents schools’ tuition increasing over 50 percent since 2010.
PAWNEE COUNTY – A Pawnee County jury has found rial was conducted Tuesday and Wednesday in the Pawnee County District Court regarding a felony criminal complaint against Lyle W. Miller, 39 of Larned.
Lyle Miller photo Pawnee Co..
During this week’s trial, the jury heard testimony that on July 2, 2018, the Edwards County Sheriff’s Department received a report that a sixteen-foot bass boat was missing from a shed in rural Edwards County, according to a media release from the Pawnee County Attorney.
The owner testified he suspected Miller as possibly involved in the theft because he had recently worked for the owner and was responsible for locking up the shed the last time they’d been out there.
Additional testimony was presented that on the evening of July 27, 2018, the owner’s nephew had been at Miller’s home in Larned, saw the boat in Miller’s Garage and that Miller asked him to forget what he saw.
The nephew further testified that he then called the owner’s stepson and Miller’s younger brother and asked what they thought he should do. Neither individual wanted to get involved. Both individuals testified confirming the telephone conversations. The next morning, the nephew called the owner’s wife and they decided he should just go retrieve the boat because he was friends with Miller. The nephew’s nine-year-old son testified he went with his dad that morning to “Lyle’s house to get Uncle Bill’s Boat” and that his dad told him to call 911 if he saw any trouble.
Law enforcement was later called when the family discovered the boat was damaged and all of the identifying marks had been ground off.
Miller took the stand in his own defense and testified the nephew was never in his house on the night of July 27 or the morning of July 28 and that while he knew the boat was missing it was never at his house.
The jury of eight women and four men deliberated for approximately 35 minutes before returning a guilty verdict of Felony Theft of Property worth at least $1,500, but less than $24,999.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 20, 2019 at 2 p.m.. The defendant remains free on bond. Depending on his criminal history, Miller’s faces between 5 and 17 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
By Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.
Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.
One million cups of coffee. That’s a lot of caffeine. It’s also much more than that since this is the term for a movement which is supporting entrepreneurs across the nation. This program is building a peer support network to help those who are starting and growing their businesses.
Amber Starling and Joe Gerken are among the organizers of the Manhattan, Kansas chapter of this group called One Million Cups. Last week we learned about another of the organizers, Darin Miller. He operates Iron Clad Coworking Space with facilities in Manhattan and in the rural community of Wamego, population 4,272 people. Now, that’s rural.
The One Million Cups concept was begun by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in 2012. The idea was simple: Great ideas are discussed over a million cups of coffee. The Kauffman Foundation wanted to create a time and place where entrepreneurs could share with each other. Coffee was provided and entrepreneurs were brought together in Kansas City. The results were remarkable.
The format began to spread across the nation. One Million Cups chapters have now sprung up in 181 communities across the country. This includes the Kansas communities of Lawrence, Topeka, Wichita, and Manhattan. The program started in Manhattan in 2017.
What happens at a One Million Cups event? The format is that two presenters have six minutes each to present an overview of their businesses. This is followed by questions and answers with the audience. The final question posed to each presenter every time is: “What can we as a community do to help you?”
As the question demonstrates, this is intended to be a supportive environment for budding entrepreneurs or business owners. Who attends this event? “We have entrepreneurs, insurance agents, realtors, bankers, chamber of commerce staff, and more,” Amber Starling said. No reservations are required and no admission is charged. Even the coffee is free.
These events are held on a regular basis. In Manhattan, One Million Cups sessions are conducted on the first Wednesday of each month at the Wareham Theater.
“This is a grassroots effort to get entrepreneurs together,” Joe Gerken said. “Being a business owner can be lonely,” he said.
“This provides a safe space for entrepreneurs to share a big idea, here’s what worked, and here’s my challenges,” Amber said. The process of presenting helps focus the entrepreneur’s ideas. The feedback from his or her peers can be especially valuable.
Joe and Amber are past presenters at One Million Cups themselves. Joe talked about the business he started which is Flint Hills Moving. This moving company is in its third year and has grown to 10 employees. “We specialize in customer service,” Joe said. The company website is www.flinthillsmoving.com.
Amber presented about her business which is Good Witch Cleaning Services, with the only certified cleaning technicians in Kansas. Her business is almost two years old and has grown to six employees. “We thrive on perfection,” Amber said. Her company website is www.goodwitchcleaning.com.
After presenting at One Million Cups, Amber and Joe had the opportunity to apply to become event organizers and were selected. They now lead the monthly discussions. “We want to draw from the outlying communities too,” Amber said.
To present at One Million Cups, entrepreneurs must apply. Not everyone gets selected. A successful applicant is assigned an organizer to help them plan and prepare their presentation.
“Most people focus on their journey,” Joe said. “We get to help connect the dots.”
“We can help them get to where they need to go,” Amber said. “And the coffee is free.”
One million cups. That’s a lot of caffeine, but it’s also the name of a program which allows entrepreneurs to share their ideas and challenges with others. We commend Amber Starling, Joe Gerken, Darin Miller, and all those involved with One Million Cups for making a difference by enabling entrepreneurs to come together in this way. If I had a new business and I didn’t want it in the red, maybe One Million Cups could help me keep it in the black. Coffee, that is.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — The two suspects being held in connection with the death of a man whose body police found in a stolen RV Monday will make their firs court appearance Thursday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office.
Just before 3:30p.m. Monday, sheriff’s deputies responded to report of an auto theft in progress at Englewood and MacArthur involving a stolen trailer and vehicle, according to Wichita Police Lt. Jeff Gilmore.
Micaela Spencer photo Sedgwick Co.Royce Thomas has previous convictions for violation of offender registration from a previous sex crime in Colorado, according to the KBI offender registry
The investigation led authorities to a residence in the 1300 Block of South Greenwood where officers located a stolen truck and a pull-behind RV in the driveway of the home. Suspects later identified as 25-year-old Royce Thomas and 24-year-old Micaela Spencer both of Wichita were inside the truck and arrested without incident, according to Gilmore.
While investigating the stolen vehicles, officers located 50-year-old William “Billy” Callison inside the RV with multiple stab wounds. Callison who had been reported missing over the weekend was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police booked Thomas on requested charges of first-degree murder and possession of stolen property and Spencer on requested charges of first-degree murder, possession of stolen property and outstanding warrants, according to Gilmore.
First responders on the scene of the fatal crash early Thursday photo courtesy WIBW TV
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Two people died in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Thursday in Shawnee County.
A Ford Box Truck registered in Missouri and a Pontiac Firebird registered in Tennessee were westbound on Interstate 70 near West Union Road, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson
The vehicles collided in the outside lane of travel sending both vehicles off the road to the north. The Pontiac became fully engulfed in flames with both occupants still inside.
The occupants of the Pontiac were pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Ford was transported to a local hospital where he was evaluated and released.
Dove Fire and AMR assisted at the scene. Names of the victims have not been released.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two people are dead following a fiery crash near Topeka.
The accident happened around 3:30 a.m. Thursday on Interstate 70 when a car and a box truck collided.
Both vehicles left the roadway and the car caught fire. Officials on the scene said two people in the car died. The truck driver is hospitalized with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Four of Kansas’ six major public universities are seeking undergraduate tuition increases, despite a recent increase in state funding for higher education approved by the Legislature.
The proposed increases were unveiled Wednesday at a Kansas Board of Regents meeting, which frustrated some regents, who are under pressure to keep tuition flat after lawmakers approved a funding boost of $33 million for higher education next year, The Wichita Eagle reported. The board will vote on the proposals in June.
“Right now I’m not thrilled about the prospects of trying to convince the Legislature next year to give us more money when I believe they are going to feel like they were ambushed,” Regent Mark Hutton told university leaders.
Gov. Laura Kelly last week urged the board to hold the line on tuition.
“We have got to do something about rising tuition costs. We are pricing kids, families out of our higher education system. So if it’s at all possible, I would like them to address that,” Kelly said.
The University of Kansas and Wichita State University both sought a 1 percent tuition increase for Kansas residents. Emporia State University seeks a 2.5 percent increase and Kansas State requested a 3.1 percent. Pittsburg State University and Fort Hays State University did not request tuition increases.
Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod said the 1 percent increase was the smallest the university had sought since at least 1983 and Wichita State Interim President Andy Tompkins said that school’s request was the smallest in 30 years.
The requests come as the cost of attending a public university in Kansas continues to rise and tuition becomes a larger funding source than state aid. A credit load of 15 hours at the University of Kansas or Wichita State University now costs about 50 percent more than in 2009. Under the proposed rates, Kansas university students will pay a total of $732 million in tuition next year, while the state will provide $626 million in funding.
University leaders said the institutions are still trying to rebound from reductions in past years. Girod said his university reduced its budget by $20 million this year.
“We’re all pretty good at belt-tightening. We’re kind of running out of belt at this point,” he said.
Kansas State President Richard Myers said his university reduced its operating budget by $37 million over the past five years and expects another $10 million cut in the future, all while enrollment declines.
Regents chairman Dennis Mullin urged regents and university leaders to meet with lawmakers during the next month to explain the need for the increases.
“If you have an increase in your budget and you can’t share and mobilize that message to our key legislators over the next 30 days, I will be shocked if you will get that past this board,” Mullin told university leaders.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has completed its investigation of the police chief in Kansas City, Kansas, and turned over results to the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s office.
A spokeswoman for KBI said Wednesday that the bureau wrapped up the investigation last week. It’s unclear when prosecutors will decide whether to file criminal charges against Terry Zeigler.
The investigation centers on whether Ziegler “double dipped” when he took paid time off work while also charging the county government for work he did on a lake house.
The Unified Government allowed Ziegler to pay little rent on the house on Wyandotte Lake Park if he made repairs on the property. Officials put the lease in writing after a citizen inquired about it.
Gerald Lee Rohleder, age 66, of Omaha, Nebraska passed away Friday, May 10, 2019 at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha.
Jerry was born on July 25, 1952 in Hays, Kansas to Alvin and Anita (Meier) Rohleder. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Military Academy in 1970 and was united in marriage with Marie Pfeifer on August 4th, 1973. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State College in 1974 Jerry spent over 42 years at Mutual of Omaha as a Senior Technical Solutions Architect where he continued to work until his passing.
In addition, he spent over 20 years as a computer science educator at various schools throughout the Omaha area. His loves in life included his family, teaching, sharing his knowledge of technology, laughter, gardening, Clint Eastwood, oatmeal cream pies, Cherry Mash candies, and especially being a Grandfather.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Marie, daughter Jennifer, son-in-law Benjamin Puetz, grandson Cameron (2.5 years), granddaughter Winter (7 months), mother Anita Rohleder (Hays, Kansas), sister Debbie (Rohleder) Hensch and brother-in-law Duane Hensch of Wichita, Kansas. He is proceeded in death by his father Alvin Rohleder.
The new reality of smoking at Kansas high schools is visible in the parking lots, where used-up Juul pods have taken the place of cigarette butts.
VAPING 360 / FLICKR
“You can pick up the discarded Juul cartridges all over the concrete,” Andover High School school resource officer Heath Kintzel said of the popular vaping brand. “It’s everywhere.”Kansas school officials told the state Board of Education on Tuesday that vaping is an increasing epidemic. In 2017, about a third of Kansas high school students tried vaping at least once. Between 2017 and 2018, the number of students vaping increased by 80 percent.
That has educators looking for a solution.
“For me, it was pretty eye-opening in terms of just the amount of vaping that had occurred in a short amount of time,” David Stubblefield, the executive director of school administration for the Blue Valley Unified School District, told the board. “It really exploded exponentially in the last two or three years.”
Vaping — that is, electronic cigarettes — almost always involves nicotine, the same addictive chemical found in traditional cigarettes. It usually involves flavors that would appeal to younger smokers.
Some adults have turned to vaping to quit smoking, though the Food and Drug Administration does not approve e-cigarettes for that use. The Centers for Disease Control acknowledges that while e-cigarettes could help some smokers quit, there isn’t enough research to say how effective they are. There also hasn’t been enough research to fully understand the health consequences associated with vaping, partially because of e-cigarettes’ fast adoption.
Plus, the devices often look like pens and USB drives. Some are built into hoodie strings. They can give off little smoke. This allows them to go unnoticed, especially in schools.
“Unless you physically see a student holding it, using it, blowing the smoke from it, it is really difficult to know when kids are actually using it in a school,” said Andover principal Kristen Kuhlmann.
The main recommendation for combating e-cigarettes: education. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said students may not know there is nicotine in their e-cigarettes.
The department also recommended lessons for teachers to better identify vaping.
But education officials are bracing themselves for a long campaign against vaping, much like the decades-long process of reducing traditional cigarette use.
“They’ve just burst upon the market,” said Mark Thompson, a consultant on health for the Kansas State Department of Education. “We’re really playing catch-up here.”
The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Thu., May 16, 2019 in the area of KSU Ag Research Highway 183 Bypass to Bison Road between 240th and 260th Ave., the area from Vine St. to Commerce between 8th St. and Reservation Rd., and the area of Canterbury to Commerce between 8th St. and 13th St. to include the Hays Regional Airport.
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.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Water Office (KWO) is currently accepting applications from those who would like to participate as a member of one of the 14 Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) which are established by the Kansas Water Authority (KWA). Interested individuals are encouraged to apply soon as the deadline is only two weeks away.
Ellis County is in the Smoky Hill-Saline Regional Advisory Committee.
These committees play a key role in advising the KWA on implementation of each region’s water supply priorities as part of the Kansas Water Vision and the Kansas water planning process as a whole. They help identify and provide input on other emerging water resource related issues and concerns. The committee selection process will ensure all of the water users and interests within the region are represented.
Kansans can have a definite lasting impact on the future of water resources through RAC membership. Interested persons can apply at www.kwo.ks.gov. The application deadline is May 31, 2019.
As the state’s water office, KWO conducts water planning, policy coordination and water marketing as well as facilitates public input throughout the state. The agency prepares the Kansas Water Plan, a plan for water resources development, management and conservation.
Hays Bike Patrol officers with children at a bike safety event presented by North McDonald’s in April. (Courtesy HPD)
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Bicycles have the same rights – and responsibilities – as motor vehicles on Kansas streets and highways.
“Bicyclists must obey the same traffic safety measures as cars, whose drivers need to yield to bicycles appropriately as necessary,” says Stefan Gildemeister, Hays Master Police Officer. Gildemeister is also program coordinator and bike team leader for the Hays Police Department (HPD) Bicycle Patrol.
May is National Bicycle Safety Month.
HPD encourages bicyclists of all ages to wear a helmet. “It can make such a big difference as we’ve seen in some accidents involving bicyclists,” Gildemeister said. “The majority of head injuries that happen during those types of accidents can be prevented or greatly reduced by wearing a properly fitted helmet.”
The bike you ride should be properly fitted to you and make sure the brakes are working before you ride. “We want to be sure bicyclists can stop and try to avoid those type of accidents.”
It’s a good idea to wear bright or reflective clothing, especially during limited visibility at dawn and dusk.
Night time rides require by state law a white light on the front of the bike as well as a red rear reflector. “We also encourage some type of red steady or flashing light on the back of your bicycle,” Gildemeister added, “making you that more visible to cars.”
Seven bike routes are included in Bike Hays. (Click to enlarge)
Hays has seven designated bike routes and two concrete bike paths throughout town as part of Bike Hays.
There are also bike lanes outlined on many city streets.
“Those are specifically for bicyclists. They’re not meant for pedestrian traffic or runners.”
Nor are the bike lanes meant for drivers.
“There are some areas where the driving lanes have been decreased slightly in order to make room for those bike lanes but there’s still plenty of room for cars to pass by [the bikes] as we normally would for traffic. … Those bike lanes in some areas are set over far enough we still have legal street parking for vehicles. The bike lane would usually be between the street parking and the actual driving lane in the street.
There shouldn’t be any reason for cars to be driving in those bike lanes.
Just as vehicle drivers drive defensively, bicyclists also should ride defensively.
“Stay alert and focused on the road,” stressed Gildemeister. “Try to anticipate what others do, especially those cars around you. The quicker you can notice that potential conflict, the quicker you can try to react to avoid a potential injury or crash.”
Bicyclists must share the road, ride the same direction as vehicle traffic, and obey the same street signs, signals and road markings.
Gildemeister says HPD is seeing more bicyclists wearing headphones while listening to music as well as talking on their phone and steering with one hand.
Although that’s not against the law, HPD discourages it. “We want to make sure their eyes and ears are on the roads and making sure they’re paying attention to the surrounding traffic, limiting potential hazards.”
Bike riding on sidewalks is prohibited in business areas by city ordinance. Intersections are the most common areas where bike accidents occur, according to Gildemeister.
There are currently six bike officers with HPD.
In the next few weeks, Gildemeister says the bike officers will be expanding their normal patrol range and will have brighter emergency lights installed on their bikes.
