WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has ruled that a 37-year-old Kansas woman charged in the decapitation death of her ex-boyfriend’s mother is competent to stand trial.
Hilyard-photo Sedgwick Co.
Rachael Hilyard, of Wichita, is charged with first-degree murder in the April 2017 death of 63-year-old Micki Davis.
Davis was attacked after she went with her 9-year-old grandson to a home to retrieve property belonging to her son. The boy ran away and called 911.
Police found Davis’ body in a garage and her head in the kitchen sink.
She underwent a mental health evaluation at Larned State Hospital, which said she was competent to stand trial. A judge agreed Thursday.
Trial is set to begin Oct. 15. Hilyard is jailed in lieu of a $550,000 bond.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs had their final practice of the week at Missouri Western in St. Joseph on Thursday as they’ll travel to Kansas City to continue preparation for their preseason opener Saturday.
The Chiefs will have a light workout Friday at Arrowhead Stadium and then play the Cincinnati Bengals in their first preseason game Saturday at 7 p.m. Kansas City will return to Missouri Western Monday and have four more practices to conclude the St. Joseph portion of training camp that is open to the public.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and punter Dustin Colquitt spoke with the media after practice Thursday.
H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University.Kansas’s share of federal dollars has been dropping precipitously in recent years.
According to research conducted by the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, federal grants in Kansas as a portion of state revenues fell from 33 percent in 2011 to 23 percent in 2017. That steep drop, due largely to rejecting federal dollars, represented a shocking loss, estimated at $382 million in the 2017 state budget.
In the same time frame the four states surrounding Kansas maintained their share of federal dollars at 33 percent. The average share of all 50 states has grown over the last four years to 32 percent.
Kansas now ranks third in the nation in refusing federal dollars as only two states—Hawaii and Virginia—report slightly smaller shares than Kansas.
Should Kansans be cheering or booing state lawmakers for refusing available federal aid? The answer is a no-brainer!
Nearly 80 percent of all federal money to the states comes through grants for Medicaid or income security. In the period 2011 through 2017, Republican lawmakers, led by former Governor Sam Brownback, began denying available federal aid to the state’s most vulnerable residents—poor families, children, seniors, the unemployed, and the disabled.
They blocked the extension of Medicaid coverage 130,000 low-income working Kansans and their children.
They repeatedly restricted eligibility of the poorest Kansas families for federal aid through TANF (cash assistance) and SNAP (food stamps). The number of TANF recipients, over three-fourths being children, was slashed by over 70 percent from 2011 to 2018. The number of beneficiaries of food assistance, roughly half being children, declined over 30 percent from 2013 to 2018.
They privatized Medicaid in 2013 and cut Medicaid reimbursement rates in 2016. Medicaid cuts reduced health care services for 400,000 children, seniors, and disabled individuals. A private contractor backlogged, delayed, and too often denied applications of eligible seniors for nursing home care.
This rejection of federal assistance represents a dramatic departure for Kansas. In the early decades of the 20th century Kansas lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, campaigned successfully for constitutional changes, as well as new taxes, that allowed state government to accept and match federal aid for roads, social welfare, unemployment compensation, and relief during the Great Depression. These actions set critical precedents for Kansas officials to accept and actively pursue available federal grants for public health, environmental protection, criminal justice, housing, workforce development, and wildlife conservation, among many other public purposes.
That changed with Brownback’s vow to remake Kansas into a national model of red-state governance by refusing federal aid to vulnerable residents. His tax experiment failed and has been abandoned, but his assault on poor Kansans and their children continues in state law. Any attempts to change the law are fought off by the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce and its dark money ally, Americans for Prosperity—organizations that despise spending on social safety nets. For the past seven years they have targeted lawmakers and legislative candidates who support such spending.
The ideological experiment with the lives of vulnerable Kansans is failing and continues to cost the Kansas economy hundreds of millions in federal dollars every year, even as we pay taxes that benefit all other states. Lawmakers should reclaim the state’s rightful share of federal grants and for starters, approve the extension of Medicaid and reestablish reasonable guidelines for providing assistance to the poorest Kansans and their children.
H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University and served with former Kansas Governors Bennett and Hayden.
The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and conducted 26 traffic stops Mon., Aug. 5, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Civil Transport–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 12:35 AM
Found/Lost Property–800 block Vine St, Hays; 8:15 AM
Found/Lost Property–800 block Vine St, Hays; 8:18 AM
Found/Lost Property–800 block Vine St, Hays; 8:20 AM
Theft (general)–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 7/30 10:22 AM; 8/1 11:30 AM
Found/Lost Property–1300 block Harvest Rd, Hays; 1:54 PM
Search Warrant–2700 block Epworth St; 2:50 PM
Urinating in Public–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 4:45 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–1300 block Eisenhower Rd, Hays; 5:40 PM
Animal Call–1300 block Lawrence Dr, Hays; 8:09 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–100 block Ash St, Hays; 11:33 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 8 animal calls and conducted 17 traffic stops Tue., Aug. 6, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–29th St and Vine St, Hays; 5:46 PM
Domestic Disturbance–100 block E 18th St, Hays; 2:25 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–500 block W 24th St, Hays; 6:59 AM
Animal At Large–2200 block Downing Ave, Hays; 7:05 AM
Shoplifting–500 block W 36th St, Hays; 7:32 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–2400 block Lincoln Dr, Hays; 8:35 AM
Animal At Large–3400 block Summer Ln, Hays; 9:40 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–1300 block Schwaller Ave, Hays; 9:50 AM
Water Use Violation–1700 block Marjorie Dr, Hays; 2:10 PM
Found/Lost Property–1100 block E 8th St, Hays; 3:01 PM
Suspicious Activity–2000 block Vine St, Hays; 3 PM; 3:08 PM
Bicycle – Lost,Found,Stolen–27th and Walnut, Hays; 3:21 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–Hays; 12 PM; 12:05 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 5:58 PM
Urinating in Public–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 6:03 PM
Battery – simple–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 7 PM; 7:20 PM
Suspicious Activity–3300 block Skyline Dr, Hays; 8:54 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 7 animal calls and conducted 22 traffic stops Wed., Aug. 7, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–1100 block Cody Ave, Hays; 12:56 AM
Animal At Large–500 block E 19th St, Hays; 7:49 AM
Animal Call–300 block E 18th St, Hays; 8:28 AM
Animal At Large–400 block W 19th St, Hays; 8:43 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–200 block Circle Dr, Hays; 9:18 AM
MV Accident-Personal Injury–2000 block E 22nd, Hays; 10 AM
Drug Offenses–Hays; 8/6 11:50 AM
Water Use Violation–500 block W 32nd St, Hays; 12:44 PM
Disorderly Conduct–500 block Commerce Pkwy, Hays; 8/6 12 PM; 12:30 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–3800 block Hall St, Hays; 2:03 PM
Traffic/Driving Complaint–Hays; 4:09 PM
Parking Complaint–2500 block Pine St, Hays; 4:09 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 5:56 PM
Drug Offenses–2000 block MacArthur Rd, Hays; 7:01 PM
JOHNSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have a suspect in custody. Just after 2:15a.m. Thursday, police responded to report of a disturbance at a home where they found a 14-year-old dead of an apparent gunshot wound, according to Olathe police spokesman Joel Yeldell.
Late Thursday morning, police reported on social media they had taken a 14-year-old suspect into custody in connection with the homicide. The suspect was known to the victim, according to Yeldell.
Investigators have contacted everyone involved in the shooting and released no additional details.
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OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Olathe police are investigating a 14-year-old boy’s death as a homicide.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — The FBI says two juveniles and 35 adults in the greater Kansas City area were rescued from alleged commercial sex trafficking operations as part of a nationwide roundup.
The FBI coordinated the national effort throughout July. The agency says the operation resulted in the identification or recovery of 103 child victims, the arrest of 67 suspected sex traffickers and 60 new federal investigations.
The Kansas City Division of the FBI said it worked on “Operation Independence Day” with other law enforcement agencies in Missouri and Kansas, including departments in Kansas City, Branson and Springfield in Missouri and Overland Park, Wichita and Sedgwick County in Kansas.
All visitors to Hays High School during school hours will enter the school through this new breezeway at the main entrance and sign in at the office.Visitors to HHS will now have to enter the school through the far left door of the main west entrance during school hours.
By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
New secure entrances have been constructed at Hays High and Hays Middle School.
Each school now has a breezeway through which visitors will enter the school during school hours. The breezeways funnel visitors through the schools’ offices.
At the middle school, visitors will have to ring a door bell at the far left door of the main entrance, which is located on the south side of the building. HMS Principal Tom Albers said eventually the school will install a camera in the breezeway. Visitors will enter the breezeway and be buzzed into the office.
Beginning this fall, the middle school will require all students to enter through the west gymnasium door in the morning. Albers said this will allow him to greet students in the morning and better control students’ movement through the building.
Visitors to Hays Middle School will need to ring the door bell at the far left door of the main entrance to enter the school during school hours.
Parents can still drop students off in the morning on the south side of the building, but the students will need to walk around to the west side to enter the school.
Albers said for fire safety, students and staff can exit through doors throughout the building, but they are not accessible to people entering the buildings and they lock behind the person exiting the building.
Albers said he liked having the breezeway at the main entrance to the building. Students who need to stay after school for an activity or homework help can wait in the breezeway out of the weather and can watch out the front windows for someone to pick them up at the front of the school.
At the high school, all of the doors will be unlocked as students arrive in the morning. While school is in session, all of the doors will be locked except the far left door at main west entrance. Visitors will enter the breezeway, and then they will be buzzed in by office staff and enter the school through the office. The high school is also in the process of upgrading its camera system at the front entrance.
The school board approved the project in April. The district received more than $86,000 in grants for the secure entrances project. The district’s portion was $16,693.
Both principals said they thought the new entrance configurations will improve safety at the schools.
Visitors to HMS will now half to enter this new breezeway and check in at the office before entering the school.
“We have so many, whether it is UPS or FedEx or students coming in from off campus. We have a lot kids who go to NCK. We have a few kids who take advanced classes at Fort Hays. We have parents bringing up shoes for practice — any number of situations,” Martin Straub, HHS principal, said. “Almost always people have good intentions, but if one out of a million is not a good intention, it will allow us to screen them before that person is allowed in. I think it is a good step in the right direction.
“I think it will definitely change the way we do business, but that is not a bad thing either.”
Straub asked visitors to be patient with the school staff as they adjust to the new routine.
Albers said, “It is much more safe because we have controlled access to our building. … Now you have to go through a direct entryway to our building. From that standpoint, it makes it much more secure for us.”
HMS parents and guardians should have received an email about the entrance change. They will receive a notice by mail if they do not have email.
A new pedestrian crosswalk with flashing lights has been installed at Hall and 19th Streets in Hays.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
As back-to-school traffic picks up later this month in Hays, drivers and pedestrians on Hall Street near Thomas More Prep-Marian school will need to pay extra attention.
A new pedestrian crosswalk with flashing lights has been installed on Hall at the intersection of 19th Street.
A Kansas Department of Transportation Traffic Engineering Assistance Program study was awarded several years ago to the city of Hays. TEAP awards provide engineering services for small areas with things such as access problems or pedestrian issues.
The city looked at Hall Street between O’Loughlin Elementary School at the 14th Street intersection and TMP-M at 19th.
“We have a challenge at certain times of the day with pedestrians, with cars, with overloading access when people are dropping off or picking up their kids at O’Loughlin, and when school is getting out at TMP. There are short-term congestion problems,” City Manager Toby Dougherty said.
One of the suggestions made in the TEAP study was a pedestrian crosswalk.
The city met a while ago with TMP-M administrative staff and both groups agreed to the 19th Street location.
“We think that’s the best option right now. I think they’re very happy with the outcome,” Dougherty added.
TMP-M Principal Chad Meitner is so happy about the crosswalk he went to a Hays City Commission meeting to tell them about it.
“John Braun (Hays project manager) had worked with us and the administration at O’Loughlin … The (TEAP) findings made us look at how we could make the traffic flow there safer for the students, the families, and just for citizens in general going through that area especially in the mornings and afternoons,” said Meitner. “I thank the city for installing the crosswalk. It looks great. We’re excited not only for our students but even the folks who use the campus for walking their dogs or jogging (who) can now cross there.”
The new crosswalk aids pedestrian traffic on the campus of Thomas More Prep-Marian school.
The TMP location was chosen for the crosswalk because O’Loughlin uses a staffed crosswalk when the school day opens and closes.
“The majority of those kids crossing Hall Street are doing so under controlled circumstances,” Dougherty said, “but TMP doesn’t have anybody posted there … so this actually gives them some kind of controlled access.”
The new pedestrian crosswalk is similar to the one further north on Hall Street in front of Cervs convenience store and another on 22nd Street near Roosevelt Elementary School. Each is activated by pedestrians.
“They’re very bright flashing lights that will get the attention of the vehicles so they can slow down and yield to the people in the crosswalk. … Traffic is usually pretty good about stopping for the kids. … But you never know with people on their phones not paying attention. That flasher adds another (safety) measure.”
Dougherty said he believes the city will look at installing a crosswalk at O’Loughlin sometime in the future, “but given the fact that they have no intention of doing away with their crossing guard right now, we feel it’s protected.”
There is no crossing guard station at Roosevelt.
Classes at TMP-Marian start Monday, Aug. 19. Hays USD 489 classes start Wednesday, Aug. 14.
GEARY COUNTY — A Kansas police officer made an interesting discovery during the search of a home Wednesday,
Lt. Odell and Flash-bang photo courtesy JC Police
According to a social media report, Junction City Police Lt. Cory Odell wrangled a gator Wednesday while assisting the Drug Operations Group serve a search warrant at a home in the 300 block of West 8th Street in Junction City.
Odell named the gator Flash-bang who is now safely in the custody of the Milford Nature Center.
Odell was not allowed to keep the alligator because it is against city ordinance to have one in the city limits.
JEWELL COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Wednesday in Jewell County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Silverado driven by Ronald A. Payne, 87, Formoso, was northbound on 260 Road and failed to yield at U.S. 36. An eastbound 2007 Kenworth semi driven by Mario Romero, 38, Plano, TX., struck the pickup and pushed it into the north ditch.
EMS transported Payne and a passenger Iva L. Payne, 84, Formoso, to the Lincoln County Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP. Romero was not injured.
Racing action returns to the speedway Saturday, August 10th with the five regular IMCA classes, modifieds, stocks, sportmods, hobby stocks and sport compacts plus the crazy cruisers trackside.
Thanks to race night sponsor, Pfeifer Dozer Service of St. Peter, all active duty, former or retired military, reservist or National Guard members will be admitted free to the grandstands.
Associate sponsor for this special event will be Dreiling Field Service of Hays.
Free general admission for children 12 and under with parent or guardian thanks to G & B Fireworks of Liebenthal.
General admission for adults 13 and up will be $10. Pit passes for adults 13 and up will be $25 and kids 12 and under with parent or guardian will be $10.
Pits open at 4 p.m., general admission at 5 p.m., hot laps at 6 p.m. with the green flag waving at 7 p.m.
Race fans are encouraged to wear their red, white and blue in support of our troops and to remember our veterans.
Thanks to Kansas Grateful Stitchers, Quilts of Valor will be awarded during intermission to an active service member or veteran.
For the latest race results, news and special events like RPM Speedway on facebook at rollingplainsmotor.speedway or find them on the web at rpmspeedway.net.
HUTCHINSON —A fire caused significant damage to Kansas home early Thursday,
Thursday morning fire photo Hutchinson Fire Department
Just before 1:30a.m. the Hutchinson Fire Department responded to 1422 Woodlawn for a structure fire, according to Division Chief Doug Hanen
First arriving fire unit found heavy fire showing from the rear of the structure. The fire was reported by the occupants. The fire began under a covered porch in the rear and quickly spread to the attic of the home prior to the fire fighter’s arrival. Fire damage to the home is significant, however fire fighters were able to contain the fire to the original structure as a home to the north located 20 feet away suffered moderate siding damage.
Fire fighters did locate one cat in the home, despite resuscitation efforts, the cat did not survive. The 2 adult occupants and a dog did escape without injury. Red Cross is assisting the family and a board up company was called to assisted in securing the property,
Hutchinson fire investigator has ruled the fire as careless smoking. Damage estimates have not been released.
Hutchinson Fire Department was assisted by Reno County EMS, Hutchison Police Department, Kansas Gas Service, and Westar.
NEW YORK (AP) — Henri Belolo, who co-founded Village People and co-wrote their classic hits “YMCA,” ”Macho Man” and “In the Navy,” has died. He was 82.
Scorpio Music, founded by Belolo, announced on Wednesday that Belolo died Saturday. No details about the death were provided.
Belolo was born in Casablanca, Morocco, on Nov. 27, 1936.
With Jacques Morali and lead singer Victor Willis, Belolo founded the six-member Village People. The group’s self-titled debut album was released in 1977.
In 1978, the group released two albums, “Macho Man” and “Cruisin'” — which featured the international hit “Y.M.C.A.,” co-written by Belolo. It peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard chart.
A year later, Village People released the album “Go West,” which included “In the Navy,” another song co-written by Belolo that peaked at No. 3 hit on the chart.
By DAVE RIGGERT
Racing action returns to the speedway Saturday, August 10th with the five regular IMCA classes, modifieds, stocks, sportmods, hobby stocks and sport compacts plus the crazy cruisers trackside.
