TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is appealing a judge’s ruling that allows telemedicine abortions in the state even though legislators have enacted three laws against them within eight years.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt filed the appeal Friday with the Kansas Court of Appeals.
Schmidt hopes to overturn a Dec. 31 decision by Shawnee County District Judge Franklin Theis in a lawsuit filed by a Wichita clinic’s operators. Since October, clinic doctors have conferred with some patients through teleconferences when providing pregnancy-ending drugs.
Theis ruled that a 2018 law banning telemedicine abortions has no legal force because it contained no way to punish violators.
The judge also ruled that 2011 and 2015 laws are on hold indefinitely because they’re covered by an injunction in a separate lawsuit challenging abortion regulations that is still pending.
Steven Henry Nagel, age 77, passed away on Thursday, January 31, 2019 at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. He was born on December 30, 1941 in Ellsworth, Kansas, the son of Eilert Henry & Virginia Noble Nagel. A resident of Scott City, Kansas since 1976 moving from Sharon Springs, Kansas he was a retired truck driver for Seaboard Farms, Inc.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas and was a US Air Force Veteran.
On June 9, 1969 he married Elsie A. Hansley Griffin in Durant, Oklahoma. She survives.
Survivors include his Wife – Elsie A. Nagel of Scott City, Kansas, Five Sons – Lyle Nagel of Scott City, Kansas, Donald & Rhonda Griffin of Garden City, Kansas, Paul & Laurie Griffin of Amarillo, Texas, Steven Griffin of Salina, Kansas, Stacy & Glenda Griffin of Garden City, Kansas, One Brother – Roland Nagel of Great Bend, Kansas, One Sister – Laura Martin of Portland, Oregon, Sixteen Grandchildren and Fourteen Great Grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his Parents, One Son – Eilert Samuel Nagel, One Brother – Keith Nagel, One Sister – Cinda Becker and One Grandson – Jeremy Griffin.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at the First Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas with the Rev. Kyle Evans Presiding.
Memorials in Lieu of Flowers may be made to the Steven Nagel Memorial Fund in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.
Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday and 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree plans to seek the death penalty against a man charged with killing two sheriff’s deputies.
Deputy King and Deputy Rohrer-photos Wyandotte Co. Sheriff
Dupree said Friday during a hearing for 30-year-old Antoine Fielder that he will pursue the death penalty.
Fielder is charged with capital murder in the deaths of Wyandotte County sheriff’s deputies Patrick Rohrer and Theresa King.
Fielder photo Wyandotte Co.
They were killed last June while they were transporting Fielder and another prisoner between the jail and a court hearing. Fielder allegedly disarmed them but details of the incident have not been released.
Fielder also was injured during the confrontation.
A judge on Friday ordered that Fiedler be taken to Larned State hospital for a mental evaluation. Court proceedings will be stayed until the evaluation is complete.
The Ellis County Election Office will start looking at new election equipment on Tuesday at the Administrative Center in the Ellis County Commission Chambers, 718 Main.
Election Systems and Software will demonstrate its election equipment for county officials.
In a news release, County Clerk Donna Maskus said the county is looking at new election equipment since Kansas Statute 25-3009 goes into effect this year. The law will require a post-election audit to be done before the canvass. The equipment in use now is not sufficient to handle the audit process.
“We are very pleased to state that all election results remained the same after the Nov. 20, 2018, recount canvass,” Maskus said. “We would like to share some facts on the Nov. 6, 2018, general election.”
All 69 lvotronic touch screen election machines went through the logic and accuracy testing, for the November 6, 2018 General Election. The calibration process was performed on all machines with no problems found.
Noted that no calls were received through the Ellis County Clerk’s Office on any type of malfunctions or problems with voting on the lvotronic touch screen voting machines.
Poll Workers never indicated any concerns from any voters on the November 6, 2018 Election.
Every voter was given the option to vote paper ballot or the electronic machine.
The County Clerk did close two lvotronic touch screen voting machines before the polls opened on election day, and when votes were gathered at the end of election night “no” votes were shown on these machines.
lvotronic touch screen election machines are stored at the Administrative Center building that has security. A maintenance schedule is provided through the vendor.
Would like to clarify that the Ellis County Clerk did not mail out any postcards notifying the provisional voter that they needed to attend the Nov. 15, 2018, canvass. We do apologize for any confusion it did cause but our office did not have anything to do with this mailing.
“We look forward to bringing new voter equipment for future elections and will continue the usual high standards with the election process.”
OAKLEY — Just after midnight Sunday, the Oakley Police Department responded to a theft in progress at the Western Kansas Wildlife Travel Center at 1001 U.S. 40, according to a news release from the police department.
Three individuals were arrested without incident and two semi-trucks and tractor trailers were confiscated in connection to multiple diesel fuel thefts at the Western Kansas Travel Center from December to January — totaling over $5,000 in value.
The individuals arrested are:
Alexander Aladier Cardenas, 45, Florida
Yenny Gabriela Justo, 35, Florida
Jose Saul Rodriguez Fajardo, 60, Florida
All three are currently facing criminal damage and felony theft charges in Gove County.
“The Oakley Police Department would like to thank the Kansas Highway Patrol for providing assistance in the arrests, Chief Daniel Cooper said in a news release. “The Oakley Police Department would also like to thank the employees at the Western Kansas Wildlife Travel Center for providing invaluable assistance to the Oakley Police Department during the weeks of investigation leading up to and after the arrests. The investigation is currently ongoing and no additional information will be released at this time.”
BUNKER HILL – Smoky Hills Public Television’s local program, The Kansas Legislature, will be hosted by Larry Dreiling, senior field editor for High Plains Journal. Our guests will be State Representatives Susan Concannon (R-Beloit) of the 107th District, Barb Wasinger (R-Hays) of the 111th District, and Brad Ralph (R-Dodge City) of the 119th District, and Senator Rick Billinger (R-Goodland) of the 40th District.
Tune in Fri., Feb. 1 at 7 p.m., and call in with your legislative questions.
The show airs during the legislative session, which gives the legislators and viewers the opportunity to discuss up-to-date issues. During the program, viewers can call 800.337.4788 with their legislative questions.
The Kansas Legislature will air on Fridays at 7 p.m. To find a list of legislators that might be on the show each week, go to www.shptv.org where you will find the 2019 season schedule.
The City of Hays will host an open house to provide information to the public on Vine Street corridor improvements, including proposed roundabout solutions. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at The Venue at Thirsty’s, 2704 Vine. Refreshments will be served.
City of Hays staff and transportation engineers will be on hand to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the North Vine Street Corridor Project. Detailed models of proposed changes will be on display to show the capabilities of roundabouts and how they improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians.
City of Hays staff and community leaders have been working to overcome the logistical challenges in the North Vine Street corridor for decades. The area between 32nd/33rd Streets and I-70 was not designed to accommodate the amount of traffic currently experienced.
City staff and engineers have been working with KDOT on a concept that would replace the traffic signals in the corridor with roundabouts in order to improve traffic flow, reduce the number and severity of accidents, allow for better flow to and from businesses, and accommodate future redevelopment in the area.
Vine Street corridor traffic simulation videos and traffic studies can be found at www.haysusa.com. For additional information on the open house event, contact City Hall at 785-628-7320.
The No. 6 Fort Hays State women’s basketball team renews one of its oldest rivalries Saturday (Feb. 2) when the Tigers make the short trip to take on Nebraska-Kearney. First tip between the Tigers and Lopers is scheduled for 2 p.m. from the Health and Sports Center.
After two home wins last week, the Tigers head into the weekend 18-1 overall and 9-1 in MIAA play. The Lopers enter the contest 12-7 on the year and 5-5 against league competition.
Fort Hays State opened conference play with a grind-it-out 62-53 win over Nebraska-Kearney back in December in Hays (12/4/18), thanks in large part to Tatyana Legette’s second double-double of the year. The senior totaled 23 points and 13 rebounds, making 11-of-12 from the free throw line. FHSU outscored the Lopers by 17 at the charity stripe, 23-6. UNK led by one early before the Tigers pulled in front by as many as 14 in the first half. A third quarter run brought the Lopers within two, but FHSU bounced back down the stretch to secure the win.
The Tigers have met up with Nebraska-Kearney more often than any other program, with Saturday’s contest serving as the 92nd meeting of a series that began back in 1972. The Tigers hold a 55-36 edge in the series, including a 16-2 advantage under Tony Hobson. FHSU is 21-23 all-time in Kearney against the Lopers, but the Tigers have won eight-straight on the road. Hobson has never lost to UNK in Kearney.
This is the second time the Tigers have traveled to Kearney after winning a pair of non-conference contests inside the Health and Sports Center in November. FHSU easily dispatched of Colorado-Colorado Springs and Chadron State during the first month of the season, scoring an average of 84.5 points in those two contests.
While the Tigers currently sit in a tie for first place in the MIAA standings at the halfway point of the league season, Nebraska-Kearney heads into Saturday ranked seventh in the league standings. The Lopers have played well at home, winning 10 of 12 contests inside the Health and Sports Center. UNK boasts the second-best defense in the league, allowing just 59.2 points per contest, leading to the third-best scoring margin in the conference (+11.4). The Lopers and Tigers allow an identical 37.0 shooting percentage to their opponents. Kelsey Sanger (11.0 ppg) and Brooke Carlson (10.9 ppg) are the lone Lopers averaging in double figures this year.
Sahleh Mohamed at a refugee learning center in Garden City. CORINNE BOYER / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
As a member of the Rohingya ethnic minority, he was in particular peril. His life was in danger.
He settled in Garden City. Now 24, he may gain citizenship in a year. That, in turn, will put him in a position to bring over his family and free those loved ones from a refugee camp in Bangladesh.
To navigate life in western Kansas — he’s a meat carver in a Tyson packing plant — he’s relied on aid groups in the region. Those organizations have put him on a path to citizenship and to bringing over his relatives.
But that safety net for refugees is experiencing its own transition. The International Rescue Committee had been the lead agency helping refugees in southwest Kansas until the flood of refugees became a trickle.
The IRC closed its Garden City office last year and consolidated operations in Wichita. Now Catholic Charities helps Mohamed and the dwindling number of refugees in the area like him.
On average, the IRC agency resettled 50 to 100 refugees a year in Garden City and other U.S. cities.
“In 2016 and 2017, we were very busy out there,” said IRC Kansas Executive Director Michele Green said. “There (were) still hundreds of refugees moving to the area.”
But in late July 2018, IRC closed its office in southwest Kansas. That came after the U.S. State Department announced the year before that it would no longer support offices servicing fewer than 100 people per year.
Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas had been taking on part of the IRC caseload. Now Catholic Charities is the only agency that resettles refugees in Southwest Kansas. It works with Live Well Finney County to help new immigrants, using a small apartment that serves as both a community center and a classroom.
Debbie Snapp, executive director of Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, said as soon as the nonprofit receives a new refugee case, it starts working with people with ties to the newcomer — a brother, aunt, cousin.
“Most cases we have are family reunification,” she said. “So it’s a family member that they are coming to be with that is sponsoring them.”
Before a new refugee arrives in Kansas, the agency works with the refugee’s U.S. tie to find housing. Within the first 90 days, Catholic Charities assists with paperwork, health exams and job placement.
At the end of that time, “they are secure in their house, job and have all the documents they need so they can work more towards being independent,” Snapp said.
Kansas resettlements declined before the State Department began letting fewer refugees into the country. In 2016, then-Gov. Sam Brownback removed the state from the U.S. refugee program.
Snapp said that decision “changed how the state provided services to refugees.” There was no longer a state office that dealt with, for instance, cash assistance and medical assistance.
Since taking on resettlement work, Catholic Charities has worked with between 35 to 40 immigrants.
After the Brownback decision, the Trump administration issued policies shutting out more refugees. Last year, the U.S. Department of State issued a new refugee resettlement number — capping the total at 30,000 for the year, down from 45,000 in 2017.
Lona DuVall, president of the Finney County Economic Development Corp, said in an email that unlike many rural communities, the county is growing.
“Refugees and immigrants have been a tremendous asset as our economy has grown,” DuVall said.
Despite the decrease of refugees, Snapp says Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas plans to continue its resettlement work.
The Hays Police Department is seeking information on a series of vandalisms in Hays overnight Thursday.
The HPD said several trailers and vehicles were spray painted, and several vehicles had their tires slashed. The incidents took place in the 2500 block of Marjorie, Henry and Felten.
The vandals used purple spray paint, leaving behind profane pictures and words.
“The damages are estimated to total several thousands of dollars,” the HPD said in a social media release. “If anyone has information regarding the tire slashings and graffiti spray painting of these vehicles, please contact the Hays Police Department at (785) 625-1030.”
RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of theft and have a suspect in custody.
Russell Allen, Jr. has previous convictions for robbery and drugs -photo courtesy KBI offender registry
On Thursday, police arrested Russell Allen Jr, 37, Manhattan, for theft in connection with an incident that occurred in the 2500 block of Candlecrest Drive in Manhattan on Wednesday, according to the RCPD activity report.
Allen is also accused of violating the offender registration act. Allen remains in custody on $200,000.00 bond, according to police.
Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball returns to the floor after a week off when it plays at Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday (Feb. 2). Tipoff is set for 4 pm in Kearney, which follows the women’s contest slated at 2 pm. The Tigers are coming off their first home loss of the season, now 13-6 overall, 7-3 in the MIAA, while the Lopers enter at 6-13 overall, 1-9 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State currently sits in a three-way tie for third in the MIAA standings with Lincoln and Washburn. Northwest Missouri State continues to lead the MIAA at 10-0 and Missouri Southern is second at 8-3.
Nebraska-Kearney was winless in MIAA play until at 59-53 win at Emporia State on January 20, but they dropped their last two conference games to Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western. The Lopers are in search of their first MIAA win at home this year. Fort Hays State has dropped the last five meetings in Kearney with UNK, the last win occurring back in the 2012-13 season. UNK has won six of the last 10 contests in the overall series, yet FHSU holds an 80-50 advantage in the all-time series.
The Tigers edged the Lopers earlier this season in Hays by a score of 76-73, back on December 4. It was the MIAA opener for both teams. Brady Werth led the Tigers with a season-high 27 points, while Devin Davis scored 13 and Aaron Nicholson had 12. Chase Winchester and Henry Penner led the Lopers each with 17 points, while Kanon Koster had a double-double of 11 points and 11 assists.
Lucille Davis, 89, passed away January 31, 2019 at Medicalodges of Great Bend. She was born April 24, 1929 at Hays, to Anton Fredrick & Mary (Pfeifer) Meis. She married Richard Lewis Davis on December 31, 1947 at Garden City. He died October 6, 2007.
A lifetime Great Bend resident, Lucille was a homemaker. She loved gardening, cooking, sewing and reading. She was an excellent wife, mother, grandmother and gave the best hugs.
Survivors include, one son, Richard Davis, Jr. and wife Mary of Great Bend; three daughters, Patricia Skelton of Great Bend, Deborah Durler and partner Jim VanDyke of Branson, Missouri and Cynthia Carter of Great Bend; nine grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anton and Mary Meis; her husband, Richard Davis; three brothers, Fred Meis, Gilbert Meis, Albert Meis; and three sisters, Agnes Meis, Mary Staab, Ida Kuhn.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sun. Feb. 3, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family present from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Mon., Feb. 4, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with Pastor Larry Schumacher presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Kindred Hospice, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.
