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Year: 2019

DA: Kan. trooper won’t be charged in man’s death during arrest

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay says a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper was justified in fatally shooting a man whose vehicle was dragging the trooper and a Topeka police officer through the snow.

Logan from an earlier arrest in Shawnee County. He had previous conviction for robbery, drugs and forgery, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

Kagay says the trooper won’t be charged in the death of 35-year-old Jarmane Logan in November.

The trooper and police officer were trying to take Chelsee Retana into custody when she and another woman got into Logan’s vehicle in Topeka. Investigators say Logan was driving away with the women while dragging the officer and trooper.

Investigators say the trooper shot Logan when he refused to stop the vehicle .

Retana -photo Shawnee Co.

Retana is charged with interference with law enforcement and possession of methamphetamine and two misdemeanors. The other woman hasn’t been charged.

1 dead, 3 hospitalized after Kansas crash

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JEFFESON COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Friday in Jefferson County.

Fatal Friday crash scene photo courtesy WIBW TV

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Ford F150 driven by Nicholas Roger Caudle, 20, Atchison, was southbound on U.S. 59 just south of 62nd.  

Vehicle two was northbound on U59.

The driver lost control of the vehicle. It entered the northbound lane.  A northbound 2007 Kia Optima driven by Lee R. Crum, 81, Oskaloosa, struck the Ford on the passenger side.

Crum was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the KHP.

Caudle, a passenger in the Ford Dongchen Chen, 20, Lawrence, and a passenger in the Kia Crum, Janet E Crum, 74, Oskaloosa, were transported to the hospital in Topeka.

 

McPherson business fire caused over $2M in damage

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MCPHERSON COUNTY —  Authorities are working to determine the cause of an explosion and fire at a McPherson County chemical plant.

Crews on the scene of Thursday’s fire at Chemstar in McPherson – photo courtesy KWCH

Just before 4p.m. Thursday, fire crews responded to Chemstar, 503 West Hayes Street in McPherson, according to Fire Chief Keith Wyssmann.

Fire crews found heavy smoke and fire showing from the facilities. The explosion badly damaged the structure and process machinery.  Crews had the fire under control just after 5p.m.

There were no injuries.

Damage is estimated at over $2 million dollars, according to Wyssmann. The plant was still without electrical power late Friday.

The Kansas State Fire Marshal is assisting with the investigation.

Chemstar is a family-owned, Minneapolis, Minnesota-based company that makes starch-based polymer products for industrial applications, according to their corporate web site.

Police release photos of New Year’s Eve Kan. burglary

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Surveillance camera images provided courtesy Salina Police Department

SALINE COUNTY —Police continue  investigating a commercial burglary that occurred at Rod’s Gas Station, 2140 W Crawford in Salina just after midnight December 31.

Merchandise valued at $508 was stolen from the store, and a five-foot by three-foot double pane window valued at $1,000, was broken.  The items stolen included lottery tickets, tobacco products, hand tools, and other miscellaneous items.

On Friday, police released security camera images.

If you have any information concerning this person, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit www.pd.salina.org and follow the Crimestoppers link to submit a web tip. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 and you are not required to give your name.

 

 

Grow Hays launches ‘Shark Tank’-style Pitch It series

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Grow Hays has announces the formation of its Pitch It entrepreneurship series. The events will be competitions for prospective startups or existing business owners to present their business idea to three judges and an audience.

The “pitch(s)” will consist of 5-minute oral presentation followed by 3 minutes of Q&A similar to a “Shark Tank” presentation. Upon the conclusion of all five presentations, the judges will determine the winner who will be awarded a $500 cash prize. The competition is open to anyone but will be limited to five participants per event.

“Developing an environment that fosters entrepreneurship in Ellis County is critical to the long term financial stability of our community. These events offer an opportunity for prospective or existing entrepreneurs to present their idea to not only a group of judges but also to an audience of potential lenders, investors and mentors. People who can help the entrepreneur make their dream a reality,” said Doug Williams, Executive Director of Grow Hays.

“Whether it is someone starting a brand new business, an existing owner looking to expand, or develop a new product, this series gives the presenter the opportunity to reach an audience they might not otherwise be able to.”

The events will be open to the public and held at BriefSpace, 219 W. 10th, Hays. The first event is set for Tuesday, Jan. 22, beginning with a social gathering at 6:30 p.m. The presentations will being promptly at 7 p.m. Those interested in making presentations should contact Grow Hays at 785.628.3102 or emailing [email protected].

HPD Activity Log Jan. 7-10

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The Hays Police Department responded to 8 animal calls and conducted 22 traffic stops Mon., Jan. 7, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Found/Lost Property–2800 block E 8th St, Hays; 3:42 AM
Counterfeit currency/documents–1100 block E 41st St, Hays; 10:20 AM
Animal At Large–300 block E 12th St, Hays; 10:28 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2600 block Vine St, Hays; 2:08 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 3:35 PM; 3:40 PM
Tethering Violation–6th St and Pine St, Hays; 4:38 PM
Civil Dispute–400 block E 17th St, Hays; 5:54 PM
Create Public Nuisance–2700 block Barclay Dr, Hays; 8:02 PM
Drug Offenses–4900 block Vine St, Hays; 8:29 PM; 9 PM
Mental Health Call–3500 block Fairway Dr, Hays; 8:45 PM
Disturbance – Noise–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 9:05 PM; 9:10 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and conducted 19 traffic stops Tue., Jan. 8, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Suspicious Activity–400 block W 5th St, Hays; 12:09 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–7th and Vine St, Hays; 7:44 AM
Dead Animal Call–22nd and Haney, Hays; 8:32 AM
Found/Lost Property–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 8:40 AM
Found/Lost Property–200 block W 29th St, Hays; 8 AM
Found/Lost Property–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 9:12 AM
Suspicious Activity–2000 block Main St Terr, Hays; 9:27 AM
Robbery–500 block Elm St, Hays; 1/1 1 AM; 1/5 2 AM
Theft (general)–400 block  E 13th St, Hays; 12/27/18 9 PM; 12/28/18 5 AM
Theft (general)–400 block E 13th St, Hays; 1/2 9 PM; 1/3 5 AM
Custody Dispute–200 block W 12th St, Hays; 11:53 AM
Theft (general)–500 block W 36th St, Hays; 1/1 12 PM; 1/8 12:22 PM
MV Accident-Co Road/St Hwy–2700 block Walnut St, Hays; 12:37 PM
Abandoned Vehicle–1200 block Motz Ave, Hays; 1:37 PM
Found/Lost Property–1800 block Walnut St, Hays; 2:19 PM
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA–2700 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 10/17/18 12:10 PM; 1/8/19 12:42 PM
Animal At Large–400 block E 21st St, Hays; 3:25 PM
Dead Animal Call–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 3:41 PM
Welfare Check–1300 block E 33rd St, Hays; 5:53 PM
Suspicious Activity–1700 block Fort St, Hays; 12/5/18 1:40 PM; 5:40 PM
Suspicious Activity–500 block W 20th St, Hays; 9 PM; 9:30 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 3 animal calls and conducted 22 traffic stops Wed., Jan. 9, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Abandoned Vehicle–2700 block Ash St, Hays; 12:45 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–2100 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 12:51 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–2700 block Hickory St, Hays; 12:52 AM
Sex Offense–Marysville; 12/28/06; 12/28/12
Domestic Disturbance–400 block Milner St, Hays; 11:35 AM
Found/Lost Property–400 block Milner St, Hays; 12:01 PM
Civil Dispute–400 block E 7th St, Hays; 12:55 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–300 block W 11th St, Hays; 2:55 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1600 block Main St, Hays; 3:33 PM
Animal At Large–200 block W 29th St, Hays; 3:59 PM
Mental Health Call–3500 block Fairway Dr, Hays; 6:42 PM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–6th and Riley, Hays; 11:48 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 4 animal calls and conducted 49 traffic stops Thu., Jan. 10, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Suspicious Person–600 block E 7th St, Hays; 12:17 AM
Disturbance – Noise–1700 block Agnes Dr, Hays; 5:36 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–2500 block Donald Dr, Hays; 8:44 AM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 11:26 AM
Mental Health Call–2800 block Augusta Ln, Hays; 11:52 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2700 block Hall St, Hays; 11:59 AM
Theft (general)–1600 block E 27th St, Hays; 12:05 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–Hays; 1:10 PM; 1:13 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–1800 block E 25th St, Hays; 1:27 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–Hays; 3:16 PM
Drug Offenses–1700 block Agnes St, Hays; 4:37 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–2900 block Ash St, Hays; 5:13 PM
Criminal Trespass–400 bloc E 7th St, Hays; 5:18 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–2600 block Vine St, Hays; 5 PM
Mental Health Call–3400 block Summer Ln, Hays; 9:07 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–100 block E 7th St, Hays; 10:15 PM; 10:40 PM
Driving Under the Influence–1100 block Main St, Hays; 11:16 PM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–700 block Fort St, Hays; 11:52 PM

FHSU Wrestling Tabbed No. 12 in the Latest D2WCA National Rankings

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FAYETTE, Iowa – The Fort Hays State wrestling team moved up two spots in the third set of regular season DII Wrestling Coaches Association Top 25 Poll, released Friday (Jan. 11) by the organization. The Tigers are one three teams at No. 12, tied with Drury and Indianapolis. The Tigers are also one of five MIAA teams in the national rankings as Nebraska-Kearney dropped to No. 2, switching places with St. Cloud State for the second-consecutive set of rankings. Lindenwood jumped to No. 6, Central Oklahoma dipped to No. 18 and Newman slipped to No. 23.

In the individual rankings, junior Brandon Ball stays put at No. 2 at 141 pounds. He sits at 12-0 on the year with individual titles at the Bethany Swede Open and the Bob Smith Open. At the National Duals (Jan. 4), Ball finished 3-0, including a strong victory over then-No. 3 ranked individual Joey Alessandro of Pitt-Johnstown.

Also in the rankings is Efe Osaghae, who held steady as the fourth-ranked wrestler in the 157-pound weight class. The sophomore continues to put together a strong campaign thus far at 15-2 after a 3-0 performance at the National Duals last week in Louisville, Ky.

Entering the individual rankings for the first time as a Tiger, Marty Verhaeghe is tabbed No. 9 in the 174-pound weight class. Verhaeghe sits 15-6 overall and 13-2 against Division II competition.

The Tigers set to face off with Lindenwood tonight in their first home MIAA Dual. The battle is set to commence at 7 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. Fort Hays State then hosts the Kansas Cup on Sunday (Jan. 13) inside GMC as well.

Judge: Women could lose free birth control coverage under new rule

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By SUDHIN THANAWALA 
Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. — A U.S. judge said Friday that a “substantial number” of women would lose free birth control coverage under new rules by the Trump administration that allow more employers to opt out of providing the benefit on religious and moral grounds.

BRAINS THE HEAD / FLICKR-CC

Judge Haywood Gilliam made the comment at a continuing hearing over California’s attempt to block the rules.

The changes set to go into effect on Monday would allow more employers, including publicly traded companies, to opt out of providing no-cost contraceptive coverage to women by claiming religious objections. Some private employers could also object on moral grounds.

Gilliam previously blocked an interim version of those rules — a decision that was upheld in December by an appeals court.

The case is before him again after the administration finalized the measures in November, prompting a renewed legal challenge by California and other states.

Gilliam was not expected to rule immediately.

At issue is a requirement under President Barack Obama’s health care law that birth control services be covered at no additional cost. Obama officials included exemptions for religious organizations. The Trump administration expanded those exemptions.

The rules “protect a narrow class of sincere religious and moral objectors from being forced to facilitate practices that conflict with their beliefs,” the U.S. Department of Justice said in court documents.

The states argue that millions of women could lose free birth control services, forcing them to seek contraceptive care through state-run programs and leading to unintended pregnancies.

Attorneys for California and the other states said in court documents the new rules were similar to the interim measures. One difference is a suggestion in the new rules that women can seek contraceptive coverage through federal family planning clinics for low-income people, according to the states.

The states say that would be an inadequate replacement for the contraceptive coverage many women currently have.

Hillsboro hospital keeps lights on after paying delinquent utility bill

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Hillsboro Community Hospital faces other financial problems, including a foreclosure suit filed by a bank.

By DAN MARGOLIES
Kansas News Service

An eleventh-hour payment of $16,644 for delinquent utility bills averted a threatened cutoff of electricity at tiny Hillsboro Community Hospital in central Kansas.

The city, 50 miles north of Wichita and home to about 3,000 people, said in a brief news release that it gave notice to the hospital on Jan. 8 that it would shut off utilities effective at noon Friday. It received the payment in the morning.

“Accordingly, the presently noticed utility shut-off at the Hospital has been averted,” the release states. “It is the City’s ongoing desire to undertake reasonable steps to assist in keeping the Hospital open, while also being a good steward of the City’s finances and utility resources.”

Larry Paine, the city’s administrator, declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation in which the city is involved.

Earlier this week, Paine told KCUR that the hospital’s owner, North Kansas City-based EmpowerHMS, fell behind on three months of utility payments and had made no effort in recent weeks to communicate with the town.

“When we first started talking to them about the delinquency, they said, ‘You really have to wait until we get our Medicare payments in late January or February,’” Paine said, referring to officials at EmpowerHMS. “And then they sent us $12,000 and we haven’t heard from them since.”

That $12,000 check was returned for insufficient funds.

The 15-bed hospital had two patients as of Thursday. Had the lights been turned off, the hospital had plans to run on auxiliary power.

The hospital’s director of nursing could not be reached for comment.

The hospital is not out of the financial woods yet.

On Jan. 8, the Bank of Hays petitioned to foreclose on the hospital after it defaulted on a 2015 construction loan with an outstanding balance of nearly $10 million. The facility opened in 2017, replacing an older building.

The bank’s attorney in Wichita, Creath Pollak, declined to comment about the foreclosure petition. The petition also names the city and other defendants.

If the bank were to foreclose on the hospital, presumably it would continue running it until it found a buyer.

The hospital is one of about 20 rural hospitals, including several in Kansas and Missouri, acquired by EmpowerHMS in the last few years.

The company, which is headed by Miami resident Jorge Perez, has said its mission is to save distressed rural hospitals from closure.

To do that, it has billed insurers for lab tests run through some of the hospitals — even though few if any of the tests were for the hospitals’ own patients. The arrangement took advantage of the higher reimbursement rates so-called critical access hospitals receive.

But insurers began questioning the legality of the arrangement and, in some cases, sued to recover the money they paid for the lab tests.

As a result, EmpowerHMS has been late in meeting financial obligations, including utilities, rent and payroll, at several of its hospitals.

Hillsboro Community Hospital paid its employees late twice last month, as did three EmpowerHMS’ hospitals in Oklahoma, one in Tennessee and another in Arkansas.

Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.

Forecasters now calling for 4 to 7 inches of snow in central, west-central Kan.

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The National Weather Service is now expecting between 4 and 7 inches of snowfall to fall in central and west-central Kansas beginning Friday afternoon and continuing into Saturday morning.

Rain is expected to change to snow between 2 and 4 p.m. Friday. The heaviest snowfall is predicted in the pink area of the image above.

As of 1 p.m. Friday, the NWS said the band of snowfall likely will be Highway 50 and Interstate 70.

North winds up to 25 mph also are expected to lead to blowing snow and limited visibility for drivers.

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