Author: Hays Post
Judge: Videos don’t clear officers in Kansas suspect’s death
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that videos from white officers’ body cameras do not show conclusively that a black suspect reached for a gun in a pocket of his shorts before Topeka police shot him to deathin September 2017.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree said this week that the video footage was “equivocal, at best” in a ruling that allows attorneys for suspect Dominique White’s family to question two officers.
White’s father filed a civil rights lawsuit in June 2018 on behalf of himself and White’s four young children against the city, Officers Michael Cruse and Justin Mackey and five unnamed officers. The family contends that White’s shooting wasn’t legally justified.
The city has asked to have the lawsuit settled in its favor and dismissed before a trial, arguing that the officers’ use of deadly force was reasonable, so that neither they nor the city can be sued for damages. The local district attorney declared the shooting justified, and an internal police review said the officers followed department procedures.
“But, a reasonable jury could conclude that Mr. White momentarily lost his balance after spinning out of Officer Cruse’s grasp, then moved his hand consistent with a running motion, but did not reach for his pocket,” Crabtree wrote in his decision.
Police were responding to reports of gunfire near a park when they confronted the 30-year-old White. He was armed and just months out of prison after being prosecuted for burglary and illegal gun possession. Officers shot him as he fled.
Attorneys for the city and the officers argued that Cruse and Mackey did not need to be questioned by the White family’s lawyers because the body camera footage showed that White reached for a gun in a pocket.
But Crabtree disagreed, saying in his decision that “the videos alone” from Cruse and Mackey’s body cameras do not establish that White reached for a gun. The judge said he would have to rely on Cruse’s and Mackey’s statements to reach that conclusion.
“The court has viewed both videos multiple times and finds the videos equivocal, at best, on whether Mr. White reached for his gun,” Crabtree wrote.
The judge also said lawyers for the White family could seek information from the city about statements Cruse and Mackey made about their decisions to fire their weapons.
With burglaries on the rise, authorities warn of imposter utility workers
SALINA — Salina Police are warning the public to be aware of an incident involving a person posing as a gas utility worker.
Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said Friday that police recently received a report from someone in south Salina who said a man dressed as a utility worker came to her door and asked whether her house had gas. The woman thought it odd that there was no utility truck around the neighborhood at the time. The timing of the incident is in line with recent burglaries in the area, he said.
Forrester encourages people to make sure people are who they claim to be. He said to ask for identification and make sure there is a truck matching the company the alleged utility worker claims to represent. Additionally, if you are still unsure, call Westar and Kansas Gas Service, as they will let you know if they have workers in your area, Forrester said.
Missouri denies license renewal for lone abortion clinic
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri’s health department has declined to renew the abortion license for the state’s lone clinic, but a court order allows the St. Louis Planned Parenthood affiliate to perform the procedure — for now.
The state notified the clinic of its decision Friday morning before a court hearing. St. Louis Circuit Judge Michael Stelzer said a preliminary injunction he previously issued to allow the clinic to continue perform abortions would remain in place for now.
Stelzer said he would issue a written order outlining next steps, but he was not sure if the order would come on Friday.
Missouri’s health department allowed the clinic’s license to perform abortions to lapse effective June 1. Rulings by Stelzer allowed the clinic to continue to perform abortions temporarily after the clinic took the state to court over the dispute.
Stelzer had told the state it couldn’t simply let the license lapse but had to renew or deny it.
“The Court does not believe that an ‘official action’ can include non-action,” Stelzer wrote in a June 10 ruling granting a preliminary injunction.
He gave the health department until Friday to decide.
According to Planned Parenthood, no state has been without a functioning abortion clinic since 1974, the year after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.
Health department officials have cited concerns at the clinic, including that three “failed abortions” required additional surgeries and another led to life-threatening complications for the mother, The Associated Press reported Tuesday, citing a now-sealed court filing.
Planned Parenthood leaders say top-level care is provided at the clinic, and the license fight is just part of an effort by an anti-abortion administration to eliminate the procedure in Missouri.
Missouri is among several conservative states, emboldened by new conservative justices on the Supreme Court, to pass new restrictions on abortions. Officials in those states are hopeful that federal courts will uphold laws that prohibit abortions before a fetus is viable outside the womb, the dividing line the high court set in Roe.
Republican Gov. Mike Parson signed legislation on May 24 to ban abortions at or beyond eight weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest.
Planned Parenthood appeared to escalate its fight with Missouri on Thursday when it stopped performing one of two state-mandated pelvic exams for women seeking abortions. The health department requires a pelvic exam during a consultation at least 72 hours before the procedure, and a second exam at the time of the abortion.
Dr. Colleen McNicholas, an abortion provider at the clinic, said the preliminary exam is invasive and unnecessary.
The number of abortions performed in Missouri has declined every year for the past decade, reaching a low of 2,910 last year. Of those, an estimated 1,210 occurred at eight weeks or less of pregnancy, according to health department data.
In fact, more Missouri women are getting abortions in Kansas than in Missouri. Information from the state of Kansas shows that about 3,300 of the 7,000 abortions performed there last year involved Missouri residents.
Kansas has an abortion clinic in Overland Park, a Kansas City suburb just 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the state line.
The nearest clinic to St. Louis is in Granite City, Illinois, less than 10 miles (16 kilometers) away. Illinois does not track the home states of women seeking abortions so it’s unknown how many Missouri residents have been treated there.
H.D. ‘Spec’ Woods
The family of H.D. “Spec” Woods is sad to report that he has passed away. His death occurred Friday, on June 14th at 7:00 AM in Bishop Spencer Place of Kansas City, Missouri.
He was 94. Born December 11, 1924 and raised during the “Great Depression” in Lubbock, Texas, Spec joined the Army Air Corps right out of high school. He used the GI Bill when he returned home to go to college at Texas Tech. There he met & married the “love of his life” Margaret (Peg) Johnson. He & Peg moved to Hays in the summer of 1952 to raise their family, and he partnered with Richard R. “Dick” Starr to form Woods & Starr Architects.
Together they made a lasting, physical statement for modern architecture in both Hays and western Kansas that will last for decades. In love with flying, both Spec & Peg became private pilots. They traveled far and wide but always preferred to be at home, in Hays. He resided in Hays continuously until April of this year when he relocated to Kansas City to be closer to his family.
In his final days, he was surrounded by 3 generations of his descendants, and he left a lasting memory of steadfast love for all of us. He was preceded in death by his wife, Peg who passed away December 18, 2012, by his parents, and by all the aunts and uncles of his own generation. He was indeed the last one standing.
He is survived by his son Cris Woods and his wife Corine (Price, also from Hays) of Kansas City, Mo., his daughter Patti Revell of Plano, Texas, his 5 grandchildren Faye, Beth, Steve, Kati and Ben, and his 2 great-grandchildren, Maxx and Jimi. We miss him already.
The family is planning a private inurnment ceremony at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery at WaKeeney on Thursday, June 27th, 2019.
Visitation will be held the next day beginning at 1:00 PM with a “Celebration of Life Ceremony” to follow at 2:00 PM, Friday, June 28th at The First Presbyterian Church, 2900 Hall, in Hays. With the presentation of the US Flag by the Hays V.F.W. Post No. 9076. All of Spec’s friends are welcome.
The family suggests memorials to High Plains Mental Health Center, Hays, Kansas.
Services are entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. Condolence can be sent to [email protected] or can be left at guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com
Kansas man who surrendered after standoff charged in mother’s death
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mother.
Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay announced Thursday that David Wood Jr., 43, Topeka, is charged in the death of 69-year-old Kyong “Carol” Wood. He is also charged with felony interference with law enforcement.
Investigators say the victim was found dead Sunday inside her home. Kagay says she died from blunt force trauma.
David Wood was arrested after a nearly five-hour standoff. He surrendered when police fired tear gas into the house.
Wood is being held in the Shawnee County Jail and on $1 million bond.
Rooks Co. unemployment rate spikes to nearly 5% in May
KDOL
Preliminary estimates reported by the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.5 percent in May. This was unchanged from April and up from 3.3 percent in May 2018.
“Kansas added 600 jobs in May with contributions from both the public and private sectors,” said Secretary Delía García. “Additionally, the previous month’s estimate for April was revised upward by 500 jobs. This puts the average monthly job growth over the last three months at 2,100.”
The jobless rate in Ellis County rose slightly, from 2.3 percent in April to 2.4 percent in May. Rooks County, which has seen a pair of significant economic blows with the woes of the Dessin Fournir and Plainville Livestock Commission, had a steep increase. Unemployment there jumped from 3.6 percent in April to 4.8 percent in May, by far the highest jobless rate in western Kansas.
Only Linn and Atchison counties in eastern Kansas had a higher unemployment rate in May than Roos County.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 600 from April. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 100 from the previous month.
“Kansas gained jobs in May despite the above average rainfall that contributed to a slowdown in construction projects. Offsetting these losses were gains in state government and retail trade. Overall, job growth is picking up after a slow start to the year,” said Senior Labor Economist, Tyler Tenbrink.
Since May 2018, Kansas gained 12,900 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 10,300 private sector jobs.
Learn the ‘How Tos of Internships’ for businesses
Western Kansas Human Resource Management Association will hold its monthly meeting from noon to 1 p.m. August 14 at the Fort Hays State University Robbins Center (Eagle Communication Hall), One Tiger Place. Registration is from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m., with a short business meeting starting at 11:30 a.m.
The program for the August meeting will be “How Tos of Internships,” presented by Karen McCullough and Lisa Karlin with FHSU Career Services. The program will be submitted for SHRM continuing education credits. WKHRMA members can RSVP at wkhrma.shrm.org. The deadline to RSVP is noon on August 9.
WKHRMA is an affiliate chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), a local professional organization for persons engaged in personal or human resource management.
For more information on WKHRMA, visit wkhrma.shrm.org.
Vollbracht oil painting workshop at Hansen Museum
LOGAN – The Dane G. Hansen Museum’s Continuing Education Program is pleased to offer a David Vollbracht Oil Painting Workshop July 11-13, 2019. David will demonstrate oil painting techniques and teach how composition, color, and brushwork enhances painting style.
Classes will be held in the Hansen Museum Community Room, Logan, KS from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.
One morning, David will take the class outdoors for plein air sketching. Back in the classroom, David will guide students in turning these sketches into paintings. On the final day of the workshop, David will critique students’ work.
Registration fees for this workshop are $180.00 with discounts available to Patron and Sustaining members of the Dane G. Hansen Museum. A list of supplies required for the workshop, as well as more information, is also available by calling 785-689-4846, emailing [email protected], or at www.hansenmuseum.org. Please return registrations to the museum by July 9, 2019.
The Dane G. Hansen Museum is open Monday through Friday 9-12 & 1-4; Saturdays 9-12 & 1-5; Sundays & Holidays 1-5. We are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The Museum is handicapped accessible and admission is always free thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. For more information or if you have questions, please contact us at 785-689-4846.
This weekend’s Hays-area garage sales
Hays-area garage sales
Scroll to the bottom for a map of garage sale locations. Hays Post offers FREE garage sale listings weekly. Having a garage sale next weekend? Click HERE to submit your information.
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1700 Wheatland, Hays
Friday June 21st 4-dark, Saturday June 22nd 8-12
Name brand Boys (L-XL), Women’s/Juniors (S-L), Men’s (XL) clothing and shoes. DVDs and Blu-ray movies (lots), many misc excellent quality household and misc items
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503 W. 39th, Hays
Friday June 21st – 11am-6pm and Saturday June 22nd 8am-12pm
Lots of clothing and shoes in all sizes – women’s, men’s, and girls (newborn-size 10/12). Home decor, kitchen items, barstools, grill, vases, books, adult Halloween costumes, lots of kids toys, booster car seat, kids bikes, kids table, scooter, doll stroller, and so much more.
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308 W. 37th, Hays
Friday, June 21 10 a.m.-?
-Name brand Teen and adult clothing (NIKE, Adidas, PINK, Miss Me) -Household items -Bread machine -Teaching supplies/resources -Coach purses/wallets -Misc. items
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1706 Anthony Drive, Hays
3 day event, Thurs./Fri., June 27th and 28th from 10 a.m until 6 p.m. and Sat., June 29th, 8 a.m. until noon
Toy tractors, glassware, china hutch, treadmill, edger, misc. tools, pole saw, file cabinets, safes, numerous miscellaneous items
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TMP-Marian Monarchs 17U splits with Larned
HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs 17U American Legion baseball team split a home doubleheader with Larned on Thursday.
In game one the Monarchs took advantage of four walks, including one with the bases loaded, scored a run on a passed ball, wild pitch and added three straight RBI singles to build an 8-0 lead after the first inning in route to a 9-0 win.
Nick Herrman was one-for-two with a pair of RBI’s and Jace Wentling collected a pair of hits.
Starter Kade Harris pitched five shutout innings and allowed just three hits while striking out four in the win.
In game two the Monarchs took an early 3-0 lead scoring on back-to-back wild pitches and a Kade Harris RBI single in the first inning.
Larned stormed back to take a 4-3 lead in their half of the second inning.
Down 4-3 in the bottom of the second the Monarchs loaded the bases for Tyson Dinkel who singled in a run to tie the game at four. The Monarchs took the lead back on a fielder’s choice and following a run scoring groundout and sacrifice fly TMP led 8-4 through two innings.
Down four the Indians again battled back and tied the game at eight in the top of the fifth taking advantage of three Monarchs errors.
With the game tied at eight Larned pushed across the eventual game winner in the top of the sixth inning on a fielder’s choice as they picked up the 9-8 win.
Dinkel finished two-for-three with an RBI and two runs scored.
Carter Newell suffered the loss for TMP. He allowed five runs, three earned on six hits in three and two-thirds innings.
The Monarchs are 6-8 on the summer.
Trump: US was ‘cocked and loaded’ to strike Iran
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on The United States and Iran’s tensions over the shoot-down of a massive U.S. drone (all times local):
President Donald Trump says the U.S. was “cocked and loaded” to retaliate against Iran for downing an American drone, but canceled the strikes 10 minutes before they were to be carried out after being told some 150 people could die.
….On Monday they shot down an unmanned drone flying in International Waters. We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019
Trump tweeted Friday that the U.S. was ready to “retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die.” He said a general told him 150 people, and he canceled the strikes as “not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone.”
Trump tweeted that the U.S. will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. But he says he’s in no hurry to respond to the downing of the U.S. surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
He says U.S. sanctions are crippling the Iranian economy and that more are being added.
The ISR Flight path and grid plots for the RQ-4A shot down by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. “This was an unprovoked attack on a U.S. surveillance asset that had not violated Iranian airspace at any time …” – Lt Gen Joseph Guastella, @USAFCENT pic.twitter.com/uczI5HF68b
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 20, 2019
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday the U.S. was “cocked and loaded’ to retaliate against Iran for downing an American drone, but he canceled the missile strikes 10 minutes before they were to be executed after being told some 150 people could die.
Trump tweeted Friday that the U.S. will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon, a major longtime demand by the U.S. and its allies. But he said he’s in no hurry to respond militarily to this week’s downing of the huge U.S. surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz. His statement was the latest indication that he does not want to escalate the clash with Tehran, but he didn’t rule out a future U.S. strike.
He said U.S. economic sanctions are crippling the Iranian economy and more are being added.
Iran claimed Friday it had issued several warnings before shooting down the drone over what it said was Iranian territory.
INSIGHT KANSAS: Teacher salaries and teacher shortages
Only a few months ago the court battle over school funding was a central issue of legislative concern and media reports. Now triumphant, school districts are deciding ways to implement the approximately $500 million of new funding that will flow to schools over five years with an additional $90 million yearly to cover inflation.
Both the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas National Education Association recently suggested directing a portion of the funding to increase teacher salaries and help mitigate teacher shortages.
In fall of 2018, there were 612 Kansas teaching positions that remained unfilled by a qualified teacher, up 99 vacancies from the previous year.
Conservatives, libertarians and liberals, usually at odds on education issues, appear united in advocating for more resources going into the classroom; thus, improving our schools. This is where the agreement among education interest groups stops, because some groups do not believe across-the-board pay increases can help improve learning conditions.
In today’s world, political arguments, like those surrounding teacher salaries, are often based on selected data, thus opening the door to attacks claiming that any opposing group’s data is fake, misleading or based on alternative facts. Even the veracity of data collected by long-standing, reliable organizations can be questioned.
Despite such contention, information from respected national forums and venerable government agencies can help place Kansas teacher pay issue in context.
A recent National Education Association report found the average 2017-18 starting teacher salary nationally was $38,000, but in Kansas it was $35,000 with the average salary of all Kansas teachers at $49,754.
NEA also found the national average one-year increase in 2017-18 public school teacher pay was 2.9 percent. Kansas teachers received an average increase of 0.67.
Looking at teacher’s pay another way by comparing teacher earnings to those in careers requiring similar education and experience, on-line research found U.S. nurses’ median (a middle point where half of salaries fall above and half below) pay is currently $67, 490 and police officers make about $65,400.
Unlike nurses, teachers teach students, but they also are front-line responders to support students with disabilities, health and welfare concerns. Unlike police officers who may face personal danger daily, teachers are vulnerable to growing safety threats and are charged with helping protect their students against violence.
While no data on Kansas teachers and salary-gap could be located, the U.S. Board of Labor Statistics latest report showed that during the school year, nearly one in five teachers nationally worked a second job earning an average $5,100 to supplement their income. About the same percent hold jobs during the summer.
Some education reform leaders advocate teacher pay raises based on merit alone, but merit pay is granted for an individual teacher’s performance and does not substitute for suitable teacher salaries statewide.
As Kansas recovers from the Great Recession of 2009 and years of Governor Brownback’s tax cut experiment that affected all Kansas teachers and eliminated some teaching positions across the state, pay increases are more than warranted.
Across-the-board increases for all teachers within a district cannot, in themselves, end the teacher shortage, but Kansas teachers deserve the respect that comes with earning an adequate salary. A salary increase can bring teachers the satisfaction of knowing that their work is appreciated and that, in itself, can bring positive changes to Kansas classrooms.
Sharon Hartin Iorio is Professor and Dean Emerita of Wichita State University College of Education.