GEARY COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a traffic stop.
Sowa -photo Geary Co.Tefft-Young -photo Geary Co.
Deputies stopped a vehicle driven by Zeb Tefft-Young, 23, Elkins, West Virginia on Interstate 70 at Flint Hills Boulevard.
They arrested Tefft-Young on suspicion of Driving Without A License, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, No Drug Tax Stamp, Transporting an Open Container, No Proof of Insurance, Improper Driving On laned Roadway and Defective Tail Lamp.
They also arrested the passenger 30-year-old Nickoli Sowa on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Controlled Substance, No Drug Tax Stamp, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Transporting an Open Container.
Both were still in custody late Monday, according to online jail records.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a 47-year-old has been arrested at a Colorado hotel where he was found with a former 14-year-old castmate from a Kansas community theater production of “Elf: The Musical.”
Fitzgerald -photo Montezuma County Sheriff
A sergeant at the Montezuma County Detention Center in Colorado says Kansas authorities are seeking a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor against Michael Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald was arrested Thursday night at the hotel in Cortez, Colorado, two days after the teen went missing from her Topeka home.
Fitzgerald initially played the role of Walter, the father of main character Buddy the Elf, in last month’s Topeka Civic Theatre production.
UPDATE: Chloe Hunnicutt has been located in Cortez, Colorado. She is safe and is now in police protective custody until she can be safely reunited with her family here in Topeka. We would like to thank everyone that helped in locating Chloe. https://t.co/uJ5JLBeuAB
The teen was part of the ensemble. The theater group’s president and CEO, Vickie Brokke, told The Topeka Capital-Journal that Fitzgerald was replaced after cast members expressed concerns.
WICHITA – A retired Kansas Highway Patrol trooper was sentenced Monday to a year on federal probation for lying to the FBI during an investigation into illegal gambling in Wichita, according to U.S. Attorney Stephan McAllister.
Michael Frederiksen, 53, Derby, Kan., was convicted in a jury trial in May on one count of making false statements to FBI investigators. During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that in 2014, while Frederiksen was still a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper, he was filmed taking part in an illegal cash poker game. On Feb. 23, 2017, he was interviewed by FBI agents investigating illegal gambling businesses in Wichita.
The FBI had a video of Frederiksen playing in an illegal cash poker game held Feb. 12, 2014, at 922 1/2 E. Douglas in the Old Town district of Wichita. The site was equipped with poker tables, a cabinet for valuables and poker chips, video surveillance equipment, liquor and snacks. Staff included dealers, someone serving food and a waitress serving drinks and giving massages to the players.
An undercover investigator was at the game posing as a gambler. At one point, the undercover officer tried to use his phone to take photos. The men running the game took him aside and told him he was making other players nervous. They allowed the undercover officer to continue playing, but moved the game to other locations after that night.
During an FBI interview, Frederiksen made false statements, downplaying his involvement in illegal poker and his relationship with the operator of the poker game.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge cleared the way Monday for a lawsuit to proceed against a Kansas City-area school district accused of violating students’ free speech and free press rights last year during a nationwide walkout protesting gun violence.
Students in Kansas and across the nation staged a walkout -photo courtesy 2020 Vision
U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson ruled the students have presented a plausible claim that the Shawnee Mission School District violated their First Amendment rights by stopping speakers from talking about gun control or gun violence. The 17-minute walkout on April 20 was sparked by last year’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead.
Robinson also found that the students have a plausible claim under the Kansas Student Publications Act after a school official confiscated a camera from a student journalist to prevent her from photographing the event for the student newspaper. The state law, passed in 1992, aims to protect student journalists from censorship of political or controversial material.
The judge said that the school district’s act of confiscating the camera — alleged to have been loaned to the student by the school to be used in her capacity as a student journalist — suppressed material that would have been used in a student publication.
Robinson also found that former interim Superintendent Kenneth Southwick is not personally liable for the alleged constitutional violations. The judge dismissed those claims against Southwick while allowing other parts of the litigation against the district to continue.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas sued on behalf of students, accusing the district of suppressing student’s political speech on campus “merely to avoid controversy.” The school district countered in court documents its actions were justified because of concern that others might have wrongly assumed the students’ voices reflected the district’s position.
Student organizers at various schools informed administrators in advance that they intended to participate as part of the national walkout, and the school informed parents that the students would be allowed to participate without risking discipline, according to the filing.
But the district then directed administrators to prohibit students from discussing guns, gun control and school shootings — the central topics of the planned protest — during the walkout, the judge noted.
Among the plaintiffs is an eighth-grade student enrolled in Hocker Grove school, identified in court documents only as M.C., who organized her school’s walkout. She spoke two lines of her prepared speech, stating “the school administration wants us to keep this about school violence and not about the real issue here. The real issue is gun violence” before an administrated interrupted her and ordered to step down from the speaking platform. She complied without protest, and the administrator abruptly ended the event. About 50 students remained outside.
Several students were suspended or given detention, including M.C. who was sent home for “being the most disruptive child in the school,” according to the court documents.
At Shawnee Mission North High School, more than 100 students remained outside the school after the approved walkout ended to discuss the topics the administrators had prohibited. The school let them remain outside for that “unsanctioned” event, except for student journalists, the court documents said.
A high school junior identified only as S.W. in the lawsuit was ordered to hand over the camera she was using that had been checked out to her for the year to use in her role as student journalist. The administrator also confiscated at least one other camera during the protest, according to the filing.
A Ford Escort driven by a 28-year-old woman was northbound on Webb Road. The driver was attempting to make a left turn into a private parking lot and collided head-on with a southbound Chevy Cavalier driven by a 34-year-old man, according to officer Paul Cruz.
An 82-year-old female passenger in the Chevy was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Webb Road at 35thStreet was closed in both directions while police investigate the crash, according to Cruz.
Fort Hays State shot just over 51 percent from the field on Saturday and defeated Northwest Missouri State 91-63 to finish the week 2-0 after they defeated Missouri Western State 67-50 on Thursday. Sophomore Whitney Randall had back-to-back 14 points games last week and shot 65 percent off 17 attempts from the field in the two games combined. The Tiger women currently have a one-game lead over Washburn in conference play and are off until Saturday when they travel to Kearney to take on the Lopers.
The Tiger men went 1-1 last week with a thrilling win over Missouri Western State on Thursday and an 81-69 loss to No. 2 Northwest Missouri State on Saturday. The MIAA on the men’s side is in a tight race for second place. Three teams (including the Tigers) are 7-3 and chasing down Washburn who is in second at 7-2. The Tigers travel to Kearney on Saturday.
TMP-Marian girls improve to 9-4 with win over 4A Abilene
The TMP-Marian girls got an impressive win on Friday over a 10-1 Abilene team, which was ranked No. 5 in class 4A. The Monarchs were down 15-13 at halftime before going on a 15-0 run over six minutes to take a 28-16 lead in the third quarter. The Monarchs would lead by as many as 18 points before finishing the game with a 44-35 victory. Emily Schippers and Hannah Willey lead the way with 16 points each for the Monarchs. You can listen to the highlights and interviews here.
The TMP-Marian boys fell to Abilene 62-45 Friday night. The Monarchs are now 8-5 on the year.
Both TMP-Marian teams take on Smith Center tonight in a make-up game.
Hays High girls win fifth game in a row
The Lady Indians trailed Salina Central on Friday 39-26 at halftime but came out in the third quarter on a 20-2 run to take their first lead of the game. Hays lead 68-62 before making five of their final six free throws to secure a 73-65 victory. Savannah Schneider scored a career high 26. Jaycee Dale has now scored in double figures in five-straight contests after scoring 15. Hays improves to 8-3 and has won five in a row and seven of eight games. You can listen to the highlights and interviews here.
The Hays High boys fell to No. 7 Salina Central 52-39 on Friday night. The Indians fall to 6-5 on the year.
Both Hays High teams are in action Tuesday as they travel to take on Salina South.
OVERTIME
Power outage puts Area Game of the Week in the dark
The Area Game of the Week on KKQY Friday featuring the Quinter Bulldogs and Hoxie Indians in Hoxie started an hour later than planned. During the fourth quarter of the boys JV game (the game before girls varsity), the lights and power went out in the gym leaving a packed Hoxie High School gym full of parents and students reaching for the flashlights on their phones.
A dark Hoxie basketball gym was illuminated with cell phones on Friday night
According to a social media post by the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Department, Hoxie and places north of Hoxie were without power.
After about 45 minutes, the power came back on and both varsity games continued without any problems. Special thanks to Midwest Energy lineman who were out fixing the power.
Have highlights you want to share for next week’s Hoops Highlights? Email them to C.D. DeSalvo. Photos are encouraged!
Republican lawmakers are hurrying to pass state tax relief before filing season. Democrats say, hold your horses.
Republicans and Democrats are braced for a fight over whether state government in Kansas should cash in on the ramifications of the 2017 federal tax cut. The sides are staking out their positions and could come to loggerheads sooner rather than later.
Republican legislative leaders want to push the tempo and pass legislation in time for the upcoming filing season to return what they call a “windfall” to Kansas taxpayers. Democrats want to hold off and say lawmakers need to wait and see if there even is a windfall.
When Congress, at the behest of President Donald Trump, overhauled the federal tax code in late 2017, that meant a minority of Kansans who itemized on their state tax returns could no longer do so. Some Kansans will end up paying more to the state without the option to itemize.
At stake are millions of dollars. Estimates vary, but the boon to the state from the federal overhaul may be upwards of $100 million. Legislation could give all of that back to Kansas taxpayers by letting them itemize again and tweaking business tax rules. The cost to the state could be bigger if lawmakers include other tax relief.
Republican Senate President Susan Wagle has created a special committee to swiftly tackle the issue.
“Provide relief to Kansas families and businesses, allowing them to fully benefit from the Trump tax cuts,” Wagle urged in a statement.
The committee could debate and even vote on a bill as soon as next week.
Wagle has reportedly called for them to come up with a clean bill, one that would return the windfall and not get bogged down by delving into other areas of tax policy.
An effort to address the windfall last year narrowly failed with Democrats and some Republicans concerned that the legislation had ballooned with unrelated tax cuts that prompted unanswered questions about the financial impact to the state budget.
Sen. Caryn Tyson, chairwoman of the standing tax committee, was the Senate’s top negotiator in that failed effort. She is conspicuously absent from Wagle’s new special committee.
Still, Tyson would support legislation that comes out of the special committee.
“This money was intended for the Kansas taxpayer,” she said in an interview. “It was not intended to grow Kansas government.”
Tyson wants a fix in place before most Kansans file their 2018 taxes. Democrats say it would be more prudent to wait until the state has a better handle on collections.
The top Democrat in the Kansas House, Rep. Tom Sawyer, points out that the federal tax cut came with a lot of changes to the tax code — some with positive effects on the state coffers and others with negative effects.
Sawyer said the updated state revenue forecast in May will reveal the true impact of the federal overhaul.
“I think it’s really way too soon to work on this issue,” he said.
Kansas has been riding a tax rollercoaster over the last eight years. The 2012 tax cuts were followed by budget deficits and then tax increases. In 2017, lawmakers pulled the plug on the 2012 tax cuts by reversing nearly all of them.
Kansas is now projected to have around $900 million in reserves, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly doesn’t want to disturb the state’s newfound financial stability.
When asked if she’d support simply fixing the itemizing change, the governor reiterated her opposition to tinkering with taxes.
“We have no idea if there’s a windfall,” Kelly said Thursday. “Let the dust settle on everything.”
If there is a windfall but Republicans in the Senate push a broader bill, Sawyer and other Democrats are ready with legislation in the House that only fixes the itemizing issue for taxpayers. But the timing is critical.
“I think it has broad support in our caucus,” Sawyer said. “I think it’d be better if we did it later in the session when we know hard numbers.”
This past week saw mostly bill introductions and the beginning of committee work. The Higher Education Budget committee met for the first time and received an overview of education in Kansas and setting the course for the session work. It will be another couple of weeks before we are presented with the baseline numbers and begin hearing from our higher education institutions.
In this report I wanted to share some of the things going on in other committees:
Mental Health Issues in Schools – On Thursday, the Kansas State Board of Education Report on Mental Health Issues in Schools and similar information on children’s mental health were presented to the House Education Committee. The board’s report identifies that 20% of children and youth have an identified need for mental health services, but only one-third of those children have received services. In addition, for those children who did receive services, more than 70% received services from their school. The presentation also stressed the need to prevent suicide, and the board’s prime recommendation included suicide awareness and prevention training. Specifically, the board recommended required staff training on signs of abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse, and would also like to see school districts revisit or revise policies related to mandating reporting of signs of abuse.
Essential Federal Employees in Kansas – On Friday, Representative Adam Smith from Weskan introduced a bill in the Rural Revitalization Committee to address concerns of Federal employees furloughed in Kansas due to the government shutdown. Some employees are working without pay and are not allowed to collect unemployment. Friday marked the second pay period these employees have been going to work without a paycheck. Under Representative Smith’s proposal, these employees would be able to collect unemployment and then be required to pay it back once an employee receives backpay from the Federal government. While this problem stems from D.C., we believe it is important for Kansans to take care of our own in the meantime.
Itemized Deduction Briefing – Also on Thursday, the tax committee heard from The Department of Revenue, the Kansas Society of CPAs, and the Kansas Realtors Association. Due to recent changes in federal law, Kansas taxpayers must take the standard deduction on their state income tax return if they take the standard deduction on federal return. In the same token, Kansans cannot itemize on their state returns if they do not itemize on their federal return. The federal standard deduction was nearly doubled, increasing from: 1) Federal Standard Deduction 2) Tax Year 2017: $6,350 for single filers, $12,700 married filing jointly 3) Tax Year 2018: $12,000 for single filers, $24,000 married filing jointly. 4) Kansas Standard Deduction and 5) $3,000 for single filers, $7,500 or married filing jointly. This eliminates the opportunity for Kansans with itemized deductions below the federal standard deduction, to itemize on their state return. Amending the state tax code, or decoupling from the federal tax code, will allow taxpayers the freedom to itemize or take the standard deduction on their state returns regardless of which route they take when filing their federal return.
Tax Foundation Testifies about Kansas Tax Climate – Nicole Keading, Director of Federal and Special Projects for the Tax Foundation, presented to the House Taxation Committee. She gave an overview of Kansas tax rates, state business tax climate index, the Wayfair decision, and conformity. She noted that literature shows that some taxes burden economic growth more than others. Those are gross receipts taxes, corporate income taxes, and individual income taxes. In speaking about state tax policy, she divided her discussion into four large categories: tax rates; tax collections; tax burdens; and tax structure.
In looking at tax rates, Kansas is in the middle of rankings on individual income tax rate for 2018 with a 5.7% rate. Individual income tax rates for neighboring states are: Colorado (4.63%), Nebraska (6.84%), Missouri (5.9%), and Oklahoma (5.0%). Kansas ranks higher than other states on the corporate tax rate at 7.0%. Neighboring states: CO (4.63%), NE (7.81%), MO (6.25%), and OK (6.0%). On sales tax, Kansas has the 8th highest combined sales tax rate (state/local), with 8.68%. Neighboring state rates are: CO (7.52%), NE (6.89%, no tax on food), MO (8.08%), and OK (8.93%). The Tax Foundation also calculates the tax burden for states. Tax burden reflects the portion of income that goes to taxes. The Tax Foundation found that Kansas’ burden is 9.5, which is the 23rd highest tax burden in the nation.
This past week there were several folks from the district in Topeka: Phillips County Commissioner Max Dibble; Phillipsburg City Council Chair Mike James; Norton County Commissioner Bud Posson; Stockton Mayor Kim Thomas; Ellis Mayor Dave McDaniel; Phillips County Register of Deeds Robert Keessee and several folks from our community hospitals, but due to the weather we were not able to catch up. I had a great time Sunday night at the Hill City Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet, Diana Crouch and crew always put on a great event. Congratulations to the award winners.
If you come to Topeka during the session, my office is in Room: 149-S. My phone number is 785-296-7463 and email is: [email protected] and you can always try my cell number is 785-302-8416.
I look forward to seeing you around the 110th District. It is my honor to by your representative.
Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra), is the 110th state representative and chairman of the Higher Education Budget Committee. House District 110
includes Norton and Phillips counties as well as portions of Ellis, Graham, and Rooks counties.
SEWARD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man and woman on drug charges after a weekend arrest.
On Saturday, police responded to a 911 hang up call at a home in the 200 block of W. Pancake in Liberal, according to police captain Robert Rogers.
Upon their arrival, they learned that a 27-year-old woman had been involved in a verbal argument with her 34-year-old husband. He left the scene prior to officers’ arrival.
While talking to her, the officers noticed that she appeared to under the influence of methamphetamine, according to Rogers. The room was in complete disarray. There were three children, ages 5, 3, and 1, in the room with her. The children appeared to be uncared for. A search of the room revealed syringes containing suspected methamphetamine within easy reach of the children. It was also determined that the only food available for the children was a box of club crackers and dry cereal.
Police took all three children into protective custody and to Southwest Medical Center for treatment. It was determined that one of the children tested positive for methamphetamines.
Police arrested the mother for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, aggravated endangering a child and child abuse. Police later located the man and arrested him on similar requested charges. Police have not released the names of the parents.
SALINE COUNTY — One person died in a motorcycle accident just after 4p.m. Sunday in Salina.
A 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Blaine K. Smith, 26, Salina, was westbound on Franklin Street at a high rate of speed, according to police Sergeant Brent Rupert.
The driver was unable to stop at the intersection of Custer Street. The driver laid the motorcycle down. It flipped over the curb and came to rest in a yard in the 800 Block of Custer.
Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a helmet, according to Rupert.
The accident is still under investigation. Alcohol is believed to have played a factor in the accident, according to Rupert.
Before this year’s session started I agreed to sponsor a bill, SB 9, which would make a postponed KPERS payment from 2016 that the legislature had promised to pay with interest in 2018. In 2018, the legislature opted to postpone the payment, to see what future revenues produced. Kansas’s revenues ended FY18 with $317 million more than expected. This left the approved ending balance at $905 million. Eighteen Republican senators, including myself, have signed on to sponsor SB 9. Some Democratic senators want to stall this payment. We made a promise to make this payment with interest and believe we should not build our ending balances by breaking promises.
Last Tuesday, the Senate Ways & Means Committee heard testimony on SB 9, which would transfer $115 million from the state general fund to the KPERS system. One hundred percent of the payment would be applied to the public-school group, a group that carries the largest unfunded liability. Ways & Means heard from Executive Director of KPERS, Alan Conroy, who explained to the committee that not making the payment would cause an increase of $630,000 to the unfunded liability/interest expense monthly. Making the payment would result in meeting the actuarial required payment for the first time in 25 years.
Thank you for those hundreds of people who gathered at the Statehouse, Tuesday, January 22, in freezing rain to participate in the annual Kansas March for Life. In particular I would like to thank people from the 40th Senate District who braved bad roads to attend this rally, including people as far away as St. Francis, KS. Many gathered due to the anticipated ruling by the Kansas Supreme Court that would say the constitution provides a right to an abortion. The march and rally took place on the 46th anniversary of the Roe vs Wade decision. In light of the New York Legislature adopting the Reproductive Health Act, allowing abortions up until the point of birth, it is more important than ever that we continue to fight for the unborn.
Hard Facts: Aviation in Kansas has a $20.6 billion economic impact and is responsible for 91,300 jobs. According to the Kansas Department of Labor, Kansas’ December unemployment rate was 3.3% compared to the 3.9% national rate.
Middle School and High School students (12 years of age or older) are invited to come to our Kansas State Capitol, in order to be my sponsored Senate Page for a day. The dates available are February 11th, 18th, 25th and March 11th. Please contact my office, if you know a student who may have an interest in being a Senate Page.
I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact or call me with your questions and concerns, my office number is 785 296-7399 or my cell is 785 899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office at 236-E.
Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is the Kansas state senator for the 40th District, which includes Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace counties as well as portions of Phillips county.
LOGAN – The Dane G. Hansen Museum is pleased to offer a Crochet class by instructor April Teves of Logan, Kansas. Two sessions will be held on Thursday, March 7, and Thursday, March 28, 2019, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Classes will be held in the Community Room of the Dane G. Hansen Museum, in Logan, KS. Participants, 13 years and older, will learn basic crochet stitches and pattern-reading in order to complete their own cozy winter hat.
This fun learning opportunity is offered to the public through the Hansen Museum Continuing Education Program. Registration fees are $35.00 and includes all supplies needed to complete a winter hat. Discounts are available to Patron and Sustaining Hansen Museum Members. Registrations are due by Thursday, February 21, 2019. For more information, please call 785-689-4846.
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.
