WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh (all times local):
A tense Senate chamber during Friday morning’s vote-image CSPAN
The Senate has pushed Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court past a key procedural hurdle.
The chamber voted 51-49 to move forward with President Donald Trump’s nominee.
A final vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination could occur over the weekend.
There’s no guarantee that the senators who supported moving forward will back Kavanaugh on the final vote. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who voted to advance Kavanaugh, said she will announce her decision on confirmation later Friday. Also voting to move the nomination forward was Arizona Senator Jeff Fland and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who had been undecided. But Alaska GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted against moving the nomination forward.
Kavanaugh’s nomination has been imperiled by accusations of sexual misconduct. He forcefully denied the allegations.
FRANKLIN COUNTY — A third child has died from injuries in accident just after 8:30p.m. Monday in Franklin County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Ford Focus driven by Clytie D. Bowden, 31, Wellsville, was southbound on Tennessee Road four miles west of Kansas 33.
The driver failed to yield right of way at Kansas 68 and entered the intersection. A westbound 2003 Subaru Baja driven by Crag R. Evans, 40, Ottawa, struck the Ford on the passenger side.
Briana Sobba,11, and Becham Klemen, 3, both of Wellsville were pronounced dead at the scene.
The KHP reported 12-year-old Elle Bowden died early Friday.
She and Lillian Klemen, 6, both of Wellsville, were transported to the hospital in Ottawa and then transferred to Children’s Mercy in Kansas City.
Bowden was transported to Research Medical Center. Evans was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Only Lillian Klemen was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
TOPEKA — President Donald Trump is coming to Kansas on Saturday. The MAGA Rally is just a month before the November election and allows the President to campaign for gubernatorial candidate Sec. of State Kris Kobach, 2nd district congressional nominee Steve Watkins and other GOP candidates.
photo courtesy President Trump/the White House
The rally in the Landon Area at the Kansas Expocenter is scheduled to begin at 6:30p.m. Tickets are required to attend the rally and are available here.
The President will arrive at Topeka’s Forbes Field on Air Force One Saturday afternoon and travel to the Expocenter. Police are not disclosing route information or road closures for security and safety reasons.
The areas in YELLOW are open to peaceful dissenters and demonstrators, according to Police -click to enlarge
Those with contradicting views of President Trump can exercise their 1st amendment right on the public sidewalks on either side of SW Topeka Blvd, from 17th to 21st street. In addition, the grass areas at the Expocentre will be open to the public.
Those who do not demonstrate peacefully could be citied and or arrested for disorderly conduct or unlawful obstruction, according to police.
Those who engage in demonstrations in areas not in yellow on the map will be asked to move to the yellow areas. If they refuse, they could be cited or arrested for the violations.
According to the Expocenter, those attending the rally are prohibited from bringing the following items inside the area.
HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Medical Center, is offering a flexible staffing choice for nurses. PatientsFIRST is an initiative to eliminate extra shifts and better accommodate the hospital patient census highs and lows.
Nurses are required to have a BSN and one year of inpatient experience within the last 2 years in the unit of specialty.
“This is the first time we have offered this type of nursing position at HaysMed,” said Terry Siek, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President for Patient Care Services. “We are expecting a positive response to these open positions.”
Flexible staffing allows a nurse to make the most of their time, passion and talent while reaching their full potential in terms of maximum work/life balance.
For more information on how to apply and frequently asked, click HERE.
Altius Quartet is a Colorado-based ensemble determined to further the art of chamber music through performance, education, and outreach. Western Plains Arts Association presents Altius Quartet on Sunday, October 14, Goodland High School Auditorium, 12th and Cherry. Starting time is 2 p.m. MDT (3 p.m. CDT). Goodland is in the Mountain time zone. Admission is by WPAA season ticket or at the door adults $10, students $5.
WPAA programs are made possible by the generous gifts of area sponsors including a major grant from the Dane G. Hansen Memorial Foundation, Logan.
Deriving their name from the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius (Latin for Faster, Higher, Stronger); Altius strives to communicate art to a more diverse audience through community engagement and innovative repertoire. Hailed as “rich” and “captivating” by the renowned music blog, “I Care If You Listen,” the Altius Quartet is garnering an international reputation and enrapturing the hearts of audiences through their charisma and dynamism.
Having recently released their second album, Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartets Nos. 7, 8, and 9, Altius has received critical acclaim from Fanfare Magazine describing them as “thrilling and enthralling” and their performance as “visceral and wrenching.”
Altius has been awarded prizes at many internationally respected competitions including: the 2016 Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld International String Competition, the 2014 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the 2014 Coltman Chamber Music Competition, and the 2013 Plowman Chamber Music Competition. In the spring of 2017, Altius released their debut album “Dress Code” on the PARMA label and was highly praised for their musicianship and versatility. Review Graveyard praises the album by saying, “The appeal for this album is huge. It introduces classical music to those that are not normally fans…”
Altius Quartet is deeply committed to outreach, often performing concerts and teaching master classes in public schools and alternative performing venues including: jazz clubs, bars, and cafes. The quartet currently has a partnership with the Aspen Music Festival and School for annual educational outreach residencies throughout the Roaring Fork. And beginning in 2016, Altius has worked alongside Denver Friends of Chamber Music and Arts Longmont performing outreach events for school children spanning the entire Denver/Boulder metroplex.
Members are professional string musicians: Joshua Ulrich and Andrew Giordano, violins; Andrew Krimm, viola; and Zachary Reaves, cello.
When not recording or performing, Altius Quartet enjoys experiencing the great outdoors and friendly rivalry in their Fantasy Football league. Altius can be followed on all platforms of social media including: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via the handle @altiusquartet. The website is altiusquartet.com.
By KARISSA NIEHOFF Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations and BILL FAFLICK Executive Director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association
From the Greatest Generation to Baby Boomers, Generation X to Millennials, teenagers in every era have had challenges growing up.
In today’s digital world, high school students are being tested in unique and demanding ways. The Washington Post confirms that 73 percent of all American teenagers own their own smartphone and, on average, spend almost nine hours a day texting, chatting, gaming, blogging, streaming and visiting with friends online.
Although conclusive research showing a direct correlation between the mental health of teenagers and smartphone usage won’t be complete for years, it isn’t a great confidence builder for a student to discover online that everyone else seems to have more friends.
Faflick
In addition, recent figures indicate that more than 31 percent of America’s 42 million teenagers are overweight or obese, compared to only five percent in 1980. According to the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health, Kansas is ranked the 25th most obese state in the nation with 30.9 percent of all teenagers considered overweight.
Not surprisingly, many psychologists and researchers agree that today’s teenagers are more lonely, anxious and depressed than ever before.
As the new school year gets underway and social pressures increase, statistics like these verify how important it is for teenagers to participate in high school sports and other activities such as marching band, choir, speech and debate.
The most recent survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) indicates there are almost eight million participants in high school sports and more than four million in performing arts activities. Most of these students would agree the primary advantage of playing a sport or participating in an after-school activity is the opportunity to meet new people and develop meaningful friendships. An online chat is no substitute for working toward a common goal face-to-face, side-by-side for weeks on end with teammates.
And positive social relationships are only the beginning. Among other benefits, high school sports are instrumental in helping teenagers establish nutritional and exercise habits that will carry them for a lifetime. Participating in a sport in high school is a great way to maintain a healthy weight, establish good eating and sleeping habits, discourage the use of alcohol and drugs and develop a greater sense of self-esteem.
Additional benefits of participating in a high school sport or activity are shared by the NFHS on a new website at MyReasonWhy.com, where dozens of high school students address this topic in their own words through videos.
A new school year brings with it an opportunity for teenagers to make new friends and establish new lifestyle habits. Encouraging them to make friends on the field of play as well as online is great way to start.
RUSSELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident jusf after 10p.m. Thursday in Russell County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Impala driven by Kalli Pfeifer, 16, Russell, was westbound on U.S. 40 at 183 Street one mile west of Russell.
When the vehicle’s passenger-side wheels dropped off the right side of road, the driver overcorrected causing the vehicle to cross the roadway and enter the south ditch.
The vehicle struck the embankment of 183rd Street, became airborne, crossed the roadway, impacted the ground west of 183rd and rolled on its top.
Pfeifer was transported to Russell Regional Medical Center. She was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Today A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am, then a slight chance of rain and thunderstorms between 7am and 10am. Patchy fog between 8am and noon. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Severe thunderstorms possible this evening across central and portions of southwest Kansas. Heads up if you are planning on attending football games tonight. Don’t let bad weather sneak up on you! Get in the habit of checking https://t.co/YTOmwnfCRE before you go out. #kswxpic.twitter.com/8ZcEijHAxj
Tonight Showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11pm and midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Low around 46. Windy, with a north wind 8 to 13 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday A slight chance of rain and thunderstorms before 1pm, then a chance of rain between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of rain and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. North wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday NightA 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 43. Northeast wind 7 to 10 mph.
SundayA chance of rain and thunderstorms, then rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 58. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday NightRain and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 54. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Columbus DayShowers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 70. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is poised to take a crucial vote Friday on whether to advance Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court as key Republican senators remain undecided amid allegations of sexual misconduct and intense protests that have divided the nation. Late Thursday, Kansas Senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran issued new statements on Kavanaugh.
The 53-year-old judge made what were in effect closing arguments by acknowledging that he became “very emotional” when forcefully denying the allegations at a Judiciary Committee hearing last week.
“I said a few things I should not have said,” he wrote in an op-ed published Thursday evening. But he said he remains the same “hardworking, even-keeled” person he has always been. “Going forward, you can count on me,” he wrote in The Wall Street Journal.
The op-ed, as well as a late boost from President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Minnesota, appeared aimed at winning over the three wavering senators from the slim GOP majority — Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — and one Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has yet to announce his position.
Ahead of Friday’s voting, Republicans emerged confident that an FBI investigation into the allegations unearthed no new corroborating details, they said. But a level of uncertainty lingered as Collins and Flake spent hours Thursday pouring over confidential FBI documents in the secure basement briefing room long after others had left seemingly satisfied with the findings.
Even without locking in support, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pushed ahead with trying to move Trump’s nominee forward in what would be an election year win for his party. The Republican leader has little room for error with his party’s slim 51-49 hold on the Senate, even if Vice President Mike Pence is called in to break a tie. A final vote is expected Saturday.
Tensions have been high at the Capitol with opponents of Kavanaugh, including survivors of sexual assault, confronting senators in the halls and holding vigil across the street at the Supreme Court. Supporters of Kavanaugh also turned out.
Trump said the protesters’ “rage-fueled resistance is starting to backfire at a level nobody has ever seen before.” He was referring to polling that shows some improvement for Republicans heading into the midterm election.
Friday’s vote is a procedural one to end the debate, and some fence-sitting senators could conceivably vote to advance Kavanaugh’s nomination but still hold out their support ahead of a final confirmation roll call over the weekend.
Two of the undeclared Republicans emerged from the secure briefing facility Thursday accepting the FBI report as “thorough,” bolstering GOP hopes for confirmation.
Flake told reporters that “we’ve seen no additional corroborating information” about the claims against Kavanaugh.
Collins also expressed satisfaction, calling it “a very thorough investigation.” She paid two visits to the off-limits room where the document was being displayed to lawmakers.
Murkowski said she was “still reviewing” her decision.
Democrats complained that the investigation, running just six days after Trump reluctantly ordered it, was shoddy, omitting interviews with numerous potential witnesses. They accused the White House of limiting the FBI’s leeway.
Those not interviewed in the reopened background investigation included Kavanaugh himself and Christine Blasey Ford, who ignited the furor by alleging he’d molested her in a locked room at a 1982 high school gathering.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat, said while her party had agreed to a weeklong FBI probe with a finite scope, “We did not agree that the White House should tie the FBI’s hands.”
A hefty police presence added an air of anxiety, as did thousands of anti-Kavanaugh demonstrators. U.S. Capitol Police said 302 were arrested — among them comedian Amy Schumer, a distant relative of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, issued a statement late Thursday that said the FBI reached out to 11 people and interviewed 10. Six of the witnesses involved Ford’s claims, including an attorney for one of them, and four were related to Deborah Ramirez, who has asserted that Kavanaugh exposed himself to her when both were Yale freshmen. Grassley said the FBI concluded “there is no collaboration of the allegations made by Dr. Ford or Ms. Ramirez.”
Senators said the documents they examined totaled about 50 pages.
The underlying material from the FBI included text and Facebook messages, said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., including screenshots that “were very helpful” in understanding the communications between various people discussing the situation.
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said nine of the pages were about Mark Judge, the Kavanaugh friend who Ford said also jumped on her while Kavanaugh assaulted her. Judge has said he doesn’t recall the incident.
White House spokesman Raj Shah rebuffed Democrats’ complaints, saying, “What critics want is a never-ending fishing expedition into high school drinking.”
Barring leaks, it was unclear how much if any of the FBI report would be made public.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.
Just after 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a burglary-in-progress call at a residence in the 2400 block of north Shelton in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Ornelas -photo Sedgwick Co.
A 44-year-old neighbor called 911 and reported seeing suspicious activity at a nearby residence.
Through the help of the alert citizen, police were able to find evidence of a burglary at the home, and arrest 26-year-old Daniel Ornelas at a nearby residence. Ornelas was booked into jail for burglary. Stolen property from a burglary earlier in the day was recovered and returned to the victim.
A great example of “see something, say something.” The alert citizen was helpful in making an arrest in this case.
HAYS, Kan.-It was an emotional night for the Hays High Lady Indians on Thursday evening in Hays as their six seniors played their final home matches of their career. Madyson Flax, Jaysa Wichers, Kallie Leiker, Savannah Schneider, Jaycee Dale and Hannah McGuire helped their team continue their recent strong play with dominating wins over Larned and LaCrosse.
After adjusting to a different style of play against Larned, Hays High went into cruise control mode. Hays won the first set 25-19. The second set was a no doubter with Hays High winning 25-10. Tasiah Nunnery led Hays with 10 kills, McGuire with 13 assists and Leiker 6 digs.
The Lady Indians wasted no time getting things going in their second match of the day against LaCrosse winning in straight sets 25-9, 25-12 in front of a rowdy student section. Nunnery again led with 14 kills, McGuire 19 assists and Leiker 5 digs. It was the 12th straight win for Hays High. During that streak the Lady Indians have not lost a single set.
Hays improves to 20-9 on the season. Their next action will be October 13th when they travel to Dodge City for the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.
TONGANOXIE, Kan. (AP) — Body camera video shows an officer handcuffing a black man who was attempting to move a large-screen television into his new Kansas home in the dark.
61-year-old Karle Robinson said, while watching the video, “If I’d been a white man, you know that wouldn’t happen.” He was in handcuffs for eight minutes.
A Tonganoxie police officer encountered Robinson around 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 19. Robinson understood why the officer would be suspicious. But he said he had identification and offered to go inside with the officer where there was paperwork proving his new ownership.
Tonganoxie Police Chief Greg Lawson says the officer kept the right balance of courtesy and respect. The video ends with an officer helping Robinson carrying the TV inside the home.
FORD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating 27-year-old Lorenzo De La Cruz-Chiquiaj, AKA Louis Escoto, according to Dodge City Police.
Lorenzo De La Cruz-Chiquiaj Photo courtesy Dodge City Police
Authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest for alleged rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated intimidation of a witness / victim and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Police reported they believe there is a chance he fled the area but his whereabouts are unknown.
Please use caution if you see him and contact the DCPD at 620-227-4646 or call 911 if it is an emergency.
