By Sam Zeff

If Kansas is forced to reduce its budget by five percent over the next two fiscal years, higher education in the state could take a $56.4 million hit.

That’s on top of $47.9 million in reductions the previous two years.

The data comes from budget documents submitted to the Governor’s office by the six Kansas Board of Regents universities.

This week, the Associated Press reported that Brownback’s Budget Director, Shawn Sullivan, sent an email to cabinet secretaries saying that the governor isn’t planning to propose across-the-board cuts in their budgets next year. However, he did not rule out targeted budget cuts.

Sullivan asked all state departments to submit documents anticipating a five percent reduction in each of the next two fiscal years. But Sullivan and the Governor’s office refused to make those public, citing an exemption in the Kansas Open Records Act.

However, the Board of Regents, independent from the governor, decided to do so.

The documents released by the Regents paint a bleak picture for higher education should the governor cut five percent from their budgets in fiscal 2018 and 2019.

Kansas State University, its veterinary school and extension service stand to lose $15.8 million over those two years. In its budget submission, K-State says “further reductions in state funding will degrade the university’s ability to fulfill its land grant mission” and “more financial burden will be placed on students in the form of increased tuition and fees.”

The University of Kansas and the KU Med Center would have to cut a combined $23.2 million under the five percent reduction scenario.

KU did not attach a similar narrative to its submission, but did release a statement. “While we fulfilled the request to provide these planning scenarios, we would obviously prefer that the Governor not make additional cuts to higher education,” Tim Carboni Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs wrote.

Wichita State University says it could have to cut $7 million total over the next two years which it says would “diminish the university’s ability” to increase higher education attainment and improve the “economic alignment with the ever changing needs of business and industry.”

Emporia State University’s submission sounds even more dire. A $3 million reduction in 2018 and 2019 would “erode the University’s programs” along with “diminishing attractiveness to prospective and current students.” ESU also predicts layoffs and leaving vacant positions open.

Sam Zeff covers education for KCUR and is co-host of the political podcast Statehouse Blend. Follow him on Twitter @SamZeff.

ROXANA HEGEMAN, Associated Press

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Thousands of prospective voters in Kansas who did not provide citizenship documents will be able to vote in the November election under a federal appeals court ruling late Friday that upheld a judge’s order.

The ruling upholds U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson’s temporary order forcing Kansas to register more than 20,000 voters. The court previously refused to issue an emergency stay of the order, and this latest ruling comes after a three-judge panel heard oral arguments in the case.

The decision is the latest setback for Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. It comes just a day after the Kansas Republican avoided contempt proceedings by striking a deal with the American Civil Liberties union to fully register and clearly inform affected voters that they could vote in the November election.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas officials have approved the state’s $100,000 share of $412,000 settlement Friday in a federal lawsuit over the death of a 4-year-old northeast Kansas boy.

The State Finance Council agreed Friday to pay the money to Naomi Boone, the mother of the late Mekhi Boone. The boy’s father, Lee Davis, is serving nearly 20 years for second-degree murder in the boy’s 2013 beating death. Naomi Boone has contended that one of the state’s foster care contractors placed the child with Davis while aware that he had a history of domestic violence.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, says the state is paying the money because it had an obligation to protect the child. Gov. Sam Brownback says TFI Family Services Inc. will pay $312,000.

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents says graduate student employees at state universities will lose their health care subsidies starting next year as a result of a recent opinion by the IRS regarding health insurance.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the IRS issued an opinion that an employing university can no longer provide a subsidy for graduate students’ health insurance under the Affordable Care Act because the system’s student plan is an individual plan.

Regents communications director Breeze Richardson says Kansas’ state universities plan to offer extra compensation to students in place of the subsidies. The amount may vary by campus.

Richardson says there may be efforts at the federal level to get the IRS to change its opinion, but it would likely be too late for the upcoming academic year.

GEARY COUNTY -Two Kansas men and a woman have been bound over for trial in Geary County District Court on charges of Aggravated Kidnapping and Aggravated Battery, stemming from a July 18 incident in rural Geary County.

Randy C. Fetters Jr., 36, Herington, Story Stanley ( Blocker ), 36, Herington, and Justin Spiker 26, Alta Vista, were bound over for trial following a preliminary hearing in Geary County District Court on Thursday.

The allegation is that the trio removed the victim from a rural property in Wabaunsee County and took him across county lines into Geary County to another rural residence where he was beaten repeatedly, threatened, and then he also had his hair cut, according to Deputy Geary County Attorney Chris Biggs.

“The allegation is that there was a dispute about some property, and then there was also evidence about there being some motive involving the sexual orientation of the victim,” said Biggs.

“The matter is being reviewed right now by me for consideration of whether to request an enhancement under the state statute concerning hate crime.”

Arraignment dates have been set in District Court for Fetters on November 4, Blocker on

October 24, and Spiker on October 7.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — While Republican Gov. Sam Brownback is avoiding the issue, a Democratic legislator says Kansas is likely to divert additional funds from highway projects to balance its budget.

Brownback declined to say Friday whether he would propose the diversion of highway funds to other government programs during the fiscal year that begins July 1. It’s a move he and other governors have used regularly in the past when faced with budget problems.

Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly of Topeka said the state isn’t likely to have any other choice to fill short-term gaps in the budget. She predicted Brownback will propose tapping sales tax revenues now set aside for transportation projects.

Brownback also said a task force he appointed will be releasing proposals Tuesday for improving the state’s revenue projections.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge is taking a hands-on approach to the notice Kansas will send to thousands of voters informing them of their eligibility to cast a ballot in November.

U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson on Friday gave Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and the American Liberties Union until noon Monday to submit a joint draft for her review.

She has also set a telephone status conference for Wednesday to discuss any revisions.

Robinson canceled contempt proceedings for Kobach after he agreed to concessions that register and notify people who applied at motor vehicle offices or with a federal form without providing documentary proof of citizenship.

Kobach and the ACLU brokered a deal allowing roughly 20,000 people so far to vote on a regular ballot, instead of a provisional one.

By ANDY MARSO

Kansans will get to choose between two insurance companies when open enrollment begins Nov. 1 for 2017 coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s online marketplace.

But for Kansans outside the Kansas City metropolitan area, one company will offer only HMO plans that restrict coverage to in-network providers.

The Kansas Insurance Department published an overview of the marketplace choices this week.

A new insurer, Minnesota-based Medica, has entered the Kansas market and will sell seven traditional health insurance plans — with varying premiums and levels of coverage — in all counties.

Another Minnesota-based company, UnitedHealthcare, pulled out of the market after one year.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City remains in the market and will sell 11 plans in Johnson County and Wyandotte County. It will offer traditional coverage as well as “exclusive provider organization,” or EPO, plans that are like HMO plans in that they can restrict coverage to in-network care and require a “gatekeeper” to approve coverage prior to care.

The Legislature and Gov. Sam Brownback approved the sale of EPO plans this year.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Kansas Solutions will remain in the ACA marketplace and sell plans in the state’s other 103 counties, but all five of its offerings will be HMO plans.

Kansans who purchase plans through the online ACA marketplace, healthcare.gov, may be eligible for federal subsidies to decrease premiums based on their incomes.

Most Kansans get health insurance through their employer, a family member or government programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

According to the insurance department, only 6 percent of the state’s residents were covered in 2016 by individual health insurance plans like the ones offered on the marketplace.

Andy Marso is a reporter for KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team. You can reach him on Twitter @andymarso

SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities and school administrators in Saline County are investigating a reported school threat.

Salina police said they received a report that a student at Salina South High School allegedly threatened gun violence against the school on Friday, according to an email sent to parents from USD 305

Police arrested the student on Thursday, according to the email.

No additional details were available early Friday afternoon.

 DETROIT (AP) — Subaru is recalling nearly 593,000 vehicles, some for a second time, because windshield wiper motors can overheat and increase the risk of a fire.

The recall affects certain Legacy and Outback cars from the 2010 to 2014 model years. The company says that due to contamination, parts in the wiper motor cover can interfere with one another. If snow or ice stops the wiper arms from stopping in the proper position, the wiper motor could overheat. That could disable the wipers and melt the cover.

It was unclear whether the problem caused any fires or injuries.

Dealers will replace the wiper motor bottom cover at no cost, but a schedule for the recall isn’t finished. Some of the vehicles were recalled in 2011 for a similar problem.

 

SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a suspect for alleged assault of a teenager.

Thomas Dunn, 46, Salina, was arrested on Thursday and cited for misdemeanor battery, according to Salina Police Sgt. James Feldman.

Just after 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a 16-year-old girl was walking in the 100 block of E. Walnut near the Stiefel Theatre and became paranoid that someone was following her, according to Salina police captain Paul Forrester.

When the girl turned around, a man she described as wearing a pink dress with a Mohawk haircut struck her in the right cheek.
After striking the girl, the man then tried to pull her into an alley.

Forrester said the girl was able to kick the man in the groin to free herself.

She then ran to her home and notified police.

They identified Thomas Dunn as the suspect. He is to appear in Salina Municipal Court on the charge.

 

SEDGWICK COUNTY -Officials in Sedgwick County are investigating a case of Tuberculosis at Wichita State University.

The county health department reported on Friday that a student at the school was diagnosed with the disease, according to a media release and that measures are in place to stop the spread of disease.

Although the student lived in a dorm, the risk of WSU students and staff getting TB is very low, according to the release.

Sedgwick County Division of Health will contact those who have been in close contact with the student for evaluation.

If the Division of Health does not contact a student, there is no need for a TB evaluation.

The county also released details on TB here.

Tuberculosis is spread from person to person through the air in a confined are over a long period of time, according to a fact sheet on TB from Sedgwick County.

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) — Two religious colleges in Missouri and Oklahoma say they won’t take part in this year’s NAIA cross-country championship because the meet was moved out of North Carolina in response to the state’s law limiting LGBT protections.

The NAIA, which has 15 member schools in Kansas, opposes the law, which bans local ordinances that allow people to use locker rooms and bathrooms matching their gender identity. The law also excludes gender identity and sexual orientation from local and statewide antidiscrimination protections.

The NCAA also removed high-profile games from North Carolina.

The Tulsa World reports that Oklahoma Wesleyan President Everett Piper said the NAIA should give female athletes “the dignity of having their own restrooms.”

KYTV in Springfield, Missouri, says the College of the Ozarks cited similar reasons. President Jerry Davis called the NAIA’s action “political correctness gone berserk.”