KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A 42-year-old Kansas accountant faces nine years in prison for defrauding clients of more than $4 million.

Thomas Hauk, of Overland Park, Kansas, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Kansas City. He pleaded guilty earlier to federal fraud charges, stemming from thefts from a financial services company. The Kansas City Star reports the thefts took place for nearly a decade and were discovered in 2015.

Hauk used some of the money to buy expensive cars and motorcycles, which federal authorities seized and auctioned off, raising more than $1.4 million for restitution.

At Wednesday’s hearing, defense attorney Erin Thompson asked the judge to deviate from sentencing guidelines and impose a less severe sentence.

But Senior U.S. District Judge Howard Sachs said nine years “is well-justified in this case.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ Health Care Commission has made changes that will lead to higher premiums, copayments and some deductibles for state employees as officials try to increase cash reserves for its employee health plan next year.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the health plan’s cash reserves are below a $59 million target and the goal is to increase the funds back to that level over the next two years.

The state will increase its employer premium rate by 7 percent and its employee premium rate by about 9 percent.

The Kansas Organization of State Employees has criticized the changes, citing that state workers will pay more and get worse benefits.

SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a suspect in connection with an alleged case of road rage.

Joe Godbout, 55, Salina, was westbound on Magnolia Road and had exited onto the southbound ramp of Interstate 135, along with a car driven by 31-year-old Mark Biggs, according to Police Captain Mike Sweeney

Godbout reportedly was upset with how Biggs was driving, pulled along side his vehicle, and pointed a handgun at him, according to Sweeney.

Biggs was able to get the tag number from Godbout’s pickup.

Officers located him a short time later and placed him under arrest.

Godbout was booked into the Saline County Jail on a requested charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Police say the gun used in the incident has not been recovered.

GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have dismissed child pornography charges against a former teacher but the investigation is continuing.

Finney County authorities said Wednesday that three counts of sexual exploitation of a child filed in January against Steven Thompson were dismissed. KAKE-TV reports assistant county attorney William Votypka says if the ongoing investigation discovers more evidence, authorities wouldn’t be able to pursue those charges if they are still prosecuting the original case.

The investigation began while Thompson while working at Garden City Community College. Authorities say they found child pornography on his work computer, another computer, and other devices.

Thompson was hired in April 2015 by the Wichita school district. His background check didn’t indicate his legal problems because he hadn’t been charged when he was hired in Wichita.

MANHATTAN -The Manhattan City Commission unanimously approved an ordinance adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the city’s anti-discrimination policy, according to minutes from Tuesday night’s meeting.

Under the ordinance it is unlawful for the city, landlords and others to discriminate against LGBT individuals.

Those who violate the ordinance can face fines of up to $500.

Riley County Police Department Director Brad Schoen requested an exemption to the ordinance.

Following a 3-2 vote, the commission approved an amendment that would exempt the RCPD.

Kansas State University, other state and federal offices are also covered by their own policies.

In July 2015, then Manhattan Mayor Karen McCulloh proposed legislation to include sexual orientation to the list of classes that the City will not discriminate against.

The new ordinance will go into effect November 1.

Office of Senator Jerry Moran

MANHATTAN, Kan. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, issued a statement following the Obama Administration’s largest single release of detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GITMO):

“The White House is yet again displaying a disturbing lack of judgment and transparency with the largest single release of GITMO detainees during President Obama’s time in office,” Sen. Moran said. “I have pushed to strengthen oversight of the Periodic Review Board – that determines the transfer of GITMO detainees – and to bolster congressional authorization before releasing detainee terrorists who pose a threat to the security of the United States and its citizens. This administration and foreign countries have lost track of numerous detainees, which escalates the risk for our military men and women if the detainees return to the battlefield. I am staunchly opposed to closing the detention facility and will continue working to keep the remaining 61 detainees at GITMO.”

The Obama Administration has been rapidly transferring detainees from GITMO since 2010. GITMO detainees, such as Ibrahim al-Qosi who is a spokesman and recruiter for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Muhammad Salih Husayn al-Shaykh who has pledged to kill as many Americans as possible, continue to return to terrorism. The total reengagement rate of GITMO detainees returning to the battlefield is now at more than 30 percent.

Background
Sen. Moran has long advocated against relocating Guantanamo Bay detainees, works to uphold current law by sponsoring multiple amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act and sponsors the following legislation:

The Protections Against Terrorist Transfer Act of 2016 (S. 2780) to strengthen the certification requirements relating to the transfer or release of detainees at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba;
The Detainee Transfer Transparency Act (S. 2788) to make available to the public the intended transfer or release of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, at least 21 days in advance;
The Detaining Terrorists to Protect America Act (S. 165) to prohibit the transfer to the United States of detainees designated medium- or high-risk for two years and ban transfers to Yemen, where dozens of the remaining Guantanamo detainees are from; and
S. 2559 to prevent President Obama from giving GITMO back to Cuba without proper Congressional approval.
Additionally, Sen. Moran introduced a Senate Resolution to detain Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters at GITMO

 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A plea hearing date has been changed for a woman accused of giving her former boyfriend guns that he used in a shooting at a Excel Industries in Hesston.

The Wichita Eagle reports that 28-year-old Sarah Jo Hopkins pleaded not guilty in March to one count of transferring weapons to a prohibited person. A notation in her case file indicates she plans to change her plea. She had been scheduled to do so Friday, but her hearing is now set for Sept. 8 in federal court in Wichita.

She is accused of giving Cedric Ford a semi-automatic rifle and a .40-caliber handgun that he used in the Feb. 25 attack in Hesston. Four people were killed, including Ford, and 14 others were injured.

By Andy Marso

State officials have cancelled a series of forums that were to be held next week to allow the public to comment on reduced payments to those who serve patients on Kansas Medicaid, or KanCare.

A letter sent Tuesday expressed regret that the meetings in Overland Park, Topeka, Wichita, Pittsburg and Dodge City would not take place.   See the official cancellation notice here

“Instead we are using this letter to tell KanCare members more about the provider payment rate reductions and we are asking for your feedback if you would like to let us know you(r) thoughts on this matter,” the letter says.

The letter directs those who want to comment on the reductions to email [email protected].

Angel de Rocha, a spokeswoman for state agencies, said soliciting public comment by letter and accepting it by email would give each KanCare member a greater opportunity to weigh in.

“We believe more of our consumers will receive this information that way, directly, than would be able to attend and hear about it in a public meeting, and that the letter method more thoroughly and effectively meets our obligation to keep them informed and up to date about what is going on with KanCare,” de Rocha said via email.

Debra Zehr, president and CEO of LeadingAge Kansas, said via email that she thinks the state is trying to avoid public displays of opposition.

“Perhaps state officials find it more palatable to simply provide an email address for public comments about the rate reductions, rather than face large crowds of upset people and service providers throughout Kansas who are struggling to deal with this debacle,” said Zehr, whose organization represents non-profits that provide services to elderly Kansans.

The letter goes on to list a dozen types of providers who won’t face reductions — including rural hospitals and state facilities.

It emphasizes that the 4 percent cut that will be imposed on other providers is part of a broader effort to keep the state general fund solvent.

“These reductions are the steps we must take due to a tight state budget,” the letter says. “We are doing everything possible to sustain care and services to consumers.”

The cuts to KanCare — the state’s managed care Medicaid program that is administered by three private insurance companies — have worried some providers, like dentists, who say that reimbursements already are too low. The state is required to take public comment on the cuts before it submits a formal request to change its Medicaid plan to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The state is allowed to implement the cuts prior to federal approval. The Kansas Hospital Association has asked the feds not to approve

A previous letter about the now-cancelled meetings stressed that attendance was not mandatory and the purpose of the meetings was not to discuss whether the cuts should be made.

BARTON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Barton County are investigating two suspects on drug charges.

Just before 2 a.m. on Wednesday, sheriff’s deputies stopped a vehicle near the intersection of 10th and Patton in Great Bend for a traffic violation, according to a media release.

The driver of the 2006 Pontiac G6 Codey Elsasser, 32, Great Bend, was a habitual violator and driving on a revoked driver’s license.

Officers also noted the license plate on the vehicle had been altered and was expired. The driver was placed under arrest.

During the course of the investigation, a quantity of suspected marijuana and suspected methamphetamine were also found in the vehicle.

Along with the controlled substances, deputies found two .45 caliber pistols as well as a semi-automatic rifle.

Scales, packing material and other drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle. $509 in US currency was also seized.

A passenger in the vehicle Autumn R. Coleman, 23, Pullman, AK, was also placed under arrest on drug charges.

Elsasser was booked into the Barton County jail for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp, criminal use of a weapon, driving while revoked and various other traffic violations.

Coleman was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school, possession of drug paraphernalia and no tax stamp. Bond for both the suspects has been set at $300,000.

MORRIS COUNTY – First responders are on the scene of an accident on Kansas 177 in Morris County.

The highway is closed to all traffic between Kansas 4 and U.S 56 from 11:00 am until late afternoon or early evening due to the crash involving a semi-tractor and trailer, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

The semi load is a wind generator tower that will need to be lifted out of the ditch and placed on a different trailer.

This lift will be performed using cranes that must be placed on the highway blocking both lanes.

The detour carrying traffic around the crash area will take southbound traffic west on Interstate 70 to U.S. 77 then south to U.S. 56 then east to rejoin Kansas 177 at Council Grove.

Northbound traffic will follow the same detour in reverse. Local traffic may substitute Kansas 4 for Interstate 70 in detouring around the crash site.

No injuries are reported.

RENO COUNTY- Officials are working to determine the cause of Tuesday evening house fire in rural Reno County.

Just after 10:15 p.m. fire crews responded to the blaze in the single family home in 2400 block of North Nickerson Road near Nickerson, according to a media release.

Reno County Sheriff Deputy Travis Vogt was sent to the scene to investigate whether there was anything suspicious.

The home was being renovated and was not occupied.

The exact cause has not been determined, according Sheriff Captain Darrian Campbell. He said they suspect it may have been an electrical issue in the laundry room of the home.

No injuries were reported no damage estimate was available.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police say a woman has died after a rear-end collision outside a Kansas City, Kansas, hospital.

Police said in a news release Wednesday that the victim of Monday night’s crash outside Providence Medical Center was 74-year-old Sotera Sebastian.

The crash happened when a sport utility vehicle struck another SUV that was stopped while waiting to turn into the hospital. After the crash, the driver of the striking SUV fled on foot before he was located about a block away and taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries.

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a juvenile has died while swimming and paddle boarding with friends at a neighborhood lake in suburban Kansas City.

Shawnee police said in a news release that officers were called Tuesday to Lakeview Estates after the victim went missing. The release said the victim’s friends weren’t sure if he left or if he was still in the water because they didn’t see him go under.

A search began, and a dive team found the boy’s body. His name wasn’t immediately released, pending notification of his extended family. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.