WASHINGTON (AP) — Most American households say their finances have strengthened slightly, but nearly half report that they would struggle to meet $400 in expenses from an unexpected emergency.
The Federal Reserve survey, conducted in October and November, found that 69 percent of those responding reported that they were either “living comfortably” or “doing ok.” That’s up from 65 percent in the 2014 survey and 62 percent in 2013.
However, 31 percent, or approximately 76 million adults, said they were either “struggling to get by” or were “just getting by.” And 46 percent said they would have difficulty covering an emergency bill of $400.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman has been charged with huffing gas before a fatal wreck.
The Kansas City Star reports that 25-year-old Angeline Shelor, of Olathe, was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder, reckless driving and abusing toxic vapors. She is jailed in Johnson County on $500,000 bond.
The charges are tied to a head-on August crash that killed 77-year-old Lelia Roberts. The wreck left Shelor in critical condition.
Defense attorney Paul Morrison didn’t immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri woman already accused of embezzling more than $300,000 from engineering firm Black & Veatch is now charged with stealing $1.2 million while on the job at Garmin International.
A federal grand jury in Kansas City on Tuesday indicted 43-year-old Patricia Webb of Lee’s Summit on 23 counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Webb already was charged with embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from Black & Veatch while working there as a global payroll manager.
The new indictment also accuses her of stealing more than $1.2 million while previously working as a senior payroll specialist for the Olathe, Kansas-based Garmin between early 2012 and May 2014.
A message seeking comment was left Wednesday with her attorney.
EL DORADO – A former Kansas Highway Patrol trooper convicted of aggravated assault has been transferred from Barton County to the El Dorado Correctional Facility.
The Barton County Sheriff’s Office media log indicated Darrin Hirsh, 39, was released from their responsibility on Tuesday
Barton County Judge Ron Svaty sentenced Hirsh to 18 months in prison for aggravated assault, criminal threat, and domestic battery involving his ex-wife their three sons.
Hirsh has served 141 days in jail since his December 22, 2015 conviction. Those days will be subtracted from his 18-month sentence.
A proposal to reimburse some KanCare providers at a higher level based on patient outcomes drew skepticism from a crowd of hundreds who gathered Tuesday afternoon in a Topeka hotel ballroom.
Photo by Andy Marso/KHI News Service Kelly Smith, left, and Brad Linnenkamp were among hundreds who attended a meeting Tuesday afternoon in Topeka gathering public input on KanCare, the state’s privatized Medicaid program. They both questioned whether an outcomes-based payment model would be applicable for Kansans who have disabilities.
Tuesday’s public meeting was the first in a series that state officials are hosting as they prepare to renew their federal application for KanCare, the state’s $3 billion managed care program that privatized all Medicaid services under three insurance companies in 2013.
Similar gatherings are scheduled Wednesday in Kansas City, Kan., and Wichita and Thursday in Pittsburg and Hays. Several of the providers, consumers and caregivers who attended the Tuesday afternoon meeting complained about a lack of specifics on changes the state intends to make in the next round of five-year contracts.
But one change that was outlined — allowing the insurance companies to designate preferred providers and pay them more — drew concerns about providers who don’t make the preferred lists dropping out of the system.
Susan Mosier, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said the state was merely seeking feedback on the idea and that any changes would “maintain network adequacy.”
Kevin Siek, who works with Kansans with disabilities for the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center, said the state already has fallen short on that front. “Choices are already too limited,” Siek said.
He said he knows of only one home health agency in Shawnee County that accepts Medicaid. Sean Gatewood, a former Democratic legislator who represents a coalition of Medicaid providers called the KanCare Advocates Network, asked how the preferred provider networks would be funded given the recently announced 4 percent cuts to Medicaid.
“How are you going to maintain network adequacy without additional money flowing into the system?” Gatewood said. “We have a shrinking network as it is.”
Open-ended conversation
Others voiced concerns about increased bureaucracy since the state switched from a traditional fee-for-service Medicaid model to KanCare, which covers mostly people with disabilities and lower-income children and pregnant women.
Photo by Andy Marso/KHI News Service Katherine Gallagher of McLouth is caring for three grandchildren on KanCare. She has concerns about a lack of specifics as state officials prepare to renew their federal application for the privatized Medicaid program
They also complained that state officials had not provided enough details about their intended changes for the next round of KanCare contracts for them to share relevant feedback.
“Based on what you’ve presented so far, it doesn’t say specifically what’s going to change,” said Katherine Gallagher of McLouth, who is caring for three grandchildren on KanCare.
The crowd applauded her critique.
Mosier said the state wanted to keep the conversation open-ended. “The reason why we don’t have the details for you is it really is about getting your input before putting pencil to paper and actually creating that application,” she said.
Mosier said the initial meetings are only the start of the process and stakeholders will have opportunities to weigh in on more detailed plans later.
The KanCare companies, she said, have provided almost $15 million in “value-added” services not previously covered under Medicaid, like weight-loss surgery and adult dental care, while simultaneously slowing the cost growth of Medicaid through care coordination.
Caseload concerns
The next round of KanCare will focus on honing that coordination and moving toward payments based on health outcomes rather than the fee-for-service model. But there were concerns from providers and KanCare consumers in the audience that the care coordinators for the three companies — Amerigroup, Sunflower State Health Plan (a Centene subsidiary) and UnitedHealthcare — already are struggling under heavy turnover amid large caseloads.
“Care coordinators should be more involved,” said Kelly Smith, a Kansan with a disability.
“My care coordinator does nothing for me.” Smith and Brad Linnenkamp, who also has a disability, questioned whether an outcomes-based payment model would be applicable for Kansans who have permanent conditions.
The costs of their long-term support services are largely fixed, they said.
Providers said they were concerned about the difficulty of recouping start-up costs in an outcomes-based model and asked how such a model would account for patients who fail to take responsibility for their outcomes, such as diabetics who snack on sugary candy.
The moderator for Tuesday’s event was Amy Delamaide of Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute. She tried to steer the conversation toward a set of predetermined questions about the state’s priorities for the next round of KanCare.
But that discussion was overwhelmed at times by complaints about the current system, like delays in processing Medicaid eligibility, long hold times on the KanCare Clearinghouse helpline and the recent reimbursement cuts.
“I’m hearing some real flexibility on which question we’re answering,” Delamaide said at one point.
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — A man convicted of killing his wife has been resentenced after the Kansas Supreme Court vacated his sentence.
The Salina Journal reports that 41-year-old Davin Sprague will be eligible for parole after 25 years under the sentence imposed Tuesday in Saline County Circuit Court for first-degree-murder.
Sprague was sentenced in 2012 to at least 50 years in prison for killing 28-year-old Kandi Sprague by hitting her in the head with a pipe and then strangling her. He buried her on their rural property.
In December, the Kansas Supreme Court upheld his sentence but vacated his sentence because the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled such sentences are unconstitutional unless a jury finds the existence of aggravated factors. Sprague initially was sentenced by a judge, rather than a jury.
Tuesday fire in Great Bend -photo Great Bend fire and EMS
BARTON COUNTY- Officials with the State Fire Marshal’s office determined a fire at a home on Tuesday in Great Bend was accidental.
The blaze at a 3-story residence in the 1400 Block of Washington started and was contained to the attic, according to Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napalitano.
The home suffered heat, smoke and water damage to the second floor. The extent of the damage is estimated in excess of $20-thousand dollars.
Occupants of the home escaped without injury. Two kittens did not survive, according to Napalitano.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A suspended Kansas sheriff’s detective has been charged with three counts of felony perjury after an investigation into inconsistencies on investigative reports.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Kansas Attorney General’s Office filed the charges Tuesday against Shawnee County sheriff’s Detective Erin Thompson. The 39-year-old is free on bond. Her lawyer, Tom Lemon, didn’t immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment. She doesn’t have a listed phone number.
Sheriff Herman Jones said during a news conference that it was “a sad day” for his office and the community.
Thompson was placed on paid administrative leave in September. Jones said that Thompson will remain on paid administrative leave pending completion of a professional standards unit investigation or resolution of her criminal case.
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TOPEKA– (May 24, 2016) – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt on Tuesday filed formal criminal charges against Shawnee County sheriff’s detective Erin Thompson, according to a media release.
Schmidt filed three counts of perjury against Thompson in Shawnee County District Court.
The charges are related to alleged crimes that occurred between August 2014 and May 2015. The Kansas Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case against Thompson at the request of the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office.
Any public comments on the prosecution of Thompson are governed by the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 3.6, Trial Publicity, and Rule 3.8, Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor. All media requests or inquiries should be directed to the Office of the Attorney General, 120 S.W. 10th, 2nd Floor, Topeka, Kansas 66612, (785) 296-6115.
HAYSVILLE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a man who was struck by a hit-and-run driver in southern Kansas has died from his injuries.
The Wichita Eagle reports that 31-year-old Grant Burris died Monday at a Wichita hospital. His brother, Roger Silva, said Burris was a Marine and a Purple Heart recipient.
He suffered back, neck, pelvis and leg injuries when he was hit from behind May 13 while checking the mail at his parent’s house near Haysville.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office said in a crash report that a 26-year-old man was booked into jail the next day on suspicion of aggravated battery and failure to stop at a crash resulting in great bodily harm.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office plans to present the case to the District Attorney’s Office this week.
SHAWNEE COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Shawnee County are investigating a suspect in response to a recent rash of shootings in Topeka with gang and illegal drug connections.
On Tuesday evening, police executed a search warrant in the 3500 Block of Southwest Cambridge. Information was developed that brought to light a criminal conspiracy to commit a retaliation shooting, according to a media release.
Police arrested Tyron R. Michael, 18, Topeka, on requested charges of conspiracy to commit aggravated battery and aiding a felon.
The arrest was made as part of police and various state and federal agencies to address recent incidents in the Capitol City as part of the Violent Crime Initiative.
FORD COUNTY -Areas in Southwest, Northwest, and South Central Kansas have sustained various levels of damages including downed trees, downed power poles and lines, and various levels of damages to outbuildings and rural homes. Storm damages occurred as a result of large hail, wind, and tornadoes.
County emergency management officials in Ford County reported two persons were critically injured and taken to Western Plains Medical Center in Dodge City, according to the state emergency operations center.
Other damages reported by the Kansas Highway Patrol includes emergency vehicles damaged due to baseball sized hail, a semi-trailer blown over at US 50 bypass with no injuries, and roadway damage on a bridge over U -56 where tornado ripped up asphalt.
Rural buildings, and homes also suffered damage along U.S. 283 in Ness County. Power lines are down in many areas.
Storm Damage on Road 110 north of Dodge City- photo KHP
Additional information will be collected as ongoing damage assessments occur in affected areas on Wednesday.
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FORD COUNTY -A spring storm brought several tornadoes, large hail and heavy rain to areas of Ford County on Tuesday evening.
After the community was under a tornado warning for over an hour, the National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency for Dodge City and surrounding communities just after 6:30 p.m.
The primary part of the storm moved just west of Dodge City.
There were reports of some damage to rural buildings, homes and power was out in many areas, according to the sheriff’s department.
There were reports of possible injuries.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a truck on the U.S. 50 bypass was blown over during the storm.
Check Hays Post for additional details as they become available
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A former suburban Kansas City credit union employee has been sentenced to three years of supervised probation for embezzling more than $34,000 she now must repay.
Twenty-five-year-old Susan Wooten-Robb was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas. That’s where she pleaded guilty in January to one count of wire fraud.
Authorities say that Wooten-Robb was working at the Community America Credit Union branch in Overland Park in February 2014, when two account holders complained about unauthorized debits from their accounts.
Prosecutors say that in one instance, Wooten-Robb tried to cover up an unauthorized debit by filing a false currency transaction report. She claimed the account holders took out the money to assist a family member with paying tuition.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Most American households say their finances have strengthened slightly, but nearly half report that they would struggle to meet $400 in expenses from an unexpected emergency.
