POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Pottawatomie County are investigating a suspect in connection with a social media threat against his employer, according to a media release.
Just before 8 p.m. on Thursday March 17, police in Wamego responded to Caterpillar Work Tools, 600 Balderson Boulevard, Wamego, regarding possible threatening comments posted on a social media web page.
Wamego Police officers and Pottawatomie County Sheriff deputies arrived, assessed and investigated the report.
“I have officially snapped…. When a shooting spree sounds fun to go on at a place where you hate everyone…. oh the agony…..Lmao is that better or is everyone still butt hurt…😈😈😈😈
As a result, a Caterpillar employee, Erik Billis, was taken into custody without incident. The man was not armed and has cooperated with the investigation, according to police.
The case has been forwarded to the Pottawatomie County Attorney’s Office for review.
Photo by Jim McLean/KHI News Service Cathy Gordon, a certified nurse midwife, is partner in a company that operates the New Birth Center in Kansas City, Kan., shown here. Gordon objects to a requirement that certified nurse midwives obtain separate licenses in order to establish independent practices. The requirement is part of a bill that gained approval Tuesday from the Kansas House.
The Kansas House on Tuesday approved a bill that would provide certified nurse midwives with limited authority to establish independent practices.
The bill, which now goes to the Senate for consideration later this week, passed 87-38. Supporters hailed it as a breakthrough in the long-running battle between doctors and advanced practice registered nurses seeking authority to practice independently.
But certified nurse midwives, who recently split with APRNs to push for their own independent practice legislation, objected to the bill because it would require them to obtain a separate license from the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, the state agency that regulates the practice of medicine.
During a hearing on the bill, Cathy Gordon, a certified nurse midwife and partner in a company that operates birth centers in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, said requiring midwives to obtain separate licenses from the board of healing arts and the Kansas State Board of Nursing would be unworkable.
“To us it looks like we would be serving two masters,” Gordon said. “
No state does it this way.” In addition, Gordon said, the bill would continue to prohibit midwives from performing a range of women’s health services unless they had a collaborative practice agreement with a supervising physician.
“It significantly restrains our ability to practice,” she said. Gordon’s objections were echoed by members of the Kansas Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. In a letter emailed over the weekend to members of the House, they said the bill would be a “step backwards” for midwives.
“In surveying our members, more than 80 percent of Kansas CNMs (certified nurse midwives) indicated that they would not seek licensure to practice maternity care under the BOHA (board of healing arts),” the letter said.
But Rep. Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican and chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee, defended the measure as a “reasonable” compromise.
“I believe this is a good compromise,” Hawkins said, noting that the bill would allow certified midwives to perform a core set of obstetric services without a collaborative agreement.
“I believe that we will see certified nurse midwives that will step through that door and will use this to further their business,” he said.
Rep. Barbara Bollier, a Mission Hills Republican and retired anesthesiologist, opposed previous efforts to expand the practice authority of midwives and APRNs. But she said the limited expansion authorized in the bill — House Substitute for Senate Bill 402 — was a compromise she also could support.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Bollier said. “Placing nurse midwives under the board of healing arts is a great first step. And I think we will see further changes ahead for other types of caregivers.”
Certified nurse midwives, APRNs and groups pushing for the licensure of dental therapists have long argued that expanding what mid-level providers can do without supervision from doctors and dentists is a way to expand access to care in rural and underserved areas.
But they have been unable to overcome opposition from the state’s doctors and dentists. Some see Tuesday’s action as an important breakthrough that could lead to progress on other scope-of-practice bills.
They point to the fact that several physician organizations that had opposed previous independent practice proposals supported the midwives bill.
“This wasn’t our first choice, but it was a compromise we supported because we felt that it dealt with the top priorities of both stakeholder groups,” said Rachelle Colombo, a lobbyist for the Kansas Medical Society.
Specifically, Colombo said, while the bill allows certified nurse midwives to independently “manage normal and uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries,” the dual licensure requirement ensures that the board of healing arts will retain jurisdiction where “there is overlap in the practice of medicine.”
Jim McLean is executive editor of KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team.
KIOWA -Comanche County emergency management coordinator John Lehman says the fire has burned about 38,000 acres in the sparsely populated county.
The fire started Tuesday night near the Kansas border in Woods County, Oklahoma. Wind gusts of up to 30 mph helped spread the blaze into Barber and Comanche counties in western Kansas, according to the National Weather Service.
No injuries have been reported. It wasn’t immediately known how much land had burned in Oklahoma and Kansas’ Barber County.
Lehman says about 65 fire trucks and hundreds of firefighters are helping to gradually contain the blaze.
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COMANCHE COUNTY – A massive grass fire that includes Comanche and Barber counties in Kansas and extends into Oklahoma has burned over 17,000 acres, according to a social media report from the Oklahoma Forestry Service. Dozens of fire crews continue to battle the blaze.
Why you may smell smoke this am. Satellite imagery shows rapid growth of a grass fire that began last night. #kswxpic.twitter.com/8YytC5t99o
The fire that started on Tuesday in Woods County Oklahoma and moved northeast into Kansas has shut down U.S. 160 from Sun City Road to Coldwater due to the smoke, according to the Coldwater Police Department.
Residents in the area were evacuated. No injuries are reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation..
CONWAY SPRINGS -Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are at the Farmer’s Coop in Conway Springs to investigate Tuesday’s grain elevator accident, according to Coop Manger Pat Lies.
The workers trapped in a grain silo at the Conway Springs Co-op have been extricated.
A joint effort between the Wichita Fire Department and Sumner County Fire rescue team worked to safely extricate the employee from approximately 80 feet down in a soybean grain bin, according to a report from Wichita Fire Department
The worker became trapped just after 1:30 on Tuesday and was transported to a hospital for treatment, according to Sumner County Emergency Management.
Name of the victim and his condition have not been released.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 22-year-old man has pleaded guilty in the shooting deaths of a man and woman at a Topeka apartment.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Nicholas Storm Phillips, of Topeka, admitted Tuesday to two counts of reckless second-degree murder. Prosecutors said he fired multiple shots through an apartment door in December, killing 20-year-old Daquhan S. Jackson and 29-year-old Mary E. Thomas, both of Topeka.
Phillips told a detective he was upset because the victims were stealing his clothes, which had been thrown into a grassy area after he fought with a girlfriend.
Phillips also pleaded guilty to one felony count of criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied dwelling. Two alternative counts of felony first-degree murder were dismissed.
RENO COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Reno County are investigating an alleged aggravated assault and kidnapping on a utility company employee.
Just after 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Reno County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 11912 E. 4th Avenue for a man with a Westar employee at gunpoint, according to a media release.
Deputy McVey arrived and a moment later advised he had one a suspect Brent Bunting, 61, Hutchinson, at gunpoint. He was detained and handcuffed.
Bunting stated that he arrived at the residence to exchange the electrical meter.
He went to the front door of the residence and knocked. No one answered the door, so Bunting put one of the fliers in the doorway and walked to the east side of the house to exchange the meter.
After exchanging the meter, Bunting said a white male who told him he did not have permission to be on the property, and to put the meter back confronted him.
Bunting tried to explain that he can’t do that, and began walking towards his Truck.
The suspect Marc Miller, 66, told him he needed to come sit down.
Bunting ignored Miller’s request.
Bunting said that Miller stepped into the residence through a sliding glass door and came right back out with a shotgun and then told Bunting again that he wasn’t leaving and needed to come sit down.
Bunting made his way back up to the front of the residence where an outside table is located and sat in a chair at that location.
Bunting told deputies that while he was seated at the table, Miller allowed him to call his supervisor.
When Deputies arrived on scene they confronted Miller with a rifle. After some verbal commands he gave up without incident.
Miller was arrested for Aggravated Assault and Kidnapping and was transported to the Reno County Correctional Facility without incident.
LABETTE COUNTY- Two people died in an accident just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday in Labette County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Escape driven by Hugh Scott Story, 40, Vinita, OK, was southbound on U.S. 59 five miles south of Oswego.
The vehicle traveled left of center and struck a northbound 2001 Buick Century driven by Joan Elizabeth Carrell, 70, Oswego.
Story and Carrell were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.
Story was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison in connection to a fatal crash at a northeast Kansas intersection.
The Kansas City Star reports 33-year-old Souksavanh Chamnongchith was sentenced Monday to 12 years and 10 months in prison. He had pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the November 2014 death of 31-year-old Idir Lounes.
Prosecutors said that Chamnongchith was driving under the influence when his vehicle collided with a vehicle being driven by Lounes, who was traveling north on U.S. 56 in Olathe.
Lounes was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Chamnongchith was not injured in the crash.
BOSTON (AP) — An 80-year-old man who ran a sprawling marijuana-dealing operation has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Marshall Dion pleaded guilty last year to drug and money-laundering charges.
Prosecutors say Dion ran a large marijuana enterprise for decades.
When police in Junction City, Kansas, stopped him for speeding in 2013, they found about $828,000 in cash in his pickup truck. A federal investigation led authorities to Massachusetts and Arizona, where they found about $15 million in cash, nearly 400 pounds of marijuana and ledgers detailing drug deals going back to 1992.
A federal judge earlier this month rejected a plea agreement that called for a five- to seven-year prison sentence for Dion.
The judge sentenced him to 10 years on Tuesday during a hearing in U.S. District Court.
HUTCHINSON – Pop, arena rock and Christian music have been added to the grandstand lineup at the Kansas State Fair.
Andy Grammer with special guest Rachel Platten, Hairball and Crowder will all take the stage, according to a media release.
Tickets go on sale May 6 at 8 a.m. and can be purchased at the Kansas State Fair Ticket Office by calling 1-800-362-3247 or at www.kansasstatefair.tix.com.
Unless otherwise noted, Grandstand tickets include gate admission when purchased through Aug. 20, 2016.
Fair Fan Club
Want to buy your tickets before everyone else? Those who join the Fair Fan Club have the opportunity to purchase up to two tickets to each concert prior to the public on-sale date. In addition, Fan Club members receive advance notification of upcoming concert announcements. Memberships are on sale now. Dues are $100 per fair and can be purchased online; by phone at 1-800-362-3247 or 620-669-3600; or at the Administration Building on the Fairgrounds. Fair Fan Club members can purchase concert tickets first, starting at 8 a.m. on April 22. For more information on joining the club, visit bit.ly/FAIRFANCLUB.
Andy Grammer with Special Guest Rachel Platten – Friday, Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m. – Tickets $75/$50/$35*
Los Angeles-born, New York-raised recording artist Andy Grammer has gone from hustling street performer on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade to multi-platinum selling recording artist. Grammer’s background singing on the streets helped him hone his performance style and clued him in on audience expectations.
Grammer became the first male pop star in a decade to reach the Top 10 at Adult Pop Radio on his first two singles, “Keep Your Head Up” and “Fine By Me” from his 2011 self-titled debut album. Both singles are certified Platinum and Gold respectively and have sold more than 1.5 million downloads combined. His album Magazines or Novels, continues his disarming success with his triple-platinum No. 1 single “Honey, I’m Good.” and “Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah).”
In just a few short years, Grammer’s accomplishments have made waves. He’s gone on to sell over 100,000 albums, play sold out venues nationwide, perform onstage with Taylor Swift, Train, and Colbie Caillat, appear on an array of national TV shows and receive two BMI Pop Music Awards among many other endeavors.
The success of his debut album brought him to places he had dreamed of, but never expected to visit.
For more information on Andy Grammer, please visit www.andygrammer.com.
Rachel Platten
Growing up in Boston, Rachel Platten recalls harmonizing with her family to finely crafted pop songs from Sam Cooke to The Beatles. As a teenager, Rachel gravitated towards, and began to become affected by, hip-hop and female singer-songwriters. Her CD collection was comprised of Tori Amos, Patti Griffin, A Tribe Called Quest and Nas. The commonality between the two seemingly different genres: confessional and vulnerable songwriting.
After finishing college, Rachel immediately set out for New York City where she took up residence in the very apartment building on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village where Bob Dylan once lived. She found a band on Craigslist and started performing in clubs around the city paying her dues for the next few years in the industry.
Platten found her first big spark with “Fight Song,” which took two years to complete. She turned inward by telling her own story through the song. The song delivered exactly the message people needed. “Fight Song” was a life-changing and inspirational song of 2015, topping iTunes and radio charts and selling more than two million downloads in the U.S. alone. “Fight Song” ignited a fire, which led to her major label debut, Wildfire, released January 1, 2016.
The break out artist is touring the world, performing on countless television shows and being played on radio stations coast to coast. Platten recently premiered the beautifully uplifting music video for her current single “Stand By You,” another emotionally empowering anthem from the songstress. Rachel Platten is one to watch.
To learn more about Rachel Platten, please go to www.rachelplatten.com.
Eat, sleep, breath rock ‘n’ roll: the essence of Hairball. They transform the stage into an entirely new rock spectacle performing hits from Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey, Prince, Aerosmith and more. Vocalists Joe, Steve and Bobby lead the band through a mind-blowing and accurate homage to some of the biggest arena acts in the world.
Hairball pride themselves on nailing some of the most memorable licks and chops of all time, while adding their own style and flare that they’ve cultivated over decades of performing. They celebrated their 15th year of rock ‘n’ roll in 2015 and are constantly adding more characters, pyrotechnics, lights, sound, props and surprises to their performances.
The group performs every show as though it could be their last. They deliver a 100% full-on, no-holds-barred, exciting, chaotic, fiery party that has to be experienced to be believed.
Hairball is much more than a typical “80’s Tribute” band. They are an experience, an attitude and expression of music that is so much more than a retro flashback. This year will be Hairball’s second performance at the Kansas State Fair. Missed their show last year? Don’t make the same mistake twice. You won’t want to miss this one.
For more information about Hairball, please go to www.hairballonline.com.
David Crowder never meant to write and sing songs for a living. He assumed he would move back home to Texarkana, Texas, after attending college at Baylor University to follow in his father’s footsteps selling insurance and taking over the family business. It was only when his friend, a pastor, told Crowder a story, which began his journey back to the church. In 1995, Crowder and his friend started a church in Waco, Texas, where Crowder was to collect sounds and words that would give expression to their communal experience and eventually write compositions.
In November 2012, Crowder released his first solo project, Crowder: iTunes® Session, which delivered nine stripped down organic tracks to many of his most loved originals. He has been embraced for his lyrically powerful and musically elaborate and unpredictable songs that have found themselves being sung everywhere from churches to clubs all across the country. Crowder’s most recent album, Neon Steeple, was released in May 2014 and includes hits “I Am,” “Come as You Are” and “Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains).”
For more information on Crowder, please visit www.crowdermusic.com.
* Concert tickets, unless otherwise denoted, include general gate admission when purchased through Aug. 20.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas House members have rejected a proposal that would repeal Common Core standards for math and reading education.
They voted 44-78 against the measure Tuesday, following a debate of more than three hours. Under the proposal, school districts would have been forbidden to use any national curriculum in tests, programs and materials.
The action occurred even though members rejected efforts to return the bill to the House Education Committee or to strip it of committee amendments.
Supporters of the bill said Common Core strips local districts of control. Opponents of the measure said Common Core encourages rigorous standards.
Common Core is optional for states, and the Kansas State Board of Education adopted it in 2010. The standards call for a classroom focus on analytical skills instead of rote memorization.
FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) — Officials say Fort Riley’s long-delayed new hospital is one step closer to opening and could do so by the end of July.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials told U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp’s office that since Wednesday, the Army has been able to begin using the facility while the remaining construction is completed.
The Corps says the following 120 days are allotted for initial outfitting and transition, including finishing touches, such as installing fixtures and equipment.
If all goes according to schedule, the building will likely open for patients in mid- to late July.
The Corps didn’t immediately respond to the Manhattan (Kan.) Mercury’s (https://bit.ly/1XJTAky ) request for comment.
The new Irwin Army Community Hospital was most recently set to open in January, but officials held back the date after pre-final inspections revealed a list of deficiencies.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators are moving to make permanent an annual budget policy that prevents the state from providing federal family planning dollars to Planned Parenthood.
The Senate approved a bill Tuesday on a 31-9 vote, sending the measure to the House.
The legislation deals with federal family planning dollars for non-abortion services.
Lawmakers have included a provision in the state’s annual budgets since 2011 saying that money must go first to public health departments and then to hospitals.
The goal was prevent any of the funds from going to Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, which also provides abortions. Putting the policy into state law means lawmakers won’t have to keep renewing it.
A federal appeals court upheld the policy in 2014. Planned Parenthood lost about $370,000 a year.
