WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita officials say the city suffered more than $100,000 in damage from two earthquakes in early January.
The Wichita Eagle reports the city will pay for the repairs out of its operating budget because the city’s earthquake insurance deductible is $250,000.
An earthquake incident report says about $60,000 of the cost came from repairing 10 water main breaks after the earthquakes. Other damages were to foundations or masonry of city buildings, including two recreation centers, police substations, the Mid-America All-Indian Center and the Alford Library.
The city also plans to improve its earthquake response plan in case earthquakes become more frequent.
Scientists suspect recent earthquakes in Kansas are being caused by injections of wastewater by oil fracking companies.
SALINA – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a bomb threat.
911 dispatchers received a call just after 7:45 a.m. on Friday from someone indicating a bomb was on one of the Salina CityGo buses and set to detonate at 8 a.m., according to a media release from Salina Police.
CityGo was immediately notified of the threat and six buses were evacuated.
Bus drivers and police officers searched the buses and nothing was found. Police suspect the threat was a prank.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Health officials say Kansas has not had any confirmed cases of the Zika virus.
However, two travel-related cases of Zika virus have been reported in Nebraska.
The Zika virus, which is generally so mild that it only causes symptoms in about one out of five cases, raised concerns recently when doctors in Brazil started to notice a possible link between the virus — spread by a particular mosquito — and the birth defect microcephaly.
Symptoms of the virus include rash and fever.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Friday in a release that it recommends that pregnant women consider postponing travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing.
So far, the only recent case transmitted in the U.S. is believed to have occurred in Texas through sex.
Maren Turner, director of AARP Kansas, speaks to a House committee in support of the Caregiver Act, which was introduced last year to the Kansas Legislature. The act would require hospitals to notify designated caregivers of patient discharge instructions, but hospital officials say they already face discharge regulations. CREDIT ANDY MARSO
AARP Kansas still believes the state needs a law requiring hospitals to notify designated caregivers of patient discharge instructions and, if necessary, demonstrate those instructions.
Kansas hospitals still disagree.
AARP introduced the Caregiver Act last year following a pre-session advertising blitz , but the bill ran into skepticism from lawmakers who questioned whether legislation was the best way to reach the goal of smoother transitions to home care.
Maren Turner, director of AARP Kansas, reiterated the need for the legislation Wednesday — this time to the House Health and Human Services Committee.
She said her organization has collected thousands of petitions from the state’s 345,000 caregivers, who agree they could use a hand.
“They’re saying they don’t have enough support,” Turner said.
Turner said her group met with officials from the Kansas Hospital Association and hammered out a compromise amendment that makes some concessions to the bill, like establishing a minimum age for patients’ designated caregivers.
But Deb Stern, the hospital association’s senior vice president for clinical services and general counsel, said some of the hospitals still aren’t on board.
Hospitals already face discharge regulations from private accreditors and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, she said. The hospital association would prefer an educational campaign rather than AARP’s proposed state mandate.
“Education can work; it has worked,” Stern said. “We have success stories.”
She cited a Kansas Department of Health and Environment campaign to ensure that hospitals screen newborns for heart conditions, which she said now has “100 percent compliance.”
Stern said breakdowns in communication between hospital staff and caregivers often occur because patients and caregivers are stressed at discharge time and just want to get home. A state law would do little to fix that, she said.
But Rep. Les Osterman, a Republican from Wichita, said in his experience, hurried and stressed hospital staff were just as responsible.
“There’s your breakdown,” Osterman said. “The nurses aren’t taking the time because they’re too busy and they need to get on to the next patient.”
The Caregiver Act, House Bill 2058, contains no penalties for hospitals that fail to comply with its mandates.
Turner said executive branch agencies might add penalties through the rules and regulations process if the bill passes.
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
SEWARD COUNTY – Investigators say the cause of the January 13, explosion and fire at Groendyke Transportation southwest of Liberal has been classified as undetermined, according to state Fire Marshal information manager Kevin Doel. The case remains open he reported in an email.
“We’ve heard nothing new on the investigation,” said Seward County Fire Chief Andrew Barkley.
A tanker truck and three employees were inside a large wash bay at the time of the explosion. The tank trailer was not loaded and was being externally washed. Its last contents were condensate, a natural gas processing byproduct, according to a Groendyke corporate media release.
One of the three employees flown to St. Francis Hospital in Wichita with critical burns was expected to be released from the hospital on Friday.
Two others are being transitioned to rehab in Wichita, according to Matthew Palmer with Groendyke.
The company’s terminal parking lot remains open but office operations continue at a church on nearby Kansas Avenue, according to Palmer.
DETROIT (AP) — Bridgestone-Firestone North America is recalling more than 36,000 heavy truck tires in the U.S. and Canada because the tread can separate from the body and cause the tires to fail.
The recall covers 22.5-inch Firestone FS561 replacement tires made from Jan. 25, 2015 to Jan. 27, 2016. The company says in documents filed with the government that the recall covers tires used on trailers. Tread separation can cause sudden loss of air pressure and increase the risk of a crash.
Bridgestone-Firestone says its investigating what causes the problem. It was discovered in October of 2015 when the company noticed an unusual number of warranty returns. The company says it has no reports of injuries.
Bridgestone-Firestone will replace the tires at no cost to owners.
TOPEKA — A bill that would protect underage students who seek medical help after drinking is moving closer to becoming a reality.
The Senate’s Lifeline 911 bill, also known as the Medical Amnesty Act, has been approved by the House judiciary committee and now goes to the full House for debate.
“The law would be a great addition for the safety of all students in the state, whether it’s a university or a two-year institution,” said Jessie Pringle, University of Kansas Student Body President.
Pringle was among a group of students who showed their support Wednesday for the bill, which was introduced in the Senate in 2015. Students came to the Capitol as part of the state’s annual Higher Education Day.
Sen. Tom Hawk, D-Manhattan, a proponent of the bill, said it removes a barrier for students who need medical assistance or who want to get help for a friend.
“If students are afraid to call for help, they won’t make the smart choice,” he said.
“There’s a good chance this bill will pass if the students stay active.”
Many universities in Kansas have an amnesty policy in place, which says that the university will wave sanctions for those seeking medical help for underage drinking.
Campus leaders say they are excited there soon may be a state law offering that same protection.
“While we have university policies in place, I believe Lifeline 911 would further increase the likelihood of someone seeking help when truly need it,” said Clay Thomas, president of KU’s Interfraternity Council.
The University of Kansas has an amnesty policy, and it has benefitted students, campus leaders said.
“Having a similar policy here at KU has been incredible for the welfare of our students and contributes to a positive academic and social experience,” Pringle said.
As the bill moves forward in legislation, supporters, including Hawk, say they hope it will have enough momentum to become law.
“It’s all about the constituents pushing for the piece of legislation,” Hawk said. “That and timing . . . you’ve got to get the timing correct.”
If approved by the House, the bill would return to the Senate for approval.
KINGMAN COUNTY- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 7 a.m. on Friday in Kingman County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Semi driven by Michael L. McCullough, 59, Kiowa, was southbound on Southwest 170th Avenue six miles south of Nashville.
The truck left the roadway, entered the east ditch and rolled.
McCullough was transported to St. Francis Medical Center.
He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
DICKINSON COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Dickinson County are investigating a teenager in connection with an armed robbery.
Just before midnight on Thursday, police officers were sent to Casey’s General Store, 201 S. Buckeye in Abilene on a report of an armed robbery, according to a media release from the Abilene Police Department
Officers arriving at the scene learned that an unknown male suspect had entered the store with a handgun and demanded cigarettes and cash.
A short time later, a deputy with the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office located the suspect, a 15-year-old boy walking in the area of Northwest 2nd and Cedar Streets in Abilene.
A foot pursuit ensued, during which the suspect suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg.
He was taken into custody without further incident and transported to Salina Regional Health Center, where he was treated and released back to the custody of Abilene authorities.
The suspect, who has not been named, could face charges that include aggravated robbery and aggravated assault.
DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — The commissioner of a junior hockey league that has 29 teams in the western United States and Canada says he wants to start a team in Dodge City.
Ron White says he’s been considering starting a Western States Hockey League team in Dodge City for two years. He says the league has reliable owner from Colorado Springs, Colorado, who is close to starting the team.
The Dodge City Daily Globe reports the prospective owner, Mark Lukehart, wants to name the team the Dodge City Marshals. He has already made a few potential uniform choices.
The Western States Hockey League is for players ages 16 to 20. The players live with host families and are required to perform community service during the season.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate will consider a bill that would require Medicaid patients to try lower-cost drugs before moving to more expensive treatments.
The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee passed the step therapy legislation Thursday, after adding a provision that current patients won’t be kicked off their medications.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the bill would require the state’s managed care organizations to use the lowest-cost, most effective drugs before trying more expensive, less-proven medications.
Health care providers have opposed the bill. Senator Laura Kelly, a Democrat from Topeka, also objected, saying the state shouldn’t interfere with the doctor-patient relationship.
Jim Denning, a Republican from Overland Park, said Thursday step therapy is widely used and is already part of the state health plan for public employees.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Officials at a University of Kansas Hospital youth services center say up to 18 people have fallen ill in the last few days.
State health officials told the hospital to treat the illnesses at the Marillac campus as norovirus, although results of hospital tests have not been confirmed.
Marillac provides behavior health services to young people.
The university said in a news release Thursday that 10 patients and eight staff reported illnesses at the Overland Park campus.
The hospital said the staff began cleaning the center was soon as the symptoms surfaced and outside cleaning experts began working at Marillac Thursday.
Marillac will not accept more inpatients until the situation is resolved.
OSAGE COUNTY – A Jewel County man was involved in a small plane accident just before 4p.m. on Thursday in Osage County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a single engine fixed wing Piper piloted by Brenden David Wirth, 38, Mankato, was northbound attempting a landing at the Osage City Municipal Airport.
After touchdown with 3 tires, the plane was hit by a wind gust and blown east off the runway into a field.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita officials say the city suffered more than $100,000 in damage from two earthquakes in early January.
