The Kansas Highway Patrol said 34-year old Donte Keeshan Newsome, Topeka, was taken to Stormont Vail Hospital for a suspected minor injury following a one-vehicle accident in Wabaunsee County four miles east of K-177 Highway.
Newsome was westbound on Interstate 70 when his Chevrolet Silverado 1500 blew a tire. The truck traveled through the center median with the vehicle landing in the south ditch. The accident was reported about 10:10 p.m. on Monday.
Newsome was wearing a seat belt, the KHP reported.
This census/congressional reapportionment issue breaks a lot of ways for Kansas, and the U.S. Supreme Court decision last week that tossed, at least for now, a question about legal residency in the U.S. splashes into Kansas in several ways.
The high court decision was basically that there is no persuasive constitutional reason for the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census to require folks in the U.S. to reveal whether they are lawfully in the United States. Practically, most are, but millions aren’t.
The likely result? If the decision holds, millions of immigrants who aren’t formally U.S. citizens will fill out the census form, and we’ll know how many people we have in the nation and in each state and where they are and just what federal and state government needs to do to keep them safe, healthy, educated…basically living a decent life in the United States. If residents who aren’t formally citizens don’t fill out the form, fearing deportation, well, that has other effects that might or might not favor Kansas.
The census total will determine just how the nation’s 435 seats in Congress are apportioned, which states gain seats, which states lose seats. It could mean, once the long division is completed, that Kansas could lose one of its four U.S. representatives. It could mean that some states (think California and probably Texas) will see more House seats, reducing Kansas’ bargaining position on issues in Congress that are important to Kansans. Like, agriculture funding, and probably even whether Amtrak riders in Kansas wind up on buses, not railroad cars.
Gov, Laura Kelly, like many Democrats, wants every person who is actually in the U.S. to be counted on that upcoming census, because the numbers will likely mean more federal assistance for the state. Who doesn’t want more of our federal income tax to be returned to Kansas under a wide range of programs? Some politicians believe Kansas could lose a House seat if not all residents are counted.
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Republicans tend to lean toward making the census a count of legal citizens. That, they say, means that the federal government at least takes care of citizens, who are likely voters, and those non-citizens who don’t participate in the census don’t wind up with political power, and if they can register to vote under state laws, vote for candidates who will take care of them—like most of us do. Some politicians believe that Kansas could lose a House seat if non-citizens in California and certain other states are counted.
So, is it making sure that the federal government knows how to spread its (that’s our tax-dollar-funded) resources to states and their residents, or is it letting the federal government know where the citizens–not just residents–are, and using that information for assembling and funding federal programs?
Seeing the political problem here? Do you want something on the upcoming census that may hold down the participation of longtime residents who aren’t citizens, or do you want to scare some residents who aren’t citizens off participation, which may insulate conservative, likely Republican, members of Congress?
Of course, the issue probably comes down to just where that census information, and the names and addresses of residents who aren’t citizens, wind up. It’s not supposed to be widely dispersed within the federal government—say, to immigration law enforcers—but with the current president and his insistence on America for Americans, or whatever the current catchphrase is, who knows?
Would you risk filling out the form if it puts you and your family in jeopardy of deportation? Or would you trust the federal government to use the census information just for population-sensitive issues, like apportionment of Congress (and downstream, reapportionment of state legislatures)?
What’s the outcome? We can see Republicans wanting the citizenship issue, Democrats not wanting it. And both can make arguments. Probably depends on what arguments you care to hear…
Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com
BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A biodiesel plant is ceasing production in the southeast Nebraska city of Beatrice.
Flint Hills Resources announced Monday that the Duonix Beatrice plant is being idled indefinitely.
The Beatrice Daily Sun reports that plant processes corn oil and greases into biodiesel. The prices of soybeans used by most other biodiesel producers are so low the Duonix plant was put at competitive disadvantage. Flint Hills does not expect those conditions to change.
Duonix Beatrice began operation in 2016 and is a joint venture of Flint Hills Resources and Benefuel Inc. The plant was built in 2008 but wasn’t finished and never operated until purchased and refitted for biodiesel production.
Officials say severance packages will be offered to the fewer than 40 plant employees.
TOPEKA– The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Office of the State Fire Marshal and Safe Kids Kansas would like to remind Kansans of the importance of fireworks safety this Independence Day. Fireworks are dangerous to both adults and children if not handled properly.
Out of 207 reported fireworks-related injuries in Kansas in 2018, males between the ages of 9 and 34 were the most commonly injured demographic, according to the 2018 Kansas Fireworks Injury Survey. Males represented 64 percent of the total number of injuries. Nearly half of the injuries involved children under the age of 18. Hands, eyes, face and head injuries were among those reported.
“Hand injuries are the most common injury seen in Kansas, at 34 percent,” Cherie Sage, Director of Safe Kids Kansas, said. “It’s really important for little hands to not light fireworks. This includes sparklers, which burn at a temperature hot enough to melt glass. We encourage parents to let their little ones use glow sticks instead of sparklers.”
The data was collected through voluntary reporting from Kansas hospitals and administered by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
“We want all Kansans to have a fun, safe Fourth of July,” Doug Jorgensen, Fire Marshal for the State of Kansas, said. “We know the safest way to enjoy fireworks is to visit public fireworks displays conducted by trained professionals who know how to properly handle fireworks. If you are going to purchase and partake in consumer fireworks, a few simple precautions can prevent you or your loved ones from becoming one of these statistics.”
Jorgensen added that always using a long-handled lighter to ignite fireworks, lighting from a solid, flat and stable platform and making sure fireworks debris has cooled off completely before disposing, are tips that can significantly lower the risk of injuries and fires.
“It’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy holiday,” Lee Norman, Secretary of KDHE, said. “Having a water supply handy, being prepared with first aid kits and following the laws and safety protocols are just a few ways Kansans of every age can come together for a great, safe Fourth of July.”
Other tips include:
Have an adult supervise all fireworks activities
Always ignite fireworks outdoors
Light only one firework at a time
Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks
Store fireworks in a cool, dry place
Bottle rockets and M80s are illegal in Kansas and extremely dangerous. The use or sale of these banned fireworks is considered a crime under Kansas law. It is also illegal in Kansas to shoot fireworks on or under any vehicle, on any public roadway, within 50 feet of a fireworks stand or where fireworks are stored, and at gas stations or any place liquid gas – including propane – is stored.
Always refer to the local ordinances as to whether fireworks are allowed in your area as well as what types. Some cities or counties have restricted dates/times or types of fireworks that may be sold or discharged.
For more information on fireworks safety, visit FireMarshal.ks.gov/fireworkssafety or SafeKidsKansas.org.
DODGE CITY (AP) — Competing rallies are planned this weekend in southwest Kansas that will pit conservative Christians against LGBT and abortion rights supporters.
The Wichita Eagle reports that a group called Kansas Revival will hold a church rally Saturday aimed at opposing abortion and “protecting faith, family and freedom,” followed by an afternoon march through the city streets. The church event will feature Republican U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, of Great Bend, State Treasurer Jake LaTurner and Kansans for Life President Mary Wilkinson.
About the same time, members of a group called the Kansas Unity Coalition will gather at a city park for a counter-demonstration in support of “equality, justice and equal rights.” Its speakers will include Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Democrat from Shawnee who is one of the state’s two openly gay legislators.
SCOTT COUNTY — A Garden City man was injured Tuesday afternoon after his semi overturned on U.S. 83.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the semi driven by Antonio Rodriguez-Ramirez, 57, was northbound on U.S. 83 when it left the roadway to the right, re-entered the roadway and then went off the other side of the highway. The driver overcorrected and the semi rolled onto its driver’s side.
Rodriguez-Ramirez was transported to Wesley Medical Center with a suspected serious injury, the KHP said. He was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
Jeter / Harper Co. Sheriff’s OfficeANTHONY – An Anthony man was sentenced today to more than 29 years in prison for child sex crimes, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said.
Kevin Ray Jeter, 44, was sentenced to 353 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. Originally charged with multiple counts, in May 2018 Jeter pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. Chief Judge William R. Mott accepted the plea and pronounced sentencing in Harper County District Court.
The crimes occurred between December 2014 and October 2016. The case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Anthony Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Attorney General Melissa Johnson of Schmidt’s office.
White-breasted Guineafowl. (Photo credit: Benedictus Freeman)
KU NEWS SERVICE
LAWRENCE — Growing up in Liberia during that country’s brutal 14-year civil war, Benedictus Freeman and his family fled into the rainforest, where they survived for years eating bush meat and foraging. The rainforest provided Freeman sustenance and protection — but more than that, the experience ignited a passion in him for understanding and preserving nature.
University of Kansas doctoral student Benedictus Freeman. (Photo credit: Benedictus Freeman)
“At that time, I really didn’t know how important the forest would become for me — I saw the forest as a source of resources like food and shelter,” said Freeman, who today is a doctoral student in ecology & evolutionary biology at the University of Kansas and KU Biodiversity Institute. “But I developed an interest in nature there, and eventually I started studying forestry for my undergraduate degree. That actually influenced my decision to get more interested in nature and conservation.”
The rainforests that once protected Freeman and his family host one of West Africa’s flagship bird species — the White‐breasted Guineafowl (Agelastes meleagrides). Now, Freeman is lead author of a new paper in the peer-reviewed journal Avian Research that projects the geographic distribution of the bird through 2050 as it shifts habitat due to climate change.
“This bird is endemic to West Africa, but it’s not fully understood — it’s poorly studied,” Freeman said. “Because of this poor history, there’s very little understanding about its range. Our study recharacterizes its distribution and helps us to understand to what extent it’s distributed across the region. The bird is threatened, and it’s of conservation concern. So that’s why it was selected for study.”
According to Freeman, the vulnerable White-breasted Guineafowl, which has appeared on Liberian postage stamps, serves as an iconic “flagship species,” conservation of which could preserve habitat of many lesser-known animals at the same time.
The KU researcher said West Africa suffers from extensive deforestation due to increasing populations, urbanization, agriculture expansion (both substance farming and industrial-scale farming of palm oil), logging and mining. Because of its exclusive dependence on the forest for habitat, the White-breasted Guineafowl is particularly susceptible to habitat loss.
“It occurs within rainforest habitats in West Africa where it feeds like regular birds, like chickens feed, and depends on insects and seeds and things,” Freeman said. “The important thing about this bird is that it’s a specialist — it’s more restricted to rainforest habitats. There is a sister species (Black Guineafowl, Agelastes niger) of the same bird that occurs on the other side of the Guinean forest, but this one is range-restricted, and it’s only found in this region. It’s not going to be found anywhere else in the world.”
Climatic range gains and losses for White‐breasted Guineafowl projected based on climate model projections for 2050. The top map shows potential range gains while the bottom map shows potential range losses. (Credit: Benedictus Freeman, et al.)
Freeman hopes his research predicting the distribution of the bird in coming decades can help inform policymakers about which areas of rainforest should be prioritized for conservation.
For the new paper, Freeman and his colleagues — Daniel Jiménez‐García of Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla in Mexico, Benjamin Barca of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Sierra Leone and Matthew Grainger of Newcastle University in the United Kingdom — used occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and datasets about occurrences of the White-breasted Guineafowl in Sapo National Park in Liberia and Gola Rainforest National Park in Sierra Leone, including data collected by Freeman.
The authors used environmental datasets from NASA and other open sources to perform ecological niche modeling, which the researchers said “integrates known occurrences of species and environmental variables (e.g., temperature, precipitation) to characterize potential future geographic distributions of species in response to global climate change.”
The team created maps showing current and likely future habitats where the White‐breasted Guineafowl could migrate in response to a shifting climate. Unexpectedly, there was good news for the iconic bird in the findings: “The projected impacts of climate change on the geographic distribution of White-breasted Guineafowl were minimal, suggesting stability across the species’ range for the present and in the future, at least as regards climate change effects,” researchers said. “Low sensitivity to climate change in this species does match the general observation for West African birds.”
However, the team found coastal areas where the White‐breasted Guineafowl is found today would be degraded by sea-level rise and resulting coastal erosion, destroying some of the species’ range.
As for Freeman, this summer he’s back in Liberia conducting more fieldwork on birds in some of the same areas his team found to be suitable for the White-breasted Guineafowl.
“We were pleased to document populations at the sites where we worked, and then we were able to collect data on other bird species,” he said. “We have some interesting records that might be species not yet known to science, but we need to do some detailed studies.”
Freeman aims to finish his doctorate at KU next year, he said. After that, he’ll look for opportunities for postdoctoral work.
“I don’t know exactly where that’s going to be,” he said. “But I’m hoping that wherever I get a good job, I can have an opportunity to work in West Africa to do more research. There’s a huge capacity gap in that area. There’s a need to have homegrown scientists involved with this kind of research specifically. So, my passion is to work there.”
TOPEKA – The Kansas Republican Party announced Monday that it has hired Shannon Golden as its Executive Director. Golden comes to the Kansas Republican Party from Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle’s office. Golden was Senator Wagle’s Communications Director.
According to Michael Kuckelman, Kansas Republican Party Chair, the search for the Executive Director has been a four-month search and he looked at several candidates prior to deciding on Golden. “One of my priorities is to improve our messaging and I am convinced Shannon can deliver our message for us. In regard to her experience, “I have been impressed with Shannon in my interactions with the Senate. Shannon stood out in her ability and her professionalism.”
“I look forward to Shannon helping me lead the party. As Executive Director, Shannon will be responsible for the day to day operations of the KS GOP as well as working closely with me to develop strategy and policy leading into the 2020 elections.” – KS GOP Chairman Mike Kuckelman
“I’m looking forward to meeting with and working with Shannon. 2020 is going to be an important campaign cycle for Kansas Republicans. We’ll need to ensure we have a candidate and operation that can hold our all-important Senate seat. Team Marshall is wishing her well and standing by to help in any way we can.” – Congressman Roger Marshall
“National politics takes up all the oxygen, but state and local politics is where the differences are made. I’m glad to see that is where the party is focusing its efforts.” – Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt
“The Kansas Republican Party has made a wise choice with the hiring of Shannon as Executive Director. I’ve worked with Shannon for the last 2 sessions and I can attest to her political knowledge, work ethic, and ability to build coalitions. Congratulations to the KSGOP.” – Senator Jim Denning
“It is projected that there will be a record turnout of Kansas Republicans in the 2020 elections. The Kansas Republican Party has the ability to expand our supermajorities in both chambers of the Kansas Legislature in addition to taking back the 3rd Congressional District in the 2020 election” said Kansas Republican Party Executive Director Shannon Golden. “I look forward to working with the Kansas Republican Party team and Republicans across our state to make that a reality.”
MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s agricultural advocacy, marketing and outreach team is seeking talented Kansans to serve on the Marketing Advisory Board.
The mission of the KDA marketing division is to serve all Kansans through innovative programming and deliver solutions designed to create an environment that facilitates growth and expansion in agriculture while increasing pride in and awareness of the state’s largest industry — agriculture.
The Marketing Advisory Board will advise the program team on a variety of topics through the following sub-programs: agricultural business development, international agricultural development/trade, From the Land of Kansas, local foods and affiliated programs, agricultural workforce development and agricultural education.
Current board members include Bob Atkisson, retired farmer/rancher in Stockton.
If you are interested in applying to serve as a Marketing Advisory Board member, please submit a resume, statement of interest/cover letter and tax clearance confirmation PDF via email to Kerry Wefald, director of marketing, at [email protected]. For more details about the board and about the application process, go to agriculture.ks.gov/marketing-advisory-board. All questions can be directed to Kerry Wefald via email or by phone at 785-564-6758.
Applications are due by August 1, 2019, with the first organized board meeting of the fiscal year scheduled for Thursday, September 12, in Hutchinson at the Kansas State Fair.
TOPEKA – Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner set a new Kansas record for the amount of money returned to taxpayers from the Unclaimed Property division of the State Treasury. At the close of business June 30th, the end of FY2019, the State Treasurer’s Office returned $27.1 million in unclaimed property to Kansans, up from last year’s $26.5-million record also set by LaTurner.
“After setting a record high amount of returns last year, we wanted to make sure we set our sights on an even higher goal this year,” said LaTurner. “I am so delighted we were able to not only reach our goal, but exceed it. Thousands of Kansans have money back in their wallets because of the hard work of our staff and the help of the many media outlets that allowed us to help Kansans far and wide get connected with their unclaimed property.”
Throughout the year, LaTurner and his team set up events statewide to help residents across Kansas search for their unclaimed property. In addition to those outreach efforts, the Treasurer’s Office held two live television events in FY2019 hosted by WIBW of Topeka and KWCH of Wichita to raise awareness of the millions in unclaimed property waiting to be claimed. LaTurner has also made it a focus since becoming Treasurer in 2017 to improve the claims process with new technology, including adding direct deposit as an option for Kansans to receive their money faster.
“Giving Kansans back their unclaimed cash is such a rewarding part of what we do at the Treasurer’s Office. It is a major endeavor to give back $27.1 million, and we still have over $350 million waiting to be claimed. We encourage all Kansans to check back regularly for themselves, their family members, and friends,” said LaTurner.
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced the appointment of Audé Amelia Negrete of Overland Park as executive director of the Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission.
The Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission serves as a liaison for the Kansas Hispanic and Latino community and the Office of the Governor, with the goal of serving needs of Hispanic and Latino residents in areas of culture, education, employment, health, housing, welfare, and recreation.
“Audé’s own life experience and desire to address challenges faced by Hispanic and Latino residents of our state made her an ideal choice to lead this commission,” Governor Kelly said. “She’ll be a valuable contributor, just as she’s been over the years in her successful efforts surrounding social justice and civic engagement.”
Born in Mexico City, Negrete was 14 when her family left Mexico for to the United States and Kansas. During her career, she’s been involved in numerous initiatives designed to provide educational, social and economic services for Hispanic and Latino families in Kansas.
The seven-member Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission includes four members representing each of the state’s congressional districts, and three at-large members.
Negrete will fill the executive director position previously held by Richard Martinez.
SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend stabbing and have a suspect in custody.
Lewis photo Shawnee County
Just after 2:00 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a call for service due to a stabbing at 17th and Topeka Boulevard in Topeka, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith. While on scene, officers located a victim, and determined the incident to be an Aggravated Battery.
EMS transported the man to a local hospital with injuries found to be non-life threatening. Detectives conducted follow up investigations and identified Lavaughn Lewis, , 44, as a suspect.
Just before 1:30 a.m. Sunday, officers located Lewis in the 1300 Block SW Western in Topeka where he was taken into custody without incident. He is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for on requested charges of Aggravated Battery.
He has previous convictions for burglary and indecent liberties with a child and is a registered sex offender, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
