OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — The latest on University of Kansas Provost Jeffrey Vitter being named chancellor at the University of Mississippi.
College Board trustees voted to name Jeffrey Vitter as the next chancellor of the University of Mississippi.
The vote came Thursday afternoon after Vitter met with campus groups Wednesday at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson and Thursday in Oxford.
Trustees said Vitter was the clear front-runner after initial interviews with eight candidates. They ended the process early to pursue Vitter, who was a finalist to lead the Fayetteville campus of the University of Arkansas.
Vitter has said he hopes to start by Feb. 1 and says he will spend time on campus before year’s end.
A computer scientist and brother of Republican Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, Vitter replaces former Chancellor Dan Jones. Trustees declined to renew Jones’ contract this spring, prompting widespread protest.
WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, along with U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) called on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald to commit to maintaining medical services veterans receive through the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) program as the VA prepares to deliver a consolidation plan for non-VA community care to Congress next week.
In a letter, the senators stated, “ARCH provides medical care for veterans living in rural areas or for those who are burdened with long wait times for services…According to Congressionally mandated reports to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs, more than 90 percent of veterans participating in ARCH are overwhelmingly satisfied with their access to care and the medical services they receive from the participating community providers.”
Since 2011, the ARCH pilot program has been operating in five rural sites across the country including Pratt, Kan. ARCH serves rural veterans by giving them access to health care from a community provider close to home instead of traveling several hours to seek care at a VA facility. The inclusion of a two-year extension of the ARCH program in the Choice Act helped to make certain rural veterans were able to continue accessing timely, high-quality care closer to home. Sen. Moran urges Secretary McDonald to capitalize on the demonstrated success of the ARCH program in the VA’s consolidated plan for non-VA, community care.
Sen. Moran has been an advocate for improved accessibility to health care for rural veterans through the ARCH program. In 2014, Sen. Moran sponsored the Choice Act, which implemented significant reforms at the VA and created the Choice Program – a pilot initiative based in part on the success of ARCH.
The full text of the senators’ letter is available here.
Sen. Moran encourages veterans in rural areas to enroll in VA health care and receive the care they have earned through the Choice Act. Click here to see if you qualify for the ARCH program.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A judge has ordered a Kansas City, Kansas, woman whose car struck and killed a teenage girl in January to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter.
The Wyandotte County judge on Thursday ordered Tamika Pledger to also stand trial on three counts of aggravated battery after three other teenagers were hurt in the collision.
Pledger testified during a preliminary hearing Thursday that her car was traveling at least 55 mph in a 20-mph zone when it hit the teenagers Jan. 13.
The teenagers were part of a brawl and Pledger was on her way to the scene after her daughter called about the fight.
The Kansas City Star reports Pledger’s attorney entered a not guilty plea for her. She remains free on bond. No trial date was set.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court plans to hear arguments Dec. 10 on the validity of a law that is at the heart of a dispute over funding for the judiciary.
The court set a schedule Thursday for reviewing the state’s appeal of a Shawnee County judge’s ruling striking down the 2014 law.
The law stripped the Supreme Court of its power to appoint the chief judges in the state’s 31 judicial districts and gave that authority to district judges.
The high court noted in its order Thursday that the current terms of the chief judges it previously appointed expire at the end of this year.
Legislators enacted another law this year saying that the court system’s entire budget is nullified if the 2014 statute isn’t upheld.
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court has rejected the American Civil Liberties Union’s effort to stop bulk collection of its phone records while a more limited collection system is put in place.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Thursday that Congress intended for data collection to continue during a six-month transition period before a new law takes effect. Earlier this year, the appeals court in Manhattan struck down the government’s mass collection of Americans’ phone records, finding Congress never authorized it.
Congress then approved a more limited collection method due to take effect Nov. 29.
The 2nd Circuit says an abrupt end to the current program would harm the public interest in surveilling terrorist threats.
An ACLU lawyer says the civil rights group disagrees with the ruling.
Gov. Sam Brownback spent a few smiles with friend, former staffer Paul Ryan before his swearing in ceremony Thursday morning.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest developments in the changing of the guard in the House leadership, with Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin succeeding Rep. John Boehner of Ohio as speaker (all times local):
After voting for Representative Daniel Webster (R-FL) for Speaker during the Republican Conference on Wednesday, Kansas Congressman Tim Huelskamp announced his vote for Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) on the House floor
“I commend Daniel Webster on his campaign for speaker based on his proven ideas about how the House of Representatives should be run, starting by decentralizing the power of the Speaker, select staff and special interest lobbyists and redistributing it to the rest of the Congress. The House should be open to the contributions of all members who were elected to represent the American people. While Daniel Webster did not have the votes to become speaker, his reform principles have been embraced by Paul Ryan.
“Among other things, Ryan has promised to keep the ‘Motion to Vacate’ and democratize the House with new decentralization rules by Thanksgiving, to abide by the new ‘Ryan Rule’ requiring a majority of the Republican majority to move major issues to the floor, to reject last-minute deals, and to stop the culture of retribution and intimidation against fellow Republicans. Now Paul Ryan has 14 months to prove he can be a Speaker for the future, not of the past.”
President Barack Obama reached out to Rep. Paul Ryan the day before the new House speaker assumed his duties and wished him well.
That’s according to White House spokesman Josh Earnest, who says Obama has spoken in the past about his respect for Ryan despite significant differences they have on policy. He says Obama is hopeful they’ll be able to work together.
Earnest says that with the GOP in control of Congress and with a Democrat in control of the White House, anything making it through the legislative process will have to be bipartisan.
The spokesman says Obama hopes Ryan will lead the House “in that spirit and with that fact in mind.”
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1:10 p.m.
House Republicans have chosen Rep. Sam Johnson of Texas to serve as interim chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, following Paul Ryan’s election as speaker.
Johnson will lead the powerful committee until the Republicans who control the House find a permanent successor.
At least three lawmakers are vying for the post: Reps. Kevin Brady of Texas, Pat Tiberi of Ohio and Devin Nunes of California.
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12:30 p.m.
Rep. Daniel Webster says he’s glad the House has elected a new speaker, but admits: “I had hoped it would be me.”
The Florida Republican had challenged Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan for speaker, but Webster got only 43 votes, compared with 200 for Ryan in the GOP’s nominating contest.
Webster was backed by the party’s hard-core conservatives. He says he’s gratified by the show of support and humbled that nine Republicans voted for him on the House floor.
Neither Webster nor Ryan voted Thursday.
Webster says his backers want to be more involved in the legislative process and “not just something like a pawn.”
He’s pledging to work with Ryan to change the way Congress operates.
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11:35 a.m.
Democratic Rep. John Conyers of Michigan — the senior member of the House who’s in his 26th term — issued the oath of office to new House Speaker Paul Ryan.
After Ryan was sworn in, the Wisconsin Republican shook Conyers’ hand and said, “What’s next?”
11:30 a.m.
New House Speaker Paul Ryan is asking fellow lawmakers to pray for each other.
The Wisconsin Republican says Republicans should pray for Democrats and Democrats should pray for Republicans.
“And I don’t mean pray for a conversion” to the other party, Ryan joked. “Pray for a deeper understanding.”
In his first speech since being elected on Thursday, Ryan says “the House is broken,” but that it can be fixed if lawmakers realize they are “all in the same boat.”
He’s urging his colleagues to work together as representatives of the American people, not as partisans.
Ryan says he has no illusion that unity in the House will suddenly break out. But, he says, “We have nothing to fear from honest differences honestly stated.”
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11:15 a.m.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has presented newly minted Speaker Paul Ryan with a gavel he’s used as House Ways and Means Committee chairman.
Ryan just was elected to take over for Rep. John Boehner as speaker. A tearful Boehner exited the chamber to tears and applause as Ryan stepped to the podium.
Pelosi says Boehner served honorably in Congress for 25 years.
She was addressing Boehner, the son of a bartender and bar owner, when she said: “John Boehner you are the personification of the American dream.”
When Ryan got to the podium, he hugged Boehner and said “Don’t cry.”
Boehner stepped down, saluted his colleagues and walked to the back of the chamber. He waved off the crowd with a handkerchief, wiped his eyes and gestured for them to stop clapping for him and to sit down.
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10:50 a.m.
It’s official: Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin will be the new speaker of the House.
Here are the voting results, as announced by outgoing Speaker John Boehner of Ohio: 236 votes for Ryan, 184 for Democrat Nancy Pelosi of California and nine votes for Republican Daniel Webster of Florida.
Democrats John Lewis of Georgia and Jim Cooper of Tennessee each received one vote, as did former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
News of the election was greeted with applause and a standing ovation.
The final step for Ryan: swearing-in as speaker.
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10:35 a.m.
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan has won enough votes to become 54th speaker of the House. The roll call vote is continuing.
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10:10 a.m.
As Rep. John Boehner gave his farewell speech as House speaker, the Ohio Republican turned around from the podium and heaved a sigh.
Democrats and Republicans, and everyone in the galleries, gave him a standing ovation. Saluting him was Rep. Paul Ryan, who’s about to be voted the new speaker.
Boehner wiped his face with a tissue, then hugged House staffers.
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state — a member of the GOP leadership — nominated Ryan for speaker. She says the House is eager for fresh start so the chamber can better fulfill its obligations, and she says there’s no one better than Ryan “to lead us in that calling.”
Democrats have nominated Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, with fellow California Democrat Xavier Becerra saying Pelosi — a former speaker herself — “understands how to get things done.”
Voting is underway.
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9:40 a.m.
Colleagues have given outgoing House Speaker John Boehner a standing ovation, and the Ohio lawmaker raised a box of tissues moments before delivering a farewell address.
Boehner is well known for sentimental tears, especially at major events.
Boehner says he’s leaving Congress “with no regrets and no burden.” He calls the House “the great embodiment of the American dream.”
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9:35 a.m.
Rep. Paul Ryan’s family is in the House gallery ahead of his swearing-in as speaker.
His wife, Janna, is smiling and waving at people in the gallery.
Their three children — 13-year-old Liza, 12-year-old Charlie and 10-year-old Sam — look less than thrilled.
But the Wisconsin lawmaker is holding court on the House floor, greeting well-wishers in a jovial mood.
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9:15 a.m.
Speaker John Boehner is opening the House session and summoning all 435 members to the chamber for a historic vote.
One by one, lawmakers are set to cast their vote aloud for a new speaker — and it’s expected to be Rep. Paul Ryan.
Boehner, R-Ohio, is resigning from Congress.
The opening prayer comes from Ryan’s longtime pastor — the Rev. Donn Heiar, a Catholic priest from Janesville, Wisconsin, which is the lawmaker’s home town.
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8:30 a.m.
On Rep. Paul Ryan’s big day, his 2012 running mate, Mitt Romney, plans to be among the guests watching the pomp and politics in the House.
Ryan’s office says Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who was the GOP presidential nominee, and his wife, Ann, are joining Ryan’s family in the speaker’s box as the House is expected to make the Wisconsin congressman the 54th speaker.
Ryan was Romney’s vice presidential pick three years ago.
Also on the attendance list: Ryan’s wife, Janna, and their three children — 13-year-old Liza, 12-year-old Charlie and 10-year-old Sam.
Who else? Ryan’s mother, Betty Douglas, sister Janet and brothers Stan and Tobin.
Ryan has insisted that he won’t let the new job interfere with his family time in Wisconsin.
Expect Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state, who’s a member of the Republican leadership, to nominate Ryan to be speaker.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Shawnee County won’t be getting a federal grant for more than $16 million to rebuild an aging bridge.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the county learned Thursday it won’t receive the $16.7 million federal grant to fund the $24.4 million Willard Bridge project. Concerns about the bridge’s structural integrity prompted commissioners to reduce the bridge’s weight limit to nine tons.
County Commissioner Shelly Buhler says replacing the bridge remains a priority.
After finding out the county won’t get the grant, Buhler met with staff to discuss other funding options.
County commissioners sent letters to Sens. Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts, as well as U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins seeking their help in obtaining federal assistance. Buhler also met U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx in August during his visit to Wichita.
SALINA -A Kansas man was arrested Wednesday evening in connection with a 2014 shooting incident at a Salina apartment complex.
Salina Police Captain Mike Sweeney said that officers were sent to the Chapel Ridge Apartments, 2363 Chapel Ridge, just after 10:20 p.m. on May 11, 2014, in reference to a shooting.
When officers arrived, they found a 42-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound. The man told police that 33-year-old Chauncey Brownfield knocked on the door of his apartment and attempted to rob him.
Brownfield did not take any of the victim’s property, but did shoot him in the groin area before leaving the apartment.
Brownfield, now 34, was arrested on a warrant charging him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, battery, criminal threats and attempted first degree murder.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A lawyer says an Olathe Air Force veteran and his wife who are accused of voter fraud made a mistake while they were involved in a move to Arkansas.
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s office recently filed charges against Steven Gaedtke and his wife, Betty Gaedtke. They were charged in Johnson County with misdemeanors for allegedly casting 2010 general election ballots in Kansas and Arkansas.
Trey Pettlon, who’s representing the Gaedtkes, told The Kansas City Star the Gaedtkes applied for advance voting ballots in Johnson County for the 2010 general election and submitted them while they were traveling back and forth over several months from Olathe to a home in Arkansas.
He also says they weren’t voting twice for the same candidates.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The last defendant in the deaths of a Kansas couple has been sentenced to prison.
Twenty-year-old Braden Smith was sentenced Thursday to 24½ years in prison for providing guns he knew would be used to kill Roger and Melissa Bluml of Valley Center. The couple was shot outside their home in November 2013.
Smith was originally charged with capital murder but pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and testified against his three co-defendants.
The shootings were planned by the couple’s adopted son, Anthony Bluml, and his biological mother, Kisha Schaberg. Andrew Ellington, Anthony Bluml’s high school friend, helped with the plot. All three are currently serving long prison sentences.
Testimony indicated Schaberg and her son devised the plot to kill the Blumls over hatred and for money.
TOPEKA – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 11:45a.m. on Thursday in Shawnee County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Kawasaki driven by
Brandon Lee Morris, 21, Meriden, was eastbound on Interstate 70 at 10th Street in Topeka.
The motorcycle was traveling at high rate of speed. It failed to maintain a lane during a left hand turn, struck an arrow board and several traffic cones.
Morris was transported to Stormont Vail. He was not wearing a helmet, according to KHP in Topeka.
USGS earthquake map from mid Sept. to mid October 2015
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State regulators are keeping limits on a practice associated with fracking until at least mid-March 2016 as part of their efforts to decrease the frequency and size of earthquakes in south-central Kansas.
The Kansas Corporation Commission issued an order Thursday to extend restrictions on the injection of wastewater into the ground by oil and natural gas producers first put in place in March of this year. The limits apply in five earthquake-prone areas in Harper and Sumner counties.
The order says the KCC will revisit the issue in March, but the restrictions will remain without further action.
The restrictions were to expire in September, but the KCC’s staff recommended keeping them after the number and seriousness of earthquakes dropped. The limits remained while the commission considered an extension.
Governor Brownback at the World Conference of Families -courtesy photo
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gay rights advocates are criticizing Gov. Sam Brownback for speaking at a conference sponsored by an organization that seeks to promote marriage as between a man and a woman.
Brownback, a Republican, participated in a panel Wednesday at the World Congress of Families conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the Human Rights Campaign criticized Brownback for speaking at the conference and says WCF is a hate group for its efforts against gay rights.
Eileen Hawley, Brownback’s spokeswoman, says the governor was invited to the event to discuss “strategies to lift individuals out of poverty.”
WCF says it supports what it calls the “natural family,” or the lifelong marriage of a man and woman. WCF also says implications that it hates the LGBT community are untrue.
