TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A judge who played a key role in Kansas’s first same-sex marriage has announced his retirement.
Judge Kevin Moriarty photo courtesy Johnson County District Court
The Kansas Office of Judicial Administration said in a news release that Johnson County District Judge Kevin Moriarty will retire June 28.
In October 2014, he ordered the county to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples following the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to hear appeals from five states seeking to preserve their bans on gay marriage. He said at the time that the ruling was meant to avoid confusion about the legal climate surrounding gay marriages.
It led to the state’s first same-sex wedding and a contentious legal fight. A failed drive was started to oust Moriarty before the nation’s Supreme Court declared a nationwide right to same-sex marriage the following June.
DICKINSON COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just after 11a.m. Tuesday in Dickinson County.
The scene of the accident on I-70. Photo courtesy Tom Birdsey
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Malibu driven by Michael H. Taplin, 59, Longford, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of the Enterprise exit.
The vehicle crossed the median striking a westbound 2009 Ford F 350 pickup driven by Gary W. Franklin, 60, Solomon.
A westbound 2001 Subaru station wagon driven by Connor T. Brandenberg, 20, St. Louis, Mo., struck the F350 before it was forced from the lane of traffic. The F350 came to rest on its top in the north ditch.
Debris from the collision struck a 2019 Grand Designer camper that was parked in the RV Park parking lot.
Taplin was transported to the hospital in Salina. Franklin was transported to the hospital in Abilene Bradenberg and a passenger in the Subaru were not injured.
All four were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
UPDATE 1:26 p.m. Tuesday: According to Trooper Ben Gardner, one westbound lane
is open again. However, first responders are still at the scene.
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DICKINSON COUNTY — A multi-vehicle crash in Dickson County has temporarily shut down westbound lanes on Interstate 70.
The crash occurred just before noon between Abilene and Chapman, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Check Hays Post for more as information becomes available.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House unanimously passed legislation to promote former U.S. Senator Bob Dole to the grade of colonel in the U.S. Army. Congressman Marshall met with Senator Dole today to deliver the great news of the bill’s passage. Now with the legislation through both the House and the Senate, it will head to the president’s desk for final signage.
“I was so proud to see the House quickly recognize and pass this bill honoring our legendary Kansas Senator, Bob Dole,” Rep. Marshall said. “There is no one I can think of more deserving of this honorary promotion than our true Kansas hero, Senator Dole.”
In January, Rep. Marshall introduced this bill in the House as a companion bill to the Senate legislation sponsored by Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Jerry Moran.
“I’m glad Senator Bob Dole is one step closer to receiving the honorary military promotion he has earned, during his lifetime of service to our great nation,” said Sen. Roberts. “Sen. Dole is Kansas’ favorite son and an American hero.”
“From Senator Bob Dole’s time in the military and in Congress, to his continued leadership on veterans, hunger and disability issues, he is a true model of public service for Kansans and all Americans,” said Sen. Moran. “It is only fitting that Senator Dole be promoted for his exemplary service and sacrifice as an Army officer and I am so pleased that this resolution is headed to the president’s desk for signature.”
In 1942, while he was a student at the University of Kansas, Senator Dole registered for the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps. He was called to active duty the following year and served in World War II. While deployed as an infantry lieutenant, he was severely wounded in combat and was twice cited for acts of heroism under fire. He finished his military service with two Purple Hearts and two awards of the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for valor. He was also awarded the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
This legislation to grant an honorary military promotion for Senator Bob Dole was supported by the entire Kansas Delegation.
“Senator Dole is one of Kansas’ favorite sons and a national icon who well deserves this promotion,” said Rep. Ron Estes. “In addition to his admirable public service in Congress and tireless advocacy for veterans, Dole’s heroic actions in World War II continue to inspire Kansans and generations of Americans around the country. I’m proud to join the Kansas delegation in supporting this promotion.”
“Bob Dole is the definition of a Statesman and a Patriot. There is no one more deserving of this honor,” said Congressman Watkins said.
“Senator Bob Dole is a decorated military veteran, dedicated public servant, and proud Kansan,” Congresswoman Davids said. “He made a significant impact on not only the state of Kansas, but the entire country, and he is more than deserving of this honorary promotion for his decades of service to our nation.”
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man who is charged with kicking a toddler and shouting racial slurs inside a Wichita grocery store has been found competent to stand trial.
Riff -photo Sedgwick Co.
A Sedgwick County judge on Tuesday ruled that Trace Riff could face trial on several charges, including attempted aggravated battery.
Prosecutors say Riff kicked a 1-year-old black boy inside a Dillon’s Grocery store in Wichita in December. The boy was not seriously injured.
The boy’s mother and witnesses told police Riff shouted racial slurs and said he was a white supremacist during the incident.
Riff is also charged with interference with law enforcement and disorderly conduct.
Riff’s family says he has a history of mental health and substance abuse problems.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Two people injured in an accident during a police chase Monday in Sedgwick County.
Michael Pete -photo Sedgwick CountyPolice on the scene of the Monday investigation-photo courtesy Wichita Police
Just after 12:30 Monday, a police officer was conducting a traffic stop on a Chevy Impala in the 1700 Block of North Minnesota Street, according to officer Paul Cruz.
The driver, later identified as 21-year-old Michael Pete, refused to stop. As the suspect vehicle approached 13thstreet, it struck a Ford passenger vehicle occupied by two men, according to Cruz.
Following an investigation that shut down traffic in the area for a couple of hours, police arrested 21-year-old Michael Pete on requested charges of flee and elude law enforcement, criminal possession of a firearm, drug distribution, driving while suspended, speeding and additional traffic violations, according to the Sedgwick County Jail online report. He was not injured in the crash. Pete has a previous aggravated burglary conviction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
The driver and passenger in the Ford suffered only minor injuries, according to Cruz.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-led House failed Tuesday to override President Donald Trump’s first veto, salvaging his effort to steer billions of extra dollars to erecting border barriers and delivering a victory to the White House in a constitutional and political clash that’s raged for months.
On March 15, President Trump signed a veto against a congressional resolution that rescinded his national emergency declaration at the U.S.-Mexico border.-photo courtesy White House
Lawmakers voted 248-181 to overturn Trump’s veto, but that fell 38 votes shy of the required two-thirds margin. Just days after Attorney General William Barr announced that special counsel Robert Mueller had found Trump didn’t scheme with Russia to help his 2016 election, Tuesday’s vote bolstered Trump’s drive to build a wall along the boundary with Mexico, a hallmark of his 2016 presidential campaign and a priority of his presidency.
While clearly a defeat for Democrats, the vote afforded them a chance to reemphasize policy differences with Trump and change the subject from collusion allegations that have lost political clout. Underscoring that, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi placed her name atop a House Democratic fundraising email referencing the failed veto override entitled, “My heart just sank.”
Just 14 Republicans joined all voting Democrats in Tuesday’s futile effort to void Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the Southwest border.
By invoking that power, Trump has said he will shift $3.6 billion from military construction to erecting barriers along that boundary. Congress has voted to provide less than $1.4 billion for border barriers, leaving Democrats and some Republicans fuming that Trump is abusing his powers by ignoring Congress’ constitutional control over spending.
Despite his veto remaining intact, Trump may not be able to spend the money for barriers quickly because of lawsuits by Democratic state attorneys general and others that could take years to resolve.
Even so, Democrats hope to use the border emergency battle in their 2020 election campaigns, both to symbolize Trump’s harsh immigration stance and claim he was hurting congressional districts around the country.
The Pentagon sent lawmakers a list last week of hundreds of military construction projects that might be cut to pay for barrier work. Though the list was tentative, Democrats say that by backing Trump, GOP lawmakers were endangering local bases to pay for the wall.
Unhappiness over Trump’s plan to siphon the money from the military has become a bipartisan concern. On top of the $3.6 billion from construction, the Pentagon has formally informed Congress that it wants to steer another $1 billion from personnel accounts to barriers instead.
At a House Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday, panel Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., said it was wrong to use the Pentagon as “sort of a piggybank-slash-slush fund.” The committee’s top Republican, Mac Thornberry of Texas, also said he opposes redirecting defense funds.
Congress had sent Trump a resolution annulling the national emergency that Trump declared at the US-Mexico border. That included passage by the Republican-led Senate, in which 12 GOP senators — nearly 1 of every 4 — joined Democrats in blocking him.
Trump vetoed that measure almost immediately.
“We take an oath that we must honor” to protect the Constitution,” Pelosi, D-Calif., speaking on her 79th birthday, said Tuesday. “The choice is simple, between partisanship and patriotism. Between honoring our sacred oath or hypocritically, inconsistently breaking this oath.”
Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, called Trump’s declaration “constitutional vandalism.”
Republicans said Trump was merely following a 1976 law that gives presidents emergency powers, and was trying to head off Democrats with little concern about border security.
Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said Trump was acting against the “radical left in this House that would dissolve our borders entirely if given the chance” — a stance that no Democrat has taken.
Rep. Paul Mitchell, R-Mich., called the veto override effort “a partisan whack job” because of its certain defeat.
All 13 Republicans who voted with Democrats last month to oppose Trump’s declaration did the same Tuesday. That group of moderates from swing districts and conservatives was joined by Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., who missed the earlier roll call.
In a symbolic move, presiding over the House was freshman Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, representing a border district surrounding El Paso.
The showdown began building last year. Trump’s insistence on wall money prompted this winter’s record 35-day partial government shutdown, which ended when he surrendered in January without getting any funds. Eventually a compromise was struck for $1.4 billion.
Opponents of Trump’s emergency warned that besides usurping Congress’ power over spending, he was inviting future Democratic presidents to circumvent lawmakers by declaring emergencies to finance their own favored initiatives.
Trump’s declaration was the 60th presidential emergency under that statute, but the first aimed at spending that Congress explicitly denied, according to New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice, which tracks the law.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is nearing a victory over Democrats as the House tries overriding his first veto , a vote that seems certain to fail and would let stand his declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border.
Tuesday’s vote would keep the border emergency intact, which for now would let him shift an additional $3.6 billion from military construction projects to work on a barrier along the southwest boundary. Building the wall was one of his most oft-repeated campaign promises, though he claimed the money would come from Mexico, not taxpayers.
Trump’s emergency declaration drew unanimous opposition from congressional Democrats and opposition from some Republicans, especially in the Senate , where lawmakers objected that he was abusing presidential powers.
But while Congress approved a resolution voiding Trump’s move, the margins by which the House and Senate passed the measure fell well short of the two-thirds majorities that will be needed to override the veto. That’s expected to happen again when the House votes Tuesday.
“The president will be fine in the House,” said Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in a brief interview. “The veto will not be overridden.”
Even with his veto remaining intact, Trump may not be able to spend the money for barriers quickly because of lawsuits that might take years to resolve.
Tuesday’s vote was coming as Trump claimed a different political triumph after Attorney General William Barr said special counsel Robert Mueller had ended his two-year investigation without evidence of collusion by Trump’s 2016 campaign with the Russian government.
Democrats were hoping to use the border emergency battle in upcoming campaigns, both to symbolize Trump’s harsh immigration stance and claim he was hurting congressional districts around the country.
The Pentagon sent lawmakers a list last week of hundreds of military construction projects that might be cut to pay for barrier work. Though the list was tentative, Democrats were asserting that GOP lawmakers were endangering local bases to pay for the wall.
Congress, to which the Constitution assigned control over spending, voted weeks ago to provide less than $1.4 billion for barriers. Opponents warned that besides usurping Congress’ role in making spending decisions, Trump was inviting future Democratic presidents to circumvent lawmakers by declaring emergencies to finance their own favored initiatives.
Trump supporters said he was simply acting under a 1976 law that lets presidents declare national emergencies. Trump’s declaration was the 60th presidential emergency under that statute, but the first aimed at spending that Congress explicitly denied, according to New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice, which tracks the law.
The House approved the resolution blocking Trump’s emergency by 245-182 in February. On Tuesday, Trump opponents will need to reach 288 votes to prevail.
Just 13 Republicans opposed Trump in February, around 1 in 15. Another 30 would have to defect to override his veto.
This month, the GOP-led Senate rebuked Trump with a 59-41 vote blocking his declaration after the failure of a Republican effort to reach a compromise with the White House. Republicans were hoping to avoid a confrontation with him for fear of alienating pro-Trump voters.
Twelve GOP senators, nearly 1 in 4, ended up opposing him.
If the House vote fails, the Senate won’t attempt its own override and the veto will stand.
G&W grocery store in Cherryvale, Kansas google image
MONTGOMERY COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has identified the man suspected of shooting a coworker, and then fatally shooting himself, at the G&W Foods grocery store on Monday afternoon, in Cherryvale, Kan.
The suspected shooter has been identified as 28-year-old Jamal Brown of Independence.
The 39-year-old man shot by Brown was also from Independence. He remains hospitalized in Joplin, Mo., and his condition was upgraded to “fair.”
The KBI released no additional details Tuesday afternoon
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is assisting the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Cherryvale Police Department with an investigation into a shooting that occurred Monday afternoon at a grocery store in Cherryvale.
According to a media release, just after 3:30 p.m., Monday, the Cherryvale Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Highway Patrol responded to the report of a man with a gun in the G&W Foods grocery store. When they arrived at the store at 216 N. Liberty St., they learned the armed man was an employee who was holding a coworker in an office in the northwest area of the store. They began to quickly evacuate employees and customers.
Soon after, gunshots were heard from the office. As authorities entered the office, they witnessed the 28-year-old suspect shoot himself. They also located his 39-year-old coworker suffering from gunshot wounds.
The male victim was flown to a hospital in Joplin. He underwent surgery, and his condition is unknown at this time.
The suspect was taken to a local hospital where he was stablized and then flown to a Tulsa hospital. He later died from his injuries.
The investigation is ongoing. Nothing further will be released at this time.
MANHATTAN – Technology and management tools keep evolving to help crop producers make every drop of water count on their fields.
Water Technology Farms, including the Northwest Kansas Technical College Water Technology Farm around Goodland, were developed four years ago as part of the Long-Term Vision for the Future of Water Supply in Kansas. They began as three-year pilot public-private partnerships to demonstrate the latest in crop irrigation technology and water conservation research on the field scale.
“I’m pleased to see the growing interest in Water Technology Farms across the state,” said Kansas Water Office (KWO) Acting Director Earl Lewis. “We continue to see outcomes from these farms showing that water use reductions, coupled with irrigation technology adoption and water management improvements are leading to positive effects on the aquifer as well as the producer’s bottom line.”
Water Technology Farms have proven valuable in helping to expand the conversation and education of producers as well as decision makers on equipment and technology utilized in agricultural water conservation efforts.
“As one of the first three Tech Farms we have learned so much as far as water conservation production and how what we do affects the Ogallala Aquifer,” Dwane Roth, Garden City Company/Dwane Roth Farm near Holcomb. “A fifth generation Kansan recently said to me that western Kansas is different compared to other parts of the world – our water problems are solvable! I now ask with what we know, do we become resilient? And in doing so have vibrant local communities or do we become just another page in the history books? I say we become resilient.”
The 2018 Growing Season Report shares information about each of the 10 farms including the crop or crops grown, technology utilized to manage water application, as well as harvest data and sponsors of each location.
“My goal as a first year Water Technology Farm was to increase the bushels per inch of irrigation we produced,” said Matt Long of Long Water Technology Farm near Marienthal. “We really pushed our crop using different application technologies, soil moisture probes and a weather station to utilize our irrigation water efficiently which resulted in growing 34 bushels per inch of irrigation. As we start this spring with adequate profile moisture and more knowledge about the application technologies and soil probes, I am excited to see how much more progress we can achieve.”
It is anticipated up to five new farms will be added to the network in 2019, bringing the total number of Water Technology Farms up to 15 for the 2019 growing season. Field days and other informational events in conjunction with the Water Technology Farm Program will take place later this summer. For more information and the complete 2018 Growing Season Report, visit www.kwo.ks.gov
The Water Technology Farms would not be possible without key public-private partnerships. More than 80 companies and organizations support this effort and sponsors for each farm are on the Water Tech Farm pages on the KWO website.
For more information visit: www.kwo.ks.gov or contact Armando Zarco, Water Resource Planner at (620) 276-2901.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has sent a tax relief bill down in flames, taking her veto pen to the measure she says would wreck the state budget. But, as a priority for Republicans, it could remain in play for the rest of the legislative session and rise from the ashes.
Gov. Laura Kelly issued her first veto Monday, rejecting a Republican tax relief package she calls irresponsible. photo office of Kansas governor
Legislative estimates say the bill would keep the state from collecting about $500 million in taxes over three years. The tax breaks would primarily benefit multinational companies with operations in Kansas.
Forgoing the revenue, the governor said Monday, would hamper the state’s ability to reinvest in education, transportation and other services neglected in the wake of tax cuts signed by then-Gov. Sam Brownback in 2012.
“We simply cannot go backward now,” Kelly said after vetoing the bill. “We cannot fix our state if we repeat the mistakes of the past.”
The veto is Kelly’s first as governor, and it’s indicative of the rift between the Democratic leader of the state and the conservative Republicans who control the House and Senate. They immediately branded the veto as a tax increase and a broken campaign promise.
The whole debate started with the federal tax cut bill approved in 2017.
Republican lawmakers pushed for changes to state tax rules to allow Kansans to continue itemizing on their state returns even if they no longer do so on their federal returns because of larger standard deductions. The bill Kelly vetoed would have also freed Kansas businesses from owing state taxes on overseas income.
Republicans say the core issue is preventing a tax increase caused by the federal changes.
Lawmakers had also folded into the bill a 1 percentage point cut to the food sales tax. That’s a policy many politicians, including Kelly, favor.
“Governor Kelly’s campaign promises that she would decrease food sales taxes for hardworking Kansans are clearly little more than talking points,” House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins said in response to the veto.
Kelly said in her veto message that it’s irresponsible to cut taxes — even taxes on food — until the state’s fiscal health stabilizes.
The debate could be far from over. Republican Senate President Susan Wagle said she’d be conferring with leaders about when to attempt a veto override.
Monday afternoon, the chairman of the Kansas Republican Party was already working in support of that effort.
“I am calling on all legislative Republicans including those who did not originally vote for the bill to override her veto,” Chairman Mike Kuckelman said in a statement.
The Kansas GOP is also gathering donations for mailings attacking Republican-turned-Democrat Sen. Dinah Sykes for voting against the tax relief package.
On its first trip through the Legislature, the measure secured 76 votes in the House and 24 in the Senate. An override requires support from 84 House members and 27 senators.
Democratic Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore suspects the uncertainty about the fiscal impact will keep lawmakers who opposed the bill initially from supporting an override.
“I feel relatively comfortable that they won’t be able to override it,” she said.
Still, parts of the bill could be resurrected as lawmakers pursue deals to fund schools and expand Medicaid.
“It is a possibility that we’ll get a bargaining chip,” Wagle said.
While Kelly said there’s no way she’d sign the full tax relief package in its current form, she indicated she could compromise on some pieces under the right circumstances.
“My door is always open. My mind is always open,” she said. “If I can be convinced that there’s something in here that’s good and worthwhile and won’t throw our budget into a tailspin, I’ll consider it.”
Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda.
Law enforcement authorities meet in advance of Monday’s drug raid-photo courtesy Barton Co.
BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities have arrested eleven suspects on meth and other drug distribution after several weeks of investigation culminated in the execution of multiple search warrants on Monday in Barton County.
Just after 11’a.m., sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement personnel executed five search warrants at various locations in Barton County, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.
Deputies executed search warrants at 512 E. 4th St. in Ellinwood, 1408 11th St. in Great Bend, 2015 Holland St. in Great Bend, 2501 Cheyenne Dr in Great Bend and 36 Kiowa Rd. just southeast of the Great Bend city limits.
Siefers -photo Barton Co.Torres photo Barton Co.
Officers discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and at one location, a stolen firearm.
At 512 E. 4th Street in Ellinwood police arrested
Victoria Siefers, 24, for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia was being held in the Barton County Jail on $2500 bond.
Eric Torres, 32, possession of methamphetamine and failed to register as drug offender. He was held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
Contrares photo Barton Co.Ogden photo Barton Co.
At 1408 11th Street in Great Bend, police arrested Stephen Lee Contrerez II, 31, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Held in the Barton County jail in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
Jennifer L Ogden, 33 – possession of methamphetamine possession of drug paraphernalia. Being held in the Barton County jail in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
Pryor photo Barton Co.
Paul D. Pryor, 41- distribution of methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a school, no drug tax stamp and possession of drug paraphernalia. Being held the Barton County jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
Holder photo Barton Co.Sohm photo Barton Co.
At 2501 Cheyenne in Great Bend deputies arrested Debra Holder, 35, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Being held in the Barton County jail in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
Jason Sohm, 41- possession of methamphetamine within intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school and possession of drug paraphernalia. Held in the Barton County jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
Hayes photo Barton Co.
At 2015 Holland Street in Great Bend, police arrested Jennifer Hayes, 36- possession of methamphetamine, no drug tax stamp and distribution of methamphetamine. Being held the Barton County jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
At 36 Kiowa Road in Great Bend, deputies arrested Brent Bretz, 40 – distribution of methamphetamine, no drug tax stamp, criminal use of a weapon and possession of stolen firearm. Being held in the Barton County jail in lieu of $100,000 bond; Beckie A. Eisenbarth, 44 – was arrested at 2423 Gano on three counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. She is being held on a $100,000.00 bond.
Lamb -photo Barton Co.
Jeremy Lamb, 35 – was arrested at 515 S. Bismark in Ellinwood. He has been charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine and no drug tax stamp. He is being held in lieu of a $100,000.00 bond.
This was the first phase of an ongoing operation, according to Bellendir.
The Sheriff’s office was assisted by the Ellinwood Police Department, the Great Bend Police Department, Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office and a Game Warden from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Senate Committees continued to review bills which have been sent over from the House and we had two days of General Orders this week in the Senate. As we work though committee bills on the floor, we will also begin to have Conference Committee reports to vote on as well. A Conference Committee is a small, bipartisan and bicameral committee that works to smooth out the differences between the House’s and Senate’s version of a similar bill. Once the Conference Committee comes to a compromise, the committee’s version of the bill will be sent to both the House and the Senate for a final vote, before advancing the bill to the Governor’s desk.
FLOOR ACTION
EXTENDING RURAL OPPORTUNITY ZONE PROGRAM – Senate Bill 125 would extend the Rural Opportunity Zone Program by five years. SB 125 extends the deadline for a participant to begin in the student loan repayment portion of the program and the individual income tax credit portion of the program to July 1, 2026.
ADDING CERTAIN COUNTIES TO LIST OF RURAL OPPORTUNITY ZONES – Senate Bill 135 would expand the list of eligible counties for participation in the Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) Program. SB 135 would add the following counties: Atchison, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Ford, Franklin, Miami, Pottawatomie.
THE KANSAS CLOSED CASE TASK FORCE – Senate Bill 102 would create the Kansas Closed Case Task Force. SB 102 requires the task force to create a plan relating to hits on closed cases, including a mechanism to ensure uniform compliance at the local law enforcement agency level.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LICENSES – Senate Bill 164 would amend law relating to the issuance of licenses by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) within the Department of Revenue, by providing license terms commence on the effective date specified on the license. SB 164 also provides that licenses for Class B clubs, drinking establishments, public venues, and caterers will be issued for two years commencing on the effective date specified on the license.
CALCULATING COST OF KEEPING CIVIL PRISONERS IN COUNTY JAIL – House Bill 2097 amends law relating to the cost of keeping civil prisoners in county jail. HB 2097 changes the amount taxed as costs in an action for keeping a civil defendant imprisoned in county jail from $1.50 per day to an amount equal to that provided by the county for the maintenance of other prisoners.
AMENDING THE KANSAS NATIONAL GUARD EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – House Bill 2123 would remove the requirement that an eligible Kansas National Guard member have at least one year remaining on such member’s enlistment contract at the beginning of any semester for which the member receives assistance under the Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance Program to participate.
ELIMINATING MARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN TRUCKS – House Bill 2127 would remove statutory requirements for lettering to be painted or otherwise durably marked on the sides of a truck or truck tractor with a registered weight of more than 12,000 pounds to identify owner or lessee.
SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR NONPROFIT INTEGRATED COMMUNITY CARE ORGANIZATIONS – Senate Bill 178 would provide a sales tax exemption for purchases made by nonprofit integrated community care organizations. Nonprofit integrated community care organizations would be defined as any entity that is exempt from federal income taxation, certified to participate in Medicare as a hospice focused on providing care to the aging and indigent population across multiple counties, and approved by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services to provide services under the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.
REGULATING USE OF ELECTRIC SCOOTERS – House Bill 2126 prohibits any person from operating an electric scooter on any interstate highway, federal highway, or state highway. The bill also allows the governing body of a city or county to adopt an ordinance or resolution further restricting or prohibiting the use of electric scooters on public highways, streets, or sidewalks within such cities or counties. HB 2126 would apply traffic regulations applicable to bicycles to electric scooters.
ALLOWING THE BOARD OF REGENTS TO PURCHASE CYBERSECURITY- House Bill 2209 would amend law pertaining to the Committee on Surety Bonds and Insurance to permit the Kansas Board of Regents to purchase cybersecurity as they deem necessary to protect student records, labor information, and other statutorily protected data the Kansas Board of Regents maintains.
The $18.1 billion appropriation bill includes $92.7 million in court-ordered funding for K-12 to settle the lawsuit, an additional $100 million for KDOT bringing the total new money for KDOT to $160 million through FY20, and additional funds for mental health programs that help disabled Kansans. The budget does assume $200 million from Senate Bill 22, which returns the unexpected federal windfall from the federal tax cuts and provides a 1 percentage point food sales tax reduction. The budget also assumes the $115 million KPERS debt payment from Senate Bill 9 all credited to the school group and then an additional payment of $736 million for the FY20 payment. The budget adds $1.5 million, all from the State General Fund, to fund Hepatitis C treatment for the 100 inmates within correctional facilities that the agency’s health care provider is capable of providing treatment to in FY 2019. It adds $6 million, all from the Evidence Based Juvenile Program account of the State General Fund, in FY 2019. The budget will also add $2.1 million from the State General Fund in FY 2019 to provide funding for Community Mental Health Centers providing Crisis Center services due to an estimated shortfall of revenue from lottery vending machines.
VISITORS FROM SENATE DISTRICT #36
Two student groups visited Topeka this week – Rock Hills seniors and Rooks County government students both sponsored by Farm Bureau. For the 15th year in a row, Lincoln County Leadership held their annual trip to the Capitol with tours and lunch with the Kansas Grain and Feed sponsoring the trip. Angie, Mike, Bryleigh and Brooklyn McKenna from Russell were special guests on the Senate floor for the reading of the World Down Syndrome Day resolution.
MARCH 21ST – WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY RESOLUTION – 2019
Senators Bowers, Alley, Baumgardner, Berger, Billinger, Braun, Denning, Doll, Estes, Faust-Goudeau, Francisco, Givens, Goddard, Haley, Hardy, Hawk, Hensley, Hilderbrand, Holland, Kerschen, Longbine, Lynn, Masterson, McGinn, Miller, Olson, Petersen, Pettey, Pilcher-Cook, Pyle, Rucker, Skubal, Suellentrop, Sykes, Taylor, Tyson, Wagle, Ware and Wilborn introduced the following Senate resolution, which was read:
SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1726―
A RESOLUTION recognizing World Down Syndrome Day in Kansas. WHEREAS, World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated on March 21, 2019; and WHEREAS, In 2006, World Down Syndrome Day was observed for the first time by many nations across the globe; and WHEREAS, On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day to raise public awareness on Down syndrome. The third month and its 21st day were chosen to symbolize the triplication or trisomy of the 21st chromosome; and WHEREAS, Down syndrome is the most common irregular chromosomal condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 6,000 infants, or 1 in 700, are born annually with Down syndrome in the United States; and WHEREAS, While Down syndrome is a lifelong condition, the CDC reports that when infants and children are offered intervention services early in life, they are often able to improve their physical and intellectual abilities. These services are typically offered across the nation and may include speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy; and WHEREAS, Known Down syndrome organizations in Kansas include the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City, the Down Syndrome Society of Wichita, the North Central Kansas Down Syndrome Society, the Northwest Kansas Down Syndrome Society, the Southeast Down Syndrome Society and Team Up for Down Syndrome. These estimable organizations are committed to raising public awareness and providing aid and empowering individuals and families of individuals with Down syndrome: Now, therefore, Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas: That we recognize March 21, 2019, as World Down Syndrome Day in Kansas; and Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate shall send five enrolled copies of this resolution to Senator Bowers. On emergency motion of Senator Bowers SR 1726 was adopted unanimously.
Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. As always, I’ll keep you updated on the activities of the Senate while we continue through the last few weeks before the break this spring. Schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at www.kslegislature.org. It is easy to “get into the weed” on pieces of legislation that seem on the surface to have universal appeal, but for those who want to pursue a more in-depth analysis of the ones which did not have such agreement, pull up “Bills & Laws,” then Senate Bills,” before scrolling to the desired number and hitting “SN” (Supplemental Notes) for a general explanation which is written by the Legislative research & reviser staff. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website. This week both the House and the Senate will meet at 10:00 a.m.
Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is the 36th Dist. state senator and serves as the Senate Majority Whip. The 36th Senate District includes Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Smith and Washington counties and portions of Marshall and Phillips counties.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita officials are seeking to padlock a coin-operated laundry because of ongoing gambling on the property.
Google image
Police have seized at least 34 illegal gambling machines from the Fabric Care Center since 2016. But the city said last week in a court filing that every time authorities haul some out, more show up. Wichita police officers also have logged one homicide, one rape, five aggravated assaults, two simple assaults, five weapons cases, three larcenies and 12 drug cases at the site over the past 14 months.
The city’s application for a temporary injunction described the ongoing gambling as a “common nuisance.”
The president of the laundry owner’s, Cooper Inc., didn’t immediately returned phone messages seeking comment. A hearing is set for April 3.
STAFFORD, Kan. (AP) — A flock of rare whooping cranes is delighting visitors at a Kansas wildlife refuge during a pit stop there on its northern migration.
Photo courtesy Quivira National Wildlife Refuge
The staff and visitors at the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge counted 29 of the birds on Monday. Refuge biologist Rachel Laubhan says they are part of the endangered Aransas-Wood Buffalo flock, which is believed to be only about 505 birds strong.
The birds spend their winters in Texas and make a dramatic site at the refuge during their journey back home to Canada. They stand about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall with a wing span of 7 feet (2.1 meters).
When wildlife enthusiasts hear they’re making their way through Kansas each spring and fall, they flock to the refuge to get a look.
