SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman for alleged theft.
Bolen -Saline County
An audit at Lorenson Industries, 461 E. Avenue A in Salina where 69-year-old Marsha Bolen was employed, revealed that since at least the fall of 2017, she had been using company funds to pay personal bills, according to Saline County Sheriff’s Captain Jim Hughes.
On Monday, deputies arrested her on suspicion of theft of services/property and unlawful use of a computer.
Hughes said that so far, $2,500 in misused funds had been discovered.
Bolen had several different job responsibilities at Lorenson Industries, including front receptionist and bookkeeping, according to Hughes.
A Ford Escort driven by a 28-year-old woman was northbound on Webb Road and attempted to make a left turn into a private parking lot, according officer Paul Cruz. The vehicle collided head-on with a southbound Chevy Cavalier driven by a 34-year-old man.
A passenger in the Cavalier Treva Phillips, 82, Wichita, was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Webb Road at 35thStreet was closed in both directions while police investigated the crash, according to Cruz.
TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly released a Medicaid expansion bill Tuesday that will expand affordable healthcare to 150,000 more Kansans, protect and strengthen rural hospitals, and bring Kansas federal tax dollars back to the state, according to a media release from her office.
“It’s long past time to expand Medicaid so that more Kansans have access to affordable healthcare, our rural hospitals can stay open, and the tax dollars we send to Washington can come back home to Kansas to help our families,” said Kelly. “This bill meets the unique needs of Kansas patients, hospitals, providers, and diverse communities while remaining financially sustainable.”
The Governor’s Medicaid expansion bill is based on the version of the 2017 Bridge to a Healthy Kansas bill that passed the House and the Senate and was later vetoed by Governor Sam Brownback.
“Kansans overwhelmingly support Medicaid expansion,” said Kelly. “They know it will mean access to quality, affordable healthcare and support for our rural hospitals. It’s time we listen to the people of this state and expand Medicaid.”
Kansas is one of just 14 states left that has not yet expanded healthcare to families who desperately need it.
“I’ve seen first-hand how illnesses are diagnosed late, and how Kansans have been hurt financially, by not having access to healthcare,” said Lee Norman, acting secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). “I know we can do better, and this bill is a monumental step forward.”
To view the governor’s Medicaid expansion bill, click here.
“Medicaid expansion will benefit the state of Kansas, our families and our children in many ways,” said Laura Howard, secretary of Kansas Department for Children and Families and Aging and Disability Services. “It’s the most important tool Kansas can utilize to provide the necessary treatment and services to vulnerable Kansans.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are planning more than $10 million in upgrades to Arrowhead Stadium.
photo courtesy Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs announced Monday that the renovations will include a “modernization” of the Arrowvision scoreboard, along with waterproofing and new seats — with cup holders — in the stadium’s upper deck.
Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a news release that the last stadium renovation was completed a decade ago.
The team said the scoreboard will remain the same size but will have new LED panels to improve clarity.
The work could begin next week.
The Chiefs are paying for the work but can ask in the future to be reimbursed by the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is among the agencies investigating Monday’s fatal officer involved shooting in Wichita and have identified the suspect who died as David Michael Bosiljevac, 55, of Wichita, according to Lt. Tim Myers with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department.
David Michael Bosiljevac-photo courtesy Sedgwick Co. Sheriff
On Monday afternoon, deputies received a tip from a citizen that Bosiljevac, who had a felony drug warrant from 2015 was going to be at a storage unit facility in the 3300 Block of south Hydraulic in Wichita, according to Colonel Greg Pollock with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department
Just before 1p.m. two Sedgwick County Deputies arrived at the storage unit and observed Bosiljevac, 55 standing near a maroon Ford Fusion parked at the front of a storage unit.
The air soft gun recovered at the scene of Monday’s fatal shooting- image courtesy Sedgwick Co. Sheriff
Bosiljevac ran from the deputies to the driver’s side of the vehicle. The deputy gave several commands asking him to stop.
Bosiljevact did not comply and retrieved what the deputy believed to be a pistol and pointed it at the deputy, according to Pollock.
Fearing for his life and the life of the other deputy at the scene, the deputy fired several rounds at the suspect. Bosiljevac was pronounced dead at the scene at 1p.m., according to Pollock. His body was transported to the Forensic Center for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
During the investigation and after the crime scene was processed, an air-soft pistol that closely represents a firearm was recovered near the suspect’s body.
The deputies involved were not injured, according to Pollock. The deputy who fired the shots is a 40-year-old, 18-year-veteran of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department. The other deputy is a 50-year-old, 20-year veteran of the agency. They were not wearing body cameras.
Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be presented to the district attorney.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is among the agencies investigating Monday’s fatal officer involved shooting in Wichita.
The air soft gun recovered at the scene of Monday’s fatal shooting- image courtesy Sedgwick Co. Sheriff
On Monday afternoon, deputies received a tip from a citizen that a 55-year-old man with a felony drug warrant from 2015 was going to be at a storage unit facility in the 3300 Block of south Hydraulic in Wichita, according to Colonel Greg Pollock with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department
Just before 1p.m. two Sedgwick County Deputies arrived at the storage unit and observed the suspect standing near a maroon Ford Fusion parked at the front of a storage unit. The suspect ran from the deputies to the driver’s side of the vehicle. The deputy gave several commands asking the suspect to stop. The suspect did not comply and retrieved what the deputy believed to be a pistol and pointed it at the deputy, according to Pollock.
Fearing for his life and the life of the other deputy at the scene, the deputy fired several rounds at the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene at 1p.m., according to Pollock. His body was transported to the Forensic Center for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation -photo courtesy KAKE
During the investigation and after the crime scene was processed, an air-soft pistol that closely represents a firearm was recovered near the suspect.
The deputies involved were not injured, according to Pollock. The deputy who fired the shots is a 40-year-old, 18-year-veteran of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department. The other deputy is a 50-year-old, 20-year veteran of the agency. They were not wearing body cameras.
Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be presented to the district attorney.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a man during a confrontation in Wichita.
Sheriff’s Lt. Tim Myers said a 55-year-old man was shot and killed Monday afternoon at a storage facility in south Wichita.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say wind gusts have toppled power lines and overturned at least one vehicle in northeast Kansas.
The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill watch from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning for an area that included Topeka, where it predicted wind chill index readings would be between minus 10 degrees and minus 25 degrees.
Highest wind gusts observed so far today in northeast Kansas–up to 63 mph in Topeka/Lawrence: https://t.co/PYGOpALyCB#kswx
The Kansas Highway Patrol says a tractor-trailer “flipped” Monday on the Kansas Turnpike about 1 mile east of Lawrence as gusts of up to 56 mph were reported. Also Monday, downed lines left more than 2,600 Westar Energy customers without power, although only a handful remained in the dark by Tuesday.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A twice convicted Kansas rapist who has spent more than half his life in prison has been arrested in another sexual assault.
Billy Jack Hayes has previous convictions for aggravated burglary, sodomy, obstruction and two for rape, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections -photo Shawnee County
Shawnee County Jail records show that 58-year-old Billy Jack Hayes was booked early Monday on suspicion of rape in one case and aggravated burglary and misdemeanor sexual battery in another case. No charges were immediately filed.
Kansas Department of Corrections records show that Hayes has been in and out of prison for the past four decades. He has convictions for rapes and other crimes committed in 1974 and 1984 in Shawnee County. He was paroled most recently in September.
As we get settled into the second week of the 2019 legislative session, most of our work is concentrated in committees where bills are being prioritized and vetted. The Senate has 13 standing committees which cover many different topics, including education, agriculture, judiciary, and utilities—to name a few. In observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the legislature and state offices were closed Monday, January 21st. However, the abbreviated week did not slow committees from introducing and holding hearings on proposed legislation. Once a committee completes hearings and votes on a bill, if passed, it will then make its way to the Senate floor and the full body will begin to debate and vote on the measure. Floor debates and votes will begin in the coming weeks. If you’re interested in tracking our work, you can head to our website at https://www.kslegislature.org.
Committee Assignments
My committees will remain the same as last year with one addition which is Transportation. I am the Chairman of Ethics, Elections and Local Government; I will serve on the Judiciary and Utility committees and will remain on the Historical Preservation Committee. I also was assigned to serve on the joint Legislative Post Audit Committee. This committee will not meet often during session but during summer and fall to consider specific subjects assigned to us. The Senate President assigned me to fill a vacancy on the Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund which meets quarterly and is directed by state statute to fund and evaluate key children’s programs across the state. As it is an elected position by the Republican Senators – I will remain the Senate Majority Whip for the next two years.
Inaugurations
On Monday, January 14th, Laura Kelly was sworn in as the 48th Governor of the State of Kansas. Governor Kelly enters the Governor’s office after serving 14 years in the Kansas Senate, representing Topeka. State officials also sworn in were Lynn Rogers, Lieutenant Governor, Derek Schmidt, Attorney General, Scott Schwab, Secretary of State, Vicki Schmidt, Insurance Commissioner and Jake LaTurner, State Treasurer. All 125 House of Representatives were sworn-in and 4 new senators – Kevin Braun (R-Kansas City) replaces Steve Fitzgerald after he resigned from the Senate in September. Vic Miller (D-Topeka) took Laura Kelly’s seat in the Senate. Eric Rucker (R-Topeka) took Vicki Schmidt’s seat in the Senate as she is now Insurance Commissioner. Mary Ware (D-Wichita) was chosen to replace Lynn Rogers in the Senate. Richard Hilderbrand (R-Galena) was also sworn in after winning his special election in November.
State of the State
On Wednesday, January 16th, Governor Laura Kelly delivered her first State of the State address. The governor laid out her agenda as she began her first term as governor. Some of her main agenda items include more money to public education, increased funding to hire more social workers for DCF, and Medicaid expansion. While Governor Kelly launched her agenda of increased spending in numerous areas, she vowed to keep her campaign promise of no increased taxes. During her address, Kelly explained she would be proposing a one-year budget with a separate proposal for a two-year education plan. Watch the full State of the State address below:
Governor’s Budget Proposal
Thursday morning, Governor Kelly presented her one-year budget proposal. The $18.4 billion proposal includes increased spending for areas such as K-12 education, DCF, and Medicaid expansion. A few highlights include a recommended $92 million inflation adjustment to state aid for K-12 public schools. This would be a phase-in of $364 million over four years. With this increase, the state’s education funding would increase 5.5 percent during the next budget year, to nearly $4.4 billion. The budget proposed a 14 percent increase in spending on foster care programs. Governor Kelly’s agenda includes the hiring of 55 additional social workers. This would increase the department’s budget 8.7 percent, to $727 million. Kelly’s budget included $14 million to initiate Medicaid expansion in Kansas. She explained that an expansion plan would be submitted to the Legislature by the end of the month. The budget provided $22 million for a 2.5 percent salary increase for state employees, excluding the judicial system and legislative branch. An additional $3 million was earmarked to increase wages for officers of the Kansas Department of Corrections. The budget proposal would complete restoration of a 4 percent, or $30 million, cut in 2017 from the Board of Regents. Kelly’s budget was built around the re-amortization of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System which essentially refinances the remaining $8.9 billion debt over 30 years. This is meant to provide $160 million in “short-term savings” but will extend the system’s debt until the year 2049. Larry Campbell, Governor Kelly’s budget director, said the debt would become an additional cost of about $7 billion and finally the $200 million would continue to be drawn annually from KDOT to finance basic government.
Senate Floor Action
State law in Kansas requires that certain appointments by the Governor or other state officials be confirmed by the Senate prior to the appointee exercising any power, duty, or function of the office. On Thursday, January 17th, the Senate confirmed 17 governor nominated appointments and 2 attorney general nominated appointments.
If I were Mayor Contest
This year, Smith Center 7th Grader Luke Franklin, was the north central regional winner of the “If I Were Mayor” memo contest. Over 450 7th grade students submitted essays from 25 schools across Kansas. Luke attended the Topeka celebration and a special lunch recognizing Kansas Mayors in cities of all sizes during Local Government Day on January 23rd.
2019 Keep it Clean Kansas Calendar – Kansas Department of Health and Environment
This yearly calendar features the winning artwork of Kansas students grades K through 12 who entered the calendar contest. The Bureau of Waste Management has sponsored this contest since 2000 to encourage students, their families and other Kansans to respect and take care of our Kansas land, water and air. Lexi Meitler, a kindergartener at Minneapolis Grade School drew the artwork for the January calendar page. Jordyn Wisinger at Phillipsburg High School was the 2019 Grand Prize Winner and is the front cover artist of the KDHE calendar. Calendars are available at no cost at KDHE by calling Julie Coleman at 785-296-1600.
Following the Kansas Legislature
You can view video streaming of both chambers via the Kansas Legislature YouTube page. In addition, many committees are now audio streamed. The Kansas Legislature website is easy use with Senate and House calendars and journals as well as the rosters of both chambers. Here are the relevant links:
The Page program is designed for students in middle school, junior high or high school. Working as a page in the Kansas Legislature is an excellent way to learn more about the legislative process. I was a page in 1981 for Representative Bill Fuller and I still have my black and white photo as a memento in my office. The dates assigned to us are Tuesday, February 12th, Wednesday, February 27th, Monday, March 11th, and Monday, March 25th. Other dates may be available upon request. Please call my office and speak to Randi or email [email protected] or [email protected] to reserve a space.
Office Information
My office remains in the same suite, 223E (East wing second floor) next to the cage elevator. Randi Walters who has worked in the Capitol for 16 years as an assistant and a committee assistant is in our office and Caitlin O’Toole is our Intern who is a KU Political Science major from Prairie Village. When visiting the Capitol, look for the kiosks in the Visitors Center where you will be able see the calendar of the day, events and directions to find the offices of Capitol staff and legislators.
As session progresses, not every bill introduced will make it to the governor’s desk, but that doesn’t mean opinions, facts and testimony weren’t heard. Your participation in the state legislature is vital. As we continue to weed through the different bills, I hope to hear from you. I want to know how legislation will impact you and our district, or the ideas you have to improve a bill. An email with your thoughts (not a form letter) is truly the best way to reach us as we sit in committees for most of the day and seldom get to stay at our desks for long periods.
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.
Apple has made the group chat function in FaceTime unavailable after users said there was a bug that could allow callers to activate another user’s microphone remotely.
The bug was demonstrated through videos online and reported on this week by tech blogs. Reports say the bug in the video chat app could allow an iPhone user calling another iPhone through Group Facetime to hear the audio from the other handset — even if the receiver did not accept the call.
“We’re aware of this issue and we have identified a fix that will be released in a software update later this week,” Apple said in a statement Tuesday.
Its online support page noted there was a technical issuewith the application and that Group Facetime “is temporarily unavailable.”
The governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, released a statement warning people about the bug and urging people to disable the app until Apple fixes the issue.
Apple is due to report its latest quarterly earnings later Tuesday amid intense investor interest in the company’s financial health. Earlier this month, Apple said that demand for iPhones was waning and that its earnings for the final quarter of 2018 would be below expectations — a rare downgrade from the company.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas expect to push forward this week with an income tax relief proposal in defiance of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s call for lawmakers to avoid adjusting state tax laws this year.
A Senate committee is set to open hearings Tuesday and could vote Thursday on a bill aimed at preventing individuals and corporations from paying more to the state because of changes in federal income tax laws at the end of 2017. Top Republicans in the GOP-dominated Legislature have made tax relief a priority.
Republicans argue Kansas is receiving an unanticipated revenue “windfall” because its income tax laws are tied to the federal tax code. While the changes championed by President Donald Trump cut rates, they also included provisions that could keep many residents from claiming itemized deductions on their state tax forms.
GOP leaders also are pushing to have their proposed changes apply retroactively, so people benefit when filing their taxes this spring for 2018. The Kansas Department of Revenue told legislators Monday that taxpayers would save $192 million during the fiscal year that begins July 1.
“Whose money is it? It’s the taxpayers’ money,” said Sen. Larry Alley, a Winfield Republican and member of the special Senate committee reviewing the legislation. “Let the individuals and corporations get that money back that was intended for them.”
The GOP’s push sets up a political confrontation with Kelly, whose top priorities are increasing spending on public schools and expanding the state’s Medicaid health coverage for the needy.
Under the Senate proposal, the state’s revenue loss — and taxpayers’ savings — would be far higher during the next budget year because of refunds of taxes already paid for 2018. The bill would reduce state revenues by $113 million in the fiscal year that begins in July 2020.
“The question is: Can we afford it at this point in time?” said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat. “You have to put it in the context of the entire budget.”
Kelly won the governor’s race last year by running againstformer GOP Gov. Sam Brownback’s unpopular fiscal policies. Brownback successfully pushed legislators to slash state income taxes in 2012 and 2013, and most of them were reversed in 2017 after persistent budget woes.
State officials have struggled to calculate the effects of the federal tax changes. Last summer, legislative researchers projected $146 million in additional revenues during the next budget year, but Democrats have been skeptical.
“This is not the time to be making any substantial changes in our tax structure,” Kelly said during a news conference last week. “We have no idea if there’s a windfall.”
But Kelly also has consistently refused to say whether she would veto a tax relief bill. Spokeswoman Ashley All said Monday only that Kelly would review any bill to “determine if it’s in the best interests of the state.”
The bill before the Senate committee would allow Kansas taxpayers to claim itemized deductions on their state income tax forms even if they don’t itemize on their federal tax forms.
The federal standard deductions have increased, discouraging taxpayers from itemizing. But the state’s standard deductions aren’t changing — a hit for some taxpayers who formerly itemized on their federal forms. Their savings would average about $60 million a year.
The bill also would make changes to keep Kansas from taxing foreign income earned by individuals and corporation — saving them $137 million during the next budget year, when they could claim refunds on their 2018 taxes, but dropping to less $60 million a year after that. Republicans argue that without such changes, businesses would be encouraged to leave the state for a more favorable tax climate elsewhere.
“I have a sense of urgency,” said Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican and chairwoman of the special tax committee.
She noted that individuals are preparing to file returns and added, “Businesses certainly need certainty.”
RENO COUNTY — A Kansas man made a court appearance Monday on two serious charges.
Petty-photo KDOC
Police arrested 40-year-old Richard Andrew Petty for breach of privacy — disseminating sexual media of a person 18 or older — and blackmail for videotapes and photos of a person.
The state alleges the blackmail charge occurred Sept. 1 and Sept. 14, 2018. Petty tried to persuade a person against her will by threatening to disseminate pictures or videotape.
The breach of privacy charge occurred Sept. 13 when he released photos or videos of the victim in a sexual act.
Petty was arrested on warrant after an investigation by the Hutchinson Police Department.
The victim was in court Monday and said she wanted the charges dropped. Petty said it was a misunderstanding.
Petty has a stalking charge pending from an incident on Jan. 9.
Magistrate Judge Daniel Gilligan agreed to lower the $50,000 bond to $25,000.
Petty served some time for an aggravated battery case from 1997.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced his appointment to key committees, as well as his continued chairmanship of two influential subcommittees, in the United States Senate. Sen. Moran will serve on the following committees for the 116th Congress:
U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Chairman
Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee on Defense
Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection, Chairman
Subcommittee on Aviation and Space
Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet
Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety
Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection
Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance
U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
“These committee assignments and their wide-ranging jurisdiction allow me to advocate for priorities important to Kansans,” said Sen. Moran. “Throughout the 116th Congress and as a member of these critical committees, I look forward to crafting and supporting legislation that helps rural communities grow and prosper, benefits farmers and ranchers, bolsters our Kansas economy and small businesses, provides for our nation’s military and veterans, ensures Native Americans have the tools they need to succeed and allows our federal agencies to perform their vital functions while responsibly using taxpayer dollars. I am grateful for the opportunity Kansans have given me to represent them in the United States Senate, and these committee assignments position me well to deliver results for our state.”
Sen. Moran will remain chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, which exercises funding jurisdiction over the Department of Justice, the FBI, the United States Trade Representative, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Commerce, to name a few.
Sen. Moran will also retain his chairmanship of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection, where he will continue to craft meaningful data privacy legislation and be a strong advocate for consumer protection and the empowerment of our Olympic and amateur athletes.
Sen. Moran’s membership on the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee will further allow him to advocate for Kansans on a wide array of issues pertaining to banking, financial services, insurance, housing, community development and global competitiveness.
Sen. Moran has worked throughout his time in Congress to improve the quality of life for the nearly 250,000 veterans living in Kansas. He has served on both the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees and will continue this service in the 116th Congress as the second highest-ranking Republican member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Additionally, Sen. Moran will continue serving on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to work on behalf of the four tribes in Kansas and propose and support legislation that promotes tribal sovereignty, economic development and land management.
