SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a late-night chase.
Gregory Smith -photo Shawnee County
Just before 10p.m. Thursday, police attempted to stop a man on a bicycle for suspicious activity in the area of 6th and SW Lincoln in Topeka, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.
The Officers activated their lights and sirens and the subject failed to stop initiating a short pursuit. The subject then ran on foot through the residential yards and was taken into custody.
Officers transported Gregory E. Smith, 51, to Shawnee County Department of Corrections for Felon in Possession of a firearm, Criminal Carry of a Weapon with Barrel less than 18 Inches, Obstruction, Aggravated Weapons Violation and other traffic charges.
Smith has previous convictions for burglary and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A key part of Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s budget plan appears doomed, creating potential trouble for her proposals to boost education funding and expand Medicaid.
Opposition hardened swiftly Friday, a day after the Democratic governor proposed cutting the state’s annual payments to its pension system for teachers and government workers.
The move would free up $145 million during the budget year that begins in July to allow Kelly to increase spending on public schools, expand Medicaid health coverage for the needy, finance other initiatives and maintain healthy cash reserves.
The pension system’s board of trustees voted unanimously Friday to condemn the proposal. Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature also have criticized it.
Budget Director Larry Campbell said that the proposal makes pension payments more manageable without endangering retirees’ benefits.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas sheriff has been sentenced to two years of probation for selling a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition to a convicted felon.
Whipple-photo KBI
Court records show former Ness County Sheriff Bryan Whipple was also ordered Thursday to pay a $4,000 fine.
Whipple pleaded guilty in October and agreed to resign and surrender his law enforcement certification as part of the plea deal.
Whipple initially faced three wire fraud charges alleging that he faxed reports falsely certifying that deputies had received training. But under the plea agreement those charges were dismissed at his sentencing hearing.
On Tuesday evening, January 16, Governor Laura Kelly addressed both legislative bodies in the Kansas House Chamber to administer her state of the state address which included her vision for the state of Kansas. Governor Kelly implored the legislature to proceed with caution as she contends that the state of Kansas is continuing a “fragile recovery.”
Governor Kelly’s main points focused on addressing education funding, the expansion of KanCare, and foster care. She also stipulated that she would like the process of addressing education finance to be a separate bill from the budget to have that move more quickly through the process.
Another main focus of the governor is on our rural communities and rural economic development. She mentioned that her administration, the Department of Commerce, and the House committee on Rural Revitalization will address the economic needs of our rural areas of the state.
The governor’s state of the state address was Governor Kelly’s first address to the legislature on her approach and vision.
Governor Kelly’s Budget
Early Wednesday morning, January 17, both the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means committees met jointly to have the Division of Budget release the details of Governor Kelly’s budget. The governor has opted to revert back to a one-year budget as opposed to a two-year budget, which has been the practice for years. Her budget is contingent on reamortizing the KPERS payments, not allowing the transfer $238 million to the Kansas Department of Transportation, adding $134 million for K-12 Education funding, funding for vacant positions at our correctional facilities, Kansas Armory upgrades, just to mention a few. There are many more details in her budget, which the budget committees and Appropriations committee will address during the session.
Transportation Taskforce
During the 2018 legislative session, the Joint Legislative Transportation Taskforce was created since T-Works will be concluding in 2020. This task force was created in order to conduct meetings across the state and identify transportation needs in all of the different regions. I was a member of this task force and attended the meetings in communities all-across the state to identify those projects that may be included in the state of Kansas’ next comprehensive transportation plan. We identified that the main focus for the new transportation plan should be: preservation of our existing infrastructure, completing T-works and the 23 delayed transportation projects, and, finally, new construction. The 2019 legislature will be drafting the new transportation plan. I will definitely keep all informed on the progress of the new plan.
Contact Information
As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at #waymaster4house, visit www.troywaymaster.com or email me at [email protected]. Also, if you happen to visit the statehouse, please let my office know.
It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.
Troy Waymaster, (R-Bunker Hill), is the 109th Dist. state representative and chairman of the House Appropriations committee.
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation continue the investigation into the homicide of 19-year-old Jacob Bouck.
Bouck- photo courtesy Pottawatomie Co. Sheriff
The teen’s body was found on Christmas Eve approximately one mile West of Wamego on the Kansas River.
Bouck, a Wamego resident and 2017 graduate of Wamego High School was last seen in the Wamego area on December 21st, 2018 and was missing until his body was located on December 24th. Bouck was reported to be wearing a dark colored jacket, black shirt, gray thermal long-johns and black shoes, according to the The Pottawatomie County Sheriff.
On Friday, the sheriff reported that a reward of $1,000 dollars is now being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this crime.
Authorities are urging anyone with information on the case to contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff at 785-457-3353 or 1-800-KS-CRIME. Tips can be anonymous.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A report says Kansas customers are paying more for electricity than in neighboring states because of investments in coal and wind power.
The Kansas Corporation Commission recently presented its analysis of electricity rates to lawmakers.
The commission found that utilities Westar Energy and Kansas City Power & Light spent billions of dollars over the last decade on coal-fired power plants in Kansas. They also spent millions of dollars complying with a now-repealed state rule for 20 percent of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020.
Commission Chief Accountant Justin Grady says Kansas decided to invest in coal when it was cheaper than gas, but the price of natural gas has since dropped.
The state Senate Utilities Committee plans to discuss the report next week.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — An accidental fire at a Kansas home caused significant damage.
Thursday afternoon fire at a home in Topeka-photo by Rick Felsburg courtesy WIBW TV
Just after 4p.m. Thursday, crews responded to a fire at a home in the 600 Block of SW 9th Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Michael Martin.
Upon arrival, fire crews reported smoke and flames coming from the back southern 2nd floor of the residence. Fire suppression crews were able to extinguish the fire, containing it to second floor and attic spaces of the home. The remaining portions of the dwelling sustained significant water damage throughout.
Estimated structural dollar loss is $50,000 to the dwelling and $25,000 contents loss.
The fire was caused by a space heater appliance and or a related electrical issue, according to Martin.
Multiple occupants of the home were able to escape unharmed. Fire crews did not find working smoke detectors at the home.
SEDGWICK COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of alleged animal cruelty.
On Tuesday morning, an unknown individual in a yellow station wagon was observed leaving a dead brown pit bull in a ditch at the intersection of Orme and Main in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
The dog had scaring on the chest and face indicative of dog fighting, according to Davidson.
The animal abuse investigator for the Wichita police department is actively investigating the case. Police have little additional information and are asking the public for help with the case.
In addition, the Wichita Animal Action League with their donor support is offering a $3,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of those responsible.
In her first budget as governor, Democrat Laura Kelly aims to inject cash into what she calls critical state services.
The proposal unveiled Thursday also would start to wean the state off money diverted for years from highway construction and upkeep.
But the bill met a predictably harsh reception from some Republicans. They argued the spending plan would lead to budget deficits.
To invest in services, while preserving a savings account, the budget would stretch out payments intended to fill a deficit in the state pension plan. It also continues transfers from the highway fund, although it would take less money from roads than in recent years.
That would let Kansas plow money into schools, child welfare and an expanded Medicaid program that would offer health coverage to an added 150,000 or so Kansans.
Kelly’s budget also shoots to end a years-long school funding lawsuit. It would add $92 million a year more for schools to comply with a court decision from last year.
The budget follows a theme Kelly has repeated, that she inherited problems from her Republican predecessors and that she can’t restore state services in a single year.
“It’s going to take time for Kansas to heal from the damage inflicted over the last eight years,” Kelly said in a statement, “so we don’t have a moment to lose.”
Larry Campbell, the budget director for Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, laid out the administration’s spending plan to lawmakers on Thursday. CREDIT STEPHEN KORANDA / KANSAS NEWS SERVCIE
Kelly’s budget director, Larry Campbell, told lawmakers in a budget briefing that the spending plan invests in services while allowing Kansas to weather economic uncertainty that, he said, could include a possible recession in the coming months or years.
“We need a cushion, and we need tools back in the toolbox to address the unforeseen economic challenges coming,” Campbell said.
At the end of fiscal year 2020, Kelly’s budget would leave Kansas with a $686 million reserve. That’s 9 percent of state spending and a decrease from the $761 million the state had banked at the end of fiscal year 2018.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning said lawmakers don’t want to extend the payoff schedule in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, or KPERS. Without the restructured pension payments, he said, the numbers in the budget don’t work.
“This whole budget is built on a house of cards,” Denning said after the meeting.
Kelly’s also pushing to expand the health care program Medicaid. She’s budgeted $14 million, although the administration says the cost would rise in the following year.
That is an underestimate of the true cost, Denning said.
“We know that it’s impossible,” Denning said.
Yet Denning applauded the proposal to reduce transfers from the highway fund.
Medicaid expansion will likely have bipartisan support in the Legislature. A bill passed both chambers in 2017 but was vetoed by then-Gov. Sam Brownback.
Democratic Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore said even if the cost estimate isn’t exact, Medicaid expansion is something lawmakers need to do because of the benefit it could offer to Kansans and struggling rural hospitals.
“I absolutely believe we have to invest in that,” Wolfe Moore said.
The spending plan also makes investments in a variety of other services.
It would spend $22 million to give state employees a 2.5 percent raise.
The plan would reverse a funding cut universities absorbed in 2016. Those cuts had already been partially restored and finishing the job will cost almost $9 million.
To tackle problems in the state’s troubled child welfare system, the budget proposes hiring 55 more social workers at a cost of $4 million. The plan would also spend more than $7 million on services aimed at keeping children in their homes so they never enter the foster care system in the first place.
The governor’s spending plan serves as a template for state lawmakers. Now, budget writers from the House and Senate will begin digging deeper into the bill and developing their own spending priorities.
“It’s kind of a rosy picture,” said Republican Rep. Troy Waymaster, the top budget writer in the House. “We have to go back and do a complete analysis.”
KANSAS CITY — Fans who suffer from the epidemic that hit the state this week have a place to go for help.
image courtesy KC Chiefs
A Kansas City area hospital helps patients with flu, colds and many other health issues. Now they have created a website that will help patients who have Chiefs Fever.
According to the St. Lukes Health System website, Chiefs Fever is an extremely contagious condition of the brain and body. It’s known to occur when the Kansas City Chiefs utterly dominate in the AFC West.
Head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are among the healthcare providers listed on the website.
Both providers will be busy Sunday evening during the AFC Championship game that is scheduled to kick off at 5:40 p.m.
COWLEY COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on child abuse and drug charges.
Brown -photo KDOC
On January 5, police were dispatched to South Central Kansas Medical Center for a report of a 20-month- old child who was brought in to the emergency room with severe burns, according to a media release.
Eric Christopher Brown, 37, brought the child to the hospital, according to police.
SCKMC emergency personnel reported the injuries to law enforcement, due to their severity and suspicious nature. The responding officers began an investigation and interviewed Brown at that time.
A search warrant was obtained and executed at Brown’s residence, 617 N. First Street in Arkansas City. Police confiscated an illegal firearm and items relating to drug use as evidence.
The child victim was transported to a Wichita hospital, where he continues treatment for severe burns.
In consultation with the child’s medical care team, police determined the cause of the burns was not consistent with the narrative of the accident, as Brown reported it to them during his interview.
Police arrested Brown on suspicion of two felony counts each of abuse of a child and criminal use of weapons, as well as one felony count of aggravated endangering a child, according to the release.
In addition Brown is being held on suspicion of one felony count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a stimulant, three misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and one misdemeanor count each of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of marijuana and possession of a stimulant.
Brown was transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in lieu of $76,000 bond through Cowley County District Court in Arkansas City.
Brown has two previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Department of Labor is recommending that federal employees who are furloughed because of the partial government shutdown should apply for unemployment benefits.
Impacted fed. workers who want to file for unemployment or who have questions, call the KDOL Contact Center at 1-800-292-6333.
The department said in a news release Thursday that unemployment insurance was created to help people who are not working through no fault of their own.
Federal employees in Kansas can apply for benefits by calling a contact center at 1-800-292-6333.
Applicants will need to provide wage verification, such as pay stubs or W-2 forms.
Federal employees who are working full time but not being paid are not eligible for unemployment benefits. The law requires anyone receiving back pay to any repay jobless benefits they received.
SMITH COUNTY – The 15-year-old who was injured in the Dec. 15 officer-involved shooting incident in Smith Center has been arrested.
Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) agents served an arrest warrant for the teen at around 5 p.m. Thursday at Saint Francis Community Services, 5097 W. Cloud St. in Salina, Kan., where he had been held since his release from a Kearney, Neb. hospital.
The juvenile was arrested for attempted first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
Following his arrest, the suspect was transported to the Sedgwick County Juvenile Detention Facility where he will be housed.
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SMITH COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating the attempted murder of a woman in Smith County, as well as an officer involved shooting which occurred as police attempted to apprehend the 15-year-old suspect.
Google map
According to a KBI media release, just after 10:20 a.m. Saturday, the Smith County Sheriff’s received a 911 call, and responded to 10021 O Road in Smith Center. Upon arriving, they located a 66-year-old white female victim who reported being restrained, beaten, and strangled. She was taken to a local hospital, and is expected to recover.
The suspect, a 15-year-old black male, fled the area on horseback. When he was located by Kansas Highway Patrol troopers at 100 Road and L Road, in Smith County, he was armed with a firearm. KHP and Smith County Sheriff’s deputies spent a few hours attempting to apprehend the suspect. Then just before 2:20 p.m. the suspect fired at troopers. Two troopers returned fire, striking the subject.
They rendered medical aid and EMS responded. EMS transported him to a local hospital. He was then flown to a Kearney, Nebraska hospital where he underwent surgery. His condition is currently unknown. The identity of the subject will be withheld because he is a juvenile.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
