WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Republican plan to overhaul the tax code (all times local):
9:20 a.m.
President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are proposing a tax plan that they say will be simple and fair.
In a document obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday, their outline a blueprint for almost doubling the standard deduction for married taxpayers filing jointly to $24,000, and $12,000 for individuals.
The plan calls for cutting the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent. The GOP proposal also calls for reducing the number of tax brackets from seven to three with a surcharge on the wealthiest Americans.
The plan also leaves intact the deduction for mortgage interest and charitable deductions.
The White House and Republicans plan a formal roll out later Wednesday.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are rolling out a sweeping plan to cut taxes for individuals and corporations, simplify the tax system, and likely double the standard deduction used by most Americans.
Months in the making, the plan meets a political imperative for Republicans to deliver an overhaul of the U.S. tax code after the failure of the health care repeal.
The public reveal of the plan was set for Wednesday. The day before, details emerged on Capitol Hill while Trump personally appealed to House Republicans and Democrats at the White House to get behind his proposal.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. (AP) — A former Blue Springs doctor and Boy Scout leader is being held without bond after admitting that he sexually assaulted a boy for years.
The Kansas City Star reports 45-year-old Joseph Mackey, of Lee’s Summit, pleaded guilty in Jackson County Circuit Court to statutory sodomy. He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 3.
Court records indicate the victim met Mackey through a scouting activity and was also a patient of the doctors. He was abused dozens of times between age 14 and adulthood.
Investigators found other victims who said they were abused by Mackey. He told some victims he was coordinating a sexual activities study for the University of Kansas. University officials told investigators the study didn’t exist.
TOPEKA — The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating an incident allegedly involving a trooper and asking the public to help with information.
On social media, the KHP reported they had been made aware of a recent incident at a local restaurant possibly involving a KHP officer asking a breastfeeding mother to go to the restroom to feed her child.
At this time, the Kansas Highway Patrol is working to gather information on the incident, and to determine when and where it occurred.
We would like to ask the mom who this involved to please contact us by calling 785-296-6800 or private message us on Facebook so we can get more details. We would appreciate hearing from you.
SHAWNEE COUNTY – Authorities are investigating an alleged arson fire at a home in Kansas.
Just before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, fire crews responded to a fire at a home at 1507 NW Eugene Street in Topeka. Fire crews found the single story wood frame residential structure with heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear.
Firefighters began an offensive fire attack, keeping it confined to the structure of fire origin. A search of the structure was performed and no occupants were located.
A Topeka Fire Department Investigation’s Unit responded to this incident and determined the fire was intentionally set.
Estimated dollar loss was Fifteen Thousand Five Hundred Dollars.
Hudson -photo Jackson Co.McClane -photo Jackson Co.
JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have made an arrest.
Just after 3a.m. Monday, sheriff’s deputies were able to follow two men allegedly involved in a burglary to a vehicle in the city of Hoyt. Just outside of Mayetta deputies arrested John Bradley Hudson 42, and Jason Michael McClane, 43, both of Hoyt were for burglary and felony theft from the vehicle.
In addition, both men were charged with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Deputies impounded a passenger car and a semi-tractor that were believed to be involved in the incident. Bond on both men was set at $7,500.00. Hudson has previous conviction for drugs and forgery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Thirsty Coconut Director of Sales and Marketing Paula Proud and President Luke Einsel hold stainless steel parts made by KCI to secure drink machines.
KDOC
TOPEKA – Offenders are helping a Kansas business develop by taking advantage of a federal certification that allows inmates to work with private enterprises through Kansas Correctional Industries (KCI).
Thirsty Coconut, a family-owned producer of healthy drinks based in Louisburg, needed assistance with their beverage dispensing machines, and had nowhere in Kansas to turn to for help, until they found KCI.
KCI, a subsidiary of the Kansas Department of Corrections, teaches offenders new skills, and allows them to earn wages in preparation for life outside of a correctional facility. One valuable component of KCI is the Private Industry Program. The program involves partnerships between the KDOC/KCI and private business for prison based and non-prison based operations. KCI ensures that new private industry programs do not negatively impact workers employed by interested private companies or available workers in the locality of the host correctional facility.
A new federal certification of KCI shops has expanded its ability to assist Kansas businesses.
Since the establishment of the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP) as created by Congress in 1979, Kansas has been involved with the “employer model” by working in partnership with privately operated companies. KCI factories have served State Agencies since 1958, but recently some KCI shops, like the metal shop, have been certified through a Federal Program Prison Industries Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP) for “customer based” work allowing KCI to assist Kansas businesses with the manufacturing of products. KCI recently certified not only the metal factory, but the furniture factory, textiles factory and the dental lab have completed the process as well.
Because of the certification, fabrication of a new product by KCI is helping a new Kansas business develop.
Luke Einsel, President of Thirsty Coconut, Inc., met representatives of KCI at a vendor fair, and found a partner who could create the stainless steel parts needed for their machines.
“The only place I could find that would do what I needed was in China,” said Einsel, “I was just about to sign a contract that would have sent this work to the other side of the world, when fortunately I found out KCI might be able to help.”
Brad Jurgensen, KCI Director of Operations, said the recent expansion in certification of some KCI shops has allowed them to take on new projects such as that of Thirsty Coconut.
“This way the offenders learn to work with several different customers, learn a broad range of skills and flexibility to work on different products,” Jurgensen said.
Jurgensen said he noticed in recent years a shortage of metal fabricators and welders within the state of Kansas. He said KCI is always in need of projects for offenders to work on, and transitioning to customer-based service has opened up new opportunities. These work environments found within correctional facilities pay market wages to offenders who stay free of discipline issues and prove themselves reliable. Often the training they gain within KCI programs translates directly to employment opportunities upon release.
KCI recently produced the parts to satisfy Thirsty Coconut’s order – enough to secure 480 machines.
“It’s really good for our company that we can get these products made right here in Kansas,” said Einsel. “I’m really glad it turned into a win-win for us and the Department of Corrections.”
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man who used Facebook to try and lure girls into prostitution has been sentenced to nearly eight years in prison.
Sedgwick County authorities say Jesse Duckens was arrested after a 16-year-old girl’s mother went to police when she found Facebook messages from Duckens telling her daughter how she could make money through prostitution and asking the girl for nude photos.
A detective with the Exploited and Missing Child Unit pretended to be the girl and set up a meeting with Duckens, who was arrested when he arrived at the meeting spot.
Court records show the detectives found posts advertising the girl as an escort on Daddyslist.com and Backpage.com.
Duckens pleaded guilty in July to commercial sexual exploitation of a child. He was sentenced on Friday. He has a previous conviction for robbery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
SALINE COUNTY —A Kansas man recently evicted was arrested Sunday for allegedly attempting to burn down the rental property while his dog was still inside.
At 11:30 a.m. Sunday, police responded to report of a possible burglary at a residence in the 1400 Block of Arapahoe in Salina, according to Salina Police Capt. Paul Forrester. Officers arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the residence.
Fire crews were dispatched and began clearing the building. They made contact with 41-year-old Billy Dean Martin who took refuge in a room, holding the door shut so firefighters could not get in.
Martin told them that he started the fire because he wanted to kill himself and burn the place down, according to Forrester.
The firefighters forced their way into the room and removed Martin and his dog.
Capt. Forrester said that Martin had put paper on the stove to start the fire. It caused about $5,200 in damage before fire crews extinguished it.
Martin had been evicted from the residence on Sept. 16 and was supposed to remove his belongs by Sept. 20.
Police arrested Martin for felony aggravated arson, burglary, animal cruelty, possession of marijuana and interference with fire crews.
WACO, Texas (AP) — The husband and wife team behind HGTV remodeling show “Fixer Upper” (Eagle Cable TV 51 or 651 in HD) have announced that the popular series will end after its upcoming fifth season.
In a blog post Tuesday announcing the decision, Joanna and Chip Gaines write that they need to catch their breath for a moment.
The couple says their family is healthy and their marriage “has honestly never been stronger.” They say they plan “to take this time to shore up and strengthen the spots that are weak, rest the places that are tired and give lots of love and attention to both our family and our businesses.”
Launched in 2013, “Fixer Upper” follows the couple as they redo houses near their Waco home. Its final season premieres in November.
MAIZE, Kan. (AP) — Maize police are asking for the public’s help as they continue to try and find a woman who’s been missing for more than four months.
Police say 30-year-old Kendra Leigh Nystrom was last seen around on the morning of May 4 when she left her parents’ house with her dog, a black and white Chihuahua.
She left on foot and left all her personal belongings behind, including her cellphone. The house was near Cowskin Creek, which was running high that day.
She is 5-feet-4-inches tall and weighs between 100 and 120 pounds. She is white, has reddish-brown hair and the initials “R.J.” tattooed on her left ring finger.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka high school student was arrested after reportedly making social media threats against the school.
The student at Seaman High School was arrested Monday night. The student was taken to juvenile intake for making a criminal threat but it wasn’t clear if the person was detained or released to his parents.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the threat was sent via Snapchat and contained a reference to Columbine, the infamous 1999 high school shooting in Colorado that left 15 people dead and more than 20 injured.
Shawnee County sheriff’s Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer said the threat did not target specific people at the school.
An email sent to parents Tuesday said the school contacted law enforcement immediately after learning of the threat and the student was arrested at his home.
Location of Monday night armed-robbery google image
SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and looking for a suspect.
Just after 6p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to an armed robbery at the EZ stop in the 900 block of south Woodlawn in Wichita, according to a media release. Upon arrival officers made contact with a 23-year-old employee who stated an unknown suspect entered the business, approached the counter, and demanded money and cigarettes.
The suspect displayed a black handgun from his right-side waist area. Money and cigarettes were taken by the suspect and he left on a black BMX style bicycle. There were no injuries in this case.
The suspect is described as a 6-foot-tall, 20-year-old black male weighing approximately 120-pounds. He was unshaven, wore a black overcoat and black pants.
Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to call Wichita Police
WICHITA— A Missouri man pleaded guilty Monday to robbing a bank in Osage City, Kansas, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.
Prewitt- photo courtesy Osage Co. Sheriff
Hunter Lee Prewitt, 28, Mountain Grove, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. He admitted he robbed the Landmark National Bank at 106 South 6th Street in Osage City. Prewitt gave a teller a note saying: “This a robbery. Give me all one hundreds, fifties and twenties.” He left the bank with cash and drove away in a white pickup truck.
Starting with a description of the truck, investigators obtained video surveillance photos and followed Prewitt’s movements including a stop at a gas station in Osage City before the robbery and a pawn shop in Lyndon, Kan.
The Missouri Highway Patrol used that information to identify a 2003 Ford F-150 pickup registered to Prewitt. A crime intelligence analyst with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation conducted a search of law enforcement tag readers and he found more information on Prewitt and the truck. Prewitt was arrested outside Springfield, Mo.
Sentencing is set for Dec. 18. Bank robbery carries a penalty of up to 20 years in a federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
