U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran remains a “no” vote on the Republican’s Affordable Care Act replacement bill.
In late June, the Republican senator from Kansas, to the surprise of many, announced his opposition to an initial draft of the bill. But, as of the close of business Monday, Moran had not taken a position on the revised version released Thursday by GOP leaders.
That changed Monday night when he and Sen. Mike Lee, a fellow Republican from Utah, announced their opposition to the measure on Twitter.
For the same reasons I could not support the previous version of this bill, I cannot support this one. #HealthcareBill
In a statement also issued on social media, Moran said while he remained committed to repealing Obamacare, Congress needs to make a “fresh start” on writing a replacement bill and do it in an “open legislative process.”
“This closed-door process has yielded the BCRA (Better Care Reconciliation Act), which fails to repeal the Affordable Care Act or address healthcare’s rising costs,” Moran said. “For the same reasons I could not support the previous version of this bill, I cannot support this one.”
“We should not put our stamp of approval on bad policy,” he said.
At town hall meetings over Congress’ July 4 break, Moran said he was concerned the bill wouldn’t lower overall consumer costs and wouldn’t provide adequate protection for those with pre-existing conditions. He also expressed concerns that deep cuts in Medicaid over the next decade could threaten the survival of already struggling rural hospitals and nursing homes.
“I am a product of rural Kansas,” Moran said July 6 to an overflow crowd in Palco, a small town north of Hays. “I understand the value of a hospital in your community, of a physician in your town, of a pharmacy on Main Street.”
Moran’s renewed stand against the bill drew immediate praise Monday from Kansas groups that have spent the past several weeks urging him to maintain his opposition to it.
“Senator Moran’s leadership will protect 120,000 Kansans from losing coverage and protect providers from devastating Medicaid cuts,” said David Jordan, director of the advocacy group Alliance for a Healthy Kansas.
“Kansans spoke out and Jerry Moran listened,” Hilary Gee, a Kansas lobbyist for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network, tweeted in reaction to the news.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement late Monday the defections of Moran and Lee effectively kills the bill.
“Regretfully, it is now apparent that the effort to repeal and immediately replace the failure of Obamacare will not be successful,” McConnell said.
Jim McLean is managing director of the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of kcur.org, Kansas Public Radio and KMUW covering health, education and politics. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
RENO COUNTY— Two people were arrested after a chase with law enforcement on Sunday.
Just after 9 a.m. a Hutchinson Police Officer traveling on Kansas 61 recognized the driver of a vehicle as 22-year-old Clancy Nelson.
The officer knew Nelson had numerous warrants and attempted to make a traffic stop and the chase was on. Police say Nelson ran a number of traffic lights, stop signs and yield signs in Hutchinson.
The chase ended on a rural road when Nelson attempted to make a turn on Mayfield Road and lost control. The vehicle slid into a ditch. Nelson and his passenger, 22-year-old Arianna Rucker, were both ordered from the vehicle.
Officers then did a search and located methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. They also found a black folding knife and 18” machete.
Potential charges against the two include possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a firearm and driving while suspended.
Nelson is also being held for a probation violation and failure to appear. He is also listed as an absconder from community corrections on a drug conviction. He has a previous weapons conviction in Reno County. He is due back in court next week.
Rucker posted bond and she’ll be in court later this week.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have arrested one suspect in the weekend shooting death of a semi-pro football player in Wichita and continue looking for two others.
Police have identified the victim as 19-year-old Timothy Golden, who was a tight end for the Kansas Cougars. Police say Golden was found dead Saturday afternoon inside an apartment building and that the 18-year-old suspect was arrested that day. The man was booked into jail on suspicion of first-degree murder early Sunday.
Cougars Head Coach Darrell Nave described Golden as a “very energetic kid.” Nave said he had anticipated that Golden was going to have a “breakout season” because he “just wanted to be a better athlete.”
Police declined to discuss a motive because two of the suspects haven’t yet been arrested.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Saturday afternoon fatal shooting and have one suspect in custody.
Just after 1:40p.m. officers were dispatched to a shooting at an apartment complex in the 500 Block of South McLean in Wichita, according to Lt. Jason Stephens with Wichita Police.
First responders attended to the 19-year-old victim identified as Timothy J. Golden. He died at the scene.
Investigators determined that three unknown male suspects went to that location and multiple fired shots into the apartment, according to Stephens. Police did identify 18-year-old Ritchie Randle as one of the suspects. He is being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on a requested charge First-Degree Murder.
Authorities are working to identify the other two suspects and ask that anyone with information on the shooting contact police. Stephens did not know a possible motive for the shooting.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas 18-year-old accused of having a role in the shooting death of a man in Topeka has been convicted of first-degree murder.
A Shawnee County jury found Christopher Patillo Jr. guilty on Monday after a six-day trial. Patillo, who was 16 at the time of 20-year-old Brian Miller’s death in April of last year, had been certified to stand trial as an adult.
Patillo faces a life sentence with no chance of parole for a quarter century.
Prosecutors argued that Patillo drove a van from which a gunman fired shots.
Patillo also was convicted of criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied dwelling, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated child endangerment.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas man has been ordered to spend nearly three decades in prison after admitting he killed a woman in a Missouri apartment where officers found three children cowering under a blanket.
Thirty-two-year-old Derrick Williams of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced Monday in Kansas City, Missouri, after pleading guilty to second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and three counts of armed criminal action.
Williams was sentenced to 28 years on the murder count and 15 years on each of the other charges, with the terms to run simultaneously.
Williams admitted he killed 32-year-old Denise Gayle in July of last year. Court records say officers responding to a report of gunfire and screams found a naked Williams outside the apartment. Gayle’s body was found in a bathroom.
WASHINGTON- Kansas Senator Jerry Moran confirmed on social media Monday evening he would not support the Senate health care bill.
Moran and Mike Lee of Utah say they will oppose the Republican health care bill, dealing a blow to GOP leaders’ hopes of repealing and replacing President Barack Obama’s legislation.
Dr. Ann Kristin Neuhaus -image courtesy Fox 4 Kansas City
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ medical board has for the third time revoked the license of a doctor whose second opinions allowed the late Dr. George Tiller to perform late-term abortions more than a decade ago.
The Board of Healing Arts acted against Dr. Ann Kristin Neuhaus again over what it concluded were inadequate records for 11 patients aged 10 to 18 who sought abortions in 2003. Kansas law required a second doctor to say continuing a pregnancy would permanently harm a patient’s physical or mental health.
The board’s order earlier this month said poor record-keeping could jeopardize patients’ future care.
The board revoked the Nortonville doctor’s license in 2012 and again in 2015. Each time, a Shawnee County judge overturned its action and ordered the board to reconsider.
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on murder and burglary charges.
Just before 9:30 a.m. Saturday the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office received a transferred “911” call from the Riley County Police Department in reference to a burglary in progress, according to a media release.
The caller was in 8400 block of Junietta Road Manhattan, Pottawatomie County, Kansas and reported that a black male suspect in his late 20′ to early 30’s had entered their residence. While inside the residence, encountered the caller and threaten to harm the caller.
The victim reported that the suspect had left the residence driving a green four door Ford car with the trunk tied down with a rope.
While the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office was meeting with the victim, at 9:50 a.m., an additional “911” call came in from the 4100 block of Taneil Road Manhattan, Pottawatomie County, Kansas.
The caller stated that they witnessed a male driving a green Ford Crown Victoria with a tied down trunk that had pulled up in front of their neighbor’s residence. The male driver entered the neighbor’s residence through a broken part of the garage door. Deputies from the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office and Officer’s from the Riley County Police Department responded to Taneil Road, found the male suspect identified as Devon Davis, 28, Manhattan, inside the residence, and took him into custody without incident.
He is being held for attempted 2nd murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, criminal threat, criminal damage to property and criminal trespass. Bond was set at $250,000. Davis has previous drug convictions in Riley County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
LINDSBORG -Bethany College issued a statement Monday that the board of directors of the Higher Learning Commission removed the school’s probation and reaffirmed the college’s accreditation.
“…This outcome is the successful culmination of two years of diligent, smart work to correct areas of the college that were cited as out of compliance by the HLC in 2015,” President William Jones said. “It was a very challenging time and God was merciful. The great work done by our faculty, staff, administration, and board of directors turned the college around. Thanks to our campus team and the strong support of our alumni and friends, Bethany College will become a celebrated institution in the Midwest and in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”
According to a media release., the HLC board of directors made its decision at its June 29 meeting. The official letter from the HLC stated that the college was removed from the sanction of probation and placed the college on the “Standard Pathway.”
“Bethany College demonstrated what can be done when a campus and community come together,” Board Chair Corey Peterson said. “Thousands of hours of work were put in by faculty and staff to accomplish this, all while never losing focus on providing an excellent experience for students. The dedication and resolve shown by faculty and staff and the commitment of the Smoky Valley, alumni and friends is another example of what makes Bethany College a special place. With the leadership and campus team in place, you can be assured we will not let off the gas. I am confident the future is bright at ‘Dear Ol’ Bethany’.”
The HLC board of directors confirmed the recommendations of the comprehensive evaluation visit team that visited campus in February and of the Institutional Actions Council (IAC), both of which called for the removal of probation and reaffirmation of accreditation. The college was placed on probation in June 2015 for not meeting compliance criterion relating to finances and operational processes. The college remained fully accredited while on probation.
“KICA (Kansas Independent College Association) congratulates Bethany College on the announcement that the Higher Learning Commission has removed the institution from probation status,” Matt Lindsey, president of KICA, said. “This took extreme dedication and diligent attention to detail by the entire Bethany College community and the city of Lindsborg, demonstrating once again the strength and purpose and leadership that one can find at small independent colleges in Kansas.”
To comply with the HLC findings in 2015, the college prepared a comprehensive self-evaluation showing evidence of accreditation compliance and how it planned to resolve the HLC’s concerns. This report and hundreds of pieces of evidence were the basis for the evaluation visit team’s study of the college in February. The evaluation visit team’s report recommended removal of probation, which was confirmed in April by the IAC. The IAC reviewed the report and heard testimony from the evaluation visit team leader and from members of the college, including President Jones, Board Chair Peterson, Provost Bob Carlson, and Vice President of Finance Jean Hall.
“The entire faculty and staff worked on the self-evaluation in one way or another,” Provost Carlson said. “Certainly the team leaders that prepared the information for each of the criterion must be commended and Professor John Mullen who led the entire team and oversaw the writing of the report was instrumental in this positive outcome.”
In the evaluation visit team’s report, it commended the college, saying, “Bethany College has demonstrated that it is truly a learning organization by responding to the issues that placed it on probation. Business functions have been greatly improved, and a commitment to operating within its means now prevails.”
Bethany’s recent audit report confirmed what the evaluation visit team reported. The audit report, presented to the college board of directors in February, showed a positive balance for the first time in eight years with a total change of net operating assets from nearly $5.5 million loss in fiscal year 2015 to a positive of more than $77,000 in fiscal year 2016.
The college recently celebrated the success of a two-year fundraising campaign that raised more than $4 million in unrestricted support. In addition, alumni participation in giving increased by four percentage points.
The evaluation visit team also recognized the strong college and community relationship in its report to the HLC. “The Lindsborg community has rekindled its affection for Bethany College, and the partnerships that have existed and those that are now being formed together demonstrate the institution’s commitment to the common good as well as its commitment to serving its external constituencies.” The report also stated, “A sense of renewal and hope with the new president and the collective charge forward is palpable across the campus and Lindsborg community.”
A five-year strategic plan developed through faculty, staff, student, board, and community input was recently unanimously approved by the Bethany board of directors. This plan illustrates how the college and community are working well together and making plans for a shared future. The plan sets out a vision for the college that looks specifically at strategies to address advancing the academic program, strengthening and establishing distinctive offerings, bolstering the college’s market position, creating robust resource development, and ensuring prudent financial management.
“The strategic plan will serve as the guiding document for all of the college’s annual division planning,” President Jones said. “It will be important for all of us on campus to use this as a guide in our individual planning while being open to new possibilities and able to address new challenges.”
President Jones concluded his remarks on the joyful news by stating, “I expect even more students from our local area and beyond will now want the kind of transformational learning and living experience that we offer. It’s a great day to be a Swede!”
CDC photo-skin of a patient after 3 days of measles infection
SEDGWICK COUNTY -The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Sedgwick County Division of Health reports a confirmed case of measles in a Sedgwick County resident.
According to a media release from Sedgwick County, there is concern that a number of people in the general population may have potentially been exposed to the person with measles in Sedgwick County while contagious. To prevent further spread of the disease, KDHE is asking anyone that visited the following locations to please call us at the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 1-877-427-7317 for further evaluation.
· Monday, July 10, 2017, between 6:45 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Lamar’s Donuts located at 10051 West 21st Street
· Monday, July 10, 2017, between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Pathway Church located at 2001 North Maize Road
· Tuesday, July 11, 2017, between 2:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Walmart located at 21st and Maize
· Tuesday, July 11, 2017, between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Kwik Shop located at 37th and Maize
· Tuesday, July 11, 2017, between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Jason’s Deli located at 21st and Ridge
· Wednesday, July 12, 2017, between 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Jiffy Lube located at 21st and Ridge
· Wednesday, July 12, 2017, between 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Academy Sports located at 2710 North Maize Road
· Wednesday, July 12, 2017, between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Michael’s located at 2441 North Maize Road
· Wednesday, July 12, 2017, between 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Family Video located at 29th and Tyler
· Thursday July 13, 2017, between 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Moxley and Wagle Periodontics located at 825 South Hillside
· Thursday July 13, 2017, between 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Vermillion Elementary located at 501 South James Avenue.
If you visited one or more of these locations during the times listed above, please call the hotline 1-877-427-7317. We will ask you about the time that you spent in each of the locations listed above. If we determine that you were potentially exposed to measles, we will ask about immunization status, any signs or symptoms of measles, and will ask questions to assess whether you are at risk for developing measles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines individuals at high risk as infants aged less than 12 months, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
To report visiting any of the locations mentioned above during the date and times listed above, please call the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 1-877-427-7317. Healthcare providers that have questions should also call the Epidemiology Hotline.
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. Measles is highly contagious and is spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. The signs and symptoms of measles typically begin one to two weeks after someone is exposed to an infected person. Symptoms include:
· Fever
· Blotchy rash on the skin, which spreads from the head to the trunk then to the lower extremities (measles can be spread to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears)
· Cough
· Runny nose
· Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
· Feeling run down, achy
· Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth (Koplik spots)
KDHE and the Sedgwick County Division of Health recommend that contacts stay home if they have a fever, except to see a healthcare provider. Before visiting a healthcare provider or the Emergency Room, call ahead so that the provider can take measures to protect other patients and staff. For general questions regarding measles, please dial the United Way at 211.
For more information about measles, please visit here.
RED WILLOW COUNTY, NE — A Kansas woman died from injuries in a Sunday morning crash in Nebraska.
A pickup driven by Aaron Jones, 23, Cambridge, NE, was traveling on Road 399 three miles east of Indianola in Red Willow County, according to a media release from the Nebraska State Patrol.
The driver lost control of the pickup. It rolled and ejected Jones and a passenger Holly Myers, 19, Horace, Kansas.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. Myers was transported to good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney where she died.
Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash. They were not wearing seat belts, according to Nebraska State Patrol.
From left to right ( Walker, Tellis, Presley and Lovelady-photos Salina Police
SALINE COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities are investigating five suspects for alleged felony theft.
Just before 5 p.m. Friday, police responded to a report of shoplifting at the Salina Dillard’s, located in the Central Mall, according to Salina Police Sgt. James Feldman.
The employees told police that several women suspected of shoplifting were seen running to a white 2004 Chevy Classic. The vehicle left the area with a male driver.
A Saline County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle that evening and made a stop near the intersection of South Ohio and Salemsborg.
Police arrested 18-year-old Khaezia Presley; 21-year-old Kenya Lovelady; 19-year-old Shakayla Walker; 19-year-old Lakendera Tellis and a 17-year-old male. All five are from Wichita. They are being held for felony theft.
Authorities are still attempting to catalog all of the stolen items in the vehicle but Feldman said that the group allegedly stole from Dillards, Victoria’s Secret and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The suspects stole mainly clothing items, according to Feldman. The case is still under investigation as police are working with local and nonlocal businesses to get an exact value on all of the stolen items. He said additional charges may follow.
