OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A GOP leader in a largely white Kansas City suburb says the party “didn’t mean anything” by promoting a picnic with the slogan “Olathe Lives Matter!” and a rainbow font.
The Kansas City Star reports that Olathe Republican Party chairman David Lightner says each year the party attempts to include a humorous line in its invitations and that he’s sorry “if it was taken the wrong way.” He says, “Black lives matter. White lives matter. All lives matter.” Olathe is more than 80 percent white.
Lightner also added that the use of rainbow font wasn’t intended to be a reference to the LGBT rights movement. The Faith and Freedom Picnic is scheduled for Saturday. Among the speakers is Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who is running for governor.
SHAWNEE COUNTY- After police were involved in 84 incidents at a home including many involving drugs, the Topeka City Attorney announced Thursday the city is going to court to “padlock” the residence for up to two years.
In a media release, the Topeka City Attorney said this first ever nuisance abatement case in Topeka, commonly referred to as a “padlock” case, is authorized under Kansas statutes when real or personal property is being used to carry on certain types of unlawful activities.
The owners of the home in the 2400 Block of SW Beverly were notified of the activities in October of 2016 and since that time, the unlawful activity at the property has continued.
The petition says authorities have recovered stolen vehicles, encountered a self-described methamphetamine addict and collected numerous drugs and paraphernalia.
Jeffrey Patton told the Capital-Journal that there have been “run-ins with the law” during the six years he’s lived in the home, sometimes with other people. But he says “cops cause more problems than I do.”
If the Court finds that the owner of the property knew or should have known of the unlawful activities and did not make a bona fide attempt to abate the nuisance, the Court can order any building or structure located on the property to be padlocked for up to two years. A civil penalty of up to $25,000 and attorney fees can also be recovered.
ELLSWORTH COUNTY – A Kansas man died in an accident just after 7p.m. Thursday in Ellsworth County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Jeep Cherokee driven by Kenney, Martin J. Kenney, Assaria, was westbound on Kansas 140 four miles west of Brookville.
The Jeep left the roadway, crossed the center lane into the eastbound lane of travel, entered the grass on the south side of the road and rolled into a barbed wire fence and the driver was ejected.
Kenney was transported to the Ellsworth County Hospital where he died. Kenney was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
WASHINGTON -Senate Republicans Thursday released a 142-page draft of their bill to eliminate much of the Obama health care law.
The measure would cut and revamp Medicaid, the health care program for lower-income and disabled people.
The Senior Senator from Kansas Pat Roberts said it is time to put ideology aside and move on the bill. “What is the alternative? Single payer, socialized medicine? The American people don’t want that. We can’t delay. Delay is higher premiums, higher co-pays and little choice. This bill is the best path to immediate relief for patients in 2018. This bill is the best possible bill under very difficult circumstances.”
Senator Jerry Moran did not commit to the bill, “I was not and am not for Obamacare and have seen firsthand the negative impact the law has had on too many Kansans.”
“I will fully review this legislation and am awaiting the Congressional Budget Office score to gain a complete understanding of the impacts and consequences this bill would have on hardworking Kansans. If this bill isn’t good for Kansas, it isn’t good for me.”
It would repeal tax increases Obama’s law imposed on higher-income people and medical industry companies to pay for expanded coverage. And it would end the tax penalty Obama’s statute imposes on people who don’t buy insurance — in effect, ending the so-called individual mandate.
It faces uniform Democratic opposition. And at least a half-dozen Republicans — both conservatives and moderates — have complained about it.
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Democrats are roundly criticizing the Republican plan to scrap the Obama health care law.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke on the Senate floor Thursday moments after the GOP’s 142-page discussion draft was posted online. Republicans had been briefed on the plan behind closed doors.
Schumer says, “We live in the wealthiest country on earth. Surely we can do better than what the Republican health care bill promises.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi assails the GOP bill as a tax break for wealthy Americans. The bill would eliminate the requirement that Americans buy insurance or face a tax penalty.
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President Donald Trump is expressing hope that the Senate will pass a health care plan “with heart” following the release of a Republican plan to dismantle President Barack Obama’s health law.
Trump says at the start of a White House event on technology he is hopeful Congress will get something done on health care “with heart.”
The president spoke shortly after Senate Republicans released a 142-page draft of their bill to get rid of much of the Obamacare law.
The bill faces broad opposition from Democrats. But Trump says that Republicans would love to have Democratic support.
TOPEKA — Ken Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance, is announcing administrative changes and joint working priorities regarding the July 1 transition of the Kansas Securities Commissioner’s office into a division of the Kansas Insurance Department (KID).
John Wine
Commissioner Selzer has named John Wine, current insurance department Assistant Commissioner, to be Securities Commissioner, subject to Kansas Senate confirmation. Wine, an attorney, has been with KID for eight years, serving as General Counsel and Assistant Commissioner.
Prior to working at the insurance department, Wine had been on the Kansas Corporation Commission, serving as chair for six years; had served as the Securities Commissioner in 1995-96; and had been Assistant Secretary of State.
Wine’s appointment as Securities Commissioner by Commissioner Selzer would run through Jan. 17, 2019, as specified in Senate Bill 23 legislation, which realigned the Securities Commissioner’s office with KID, effective at the beginning of the upcoming fiscal year.
“The law allows the Securities Commissioner to function as an independent state official with legislative approval,” Commissioner Selzer said. “This will provide Kansans with additional consumer protections going forward.”
“Thank you to outgoing Securities Commissioner Josh Ney for his service to the agency,” Commissioner Selzer added. “Our team will work with him as he assists with this transition during the next two months.”
Clark Shultz
Replacing Wine as Assistant Commissioner at KID is Clark Shultz, currently Deputy Commissioner. Shultz has served KID as Deputy Commissioner since 2015, after serving as a Kansas State Representative and Senator. His legislative duties included chairing the House of Representatives Insurance Committee and the Rules Committee.
“The professionalism and guidance of John and Clark will be invaluable as we move forward with streamlining and improving the processes of our combined agencies,” said Commissioner Selzer.
The insurance department has approximately 105 employees, while the securities office employs approximately 30. For the immediate future, both agencies will continue to be housed in their current Topeka offices.
With the restructuring of the agencies comes increased emphasis on finding ways to consolidate functions. Initial steps will be taken in the areas of consumer education, licensing and investigations, Commissioner Selzer said.
“Those three functions are integral to both agencies,” Commissioner Selzer said, “and we believe that we can begin the consolidation process by focusing on how we can find commonalities and cost savings in each area. In doing so, we can better protect the public, reduce costs and be more productive.”
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A federal appellate court has upheld a judge’s dismissal of a Kansas woman’s lawsuit against police the Catholic former nurse insisted wouldn’t allow her to pray in her own home.
A 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel in Denver affirmed a Kansas district court’s decision last year to toss Mary Anne Sause’s case against two Louisburg officers.
Sause alleged the officers responding to a noise complaint demanded to be let into her apartment, wouldn’t specify why they were there and called a copy of the Constitution she showed them “just a piece of paper.” Sause said that when she began praying, an officer unconstitutionally ordered her to stop.
Hiram Sasser, a First Liberty Institute attorney for Sause on appeal, says lawyers for the woman are weighing their legal options.
Name: Christopher,Joshua Shane Charges: Criminal use of a financial card; W/o consent of owner less than $1,000 Theft of prop/services;Value $1,500 to $25,000
SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for theft.
Just after 12 a.m. Wednesday, Joshua Christopher, 23, Salina, allegedly stole the 2005 Ford Escape from an acquaintance’s home in the 500 block of Woodlawn in Salina, according to Police Sgt. James Feldman.
Just before 1a.m., Christopher ran the Ford off the road and struck a curb and a light pole in the 2200 block of South Ninth Street.
Police say he then used the vehicle owner’s financial card to pay the $160 wrecker bill in order to return the SUV to the owner.
Police arrested Christopher at the same residence. He faces one count of felony theft, one count of misdemeanor theft and criminal use of a financial card.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Relatives of a registered sex offender who’s charged with raping a 7-year-old in a stranger’s Wichita apartment say they are in “utter shock and disbelief.”
The family of 23-year-old Corbin Breitenbach said in a statement that it’s “impossible to communicate the depth of our sorrow and the grief we feel for the victim and her family.” The statement was left on the voicemail of an Eagle reporter. A woman who answered the phone at the number from which the voicemail was left identified herself as Breitenbach’s mother.
Breitenbach is charged with attempted capital murder, aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated burglary in the June 11 attack. He’d been released from prison six weeks earlier after serving time for choking and raping a woman in 2012.
SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting, have identified a person of interest and asking the public for help to find him.
Just before 9p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 4700 Block of SW Topeka Boulevard in Topeka, according to a media release.
Officers made contact with a man who had suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was treated at the scene.
The man’s dog was also hit by a projectile but is expected to make a full recovery. Officers determined the shooting was the result of a dispute between two known parties. They are asking for help to locate 61-year-old Dennis Dean Neff in connection with the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Topeka Police.
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Shooting scene Wednesday night in Topeka-photo courtesy WIBW-TV
SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting.
Just before 9p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 4700 Block of SW Topeka Boulevard in Topeka, according to a media release.
Officers made contact with a man who had suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was treated at the scene.
The man’s dog was also hit by a projectile but is expected to make a full recovery. Officers located a crime scene just east of SW Topeka Boulevard.
Crime scene investigators, Detectives and a K9 unit processed the scene. No arrests were reported and no additional details released.
MCPHERSON COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects for burglary.
The owners of CK Pharmacy, 200 Block of North Main Street in McPherson reported a burglary June 5, according to a media release from police. The suspects took approximately 2000 prescription pills including Morphine, Oxycodone and others valued at over $6700.
On Monday June 19, police and sheriff’s deputies executed search warrants in the 200 Block of North Locust in Inman and the 500 Block of Anna in McPherson. The collected clothing and other items used in the burglary and 1200 prescription pills.
Law enforcement arrested Micah Dennett, 31, McPherson, and Adley Feltman, 33, Inman.
He was booked for burglary, theft, criminal damage to property and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
She is being held for conspiracy to commit burglary, theft criminal damage to property and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
Dennett has previous convictions for drugs and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
HARPER COUNTY – A fourth earthquake this week jolted portions of Kansas Thursday morning. The quake at 7:44 a.m. measured a magnitude 3.7 and was centered approximately 7 miles southeast of Harper, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Just after 5p.m. Tuesday in Harper County measured 3.1.
A pair of quakes shook portions of Kansas Monday. Just after 2.am. a 2.9 quake hit 6 miles northwest of Mankato in Jewell County. At 10:15 p.m. Monday, the USGS recorded a 2.6 quake three miles south of Rose Hill in Butler County.
The USGS has recorded 14 quake in Kansas in June.
They reported 9 Kansas earthquakes in May, nearly a dozen in April, seven in March and six in February.
Excel parking lot was busy on Wednesday-image courtesy KWCH
HESSTON, Kan. (AP) — Excel Industries in Hesston says it is reorganizing its operations and will lay off about 270 employees, effective immediately.
Excel announced the layoffs Thursday in a letter sent to employees.
The plant was the scene of a shooting that left four dead and 14 wounded in 2016.
Company officials said in a news release that demand for the turf care products it makes grew rapidly in the last three years but returned to more normal levels this year. They say Excel continues to grow but the overall market for turf care products is flat or down, in part because of weather and economic conditions in some areas.
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a pair of purse thefts and asking the public for help to identify suspects, according to a social media report.
A victim’s purse was stolen from Pawnee Prairie Park and her debit card was used at multiple locations.
Police also reported several handbags and purses were taken at Town East Mall in Wichita.
Security cameras took photographs of a person of interest in each case.
Person of interest at Town East
If you know the identity of these individuals, please call Crime Stoppers at 316.267.2111 or Wichita Police.
the LGBT rights movement. The Faith and Freedom Picnic is scheduled for Saturday. Among the speakers is Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who is running for governor.
