MORTON COUNTY – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 12:30 a.m. Saturday in Morton County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Freightliner Semi driven by Derek J. Munn, 28, Kismet was westbound on Road D seven miles south of Rolla.
The truck hit a cow that entered the roadway from the south.
The driver made an evasive maneuver and lost control of the vehicle. It rolled twice into a wheat field.
Munn was transported to the Morton County Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
Kansas lawmakers worked deep into the night on a school funding formula. A bill failed to pass out of committee. The K-12 Budget panel resumes work Monday. CREDIT SAM ZEFF / KCUR
A Kansas legislative committee worked eight hours Thursday night and didn’t come up with a new school funding formula.
But we now know the goal for how much new money will be added to try and satisfy the state Supreme Court which has ruled school funding in Kansas is inadequate.
“Our target was a $150 million over a period of five years, to escalate up slowly to a more constitutionally appropriate number,” says Rep. Melissa Rooker, a Republican from Fairway and a driving force to find more money for public education.
By adding $150 million more each year for the next five years, lawmakers will gradually increase public school funding by $750 million. Most believe that final figure will pass constitutional muster.
Rep. Ed Trimmer from Winfield, the ranking Democrat on the K-12 Budget Committee, says that’s the minimum the Legislature has to find. “Otherwise we’ll be back here doing this same thing again after the court tells us that’s not enough money.”
There is concern by some on the committee that a five year ramp up may not be quick enough to satisfy the court. Lawyers for the plaintiff school districts that sued the state have said they would accept some phase in of new money.
“So as long as the court stays engaged and there is a commitment that gets fulfilled, we can figure out how to make it work,” says David Smith, chief of staff in the Kansas City, Kansas school district, which is one of the plaintiff districts in the Gannon school funding case.
The chairman of the committee, Rep. Larry Campbell from Olathe, said he’s aiming for the $150 million figure. But it appears some conservatives on the K-12 Budget Committee as well as some in the GOP House leadership may have a problem with that much more money.
Leadership delayed the hearing for two days in part to arm twist some Republican members into supporting putting only $75 million more into schools.
The hard ball apparently continued Thursday night as several amendments that added money into public education passed the committee on close votes. During an extended break, a number of people saw Republicans called into the office of House Speaker Ron Ryckman from Olathe. After the break, several moderate and Democratic amendments failed.
One of the swing votes on the committee was Rep. Adam Smith, a freshman from Weskan, which is right next to the Colorado border. He voted for several amendments backed by moderates and Democrats on the panel.
He says he wasn’t pressured by leadership. “Most of my interest lies with my district back home, and the people I talk to back home on the programs that are important to them that’s what I tried to support the most.”
The amendment that held up final action dealt with adding more state aid into student transportation. There wasn’t an immediate figure for what that would cost. It’s a pretty big item, so Campbell decided to wait until a dollar figure was available.
Campbell says the committee will finish its work Monday and then the bill will head to the Kansas House floor.
There are a couple of looming deadlines. First, the Legislature has its first adjournment next Friday. And if a new, constitutional funding formula isn’t on the books by June 30, the high court has said it will shut down public schools.
TOPEKA – Governor Sam Brownback recently issued a proclamation declaring the month of April as “Safe Digging Month” in Kansas. The proclamation, in concurrence with National Safe Digging Month, reminds Kansans to call 811 before starting any outdoor that requires digging—including landscaping and home improvement projects. Calling 811 is a no-cost, convenient way to avoid injuries, property damage and outages.
The Kansas Corporation Commission, Kansas One-Call, the Kansas Pipeline Association, the Common Ground Alliance, and Governor Brownback are encouraging excavators and homeowners to call 811 before they begin digging projects to prevent injuries, property damage, and inconvenient outages. A utility line is damaged by digging once every eight minutes nationwide, and one-third of those incidents are caused by failure of the professional excavator or homeowner to call 811 before digging.
When dialing 811, callers are connected to Kansas One-Call, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of the intent to dig. Calls are taken 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Requests can also be entered at www.kansasonecall.com. Excavators and homeowners are required to make a request at least two working days in advance of beginning a digging project. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags or spray paint. Once lines have been accurately marked, digging can begin.
Every digging project, no matter how large or small, requires a call to 811. There is no charge to have utility lines marked. The depth of utility lines varies, and there may be multiple lines in a common area. Some utility lines are buried only a few inches below the surface, making them easy to strike during shallow digging projects. Installing a mailbox, landscaping, putting in a fence, and building a deck are all examples of digging projects that necessitate a call to 811 before starting.
Learn more about 811 and Safe Digging Month by visiting: www.call811.com. More information about Kansas One-Call is available at: www.kansasonecall.com.
PRATT – Beginning April 1, hunters interested in obtaining a nonresident deer permit may begin the online application process by visiting www.kshuntfishcamp.com. The cost to apply is $442.50 for hunters 16 and older and $117.50 for hunters 15 and younger, plus processing fees. Deadline to apply is April 28. Permits are awarded though a random computer drawing, so applying early will not give hunters any advantage in the lottery draw.
Hunters interested in purchasing a preference point in lieu of applying may do so for $25, plus processing fees.
A total of 21,816 nonresident white-tailed deer combo permits are available for the 2017-2018 season, and hunters drawing archery or muzzleloader white-tailed deer combo permits in units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 16, 17 or 18 are eligible to apply for a mule deer stamp ($152.50). Those who draw a mule deer stamp drawing will have a permit valid for either species/either sex. Nonresident deer permits will be distributed among the deer management units as follows:
Unit 1: 850 (50 mule deer stamps)
Unit 2: 466 (40 mule deer stamps)
Unit 3: 1,002 (20 mule deer stamps)
Unit 4: 492 (5 mule deer stamps)
Unit 5: 656 (10 mule deer stamps)
Unit 6: 538
Unit 7: 1,603 (2 mule deer stamps)
Unit 8: 1,940
Unit 9: 981
Unit 10: 1,252
Unit 11: 3,109
Unit 12: 2,076
Unit 13: 621
Unit 14: 1,856
Unit 15: 1,405
Unit 16: 2,103 (5 mule deer stamps)
Unit 17: 562 (50 mule deer stamps)
Unit 18: 304 (20 mule deer stamps)
The 2017 deer season will be open Sept. 2-10 for youth and disabled hunters; Sept. 11-24 for muzzleloader season; Sept. 11-Dec. 31 for archery season; Oct. 7-9 for the pre-rut white-tailed deer antlerless-only season; and Nov. 29-Dec. 10 for firearms seasons.
Extended firearms seasons will be open Jan.1 in Units 6, 8, 9, 10, 16, or 17; Jan. 1-7 in Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, or 14; and Jan. 1-14 in Units 10A, 15, or 19.
For more information on deer hunting in Kansas, visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting,” “Big Game Information,” then “Deer.”
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett has cleared a Wichita police officer of wrongdoing in the 2015 fatal shooting that began with a traffic stop.
The announcement Friday comes in the shooting of 26-year-old Nicholas Garner in Wichita.
KWCH-TV reports that after struggling with the officer for control of the vehicle, Garner drove in circles around Sam’s Club gas pumps. Garner hit the officer’s parked patrol car and another parked car while dragging the officer. He then tried to drive into the wrong way into traffic, hitting another car head-on.
The district attorney’s report says that’s when the officer gathered himself and shot three times, killing Garner.
A Crown Royal whiskey bag was found at the scene filled with methamphetamine.
GEARY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating two suspects on drug charges.
Just after 2a.m. Friday, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle speeding on Interstate 70 at the U.S. 77/Kansas 18 exit.
Deputies arrested Colby Leigh, Madison, TN and Michelle Thompson, Nashville, TN on requested charges of Possession of Methamphetamines, Drug Paraphernalia and Marijuana,
Thompson -photo Geary Co.
Leigh was also arrested on suspicion of Criminal Use of a Weapon, Speeding and No Proof of Liability Insurance.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A government report shows Kansas growers are planning to plant more soybeans and corn this spring.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Friday that soybean acreage in Kansas is expected to be up 23 percent compared to last year with 5 million acres planted.
The state’s farmers are also planning to plant 5.2 million acres into corn, an increase of 2 percent from a year ago.
Sorghum acreage is expected to be down 19 percent with just 2.5 million acres expected to be planted this year.
Kansas growers last fall seeded 7.5 million acres into winter wheat for harvest this year. That is down 12 percent compared to the previous year.
SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating two suspects for drugs after a reported home invasion robbery.
Just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Tanner Zamecnik, 21, Salina, told police that two masked suspects forced their way into his residence, according to Salina Police Sgt. James Feldman.
The suspects knocked on the door and then held Zamecnik at gunpoint to gain access to the house, took his wallet and left.
HENDERSON
During the investigation Zamecnik and another resident became uncooperative with law enforcement.
Officers obtained a search warrant and found marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Zamecnik and Keenan Henderson, who was not present during the home invasion, were taken into custody and now face multiple drug charges.
RILEY COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are investigating a burglary and asking for help to find suspects.
Just after 8:30p.m. Wednesday police in Manhattan filed a report of burglary and criminal damage to property in the 200 block of Playmate Lane, according to a media release.
A 26-year-old Manhattan man told police an unknown suspect cut the lock off of his storage unit and took 50 pairs of Nike shoes.
The total loss associated with this case is approximately $15,015.00.
Police ask that anyone with information contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.
KANSAS CITY – A Kansas man was found guilty of Medicaid fraud by a Wyandotte County jury, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Jasmon Watson, 33, was found guilty this week of one count of Medicaid fraud by a Wyandotte County jury in an amount greater than $1,000 but less than $25,000. Restitution will be determined at sentencing. The jury was unable to reach a decision on a theft charge. Judge Bill L. Klapper presided over the jury trial.
An investigation revealed that Watson billed Medicaid for providing home care based services to individuals with traumatic brain injuries during the same hours he was working at another job. The crimes occurred between February 2013 and August 2014.
Sentencing has been set for May 26 at 10:30am in Wyandotte County District Court.
The case was jointly investigated by federal and state authorities and prosecuted by the attorney general’s Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Division. Assistant Attorney General Alma Heckler of Schmidt’s office prosecuted the case against Watson.
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating a case of burglary and identity theft.
On Monday January 23, a suspect took a credit card and tools from Arrowhead West, Central and Ridge in Wichita, according to a media release.
The business didn’t realize the credit card was missing until much later. The suspect used the cars at businesses in Wichita, Park City, Haysville, Andover, Augusta, Winfield, South Haven, Valley Center, Newton, Udall and in some parts of Oklahoma. The financial loss is significant.
The suspect used the card at a Quick Trip in Park City when this photo was taken from video surveillance. Detectives are asking the public for help to identify the suspect.
TOPEKA -Despite the recent rain that brought one to three inches of moisture to Kansas, this week’s Drought Monitor shows many areas of the state still abnormally or in severe drought conditions.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities from across Kansas are expected in Wichita, Kansas, to remember a police dog killed during an exchange of gunfire in which a suspect was killed.
A memorial service for the 6-year-old Belgian Malinois, named Rooster, was planned for Friday, with police dog handlers from across the state to attend.
The shooting happened March 18 at a mobile home park on Wichita’s south side.
Officers responding to a domestic disturbance surrounded a home before 25-year-old Kevin Perry walked out with a gun in his waistband. Rooster was sent after the suspect to stop him from re-entering the home. That’s when gunfire was exchanged, striking both the dog and the man.
Wichita police Sgt. Nikki Woodrow says authorities believe the suspect shot the dog, but an investigation continues.
