RENO COUNTY – Law enforcement and fire investigators say they have determined the cause of The Highlands fire in Reno County is suspicious in nature.
In a media release Friday, officials confirmed the fire was 95 percent contained. Two people were in the the fire that burned approximately 5585 acres. All evacuations have been lifted. The residents were allowed back into the area after 3 p.m. on Thursday and the area was reopened at 6:00 p.m. to the public
Per the local disaster declaration, open burning is not allowed in the area.
Officials also reminded residents that had a question about their insurance coverage or were having an issue with their insurance company can contact the Consumer Assistance Hotline is 1-800-432-2484 or you can visit www.ksinsurance.org.
Reports that Gov. Sam Brownback may soon be leaving the state to take a United Nations post have lawmakers and others at the Statehouse talking about how things might change with Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer in charge.
Like Brownback, Colyer is a socially conservative Republican who has championed efforts to restrict abortion and rein in government spending. He also led the Brownback administration’s controversial initiative to privatize the state’s Medicaid program and fought efforts to expand eligibility for the program.
Still, the 56-year-old plastic surgeon from Overland Park remains somewhat of a blank political canvas.
That has many lawmakers and lobbyists asking: Who is Jeff Colyer?
“That’s really the big question,” said House Minority Leader Jim Ward, a Wichita Democrat. “He served in the House for two years and didn’t leave much of a footprint. He wasn’t in the Senate long enough to leave a footprint, and he’s been kind of a backroom guy for Governor Brownback.”
Colyer won a seat in the Kansas House in 2006. He moved to the Senate in 2008 but served only two years there before Brownback selected him as his running mate for the 2010 campaign.
‘Will it happen to me?’
Both Brownback and Colyer declined comment on a possible hand off when questioned by reporters Thursday after a public event at the Statehouse. A grinning Colyer joked that he remained focused on becoming “the longest serving lieutenant governor,” in state history, a milestone he would reach this summer.
“So, I’m just doing my job,” he said. “I’m just focusing on my job.”
However, in what could either have been a slip of the tongue or an intentional signal about what was to come, Colyer twice referred to himself as governor during a Feb. 9 speech to Republicans gathered to nominate a candidate in the 4th Congressional District.
During the speech he said the Trump administration had invited him and “other governors” to Washington, D.C., to discuss state policy priorities. A few minutes later, in another reference to the meeting, Colyer recalled “sitting there with a half a dozen other governors” and talking about the privatized Medicaid program that he had helped to implement in Kansas.
A noticeable change in Colyer’s schedule and interaction with lawmakers also signaled to many that a change could be in the offing. In a December article in the Wichita Eagle, Colyer acknowledged the possibility that Brownback could leave.
“When you sign up for this job, you’ve signed up for that situation,” Colyer said. “It’s happened before and it’ll happen again in the future. Will it happen to me? I’m going to do my job now.”
Prior to jumping into politics, Colyer was perhaps best known for the humanitarian work he did with the International Medical Corps. He was featured on “60 Minutes” in 2002 for traveling to Sierra Leone to surgically remove scars from children forced to fight in that country’s civil war. Rebels abducted the children and burned brands into their skin so that they could be returned to the fighting if they ran away.
Interviewed by Christiane Amanpour, Colyer said his desire to “make a difference” motivated him to do volunteer work for IMC around the globe.
“They (the children) look at you and you can see it in their eyes,” he told Amanpour. “They’re reliving those items in their eyes, and it’s a very sad thing. God knows what they’ve been through.”
An opportunity for healing?
Colyer’s humanitarian work is a reflection of his commitment to service, said former Rep. Steve Brunk, a social conservative who now lobbies for the Family Policy Alliance.
“He’s a highly intelligent, dedicated, generous man,” said Brunk, who sat next to Colyer on the House floor during the two years they served together.
While the lieutenant governor is loyal to Brownback and shares many of his conservative views, Brunk said Colyer might attempt to “hit the reset button” with the Legislature if he becomes governor.
“There is some estrangement in the relationship now, so this may be an opportunity for some good healing and to move forward in a productive way,” Brunk said.
The tensions between Brownback and lawmakers stem from a budget crisis that many believe was triggered by income and business tax cuts that the governor pushed through the Legislature in 2012 when conservatives controlled both houses.
That is not the case anymore. Moderate Republicans and Democrats ousted many of the governor’s conservative allies in the 2016 election by promising to fix the budget problems that have forced cuts in spending on higher education, social programs and highway projects.
Relations reached a flashpoint recently when Brownback vetoed a bill that rolled back many of his signature tax cuts. The House quickly voted to override the governor’s veto, but the Senate fell three votes short. However, most observers believe the votes needed to override in the Senate are within reach.
Brownback has been “the biggest obstacle” to making progress on a budget solution, Ward said.
“Hopefully the lieutenant governor won’t be so wedded to these policies,” Ward said.
House Majority Leader Don Hineman, a moderate Republican from Dighton, is also among those who think Colyer might be more open to compromise.
“The present governor is probably more personally invested in one particular view of how to solve the problem,” Hineman said. “Possibly, Lieutenant Governor Colyer would be more amenable to other options. But that’s speculation.”
The timing of any change also is in question. If President Donald Trump nominates Brownback to be ambassador to the United Nations agencies for food and agriculture, the U.S. Senate would have to confirm him. That, Hineman said, could take weeks or months.
But if things move more quickly, Hineman said he believes Colyer would be ready to take the reins of state government.
“He has been meeting on a regular basis with Senate Majority Leader (Jim) Denning and myself,” Hineman said. “So, we’ve established a relationship. And if it turns out this way, I look forward to working with him.”
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 in Kansas. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
A recent picture of Brian provided to Wichita Police by his family.
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Wichita police department officials on Friday provided an update in the recovery process of injured officer Brian Arterburn.
He is improving each day, according to a social media report. “Brian, his family, and the Wichita Police Department appreciates the community support and prayers during this tough time.
He will be going to rehab soon.
Arterburn, a 25-year-veteran of the police force suffered injuries to his chest, abdomen and brain, after he was run over by a suspect in a stolen SUV in early February.
Police encouraged everyone to continue to keep Brian and his family in your thoughts and prayers for continual improvement.
With the majority of grassfires now under control across the state, response teams and assets that deployed to assist local authorities are being demobilized.
According to a media release, the Kansas Division of Emergency Management reduced staffing in the State Emergency Operations Center to a partial activation level at 7 p.m. Thursday night. It will remain staffed at this level until further notice.
Governor Sam Brownback Thursday signed Executive Order 17-01 to assist fire relief efforts throughout the state. The executive order facilitates the immediate delivery of large quantities of hay, feed, fencing materials, and other relief supplies by waiving certain motor carrier regulations.
The Kansas Livestock Association is working with private donors to provide hay for cattle in counties that suffered extensive loss of grazing lands and baled hay. Anyone wishing to donate to these efforts should contact KLA. Information is available on the KLA website
Fire crews continue to work active fires in Clark County (70 percent contained), Comanche (90 percent contained), Ellis (98 percent contained), Reno (95 percent contained), and Rooks (97 percent contained). Fire crews will continue to monitor all fires for hot spots and flare-ups. According to figures from local county officials across the state, the estimated total number of acres burned now stands at approximately 711,950acres.
KDEM officials are reminding Kansans the potential for grassfire still exists in many areas of the state due to dry weather conditions. Although there is no statewide burn ban, residents are urged to contact their local emergency management or sheriff’s office to find out if a burn ban exists in their area. The best practice under current conditions is to refrain from burning anything outdoors.
The Kansas National Guard has two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with collapsible 660-gallon water buckets assisting ground fire crews in suppressing fires in Clark County. Two CH-47 Army Reserve Chinook helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft from the U.S. Forestry Service have also been conducting water drop operations. Since these missions began, the aircraft have dropped approximately 263,410 gallons of water.
The Chinook helicopters and the fixed-wing aircraft will demobilize today. Two Black Hawks will remain in Clark County to assist ground crews.
KDEM advises anyone wishing to contribute to ongoing disaster relief efforts to donate cash to disaster relief organizations rather than donating goods. Officials recommends Kansans donating to reputable disaster relief organizations of their choice or local organizations within the affected communities.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Senate committee has endorsed a measure that would let doctors and physicians prescribe and dole out what’s described as “non-intoxicating” medicine derived from a marijuana chemical compound.
Senators initially were supposed to vote on a measure that would legalize the use of cannabis for certain medical conditions.
But an amendment stripped out that measure and replaced it with another that would allow medical professionals to prescribe and dispense “non-intoxicating cannabinoid medicine.” The bill does not define non-intoxicating.
The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee approved that bill Thursday. The measure now goes to the full Senate.
The Gazette says Brooks’ death is first homicide in 25,000-resident Emporia since April 2013, when 25-year-old Adrian Peralta died five days after being shot. Gabino Ruiz-Ascencio later was convicted of first-degree murder in September 2015.
ESU Alert-Emporia:Police reported armed suspect-1325 Merchant St. 10:40pm. Stay in secure location until further notice. — Emporia State (@emporiastate) March 10, 2017
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A former pastor from New Jersey has been ordered to stand trial on charges that he tried to choke an infant girl he didn’t know at a Kansas City-area Wal-Mart.
The Kansas City Star reports a judge in Kansas’ Johnson County ordered 54-year-old Oleh Zhownirovych (OH’-lay zow-nur-VIK’) to be tried on charges of aggravated battery, aggravated kidnapping and battery.
Monquisha Hill testified Thursday she was in the checkout line last October with her then-4-month-old daughter in a car seat in a cart when a man she didn’t know took the infant from her cart and began choking her. People in the store helped the woman and held the man until officers arrived.
The baby wasn’t injured.
A May 22 trial is set for Zhownirovych, of Clifton, New Jersey.
HARPER COUNTY– A third earthquake this week shook portions of Kansas Thursday evening.
The quake just before 9:30p.m. measured 2.7 and was centered approximately 13 miles west of Harper, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Just before 5:30p.m. Monday a 2.7 quake was centered approximately 20 miles east of Caldwell in Sumner County.
Just after 6 a.m. Sunday, a 2.6 quake was centered approximately 17-miles northeast of Caldwell in Sumner County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
In February, the agency recorded six Kansas earthquakes. They measured from 2.5-3.3 magnitude.
There have no reports of damage or injury from Thursday’s quake.
BARTON COUNTY – Two people were hospitalized after an accident just after 4:30p.m. Thursday during a chase by law enforcement in Barton County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the Great Bend Police and Barton County Sheriff’s Deputies were chasing a 2001 Cadillac passenger car driven by Howard L. Johnson, 21, Wichita, westbound in the 2300 Block of 19th Street in Great Bend.
The driver lost control of the Cadillac. It began to slide sideways, hit a pickup which was legally parked on the north side of the road, and then struck a power pole.
Johnson and a passenger Antonyo D. Miller, 37, Great Bend were transported to Great Bend Regional Medical Center.
Miller was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
HUTCHINSON – Law enforcement authorities in Hutchinson are investigating a prank call to 911.
Just after school was dismissed on Thursday, police were called to Hutchinson Middle School 8, 200 West 14th Avenue, in reference to a 911 caller who stated, “He has a gun.” and then hung up.
Arriving officers were able to locate a 14-year-old student who admitted to placing the call as a prank.
He was subsequently arrested on a misdemeanor traffic warrant as well as the charge of giving a false alarm.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma custom-home builder has been indicted after accusations of involvement in an organized theft ring.
The Oklahoman reports that 43-year-old Dennis Lee is among six defendants charged by a federal grand jury in Oklahoma City. Lee owns Richardson Homes LLC.
An indictment filed Feb. 22 but made public Wednesday alleges that the individuals involved would transport stolen vehicles and riding lawn mowers in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Grand jurors allege the stolen property was stored at Lee’s business.
Lee has been charged with conspiracy to transport stolen goods across state lines, possession of a stolen tractor and golf cart, and illegal possession of firearms. Lee had denied any wrongdoing.
If convicted, Lee could be sentenced to years in prison and fined thousands of dollars.
Rep. Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican FILE PHOTO / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
By Madison Coker
KU Statehouse Wire Service
TOPEKA – An attorney for Kansas insurance agencies says a bill in the Kansas House of Representatives Insurance Committee would cause major issues for licensed insurers.
Will Larson, attorney for the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents, asked the committee on Tuesday to vote against the bill that would allow self-storage unit companies to sell their own insurance.
“[Insurance agents] do not oppose storage facilities selling this insurance,” Larson said. “What they do oppose is the people that will be selling it will not be licensed.”
SB14 provides for limited-license insurance coverage of self-storage units. This means self-storage companies could provide insurance for the contents inside people’s units.
Self Storage Association Representative Whitney Damron said the potential law includes specific regulations in place to protect insurers. He said the first regulation is that the policy is limited to $5,000 per unit. In addition, the companies would be required to post a sign and tell costumers to check with their own insurance agencies to make sure they are not already covered.
“These policies make this law clearer and will protect customers,” Damron said.
Damron also said that 25 states, including Missouri, have already adopted laws like this one.
He said this law benefits people who do not have homeowner’s insurance, such as members of the the military who are overseas or people leaving the country. The law would provide those people with an easy way to get insurance on their possessions left in storage units.
Representative Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita) said he sees this bill causing all kinds of problems.
“I am worried the companies are not going to know how to handle claims and deal with these cases,” Hawkins said.
Damron said storage company employees would be required to go through a training program before selling insurance. He pointed out that this bill only allows self-storage unit companies to sell insurance; the actual insurance is provided by a partnering insurance company.
According to Larson, a training program is not enough.
“We oppose chopping up the insurance industry to limited segments and then employing non-licensed people to sell it,” Larson said.
Hawkins agreed with Larson and said he will propose an amendment to this bill that would require the person from the storage unit selling the insurance to be licensed.
SB14 passed in the Senate in February with a vote of 38-1. A vote in the House will take place if the bill is passed through the committee after amendments are made.
Madison Coker is a University of Kansas junior studying journalism from Kansas City.
Curtis Simon-photo Jackson Co.Jeremy Simon -photo Jackson Co.
JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Jackson County are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a high-speed chase and crash.
Just after 2:30pm Wednesday, Jackson County deputies attempted to stop a southbound Chevy Cavalier on US 75 Hwy south of Holton for an alleged traffic infraction, according to media release.
The vehicle continued south on US Hwy 75, traveled westbound on 198th Road, and continued southbound on M, which is a dead end.
The vehicle then left the roadway and continued across a pasture where the vehicle became airborne and crashed in a gully causing both air bags to deploy.
Both occupants of the vehicle fled the crash on foot. Deputies arrested the alleged driver, Jeremy Lynn Simon, 39, and the passenger, Curtis Lowe Simon, 37, both of Horton, a short distance from the crash scene.
They were booked into the Jackson County Jail Initial charges on Jeremy Simon are the following: Felony flee and eluding, reckless driving, felony interference with law enforcement, driving while suspended and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jeremy Simon also is being held on an outstanding warrant.
Curtis Simon is being charged with felony interference with law enforcement.
Both suspects have a previous burglary conviction and Jeremy has spent time at Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
