With widespread activity of influenza in Kansas, State Health Officer Robert Moser, M.D., says it is not too late to vaccinate against the flu, and he encourages employers to take the necessary steps for a healthy workplace.

“I would ask that business owners and managers encourage their employees to stay at home when ill to avoid the spread of influenza in the community. It’s also important for everyone to wash their hands throughout the day with warm, soapy water and to sanitize telephones, keyboards and other office equipment used often,” said Moser, who is also the Secretary for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

“The typical peak for cases of flu in Kansas occurs in February, and the rates we are observing now are higher and earlier than what we usually see,” said Moser.

During the 2011-2012 influenza season, influenza and pneumonia, a common complication of influenza, contributed to or directly caused more than 1,300 deaths among Kansas residents.  In the current influenza season, more than 460 influenza and pneumonia deaths have been reported to date.

Influenza vaccine is recommended for nearly everyone six months of age and older to reduce the risk of becoming ill with the flu and reduce the risk of spreading the flu to others.

State Librarian Jo Budler is Library Journal’s choice for 2013 Librarian of the Year.

Shortly after Budler moved in as Kansas’ State Librarian in 2010, the state’s ebook collection was in jeopardy. Kansas’ ebook platform, OverDrive, presented Budler with a renewal proposal increasing administration costs by some 700 percent and losing access to ebooks for the users of Kansas.

Budler quickly rejected more than one proposal from OverDrive and won the right to transfer titles to a new platform. The dispute set off a long and public national examination of library service agreements.

Library Journal’s 2013 Librarian of the Year Award will be presented to Budler at a special awards dinner during the American Library Association’s Midwinter meeting in Seattle in January.

Library Journal is one of the oldest and most respected publications covering the library field.

A federal judge has ruled that a trial is needed to determine whether a Kansas law restricting private health insurance coverage for abortions poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking to end their pregnancies.

U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson on Monday rejected a request by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri for a favorable ruling in their legal challenge of the law.

The judge also ruled partially in favor of the state on whether the law’s main purpose is to impose an undue burden on abortion rights.

The law prohibits insurance companies from offering coverage for abortions in their general plans, except when a woman’s life is in danger. Kansas residents or employers who want abortion coverage must buy supplemental policies.

A Hutchinson man with a felony conviction record including involuntary manslaughter has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Joshua W. Whitehurst, 35, Hutchinson was sentenced Monday to 96 months in federal prison. Whitehurst pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. He unlawfully possessed a Highpoint 9 mm handgun when he was arrested Jan. 3, 2012, in Harvey County.

“Kansas was third in the nation last year for the number of federal firearms prosecutions,” Grissom said. “The fight against gun violence is a top priority.”

Whitehurst was prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions, including a 2003 conviction in Harvey County District Court on a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

About 5 pounds of marijuana was seized and two people were arrested early Monday after law enforcement officers searched a room at the Mark V Motel, Phillipsburg.

Phillips County Sheriff Paul Wisinger says the suspects, a man and a woman, are both from Colorado and were staying at the motel.

The search was the result of a joint investigation between the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office and the Beloit Police Department, according to a news release issued by the sheriff’s office.

The second of five town hall meetings will be held Monday night in WaKeeney to explain the financial crunch facing the Trego County Lemke Memorial hospital.

County commissioners have already approved the issuance of $1.8 million in no-fund warrants.  A one-percent sales tax proposal will also be placed on an upcoming election ballot.

Administrator Harold Courtois says the budget deficit resulted when the hospital’s Medicare reimbursement rates were lowered, as well as other reductions.  The hospital has cut expenses, including employee layoffs, which should save about $700,000 through the end of this year.

Money from the no-fund warrants must be repaid through a four-year mill levy, which is expected to amount to about 8 mills.

Three more town hall meetings will be held this month: January 10, 28 and 31.  Each meeting begins at 7p.m. in the WaKeeney Western Electric Cooperative Community Room.

 

Charlie Chaplin is among the classic movie stars who will be featured during the 17th annual Kansas Silent Film Festival.

The free festival takes place Feb. 22 and 23 in White Concert Hall at Washburn University in Topeka.

Several short Keystone comedies produced by Max Sennett will be featured. Kansas City film historian Denise Morrison will provide introductions for the films and give an overview of the artists and the era of the silent films.

Some films will be shown on 16mm film, while others may be projected digitally, due to the rarity of actual film material.

Musical accompaniments will be provided mostly by organists or a five-piece chamber ensemble.

The State Board of Education will hear updates in two weeks on the progress being made in writing new standards for teaching history, government and social studies in Kansas.

The board’s agenda for its Jan. 15 meeting includes a report on a national project to draft new science standards. The guidelines are similar to the Common Core standards adopted by states for reading and math.

The meeting was moved back a week from its original date because of laws regarding when new members are allowed to take their seats on the board.

Four new members who won election to the 10-member board in November will be sworn in. The board will also reorganize for the next two years, choosing a chairman to replace David Dennis of Wichita, who’s retiring.

A Wichita man who won a $1 million Kansas Lottery jackpot had to borrow a car to drive to Topeka to claim the prize because he doesn’t own a vehicle.

The man, who is in his 40s, won the lottery’s Holiday Millionaire Raffle by matching the winning number of 120833. He, his wife and three children claimed the prize Wednesday afternoon. He declined to allow his name to be released.

The man, who is a house painter, says he is going to use the money to buy a car and a house.

The winner purchased his lucky raffle ticket at a Dillons store in Wichita. The store receives $1,000 for selling the ticket.

Nebraska is imposing limits on the use of the Republican River this year to make sure enough water flows downstream to Kansas to satisfy a three-state agreement.

The ongoing drought forced the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources to issue an order this week requiring additional conservation measures in the river basin.

Several conservation measures have been put in place since Nebraska last used more of the Republican River’s water than it’s entitled to, but the Upper and Lower Republican River Natural Resource Districts will have to take additional steps to comply this year.

The dispute over the Republican River’s water has led to two lawsuits between Kansas and Nebraska, including one that’s pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.