Republicans Push Tax Relief Through Kansas Legislature
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators have pushed a tax relief proposal through the Kansas Legislature. They are ignoring predictions from Governor Laura Kelly's fellow Democrats that she will veto it, just as she did in March with a larger plan. Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature appeared to have the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override a veto, something they couldn't say with the first tax bill. The House voted 83-41 late Saturday night to approve a bill designed to provide relief to individuals and businesses that have been paying more in state income taxes because of changes in federal tax laws at the end of 2017. The House's vote came two days after the Senate approved it. It would provide about $240 million in tax relief over three years.
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No Medicaid Expansion Plan as Kansas Lawmakers Adjourn
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature has wrapped up most of its business for the year without passing a plan to expand Medicaid in Kansas as Democratic Governor Laura Kelly wanted. The Senate and House adjourned early Sunday morning. Lawmakers approved an $18.4 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning in July. The budget had been blocked by Democrats and moderate Republicans wanting to pass an expansion plan, but moderate Republicans relented, and the effort collapsed. The Senate is keeping open the option of reconvening May 14 to consider a nomination to the Kansas Court of Appeals. Both chambers plan to return May 29 for the formal ceremony that officially marks the end of the Legislature's annual session.
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Kansas Lawmaker Wants Senate Vote on High Court Appointments
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A conservative Republican legislator is trying to force a debate on a proposal to require Kansas Senate confirmation of state Supreme Court justices. Senator Ty Masterson of Andover notified his colleagues early Sunday that he will attempt to pull from committee a proposed amendment to the state constitution on how justices are selected. The Senate plans to take a vote on his move May 29, when lawmakers meet for the ceremony formally adjourning their annual session. Masterson cited as one reason the Supreme Court's ruling last week declaring that the state constitution protects abortion rights. Masterson opposes abortion. The amendment would have the governor appoint justices subject to Senate confirmation. The governor currently appoints one of three finalists named by a lawyer-led nominating commission, with no review by lawmakers.
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Newspaper: Kansas Prison Health Care Provider Falling Short
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Records show the company that provides health care to Kansas prisons frequently doesn't meet standards of care required by its contract with the state. The Kansas City Star reports its analysis of hundreds of pages of data found that Corizon Health fell short of contract requirements almost a third of the time. Among other things, the data showed inmates regularly complained about the same ailment several times without being seen by a medical practitioner. Between July 2015 and December 2018, the state fined Corizon about $1 million in performance-based penalties and another $6.4 million for not meeting staffing requirements. State officials say they will give Corizon another year to improve performance before exploring other options. Corizon spokeswoman Eve Hutcherson said the company stands by the care it provides.
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Senator Moran Seeks Commitment from Amtrak on Train Route
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran is putting pressure on Amtrak to commit to continue running the Southwest Chief passenger rail service that connects Chicago to Los Angeles with stops in Kansas. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Moran recently delayed confirming three nominees to Amtrak's board of directors in an effort to push the national rail carrier to offer assurances that the line will operate for at least another year. Amtrak's president, Richard Anderson, agreed to meet with Moran and other lawmakers about the rail service's future this month. Amtrak officials have considered suspending rail service from Dodge City to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and transitioning to buses. The Republican senator helped secure $50 million in the federal budget for the Southwest Chief through September. Discussions in Congress about extending the grant are ongoing.
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Real ID Process Presents Problems for Some Kansas Residents
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The process of obtaining a new Real ID is creating headaches for some Kansas residents. Vietnam War veteran Armando Fleming is among several Kansas residents who have left driver's license offices empty-handed after learning that the documents they brought to verify their identity weren't enough to get approved for a Real ID. The credential will be required under federal law to board airplanes and enter some federal buildings beginning next year. The Wichita Eagle reports that Fleming was denied because the name on his birth certificate doesn't match the name he's used his entire life. He spent $204 to legally change his name. The Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles has acknowledged that some are seeking legal name changes to obtain a Real ID. Driver Services Manager Kent Selk says it's a problem mostly affecting older residents.
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Dark Clouds on Horizon for Flood-Weary Midwest
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The flood-ravaged Midwest doesn't need more rain, but it may get it anyway. The National Weather Service predicts several days of wet weather this week in the central U.S. Hydrologist Mark Fuchs says parts of eastern Kansas could get up to 5 inches of rain by Friday, and 3 inches or more are possible in parts of Iowa and Missouri. The Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries are already flooding, causing levee breaches and evacuations. Four deaths last week were blamed on floods. Fuchs says he is especially concerned about the potential for a new rise in the Missouri River, including in areas of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and northwestern Missouri that were flooded in late March. The new rain also will keep the Mississippi River at major flood stage even longer in many places, putting more pressure on already-stressed levees.
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Bail Bondsman Shoots Man Monday Morning at Topeka Motel
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a bail bondsman has shot and wounded a man while attempting to serve a felony warrant at a Topeka motel. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the man was transported Monday to a hospital with injuries that weren't believed to be life-threatening. Police spokesman Lt. Andrew Beightel says that when the bail bondsman attempted to make an arrest at the Travels Inn motel, the suspect attacked him with a large metal object. Beightel says the bondsman then fired in self-defense, striking the suspect once. No information was provided about why the suspect was the subject of a felony warrant. The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed against the bondsman. Beightel says bail bondsmen "do have legal right to apprehend the suspects they go after."
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Woman Pleads Guilty in Crash That Killed 3 Family Members
HOLTON, Kan. (AP) — A Nebraska woman involved in a crash that killed three Kansans will be sentenced in June after accepting a plea agreement. The Topeka Capital-Journal report s Jackson County Attorney Shawna Miller confirmed Monday that 49-year-old Maria Perez Marquez, of Omaha, pleaded guilty in April to three misdemeanor counts of vehicular homicide and one felony count of aggravated battery. She had originally been charged with three felony counts of involuntary manslaughter. The November 2017 crash on U.S. 75 killed three family members of two Sabetha High School football players shortly after their team won a state title. The Kansas Highway Patrol said Perez-Marquez was trying to pass another vehicle about 12 miles north of Holton when her vehicle hit a minivan driven by 42-year-old Carmen Ukele, of Sabetha. The crash killed Ukele, her daughter and her brother-in-law.
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California Trucker Pleads Guilty to Stealing Load of Meat
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 37-year-old California trucker working for a Kansas freight brokerage pleaded guilty to stealing a load of meat valued at more than $160,000. Federal prosecutors said Gegham Avetisyan, of Valley Village, California, pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud. Prosecutors say Avetisyan contracted with a business in Olathe, Kansas, to deliver the meat to three places in California. He faxed documents to the company using the name Robert Ivanov. Avetisyan picked up the meat at a packing plant in Omaha but didn't deliver it. He faces a sentence of up to 20 years and a fine up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12.
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Fleeing Driver Causes Wichita Crash that Kills Woman, Girl
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a man and woman in a stolen SUV involved in a crash that killed two people are both convicted felons. Police say 24-year-old Mia Collins led police on a chase Sunday in a stolen BMW sport utility vehicle. After about 1 mile, the car collided with a car and another SUV at an intersection. The crash killed 70-year-old Maria Wood and 12-year-old Rosemary McElroy and critically injured 36-year-old Jenny Wood, a popular Wichita musician known for performing with children. She is Wood's daughter and McElroy's aunt. The Wichita Eagle reports Collins is on probation. A passenger in her car, 38-year-old Christopher English, is on parole. The driver of the SUV that was hit, 65-year-old Alfred Angle, was seriously injured. Collins and English also were taken to a hospital.
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Lawrence Investigates Possible Carbon Monoxide at School
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Lawrence school district says it investigated a report that two staff members at an elementary school apparently were exposed to carbon monoxide. The district said in a news release Monday that two employees from Kennedy Elementary School reported they had tested positive for elevated carbon monoxide levels. The Lawrence Journal-World reports district spokeswoman Julie Boyle said in a news release that workers discovered a natural gas water heater had not been venting properly because a vent was covered. Boyle said the district was trying to determine how long the vent had been covered. The problem was fixed and the district tested the area during the weekend. She said Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical and Black Hills Energy completed an inspection at Kennedy Monday and found no carbon monoxide.
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Italy Accuses U.S. Man of Killing Owner of Fashion Store
VITERBO, Italy (AP) — Italian authorities are accusing a 22-year-old U.S. citizen of killing a 74-year-old Italian owner of a clothing store in Viterbo, a city near Rome. Police arrested Michael Aaron Pang on Saturday and allege that he killed the storekeeper by striking him with a stool. The body of Norveo Fedeli was found inside his store Friday. Police say Pang is a graphic designer from Kansas City who arrived in Italy about two months ago. They allege he changed clothes after killing Fedeli and took the man's wallet. He allegedly had showed up at the store twice previously seeking to buy designer clothes but his credit card was rejected. Police say they found Fedeli's stolen wallet and other evidence linking Pang to the killing at a room he rented in a town near Viterbo.
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Environmental Cleanup in Salina Could Cost $95 Million
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials estimate it will cost $95 million to clean up pollution at the Schilling Air Force Base in Salina. Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials discussed the cleanup with Salina residents Wednesday. The Salina Journal reports once the state finalizes its remediation plan, the federal government and four local public entities will divide the costs of cleaning the soil and groundwater. The pollution happened more than 50 years ago when toxic chemicals were used to clean airplanes at the base, which was operated by the U.S. Department of Defense from 1942 to 1966. Those chemicals ended up in the soil beneath the base. After the base closed, the land was given to the Kansas Board of Regents, the local school district, the Salina Airport Authority and the city of Salina.
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Former Kansas Senator Billed Travel, Food from Home Office
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A published report says a regulatory ombudsman hired by former Governor Jeff Colyer billed Kansas taxpayers thousands of dollars for travel and food after his official workstation was quietly switched from a state office building near the Capitol to his Salina home. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports former Republican senator Tom Arpke was chosen by Colyer last year to serve as a link between nine state agencies, the governor's office and Kansas businesses. Documents obtained by the newspaper through an open records request show his annual salary was about $80,000. One month after starting the job, officials in the Colyer administration changed his office location to his residence. That designation was used to justify Arpke's monthly claims that taxpayers should pay him extra every time he drove to Topeka for work.
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Boy, 12, Arrested for Knife Thrown After Video Game Argument
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a 12-year-old boy has been arrested after throwing a knife at a 9-year-old boy when they got into an argument while playing video games at a Wichita home. The Wichita Eagle reports that 9-year-old and his 13-year-old brother were in the home of the 12-year-old when the argument erupted Saturday night. Police say the younger boy was taken to a hospital with a minor cut to his back. Neither of the older boys was hurt. Police say the 12-year-old was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of aggravated battery and aggravated assault. Police say the investigation is ongoing.
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Man Sentenced for Vandalizing Olathe Cemetery
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A man who pleaded guilty to vandalizing an Olathe cemetery on Christmas was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation. The Kansas City Star reports 42-year-old Alex Deason was also ordered Friday to pay $7,781 in restitution for damages. Deason pleaded guilty in March to criminal desecration at the Olathe Memorial Cemetery. Authorities said Deason knocked over and vandalized headstones, some of which dated back to the 1800s. At his sentencing hearing, Deason apologized and said he would like to write a letter to each family whose gravestones he damaged. Deason has been ordered to have no contact with the Olathe Memorial Cemetery.
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Manhattan-Ogden Approves Transgender Student Guidelines
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — The Manhattan-Ogden School Board has approved guidelines for transgender students in the school district. The board voted 6-1 last week to approve the guidelines, after discussing the issue since December. The Manhattan Mercury reports the guidelines give students the right to be addressed by the name and pronoun they choose. It also allows students to use the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity, and it allows students to play for sports teams of their gender identity. The board heard comments from 21 people expressing both support and opposition. Some opponents cited religious reasons and others criticized allowing students to play for teams of their gender identity. Board members who supported the policy said they wanted to do what they thought was best for the students.
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Report: Kansas Winter Wheat Maturing Slowly This Season
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A new government report says the Kansas winter wheat crop is maturing more slowly than usual. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that about 14% of the wheat has now headed. That is near what it was a year ago, but well behind the 41% average for this date. The agency also rated wheat condition as 10% poor to very poor, 32% in fair shape, and 58% in good to excellent condition. Growers have also seeded about 41% of their corn acreage, behind the 51% that is normally in the ground by this time. Planting of soybean and sorghum crops in Kansas is just getting under way with progress at or near the average.
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NY Giants Coach: Washburn University Draft Pick Ballentine was Shot in Buttocks
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants want sixth-round draft pick Corey Ballentine to take as long as he needs to get full closure after the shooting incident that wounded him and killed Washburn University teammate Dwane Simmons last weekend. Speaking Friday after the completion of the first day of a rookie minicamp, Giants coach Pat Shurmur said Ballentine needs to take care of himself before joining the team, adding the NFL club will help him any way it can. Ballentine and Simmons were shot at an off-campus party at the Topeka, Kansas, school, just hours after Ballentine was drafted. Shurmur disclosed last Friday that Ballentine was shot in the buttocks. He was treated and released from a hospital. "It was very unfortunate, he was the victim of a crime," Shurmur said. "That can happen to any of us. We're here for him, certainly with what he is going through with the vigils and funeral, and the things he has to go through. We are here to support him as he comes back to us. We're just here for him."
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