Kansas Governor Announces Grants to Help Children Exposed to Drugs
UNDATED (KNS) — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly recently announced nearly $2 million in grants to help children exposed to drugs by a parent or guardian. The Kansas News Service reports that the money will go to 18 organizations across the state. Carla Smith, the executive director of Rise Up Reno Prevention Network in Hutchinson, confirmed that her organization will use its grant to create an alliance of law enforcement, EMS, schools and other agencies. “We are aware that there are differences between the ways that different agencies react or try to assist when kids are involved in a crisis situation,” Smith said.
Smith says the alliance will create a protocol for crises involving kids and drugs. The Governor’s office estimates more than 140,000 children in Kansas live in households where their parents or caregivers use illegal substances.
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Kansas Is Voting on a New License Plate After Complaints Scuttled an Earlier Design
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has opened voting on five proposed designs for a new license plate, including one that closely resembles a previous design criticized and pulled for being uninspired, reminding people of the University of Missouri and too closely resembling one of New York's plates.
Governor Laura Kelly's office announced Monday that voting online was open as of 9 a.m. and that it would close Friday at 5 p.m. A website set up by the state requires voters to give their names and ZIP codes. Only votes from Kansas ZIP codes will be counted.
“I encourage Kansans to make their voices heard and am looking forward to announcing the winner next week," Kelly said in a statement.
Each proposed plate features a combination of seven numbers and letters in black and the first half of the state's motto, “To the stars,” at the bottom.
The Democratic governor's administration recalled the second part of the state's motto — “through difficulties” — in rolling out the previous design the day before Thanksgiving. Members of the Republican-controlled Legislature immediately threatened to intervene once lawmakers reconvene in January.
Some critics thought the navy blue and gold design was drab and ugly. Others thought the design too closely recalled the University of Missouri's gold and black colors. Still others, including Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, noted its resemblance to a New York plate known as “Empire Gold.”
Nevertheless, one of the five designs resembles the previous design. Others feature wheat stalks, sunflowers and the Statehouse dome.
The state is replacing its current design of navy numbers and letters on light blue because the plates have deteriorated and become harder for police to read.
The original plan was to start giving motorists the plate with the now-disfavored design in March when they renewed their vehicle registrations, charging them 50 cents for the required rear plate unless they wanted to pay an extra $45 for a specialized plate.
Kelly said that her office had received some designs from the public and said some of them were “beautiful.” However, she said the state is moving ahead with voting now on five designs "to get safer plates on the streets as soon as possible.” (Read more.)
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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Identified in Two Kansas Egg-Laying Facilities
UNDATED (KNS) – Severe bird flu has cropped up in two egg-laying facilities in central Kansas. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) hits most poultry hard and usually kills them fast. The Kansas News Service reports that the Kansas Department of Agriculture confirmed cases in egg-laying facilities in Rice and McPherson counties. The state is working with the US Department of Agriculture to handle the situation. To stop the spread, the facilities are under quarantine and their birds will be killed and disposed of safely. Other farms within a 12-mile zone won’t be allowed to move birds or products without permission from agriculture officials.
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Topeka’s Chief Financial Officer Charged for Alleged Domestic Battery
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) — The City of Topeka’s Chief Financial Officer has been arrested following a domestic disturbance over the weekend. City officials say that they are aware of an incident involving CFO Freddy Mawyin. WIBW TV reports that Topeka Police were called to a home in southwest Topeka about 10:00 pm Sunday on reports of a domestic dispute. Mawyin was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on domestic battery charges. City officials say Mawyin has been placed on administrative leave.
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University of Kansas Health System Reporting Uptick in COVID-19 Cases
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCUR) — Serious cases of COVID-19 surged this week at the University of Kansas Health System. KCUR reports that there are 33 active inpatient cases, up from 19 the week prior. Seven of those cases are in the ICU. Dana Hawkinson, an infectious disease expert for the health system, says the cases may be a sign of a seasonal trend.
“Compared to other viruses it seems to be in higher circulation even in the warmer months, but now it is looking like there is more of seasonality to COVID-19,” Hawkinson said.
The CDC reports that only 16% of adults and 7% of children have received the new COVID vaccine.
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Pilot Injured in Small Plane Crash in South Central Kansas
HARPER COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) — A pilot has been injured in a small plane crash in south central Kansas. According to the Harper County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened around 7:45 pm Monday near the Anthony Municipal Airport. KSNW TV reports that the pilot was flying just north of the runway when he hit some wires, causing him to hit the ground. The pilot was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
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U.S. Senate Confirms Kansas Military Judge for 10th District Court of Appeals
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) — The U.S. Senate confirmed a Kansas attorney to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Captain Richard Federico, a member of the Federal Public Defender and military judge for the Navy Reserve Judiciary, has been confirmed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. WIBW TV reports that President Biden nominated Federico in July. Republican Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, who introduced Federico to the Senate, praised his career and military service in the Navy JAG Corps, serving as a prosecutor, defense attorney and as a military judge. Federico is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law. He will replace Mary Beck Briscoe, a Kansas native, who gave notice for her retirement in 2021.
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Charges Upgraded for Shawnee Hit and Run Driver After 9-Year-Old Victim Dies
LENEXA, Kan. (KCTV) — The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office has upgraded charges against a Kansas City, Kansas, man in the death of a 9-year-old Lenexa boy. KCTV reports that 25-year-old Matthew A. Jacobo is now charged with second-degree murder, failure to stop at a crash where a death is known to have occurred, illegal possession of a firearm and driving under the influence. He is accused of crashing into another vehicle on Johnson Drive near Bell Road in Shawnee critically injuring 9-year-old Nolan Davidson on December 1. Police said Jacobo allegedly left the scene of the crash, where prosecutors allege he was driving drunk. A K9 unit later found him and officers took him into custody. He was originally charged with DUI-aggravated battery and failure to stop at a crash-great harm, but the charges were amended Monday after the 9-year-old boy died from injuries sustained in the crash. A hearing has been set for Thursday, December 14 , at 11 a.m. in Johnson County. Nolan Davidson’s family has arranged funeral services. A visitation will be held at the Foundry Church in Lenexa on Wednesday from 5-7 pm Nolan’s celebration of life will be at the Westside Family Church in Lenexa on Thursday at 4 pm.
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Lawrence Police Arrest Woman Accused of Beating Woman Near Campsite
LAWRENCE, Kan. (WIBW) — An arrest has been made after Lawrence police found a woman who had been brutally assaulted near a campsite used by people experiencing homelessness. Officers found the woman Saturday afternoon. She had apparently been hit in the face and on the head several times with a metal pipe. Investigators say they believe the attack took place at the North Lawrence campsite. First responders said they were able to help the woman, whose clothes and face were covered with blood, then took her to a local hospital for further treatment. WIBW TV reports that detectives canvassed the area for witnesses and collected evidence. They believe they found the weapon used in the attack and later arrested a female suspect, identified as 35-year-old Shawnda D. Hess, of Lawrence. Hess was booked into the Douglas County Jail on charges of aggravated battery. As of Monday morning, she remains in custody with no bond listed. Lawrence police say the victim is expected to recover but will likely be hospitalized for several days.
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Kansas Game Warden Reports Arrest in Deer Poaching Incident
AMERICUS, Kan. (WIBW) — An arrest has been made following an early-December poaching incident near Americus and investigators are still searching for information in other nearby poaching crimes. WIBW reports that emergency crews were called to an area about two miles northwest of Americus on Monday, December 4, on reports of a disturbance. Lyon County Game Warden Aaron Scheve says the suspect had allegedly collected three deer before he was apprehended, none of the deer had tags. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Highway Patrol assisted in the arrest. The suspect’s identity has not been disclosed. The incident occurred about a mile east of a November poaching incident in which a deer was beheaded. The Game Warden says the two cases are not believed to be connected. Scheve says two other cases from November 2022 remain open. Anyone with information about any of the poaching incidents should report it to the Game Warden at 620-431-9873.
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KU Study Finds Health and Wealth Disparity Between Racial and Ethnic Groups
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KNS) — New research from the University of Kansas finds that the association between wealth and health differs across racial and ethnic groups. The study, which looked at American young adults, found that people of color need more financial assets to achieve similar health outcomes compared with young white adults. While debt was associated with better health for white Americans, the opposite was true for people of color. The study’s author Sicong Summer Sun says she thinks that’s tied to student loans. “Borrowing student loans for young white adults is helpful for health outcomes. However, it is detrimental for all people of color.” The researchers say they hope the findings can guide policymakers trying to improve public health.
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Federal Railroad Administration Awards Grant to Study KC to St. Joseph Passenger Rail
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KSHB) — The Federal Railroad Administration has designated $500,000 for a study on passenger rail service between Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri. KSHB TV reports that the proposed route would extend Amtrak’s existing River Runner service currently operating between Kansas City and St. Louis. The proposed route would extend north to St. Joseph instead of the westbound train stopping at Kansas City’s Union Station. The Railroad Administration also designated $500,000 to help develop an extension of Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer Route south from Newton and Wichita to Fort Worth, Texas. The extension would allow passengers on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief to switch trains in Newton and head south.
(-Related-)
Good News for Passenger Rail Fans in Kansas
WASHINGTON (KPR) — Good news for fans of passenger rail service in Kansas. A $500,000 Federal Railroad Administration grant will be used to plan and develop an extension of Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer that will connect the existing rail service between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth with Wichita and Newton. Kansas Republican Senator Jerry Moran announced the grant today (FRI). The proposed extension would also include additional stops in Wichita, Newton and a new stop in Arkansas City.
“I have been working with local, state and federal leaders for several years to connect Kansas to the Heartland Flyer by rail,” Moran said. “Connecting communities across these three states will support new economic opportunities for businesses and provide a new means of travel along this busy route. I am pleased to see the first step in this corridor progress and look forward to seeing the project benefit Kansas and the region and look forward to continued dialogue with local stakeholders.”
Moran led a meeting in 2021 with Amtrak leaders, Kansas legislators and officials from Texas and Oklahoma to discuss the benefits of connecting the Heartland Flyer to Kansas.
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Kansas State Receives $8 Million to Study Soil Health and Crop Yields
MANHATTAN, Kan. (KNS) — Kansas State University has received almost $8 million in funding to conduct research on soil health, sustainability and crop yields. One big component of the study will be carbon sequestration, the process of capturing carbon dioxide and storing it in the soil. This process can significantly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and lessen the effects of a warmer climate. Brian Olson, head of K-State’s Western Kansas Research-Extension Centers, says sustainability of dryland sites in Kansas is essential to understanding the shifting climate. “I suspect that in tough years, there's going to be some crop rotations and tillage that fail," he said. The five year study will focus on locations near Osborne in north-central Kansas and near Garden City in southwestern Kansas. Researchers hope to understand more about crop management and how it affects farmers and the environment.
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Kansas Senator Seeks to Tie Ukraine Funding to Border Security
UNDATED (KNS/KMUW) - Kansas Republican Senator Roger Marshall is prioritizing funding to Israel over Ukraine, as congress attempts to pass aid packages for both countries. A Democratic bill to fund Ukraine and Israel failed in the senate this week after Republicans opposed it. Marshall and fellow Senate Republicans want to tie funding to Ukraine with stronger border security. But Marshall wants congress to pass standalone aid to Israel, in the wake of an attack by Hamas. The U.S. has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization: "We need to send a message to Hamas," Marshall said. "We need to send a message to Iran and all the terrorists that we're not going to tolerate their inhumane actions, their barbarism."
Marshall says he won't vote for more funding for Ukraine unless the U.S. beefs up security along the southern border. Specifically, he wants to limit the number of people who can seek asylum in the U.S. He says Kansas is affected by border security failures because the state is a pathway for drug trafficking. "Wherever you see drug trafficking, you're going to see crime. Fentanyl alone is impacting Kansas in so many ways," he said. Marshall wants to pass aid to Israel as a standalone package. Marshall says he worries Ukraine's war with Russia is dragging on too long. The White House has warned that the U.S. will run out of money for weapons for Ukraine by year's end.
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Kansas Public Radio Is Hiring
Morning News Host, Newscaster / Reporter
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) — Kansas Public Radio is seeking a new morning news host. The Morning Edition Host/Reporter delivers the local segments of “Morning Edition,” National Public Radio’s weekday news magazine on Kansas Public Radio (hereafter “KPR”), licensed by the University of Kansas in Lawrence. This person gathers, edits, writes, produces and delivers local newscasts and hosts the local segments of this national show on KPR. Following each day’s broadcast of Morning Edition, this position is also responsible for producing broadcast and online news content. The reporter must have a keen understanding of state, regional and national news. This position requires consistent availability weekdays from 4:00am to 1:00pm, including most holidays. Position is supervised by the News Director and/or Assistant News Director. Application review begins in December and continues until a pool of qualified applicants is identified. Candidates must apply online: https://employment.ku.edu/jobs/staff/morning-news-host-reporter/26740br KU is an EO/AAE. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, disability, genetic information or protected veteran status.
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Royals Sign Reliever Will Smith to $5 Million Deal to Close Games in 2024
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals signed Will Smith to a $5 million contract for the upcoming season Monday. They are hoping that the left-hander will be able to close down games in the late innings in a way their bullpen struggled to last season. The 34-year-old Smith could earn bonuses of $125,000 each for 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 games pitched this season. He broke into the majors with Kansas City and has won World Series rings each of the past three season with different organizations.
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RHPs Seth Lugo, Chris Stratton Agree to Deals with Royals, AP Sources Say
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals general manager J.J. Picollo made it clear after a 106-loss season that Kansas City was in desperate need of pitching.
On Tuesday, they landed someone to start games and another to help finish them.
The Royals agreed with right-hander Seth Lugo on a $45 million, three-year deal to fill one of their open spots in the starting rotation, then landed reliever Chris Stratton on a $4 million deal, two people with knowledge of the contracts told The Associated Press. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because the deals were pending physicals.
Lugo can opt out after the 2025 season, one of the people said, while Stratton will get $3.5 million for this season and has a $4.5 million player option with a $500,000 buyout for 2025.
With one of the best curveballs in the game, Lugo is coming off a strong year with the Padres, where he went 8-7 with a 3.57 ERA while proving he could be a full-time starter. The 34-year-old started games early in his career but had largely worked out of the bullpen with only occasional starts during his first seven seasons with the New York Mets.
After driving up his value, Lugo declined his $7.5 million player option with the Padres and became a free agent.
One thing both pitchers have in common is experience, and that was something the Royals also wanted in their clubhouse.
“We're trying to put a team together. It's not really one individual talent,” Picollo said this week, while announcing a $5 million deal with reliever Will Smith. “Given the inexperience in our clubhouse other than Salvy (Perez) and Jordan (Lyles), we felt like we were short with guys like will that have not only won at a high level but experienced the game.”
Kansas City has been trying to find help for a starting rotation that has struggled the past few seasons. The Royals filled one big hole midway through last season when they acquired Cole Ragans from the Rangers for reliever Aroldis Chapman, and they hope Brady Singer can bounce back after a poor season while Lyles can continue to eat innings.
The 26-year-old Lugo should factor into the middle of the rotation. He started 18 games for the Mets in 2017, going 7-5 with a pedestrian 4.71 ERA, but only 12 total over the next five seasons, when he began to flourish out of the bullpen. Lugo was 20-17 with a 3.25 ERA over that span, striking out 378 while issuing only 91 walks over 329 1/3 innings.
Lugo got another shot to start in San Diego and made the most of it, and now the Royals are hoping he can keep it up.
Kansas City also has been searching for bullpen help in free agency. Smith is expected to finish out games, and Stratton should give the Royals a bridge from starters to the left-hander and ther rest of the back end of the bullpen.
The 33-year-old Stratton, who along with Smith won a World Series ring with Texas last month, had a 3.92 ERA in 64 games with the Cardinals and Rangers this past season. The right-hander also has pitched for the Giants, Angels and Pirates while appearing in 302 games with a 4.43 ERA over his 10-year big league career.
The Royals have been busy remaking their pitching staff since the end of the season. They also have acquired reliever Nick Anderson from Atlanta for cash, then landed right-handed starter Kyle Wright — who is expected to miss the 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery — for pitcher Jackson Kowar in a separate deal with the Braves.
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This summary of area news is curated by KPR news staffers. Our headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays and updated throughout the day. This ad-free news summary is made possible by KPR members. Become one today. And follow KPR News on Twitter.