Kansas Tax Collections Come in Short of Estimates for Fourth Consecutive Month
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – Kansas tax collections came in under estimates in January, marking the fourth month in a row that the state missed the target. The Kansas News Service reports that Kansas brought in $928 million in tax revenue last month. That’s about 6.5 percent lower than state estimates. Sales and income taxes missing the forecast were the biggest drivers. The state has a revenue surplus built up in recent years but has fallen short of monthly estimates since October. Lawmakers want to pass tax cuts this session to return some of the state’s surplus to taxpayers. But with Kansas recently on a downward trend, Democratic Governor Laura Kelly says she will only approve tax cuts that are fiscally responsible.
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LMH Health Posts Operating Loss of $5 Million+, Gives CEO a Raise
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LJW) — The hospital that serves Lawrence, LMH Health, has posted an operating loss of more than $5 million. Despite that loss, the hospital's board of trustees gave the CEO a raise and additional bonus compensation. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that CEO Russ Johnson's new salary has been boosted to more than $572,000 a year. Board Chair Pat Miller defended the compendation, saying Johnson's new salary package puts him in the mid salary range for CEOs at similar sized hospitals. Last year, the board gave Johnson a five-year contract extention. One item that didn't come up at Wednesday's LMH board meeting was the search for a new Chief Financial Officer. The last CFO was fired after hospital staff members discovered he was a convicted felon. (Read more.)
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Transgender Woman Sues State of Kansas Department of Corrections
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KNS) – A transgender woman who worked for the Kansas Department of Corrections says the state agency would not acknowledge her transition or stop coworkers and inmates from harassing her. The Kansas News Service reports that the woman has now filed a lawsuit. Shelly Lamb is a former counselor and supervisor for the Kansas Department of Corrections prison facility in Hutchinson. She says in addition to harassment, the state agency also retaliated by taking away her workload and moving her office. Madeline Johnson of Missouri Kansas Queer Law is Lamb’s attorney. Johnson says the agency would not let Lamb publicly transition in the workplace and that violates federal law. “Prohibiting her from wearing even professional women’s clothing or wearing any makeup or hair pieces to present female.” Kansas Department of Corrections officials declined to comment on the lawsuit. Lamb says she resigned from her position because of the hostile workplace. She wants the department to pay her for lost wages and benefits. (Read more.)
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Jury Awards $158 Million to Family of Man Slain on Amtrak Train in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KC Star) — A federal jury has returned a $158 million verdict for the family of a passenger who was shot and killed on a Kansas City-bound Amtrak train two years ago. After an eight-day trial, the jury sided with the family of the 30-year-old man who was killed. The Kansas City Star reports that the award includes both compensatory and punitive damages. Attorneys for his family declined to comment and asked that the victim’s name be omitted because of safety concerns. The family alleged in its lawsuit that Amtrak failed to stop after the shooting, instead letting the victim bleed to death. The suspect in the shooting, Marquise L. Webb, of Kansas City, exited the train at the Lee’s Summit station. Authorities say Webb carjacked a vehicle and then drove to Kansas City as the Amtrak train departed.
The train continued on to its next destination in Independence, roughly 35 minutes away, before the gunshot victim was pronounced dead by emergency medical personnel. About two weeks after the shooting, Webb was arrested in Kansas City after a standoff with police. Prosecutors initially charged the 23-year-old Webb with second-degree murder. He pleaded guilty in September to the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to 28 years in prison.
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COVID Case Numbers Falling in Kansas Following Winter Spike
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCUR) — COVID-19 case numbers in Kansas have been falling since they spiked late last year when temperatures turned colder. The University of Kansas Health System says it has just 23 patients with serious cases of COVID. Last year at this time, KU Health reported 51. Wastewater testing also shows decreased COVID levels right now, although still higher than last summer, according to the CDC. Kelly Rhodes Stark is the chief medical officer for the health system’s Olathe location. “I do think that we celebrate what has happened in the communities that we see," Stark said. "But that we also have to continue to educate particularly about vaccines and masking.” Sheryl Beard, chief medical officer at Ascension Via Christi in Wichita, says the virus is no longer impacting their staffing levels. “We have less than 10 hospitalizations of COVID patients and we have no real effect on our supplies and no differences in staffing," she said.
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Two in Topeka Accused of Animal Cruelty, Abandonment After Dozens of Animals Found Dead or Malnourished
TOPEKA, Kan. (KC Star) — Two people in Topeka stand accused of animal cruelty and abandonment after authorities discovered 18 dead animals in their home. Another 73 dogs and cats had to be rescued because they were lacking food and water. The Kansas City Star reports that criminal charges are pending against 28-year-old Charles Solomon and 30-year-old Desiree Therrien. Both were booked into the Shawnee County Jail.
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Testimony Continues into Public University Hiring Practices in Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) — Kansas lawmakers have taken testimony on a bill that would prevent public universities from asking job candidates about diversity, equity and inclusion. Proponents of the legislation say it limits job candidates’ freedom of speech to ask whether they support a particular ideology. Opponents say colleges don’t ask about ideology, but rather someone’s commitment to working with diverse populations… at a time when campuses are becoming more diverse. Nathan Madden with the Health Forward Foundation said the bill could make it harder for colleges to hire the best candidates: “Most working adults in the U.S. agree that DEI is is a good thing. It's good to have these open conversations. With legislation like this, those conversations can be closed.” Lawmakers narrowly failed to pass a similar proposal last year after Democratic Governor Laura Kelly vetoed it.
Representative Stephen Howe discussed a job posting from the University of Kansas that asks candidates to describe their experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds. Howe, a Republican who introduced the bill, opposes universities asking those types of questions. "(They) can limit academic freedom and can limit our intellectual diversity or diversity of thought on our campuses," he said. Opponents say asking candidates about diversity is important as college campuses become more diverse. A similar proposal narrowly failed last year after lawmakers could not override a veto from Democratic Governor Laura Kelly.
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Kansas Lawmaker Wants to Change the Way Vacant U.S. Senate Seats Are Filled
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — Kansas lawmakers are considering changing how the state fills vacancies in the U.S. Senate. Under current law, if one of the two Republican U.S. senators from Kansas were to step down, Democratic Governor Laura Kelly would choose their replacement until the next election. But a proposal in the Kansas legislature would require the state to host a special election whenever there’s a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. That’s currently law in 13 other states. Proponents say special elections are more democratic than appointments, while critics say the change could make it more difficult to fill vacancies in a timely fashion.
Republican state Senator Caryn Tyson wants Kansas to host a special election whenever there’s such a vacancy. “We are founded on a government of elected representatives," she said. "Therefore, we should improve this process to have those election cycles and allow the people to be the voice.” Senator Tyson initially proposed giving state political parties the authority to fill U.S. Senate vacancies in Kansas, but state officials expressed concerns that it could violate the U.S. Constitution.
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Expansion of Kansas Good Samaritan Law Advanced by Kansas House Committee
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) — A bill to include drug overdoses in the state's Good Samaritan law has passed unanimously out of a Kansas House committee. The bill would protect most people from prosecution if they call 911 to get medical attention for someone who’s experiencing an overdose. An amendment was also added to protect people on parole or probation who call. Advocates like Sapphire Garcia-Lies from Wichita say the bill can save lives. She says she lost her brother-in-law to an overdose two years ago. "Too many of our citizens in Kansas are dying of preventable causes, namely fentanyl addiction," she said "And we need to do something about this. The time to act is now. We’re running out of time.” Kansas is one of two states without the law. The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.
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Sunflower Foundation, KU Center for Public Partnerships and Research to Launch Substance Abuse Assessment
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) – Kansans will soon be able to provide input on a new statewide needs assessment about substance use disorders. KMUW reports that the Sunflower Foundation and the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research are preparing to launch their year-long assessment. Feedback will help guide the board that distributes the state’s opioid settlement funds.
Alyssa Nava is with The Sunflower Foundation. She says the groups will host in-person events and several webinars to gather feedback. “If right now we can start looking at the system differently. And maybe if investments are made in certain areas, 10 years from now, how different could it be in a positive way?" Nava explained.
The state board has already distributed about $10 million dollars in opioid settlement funds. Providers can go to unitedtotransform.com to learn more about the survey.
Editorial note: The Sunflower Foundation and the University of Kansas are both financial supporters of Kansas Public Radio.
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Kansas State Trooper Helps Deliver Baby Roadside
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — State Troopers do a lot more than pull over speeding drivers. Sometimes, they help deliver babies. Such was the case with Kansas Master Trooper Da’Von Brame earlier this month. On January 12th, he fielded a call from the Rosales family, which was en route to the hospital but was not going to make it in time before their baby arrived. KSNW TV reports that trooper Brame met up with the family on the shoulder of Interstate 35 near Wichita and - along with the baby's father - helped the mother deliver their baby. Baby Pierson was born within minutes of Trooper Brame’s arrival. The family then made it to the hospital and baby Pierson is said to be doing fine.
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Mother Charged in Death of 5-Year-Old Boy Who Fell from KC Apartment Building
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KSHB) — Prosecutors in Kansas City have charged a mother in connection with the death of her 5-year-old son, after he fell 17 stories from an apartment building window. Corrinne O'Connor is charged with endangering the welfare of a child in connection with her son's death in November. Investigators say the mother's apartment was filthy - with feces, food debris and trash piled inside. In the area near the window where Grayson fell, investigators found a "copious" amount of chocolate on the sill and exterior ledge of the window. The chocolate was smeared with what appeared to be child imprints. Chocolate was also found on the exterior ledge of the window.
Detectives say Corrinne didn't report the fall to police. Instead, that information came from passersby. KSHB TV reports that neighbors contacted the Missouri Department of Social Services on Grayson’s behalf two years before his death, citing neglect and other problems. Corrinne O'Connor is due in court Monday.
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Donations Continue to Pour in to Replace Destroyed Jackie Robinson Statue in Wichita
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) – Donations to replace the Jackie Robinson statue at McAdams Park in Wichita continue to pour in. The statue was stolen last week from the League 42 baseball facility at the park. Fire crews found burned remnants of the statue this week while responding to a trash fire. An online fundraiser to replace the statue using the sculptor's original mold has surpassed $180,000 dollars. The league says it will use any remaining funds for the education programs it runs and for field improvements. More than 600 children play in the low-cost baseball league, which is named for the number Robinson wore.
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Royals Foundation Sponsors Free Admission to Negro Leagues Baseball Museum During Black History Month
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) – Entry to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is free this month, courtesy of the Kansas City Royals. KCUR reports that the Royals’ charitable campaign celebrates Black History Month … and highlights the contributions Black players made to baseball. Kiona Sinks is a director at the museum. She says a visit can be another way to learn about civil rights, and race relations in America. “We pride ourselves in being a cultural institution … so we're a social justice museum, that's seen through the lens of baseball and the Negro Leagues were such a big part of that,” she added. Sinks says last year's free-entry February brought in more than 14,000 people.
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Wichita Woman Suspected in Death of 14-Year-Old Son Is Wounded by Police After Standoff
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police have shot and wounded a Kansas woman who is suspected of fatally shooting her 14-year-old son, authorities said. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation announced Tuesday that the 43-year-old woman is expected to survive. She was shot early Monday after hours of negotiations. Officers went to an apartment Sunday night after the father of Claude Hodges called to request a welfare check because the teen had not shown up at a designated exchange spot and could not be reached, authorities said.
No one answered the door, police said. But when officers noticed a bullet hole in the apartment's exterior wall, they obtained a key and went inside. The woman was holding a handgun with a shotgun nearby, so officers quickly left, the KBI said in a news release. After several hours of negotiations, the woman exited the apartment. Initially she left her handgun on the ground. But the KBI said she picked it up around 1:40 am Monday and began to walk toward the officers while pointing it in their direction.
The KBI said two SWAT officers from the Wichita police department each fired one shot, striking the woman. She was rushed rushed to a hospital, where she underwent surgery and is expected to survive, the KBI said. Inside the apartment, officers found Hodges dead from a gunshot wound, police and the KBI said.
Police are still investigating the teen's shooting and had not yet submitted their findings to the prosecutor to make a charging decision. The KBI, meanwhile, is investigating the woman's shooting.
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Federal Funds Available to Kansas Farmers Willing to Try More Specialty Crops
LIBERAL, Kan. (KNS) — Kansas farmers are being encouraged to experiment with more specialty crops in 2024 through federal funding. The state has received more than $300,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to increase the competitiveness of farming projects and organizations looking to plant specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and horticulture. Right now, Kansas imports 95% of its produce. But the state has been trying to expand specialty crops for more diversity, economic growth, and healthier communities. The grants could help producers research specialty crops and identify challenges on a local and regional level. The money also could expand access to these crops for more sustainable agriculture.
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Kansas Attorney General Shows Support for Texas in Border Dispute
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and a coalition of 26 attorneys general are showing their support for Texas in its border dispute with the federal government. Kobach's group sent a letter to the Biden Administration demanding that the president start enforcing existing immigration laws. WIBW TV reports that the group also wants President Biden to reinstate former President Trump's "remain in Mexico" policy and finish building the southern border wall started by Trump.
Kobach says Biden has allowed millions of illegal immigrants, dangerous drugs and human traffickers into the country ever since taking office, when he reversed Trump's immigration policies. Officials from 27 states have signed on to the letter. The State of Texas remains locked in a dispute with the federal government over securing the nation's southern border. Texas officials accuse the feds of failing to secure the border and say they will secure it themselves.
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Sporting KC Signs Veteran Memo Rodríguez to Solidify Midfield Lineup for 2024 Season
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Sporting Kansas City signed Memo Rodriguez on Thursday to a one-year contract that includes a club option for 2025, giving the club a veteran midfielder after the signings of defender Zorhan Bassong and forward Alenis Vargas.
Rodríguez has 34 goals in 227 appearances over eight seasons spent mostly with the MLS-rival Houston Dynamo, where he came up through their academy system. He spent parts of last season with the Los Angeles Galaxy and Austin.
KC opens its season at Houston on Feb. 24.
In 2018, Rodriguez helped the Dynamo win the U.S. Open Cup for the first time with three goals during the tournament. He had a career-best seven MLS goals the following year while also debuting in the CONCACAF Champions League, and he appeared in 82 of 91 games for the Dynamo over the next three years.
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