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Headlines for Wednesday, March 20, 2024

A graphic representation of eight radios of various vintages, underneath the words "Kansas Public Radio News Summary"
Emily DeMarchi
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KPR

Trump, Biden Win Kansas Primary

LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR/KNS) - President Biden and former President Trump have won the Kansas primary. Even before Tuesday's election, both candidates had secured the delegates needed to win their party's nomination.

Josh Sigler, a Democratic voter in Johnson County, says he cast his ballot for Biden, even though the primary race is over. “I just think it’s important to do our civic duty, first of all, and then the way the economy is going and abortion rights is big for me as well," he said. Moe Hamid, a Democratic voter in Johnson County, says he left his ballot blank because of Biden’s support of Israel in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. “He gave America a really bad reputation as the leader of the free world, as a moral leader in the world, Hamid said. Vera Bolinger, a lifelong Republican in Wichita, says she voted for Trump. “The country is in a disaster right now," she said. "And the border is wide open. I'm not against legal immigration. I'm against illegal immigration.”

Tuesday's election in Kansas was limited to just the presidential election. Primaries for local races will be held August 6. The general election will be held November 5.

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Kansas House Republicans Abandon Flat Tax Rate Proposal

TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas City Star) – Republicans in the Kansas House have made no secret that their top policy goal for 2024 is a single-rate income tax. Now, the Kansas City Star reports that Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita is admitting defeat on that priority, weeks after the House was unable to override Democratic Governor Laura Kelly's veto of an earlier flat-rate tax plan.

Earlier this week, Hawkins and other House Republicans introduced a new tax plan that eliminates one of the state's three income tax brackets, which would move Kansas to a dual-rate income tax. The plan would adjust income tax rates, but would also phase out taxes on Social Security income over the next four years, and reduce the overall amount of income tax the state collects.

Kelly's office did not immediately respond to a Star request for comment. She has repeatedly said she would veto any tax package including a flat-rate income tax. However, she has discussed an openness to negotiation on other tax items.

Hawkins's decision to move on to a different kind of tax plan is viewed as "a remarkable departure" for the Speaker, who had spent months advocating for a flat income tax. In earlier interviews with the Star, Hawkins had said a flat income tax was a must-have for any tax revision plan.

Kelly has been opposed to the proposal, saying it would harm the state's budget and disproportionately harm lower-income Kansans.

Last month, the Kansas House fell four votes short when Republican lawmakers sought to override Kelly’s veto. After weeks of conversation, Hawkins said that it was clear a flat tax was not possible this year.

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Testimony Begins at Kansas Statehouse on Medicaid Expansion Proposal

UNDATED (KNS) – Politicians and advocates packed Kansas Statehouse meeting rooms Wednesday to debate Medicaid expansion for the first time in four years. The proposal would provide health care to an estimated 150,000 more low-income Kansans. Wichita teacher Marcillene Dover said not being able to afford health care during college forced her to wait years to get treated for multiple sclerosis. “If you know about multiple sclerosis, it is a progressive disease with permanent disability that accrues. And having no ability to get diagnosis or treatment meant having more physical disability that is permanent,” she added. But opponents say the proposal is too expensive and Kansas shouldn’t provide free health care to able-bodied adults who don’t work. That includes Republican Senator Beverly Gossage, who said “...instead, I would like to rather see our focus on obstacles that might discourage Kansans from seeking employment, and barriers that might prevent employers from expanding businesses to hire workers.” The proposal is unlikely to advance because of steep opposition from Gossage and other Republican leaders.

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Kansas Legislature Considering Possible Constitutional Amendments to Limit Property Valuation Increases

WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) – The Kansas legislature is considering two potential constitutional amendments to limit rising property valuations as residents complain of high property taxes. KMUW reports that in Sedgwick County, three in five homes increased in value this year, with a median increase of 10 percent. Legislators are looking at options to bring down property taxes. One proposed constitutional amendment would cap the valuation of most property at a maximum of 4 percent. The Sedgwick County commission opposes this because of its potential impact on the budget. County commissioner Jim Howell expressed concern about the long-term ramifications of a valuation cap, saying "...one of the problems we have right now is property taxes seem to be the one persistent tax that continues to come to the county, and other sources of revenue have gone away." Another option the legislature proposed is to value properties based on a 10-year rolling average, to smooth out any extreme increases. If the legislature passes one of the amendments, it would be placed on the November ballot for a public vote.

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Google Announces $1 Billion Data Center in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KPR) – Google plans to build a $1 billion data center in Kansas City, Missouri. The news was announced today (WED). Google data centers help power digital services, like Google Cloud, search functions and maps for people and organizations worldwide. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas praised the news saying, "“Kansas City continues to be one of the fastest-growing technology markets in the country." More details are expected soon.

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GraceMed CEO Resigns

UNDATED (KNS) – The CEO of Kansas health nonprofit GraceMed has resigned following allegations that she falsified her educational credentials. The Kansas News Service reports that the Christian organization serves low-income patients at more than a dozen clinics in Wichita, Clearwater, McPherson and Topeka. Venus Lee joined GraceMed 14 years ago and was named CEO in 2020. Her salary in 2022 was over $240,000. She claimed to hold a Doctorate of Theology and a master's degree. Last week, GraceMed removed the credentials from her biography and confirmed she did not hold them under any names she’s known to have used. In a release, GraceMed’s Board of Directors commended Lee’s “extraordinary service" to the organization.

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Lansing Man Arrested in Connection with Overdose Death of 15-Year-Old

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY, Kan. (KPR) – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) says a Lansing man has been arrested in connection with a fentanyl overdose death. Late Wednesday morning, 19-year-old Torin M. Baughman was arrested for first-degree murder. He's accused of causing the death of a 15-year-old Lansing boy. The KBI identified the victim only by his initials - N.C.B. Investigators say he was found dead in his home on January 18, 2023. After his arrest, Baughman was booked into the Leavenworth County Jail. Bond was set at $500,000.

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Wichita Weighing an End to the Practice of Publishing Public Notices in Newspaper

WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) – Wichita will consider ending its contract with the Eagle and McClatchy, the paper's parent company, to publish the city's public notices. If approved, Wichita will become one of the largest cities to do so. The Kansas News Service reports that the city spends $150 thousand dollars a year to publish its notices in The Eagle, its paper of record. Council members argued that they’d rather continue publishing notices on the city's website or find other publications. But other council members said that older members of the community still read the notices in the paper. Emily Bradbury is with the Kansas Press Association. She says publishing notices in the paper helps keep local governments accountable: “At the end of the day, it's about transparency, and we feel like we're advocates for the public. And we know, that transparency will be harmed, and the public will be harmed if the public notices are pulled from newspapers.” Council members will discuss the contract at their April 2nd meeting.

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KC Teen Faces New Felony Charge over the Shooting at Chiefs' Super Bowl Celebration

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A 16-year-old boy is facing a new felony charge over the mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration that killed one person and wounded almost two dozen others, local juvenile authorities said Tuesday. Authorities said the teenager was arraigned Tuesday on a charge of unlawful use of a weapon in shooting at a person. He was being held since the February 14 mass shooting on a lesser felony charge of resisting arrest. For an adult offender, the new charge would be punishable by between five and 15 years in prison. Authorities said that a Jackson County Family Court judge will hold a hearing to determine whether the teenager will be tried as an adult. A second 16-year-old also continues to be held on a lesser gun charge.

State authorities also have charged two men with second-degree murder and several weapons counts in connection with the shootings. Police said the shooting happened when one group of people confronted another for staring at them. In addition, three other Missouri men have been charged in the shooting aftermath with federal counts related to the illegal purchase of high-powered rifles and guns with extended magazines.

Unsealed federal court documents said 12 people brandished firearms and at least six people fired weapons at the rally, which drew an estimated 1 million people to downtown Kansas City.

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Kansas Bill Pushes Pilot Program for Medical Cannabis

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - After numerous failed attempts to legalize marijuana in Kansas, a new effort is underway. Kansas is one of 10 states that does not have a medical cannabis program. KWCH TV reports that newly proposed legislation would change that. If the bill is passed, the medical cannabis pilot program would run from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2029.

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Roofing Manufacturer to Invest $300 Million and Build Facility in Newton

TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) – North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, GAF, will invest more than $300 million in Newton by constructing a new shingle plant. Company officials say the facility will create more than 130 manufacturing jobs. Governor Laura Kelly announced the news today (WED).

The company says it will build a 275,000-square-foot facility beginning in June. Production at the plant is expected to begin in 2027, reaching full production capacity by mid-2029.

GAF has more than 4,800 employees and operates in 30 locations across the U.S. producing commercial and residential roofing and waterproofing products and services for customers across North America. The Kansas Logistics Parks in Newton will be the company’s first location in Kansas.

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Ogallala Aquifer Summit Draws Attendees to Discuss Preservation

LIBERAL, Kan. (KNS) – Roughly 200 people met in southwest Kansas this week to discuss ways to preserve the Ogallala Aquifer. The Kansas News Service reports that the group of researchers, farmers and conservationists agreed solutions for sustainable agriculture need to come from a local level through technology and water reduction plans. Katie Durham, groundwater manager for District 1, emphasized the need for difficult conversations with fellow producers and local industries, saying “If we do not do something, we are not going to be here. And really helping people to understand what we could do if we stretch that resource.” Durham’s region is one of two districts in Kansas that has a local water management plan, which saw an increase in water levels last year. The plan encourages producers to reduce water use by 25% to keep the aquifer healthy. Instead, they have reduced it by 39%, moving closer to a stabilized aquifer.

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Mattel Plans Theme Park for Wyandotte County 

BONNER SPRINGS, Kan. (WDAF) — A new theme park is coming to the Kansas City area: a Mattel Adventure Park. Located in Wyandotte County, the park will feature Hot Wheels roller coasters, a Barbie rooftop restaurant and bar and other attractions.
WDAF TV reports that crews plan to break ground this year and open the new theme park in Bonner Springs in 2026. “Mattel Adventure Park Kansas City" will feature roller coasters, a theatre, dining and family-friendly attractions. This will be the second Mattel Adventure Park from Mattel. The company's first-ever theme park opens this year in Glendale, Arizona.

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Olathe School District Hourly Workers Seek to Form Union

JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. (JCP) – Hourly workers in one of the Kansas City metro’s largest suburban school districts are trying to unionize for higher pay and better benefits. The Johnson County Post reports that some hourly workers in Olathe Public Schools — including classroom aides, food service staff and custodians — have signed a petition seeking to form a union. Their demands include a $20 per hour minimum wage, full-time health insurance and retirement benefits. Olathe schools have roughly 1,800 hourly workers who could be eligible. The push comes as Olathe and other local districts continue to struggle with staff turnover which is due, in part, to relatively low pay. Superintendent Brent Yeager says that Olathe plans to hold a series of roundtable discussions soon to hear more from employees.

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Kansas Pharmacist Group Takes on the Prescription Drug Industry

PAOLA, Kan. (KNS) — A group of four Kansas pharmacists is trying to revolutionize the multi-billion dollar prescription drug industry that they say is taking advantage of clients and locally-owned pharmacies. The group hopes to make positive changes in the industry. The four pharmacy owners formed their own pharmacy benefit manager to take on the huge companies that currently influence how much people pay for medications. After years of frustration with mega companies, the group of Kansas pharmacists is now working to change the pharmacy benefit manager trade from the inside out, by creating their own, different kind of pharmacy benefit manager called Oread Rx.

Nate Rockers, owner of Rockers Pharmacy in Paola, Kansas, said the current pharmacy benefit manager situation is dire. “The industry has morphed away from what we think is the right practice, in an industry that is rife with opportunities for abuse,” Rockers said. The Kansas company formed in late 2018 is aimed at disrupting a multi-billion dollar industry where major companies decide how much people pay for drugs in their insurance plans, and critics say the pharmacy benefit managers are making big profits in the process while lacking transparency. (Read more.)

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Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Pulls over Driver Going 107 MPH

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper recently pulled over a motorist who was driving 107 mph. The driver was in a 75 MPH zone at the time. KSNW TV reports the driver was pulled over in northeast Kansas and given a ticket for $333. In a separate incident in mid-February, a driver in Lincoln County, Kansas, was pulled over for driving 151 MPH. Troopers say they are seeing an increase in the number of motorists exceeding 100 MPH.

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JetBlue to End Service in Kansas City, Some Other Destinations

UNDATED (AP) – JetBlue Airways will end service at several cities and reduce flying out of Los Angeles in a move to retrench and focus on stronger markets after years of losing money. The changes will also help the airline cope with the grounding of some of its planes for inspections of their Pratt & Whitney engines, an executive told employees Tuesday.

Beginning June 13, JetBlue will pull out of Kansas City, Missouri; Bogota, Colombia; Quito, Ecuador; and Lima, Peru. “These markets are unprofitable and our aircraft time can be better utilized elsewhere,” Dave Jehn, the airline's vice president of network planning, said in a memo to employees.

Also in June, the New York-based airline will drop several destinations from Los Angeles including Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Miami. It will end flights between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Nashville; New Orleans and Salt Lake City, and service between New York and Detroit.

JetBlue has lost more than $2 billion since its last profitable year, 2019. The airline tried to grow through a partnership and a merger, but the Biden administration’s Justice Department sued to kill both deals.

Last May, a federal judge ordered JetBlue and American Airlines to dissolve a partnership they created in Boston and New York. In January another judge blocked JetBlue from buying Spirit, saying the proposed $3.8 billion deal violated antitrust law.

The airline has struggled to improve its operation. JetBlue ranked ninth out of the nation’s 10 largest airlines in both canceled flights and on-time arrivals last year, according to U.S. Transportation Department numbers.

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Prosecutors Charge KC Man with Multiple Kidnapping and Rape Crimes Dating Back to 2012

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) — Prosecutors in Kansas City have charged a man they say has been involved with sexually assaulting multiple women during the last 11 years. On Monday, 65-year-old Warren Carter was charged with kidnapping, rape, sodomy and other crimes. Prosecutors say the Kansas City man offered women rides or forced them into his vehicle with threats. KCTV reports that Carter is charged with sex crimes that date back to 2012. He was booked into the Jackson County Detention Center Sunday.

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Crime Numbers Fall at University of Kansas Campus in Lawrence

LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) — Reported crimes were down last year at the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence. According to statistics released by the KU Police Department, officers took reports of 514 criminal offenses in 2023. That's a 1.2% decrease from 2022. When looking at the 10-year average, the number of crimes reported on campus in 2023 is nearly 14% below the average number of crimes. Property crimes, such as theft and criminal damage to property, continue to make up the greatest number of offenses reported on campus.

KU Police Chief Nelson Mosley credits the decrease in reported crimes to more proactive patrols despite lower staffing levels and working with university partners to address their specific needs. “Campus safety is a community effort,” Mosley said. Locations adjacent to, but not part of, the Lawrence campus — such as apartments and sorority and fraternity houses — are served by the Lawrence Police Department and are not part of the KU crime statistics. (Read more.)

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Mega Millions Jackpot Reaches $977 Million; Powerball Climbs to $687 Million

UNDATED (AP) - The Mega Millions lottery jackpot has reached $977 million for this Friday night's drawing. No tickets matched all six winning numbers drawn last (TUE) night. Meanwhile... the Powerball Jackpot has grown to $687 million for Wednesday night's drawing.

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Iowa Slips Past K-State 91-82 in NIT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - At the National Invitation Tournament, the Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the K-State Wildcats 91-82 Tuesday night.

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KU Guard Kevin McCullar, Jr. Will Miss NCAA Tournament

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The University of Kansas men's basketball team will be without star guard Kevin McCullar Jr. during the NCAA tournament, coach Bill Self said Tuesday. Self addressed the media in Salt Lake City, Utah, after the team arrived for its first round matchup against Samford. Self said McCullar is not healthy enough to play. McCullar has been out with a bone bruise to his left knee. His injury forced him to miss playing in the Big 12 Conference tournament, and Bill Self said McCullar hasn't been able to practice in six weeks.

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Jayhawks' Center Hunter Dickinson Says Shoulder Feels Good on Eve of March Madness

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — University of Kansas center Hunter Dickinson said he's good to go for the Jayhawks in their NCAA Tournament opener after a dislocated shoulder that sidelined him last week.

“The shoulder feels good — good enough to be out there with my teammates,” Dickinson said Wednesday, on the eve of fourth-seeded KU's first-round game against Samford.

That was the good news for Kansas. The rest of it — rough. The Jayhawks will be without leading scorer Kevin McCullar Jr. They have lost four of five, including a 72-52 loss at the hands of Cincinnati last Wednesday.

In that game, they were missing both McCullar (18.3 points per game), who has been dealing with a bone bruise on his knee since January, and Dickinson (18 ppg), who dislocated his shoulder on March 9 against Houston.

All this has turned Kansas into a popular pick to suffer an upset on opening day. Guard Dajuan Harris said none of that talk resonates inside the Jayhawks locker room.

“Not really because we beat some pretty good teams without Kev this year,” he said.

Still, coach Bill Self said he's had to double down on morale boosting during this tough streak. Most recently, the team watched the movie “Boys in the Boat,” about a group of underdog rowers who go on to win an Olympic gold medal.

“It's kids that have been dealt a hard hand, and rallying out of that,” Self said.

Asked if Dickinson had any limitations, Self said, “No, no limitations.”

“The question we had initially was if he tried to go up and dunk the ball hard, hang on with one arm, something like that,” Self said. “But there's been no limitations. That doesn't mean he can't get a sting and it'll come right back, but he's done really well so far.”

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This summary of area news is curated by KPR news staffers. Our headlines are generally published by 10 am weekdays and are updated through 7 pm. This ad-free news summary is made possible by KPR members. Become one today. And follow KPR News on Twitter.