Kansas Overpays Schools $11 Million, Wants It Back
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSN) — The state of Kansas says it mistakenly overpaid local school districts millions of dollars—and it wants the money back. At a legislative budget meeting Tuesday it was revealed the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has been overpaying districts for Medicaid reimbursement costs. State officials blame a simple accounting error. In all they say $11 million was overpaid, and they’re asking districts to return the money to the state. The state reimburses districts for providing Medicaid services to students, such as counseling and mental health services. KSN reports the Wichita school district is being asked to return more than $3 million, the Kansas City district $800,000, and the Topeka and Manhattan districts about $400,000 each.
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Major Billing Error Forces Kansas School Districts to Return Millions of Dollars
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) — A billing error by a state contractor is forcing Kansas school districts to return millions in overpaid Medicaid funds. The Kansas News Service reports that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says a data mistake by its Medicaid billing contractor went unnoticed for years. Now the agency is clawing back about $11 million from school districts across the state. Wichita schools face the largest payback at more than $3 million. Deanna Beard with that district says her staff knew there was a discrepancy in the numbers but could not get more information from KDHE or its contractor. “We cannot afford to continue to make these kinds of mistakes when the data is there and we are able to validate it,” she said. KDHE says it’s taking steps to prevent future errors, including staff training and process reviews.
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Boil Water Advisory Issued for Some Douglas County Residents
UNDATED (KPE) — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for some customers in Douglas County. The advisory covers part of the City of Edgerton’s public water supply system. Health officials issued the advisory due a loss of pressure related to water tower maintenance. That can cause bacterial contamination. The advisory affects southeastern Douglas County residents outside the center of Edgerton. Water should be boiled at least one minute before being used for drinking, cooking or food preparation.
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Charges Announced in Connection with KCK Police Officer's Death
UNDATED (KCUR) — Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree has announced charges in the early Tuesday morning killing of Kansas City, Kansas, Police officer Hunter Simoncic. KCUR reports that Dupree announced a capital murder charge against Dennis Mitchell the third along with attempting to elude a police officer and theft. Dupree said he hasn't made a decision yet on whether he'll seek the death penalty against Mitchell. That's despite the capital murder charge he filed against the killer of a Wyandotte County deputy a month ago. Dupree said evidence is still coming in, and his office is still talking to the officer's family. Mitchell is being held on $2 million bond.
(–Related–)
Wyandotte County Mourns Fallen Officer
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KPR) — A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer was killed after he was hit by a car during a police chase early Tuesday morning.
Authorities say it was around 12:30 am that KCK officers were dispatched to a scene (near the 7700 block of Everett Ave) regarding shots being fired. About 10 minutes later, officers located an unconscious man in the driver’s seat of a truck. As officers approached the driver, he woke up and fled the scene. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Dennis Mitchell III, of Kansas City, was pursued by police. He abandoned the truck, entered another vehicle, and continued fleeing from officers. During the pursuit, two KCK officers exited their vehicle to lay down stop sticks (in the 7200 block of State Avenue). Police say Mitchell then drove toward an officer, striking him before continuing to flee the area. The officer, identified as 26-year-old Hunter Simoncic, was struck and later died the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Mitchell later wrecked the truck (near the 6400 block of Kaw Drive). He was taken into custody and was taken to the hospital where he was treated, released and transported to the Wyandotte County Jail. It was later determined that both trucks had been reported stolen.
Mitchell was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, vehicular homicide, fleeing the scene and attempting to elude a police officer. He's also charged with theft, criminal possession of a firearm and other crimes.
(Read more on this story elsewhere on the KPR website.)
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New Study Shows Kansas Homeowners Spending Higher Percentage of Income on Home Insurance than Average American
UNDATED (KCUR) — Kansas homeowners spend almost twice as much of their income on homeowner’s insurance than the average American, according to a new study. KCUR reports that insuring a home in Missouri costs a lot less. A lot of factors influence insurance rates: personal finances, natural disaster risk, and wide swings in how the insurance industry is regulated from state to state. A survey put together by Bankrate shows Kansas homeowners pay, on average, almost $4500 a year, more than 6% of their incomes, to cover their homes. That’s more than Texas, with its hurricane-prone Gulf Coast. Across the state line in Missouri, the cost drops to $2400 a year on average, and about 3.5% of income. The upside for homeowning Kansans is that they don’t get dinged as hard for filing insurance claims. Collect on a fire in Missouri and your premium is likely to jump by about $350. In Kansas, the increase is just $66.
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Senator Roger Marshall Speaks at Wichita Chamber of Commerce Event
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) — U.S. Senator Roger Marshall spoke Tuesday at an event hosted by the Wichita Chamber of Commerce. KMUW reports that Marshall spoke about President Donald Trump’s recent budget reconciliation bill, immigration and ongoing U.S. trade discussions. He also described what he sees as the two biggest challenges for Kansas in the next century. “Water issues – quality as well as quantity – and then beyond that is a lack of people for the jobs that we do have,” he pointed out. The junior senator from Kansas is in his first term and will be up for re-election in November 2026. Three Democrats have launched bids to challenge him. Protesters rallied outside the event to criticize Marshall for his support of President Trump’s agenda. Demonstrators also plan to protest Republican Congressman Ron Estes’s visit to Wichita on Thursday of this week.
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Kobach to Announce Re-Election Campaign
UNDATED (KMUW) — Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach will formally kick off his reelection campaign next week in Wichita. Kobach will hold a rally September 3rd at the headquarters of the Sedgwick County Republican Party on South Webb Road. The event begins at 6 p.m. Kobach won a close race for attorney general in 2022 over Democrat Chris Mann. It was a political comeback for Kobach. He had lost his previous two campaigns, including the governor's race in 2018 against Laura Kelly. Mann also says he plans to run for attorney general again.
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KU Report: Opioid Settlement Money Could Help Address Substance Use Disorder Issues in Kansas
UNDATED (KNS) — Substance use is more prevalent in Kansas than previously thought but a national settlement offers a path toward addressing the issue. The Kansas News Service reports that a University of Kansas study shows nearly 1 in 5 Kansas adults has a diagnosable substance use disorder, and that accessing initial treatment is difficult. Services that help people who are getting treatment stay employed, housed and healthy are even trickier to find. KU researcher Janine Hron says part of the focus of the report was to bring behavioral health experts together to help find solutions. “We really wanted to help people think about ‘oh yeah, I do know something about this,’ you know, recognize their capacity,” she explained. Kansas is expected to receive approximately $5.7 million in national opioid settlement funds. The study suggests using the money to improve treatment collaboration.
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Lawrence School Board Hits Pause on E-Sports Proposal
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LJW) — The Lawrence school board is putting plans to offer e-sports as an extracurricular activity on hold. The Kansas State High School Activities Association voted last spring to sanction competitive video gaming as an interscholastic activity. But at Monday night’s meeting, Lawrence school board members expressed concerns about the cost of allowing the district’s middle and high schools to establish their own e-sports teams. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the board tabled the measure.
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Salina OKs Open Containers Downtown
SALINA, Kan. (KSN) — You’ll soon be able to walk around downtown Salina with a beer in your hand. The city is establishing a “common consumption area” beginning September 1. Adults 21 and over will be able to openly carry and consume alcoholic beverages within that area. City officials hope it encourages people to spend more time downtown. KSN reports the common consumption area will be in effect from 9 a.m. to midnight. The city is installing signs to indicate the boundaries of the area.
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Smithsonian Exhibition Opens Kansas Tour in Lawrence
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) — A new traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian kicked off its tour of Kansas at the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence on Saturday. "Americans" examines how Native Americans have been portrayed in popular culture. “Native American people are a part of American culture,” explains Watkins director Steve Nowak, “and they are intertwined in the lives we live everyday.”
"Americans" will be on display at the Watkins Museum through October 5. It then continues its Kansas tour with stops in Highland, Wichita, Mayetta, Salina, Liberal, and Bonner Springs.
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Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver Suspended for Six Games
UNDATED (KCUR) — The NFL has suspended Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice for six games over his involvement in a high-speed crash in Dallas last year. KCUR reports that Rice pleaded guilty in July to collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years probation. Police said Rice and former Southern Methodist University defensive back Teddy Knox were racing separate cars in Dallas in March of last year. They said Rice lost control of his car and hit the median, allegedly causing Knox’s car and four others to crash. Prosecutors said Rice and Knox fled the scene and failed to check on victims after crashing. Under the terms of the suspension, Rice’s first game will be on Oct. 19 versus the Las Vegas Raiders.
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