Evergy Fined $120,000 for Alleged Violations at Retired Topeka Plant
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Utility company Evergy will pay a fine for allegedly breaking federal rules after alarmingly high arsenic levels were found at one of its sites. The Environmental Protection Agency says the company broke groundwater monitoring rules at a retired power plant near Topeka. The site previously included a disposal area for coal-burning waste. The Kansas City Star reports that elevated levels of arsenic and cobalt were recorded there. The EPA and Evergy agreed that the company will pay $120,000 and conduct more monitoring. Utility officials argue the contamination on site wasn’t from its waste.
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Survey Hopes to Find Out Why So Many Kansas Foster Families Quit the System
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas child welfare officials want to know why nearly 500 families quit the state’s foster program in just a few years. The Kansas News Service reports the state is now conducting a survey to find out. The Kansas Division of the Child Advocate recently launched the survey to ask former foster families why they stopped taking in foster children. Child advocate Kerrie Lonard told a legislative welfare committee that the recently launched survey will try to uncover problems those foster families experienced. “We really have a shortage in regards to placements for children. And (we're) trying to find out why families are leaving... and hopefully identify ways that we can better support those families moving forward," she said. The survey is still in its preliminary stages.
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U.S. Gives Protections to Rare Midwest Bird as Prairie Suffers
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP/KNS) — The U.S. government says it will protect two populations of a rare prairie bird found in parts of the Midwest, including one of the country’s most prolific oil and gas fields. The lesser prairie chicken’s range covers a portion of the oil-rich Permian Basin along the New Mexico-Texas line, and extends into parts of Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas. The bird's habitat has diminished about 90% from historical levels. Officials say the prairies where the birds live are in peril as they get broken up and developed.
Republicans in Congress are blasting the Biden administration for listing the lesser prairie chicken as threatened in Kansas. The Kansas News Service reports that Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and Congressman Tracey Mann accuse the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of sacrificing the state's economic interests for the lesser prairie chicken. Mann called it a “proxy war on American agriculture.” It's estimated that about 30,000 of the birds are left, down from the millions that once existed. Federal protections will kick in next year, though the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says there will be some flexibility for farmers and ranchers doing routine work. (Read more.)
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Lawmaker: Kansas Should Cut Ties with Foster Care Contractor
MISSION, Kan. (AP) — The head of a Kansas legislative panel wants to end the state’s contract with its largest foster care contractor, after two former executives were accused of scheming to defraud the organization out of at least $4.7 million. The federal indictments this month against the Rev. Robert Smith, the former CEO of Saint Francis Ministries, and William Whymark, its former chief information officer, capped a string of problems with the group including children being forced to sleep in offices and workers falsifying documents to show family visits that never happened. State Rep. Susan Concannon, a Beloit Republican who chairs the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight, said Wednesday that the group doesn't deserve to continue partnering with the state.
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Rural Hospitals Face Rising Costs, Smaller Profit Margins
SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. (KCUR) - Rural Kansas hospitals and health centers are struggling to cope with tightening margins. That’s making it hard to provide services and keep their doors open. KCUR Radio reports that officials with Holton Community Hospital, about 30 miles north of Topeka, say their costs for bringing in outside providers and services are going up – a lot. Rural hospitals rely on contracts for specialties like cardiology and dermatology. Holton Hospital CEO Carrie Saia says contracts usually increase 3 to 4%. But lately, those requests are around 7 to 10%. A 2020 study from the Chartis Center for Rural Health found nearly half of rural hospitals are financially in the red. Saia says fewer specialty doctors are coming into their organization, and more of these providers are retiring or quitting. and that's putting financial pressure on rural hospitals to work together. “We're collaborating with our competitors in typically environments that you wouldn't have seen before," she said. "How can we possibly recruit a dermatologist to come into our area?” Rural health providers gathered in Salina this week for a statewide summit to address these financial dilemmas.
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Stormont-Vail Hospital Reinstates Masking Protocols
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – KSNT reports that Stormont-Vail Hospital has reinstated masking protocols after an increase in COVID-19 transmission rates in the Topeka and Shawnee County area. The hospital made its announcement Thursday in response to a steady increase in community transmission of COVID-19. Staff will be required to wear face masks in areas where patients are present, but will not be required to wear them in areas where patient access is restricted. Visitors and patients will be required to wear masks in clinics and hospitals. Stormont-Vail had dropped most of their mask requirements last month, following new information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now that Shawnee County and surrounding areas are considered to be in the “high” community transmission level, masks are once again required.
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Unified Government of Wyandotte County Will Fund Search of Former KCK Detective's Cases
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP/KPR/KC Star) — The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, plans to spend up to $1.7 million on technology to help search decades of files connected to a former police detective accused of abusing women and girls. The Unified Government Commission voted Thursday to find funding to help the Wyandotte County District Attorney's office review cases involving Roger Golubski. The former KCK detective is accused in two federal indictments of sexually exploiting Black females for decades, and of being connected to a sex-trafficking operation. District Attorney Marc Dupree told commissioners that most of the files involving Golubski are paper files stored in boxes in an old jail. The Kansas City Star reports that the 69-year-old Golubski remains under house arrest in Edwardsville.
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Rift in Kansas GOP Boils over After Loss in Governor's Race
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A push by top Kansas Republicans to punish party officials who backed an independent candidate for governor is shining a spotlight on an internal rift. The conflict involving state Sen. Dennis Pyle could hinder GOP leaders’ efforts to steer the state back to the right over Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s objections. Many Republicans blame Pyle’s campaign for Kelly’s narrow reelection victory November 8 over three-term Republican state Attorney General Derek Schmidt. But five hard-right lawmakers said in a Facebook statement this week that GOP “establishment manipulations” were the culprit. They denounced the state party's chair for moving to sanction party officials who violated a party ban against supporting non-Republicans.
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Lawsuit Accuses Largest U.S. Meat Producers of Wage Fixing
DENVER (AP) _ A class-action federal lawsuit is accusing 11 of the nation's largest beef and pork producers of conspiring to depress wages and benefits for its workers. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Denver last week. It alleges that the producers - including National Beef Packing, Cargill, Tyson, and JBS - have worked together since at least 2014 to keep workers' compensation lower than the market would allow in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. It seeks to represent hundreds of thousands of other people who have worked in jobs from slaughtering to production at the companies' collective 140 plants. The lawsuit says they produce about 80% of the red meat sold to U.S. consumers.
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Kansas Education Officials Rethinking College Math Requirements
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - About one in three students fail college algebra in Kansas. And that cuts into university graduation rates. Now, the board that oversees the state’s public universities wants to rethink math requirements. Daniel Archer is vice president of academic affairs for the Kansas Board of Regents. He told board members Wednesday that college algebra is designed to prepare students for calculus, but only 20% of majors require higher-level math. “We’re sending students down a road that’s not practical, that’s not really needed, not relevant for their field. So, this is something that doesn’t work very well," he said. Regents are considering a system where math requirements would align with a student’s major. Students studying political science or social work, for example, would take statistics instead of algebra.
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Lawrence Police: Two People Found Fatally Shot in Oak Hill Cemetery Wednesday Morning
LAWRENCE, Kan. (WDAF) — Police have identified two people shot and killed inside a Lawrence cemetery. WDAF TV reports that officers arrived at Oak Hill Cemetery Wednesday morning to check out a call about people arguing. When officers arrived, they found 36-year-old Robert Sowders, of Overland Park, and 22-year-old Ana Marie Jessee, of Lawrence, suffering from gunshot injuries. Police say both Sowders and Jessee died before they could be transported to a hospital. The case is being investigated as a possible murder-suicide.
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19-Year-Old Woman Arrested Following Multiple Arson Fires in North Lawrence
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LJW) - Lawrence police have arrested a 19-year old woman on suspicion of setting multiple fires at or near several North Lawrence businesses Wednesday night, one of which devastated a printing business. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the fires caused significant damage but no injuries at Lunar Graphix. Fire officials say the fires started around 9 p.m. and spanned the 700-1000 blocks of North Second Street. Crews fought dumpster fires at All Stars, Johnny’s Tavern, Ten10 Liquor, and in the woods in the 100 block of Maple Street at various times Wednesday evening. As a result of the large number of calls, Overland Park’s fire department was dispatched to send a fire engine to Lawrence to increase Lawrence’s fire-fighting capacity. Booking logs at the Douglas County Jail show 19-year-old Abie Schnacke was arrested on multiple arson charges late Wednesday. On Sunday, Schnacke was arrested in a different case where she is alleged to have set a fire at Lawrence Family Vision Clinic.
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Feds Drop Effort to Seize Money from KC Marijuana Dispensaries
UNDATED (KCUR) - Federal prosecutors in Kansas have dropped their effort to seize money from a company that was transporting cash from legal medical marijuana dispensaries in Kansas City, Missouri. In 2021, a sheriff’s deputy in Kansas stopped a van operated by Empyreal Logistics and seized nearly $166,000 in cash it was hauling to Colorado. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas later filed a forfeiture action against Empyreal, arguing the money came from sales that violated federal law. After Empyreal sued over the Kansas stop and similar stops in California, the Justice Department agreed to return more than $1 million it had seized in California to Empyreal. On Tuesday, federal prosecutors in Kansas moved to dismiss their forfeiture action and a federal judge granted the motion. The prosecutors gave no explanation for the move.
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Kansas Specialty Courts Aim to Help Veterans in Trouble
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Three new specialty courts are coming to Kansas with the goal of helping veterans avoid jail or prison. The Kansas News Service reports that the new courts are coming to Sedgwick, Shawnee and Leavenworth counties, thanks to millions of dollars in federal funding. These specialty courts involve weeks of supervision and intensive counseling tailored for mental health challenges veterans experience. For someone with a drug charge, that could mean five drug tests a week. The courts have veterans on staff to help build a support network. The courts are tailored specifically toward challenges veterans face, like PTSD. The courts will offer intensive treatment, like counseling, while surrounding veterans with a support network of other service members. These specialty courts are just for use by military members but other options, like drug courts, are available for the general public. All three of the new courts should be running by January. ( Read more.)
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Parents Accused of Child Abuse After Emaciated Infant Found Dead in Missouri Home
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KC Star) - The parents of a two-month-old girl are charged with felony child abuse after authorities say their baby was found dead of severe malnutrition and dehydration Monday afternoon inside their Independence, Missouri, apartment. The Kansas City Star reports that 19-year-old Austen M.Taube Hack and 20-year-old Sarah M. Stone are each charged with a single count of abuse and neglect of a child resulting in death. Both were in the custody of Independence police as of Wednesday afternoon. Police officers were dispatched Monday afternoon to an apartment for a medical call. The 911 caller told dispatchers the victim, identified as D.S. in court documents, was “unresponsive, not breathing, and cold to the touch.” The infant was pronounced dead by a paramedic roughly 30 minutes after they arrived on scene.
The couple told police detectives that Stone had delivered the child inside their apartment on August 28 without any medical supervision. They also said the baby had never received any immunizations or seen a doctor. The baby was last known to be alive late Monday morning. Stone said she found her limp inside the bedroom and the couple attempted to perform CPR after conducting a Google search on how to do so. Detectives noted the baby was found on the floor inside a bedroom and “appeared extremely malnourished and emaciated.” Police say the infant's ribs and collarbone were protruding through her skin. The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office found that the baby had suffered “severe dehydration and malnutrition.” During a subsequent search warrant executed at the residence, detectives reported finding concentrated THC, the chemical found in marijuana, and an apparent “grow operation of illegal hallucinogenic narcotic mushrooms.” During a police interview, Taube Hack allegedly told detectives they did not allow anyone to visit the child at their home and never brought her out of the apartment because “the world is a scary place.”
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Kansas Public Radio Still Seeking Kansas Statehouse Bureau Chief to Join KPR's Award-Winning News Team
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Kansas Public Radio, located at the University of Kansas, is looking for a new Kansas Statehouse Bureau Chief to cover all aspects of state government in Topeka for KPR and its statewide reporting partners. This exciting position requires skill, professional experience and curiosity. To apply, log on to: https://employment.ku.edu/staff/23463BR. A review of applications began in October and will continue until a robust pool of qualified applicants is identified.
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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Kansas Refuses to Increase Legislature’s Power over State Agencies
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas voters have narrowly rejected a proposal to give the Republican-controlled Legislature a bigger say over how the state regulates businesses, protects people’s health and preserves the environment. The Associated Press called the election on Tuesday, a week after Election Day. The failed amendment to the Kansas Constitution would have made it easier for lawmakers to overturn regulations written by state agencies and boards under control of the governor and others in the executive branch. Lawmakers would have been able to revoke a rule with a simple majority vote by both chambers rather than having to pass a bill that the governor can veto. Business groups and advocates of smaller government viewed the measure as reining in unelected bureaucrats.
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Uncertain Future for Library in Small Kansas Town
ST. MARYS, Kan. (KNS) - The future of a public library in one small Kansas town is in question after complaints about LGBTQ books. Since the 1980s, the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library has operated out of a building in St. Marys, northwest of Topeka. But the Kansas News Service reports that city leaders have threatened to not renew the library’s lease unless it pledges to remove materials dealing with race, sex or LGBTQ topics. The debate started after a parent complained about the book “Melissa,” which is about a transgender child. Vice-mayor Francis Awerkamp says he supports a short-term lease for the library, but only if a citizen committee can review library materials. At a meeting this week, Commissioner Matthew Childs proposed a review committee to monitor library materials. “I don’t think we can run the library any better, and it’s never been a goal to shut the library down — never. We just want to try to have some community standard established on what goes into the library," he said. Several residents spoke in favor of keeping the library open. The city commission will vote on the lease next month. If it isn’t renewed, the regional library will have to move to a different town.
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KC Area Food Pantries Struggle to Keep Shelves Stocked
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) - Food pantries in the Kansas City area say they’re struggling to stock shelves ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday because of inflation and supply chain issues. Zach Sellers, the director of pantry operations at Jewish Family Services, says fresh produce and dairy, plus items like paper products, are harder to come by. Canned goods and other staples are still supplied from Harvesters Community Food Network, but Sellers is asking the public to step up with donations of food or money. Sellers says that families should expect that turkeys and other meats will only be available in limited quantities this year.
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Winter is Coming. KDOT Has Shortage of Snowplow Drivers
TOPEKA, Kan. (TCJ) - Winter is coming to Kansas. While the first snowfall of the year Monday night was perhaps a shock to the system for many, it's a reminder that lower temperatures and snowy conditions are set to be the rule, rather than the exception, in the months ahead. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that local and state officials insist they are ready to cope with inclement weather and energy companies say they are also preparing for the changing season. Like states across the country, however, the Kansas Department of Transportation warned motorists earlier this month that the agency had 24% fewer snowplow drivers than if it were fully-staffed. KDOT did note, however, that preparations have been underway since September to ensure employees had enough sand and salt and that maintenance work on equipment had been completed.
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KU's Dole Institute Announces Panelists for Post-Election Conference
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) — The Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas has announced the panelists for its 2022 Post-Election Conference. Dole Institute Director Emeritus Bill Lacy returns to moderate this conference that delves into the key strategies of elections. The conference features political experts, state and national strategists, pollsters, journalists and campaign officials who analyze how and why elections were won and lost, and what that will mean for the next two years. The conference takes place in three parts: a Kansas session on December 6; a national session on December 7; and a second national session on December 8. All sessions are free and open to the public. A free livestream will be available at doleinstitute.org.
Panelists for the Post-Election Conference:
Kansas session:
Katie Bernard, reporter for the Kansas City Star
Evan Gates, executive director at Kansas Values Institute
Alexandra Middlewood, assistant professor of political science at Wichita State University
Patrick Miller, associate professor of political science at KU
Representative from Laura Kelly’s campaign
Representative from Derek Schmidt’s campaign
National sessions:
Gerald Seib, former executive editor of The Wall Street Journal
Brendan Buck, former aide to then-House Speaker Paul Ryan
Mike Shields, founder and partner of Convergence, Republican strategist
Molly Murphy, president of Impact Research, Democratic strategist
Joshua Jamerson, East Coast Bureau chief at The Wall Street Journal
Jessica Taylor, Senate and Governors editor for The Cook Political Report
More information on the program is available on the Dole Institute’s website, doleinstitute.org.
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55 Million Americans Expected to Travel for Thanksgiving Holiday
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNT) – Nearly 55 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more for the Thanksgiving holiday. According to AAA, most travelers will drive to their destinations. KSNT reports that nearly 49 million people are expected to travel by car, with 4.5 million Americans flying. AAA expects more than 581,000 Kansans will travel over the holiday weekend. That's an increase of 1.2% over last year. More than 525,000 Kansans will be traveling by car, the most popular mode of transportation.
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No. 19 K-State Looks to Move Closer to Title Game, Faces WVU
UNDATED (AP) – Kansas State has the inside track at earning a spot in the Big 12 championship game against No. 4 TCU. The Wildcats are alone in second place and will play for the title if they win both of their remaining games. They also could get in with a win Saturday and a loss by Texas at Kansas. West Virginia needs two more victories to become bowl eligible - and perhaps save embattled coach Neal Brown’s job. Kansas State quarterback Will Howard will get his second start of the season in place of injured Adrian Martinez. Howard has thrown for nine touchdowns with one interception.
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These area headlines are curated by KPR news staffers, including J. Schafer, Laura Lorson, Kaye McIntyre, and Tom Parkinson. Our headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays, 11 am weekends. This news summary is made possible by KPR listener-members. Become one today. And follow KPR News on Twitter.