Kansas Governor Bypasses Lawmakers, Creates Child Advocate
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Laura Kelly has created an independent office to review complaints against the Kansas foster care system and recommend changes in child welfare policies. Her order Monday establishing the new agency fulfills a longtime goal of advocates for abused and neglected children. The Democratic governor’s move to create the office by executive order also bypasses the Republican-controlled Legislature. It deadlocked on the issue earlier this year after some lawmakers pushed to put the new office under the state attorney general. Some Democrats saw that as a partisan move because Attorney General Derek Schmidt is widely expected to be the GOP nominee challenging Kelly next year.
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Hundreds of Kansans Rally, March for Abortion Rights
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - Hundreds of Kansans rallied in cities and towns across the state Saturday in support of abortion rights. The Kansas City Star reports that rallies and marches took place in Kansas, City, Topeka, Wichita, Lawrence, and Manhattan in connection with the National Women's March. The marches follow a new restrictive abortion law in Texas, as well as challenges to reproductive rights in other states across the country. Last week, a federal appeals court heard oral arguments on a Missouri law that would restrict abortions at eight weeks. In Kansas, voters will decide in August 2022 whether to retain a state constitutional guarantee to the right to abortion.
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Three Earthquakes Shake Kansas Sunday
SALINE COUNTY, Kan. (The Hays Post) — Three earthquakes shook central Kansas Sunday. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the largest quake was centered 2 miles west of Gypsum in Saline County just before 10 pm and measured a magnitude 3.8. In addition, the Kansas Geological Survey reported a 2.7 magnitude quake in Smith County and a 2.3 quake in Osborne County. The Hays Post reports that there have been no reports of damage and no injuries.
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Kansas Looks to Extend Medicaid Eligibility to Cover Maternal Health
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas health officials are looking into making a temporary change in Medicaid eligibility rules permanent to reduce postpartum deaths. State health officials are looking for ways to help new mothers suffering from postpartum depression and other health problems and say those issues disproportionately affect minorities and low-income women. In Kansas, where nearly 40 percent of births are covered by Medicaid, that means tens of thousands of women are at risk. Federal changes triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily reduced those risks by extending Medicaid coverage for new mothers from 60 days to a full year. The director of the state’s Medicaid program says that could reduce postpartum deaths, because about one in four new mothers covered by the extension developed problem conditions more than two months after giving birth.
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Local Governments Struggle to Hire Public Sector Workers
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ Some local Kansas governments are operating with 10% of their positions unfilled, making it hard to deliver the services that citizens expect. Across the state, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that Kansas has seen a 4.7% drop in the number of public sector workers, which translates into about 12,000 vacant jobs, but some towns are being hit harder. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the pandemic has made the situation worse because the competitive labor market makes it hard to replace older employees who decided to retire. And private companies, which are also struggling to hire, have more flexibility in pay and benefits than city governments generally do.
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GOP Leader in Kansas Accuses Another of Forcibly Kissing Her
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Wyandotte County Republican leader has filed a battery complaint against a Republican leader in neighboring Johnson County saying he forcibly kissed her at an anti-abortion event in August. Wyandotte County Republican Party Vice Chairwoman Stephanie Cashion told the Associated Press that she made a complaint to police last month accusing Johnson County Republican Party Chairman Fabian Shepard of grabbing her and kissing her without her permission. Cashion said the incident occurred at a Kansans for Life fundraising event in Bonner Springs. Shepard did not immediately respond to a request for comment but told The Kansas City Star that he denies the allegations.
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Former US Representative Todd Akin of Missouri Dies
WILDWOOD, Mo. (AP) _ Former Republican U.S. Representative Todd Akin of Missouri has died. Akin's family released a statement announcing that the former congressman died late Sunday at age 74 from cancer. Akin's comment in 2012 that women's bodies have a way of avoiding pregnancies in cases of ``legitimate rape'' sunk his bid for the U.S. Senate that year and became a cautionary tale for other GOP candidates. He represented a Republican-leaning eastern Missouri district that included St. Louis-area suburbs for 12 years before running for the Senate. His career was overshadowed by the outrage from the post-primary comment in a television interview after he was asked whether he would support allowing abortions in cases of rape.
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Prairie Village Weighs Ban on Conversion Therapy
PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. (AP) — One Johnson County, Kansas, community has already adopted a ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth, and another is considering doing so. The Kansas City Star reports that the Prairie Village City Council will discuss the ban at a meeting Monday. The council earlier voted 10-2 to direct city staff to draft an ordinance similar to the one adopted last year in Roeland Park, which prohibits mental health professionals from using conversion therapy. The goal of conversion therapy is to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The controversial practice has also been banned in Lawrence and Kansas City.
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Child COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Lag in Many Kansas Counties
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Data from the Kansas state health department shows that some counties are seeing youth vaccination rates for COVID-19 far below the national average. A school pandemic workgroup received data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment this week showing that in about a quarter of the state’s counties, less than 20% of vaccine-eligible children ages 12 to 17 had received at least one dose as of September 24th. U.S. regulators in May expanded the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to children as young as 12. The national vaccination rate for youth is 57%.
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Kansas Tax Receipts for September Higher Than Expected
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - The state of Kansas is bringing in more tax revenue than expected. According to the Kansas Department of Revenue, September's total tax receipts were more than $876 million. That's nearly 23% higher than anticipated, or about $162 million more than the state projected. Governor Laura Kelly says the latest tax collection numbers continue to show promising growth.
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State Audit Investigates CVS Handling of Kansas State Employees Medications
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The state of Kansas has conducted an audit to investigate how CVS handles about $80 million a year in public money. CVS is the pharmacy middleman that processes drug claims. But experts say the audit, which cost $100,000, is poorly done and doesn’t show whether the state is getting a fair price. Legal experts say the state went too far in redacting the audit. When the Kansas News Service asked for the audit, the state blacked out much of it, even details like the number of prescriptions filled. The state said it was protecting trade secrets. Other states have found they were paying a lot more to pharmacy managers than they realized.
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Nurse Accused of Taking Fentanyl from 2 KC-Area Hospitals
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A nurse has been charged with taking the powerful opioid fentanyl from medicine cabinets at two Kansas City-area hospitals. The U.S. attorney’s office for Kansas announced Monday that a federal grand jury has indicted 41-year-old Faith Naccarato of Kansas City, Missouri, on four charges. She is charged with two counts of illegally possessing fentanyl through deception or subterfuge and two counts of tampering with a consumer product. Prosecutors said that in early 2020 she emptied fentanyl vials at the two hospitals and replaced the drug with another liquid. Her attorney did not immediately respond to a telephone message and email seeking comment.
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Kansas Farmers Making Progress Harvesting Their Fall Crops
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Fall harvest is well underway in Kansas with farmers already bringing in more than half of this year’s corn crop. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that the 51% of the corn crop has been cut, well ahead of the 43% average for this time of year. Kansas growers have also harvested 19% of their sorghum crop, along with 14% of the soybean and 10% of the sunflower crops.
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Midwest Report: Business Confidence in Economy Plummets
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey of business leaders in nine Midwest and Plains states shows their confidence in the economy over the next six month plummeted to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic began last year. The overall index for September of the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions released Friday dropped to 61.6 from August’s 68.9. Any score above 50 on the survey’s indexes suggests growth. But the survey's business confidence index, which looks ahead six months, fell more than 16 points to 37 from August's 53.5. The monthly survey covers Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
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Agreement Reached in Kansas to Comply with National Voter Registration Act
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR)- An agreement between the state and a coalition of advocacy groups announced Friday requires Kansas to do more to help people register to vote. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly says the agreement heads off a potential lawsuit against the state for failing to comply with federal law. Under the plan, state agencies that run public assistance programs must help people receiving services register to vote. Agency heads say they’re ready to comply. Many of the organizations that pushed for the agreement are locked in another battle with the state. They’re suing to overturn a new state law that tightens rules governing advance and absentee ballots. The Republican-controlled Legislature passed that law over Governor Kelly’s veto.
(AP version)
Kansas Governor Expands Voter Registration to State Agencies
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas residents can now register to vote at the state agencies where they receive public benefits. That's under an agreement with civil rights groups that brings the state back into compliance with federal election law. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly says the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department for Children and Families have expanded opportunities for residents wishing to register or update their voter registration. The National Voter Registration Act requires voter registration assistance for state agencies providing public assistance benefits. The governor's office says previous administrations allowed the agencies to abandon those obligations.
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Enrollment Falls at Most Kansas Public Universities
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Enrollment at most Kansas universities fell again this fall and the latest numbers show significant declines. The University of Kansas reported a slight increase in overall enrollment, less than 1%. Kansas State reported an enrollment decline of about one-half percent. Over the past five years, enrollment at the state’s largest universities is down 8.6 percent. The data from community colleges is even worse -- a decline of 17.5 percent. Kansas Board of Regents officials said schools must reverse the trend to meet workforce needs and recharge the economy. The largest drop was at Pittsburg State, which enrolled 6% fewer students this fall and is down more than 20% over the past five years. Wichita State University is bucking the trend - up about 2% over the same time period. WSU leaders credit recruiting efforts along the I-35 corridor.
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Missouri Now Accepting Applications for Expanded Medicaid
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Several thousand Missourians who previously were not eligible for Medicaid are expected to seek the health care coverage, now that voter-approved expansion of the program has taken effect. Friday marked the day the health care program began processing applications. Voters approved Medicaid expansion in August 2020. The constitutional amendment passed with 53% of the vote. Previously, Missouri's health care program did not cover most adults without children, and its income eligibility threshold for parents was one of the lowest in the nation, at about one-fifth of the poverty level. The expansion is expected to add Medicaid eligibility for up to 275,000 low-income Missourians.
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More in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska Sickened in Multi-State Salmonella Outbreak
ATLANTA, (WDAF) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to investigate an outbreak of salmonella infections that has now sickened more than 400 people across 35 states, including Kansas and Missouri. In an update posted Thursday, the CDC said there have been at least 419 confirmed cases linked to the outbreak, with 66 of those requiring hospitalization. Those numbers have jumped up from the CDC’s update on September 23 when there were 279 cases and 26 hospitalizations across 29 states. WDAF TV in Kansas City reports that so far, no deaths have been linked to the outbreak. The agency noted, however, that the actual number of sick individuals is always likely higher than the number reported, as many of the infected recover without seeking treatment or notifying health officials.
The CDC has still yet to identify a food source linked to the outbreak. In its previous update, officials said this specific strain of Salmonella Oranienburg was found inside a takeout condiment cup that contained cilantro, lime and onions. At the time, the CDC said it was not possible to determine which ingredient or component was contaminated, as the takeout container contained other foods. As such, the CDC is asking the public to follow all applicable food safety measures when washing, cooking or eating foods that carry a risk of food poisoning.
As of September 29, the outbreak had expanded to 35 states, including the following: Oklahoma (63 cases), Kansas (9), Nebraska (6), Missouri (5), Iowa (1), Arkansas (8) and New Mexico (8).
Symptoms of salmonella, which can begin up to six days after ingestion of contaminated food, include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, and possible nausea, vomiting or headache. Those experiencing more severe symptoms — including dehydration, prolonged vomiting, prolonged diarrhea, or diarrhea with a fever of over 102 degrees F, among other symptoms — should contact a doctor immediately. More information on this outbreak and salmonella infection can be found at the CDC’s website.
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Police Say Three People Shot Outside Kansas City Bowling Alley
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Police say three people have been injured in a late-night shooting at a Kansas City bowling alley. Investigators say police were called to Ward Parkway Lanes around 11 p.m. Sunday for reports of a shooting. Arriving officers found two men with critical injuries and a woman with injuries not believed to be life-threatening in the bowling alley's parking lot. The three were rushed to hospitals, and police say one of the men is on life support. Police have not released the victim's names. No arrests or suspects in the shooting were immediately reported.
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Two Killed in Small Plane Crash in Western Missouri
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (AP) _ Officials in Johnson County say two people have died in an ultralight plane crash. Television station KCTV reports that the crash happened around 10 a.m. Sunday northwest of Warrensburg. County fire officials say the two people killed were the only ones aboard the ultralight aircraft. Officials have not released the victims' names. An investigation into the crash is being conducted.
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Shooting Death in Geary County Investigated as Homicide
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — Sheriff's deputies in northeastern Kansas have identified the victim of a fatal shooting over the weekend as 22-year-old Enfinnity Latania Hayes of Fort Riley. Topeka television station KSNT reports that deputies were called around 8:30 p.m. Sunday to a hospital in Junction City where a person with gunshot wounds had been brought. The Geary County Sheriff's Office says the person later died from their injuries. The shooting is being investigated as a homicide. The Geary County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday that the shooting was believed to have taken place at the Milford State Park.
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Wichita Police Shoot and Kill Man Who Pointed Gun
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A Wichita police officer fatally shot a man Sunday who pointed a gun at officers after refusing to follow their commands. Wichita police Captain Jason Stephens said officers were called to the 41-year-old man's home after a woman told a local convenience store clerk that the man was threatening to harm her and himself and that the man was wanted by police. Stephens said Jess Jackson died after an officer fired four shots at him after he pointed the gun. Stephens said Jackson was wanted on several warrants for failing to appear in court in several cases. The shooting will be investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
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Three People Killed in Saturday Shooting in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Police are investigating a Saturday afternoon shooting that killed three people in Kansas City, Missouri. The shooting was reported shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday. Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said that when officers arrived, they found two men and a woman who were unresponsive. Authorities declared the three victims dead at the scene. The shooting took place in a residential neighborhood near 27th Street and Spruce Avenue in southeast Kansas City. Becchina said the suspect fled the area, but it wasn't clear if the suspect fled on foot or in a vehicle. On Sunday, police identified the three victims as Kanen Wheaton, 24, Devon Key, 24 and Johnnai Owens, 23.
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Woman Killed in Accident in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - One woman is dead after an accident on Swope Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri. The accident happened just before 8 a.m. Saturday. The woman killed was 44, but her name has not been released. Police say a 2010 Ford Explorer was eastbound on Swope Parkway when it crossed the median into the westbound lanes and struck a 2011 Jeep Patriot. Debris from that accident then struck a 2013 Lexus. The occupants of the Lexus were not hurt. The 62-year-old driver of the Explorer was taken to a hospital, but no details about his injuries were released. The crash remains under investigation.
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Body Found by Kayakers in Missouri River
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City, Missouri, police are investigating the death of someone whose body was found in the Missouri River. WDAF-TV reports that kayakers found the body Saturday near the Bond Bridge. Authorities have not identified the victim or determined the victim’s gender. Authorities have not determined if foul play was involved.
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KCK Police Investigate Fatal Shooting
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police in Kansas City, Kansas, are investigating a fatal shooting. The shooting was reported just before noon Saturday. Officers called to the scene found a man with an apparent gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital where he died. The victim’s name and have not been released. Police say a suspect ran away but was captured a short time later.
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Kansas Highway Patrol Says Man Killed in Head-On Crash
HAYS, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Highway Patrol says a man from central Kansas has died in a head-on crash near Hays. The patrol said the crash happened around 10:15 am Sunday on U.S. 183 south of Hays, killing 56-year-old James Kohl, of Schoenchen. Investigators say Kohl was driving a car northbound on the highway when a southbound pickup truck entered his lane while trying to pass a vehicle. Officials say Kohl died at the scene. The driver of the truck — a 20-year-old man from Kansas City, Missouri — suffered serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital.
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Researchers at Pittsburg State Take a Swing at Developing New Golf Balls Made from... Soybeans?
PITTSBURG, Kan. (HPM) – University researchers in southeast Kansas are exploring a new use for soybeans. The result could benefit farmers, environmentalists, and... golfers. Researchers at Pittsburg State University are investigating the possibility of replacing the oil-based plastics used to manufacture golf balls with materials made from soybean oil. Dr. Ram Gupta is leading the effort. He says his team is searching for new ways to use the ubiquitous soybean plant and reduce the need for oil-based products. The research team has already developed a polymer for the outer shell of the golf ball and is now working on materials for the inside using soybean byproducts. The researchers will then test the balls with the hope that they will perform as well off the tee as the balls they are looking to replace. Gupta says the soybean golf balls will be less expensive to produce than plastic balls but to be marketable, the balls will have to fly as far and as straight as conventional golf balls.
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Blood Donations Urgently Needed; American Red Cross Reports Worst Blood Shortage Since 2015
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage, the worst in six years. A sharp drop in blood donor turnout has contributed to the lowest post-summer blood inventory level since 2015. In some areas, the blood inventory is less than a day's supply. Officials say they must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month for the blood supply to recover and meet hospital and patient needs. Donors of all blood types are needed, but especially those with type O blood. The blood shortage is now so severe that the Red Cross is giving away prizes to those who donate. Those who give blood soon could get a limited-edition, football-inspired Red Cross T-shirt, free haircut coupons from Sport Clips and a coupon for a free Zaxby’s® chicken Sandwich or other freebies. More information is available at RedCrossBlood.org ( Read more.)
To Make an appointment to give blood or platelets, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call (800) RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
Find a list of area blood drives.
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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. This news summary is made possible by KPR listener-members. Become one today!