Kansas Senators Split on Supporting Trump on Border Security
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kansas's two Republican U.S. senators have split over supporting President Donald Trump's declaration of an emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border. Senator Jerry Moran was among 12 Republican senators joining Democrats in passing a resolution that would terminate Trump's declaration on a 59-41 vote Thursday. Senator Pat Roberts voted against the resolution. Trump declared the emergency so he could steer $3.6 billion more to border barriers than Congress approved. He has declared he will veto the resolution. Moran said he agrees with Trump that the border needs better security and that the Republican president has not been treated fairly by Democrats in Congress. But he said the emergency order violates the U.S. Constitution. Roberts said he agreed with Trump that the U.S. has reached a crisis at the border.
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Kansas Legislative Panels Nix Funding for Expanding Medicaid
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two Republican-controlled committees of the Kansas Legislature have stripped Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's proposed state spending for Medicaid expansion out of budget legislation. The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted 7-6 on Thursday to remove $14 million from a proposed budget for the state health department for the fiscal year beginning in July. The money represented Kelly's initial estimate for the state tax dollars needed to draw down federal funds for the first six months after expanded Medicaid coverage started in January. Medicaid expansion has bipartisan support, but GOP leaders strongly oppose it. They argue that supporters are underestimating the state's potential costs. The House Appropriations Committee voted 13-9 on Wednesday to remove not only the state tax dollars but the entire $509 million for expanded Medicaid coverage.
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Ferocious Winds Caused Damage Across Much of Kansas, While a Blizzard Closed Roads in Western Sections of the State
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ Ferocious winds caused damage across much of Kansas, while a blizzard closed roads in western sections of the state. Westbound lanes of Interstate 70 and several other highways in western Kansas were closed yesterday (WED) evening because of blizzard conditions. A blizzard warning remains until midday today (THUR) in parts of western Kansas. The Highway Patrol reports at least four semi-trailer trucks were blown over on Wednesday. A Wichita man was injured when a tree blew over on him, and winds tipped over a nearly 3,000-pound dinosaur statue at the Field Station Dinosaurs park in Derby. The National Weather Service says a wind gust of 85 mph was reported near Weskan, with another gust of 75 mph south of Elkhart. High wind warnings and advisories remain in effect for nearly all of the state today (THUR) with gusts expected to decline to around 50 to 60 mph gusts. Schools in Wallace County in western Kansas are closed today (THUR) due to the extremely high winds.
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Troubled Hospital in Horton Closes After Facing Overdue Bills
HORTON, Kan. (AP) - A northeast Kansas hospital run by an embattled health management company has shut down operations after struggling for months without enough funds to pay its employees or buy medication and food for patients. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the city of Horton's only medical provider, Horton Community Hospital, closed on Tuesday. Residents will now have to travel 12 miles to Hiawatha for medical care. The hospital's chief of staff, Dr. Richard Brown, says the closure didn't come as a surprise. Hospital staff said they've had to negotiate with city officials to keep the lights on at the hospital, which faced mounting, overdue bills. The hospital was transferred to iHealthcare after being managed by EmpowerHMS, which is associated with other Kansas hospitals that have struggled to pay bills.
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Kansas Attorney General Investigating 2 Closed Hospitals
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Attorney General's office says it executed a search warrant at a southeast Kansas hospital that closed last month. The Pittsburg Sun reports the search warrant was executed in February at Oswego Community Hospital, about a week after the hospital and two other medical facilities in Labette County closed. C.J. Grover, spokesman attorney general Derek Schmidt, confirmed the search warrant but declined to comment further. On Tuesday, the Horton Community Hospital in Brown County also closed. Grover said the attorney general's office also is investigating that hospital. The hospitals were once run by EmpowerHMS, which has had several hospitals close across the country.
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Kansas Senate Advances Kelly School Funding Plan
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has given first-round approval to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's plan to boost funding for public schools. The Republican-controlled Senate advanced the bill on a voice vote Thursday. Senators expected to take a final vote Thursday evening to determine whether Kelly's proposal passes and goes to the House. Kelly's plan would increase education funding by roughly $90 million a year. Many Republicans backed the bill even though their leaders believe it will be a financial stretch for the state. The measure is designed to satisfy a Kansas Supreme Court order last year requiring legislators to increase the state's education funding, currently more than $4 billion a year. The Senate also expected to vote Thursday evening on whether to send a tax relief bill to Kelly.
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Man Convicted in Death of Girlfriend's Mother's Boyfriend
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - A man has been convicted of killing his girlfriend's mother's boyfriend near a northeast Kansas lake. Jurors in Jefferson County found 23-year-old Jonathan Davis Blevins, of Topeka, guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Taylor Dean Sawyer. His body was found March 14, 2018, at Perry Lake. Sentencing for Blevins is set for April 18. His girlfriend, Ashlyn Hemmerling, will be arraigned later this month on a charge of first-degree murder. Her mother, Sarah Hemmerling, initially was charged with obstruction, but that charge was dropped. Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Herrig said previously that authorities believe Ashlyn Hemmerling helped orchestrate the homicide. He said circumstances leading to the homicide may have involved a domestic dispute as well as drug use.
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Man Gets 14 Years in Shooting That Killed Man, Wounded Dad
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for killing a 34-year-old man and wounding the victim's father outside a Topeka home. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 30-year-old John Towner Jr. apologized in court Thursday before he was sentenced for voluntary manslaughter and attempted second-degree murder in the January 2018 shooting. During the trial, Towner contended he shot John Austin Jr. and John Austin Sr. in self-defense. Jurors acquitted him of attempted aggravated robbery and a more serious first-degree murder charge. After the hearing, John Austin Sr. said he didn't understand how Towner could get only 14 years when authorities had witness testimony, statements from Towner about his involvement in the shooting and the gun. Austin said Towner should have received a life-term.
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Kansas Archdiocese Denies Enrollment to Gay Couple's Child
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A decision by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas to deny enrollment to the kindergarten child of gay parents has prompted thousands of people to sign dueling petitions. The Kansas City Star reports a recent online petition supporting the archdiocese's decision has received more 7,000 signatures. An earlier petition signed by almost 2,000 members of Kansas City-area Catholic parishes asks officials to change their minds. Local parishioners learned of the decision when the Rev. Craig J. Maxim of St. Ann Catholic Church wrote a letter to parents last month telling families the archdiocese said the child's parents cannot "model behaviors and attitudes consistent with the Church's teachings." Maxim wrote this creates a conflict for those children and could be a source of confusion for other children.
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Former Kansas EMT Sentenced for Stealing Morphine from Vials
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A former emergency responder in Jackson County, Kansas, has been sentenced to five years on federal probation for stealing morphine from vials. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said 33-year-old Colby VanWagoner, of Mayetta, was sentenced Tuesday. He was also ordered not to work anywhere that gives him access to controlled substances without prior approval from his probation officer. And he must complete a drug treatment program. He pleaded guilty in December to obtaining a controlled substance by deception and making a false statement. Prosecutors say VanWagoner replaced morphine with saline solution while working for the Jackson County Emergency Medical Service in Holton. Tests showed the concentration of morphine in vials that were tampered with was 1 percent or less. The concentration of morphine should have been 100 percent.
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Records: Kansas Man Charged in Shooting Wanted to Be Killed
FAIRWAY, Kan. (AP) — Court records indicate a 26-year-old man who was shot by police near a Kansas elementary school said he wanted officers to kill him. The Kansas City Star reports the records say Dylan Christopher Ruffin was charged after he shot at Highlands Elementary School during the school day on March 1. Police say three officers shot at Ruffin when he pointed a handgun at them outside his home, which was across from the school in suburban Kansas City. He was treated at a hospital and is jailed in Johnson County. Court records say at the hospital, Ruffin talked about having police kill him and said he wished they had shot him in the head. Students were being released from the school when the shooting occurred. No students, parents or school employees were injured. Ruffin is jailed on $500,000 bond.
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Driver in Fatal Wichita Accident Sentenced to Probation
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A drunken driver who killed a 35-year-old motorcycle rider will serve two days in jail, five days of house arrest and a year of probation. Alexandra Eslinger pleaded guilty in January to vehicular homicide and driving under the influence, both misdemeanors, in the July 2017 death of Jesus Navarro-Gonzalez. She was sentenced last week. She was also ordered to complete drug and alcohol treatment. The Wichita Eagle reports police said Eslinger turned into a parking lot and caused a crash that killed Navarro-Gonzalez. Court records say Eslinger had a blood-alcohol level of .102, above the legal limit of .08 at the time of the crash. The probation carries an underlying sentence of a year of jail time if she violates probation. Court records indicate Eslinger had a previous DUI conviction.
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Kansas Legislators Vote to Condemn New York Abortion Law
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas lawmakers have condemned New York's new law protecting abortion rights in a statement that will be sent to every New York legislator and its governor. The Kansas House on Wednesday approved a resolution declaring that New York's law "violates the life and well-being of a woman and her unborn child." The 85-38 vote came after some Democrats questioned whether the GOP-controlled Legislature was wasting its time. The Kansas Senate approved the resolution last month. The New York law was designed to codify protections for a woman's right to obtain an abortion granted by federal courts. Abortion opponents across the nation have argued that it allows abortions up to the moment of birth. Democratic New York state Sen. Liz Krueger of Manhattan says opponents are "spreading misinformation and falsehoods."
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Oklahoma Man Gets 9 Years in Prison After Kansas Drug Search
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors say an Oklahoma man was sentenced to nine years in prison for trafficking more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine. The U.S. attorney's office said in a news release that 23-year-old Guillermo D. Andrade of Oklahoma City was sentenced Thursday on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He admitted in his plea deal that he drove on July 12 from California to Kansas accompanying another car that was carrying the methamphetamine. The Kansas Highway Patrol stopped the other car for a traffic infraction and found what a field test showed to be a substance containing methamphetamine. Andrade admitted he arranged to transport the methamphetamine from California to Oklahoma where he and others planned on selling it.
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Big 12 Tournament Underway in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Big 12 Tournament is underway in Kansas City. The K-State Wildcats defeated TCU this (THUR) afternoon, 70 to 61. Later tonight (THUR), KU takes on Texas in the second round of the tourney. Tip off for the Jayhawks is set for 8pm. Meanwhile... All-Big 12 forward Dean Wade is expected to miss the entire Big 12 Tourney for No. 15 Kansas State because of a foot injury that has lingered for much of the season. Wildcats coach Bruce Weber said after yesterday's (WED) practice at Sprint Center that the 6-foot-10 Wade would spend most of his time this week getting treatment.
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No. 15 K-State Beats TCU 70-61 in Big 12 Men's Basketball Quarterfinals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Xavier Snead scored 19 points, none bigger than a 3-pointer as the shot clock sounded in the final minute, and No. 15 Kansas State rallied from a slow start to beat TCU 70-61 on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament. Barry Brown added 12 points, Kamau Stokes had 11 and Makol Mawien had 10 for the tournament's top seed, which advanced to play No. 5 seed Iowa State in the semifinals Friday night. The Wildcats (25-7) played without forward Dean Wade, who is sidelined once again with a foot injury. The senior watched the game from the sideline with a boot on his right foot, and probably had a hard time not leaping from his seat when Kansas State seized control in the second half. Desmond Bane had 16 points to lead the eighth-seeded Horned Frogs (20-13), who split with the Wildcats in the regular season. Alex Robinson added 12 points and Kevin Samuel had 11. Now, coach Jamie Dixon's team must wait for Sunday to find out whether it has done enough to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The Horned Frogs held on to beat Oklahoma State in the tournament's opening round, but they went just 7-11 against the league during the regular season. TCU was in the flow right from the tip, perhaps having benefited from that down-to-the-wire win over the Cowboys. The Horned Frogs were hot from the arc and solid on defense, and soon had built a double-digit lead on the regular-season champs. They also took a crowd tinted Kansas State purple right out of the game. The Wildcats finally clawed back into the game, getting a big lift from Cartier Diarra, their backup guard who returned after missing several weeks with a hand injury. He slammed an alley-oop dunk to ignite the crowd, and Sneed's buzzer-beating 3 got the Wildcats within 34-32 at the break. They used a 15-2 run to take their first lead midway through the second half. The Wildcats' lead eventually reached 10 before TCU mounted a comeback of its own. But after Mebane's basket made it 55-52 with 5 1/2 minutes to go, Snead buried his third 3-pointer while getting fouled. He converted the free throw and gave Kansas State some breathing room again. The Horned Frogs were never able to catch all the way up.
WADE WATCH
Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said Wade was unlikely to play this weekend, and would instead get treatment on his injured. Weber is hopeful the All-Big 12 forward is ready for the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but he refused to commit to it earlier this week.
BIG PICTURE
TCU was likely out of the NCAA Tournament if it lost to Oklahoma State. Now, the question is whether a win over the Cowboys and a competitive loss to Kansas State is enough to get in.
Kansas State spent the first 10 minutes as if in a post-title malaise, and the last five minutes trying to hold on for dear life. In between, the Wildcats looked capable of playing with anyone.
UP NEXT
Kansas State plays the fifth-seeded Cyclones in the first semifinal Friday night.
