Bird Flu Reported in Mixed Flock in Franklin County
OTTAWA, Kan. (AP) — Federal and state agriculture officials say avian influenza, more commonly called bird flu, has been found in Franklin County in northeast Kansas. Heather Lansdowne, spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, says the infected flock was a mixture of chickens, ducks and other birds at a home farm. The department has issued guidelines for bird owners to protect their flocks from wild birds, particularly waterfowl. The guidelines include removing possible nesting and feeding areas for wild birds, and washing equipment and clothing after visiting areas where waterfowl might be present. Nearly 7 million chickens and birds have been killed in 13 states this year because of the bird flu.
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Alzheimer's Disease Projected to Grow in Kansas, Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) - The number of Alzheimer’s patients is projected to grow in Kansas and Missouri, but a new report shows that health care systems in the two states are not prepared. Citing numbers from the Alzheimer's Association, KCUR Radio reports that Alzheimer's cases are expected to grow about 13% in Kansas and about 8% in Missouri between 2020 and 2025. However, both states are far short of the elder care doctors and caregivers who will be needed if dementia rates continue at high levels. Association spokesperson Juliette Bradley says that many primary care doctors say they feel unprepared to discuss memory issues with patients. “Half of them are not comfortable doing so, and that’s primarily because they just don’t feel like they’ve had the kind of training they need," she said. The report also showed caregivers for people with dementia in Kansas and Missouri suffer from high rates of chronic illness and depression.
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Kansas Legislation Would Help Survivors of Sexual Assault Gain Greater Access to Mental Health Services
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Survivors of sexual assault would get easier access to mental health services under a bill moving through the Kansas Statehouse. The Kansas News Service reports that the plan has bipartisan support. Victims of sexually violent crimes can request compensation for mental health services from the state’s victim compensation board. Deadlines can be 10 years from the date of the crime or when the victim turned 18. But supporters of the bill say that delays in testing rape kits can mean people lose their chance to access help. The bill would extend the deadline to two years after the kit is tested. Republican Senator Kellie Warren says passing this legislation will help people recover. “The purpose of the bill is to address the emotional, mental health impact of particular crimes listed in the bill," she said. Kansas used to have a rape kit backlog, but it has been reduced.
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Affidavit Details Shooting of Three People at Kansas School
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A newly released affidavit says a student at a Kansas high school began shooting after two school officials asked to search his backpack because of rumors the student had a gun. The affidavit released Wednesday says the confrontation on March 4 at Olathe East High School came after a student told a school counselor about rumors that a student called Jay was bringing a gun to school. The affidavit says 18-year-old Jaylon Desean Elmore fired five shots when assistant principal Kaleb Stoppel and Erik Clark, the school's resource officer, asked to search his backpack. Clark returned fire, wounding Elmore. The two school officials were released from the hospital the day of the shooting. Elmore remains hospitalized.
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Governor Announces $20 Million Business Investment in Wichita
WICHITA, Kan. (KPR) – Governor Laura Kelly has announced a new business expansion in Wichita that she says will result in more than 150 new jobs and $20 million in capital investment over the next three years. The company, Fagron Sterile Services (FSS), recently released multiple new health care product lines. To accommodate that expansion, the Belgium-based company says it will expand its current facility in Wichita to produce and store these new products. FSS currently operates out of two plants on the east and west side of Wichita. As part of the expansion, the company will take over 44,000 square feet of space (at 8835 E. 34th St.) and renovate it into additional manufacturing space, labs and offices. The company is seeking professionals, manufacturing specialists, engineers, sales and finance staff and is currently hiring. (Visit fagronsterile.com/careers for more details.)
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Kansas Lawmakers Consider Bill to Allow Driverless Delivery Vehicles
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - A bill that would allow driverless delivery vehicles on Kansas highways has been rewritten in response to concerns raised by several groups. The new bill is nearing a vote in a Senate committee. The original bill was introduced for Walmart so that it could start using driverless delivery trucks to ferry merchandise from distribution centers to its Kansas stores. The bill was re-written after law enforcement officials and trial lawyers raised concerns. Instead of allowing trucks to be operated remotely from day one, the beefed-up bill requires human back-up drivers for a yearlong test period. It also establishes a group to study the need for additional regulations. That panel would disband after a year. But Kansas Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz is urging lawmakers to maintain it for at least five years. "The technology is changing so quickly. There’s a lot for us to learn as a state. And it’s a way to bring our citizens along," she said. A vote on the bill is expected this week.
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Kansas Lawmakers Consider Legalizing Medical Marijuana
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Kansas lawmakers will hold hearings this week on a revised medical marijuana bill. Legislators were poised to start work on a medical marijuana bill early in the session, but Republican Senate President Ty Masterson pulled it back because he thought the rules for prescribing and dispensing the drug needed more tightening. "There is some legitimate medical benefit to the derivatives of the cannabis plant," he said. "I think the final hurdle is what is the legitimate way to deliver it.” Initially, the re-worked bill would legalize cannabis for the treatment of about 20 conditions such as AIDS, cancer, seizure disorders and several that cause chronic pain. Doctors would need a state certificate to recommend the drug to patients and dispensaries would have to comply with a long list of licensing requirements. A Senate committee has scheduled three days of hearings on the bill this week.
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Missouri Could Make It Harder to Get Out-of-State Abortions
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Legislation under consideration in Missouri shows that anti-abortion lawmakers in Republican-led states aren’t likely to stop at banning most abortions within their borders. They're also trying to make getting out-of-state abortions harder. St. Louis-area Republican and state Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman wants to make it illegal to “aid or abet” abortions that violate Missouri law, even if they are performed in other states. She wants Missouri residents to file lawsuits to enforce the policy. Missouri and other GOP-led states are rushing to pass more restrictions on abortion in hopes that the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade by June.
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Missouri Appeals Court Dismisses Lawsuit Brought by Family of 7-Year-Old Murdered by Father, Stepmother
KANSAS CITY, MO. (KCUR) - An appeals court has upheld a lower court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the family of a 7-year-old who was tortured and murdered by his father and stepmother. KCUR Radio reports the family alleged that social workers with the Missouri Department of Social Services were negligent in not preventing the abuse of Adrian Jones. The child endured years of brutalization before he was killed and fed to pigs. Last year, a Jackson County judge dismissed their lawsuit after finding the social workers were shielded by the doctrine of official immunity. The doctrine protects workers performing discretionary acts in the course of their official duties. The Missouri Court of Appeals agreed with that finding. But in a concurring opinion, Presiding Judge Mark Pfeiffer said the system had let Adrian Jones down. “To A-J,” Pfeiffer wrote. “May your soul rest in peace.”
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One in Six Kansas Teachers May Leave Professions Early, Fueling Staffing Fears
TOPEKA, Kan. (Topeka Capital-Journal) - About one in six Kansas teachers feel they're likely to leave public education before retiring. That's according to the Topeka Capital-Journal, which cites the Kansas Educator Engagement and Retention Study, which surveyed 20,000 teachers. The study was conducted by Emporia State University Teachers College professor Bret Church and independent organizational psychologist Luke Simmering. The study also found that one in seven teachers feel likely to retire in the next three years. The survey's report adds a layer to other Kansas data that shows the state's schools are facing a staffing shortage. Teacher vacancies, including jobs filled with teachers not fully licensed for those positions, rose 62% to 1,253 vacancies in fall 2021, per a report from the Kansas State Department of Education. The study's response rate represents about half of the state's teaching work force, with teachers from 169 out of 286 Kansas school districts responding. ( Read more.)
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K-State Study: Ogallala Aquifer Increases Western Kansas Land Value by Nearly $4 Billion
HAYS, Kan. (KNS) - In drought-prone western Kansas, water is precious, especially for farmers who rely on a declining underground aquifer. A new study reveals all that disappearing water is worth billions. The Kansas State University study says the Ogallala Aquifer increases the value of western Kansas by nearly $4 billion. But as farmers continue to pump up water to boost crop harvests, that value is slowly evaporating. Farmland that has irrigation is worth about 50% more than nonirrigated land. K-State agricultural economist Nathan Hendricks says that presents the region with a dilemma. “We can stop irrigating and stop depleting the aquifer, but then you've lost all the value of the aquifer also. So, it is a hard place to be in for sure," he said. As the aquifer continues to run out of water, Hendricks expects that by 2050, western Kansas land will lose roughly $34 million in value each year. ( Read more.)
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Officials Identify 9-Year-Old Boy Killed in Kansas Crash
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Officials have identified a young boy who died over the weekend after being thrown from a car in a Wichita crash. Police say 9-year-old Armani Saucedo, of Wichita, died in the crash that happened Saturday night. Relying on information from police, KAKE TV reports that the crash involved three vehicles, including a car that side-swiped two pickup trucks, causing the 27-year-old driver of the car to lose control and hit a bridge abutment. Police say Armani was a passenger in the car. The drivers of the trucks were not injured.
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Missouri Woman Killed in Fire After Running into House to Save Pet
LAMAR, Mo. (AP) — Police in southwestern Missouri say a woman died over the weekend in a house fire after she ran back into the burning home to try to save a pet. Television station KYTV reports that the fire broke out Saturday morning in a home in Lamar. Police say two residents of the home, 71-year-old Betty Jo Parker and 67-year-old William Parker escaped the flames, but Betty Jo Parker ran back into the home for her pet and was overcome by smoke. Police and firefighters who were called to the scene Saturday morning found the home already engulfed in flames. William Parker was taken to a hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
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10% of Kansans Struggle with Food Insecurity
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Many people living in Kansas struggle to stock their pantries and refrigerators. It's even worse in some places, like the heart of Topeka. The Kansas Health Institute says more than 1 in 10 people in Shawnee County – and in Kansas overall – don’t necessarily know where their next meal will come from. The situation can be far worse in neighborhoods with housing insecurity, poverty and food deserts. Nearly 30% of people living in two central Topeka zip codes lack enough food for healthy, active lives. This can mean putting off visits to the doctor to afford food. Or falling behind on rent and utilities. The Kansas Legislature is currently considering whether to cut the sales tax on groceries. Proponents say doing so would help struggling families. ( Read more.)
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Talking to Kids About Nukes: Parents, Experts Suggest Truth
NEW YORK (AP) — On social media, in classrooms and at the playground, children who hear about Russia's invasion of Ukraine are wondering where the war could lead. Questions about nuclear weapons can sometimes make this moment feel reminiscent of growing up during the Cold War. Experts and parents recommend speaking simply with younger kids who ask questions but avoiding detailed discussions of scary topics. With adolescents who ask about nuclear war, they say honesty is the best policy. Child psychologist Dr. Jessica Griffin says parents should make sure children aren’t consumed by their worries or what's on the news. She says you can encourage kids to ask questions but also engage them in daily routines of schoolwork, play and bedtime. She says routines are calming and let kids feel safe.
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Royals Sign RHP Zack Greinke to $13 Million Contract for 2022
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals signed six-time All-Star pitcher Zack Greinke to a $13 million contract for this season Wednesday, reuniting the left-hander with the club that drafted him in the first round two decades ago. Greinke also can make up to $2 million in performance bonuses, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not disclosed. The 38-year-old Greinke was the sixth overall pick of the Royals in the 2002 amateur draft, and he spent his first six seasons with the club, winning the Cy Young Award during his standout 2009 season.
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AP Source: Chiefs Agree with Safety Justin Reid on 3-Year, $31.5 Million Deal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says the Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to a three-year, $31.5 million contract with safety Justin Reid. That likely ends Tyrann Mathieu's time with Kansas City. The deal with Reid includes $20 million guaranteed. That's according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because signings cannot become official until Wednesday. ESPN.com was first to report the agreement. While he doesn't come with the same kind resume of Mathieu, a three-time All-Pro whose contract expired after last season, Reid is significantly younger and potentially joins the Chiefs with his best years ahead of him. The 25-year-old has been one of the few solid parts of the struggling Houston Texans over the past four seasons. He has started 53 of 57 career games, including 13 last season, when he made 66 tackles with four passes defensed and a forced fumble.
The Chiefs had expressed optimism about bringing back Mathieu last offseason, but the two sides could never agree on a contract extension. The chances of him returning continued to dwindle as the season pressed on, and it appears as if Kansas City intended to go in a different direction as soon as free agency began in earnest this week. The 29-year-old Mathieu will nonetheless go down as one of the best free-agent signings in Chiefs history. He was the on-field leader for a defensive resurgence under coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, helping the franchise reach three consecutive AFC title games, make two trips to the Super Bowl and win its first championship in 50 years. "We love Tyrann and it's a matter of how that all fits in," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said during the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis earlier this month. "We all love him, so I think that's important."
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AP Source: Chiefs Backup QB Chad Henne to Return on $2 Million Contract
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to a $2 million contract with quarterback Chad Henne, keeping their longtime backup to Patrick Mahomes in the fold for next season, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the contract had yet to be signed. The 36-year-old Henne has spent four seasons with the Chiefs, appearing in eight regular-season games with one start while providing a veteran voice in their quarterback room. Henne was drafted by the Dolphins in the second round in 2008, which was about when Mahomes was beginning to sling the ball around junior high fields.
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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!