Kansas Senator Tom Holland Won't Seek Reelection
BALDWIN CITY, Kan. (LJW) - State Senator Tom Holland won't be running for reelection. The Baldwin City Democrat has served in the Kansas Statehouse for more than 20 years but told the Lawrence Journal-World that he will leave the Legislature after the 2024 session. Holland says he wants to pursue opportunities in the private sector.
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Disciplinary Panel Dismisses Complaint Against Magistrate
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) - The Kansas judge who signed off on a search warrant to raid a small town newspaper, the publisher's home and the home of a city councilwoman won't face any disciplinary action. The Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct has dismissed a complaint against the judge who signed off on a search warrant that allowed police to raid a small newspaper in Marion County.
The Kansas Reflector reports that a Topeka resident filed a formal complaint with the judicial panel, which has the authority to investigate allegations of misconduct. Magistrate Judge Laura Viar is the one who signed search warrants which led to police raiding the Marion County Record newsroom in August. The warrant also allowed police to raid the home of the newspaper publisher and the home of a city councilwoman. The police raid attracted international attention and nationwide condemnation.
District Judge Bradley Ambrosier, vice president of the panel that considered the complaint, said in a letter that the "facts and circumstances were not sufficient to conclude the issuance of the warrant crossed the line of incompetence." That letter also says the commission dismissed the complaint after a closed-door meeting on November 8.
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Kansas Legislature to Consider Changes to State Civil Asset Forfeiture Policies
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) — Kansas law enforcement officials consider civil asset forfeiture an important tool for stopping the flow of drugs like fentanyl into the state. But now, a panel of state lawmakers wants to ensure the practice is being used fairly. The Kansas News Service reports that lawmakers are recommending changes to state law that include denying civil asset forfeiture in cases of lower level crimes like simple possession of drugs. Changes could also force the return of property if police fail to report seizures on time.
The panel rejected a proposal to require a criminal conviction to seize property.
Sam MacRoberts of the Kansas Justice Institute says the use of police seizures in Kansas is going unchecked by state law.
“It is fundamentally unfair for the government to be able to take and keep a person's property without proving that the person had done anything wrong,” MacRoberts said.
Lawmakers will consider the recommendations during the legislative session.
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Marshall Demands Border Security Concessions in Return for Ukraine Aid Vote
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) — U.S. Senator Roger Marshall says he won't vote for aid to Ukraine without concessions on stronger federal border security measures. That's why he and Senate Republicans opposed a Democratic bill this week to fund both Ukraine and Israel. The Kansas News Service reports that Marshall wants to limit the number of people who can seek asylum in the U.S. He says Kansas is impacted by border security failures because the state is a drug trafficking pathway.
"Wherever you see drug trafficking, you're going to see crime...Just fentanyl alone is impacting Kansas in so many ways," he said.
Marshall wants to pass aid to Israel as a standalone package. He says Ukraine's war with Russia is dragging on too long. The White House has warned that the U.S. will run out of money for weapons for Ukraine by the end of the year.
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Pediatric Neurologist Arraigned on Sexual Exploitation Charges in Federal Court
UNDATED (KNS) — Doctor Brian Aalbers, the Johnson County pediatric neurologist charged with sexually exploiting children, was arraigned in federal court Thursday. The Kansas News Service reports that Aalbers appeared in person in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in downtown Kansas City, wearing shackles and a striped prison jumpsuit. He pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to produce and possessing child sexual abuse material. Magistrate Judge Lajuana Counts set a scheduling conference for 11 a.m. on January 16th. An accelerated jury trial is scheduled to begin on February 12th. Aalbers is a former employee of Overland Park Regional Medical Center and Children’s Mercy. He is to remain in federal custody.
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Attention College Students: New Federal Student Aid Form Coming this Month
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS/KMUW) - In college or heading to college? An updated federal student aid form known as the FAFSA will roll out this month with changes intended to simplify the application process. The new form pulls tax information directly from the I-R-S and trims 108 questions to fewer than 50 for applicants. It also raises the income threshold, making more students eligible for need-based aid. But it no longer gives families a break for having multiple children in college at the same time. High school students in Kansas are now required to fill out the FAFSA thanks to a vote last year by the state board of education. But Board president Melanie Haas worried it could increase student debt. “Does that mean that they go to college because they’ve filled out that FAFSA, and now they’ve got a loan? And how many of them are leaving college after one year?” The new form is supposed to be available by December 31. Get more information at studentaid.gov.
Last year, Kansas became the seventh state to require students to complete the form. State Education Commissioner Randy Watson said that could lead to more students getting help to pay for college. “Other states have done that, and what we generally see is Pell Grant awardees go up, and lower-income and minority students get a better opportunity to have some of their post-secondary completed.” Kansas students or families will be able to individually opt out of the requirement.
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Flags Lowered to Half-Staff in Kansas to Remember Attack on Pearl Harbor
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) – Flags are being flown at half-staff across Kansas Thursday in remembrance of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Governor Laura Kelly ordered flags to be lowered on all state buildings, grounds and facilities until sundown. The gesture is meant to honor the lives of American military personnel who lost their lives in the attack against the U.S. by the Empire of Japan. The attack led to America's entry into World War II.
“On this solemn day, we remember the courage and sacrifice of our service members at Pearl Harbor 82 years ago,” Kelly said. “As we pay tribute to those who lost their lives, I extend my deepest gratitude to the men and women who defended our great nation then, and to those who do so now.”
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Kansas Geological Survey: Reducing Groundwater Pumping May Stabilize High Plains Aquifer
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) — Officials with the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) say a reduction of 18% to 32% in groundwater pumping could help sustain the High Plains Aquifer for at least one decade. The Kansas Reflector reports that the High Plains Aquifer underlies portions of eight states from South Dakota to Texas. It includes the Ogallala Aquifer of western Kansas and the Great Bend Prairie and Equus Beds aquifers in the south-central part of the state. The High Plains Aquifer is the state’s most economically important groundwater resource.
KGS senior scientist Jim Butler says the only way to slow water-level declines is to reduce pumping in conjunction with modification of agricultural practices. "As has been shown in Kansas and elsewhere, efficient irrigation technology must be coupled with a binding agreement to reduce pumping if we are to make a difference," he said. KGS, based at the University of Kansas, and the Kansas Department of Agriculture annually measure groundwater levels in 1,400 wells across the High Plains Aquifer. Crews from both agencies will fan out across western Kansas in early January for a new round of measuring those wells.
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Kansas Senator Introduces Legislation to Expand Rural Emergency Hospital Designation
UNDATED (KNS) — Kansas GOP Senator Jerry Moran has introduced legislation that could allow more rural hospitals to stay open or re-open by allowing health care facilities to be designated as rural emergency hospitals. The Kansas News Service reports that converting to a Rural Emergency Hospital, or R-E-H, helps struggling or closed hospitals obtain federal funding for outpatient care in rural communities. Currently, to be designated as an R-E-H, a critical access or rural hospital must have been in business on December, 27th, 2020. Moran’s proposal aims to push that date back, extending eligibility to hospitals in business on January 1st, 2015. In a news release, Moran says more than 100 hospitals have closed since 2015. He says this legislation would give those hospitals the opportunity to re-open.
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USDA: Rural Population Grows Slightly After Years of Decline
UNDATED (HPM) — A recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows the population in rural areas around the country is on the rise after a decade of decline. According to the USDA, research shows rural populations grew by an average of a quarter of a percent between 2020 and 2022. This was mainly fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. That trend is more visible in the South, in the Northeast and in the West and not as much in the Corn Belt and the Great Plains. John Cromartie, a geographer with the Economic Research Service of the USDA, says only parts of the rural Midwest saw gains. “It's sort of harder for a population in the Corn Belt or the Great Plains to grow," he said. "Because the population is, on average, much older. You don't have as many younger people having kids. And it's harder to attract those kinds of families.”
Nevertheless, Harvest Public Media reports that Kansas saw rural population growth of about 2%. That's about eight times the study’s average. Demographic experts say people left major cities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Others retired and moved to resort areas, including the upper Great Lakes and Ozarks. Trends show rural cities with populations of 10,000 or more tend to keep and attract more people by offering amenities found in metro areas. Cromartie predicts rural growth even after the pandemic wanes due to the ability for people to work from home.
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Kansas Public Radio Is Hiring
Morning News Host, Newscaster / Reporter
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) — Kansas Public Radio is seeking a new morning news host. The Morning Edition Host/Reporter delivers the local segments of “Morning Edition,” National Public Radio’s weekday news magazine on Kansas Public Radio (hereafter “KPR”), licensed by the University of Kansas in Lawrence. This person gathers, edits, writes, produces and delivers local newscasts and hosts the local segments of this national show on KPR. Following each day’s broadcast of Morning Edition, this position is also responsible for producing broadcast and online news content. The reporter must have a keen understanding of state, regional and national news. This position requires consistent availability weekdays from 4:00am to 1:00pm, including most holidays. Position is supervised by the News Director and/or Assistant News Director. Application review begins in December and continues until a pool of qualified applicants is identified. Candidates must apply online: https://employment.ku.edu/jobs/staff/morning-news-host-reporter/26740br 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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Panasonic Plant Begins Hiring Next Month
DE SOTO, Kan. (WDAF) — It’s been nearly a year since contractors broke ground on the $4 billion Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto. WDAF TV reports that construction of the factory is expected to be completed by early 2025. Panasonic officials say the senior leadership team is now in place and 34 engineers have already been hired and are training at the company’s facility near Reno, Nevada.
Panasonic says it expects to start hiring production line staff and other workers in January and February. Those hired will spend much of 2024 training to be ready to run the facility when it opens. Company officials say they are working closely with local community colleges and four-year institutions to create certification programs to teach the skills Panasonic employees will need.
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K-State Dismisses Forward Tomlin Month After Arrest; Fans Shower Criticism on Administration
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas State forward Nae'Qwan Tomlin was dismissed from the team late Wednesday, more than a month after his arrest for disorderly conduct, triggering a wave of criticism aimed at the school administration from some fans.
Tomlin averaged 10.4 points in 36 games last season, and was a big part of the Wildcats' surprise run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. He considered turning pro after the season but ultimately decided to return to the program.
He was arrested following a bar fight in October, and Kansas State coach Jerome Tang immediately suspended him “for not living up to the expectations of our players.” But as the season progressed, many Kansas State fans were antsy for Tomlin's return to the team, even chanting his name during an overtime win against Villanova this week.
As some fans began calling and emailing administrators, including Kansas State president Richard Linton, athletic director Gene Taylor finally issued a statement that said Tomlin “will no longer be able to continue with the K-State men's basketball team."
“This decision was not made lightly by me,” he said, "but it is the decision warranted by the circumstances that brought it to bear.”
Taylor said he had been “monitoring the situation” along with Tang but declined to share any specifics of the case, citing federal privacy laws. That includes whether there were factors beyond the initial bar fight that led to his decision.
Earlier in the day, Tomlin posted on Instagram the lyrics from a song that said: “I want to be free, free, free.” The 6-foot-10 forward is scheduled to graduate at the semester, and because he has yet to play for the Wildcats this season, Tomlin could transfer to another school and play for the remainder of the season.
“Allowing for space and time is critical,” Taylor said, "but in today’s digital age, that unfortunately can lead to the spread of rumors and misinformation — and in this case, much of the information on social media is incorrect.
“We stand united to do what is best for this young man’s personal development and growth,” Taylor continued, "and to do what is best to uphold the values of our teams and our university at large.”
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Washburn Women's Soccer Team Advances to NCAA Division II Championship Final
UNDATED (KPR) — The Washburn women’s soccer team will be playing for the NCAA Division 2 championship after advancing to the title match Thursday afternoon. Greg Echlin reports that the Ichabods defeated Adelphi University of New York, 1-0. Mackinly Rohn, a freshman who attended Washburn Rural High School, scored the match’s only goal in the second half. The Ichabods have a 21-3-1 record thusfar this year. They have never won a national title in women’s soccer. In the title match, they’ll play Point Loma of California. on Saturday at 11 a.m. CST at the Matthews Sportsplex in Matthews, North Carolina.
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Chiefs Missing Several Starters to Injury as They Begin Preparing for Visit from Bills
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs could be getting injured linebacker Nick Bolton back just in time after they lost his replacement, Drue Tranquill, and several other key players to injuries during last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers. Tranquill was still in the concussion protocol on Wednesday, when the Chiefs resumed preparation for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. But coach Andy Reid said that Bolton would continue to practice after they opened the 21-day window in which they must decide whether to activate him or put him on season-ending injured reserve. Bolton has been out since having surgery for a dislocated wrist sustained during a Week 7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. "Nick is a great player, a significant impact player," Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna said. "Just having his presence back there is going to be huge for us."
The Chiefs also lost starting safety Bryan Cook to what appeared to be a significant ankle injury in Green Bay, though most of the tests on it have revealed encouraging results. Reid called it "a sprain" and said that he was still being evaluated. Mike Edwards and rookie Chamarri Conner are likely to replace Cook in the lineup.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Chiefs are preparing to play without left tackle Donovan Smith because of a neck stinger, and they are unsure whether running back Isiah Pacheco will be available because of a bruised shoulder. Pacheco ran 18 times for 110 yards and a touchdown against the Packers. If he is unable to play against the Bills, the Chiefs would lean on Clyde Edwards-Helaire and potentially Jerick McKinnon, who returned to practice Wednesday after a groin injury.
Wanya Morris, a third-round pick in April's draft, played well in Smith's place against the Packers. He had been earning a few spot reps even before the injury, and that left him prepared to take over when Smith had to leave the game. "Your preparation should never change," Morris said Wednesday. "I just have to make sure I'm focused on the details."
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes certainly has faith in his backup blindside protector. "He's played well. If you watch the tape, he's done a great job in the run game and the pass game," Mahomes said, "and I think now it's about getting him prepared for a great defensive line. As far as playing the position, he's done a good job."
NOTES: Mahomes was chosen as the Chiefs' nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award this week. "It's amazing, the group and fraternity of guys that have come before me that have won that award," he said. "It's got to be hard to pick. There's so many guys that do so much for the community. I'm just glad I was able to be honored in that group."
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Bills and Chiefs to Meet at Arrowhead with Both Teams Feeling Desperate for a Win
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs are accustomed to playing each other with the NFL spotlight shining squarely upon them.
There was that AFC championship game a few of years ago, when Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen and Kansas City counterpart Patrick Mahomes went toe-to-toe for four quarters. And the divisional playoff game the following season, when Mahomes needed a mere 13 seconds to march his team into range for a tying field goal, then led the Chiefs to victory in overtime.
Even their games the past two Octobers have been must-see TV featuring two of the league's best teams.
Yet there is a different feel surrounding the Bills' return to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
Buffalo is muddling along at 6-6 and outside the current playoff picture, the first time since Allen's rookie season in 2018 that the Bills were .500 or worse at this point in the season. And the Chiefs have lost three of their last five games, falling to 8-4 and suddenly looking up at Baltimore and Miami in the AFC standings.
“We understand what’s in front of us and what situation we’re in,” Allen said , “but we've got a lot of guys in this locker room that are very excited to be back, and we have a very good feeling in this locker room right now for what we need to do.”
The Bills are in their current predicament largely because of their inability to win close games. Each of their losses have been by six points or fewer, including four losses in the six games they played before getting last week off.
With Dallas and Miami still on the schedule, their path back to the playoffs won't be an easy one.
“We have to have a somewhat playoff mentality going forward,” Bills center Mitch Morse said, “and that's not going to guarantee us to win all the games. But we can't reach our goal if we don't play, work, practice, come together with a sense of urgency.”
The Chiefs have a similar sense of urgency coming off their loss last Sunday in Green Bay. They squandered control of their own destiny when it came to the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, and the AFC's lone first-round bye, with the lackluster 27-19 defeat.
“I've been on a team that was 6-4 and ended up winning the Super Bowl,” Mahomes said. “We have confidence every week that we’re going to find a way to win. Obviously, these last few weeks we’ve lost a couple, but we still have that mindset.”
Unlike the Bills, though, the Chiefs do not face anyone with a winning record the rest of the regular season.
“We can’t lose three out of four, or three out of five. It’s a critical situation,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said, "especially where we’re trying to be in the next few weeks. We have to correct the errors, and we have to correct them fast.”
MILLER’S SITUATION
Bills pass rusher Von Miller is expected to play Sunday despite allegations of domestic violence made against him during their week off.
Miller turned himself in to police in a Dallas suburb after being charged in a warrant with domestic violence against the mother of his children, who is pregnant. He faces a charge of third-degree felony assault of a pregnant woman.
“No one wants their name associated with any accusation like that,” Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane said. “But things happen sometimes, and again, we have to remember people, we have to give them their fair due process.”
INJURY ITEMS
The Chiefs are unlikely to have linebacker Drue Tranquill (concussion), left tackle Donovan Smith (neck) and safety Bryan Cook (ankle), while running back Isiah Pacheco is nursing a bruised shoulder. But they are hopeful that linebacker Nick Bolton will be back soon from injured reserve, where he landed after wrist surgery, providing a big boost to a banged-up defense.
INJURY ITEMS, PART 2
The Bills aren't going to give the Chiefs any sympathy when it comes to injuries. Tight end Dalton Knox has missed five games after his own wrist surgery and cornerback Kaiir Elam four to an ankle injury, but both resumed practicing this week, raising hopes they will soon come off IR. Meanwhile, cornerback Dane Jackson cleared the concussion protocol and safety Taylor Rapp was back at practice after missing a game with a neck injury.
QUARTERBACK CONCERNS
Allen and Mahomes have been so good for so long that it becomes a big storyline whenever things go awry. In both of their cases, turnovers have been a problem this season.
Allen has committed at least one in eight straight games — nine interceptions, two lost fumbles — while Mahomes has thrown 10 picks and is on pace to set a career high.
COACHING CONCERNS
The Bills have scored 66 points in their two games since offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was fired and quarterbacks coach Joe Brady took over; they had scored 123 in Dorsey's final six games total. But that doesn't mean the Chiefs are writing off everything that Buffalo did over its first 10 games this season.
“There's some differences,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, "but there’s also some of the same things. They didn’t completely can the offense there. I think we’ll have a good feel for what they do.”
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