TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly pledged Monday to give legislators and the general public more information about children who run away or go missing from the state’s foster care system, starting with a daily count.

The new Democratic governor announced the launch of a website for the state Department for Children and Families that will provide statistics about missing foster children. Kelly also promised that multiple legislative committees will receive information about specific cases if they sign a confidentiality agreement.

The announcements came less than a week after a Republican-controlled Senate committee had a hearing on a bill aimed at ensuring that the governor and Legislature would be notified within 72 hours of a foster child going missing. The Public Health and Welfare Committee endorsed the measure Monday, sending it to the full Senate for debate.

Kelly was a state senator before her election as governor last year and had criticized DCF over what she saw as its lack of transparency under Republican governors. She said in October 2017 that she was “flabbergasted” when state foster care contractors disclosed that more than 70 children were missing, though DCF officials said it was in line with national averages.

“The additional transparency can only help to educate the public and legislators about the processes used by DCF to locate these vulnerable citizens,” Kelly said in a statement.

On its new website, DCF reported that 80 foster children were missing as of Friday, and almost all of them were runaways. Fifty-seven of them, or 71 percent, were 16 or older.

Kelly said information about specific cases would be made available to legislative committees that deal with the budget, the court system, juvenile justice and child welfare, as well as an audit committee. She also said DCF will release demographic information about missing children to local news organizations.

In recent years, the department has faced questions about several high-profile deaths of abused children after DCF was alerted to problems. Until September, some children in state custody slept overnight in foster care contractors’ offices, including a 13-year-old girl who in May was raped in an officeby an 18-year-old man also in state custody.

The bill before the Senate would require contractors to notify DCF within 24 hours when a foster child goes missing and DCF to notify the governor and the Legislature within another 48 hours. The department initially opposed it, expressing concern that the state could lose federal dollars if missing children’s names became public.

Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Louisburg Republican, said Monday that putting a notification requirement in state law will prevent DCF officials or future governors from backing off Kelly’s promises of transparency. She saw Kelly’s announcement as positive.

“There isn’t enough information being shared,” she said. “It’s wonderful when people are listening.”

Other lawmakers in both parties also praised Kelly’s actions.

“We all are in agreement that we to do the best for our kids and keep them safe,” said House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican. “Transparency and accountability are things that we’re striving for, especially inside DCF.”

___

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas regulators have ordered Kansas Gas Service to return more than $17.9 million in tax savings to its customers.

The Kansas Corporation Commission said in a news release Monday that its order will mean a one-time bill credit of $22.78 for residential customers.

The agency says the savings are the result of a federal law that reduced the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent in January of last year. The Commission had required utilities to track and keep separate savings from the tax cut pending its review.

Kansas Gas Service had asked to keep the savings to offset its service costs, but the Commission determined that was not in the public interest.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Anthony Conforti-photo Clay County

CURTIS RAY HENDERSON JR. 32, Manhattan, Aggravated Robbery; Armed w/ dangerous weapon, Aggravated burglary; Dwelling for felony, theft, sex, Aggravated kidnapping, Aggravated assault; With intent to commit any felony, Kidnapping; Inflict bodily harm or terrorize the victimCriminal damage to property; Value unknown; Held without Bond

TYLER ANTHONY LECK, 20, Kansas City, Aggravated sexual battery; Force or fear; Bond $5000

JAMES GITONGA RECHE, 43, Manhattan, Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; Bond $750

ANTHONY ROCCO CONFORTI, 26, Clay Center, Probation Violation; Bond $7500

Manhattan Parks and Recreation

Manhattan Parks and Recreation has promoted three employees to new positions within the department.

Sydni Baker, Aquatics Specialist

Sydni Baker has been promoted from Aquatic Coordinator to Aquatics Specialist. Baker has served in several aquatics roles since 2015, most recently coordinating all aquatics programs and operations. Her new responsibilities will include directing daily aquatics operations and 200+ seasonal waterpark staff to ensure safe and enjoyable swimming experiences at Manhattan’s three waterparks. She will also oversee the operations of the Ice Rink during the winter season.

Janelle Fritzson, Operations Officer

Janelle Fritzson has been promoted from Customer Service Specialist for the City of Manhattan to Operations Officer for the Parks and Recreation Department. Fritzson has been with the City of Manhattan since 2013. Fritzon is responsible for the leadership and management of daily operations and initiatives for the department. Her duties will include developing, implementing, and enforcing policies and procedures that improve and lead the department including, daily standard operating procedures, seasonal hiring, and functioning as a liaison to the community and other divisions of the City.

Cody Kramer, Horticulture Supervisor

Cody Kramer has been promoted to the Horticulture Supervisor after serving nearly 11 years as the Horticulturist. He is a graduate of Kansas State University in Park Management and Conservation and worked in the private sector before coming to the City in 2008. Kramer’s background and experience will continue to be a great asset as he leads the Horticulture section in maintaining all municipal landscaping and providing enhancements and beautification to the community. Key areas will include prescribing horticulture development and management practices, supervision of pesticide use for vegetation management, and turf/ornamental plant health.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

BRETT ALLAN RINEY, 35, Manhattan, Criminal use of a financial card; W/o consent of owner less than $1,000; Bond $2500

ASHLIE MISHELLE CORTES-photo Shawnee Co.

SHANE ALEXANDER STOKES, 21, Manhattan, Probation Violation (2x) Bond $5000

JAMES WILLIAM EARNHART JR, 50, Manhattan, Theft of property or services; Value less than $1,500; Shoplifting; Bond $500

Beef and cattle producers can hear about the latest research, technology and economic challenges and opportunities facing the industry at the annual Cattlemen’s Day at Kansas State University.

KSU professor and beef cattle Extension Specialist Dale Blasi said Cattlemen’s Day is designed to address key issues and provide information that keeps the industry efficient and relevant. ” We try to serve as a bellwether to different issues that coming down the road, and provide a good objective platform to hear the issues straight out and allow our shareholders to be aware of the situation and to make plans accordingly for whatever that may be.”

Among the speakers will be Dr. Brad Morgan, senior director of protein for Performance Food. He will discuss the impact plant-sourced or cultured meat could have on the beef market.

The 106th annual Cattlemen’s Day begins Friday at 8 a.m. in Weber Hall on the Manhattan campus. Early registration is closed but producer

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Lottery is warning its players to be on the lookout for scams.

Recently, the Kansas Lottery received multiple reports from its players about scammers contacting them via Instagram claiming to be the Kansas Lottery and asking for money.

The Kansas Lottery wants to remind its players the Lottery will never contact prize winners via social media or ask for money in order for a winner to claim a prize.

In order to avoid future scams, the Lottery is reminding its players to never provide personal information, such as bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and Social Security numbers over the phone or social media. The lottery also wants players to be wary of prize notices for contests or promotions they never entered or do not remember entering.

The Kansas Lottery has alerted Instagram of the scammer account and has asked for it to be removed. The Lottery has also alerted the Kansas Attorney General Consumer Protection Division about the scam.

If a player believes he or she has been contacted by a scammer, please contact the Kansas Attorney General Consumer Protection Division by phone (785) 296-3751 or by email at cprotect@ksag.org.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged abduction and have made an arrest.

Jeffrey Gilseth photo McCullouch Co. Texas

Maria Gilseth -McCulloch Co. Texas

On Wednesday, the US Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Task Force arrested Jeffrey Gilseth 32, and Maria Gilseth, 32. The couple was wanted in Killeen, TX on charges of Interference with Child Custody and Unlawful Restraint, according to United States Marshal Ronald Miller.

On February 21, arrest warrants were issued in Texas for the married couple after they took their three children unlawfully and fled a supervised visitation with the children.

The children were previously ordered removed from the couple’s custody and were court-ordered to reside with other adult relatives. The USMS adopted the case and began a fugitive investigation.

The couple’s vehicle was spotted in Riley County, Kansas by the Fugitive Task Force and officers surveilled and followed the vehicle until it arrived at a safe place to coordinate the arrest.

Shortly before 1:00p.m, the vehicle was blocked in by officers at the I-70 East Turnpike Toll Gate in Topeka and both subjects were taken into custody without incident.

The three minor children case were also recovered safely.

Jeffrey Gilseth and Maria Gilseth were booked into the Shawnee County Jail awaiting extradition back to Texas. The children were taken to a Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center for processing.

The Riley County Police Department, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with the arrests.

By ROXANA HEGEMAN

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The nation’s farmers are struggling to pay back loans after years of low crop prices and export markets hit by President Donald Trump’s tariffs, with a key government program showing the highest default rate in at least nine years.

Many agricultural loans come due around Jan. 1, in part to give producers enough time to sell crops and livestock and to give them more flexibility in timing interest payments for tax filing purposes.

“It is beginning to become a serious situation nationwide at least in the grain crops — those that produce corn, soybeans, wheat,” said Allen Featherstone, head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University.

While the federal government shutdown delayed reporting, January figures show an overall rise in delinquencies for those producers with direct loans from the Agriculture Department’s Farm Service Agency.

Nationwide, 19.4 percent of FSA direct loans were delinquent in January, compared to 16.5 percent for the same month a year ago, said David Schemm, executive director of the Farm Service Agency in Kansas. During the past nine years, the agency’s January delinquency rate hit a high of 18.8 percent in 2011 and fell to a low of 16.1 percent when crop prices were significantly better in 2015.

While those FSA direct loan delinquencies are high, the agency is a lender of last resort for riskier agricultural borrowers who don’t qualify for commercial loans. Its delinquency rates typically drop in subsequent months as more farmers pay off overdue notes and refinance debt.

With today’s low crop prices, it takes high yields to mitigate some of the losses and even a normal harvest or a crop failure could devastate a farm’s bottom line. The high delinquency rates are caused by back-to-back years of low prices, with those producers who are in more financial trouble being ones who also had low yields, Featherstone said.

The situation now is not as bad as the farm credit crisis of the 1980s — a time of high interest rates and falling land prices that was marked by widespread farm foreclosures. At the height of that crisis in 1987, U.S. farmers filed 5,788 Chapter 12 bankruptcies. There were 498 in 2018.

Some fears are also surfacing in reports such as one this month from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, which said the outlook is pessimisticfor the start of this year with respondents predicting a further decline in farm income. About 36 percent of farm lenders who responded said they had a lower rate of loan repayment from a year earlier.

Tom Giessel said he borrowed some operating money from his local bank last year and paid it off. Giessel, who raises wheat and corn on some 2,500 acres in western Kansas, said the only thing that kept the farm economy afloat in his area was that people had pretty good fall crop yields. Giessel, 66, said he had once gotten to the point where he didn’t have to borrow his working capital and had a relatively new set of equipment, but he has had to borrow money for the last three years just to put in a crop.

“A lot of people are in denial about what is going on, but reality is going to set in or has set in already,” Giessel said.

The February survey of rural bankers in parts of 10 Plains and Western states showed that nearly two-thirds of banks in the region raised loan collateral requirements on fears of a weakening farm income. The Rural Mainstreet survey showed nearly one-third of banks reported they rejected more farm loan applications for that reason.

Grain prices are down because farmers around the world have had above-average production for several years. But some nations’ economies are not doing as well, decreasing demand for those crops, Featherstone said. Grain prices peaked in 2012 and prices have roughly fallen 36 percent since then for soybeans, 50 percent for corn and 48 percent for wheat.

When Trump imposed tariffs, China retaliated by stopping soybean purchases, closing the biggest U.S. market. While trade negotiations with Chinacontinue, many farmers fear it will take years for markets to recover — as it did when President Jimmy Carter imposed a grain embargo on the then-Soviet Union in 1980.

“The tariffs Trump is messing around with are not helpful at all — I don’t think anybody knows the true effect,” said Steve Morris, who farms near Hugoton in southwest Kansas.

Morris, who has been cutting back acreage in an effort to avoid borrowing money, said drought conditions last year in his area devastated his wheat yields. Trump has offered farmers subsidies to compensate for the tariffs but they are based on harvested bushels. Morris, 73, received a subsidy payment last year for his wheat crop of only $268.

Many farmers are now scrambling to borrow money as spring planting nears.

Matt Ubel, a 36-year-old Kansas farmer who bought out his parents’ farm in December 2016, said they have not been delinquent on their FSA loans, but acknowledged the payment was “a challenge to make last year.”

“We have had trouble for several years getting operating loans,” he said. “This year doesn’t look any better.”

A key factor in whether farmers receive loans is the value of their land.

Farmland values in parts of the Midwest and Plains regionslargely held steady at the end of last year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. But slightly higher interest rates and an uptick in the pace of farmland sales in states with higher concentrations of crop production could drive those land values down, it said.

“The big key in terms of whether or not we enter a financial crisis would be what would happen to land values,” Featherstone said. “So far land values have gradually declined, so that has kind of prevented us from maybe entering a situation like we did in the 1980s.”

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University’s Black Student Union has been named the best in the Big 12 Conference for the 11th time in 14 years.

The Black Student Union, or BSU, received the Clarence Wine Award for Outstanding Big 12 Council of the Year at the Big XII Council on Black Student Government’s annual conference Feb. 21-24 at the University of Missouri. The award is presented annually to an outstanding undergraduate African-American student government or council in the Big 12 Conference for a serious commitment to unity, academic achievement, scholarship, campus programming and community service.

“Our success has everything to do with our members,” said Del’Sha Roberts, BSU president and senior in biology, Kansas City. “Without the attendance and participation, we would have no one to help us live out our mission statement.”

The Black Student Union’s mission is to focus on the development of the Kansas State University community by advancing academic stability, political action and the leadership of black students while promoting black culture across all aspects of life. The award comes as the Black Student Union is celebrating 50 years of work toward that mission at Kansas State University.

Roberts said it is a great honor to be the president of the Black Student Union and will continue her leadership beyond the university to serve as chair for the Big 12 Council on Black Student Government. Three other Kansas State University students were also elected to serve the Big 12 Council: Zanaiya Peebles, junior in biology, Overland Park, was elected parliamentarian; and Jeffrey Matthews, sophomore in open option and BSU parliamentarian, was elected treasurer, and Johari Snell, sophomore in food science and industry, was elected conference management chair, both from Kansas City, Missouri.

“Our BSU is the epitome of what we want all of our K-State students to be: dedicated, hardworking and servant leaders,” said Brandon Clark, BSU advisor and student programs coordinator in the department of diversity and multicultural student affairs. “To be awarded this great honor year after year by their peer institutions is something all K-Staters should celebrate. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to advise these incredible students.”

In addition to the Wine award, the Legion of Black Collegians and Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center at the University of Missouri recognized Clark for his 15 years of service and dedication to the Big 12 Council on Black Student Government. Before serving in his current position, Clark worked at the K-State Alumni Association from 2003-2009 and the K-State Upward Bound Program from 2009-2012.

The National Weather Service is forecasting 3-6 inches of snow for the Junction City – Manhattan area Saturday and Sunday, plus bitter cold wind chills Sunday morning through Tuesday morning.

Another winter storm is moving this way.

Wind chills in the forecast Sunday through Tuesday morning, ( Photo courtesy National Weather Service and Salina Post ).

MANHATTAN —One person was injured in a fire Thursday in Manhattan.

Crews at the scene of Thursday’s fire in Manhattan- photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Dept.

Just before 4:30p.m., crews to the fire at a home in the 400 Block of South 16th Street, according to a media release. Upon arrival they found smoke coming from the back of the residence.

Crews extinguished the blaze in approximately five minutes. Riley County EMS transported one person  to Via Christi for possible smoke inhalation.

Damage to the residence is estimated at $5,500. Cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sarah Burns -photo Allen Co.

TYRESSE TAVIAN GERALD, 19, Manhattan, Distribute marijuana; 25 – < 450 grams Distribute or poss w/int to distribute drug paraph for illegal use; Bond $5000

Mark Trotman

Eagle Communications announced today the promotion of Mark Trotman to Vice President of Radio, effective immediately.

Trotman has served as Eagle’s market manager in Hutchinson since 2010. He will now focus on coordinating the company’s revenue development, sales training and additional processes for Eagle’s 28 radio stations.

“Mark’s experience and success in Hutchinson is valuable in each of our markets and we look forward to his leadership in these important areas.” said Eagle Communications Chairman and CEO Gary Shorman Eagle

With Trotman’s promotion, sales manager Terry Drouhard will now serve as market manager in Hutchinson. Drouhard was appointed to operations manager in Hutchinson in 1989 and promoted to Sales Manager in 1996.

Terry Drouhard

“Terry has outstanding teambuilding skills and a commitment to growing each of our customers,” said Shorman. “As an employee owned company, we build for the long term. Terry’s strong leadership and knowledge of the market make him the right choice for this new role.”

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Area shaded blue will be under a winter storm watch while the pink shaded area will be in a warning.

From the National Weather Service:

Cloud-Clay-Riley-Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Wabaunsee-Shawnee-
Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson-
Including the cities of Concordia, Clay Center, Manhattan,
Wamego, St. Marys, Holton, Valley Falls, Oskaloosa, Perry,
McLouth, Grantville, Meriden, Nortonville, Alma, Eskridge,
Maple Hill, Alta Vista, McFarland, Harveyville, Paxico, Topeka,
Lawrence, Emporia, Osage City, Carbondale, Lyndon, Burlingame,
Overbrook, Ottawa, Burlington, Lebo, and Garnett
511 PM CST Fri Mar 1 2019

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING
THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 6
  inches possible.

* WHERE...Portions of east central, north central and northeast
  Kansas.

* WHEN...From Saturday evening through Sunday morning.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy
  blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant
snow, sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel. Continue
to monitor the latest forecasts.

RILEY COUNTY —  Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent two people to the hospital.

As of 3:30 PM officers have cleared the scene the 2300 Block of Tuttle Creek Blvd. and the area is back open.

The Riley County Police Department would like to thank the businesses in the area for their cooperation. We understand the inconvenience of remaining closed and appreciate their assistance in helping us conduct a thorough investigation of this incident.  Authorities have released no additional details.

———-

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent two people to the hospital.

Google map

Just before 2:20 a.m. Saturday, the Riley County Police Department Dispatch Center received a report of shots fired in the 2300 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd in Manhattan.

Two individuals were life-flighted to Stormont-Vail Topeka Hospital for injuries. Investigators were still on the scene and authorities asked the public to avoid the area.

Anyone with information on this crime, is encouraged to contact the Riley County Police Department at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at www.p3tips/353 or (785) 539-7777. Using the Crime Stoppers service allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.