SHAWNEE COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Tuesday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Turnpike Authority reported a 2002 Jeep Liberty driven by Mary Martinez, 71, Junction City, was westbound on Interstate 70 and rear-ended a 2019 Buick Encore driven by Jill Christine Halstead, 55, Concordia, that had stopped to pay at the toll plaza.

Halstead and a passenger Summer C. Champlin, 30, Concordia, complained of pain. The KTA did not report if they were transported to a hospital for treatment. Martinez was not injured.

All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KTA.

Capuchins Joseph Mary Elder and Christopher Popravak, Ellis Co. Attorney Tom Drees, and Bishop Jerry Vincke listen in Hays Tuesday night to public comments about sexual abuse of minors by clergy of the Salina Diocese.

By BECKY KISER

The pews in Hays’ St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church were nearly filled Tuesday evening as people gathered for a public listening session about substantiated allegations of clergy abuse of minor children in the Salina diocese.

Salina Bishop Jerry Vincke opened and closed the 90-minute session with prayers.

“We (the Catholic Church) messed up,” he said after the first remarks were made by an attendee.

Joining Vincke were Fr. Christopher Popravak, Provincial of the Denver Province of Capuchins, and Fr. Joseph Mary Elder, O.F.M.Cap., Director of Communications, Denver.

The Capuchins are a Catholic religious order with a strong presence within the Salina Diocese, particularly in the Hays and Victoria area.

Popravak opened with an apology.

Capuchins Elder and Popravak, Denver. Popravak previously taught at TMP Catholic School and served the St. Joseph parish in Hays.

“I’d like to offer my deepest apologies to everyone here for the harm some of our brothers have inflicted on the community. We Capuchins have always treasured people here in Ellis County.”

Popravak said he served in Hays at the-then-Thomas More Prep Catholic high school for boys and the St. Joseph parish “many, many years ago.”

“This is very distressing for all of us about the abuse that occurred,” Popravak continued, “and I’m here to publicly ask for your forgiveness, and for your prayers, especially for those that suffered the abuse and the after-effects of the abuse.”

Late last week the Capuchins and the Salina Diocese released separate lists of clergy who have been investigated for “substantial” or “credible allegations” of sexual abuse of a minor.

Thirteen Capuchin friars are listed. Of the 13, two are deceased and five have since left the order. None are in active ministry. Twelve of the 13 suspects had ties to Hays or Victoria.

The 13 listed clergy from the Salina Diocese served in more than 16 other northwest Kansas towns in various capacities.

Eleven of the clergy are deceased; two have been laicized – removed from the status of being a clergy member. The alleged abuses took place between 1907 and 2002, with most occurring in the 1960s and 1970s.

Bishop Vincke listens as Elmer tells his story of abuse by a Salina Diocese clergy member.

More than 20 people talked about the abuse allegations, including one gray-haired man who identified himself as Elmer saying he had been molested many years ago by one of the named clergy.

Elmer’s family did not believe it happened.

“I was told I was stupid, that I didn’t know what I was talking about, by my own mother,” Elmer recalled. The bishop at the time wrote a letter to Elmer saying “it was none of my business.”

“People are going through suicides. It’s tough,” Elmer said. He asked Bishop Vincke “how to forgive somebody.”

“It’s just incredibly tragic,” Vincke responded. “You’ll never forget.” After a long pause with his eyes cast down, Vincke looked up and thanked Elmer for sharing his story.

“I appreciate your courage for coming forward. I really admire you.” Vincke then offered a prayer for Elmer about his mistreatment. “Lord, fill him with your peace.”

Vincke said he has often heard from victims that they are not believed. “They and their parents are often also so embarrassed about what happened.”

Ellis Co. Attorney Tom Drees

Encouraging children to report abuse and helping families to believe them is paramount to stopping sexual child abuse, Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees told the crowd.

Many times the crimes are reported years after the abuse and the Kansas statute of limitations has changed over time.

“Today, if you have a rape or if you have a aggravated criminal sodomy, that would be unlimited. So that’s within a lifetime, if you find that out, you can prosecute it,” explained Drees.

But that’s a fairly recent change in state law. Previously, the statute of limitations was 10 years.

Other sexual violent crimes against children can be prosecuted until the victim turns age 18, or 28 if a suspect is identified through DNA. There are some exceptions, Drees noted.

Rev. Ron Gilardi, who taught at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School in Hays, was charged in 2001 with criminal sodomy, indecent liberties with a child, and other sexual offenses of a male student who left the school in 1994.

A five-year statute of limitations existed at that time.

Although the charges were made beyond the five-year statute of limitations, “we were able to prosecute Gilardi because it was a repressed memory recall situation made with the victim’s psychologist.” The victim recalled the abuse during a counseling session in 1999.

Again, the state of limitations has changed since then, and charges can only be filed in a repressed memory recall case until the victim turns 28.

Gilardi was subsequently removed from the ministry and is currently under supervision, according to the abuse report.

Bishop Vincke reads a statement from a Victoria man who said his female cousin was raped in the mid-1970s by one of the Capuchin friars on the abuse list.

Two audience members identified themselves as they talked about sexual abuse of the relatives by men on the  list.

One man wanted to know why the identified priests and friars have not apologized for their sexual abuse of children.

“We have tried to contact them but got no response,” Bishop Vincke said. Gilardi is one of the two accused Diocesan clergy still living.

“They have not accepted responsibility for what they’ve done, I’m sorry to say,” added Fr. Popravak about the Capuchins.

“I think people are feeling there’s still a cover-up right now,” Vincke said in an interview after the meeting.

Bishop Vincke hugs a woman after Tuesday’s meeting in Hays’ St. Nicholas of Myra Church.

“There was a major cover-up many years ago,” Vincke acknowledged, “but I think we’ve corrected that and we’re not trying to cover up anything anymore.

“We’re trying to be open about everything that’s happened. All of our sins, we’re laying out for the people.”

Vincke also thinks the Catholic Church needs to do a better job of relating to the public what abuse has happened in the Church, when it happened, and what is now being done about it.

The bishop liked the suggestion from a man in the audience that the laity – people of faith distinct from the church – get more involved in the church.

“We’re doing that but I think we could use more of their incredible resources for the good of our church as well,” Vincke smiled.

One young woman at the meeting talked about the good memories of priests she has from attending Catholic schools.

“We have some great priests,” Vincke agreed, “doing incredible work and service for the people. And we have some great seminarians. They’re excited to get started. They know what happened in the Church but they want to be part of the solution. They really want to help.”

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.

HARLEE ELIZABETH BORDERS, 20, Manhattan,Criminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption; Bond $20,000

Joshua Davies -photo KDOC

JOSHUA KYLE DAVIES, 31, Wamego, Probation Violation; Bond $2500

DANIEL RAY BERGMAN, 21, Manhattan, Criminal damage to property; Without consent value < $1000; Bond $1000

BRITTANY DIANE CONARD, 21, Manhattan,Domestic battery; Knowing or reckless bodily harm to family/person in dating relationship; Bond $1000

TYLAN GREGORY HITE, 33, Kansas City, Failure to Appear; Concordia Police

LUCAS MICHAEL MOORE, 21, Washington, Kansas, Failure to Appear; Kansas Highway Patrol

SHAYNE ALLEN WILSON, 20, Clearview City, Probation Violation; Johnson County Sheriff

Byron Davis -photo Shawnee Co.

BYRON JOSEPH RENEE DAVIS, 27, Topeka, Probation Violation (2x); Topeka Police

 

Kansas State University has a grant for this calendar year for a food pantry for faculty and staff.

Those interested should stop by 009 Fairchild on campus during the following hours.

Monday 7:30-9:30a.m.

Tuesday 5:30-6:30p.m..

Wednesday 9:00a.m. – noon

Thursday closed

Friday 12:30-3:30p.m.

Saturday 10:00-Noon

Sunday closed 

They encourage you to bring your own reusable bags, however they typically have boxes and plastic bags on hand for you to fill as you need.

We all know someone who works at KState and we need to take care of the CAT Family.

By BRIAN GRIMMETT

Major flooding on stretches of the Missouri River from Nebraska and Iowa through Kansas and Missouri resulted in several breached levees and significant damage to cities, towns, and farmland in March. Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say the threat of even more flooding isn’t over yet.

Rising waters breached levees along the Missouri River in late March.
photo by ANDREA TUDHOPE

According to NOAA’s spring flood outlook, flood risks will remain significantly high for the duration of spring.  And not just in the Missouri River basin.

Here’s what the report has to say about three of Kansas’ major waterways.

Missouri River Basin: Major Flood Risk

Flooding in the upper Missouri River basin, which includes parts of northeast Kansas, has already broken records this year.

Meteorologists at NOAA say a number of unusual circumstances added up to a major problem.

It started with a large amount of late spring snow in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Then rapid snowmelt and a bomb cyclone dropped even more water on already saturated or still frozen ground.

“It was like falling on a paved street,” said meteorologist Bob Holmes. “It had nowhere to infiltrate, there was no natural infiltration, and so every bit of that ran off.”

Additional spring rain and melting snow will prolong or expand the flooding that is already happening.

The outlook predicts that the Missouri River from Kansas City to the Kansas-Nebraska border has greater than a 50 percent chance of major flooding this spring. “Major” meaning flooding that causes extensive inundation of buildings and roads and prompts large scale evacuations.

Kansas River Basin: Moderate Flood Risk

The areas that feed into the Kansas River basin do not have nearly as much extra snowpack as the feeders of the Missouri River basin. The greatest risk in the Kansas River basin instead lies with the chance of greater than normal rainfall falling on saturated ground.

That’s one of the reasons why NOAA’s spring flood outlook only puts the Kansas River basin at risk for moderate flooding — flooding with some inundation of buildings and roads, but less cause for evacuations.

The Kansas River basin also includes several reservoirs used for flood control, such as Milford Lake which receives water from the Republican River, and Tuttle Creek Lake which receives water from the Big Blue River.

Because the Kansas River ultimately flows into the Missouri, which is already at record highs, the reservoirs have been set to release only the minimum amount. So the lakes are at higher than normal levels.

“We have folks on the upper end of Tuttle Creek who have bottom ground, farm ground, coming into Tuttle Creek that is underwater right now,” Earl Lewis, Acting Director of the Kansas Water Office, said.

Tuttle Creek is 35 feet above normal, and at 40 percent of its capacity for flood storage. Some of the campgrounds around the lake have delayed their opening until the end of April because of the high water.

Arkansas River Basin: Minor Flood Risk

Unlike the other two rivers on this list, the Arkansas isn’t as likely to burst its banks this year. However, the NOAA forcast does predict a risk for minor flooding that would lead to minimal property damage, but could pose some public threat such as the flooding of roads and low lying areas.

The greatest risk to the Arkansas will come from spring thunderstorms that drop a large amount of water in a short amount of time. Couple that with ground that’s saturated and you have a recipe for flooded streets and small creeks overflowing.

The oft’ repeated advice from experts in situations like those: “Turn around, don’t drown.”

Brian Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Just weeks after winning a key regulatory approval, one the nation’s largest wind energy projects is facing a new obstacle from Missouri legislation that could prevent the proposed high-voltage power line from being strung across the property of uncooperative landowners.

A Missouri House panel advanced legislation Wednesday that would prohibit the use of eminent domain to acquire easements for the Grain Belt Express project. The proposed 750-mile

The overview map on this page depicts the route of the Grain Belt Express Clean Line in Kansas- Image Clean Line Energy Partners.- click to expand

transmission line would carry wind power from Kansas across Missouri and Illinois into Indiana, where it would connect to a power grid that serves eastern states.

The $2.3 billion project has been repeatedly delayed by regulatory hurdles and court battles but won a significant victory in March, when Missouri’s utility regulatory commission reversed its previous denials and approved the project. Missouri’s “certificate of convenience and necessity” deems it a public utility, which allows it to pursue condemnation cases in local courts against landowners who refuse to sell easements.

The legislation is intended to block that — either forcing the power line to zig zag around unwilling sellers or zapping it altogether.

Clean Line Energy Partners, based in Houston, has been pursuing the project since 2010. In November, Chicago-based Invenergy announced it was buying the project — a deal that would strengthen the project’s finances but still needs regulatory approval.

Unlike traditional power line projects, the Grain Belt Express is not part of an existing energy distribution system and would not carry power directly to residential customers. It instead would sell power to other utilities. A coalition of Missouri municipal utilities has agreed to purchase some of the energy, but the vast majority would go to eastern states.

That’s sparked opposition from some Missouri landowners and politicians.

“We’re asking our Missouri farmers and rural areas to give up their land and their rights so that people further east can save on their energy bills? I don’t think that’s good for Missourians,” said Republican Rep. Dean Plocher, the chairman of the committee that advanced the eminent domain legislation.

Invenergy spokeswoman Beth Conley said the legislation would delay or prevent residents in dozens of Missouri communities that agreed to purchase the wind power from saving millions of dollars annually through cheaper rates.

While approving the project last month, the Missouri Public Service Commission concluded that “the broad economic, environmental, and other benefits of the project … outweigh the interests of the individual landowners.”

At a legislative hearing this week, Marilyn O’Bannon vowed that she and her relatives never would agree to provide easements for the transmission line to pass through about 5 miles of her family’s farmland near Madison. She expressed concerns that their farms would be harmed by the construction without benefiting from any of the electricity passing overhead. Her family’s farms get their power from a rural electricity cooperative.

“They think we’re just out here complaining because it’s our land, but every acre really counts, especially when the commodity prices are where they are today,” O’Bannon told The Associated Press.

Other property owners appear more willing to sell easement rights without going through condemnation proceedings.

“I really believe in renewable energy,” said Donna Inglis, whose Huntsville property lies in the path of the power line. She added: “I think a lot of the people on the line are being very selfish, because they’re worried about me. They’re not worried about the better good.”

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.

DAKOTA BLAKE LONG, 23, Manhattan, Driving under the infl of drugs/alcohol; 1st conv;competent evidence of blood/breath .08+; Bond $750

Fredrick Swinson -photo Geary Co.

FREDERICK DERRELL SWINSON, 31, Junction City, Failure to Appear (4X) $36,050

AMANDA MICHELLE CATHCART, 33, Ogden, Probation Violation, Bond $5000

DARRION MARTEZ TAYLOR, 22, Gardner, Failure to Appear; Bond $1000

KEVIN MICHAEL HARBAUGH, 37, Manhattan,Driving while suspended; 3rd or subsequent 1 conviction; Bond $500

JOHN DEAN AYER, 55, Manhattan, Giving a worthless check; Value < $1,000; Bond $1000

CHELSEA ELIZABETH PARKS, 27, Fort Riley, Interference with LEO; Falsely report information intending to obstruct; Bond $1500

EDWARD LAMONT WILLIAMS, 32, Manhattan,Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulantProbation Violation;Bond $5000

MARK NICHOLAS RICKENBAKER, 29, Manhattan, Criminal damage to property; Without consent value < $1000;Bond $1000

KHAIRI NICHI ALEXANDER FIELDER, 15, Manhattan,Possession of marijuana, Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body Cigarette and tobacco products act; Buy for < 18 YOA; Juvenile

EVAN DAVID MEGAW, 16, Ogden, Possession of marijuana, Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body Cigarette and tobacco products act; Buy for < 18 YOA; Juvenile

KALEB LEE JACKSON, 16, Manhattan,Possession of marijuana, Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body Cigarette and tobacco products act; Buy for < 18 YOA; Juvenile

 

 

 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the three college students who were detained after unfurling banners at the Kansas Statehouse in support of Medicaid expansion.

“Blood on their hands” banners drop in the Statehouse naming Kansas Senate President Wagle and Majority Leader Denning who are blocking over 100,000 Kansans from healthcare access #ExpandMedicaid pic.twitter.com/FpAnamSzTt

— Davis Hammet (@Davis_Hammet) March 27, 2019

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas said Thursday the Kansas restrictions suppress political expression. It seeks a court order prohibiting Kansas from enforcing what ACLU contends are flawed policies.

One KSU student, Jonathan Thomas Cole, posted a video of security staff removing the banners to the Post facebook page

The litigation stems from an incident last month involving Kansas State University students who hung large banners saying Republican legislators who oppose expanding Medicaid have “blood on their hands.”

The students were initially barred from the Statehouse for a year, but have since been reinstated.

House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, a conservative Republican singled out in one of the banners, says the rule is in place to prevent damage to the Statehouse.

MARSHALL COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities temporarily closed the Marshall County Clerk’s office, 1201 Broadway Street in Marysville Thursday as they served several search warrants, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Google image

The search warrants are related to an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged conduct by an employee of the Marshall County Clerk’s Office, according to the KBI.

Authorities had not reported an arrest or any possible charges early afternoon Thursday.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

First responders on the scene of Thursday’s fatal Riley County crash -photo by Rebecca Watts WIBW TV

RILEY COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 8a.m. Thursday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Toyota Yaris driven by Andrew GeorgeDrysdale, 49, Coffeyville, was was north bound on Kansas 113 and failed to stop at the intersection of U.S. 24.

The vehicle hit the guardrail, traveled down the embankment, struck a tree and came to rest on its top.

Drysdale was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

———————–

RILEY COUNTY — First responders are working a fatal, single vehicle, rollover crash at Tuttle Creek Boulevard and Seth Child Road north of Manhattan, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Authorities have released no additional information.

We will report additional details as they become available.

By Samantha Gilstrap
KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA – The Senate last week passed Bill 77, which requires the Department of Children and Family Services to offer counseling services to children who exhibit problem sexual behavior.

This means any child under the age of 18 who has allegedly committed sexual abuse against another child, who is also under the age of 18, would be offered counseling. The bill was created to help children and their families as sexual abuse by children coincides often with the child experiencing their own form of sexual abuse within the household.

The services provided will be voluntary unless the situation is deemed to be dangerous. Proposers of the bill reason that these services are vital to reducing the risk of future sexual abuse by children. The bill will not affect investigations, but rather give help to underage offenders so that they can grow to become responsible caring adults.

After the bill was introduced in the Senate in February, it was referred to the Committee on Judiciary where the bill was amended. The bill now addresses that a child receiving the services could have multiple alleged accounts of abuse and counseling isn’t just limited to first-time offenders. Under the bill, the Judiciary Committee deemed the state must provide a referral to a child-advocacy center. This will place the responsibility of therapy on the family but still provide them resources to seek help.

The Committee on the Whole passed the amendment 38-0 and sent it along to the House. In the House the bill was referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs where it was passed back. Sen. Molly Baumgardner (R-Louisburg) requested the bill to be reviewed in the Senate chambers March 26 where it was heard and then moved forward.

Samantha Gilstrap is a University of Kansas senior from Charlotte, North Carolina, majoring in journalism.

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.

JONATHAN THOMAS COLE, 34, Manhattan, Driving under the infl of drugs/alcohol; 2nd  conv;competent evidence of blood/breath .08+; Bond $1500

DAVID MALDONADO has a 2016 drug conviction, according to the Kansas Public Offender Registry

KEVIN MICHAEL HARBAUGH, 37, Manhattan, Harass by telecom device; Phone call with intent to abuse/threaten/harass; Bond $2000

DAVID MALDONADO JR, 44, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $20,000

TYLER WAYNE BROWN, 32, Manhattan, Pedestrians under influence of alcohol or drugs; Bond $500

Eagle Communications Inc. announced this week the acquisition of Salina-based Mid America Productions.

The professional audio-video production house has been in business since 1983 creating video content for a variety of business partners, as well as event support, photo services, web design and data transfer services.

The three-person crew of Corey McKee, Karl Sneath and Kevin Bourne bring 55 years of combined video production and editing experience to Eagle.

“Eagle strives every day to help businesses succeed by connecting them to their customers,” said Travis Kohlrus, Eagle Communications vice president. “We believe the addition of MAP to the Eagle portfolio can enhance the level of service we can provide from training and recruitment videos to legal and documentary videos, continuing our quest of keeping our communities … connected.”

“The video production company, started in 1983 by my late husband, Rick Weber, will continue to operate at 1510 E. Iron in Salina. It’s very rewarding to know that MAP and its employees will continue to provide professional video and multimedia services to our many customers and corporate clients,” said Mid American Productions owner/manager Judy Weber. “I am very thankful to have had such dedicated and knowledgeable employees over the years, and I wish them and Eagle every success.”

Mid America Productions’ portfolio can be seen HERE.

“I’m excited for this acquisition,” said Katie Dorzweiler, Eagle Marketing Solutions director. “For over 15 years, Eagle has been creating high-quality, award-winning video production services to main street businesses. With the addition of Mid America Productions, we can now offer long-play commercial video serving both the internal and external promotional needs of our clients. Video is increasingly relevant for businesses to market themselves through television, online search engines and through social media. Eagle is now well positioned to provide clients access to all of these platforms.”

Eagle Communications Inc. is a Kansas-based Broadband Services and Media Company with over 280 employee-owners. The company operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, as well as broadband systems in 60 Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado communities. The company also offers e-business solutions, web hosting, telephone service, high-speed internet, and wireless internet in most service areas. For more information log on to www.eaglecom.net.

Disclosure: Eagle Communications is the parent company of LittleApple Post.

By JOHN HANNA

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ new Democratic governor promised on the campaign trail to end a protracted lawsuit over education funding by increasing state spending on public schools, and the Republican-led Legislature approved her proposal Thursday evening.

It may not be enough.

An attorney for the local school districts suing the state certainly doesn’t think so, and his clients have won before the Kansas Supreme Court repeatedly. Even some legislators who backed Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan for an increase of roughly $90 million a year think they’ll be discussing another Supreme Court order to boost funding again next year. Others are hopeful the court will sign off, but no one is dead certain.

“Worst-case scenario, all it does is buy us another year,” said Rep. Jim Ward, a Wichita Democrat who serves on a House education funding committee. “Best-case scenario is the court says, ‘That’s a good faith effort and we’ll monitor the case over the next few years.'”

The House voted 76-47 to approve a bill containing Kelly’s funding proposal, and the Senate approved it on a 31-8vote. The measure ties the new money to several education policy changes favored by GOP lawmakers, including a requirement for a new one-page online performance report on each public school.

The #ksleg took an important step today towards addressing the needs of our students, supporting our teachers and fully funding our schools. I’m proud this reasonable commonsense plan was embraced with bipartisan support today. Kansans want us to work together to move KS forward.

— Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) April 4, 2019

Kelly said the bill’s passage is “an important step” toward addressing students’ needs, supporting teachers and “fully funding our schools.” It’s also her biggest legislative victory since taking office in January after campaigning last year as a bipartisan problem-solver.

“By investing in our local schools, we can ensure that all Kansas children — no matter who they are or where they live — have the opportunity to succeed,” Kelly said in a statement after the bill cleared the Legislature.

The four school districts sued Kansas in 2010, and the state Supreme Court has issued six rulings directing lawmakers to increase the state’s spending in a little more than five years, so that aid to public schools now tops $4 billion a year. The court said in an order last year that a 2018 law promising additional funding increases into the future wasn’t sufficient because it hadn’t accounted for inflation.

The court gave the state’s attorneys until April 15 to file a written report on lawmakers’ response. The key legal question is whether the state is spending enough money for lawmakers to meet an obligation under the Kansas Constitution to finance a suitable education for every child.

The school districts’ attorneys also must file their own assessment April 15. John Robb, one of their attorneys, said Thursday evening that the districts will argue that the state’s funding isn’t adequate after the 2019-2020 school year.

The districts argue that accounting for inflation is a straightforward math problem that requires increasingly larger amounts of money each year through the 2022-23 school year. Under their calculations, the increase for that year would be about $360 million instead of the roughly $90 million under Kelly’s proposal.

“I think the court will recognize that they didn’t reach the target,” Robb said. “We think the court is going to say, ‘The math doesn’t work.'”

Past Supreme Court rulings came with an implied threat that the justices could shut down schools if legislators did not comply. But Robb said that’s unlikely now, because the 2019-20 school year is adequately covered.

Some Republicans, particularly conservatives, question whether the state will be able to sustain even Kelly’s new spending without a future tax increase. GOP leaders also pushed a tax relief bill designed to prevent individuals and businesses from paying more in state income taxes because of changes in federal tax laws at the end of 2017, which the governor vetoed.

Most Senate Republicans lined up behind Kelly’s plan last month after the school districts suing the state initially supported it, then withdrew their endorsement and called for higher spending after the 2019-20 school year. House GOP leaders wanted to earmark much of the new money to programs for at-risk students but relented Wednesday when it became clear senators would not budge in negotiations.

Backers of the bill hope a show of bipartisan support will persuade the Supreme Court to find Kelly’s plan acceptable.

“For now, what we have before us is what I believe to be our best response for the courts,” said Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Kansas City-area Republican and the chairwoman of a school funding committee.

___

PRATT – During the public hearing portion of its March 28 meeting, the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) Commission voted on several items, to include greater flexibility in hunting equipment and approving 2019-2020 big game season dates. However, the first order of business during the public hearing session may have outdoor enthusiasts excited for an entirely different reason. Commissioners approved staff recommendations to eliminate a $10 fee previously associated with obtaining a duplicate license or permit. Beginning in early May, KDWPT customers who require a replacement license or permit will be able to reprint any license or permit purchased online for free or simply pay a $2.50 fee through a license vendor.

Other items voted on and approved by the Commission include:

• Allowing hunters to use lures, decoys (except live decoys) and calls (to include electronic calls) when hunting rabbits, hares and squirrels
• Designating tumble-upon-impact bullets as legal equipment for hunting big game
• Moving the resident either-species deer and elk permit application deadlines to the second Friday in June, coinciding with the firearm antelope application deadline

Hunting season dates approved at the March 28 meeting are as follows:

ELK

Fort Riley

Muzzleloader – Sep. 1-30, 2019

Archery – Sept. 1-30, 2019

Firearm ­– Oct. 1-31, 2019, Nov. 1-30, 2019, and Dec. 1-31, 2019

Outside of Fort Riley

Muzzleloader – Sep. 1-30, 2019

Archery – Sept. 16-Dec. 31, 2019

Firearm – August 1-31, 2019, Dec. 4-15, 2019, and Jan. 1-March 15, 2020

DEER

Youth and Hunters with Disabilities – Sept. 7-15, 2019

Muzzleloader – Sept. 16-29, 2019

Archery – Sept. 16-Dec. 31, 2019

Pre-rut Whitetail Antlerless-only – Oct. 12-14, 2019

Firearm – Dec. 4-15, 2019

Extended Firearm

Units 6, 8, 9, 10, and 17 – Jan. 1-3, 2020

Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 14, and 16 – Jan. 1-5, 2020

Units 10A, 12, 13, 15, and 19 – Jan. 1-12, 2020

Extended Archery

Units 10A and 19 – Jan. 13-31, 2020

For more information on the Commission, including future meeting details, visit www.ksoutdoors.com.

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.

JAMIE MARIE AGUERO, 31, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $2000

Dale Clark has 2 previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections

JACOB ALEXANDER, 25, Manhattan, Failure to Appear (2x) Bond $3500

DALE EUGENE CLARK, 47, Chapman, Probation Violation; Bond $5000

TRACEY JEROME TOLIVER, 32, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $1500

KEVIN MICHAEL HARBAUGH, 37, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $5000

WASHINGTON-D.C.-U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D. is pleased to announce the appointments of three 1st Congressional District high school students to U.S. military service academies. This year a panel of military veterans interviewed nine students vying for appointments to the country’s elite service academies.

Following the Military Service Academy interview process, Keaton Koenig, Blaise Hayden, both from Manhattan, and Rudolph Rodriguez, from Salina, received nominations from Rep. Marshall. All three students have officially accepted appointments to attend a military service academy for their post-high school education.

“We’re proud to have these young leaders that are anxious to protect and serve our country,” Congressman Marshall said. “This is a rare and excellent achievement that Kansans across the state should be proud of.

Keaton, Blaise, and Rudolph work hard in both the classroom and their communities and their drive will suite them well in their respected academies. It’s an honor to make these nominations and I look forward to following their success.”

Koenig, son of Emily and Kris Koenig, is a senior at Riley County High School where he participated in varsity football, basketball, wresting and track and maintained a 4.0 GPA. He will attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., this fall.
Hayden, daughter of Eileen and Curtis Hayden, is a senior at Manhattan High School and participated in the varsity swim team while maintaining a 4.36 GPA. She will attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., this fall.

Rodriguez, son of Matt and Kristy Rodriguez, is a senior at Southeast of Saline High School, where he participates in football, wrestling and baseball, while maintaining a 3.9 GPA. He will attend the United States Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, RI. this fall.

Manhattan, Kan. – In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 7-13), the Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) would like to personally thank their volunteers for their service and dedication. Thank you for working to inspire, interpret, explore and preserve the Flint Hills!

The Discovery Center is always seeking passionate volunteers to join our dynamic and growing volunteer program. Volunteers help with special events, education programs, interpret exhibits and more.

The FHDC volunteer program allows volunteers to get involved and give back to the community, earn service hours and build their resume. We work with our volunteers through hands-on training and flexible hours to make their volunteer experience a positive one.

Volunteers must be 13 years of age or older, successfully pass a background check and must attend necessary training sessions scheduled regularly throughout the year.

For more information about volunteer opportunities at the FHDC and to apply, visit www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/volunteer, call Volunteer Coordinator Jurina Watts at 785-587-2726 ext. 210, or visit 315 S. 3rd St. in Manhattan.

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.