BY SCOTT ROTHSCHILD
TOPEKA — The Kansas House on Friday advanced a wide-ranging anti-abortion bill, and supporters of the measure offered a preview of a fight they intend to have with the Kansas University Medical Center.
State Rep. Lance Kinzer, R-Olathe, speaking against an amendment to the bill that was sought by KU, said the school was using tax dollars to train medical residents in abortion procedures.
“What we should have done is say it is not the public policy that we are going to pay residents with taxpayer dollars to kill babies. That is what we should’ve done,” said Kinzer. “No taxpayer dollars to kill babies,” he repeated, which drew applause from anti-abortion legislators.
State Rep. John Grange, R-El Dorado, who was presiding over the House chamber at the time reminded legislators they are not supposed to applaud speakers during debate. “Please, let’s maintain respect for the institution,” he said.
The dispute has been over a provision in the bill that says no state employee can perform an abortion.
According to KU, doctors in training at the Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. are considered state employees, and accreditation requirements say those who are being trained as obstetrics-gynecologists must gain experience with induced abortion and complications because of abortion, unless they have a religious or moral objection. The KU residents gain this experience at facilities not owned or operated by the state.
In negotiations over the past few weeks, legislators amended the bill to bypass this dispute by designating the OB-GYN medical residents weren’t state employees. But the amendment would expire in June 2013.
On Friday, state Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Assaria, sought to remove that “sunset” provision and bypassing the issue permanently. This would help KU remove this issue from any accreditation discussion, Johnson said.
But Kinzer said the bypass and one-year period was part of an accommodation to KU and that the school was trying to go back on the agreement and using a freshman legislator to do that.
“Frankly, it is disgusting to me that we are going to allow that to go on another year,” he said.
He said once the legislative session was over, anti-abortion advocates would focus on the issue of abortion training at KU Medical Center. “We’re going to deal with this and establish a longterm policy,” he said.
Johnson’s amendment failed, 44-62.
After the vote, the KU Medical Center said: “KU will continue to work with policymakers to ensure the goals are clear: Maintaining a strong and accredited medical residency program for our state. We applaud those who have worked with us to craft language which will protect our accreditation and today were supportive of efforts to make that language a permanent provision and not have it expire.”
Later, House Minority Leader Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, who supports abortion rights, said Kinzer “displayed some candor on what his intentions are.”
Davis added, “He made it very clear that there is a viewpoint in the House that is not concerned with the accreditation issue and they would like to go on a collision course,” with the Medical Center.
A final vote on the entire bill is expected Monday.
The overall legislation would declare abortions illegal if they are performed only because a woman doesn’t like the gender of the fetus.
The bill also requires physicians to inform women seeking an abortion about the risk of breast cancer. A large body of research says there is no link between abortion and breast cancer.
The bill also would have the effect of creating new taxes on expenses related to abortion services or insurance coverage for abortion, and imposes state sales taxes on drugs and medications used in an abortion.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
New cell phone caddy takes innovation summit honors
By ALAN HOSKINS
The newest electronic device caddy for mobile phones highlighted the first Innovation Summit at Kansas City Kansas Community College May 2.
An estimated 100 innovators, investors, small businesses, students and members of the community turned out for the Summit and “Perfect Pitch” competition designed to connect people with ideas and innovations with people who can give reality to those ideas and innovations.
Mary Beth Oliver of Imagine Management, LLC, was presented a check of $500 by KCKCC President Dr. Doris Givens for her winning entry in the “Perfect Pitch” competition. Called ‘The Flip Flap,’ it’s a multi-purpose cell phone/iPod pocket that attaches to any waistband without need of a belt.
It also has a credit card or ID pocket and a key clip and will be on sale this summer. In addition to the $500, Oliver received a ticket to the American Corporate Growth Conference.
Runnerup Melissa Kropf Roberts also received admission to the American Corporate Growth Conference for her Health and Wellness newsletter that medical and wellness fields can purchase, download send to clients.
“Many health and wellness departments do not have time to produce their own newsletter but desperately want one,” said Roberts.”
Other competitors included Jim Gerdom, industrial product; Ma’Rie Hinson, “Say I Am Productions;” Clint Velazquez, The Super Market School of Music; and Deon Whitten, Allergen Eater. They were the six finalists chosen out of 12 entrants to present their innovations to seven Venture Capitalists investors.
The investors included Mike Myers, Optum; Rick Vaughn, Mid-America Angel Investor Network; Kelly Pruneau, Network Manager, Women’s Capital Connection; Bill Johnston, Inventors Center of KC; Michelle DeSilva, Angel Investors; Claude Aldridge, Open Air Equity; and Charley Vogt, Country Club Bank.
Dean Tan of the UMKC Bloch School, which houses top-ranked entrepreneurship programs, delivered the keynote address on the future of entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation.
Following his address, Mark Fields of Ppi LLC, Mike Farmer of Leap 2 and Tim Hulen of InTouch talked about their unique and highly motivational journeys in finding success.
Organized by Workforce Development at KCKCC, the Summit sponsors include the Central Area Betterment Association, Kansas Small Business Development Center (JCCC), Women’s Business Center, Wyandotte Economic Development Council, UMKC, KCK Black Chamber, KCSource Link, Leavenworth County Development Corporation and the KCK Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
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PHOTO: A check for $500 was presented by KCKCC President Dr. Doris Givens to Mary Beth Oliver for winning the “Perfect Pitch” competition as part of the first Innovation Summit at KCKCC May 2. On hand for the presentation were (from left) Dr. Marvin Hunt, KCKC Dean of Business and Continuing Education; Melissa Kropf Roberts, the second place finisher; Dr. Givens, Mary Beth Oliver and Jay Matlack and Marissa Graves of the sponsoring KCKCC Workforce Development. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)
Friday, May 4, 2012
KCKCC in near miss in academic excellence challenge
By ALAN HOSKINS
Just like any successful team, Linda Sutton put a solid lineup together for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s entry into the annual Kansas Academic Excellence Challenge and it paid big dividends.
“We came the closest we’ve ever come to playing for the championship,” said Sutton, the Director of Student Activities and Academic Excellence Challenge team coach.
Compiling an 8-2-1 record, KCKCC finished third in the 11-team competition and prevented first place Garden City Community College from an unbeaten record by getting a tie.
“Overall, we had a good strong team and were just one win away from making the finals,” said Sutton, whose team took home two medals and earned a cash award of $750.
Robert McQuillen had the second highest individual points per round with Jennifer Anderson third in most points per round.
They were joined on the team by Michele Baker and Malcom Jefferson, who captained the team.
“Robert was very strong in history and world news, Malcolm in sports and trivia, Jennifer in math, science and literature and Michele in math and science,” said Sutton. “We did real well in the bonus questions which is something we haven’t done well in the past. Surprisingly, there were several sports questions than came up and no one could answer them with the exception of Malcolm.”
KCKCC’s best previous finish was also a third in 2007 but the team did not come as close to reaching the finals.
The challenge consists of games of 24 questions with 10 points for answering the original toss-up question and 30 points for answering the bonus question. Teams have five seconds to buzz in and only that person can answer the toss-up question.
“The bonus question teams can communicate but they only have 10 seconds to answer,” said Sutton. “It took all four working together to answer most of those questions.”
McQuillen is an Air Force veteran who almost didn’t try out for the team.
“He told me he wanted to join the team last year but thought he was too old,” said Sutton. “This year, Jennifer Anderson had a class with him and told him he would be good on the team. I think he surprised himself. He’d say, ‘Gosh, I remember this from high school. I can’t believe it.’ Obviously we were happy Jennifer encouraged him to join the team.”
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PHOTO: The Kansas City Kansas Community College team of (from left) Michele Baker, Robert McQuillen, Malcolm Jefferson and Jennifer Anderson came closer to winning the Kansas Academic Excellence Challenge than any KCKCC team in history in 2012, finishing third with an 8-2-1 record and earning a cash prize of $750. (KCKCC Photo)
KCK board of education to hold a special meeting
The Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education will be holding a special meeting on Tuesday, May 8.
Board members will meet an hour earlier (4 p.m.) than the scheduled meeting.
More from a news release:
Board members will meet an hour earlier (4 p.m.) than the scheduled meeting.
More from a news release:
In accord with the resolution adopted by the Board of Education on July 19, 2011, the regular meeting of the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education will be held on the second Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Central Office and Training Center. The meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m. Board members will recess to Executive Session for the following exceptions to the Kansas Open Meetings Act:
(a) Attorney Client Exception
- For consultation with the Board’s attorney on a matter protected by the attorney-client privilege.
(b) Non-Elected Personnel Exception
- To protect privacy interests of an identifiable individual(s).
(c) Student Exception
- To protect the interests of the individual(s) to be discussed.
(a) Negotiations Exception
- To protect public interest in negotiating a fair and equitable contract.
The public session will resume and Board members will handle regular business as itemized in the published agenda. Recognitions and Awards will begin at approximately 5:00 p.m.
KDOT formally approves three Wyandotte County projects
The Kansas Department of Transportation announced this week that funding will be provided for three Wyandotte County projects.
The three:
The three:
Wyandotte – I-70 staging area west of 72nd Street, lighting, 0.2 mile, Total Electric Contractors, Inc., Edwardsville, $96,350.25.
Wyandotte – K-7 from the Kansas River bridge north to 1 mile north of the I-70 junction, 3.5 miles, asphalt surfacing, APAC Kansas – Kansas City Division, Reno Branch, Overland Park, $783,678.80.
Wyandotte – I-70 bridges 0.3 and 0.34 mile west of the Kansas-Missouri state line, bridge overlay, Truesdell Corporation, Tempe, AZ., $758,758.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Vote on Wyandotte Plaza CID postponed until May 17
By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com
The Unified Government Board of Commissioners were not able to approve the new Wyandotte Plaza community improvement district at tonight's meeting.
The Wyandotte Plaza CID would result in a new Price Chopper store and would replace the current store. Infrastructure improvements would also be made to the plaza, which is located at 78th Street and State Avenue.
However, Unified Government Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon said the item had to be moved to May 17.
"We're still in negotiations with the developer," Reardon said.
Under previously disclosed terms of the agreement, the project would cost $28 million to build. A one-percent CID sales tax would be added to items sold within the CID and Wyandotte Plaza.
Red Development LLC is the developer of the project.
Citizens were offered to make a comment during a public hearing session tonight. However, no one commented on the proposal.
Reardon said a third public hearing for the project - the first was held last month - will be conducted at the May 17 meeting.
The Unified Government Board of Commissioners were not able to approve the new Wyandotte Plaza community improvement district at tonight's meeting.
The Wyandotte Plaza CID would result in a new Price Chopper store and would replace the current store. Infrastructure improvements would also be made to the plaza, which is located at 78th Street and State Avenue.
However, Unified Government Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon said the item had to be moved to May 17.
"We're still in negotiations with the developer," Reardon said.
Under previously disclosed terms of the agreement, the project would cost $28 million to build. A one-percent CID sales tax would be added to items sold within the CID and Wyandotte Plaza.
Red Development LLC is the developer of the project.
Citizens were offered to make a comment during a public hearing session tonight. However, no one commented on the proposal.
Reardon said a third public hearing for the project - the first was held last month - will be conducted at the May 17 meeting.
KCK man sentenced to eight years in prison for robbery of KU student
By GEORGE DIEPENBROCK, The Lawrence Journal-World
A Douglas County judge Thursday sentenced a 21-year-old Kansas City, Kan., man to serve eight years in prison for a robbery at gunpoint of a Kansas University student.
Michael A. Howard last year pleaded no contest to one count of robbery. He was accused of coming to Lawrence one night in December 2010 and taking part in a crime spree with two co-defendants, Ashley C. Johnson and Raymond C. Morgan, who both have entered pleas related to the case.
Howard originally faced two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of aggravated battery, one count of criminal possession of a firearm and one count of conspiracy.
During an October preliminary hearing, prosecutors accused Howard of using a gun to rob the male KU student Dec. 28, 2010, as the KU student was walking in an alley in the 300 block of West 12th Street.
Through circumstantial evidence, prosecutors initially also accused him of punching a 22-year-old female KU student in the face and robbing her about 1:15 a.m. Dec. 29 as she was walking in the 800 block of Tennessee Street. The woman suffered a concussion and three facial fractures.
Prosecutors said Howard’s no-contest plea in December was only for the 12th Street robbery but that Howard gave a detailed statement to a Lawrence police detective about the incident with the woman.
Defense attorney Craig Stancliffe said Thursday that Howard has indicated he was responsible for the robbery of the male student, but that Howard denied being involved and said he was not present when the woman was injured and robbed later.
Stancliffe also said Howard suffers from a mental illness.
Assistant District Attorney Eve Kemple said prosecutors believe Howard gave a truthful statement to police about the crimes that night, but it didn’t yield evidence consistent with Johnson’s statement to be able to prosecute anyone else for the woman’s injury.
Morgan pleaded last week to conspiracy for being inside the car during the robbery.
His sentencing is scheduled for June 7.
District Judge Michael Malone did agree to shave two years from Howard’s sentence because of his cooperation in the case. Howard also must register as a violent offender when he’s released from prison because the robbery involved a firearm.
A Douglas County judge Thursday sentenced a 21-year-old Kansas City, Kan., man to serve eight years in prison for a robbery at gunpoint of a Kansas University student.
Michael A. Howard last year pleaded no contest to one count of robbery. He was accused of coming to Lawrence one night in December 2010 and taking part in a crime spree with two co-defendants, Ashley C. Johnson and Raymond C. Morgan, who both have entered pleas related to the case.
Howard originally faced two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of aggravated battery, one count of criminal possession of a firearm and one count of conspiracy.
During an October preliminary hearing, prosecutors accused Howard of using a gun to rob the male KU student Dec. 28, 2010, as the KU student was walking in an alley in the 300 block of West 12th Street.
Through circumstantial evidence, prosecutors initially also accused him of punching a 22-year-old female KU student in the face and robbing her about 1:15 a.m. Dec. 29 as she was walking in the 800 block of Tennessee Street. The woman suffered a concussion and three facial fractures.
Prosecutors said Howard’s no-contest plea in December was only for the 12th Street robbery but that Howard gave a detailed statement to a Lawrence police detective about the incident with the woman.
Defense attorney Craig Stancliffe said Thursday that Howard has indicated he was responsible for the robbery of the male student, but that Howard denied being involved and said he was not present when the woman was injured and robbed later.
Stancliffe also said Howard suffers from a mental illness.
Assistant District Attorney Eve Kemple said prosecutors believe Howard gave a truthful statement to police about the crimes that night, but it didn’t yield evidence consistent with Johnson’s statement to be able to prosecute anyone else for the woman’s injury.
Morgan pleaded last week to conspiracy for being inside the car during the robbery.
His sentencing is scheduled for June 7.
District Judge Michael Malone did agree to shave two years from Howard’s sentence because of his cooperation in the case. Howard also must register as a violent offender when he’s released from prison because the robbery involved a firearm.
Crime Map: May 2, 2012
Disclaimer: Not all crimes are listed on here. The map includes assault, battery, car thefts, burglaries (of over $1,000 in value), thefts (of over $1,000 in value) and drug-related crimes.
Crime Map: May 1, 2012
Disclaimer: Not all crimes are listed on here. The map includes assault, battery, car thefts, burglaries (of over $1,000 in value), thefts (of over $1,000 in value) and drug-related crimes.
PHOTOS: KCKCC celebrates Cinco de Mayo with bullriding session
Kansas City Kansas Community College students, faculty and staff celebrated Cinco de Mayo on campus Thursday by enjoying a wide variety of Mexican food and riding a mechanical bull.
While math instructor Paige Darby stayed on the bull for a few seconds (left), student Jherica Montgomery (center) was sent sprawling and Cortez Liggins, a work study student in Information Services, came up grinning after he was unseated. Sponsored by Student Activities and the Student Senate, students also were given free sombreros.
KCKCC Photos by Alan Hoskins
While math instructor Paige Darby stayed on the bull for a few seconds (left), student Jherica Montgomery (center) was sent sprawling and Cortez Liggins, a work study student in Information Services, came up grinning after he was unseated. Sponsored by Student Activities and the Student Senate, students also were given free sombreros.
KCKCC Photos by Alan Hoskins
KCKCC basketball stars sign with rival MIAA schools
By ALAN HOSKINS, KCKCC
Foes in high school, Kansas City Kansas Community College basketball standouts Zach Bush and Kalvin Balque are about to renew their rivalry.
Bush, a 6-6 forward, signed a letter of intent Wednesday with Central Missouri in Warrensville; Balque, a 6-4 forward, signed with Missouri Western in St. Joseph. Both universities are members of the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), an NCAA Division II conference.
“His team beat us pretty bad in high school so this is my chance to get revenge,” said Bush, a graduate of Grant High School in Alexandria, La., while Balque played at rival Peabody in Alexandria.
Ironically, it was an invitation from the Peabody coach that got Bush to KCKCC. Blue Devil assistant coach Bill Sloan was on a recruiting trip to Peabody and Peabody Coach Charles Smith invited Bush to join Peabody’s players for a post-season workout. The recruiting trip proved a bonanza for KCKCC. In addition to Balque and Bush, the Blue Devils also landed point guard Brandon Morris who has signed to play next year at the University of Houston. In their two seasons, the Blue Devils were 44-19, the best two-year span in history.
Bush led the Blue Devils in rebounding this past season with a 7.0 average while scoring 11.3 points a game and shooting a crisp 55.4 percent from the field while Balque averaged 11.6 points and 4.0 rebounds/ He also shot 48.4 percent from the field despite missing six games in mid-season with a broken finger.
Balque said Missouri Western’s fast-paced style of play was a big factor in taking Missouri Western’s offer over others. “I got to play with the team and really liked its style,” he said. “The facilities are nice and I liked the coaches a lot.”
“Kalvin really improved from his freshman to sophomore season and became very valuable to us because of his versatility that enabled him to fill two or three different roles for us,” said KCKCC head coach Jon Oler. “Athletic and strong, he improved both his outside shooting and rebounding. I’m really happy he’s going to continue at a good level.”
Balque, who averaged 4.6 points and 2.4 as a reserve as a freshman, is expected to play either the shooting guard or small forward positions.
Bush, who also had several choices including Newman and Southern University, said Central Missouri started recruiting him in mid-season. “I liked the facilities and coaches and the way they approached me,” he said.
Bush blocked 56 shots this season, the second most in KCKCC history behind Walter Hubain’s 65 back in 1992-93. He also had 38 blocks as a freshman and his 84 career blocks are also second on the all-time list. Given his choice, score a basket or block a shot, Bush doesn’t hesitate. “Block a shot,” he says
“Zach has always been a good shot blocker,” said Oler. “This year he also improved his play around the basket and his passing (43 assists) and led us in rebounding. He’s going to be a great recruit for Central Missouri.”
Despite being raised in the warm Louisiana climate, both Blue Devil standouts decided to stay in cold weather country where both of their basketball careers blossomed at KCKCC. “I’ve really enjoyed being up here and want to thank the coaches for giving me the opportunity to continue to play basketball,” said Balque. Bush concurred. “It was the only chance I had to keep playing.”
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PHOTO: While teammates at Kansas City Kansas Community College the last two years, Zach Bush (seated left) and Kalvin Balque will become MIAA rivals after Bush signed Wednesday with Central Missouri and Balque with Missouri Southern. Witnessing the signings were KCKCC assistant coach Bill Sloan (left) and head coach Jon Oler. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)
WEATHER: Severe weather possible tonight
According to the National Weather Service, there's a chance for severe weather in Wyandotte County late this afternoon and into the evening.
There's a "slight" chance of severe weather, according to the NWS.
The biggest threat in the storms are heavy winds and a hail. There's also a slim chance of tornadoes.
Click the maps for more information - the first map is the overall weather forecast, the second map outlines the chances of a tornado and the third map outlines the probability of high winds and hail.
There's a "slight" chance of severe weather, according to the NWS.
The biggest threat in the storms are heavy winds and a hail. There's also a slim chance of tornadoes.
Click the maps for more information - the first map is the overall weather forecast, the second map outlines the chances of a tornado and the third map outlines the probability of high winds and hail.
Wyandotte health task force to host public forums
The Wyandotte Health for All Task Force will be holding four community public forums in the upcoming weeks.
Click the flyer for more information if you're interested in the meetings:
Click the flyer for more information if you're interested in the meetings:
New estimate shows $712 million deficit from tax cuts
By SCOTT ROTHSCHILD, The Lawrence Journal-World
The tax cut endorsed by Gov. Sam Brownback would drive the state into a $712 million deficit within six years, according to a new state calculation released Wednesday.
But the Brownback administration said that the calculation put together by the Kansas Legislative Research Department was wrong. Kansas Secretary of Revenue Nick Jordan and Brownback's budget director Steve Anderson said the tax cut will boost the economy and lead to a positive ending balance in state coffers.
"We are not playing games with these numbers," said Jordan. "We are confident in our methodology," he said. He said the Revenue Department would release its estimates on Thursday.
Legislators have depended on the non-partisan, professional staff of the Kansas Legislative Research Department for decades.
On Monday, the Legislative Research Department released a state general revenue fund profile that showed the proposed tax cuts would produce a deficit of $161 million in six years. But on Wednesday, it issued a new calculation because the earlier one had an error.
Some legislators said the $712 million deficit under the new calculation would make it difficult to approve such a huge tax cut.
"We can't do something that we can't afford," said Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton.
Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka said, "We do not want to self-impose a budget crisis that will put us in the red year after year."
The deficit could not be covered by budget cuts, said Hensley because during the recession the state already cut $1 billion.
The proposed bill would decrease state income tax rates and exempt non-wage business income, which will affect nearly 200,000 businesses formed as limited liability corporations, chapter S corporations and sole proprietorships. It would also follow current law and allow the 6.3 percent state sales tax to decrease to 5.7 percent next year, and provide $180 million over four years to local governments for property tax relief.
After the $712 million deficit figure was released, Jordan and Anderson had a quick briefing with reporters. They said the Revenue Department calculated the impact of the tax cuts on an incremental basis year by year, while the Legislative Research Department figured the cumulative effect of the tax cut.
Jordan and Anderson said their methodology was supported by an independent certified public accountant.
Earlier Wednesday, Kansas Democratic Party Chairwoman Joan Wagnon, who is also a former secretary of the Kansas Department of Revenue, said the tax cut would rob funds from schools and other services while delivering a windfall to wealthy businesses including Kansas-based Koch Industries.
"Certainly the public would not believe this tax break should be targeted to one of the largest and wealthiest businesses in our state," Wagnon said in a statement delivered to the House-Senate tax conference committee that is working on the bill.
Wagnon, who served as revenue secretary under former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, said there are 38,000 limited liability corporations that would be affected. She said she did a search of the Kansas secretary of state's databases and found 24 business entities related to Koch Industries that are LLCs and would be affected by the proposal. All of the companies are based in Wichita.
"Of course, I have no way of knowing the tax impact of this change on their business. But, their filing status is public, and definitely included in this bill as it stands now," she said.
Jordan defended the business tax cut, saying it would help thousands of small businesses hire more people. "Is that evil? The goal is to grow small businesses," he said.
Wagnon also criticized other parts of the tax-cutting package that would eliminate tax credits for child day care and a provision that would require low-income families who now quality for both the Earned Income Tax Credit and food sales tax rebate to pick one and not benefit from both.
"Again, limiting lower income earners to either the EITC or the food sales tax rebate seems to take from those less able to pay in order to fund a tax break for the LLC's (Koch included!)," she said.
The tax cut endorsed by Gov. Sam Brownback would drive the state into a $712 million deficit within six years, according to a new state calculation released Wednesday.
But the Brownback administration said that the calculation put together by the Kansas Legislative Research Department was wrong. Kansas Secretary of Revenue Nick Jordan and Brownback's budget director Steve Anderson said the tax cut will boost the economy and lead to a positive ending balance in state coffers.
"We are not playing games with these numbers," said Jordan. "We are confident in our methodology," he said. He said the Revenue Department would release its estimates on Thursday.
Legislators have depended on the non-partisan, professional staff of the Kansas Legislative Research Department for decades.
On Monday, the Legislative Research Department released a state general revenue fund profile that showed the proposed tax cuts would produce a deficit of $161 million in six years. But on Wednesday, it issued a new calculation because the earlier one had an error.
Some legislators said the $712 million deficit under the new calculation would make it difficult to approve such a huge tax cut.
"We can't do something that we can't afford," said Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton.
Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka said, "We do not want to self-impose a budget crisis that will put us in the red year after year."
The deficit could not be covered by budget cuts, said Hensley because during the recession the state already cut $1 billion.
The proposed bill would decrease state income tax rates and exempt non-wage business income, which will affect nearly 200,000 businesses formed as limited liability corporations, chapter S corporations and sole proprietorships. It would also follow current law and allow the 6.3 percent state sales tax to decrease to 5.7 percent next year, and provide $180 million over four years to local governments for property tax relief.
After the $712 million deficit figure was released, Jordan and Anderson had a quick briefing with reporters. They said the Revenue Department calculated the impact of the tax cuts on an incremental basis year by year, while the Legislative Research Department figured the cumulative effect of the tax cut.
Jordan and Anderson said their methodology was supported by an independent certified public accountant.
Earlier Wednesday, Kansas Democratic Party Chairwoman Joan Wagnon, who is also a former secretary of the Kansas Department of Revenue, said the tax cut would rob funds from schools and other services while delivering a windfall to wealthy businesses including Kansas-based Koch Industries.
"Certainly the public would not believe this tax break should be targeted to one of the largest and wealthiest businesses in our state," Wagnon said in a statement delivered to the House-Senate tax conference committee that is working on the bill.
Wagnon, who served as revenue secretary under former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, said there are 38,000 limited liability corporations that would be affected. She said she did a search of the Kansas secretary of state's databases and found 24 business entities related to Koch Industries that are LLCs and would be affected by the proposal. All of the companies are based in Wichita.
"Of course, I have no way of knowing the tax impact of this change on their business. But, their filing status is public, and definitely included in this bill as it stands now," she said.
Jordan defended the business tax cut, saying it would help thousands of small businesses hire more people. "Is that evil? The goal is to grow small businesses," he said.
Wagnon also criticized other parts of the tax-cutting package that would eliminate tax credits for child day care and a provision that would require low-income families who now quality for both the Earned Income Tax Credit and food sales tax rebate to pick one and not benefit from both.
"Again, limiting lower income earners to either the EITC or the food sales tax rebate seems to take from those less able to pay in order to fund a tax break for the LLC's (Koch included!)," she said.
Man charged with illegally entering the country in Wyandotte County case
Rigoberto Gamboa-Vasquez, 36, who is not a citizen of the United States, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of a felony and deported.
He was found April 19, 2012, in Wyandotte County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.
He's innocent until proven guilty.
He was found April 19, 2012, in Wyandotte County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.
He's innocent until proven guilty.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
KCK men charged with conspiracy to sale methamphetamine
U.S. Department of Justice
Jesus Manuel Felix-Lopez, 26, Kansas City, Kan., and Julio Alfonzo Soto-Barraza, 26, Kansas City, Kan., are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The crime is alleged to have occurred April 6, 2012, in Kansas City, Kan.
If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $10 million.
The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon Patton is prosecuting.
They are innocent until proven guilty.
Jesus Manuel Felix-Lopez, 26, Kansas City, Kan., and Julio Alfonzo Soto-Barraza, 26, Kansas City, Kan., are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The crime is alleged to have occurred April 6, 2012, in Kansas City, Kan.
If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $10 million.
The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon Patton is prosecuting.
They are innocent until proven guilty.
Two teenagers charged with beating death on Argentine Blvd.
By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com
Two teenagers have been charged in connection to the beating death of Armanda Lara.
Richard Yocum, 19, and Steven Z. Phomsouvanh, 16, have been charged in connection to the death.
Yocum and Phomsouvanh both face a count of voluntary manslaughter. Yocum is currently in custody of the Wyandotte County Jail, while Phomsouvanh is in custody of the Wyandotte County Juvenile Detention Center.
Lara was discovered dead on the 900 Block of Argentine Boulevard on April 27.
Phomsouvanh will appear in court on May 16. Both are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Two teenagers have been charged in connection to the beating death of Armanda Lara.
Richard Yocum, 19, and Steven Z. Phomsouvanh, 16, have been charged in connection to the death.
Yocum and Phomsouvanh both face a count of voluntary manslaughter. Yocum is currently in custody of the Wyandotte County Jail, while Phomsouvanh is in custody of the Wyandotte County Juvenile Detention Center.
Lara was discovered dead on the 900 Block of Argentine Boulevard on April 27.
Phomsouvanh will appear in court on May 16. Both are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
19-year-old charged with first degree murder
By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com
Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome Gorman has charged Eric Clay, 19, with two counts of first degree murder.
The charges are in connection to the March 4 shooting deaths of Keith Barrett and Re'neasha Jones. The shootings happened in the 2100 Block of South Mill Street.
According to a press release from Gorman's office, Clay has also been charged with aggravated battery in connection to the shooting of an infant inside the apartment. The infant survived the shooting.
On top of that, Clay also faces two counts of criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle for two separate incidents on February 25 and January 16 of this year.
Clay is innocent until proven guilty.
Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome Gorman has charged Eric Clay, 19, with two counts of first degree murder.
The charges are in connection to the March 4 shooting deaths of Keith Barrett and Re'neasha Jones. The shootings happened in the 2100 Block of South Mill Street.
According to a press release from Gorman's office, Clay has also been charged with aggravated battery in connection to the shooting of an infant inside the apartment. The infant survived the shooting.
On top of that, Clay also faces two counts of criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle for two separate incidents on February 25 and January 16 of this year.
Clay is innocent until proven guilty.
KCKCC's Greathouse to play two sports at University of Sioux Falls
By ALAN HOSKINS
For the second year in a row, the University of Sioux Falls has landed one of Kansas City Kansas Community College’s top women basketball players.
Only this time the Cougars are getting a two-sport standout with the signing Tuesday of 6-0 Mikenna Greathouse to play both basketball and soccer.
A graduate of SM North, Greathouse played one year of soccer at Butler County Community College before transferring to KCKCC for two seasons of basketball.
The Lady Blue Devil leader in rebounds at 8.5 per game, Greathouse was also second in scoring with a 10.7 average in a 13-18 season. A two-year starter, she averaged 9.9 points and 7.3 rebounds in her first season in helping compile a 19-12 record.
Greathouse will be reunited with her 2010-11 KCKCC teammate at Sioux Falls. The 2011 Blue Devil scoring leader, forward Alyssa Rushton, started all but one game for the Cougars this past season, averaging 9.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in a sparkling 23-3 campaign.
“I really liked the coach (Travis Traphagen), staff and team,” said Greathouse after a campus visit. “The whole atmosphere was really good. And having a good friend there helps.”
Greathouse said the opportunity to play both soccer and basketball was a factor.
“They’ll overlap just a couple of weeks when I’ll be doing both but I will be in good shape for basketball,” she said. A Jayhawk Conference Player of the Week in her first year at KCKCC, Greathouse is expected to play power forward for the Cougars.
KCKCC Coach Valerie Stambersky said Greathouse will continue to improve at the four-year level.
“I think she’ll do great things,” said Stambersky. “She’s a very good rebounder and will fit right into their program. She’s leaving very big shoes to fill.”
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PHOTO: With all her Lady Blue Devil teammates as witnesses, Kansas City Kansas Community College forward signed to play both basketball and soccer at the University of Sioux Falls in 2012-13. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)
Reardon to host "First Floor First Friday" event
Unified Government Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon will be hosting his "First Floor First Friday" event this Friday, May 4.
From 12 - 2 p.m., citizens in Wyandotte County can speak to Reardon abut the issues.
"First Floor First Friday" will be held in the lobby of City Hall, located at 701 N. 7th Street.
From 12 - 2 p.m., citizens in Wyandotte County can speak to Reardon abut the issues.
"First Floor First Friday" will be held in the lobby of City Hall, located at 701 N. 7th Street.
COMMENTARY: Time to make "retard" a word of the past
By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com
While political correctness can be annoying and downright silly sometimes, in other occasions, it can be a good thing.
One example of it being a good thing is the increasing opinion that the word "retard(ed)" is offensive and derogatory.
This topic came to mind about two weeks ago when I saw a Facebook friend of mine mention how offensive the word is in a status update.
Though it's a word I don't use, the status update has inspired to write the following.
"Retarded" is an offensive word for several reasons and people have to be aware of how offensive it can be.
- Though the words and situations are different, the word can be compared to a racial slur to some extent. One of the many reasons why racial slurs are so offensive is the fact that they're critical of people who were born white, black, Hispanic...ect. We don't get to choose our race or our nationality and there's no reason to be ashamed of it. In this case, the word retard is offensive to those who were born with issues related to intellectual disabilities. Sadly, these cases are very random. The behavior of a woman while pregnant can cause these problems. Random and flukey circumstances during a child's birth can lead to brain damage. Those who are born with disabilities did not ask for it.
- The word can isolate a good portion of our society. Though it was once a medical term, the word itself sounds ugly and comes off as if there's something very wrong with those children (and adults) with Down's Syndrome and other disabilities. In reality, the best way to help those with disabilities is to treat them as if they did not have disabilities. Saying the word retard does not accomplish this and often isolates those from society - something that's a bad idea. The word practically dehumanizes those who were born with disabilities.
- Society has evolved - and so has the English language. Again, mental retardation was once a medical term. However, society and language has evolved to where we can use something different. More and more states have removed "mental retardation" from their health department's vocabulary and replaced it with the phrase "intellectual disabilities." Part of the evolution of our language and the life we live in would be to leave the word in the past.
- Using the word as slang is offensive to those who have intellectual disabilities. Equating morons who commit crimes and do other dumb things to those who were born with their disease and couldn't help how they turned out is morally wrong. By using retard as slang, the word equates those with intellectual disabilities with those who are stupid. There's a major difference. Stupid is knowing something is wrong, but still doing it.
Fewer people are saying the word and based on how people react to it, it appears more and more people understand the ugliness of this.
I am one of them.
Back when I was ignorant in middle school and high school, I used the word. Looking back at it, I wish I could hop on a time machine and slap myself in the face each time I did so.
Though I'm not someone who attempts to lead a cause, let me ask all of our readers this:
Please consider eliminating "retard(ed)" from your vocabulary if you haven't already. While it may seem odd to compare the word to a racial slur, it's not when you consider the fact that it probably offends those with intellectual disabilities the same way as "The N-Word" does a black person.
It's an offensive word that means so much to people in the wrong way. It's damaging to those who are the most vulnerable and it isolates them.
While political correctness can be annoying and downright silly sometimes, in other occasions, it can be a good thing.
One example of it being a good thing is the increasing opinion that the word "retard(ed)" is offensive and derogatory.
This topic came to mind about two weeks ago when I saw a Facebook friend of mine mention how offensive the word is in a status update.
Though it's a word I don't use, the status update has inspired to write the following.
"Retarded" is an offensive word for several reasons and people have to be aware of how offensive it can be.
- Though the words and situations are different, the word can be compared to a racial slur to some extent. One of the many reasons why racial slurs are so offensive is the fact that they're critical of people who were born white, black, Hispanic...ect. We don't get to choose our race or our nationality and there's no reason to be ashamed of it. In this case, the word retard is offensive to those who were born with issues related to intellectual disabilities. Sadly, these cases are very random. The behavior of a woman while pregnant can cause these problems. Random and flukey circumstances during a child's birth can lead to brain damage. Those who are born with disabilities did not ask for it.
- The word can isolate a good portion of our society. Though it was once a medical term, the word itself sounds ugly and comes off as if there's something very wrong with those children (and adults) with Down's Syndrome and other disabilities. In reality, the best way to help those with disabilities is to treat them as if they did not have disabilities. Saying the word retard does not accomplish this and often isolates those from society - something that's a bad idea. The word practically dehumanizes those who were born with disabilities.
- Society has evolved - and so has the English language. Again, mental retardation was once a medical term. However, society and language has evolved to where we can use something different. More and more states have removed "mental retardation" from their health department's vocabulary and replaced it with the phrase "intellectual disabilities." Part of the evolution of our language and the life we live in would be to leave the word in the past.
- Using the word as slang is offensive to those who have intellectual disabilities. Equating morons who commit crimes and do other dumb things to those who were born with their disease and couldn't help how they turned out is morally wrong. By using retard as slang, the word equates those with intellectual disabilities with those who are stupid. There's a major difference. Stupid is knowing something is wrong, but still doing it.
Fewer people are saying the word and based on how people react to it, it appears more and more people understand the ugliness of this.
I am one of them.
Back when I was ignorant in middle school and high school, I used the word. Looking back at it, I wish I could hop on a time machine and slap myself in the face each time I did so.
Though I'm not someone who attempts to lead a cause, let me ask all of our readers this:
Please consider eliminating "retard(ed)" from your vocabulary if you haven't already. While it may seem odd to compare the word to a racial slur, it's not when you consider the fact that it probably offends those with intellectual disabilities the same way as "The N-Word" does a black person.
It's an offensive word that means so much to people in the wrong way. It's damaging to those who are the most vulnerable and it isolates them.
Senate approves redistricting plan after heated debate
By SCOTT ROTHSCHILD, The Lawrence Journal-World
A divided Kansas Senate on Tuesday approved new Senate district boundaries in one of the most contentious debates of the 2012 legislative session.
The measure passed 21-19 with moderate Republicans and Democrats teaming up against conservative Republicans.
Moderate Republicans made amendments to draw district lines that would allow two conservative GOP House members to challenge two moderate Republican senators in the August primary.
But conservative senators, House members and Gov. Sam Brownback have said they wanted more changes.
An attempt to redraw district lines to force a face-off between Sens. Marci Francisco of Lawrence and Tom Holland of Baldwin City failed. And an attempt to save a western Kansas district also failed.
Senate Redistricting Chairman Tim Owens, R-Overland Park, referred to demands from Brownback and House Republican leaders as the “800-pound gorilla in this room.”
He said that as a concession to them, both he and state Sen. Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita, proposed amendments that redrew district lines, allowing potential conservative Republican opponents to take them on.
During the nearly three-hour debate, potential House challengers to senators and Brownback’s staff crowded the side aisles of the Senate.
Schodorf said the House was holding hostage a number of issues, such as the budget and school funding, until the Senate approved a district plan. Owens said he didn’t like redrawing a map to accommodate his expected opponent, state Rep. Greg Smith, R-Overland Park, because it violated communities of interest. But he was doing it, he said, because House and Senate leadership had made a deal to try to resolve redistricting.
Later, House Speaker Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, denied he made a deal.
Owens’ proposed map also added a senate district in Johnson County because of the growth there, and collapsed a western Kansas district that has been losing population.
State Sen. Steve Abrams, R-Arkansas City, proposed a map that would have kept the western Kansas district.
“Kansas is a rural state,” he said.
Owens said he sympathized with the concerns of western Kansas, but there was a 93,000 increase in population in Johnson and Wyandotte counties and those concerns “need to be addressed as well.”
Abrams’ map failed 19-21, and then Owens’ was approved.
The Senate bill also includes the measure that the House already approved for its district lines, and the new boundaries for State Board of Education districts.
Owens said he hoped the House would approve the Senate plan just as the Senate approved the House plan.
“If we fail there, we will be in conference committee. And if we fail there, then we will be in court,” he said.
A divided Kansas Senate on Tuesday approved new Senate district boundaries in one of the most contentious debates of the 2012 legislative session.
The measure passed 21-19 with moderate Republicans and Democrats teaming up against conservative Republicans.
Moderate Republicans made amendments to draw district lines that would allow two conservative GOP House members to challenge two moderate Republican senators in the August primary.
But conservative senators, House members and Gov. Sam Brownback have said they wanted more changes.
An attempt to redraw district lines to force a face-off between Sens. Marci Francisco of Lawrence and Tom Holland of Baldwin City failed. And an attempt to save a western Kansas district also failed.
Senate Redistricting Chairman Tim Owens, R-Overland Park, referred to demands from Brownback and House Republican leaders as the “800-pound gorilla in this room.”
He said that as a concession to them, both he and state Sen. Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita, proposed amendments that redrew district lines, allowing potential conservative Republican opponents to take them on.
During the nearly three-hour debate, potential House challengers to senators and Brownback’s staff crowded the side aisles of the Senate.
Schodorf said the House was holding hostage a number of issues, such as the budget and school funding, until the Senate approved a district plan. Owens said he didn’t like redrawing a map to accommodate his expected opponent, state Rep. Greg Smith, R-Overland Park, because it violated communities of interest. But he was doing it, he said, because House and Senate leadership had made a deal to try to resolve redistricting.
Later, House Speaker Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, denied he made a deal.
Owens’ proposed map also added a senate district in Johnson County because of the growth there, and collapsed a western Kansas district that has been losing population.
State Sen. Steve Abrams, R-Arkansas City, proposed a map that would have kept the western Kansas district.
“Kansas is a rural state,” he said.
Owens said he sympathized with the concerns of western Kansas, but there was a 93,000 increase in population in Johnson and Wyandotte counties and those concerns “need to be addressed as well.”
Abrams’ map failed 19-21, and then Owens’ was approved.
The Senate bill also includes the measure that the House already approved for its district lines, and the new boundaries for State Board of Education districts.
Owens said he hoped the House would approve the Senate plan just as the Senate approved the House plan.
“If we fail there, we will be in conference committee. And if we fail there, then we will be in court,” he said.
KCK Animal Shelter launches Facebook page to help reconnect owners with lost dogs
News Release:
The Kansas City, Kansas Animal Control Shelter is now on Facebook. In an effort to provide pet owners with an additional resource to help locate their lost dog, the shelter is posting pictures of pets they receive into the shelter on Facebook.
If you're interested in adopting a pet, you can search for the dog of your choice on this page as well.
If you happen to lose your pet, call the animal shelter at 913-321-1445 or connect with your pet on Facebook.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Former Sen. Jack Steineger passes away
By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com
Former Kansas Senator Jack Steineger has passed away.
Steineger, the father of current Kansas Senator Chris Steineger, was 87 years old.
He served in the Kansas Legislature for 28 years and he developed a reputation of leadership and the ability to get things done, despite the fact he was in the minority party (Democratic Party) in his entire career.
Steineger spent 12 of his years serving as the Minority Leader in the Kansas Legislature. According to a statement from the family, Steineger enjoyed tennis, skying and gardening.
He is survived by his wife Margaret, along with his four children.
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Our thoughts and prayers are with the Steineger family. May this time be as peaceful as possible for the family.
Former Kansas Senator Jack Steineger has passed away.
Steineger, the father of current Kansas Senator Chris Steineger, was 87 years old.
He served in the Kansas Legislature for 28 years and he developed a reputation of leadership and the ability to get things done, despite the fact he was in the minority party (Democratic Party) in his entire career.
Steineger spent 12 of his years serving as the Minority Leader in the Kansas Legislature. According to a statement from the family, Steineger enjoyed tennis, skying and gardening.
He is survived by his wife Margaret, along with his four children.
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Our thoughts and prayers are with the Steineger family. May this time be as peaceful as possible for the family.
Blue Valley Northwest Big Dog Band win big at the Kansas City Jazz Summit
By ALAN HOSKINS
The Big Dogs had their way at the 2nd Annual Kansas City Jazz Summit at Kansas City Kansas Community College April 23-27.
The Blue Valley Northwest Big Dog Band took home first place in the Kansas City Jazz Heritage “Basically Basie” competition.
Directed by John Selzer, the BV Northwest band received 787 votes to out-distance runner-up Lee Summit North and third place Winnetonka in voting by text by members of the audience.
“I think voting by text was a first for a jazz competition,” said Jim Mair, KCKCC Associate Professor of Music and Festival Coordinator.
The text voting represented 25 percent of the total score.
Not including KCKCC instrumental and vocal groups, 31 middle school, high school and college jazz bands and vocal groups from three states took part in the festival, a 25 percent increase over the initial festival.
“Only two bands from the first Summit did not return,” said Mair.
In addition to the Jazz Heritage competition, 12 groups received outstanding band awards including Central High School from Tulsa, Okla.; Pershing Middle School and Willard High School from the Springfield, Mo., area; and Blue Springs South and Lee’s Summit high schools from the Kansas City, Mo., area. Kansas high school bands receiving awards included Augusta, Olathe East, Olathe North Jazz I and Jazz Choir and SM Northwest along with Washburn University.
“The awards were presented by the adjudicators to bands they thought to be extra special,” said Mair.
Three veteran musicians adjudicated the performances by the bands and also conducted clinics on saxophone and brass techniques and fine tuning for rhythm sections.
Adjudicating were Scott Prebys, 34-year Director of Jazz Bands at the University of Mary in North Dakota; Al Pearson, a Philadelphia native now living in Kansas City who mentored under and played with many of the legends of jazz; and Steve Molloy, the lead trumpet for the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and an Artist in Residence at Missouri Western and adjunct Professor of Brass at KCKCC.
In addition to the participating bands, the KCKCC Jazz Combo and KCKCC Jazz Choir put on lunch concerts during each of the three days.
Sponsored by the KCKCC Intercultural Center and Music Club and produced by the Kansas City Jazz Alliance, the Jazz Summit opened with a “Big Band Extravaganza” Monday, April 23, with performances by The New Vintage Big Band and KCKCC Jazz Ensemble joined by Steve Molloy on trumpet and percussionist Scott Prebys.
Prebys was also featured with the KCKCC Latin Band directed by Jurgen Welge Tuesday at the KCKCC Spring Concert which also included two jazz combos directed by Mair. Former KCKCC jazz legend Lisa Henry and the Kansas City Jazz Quintet featuring Mair, Hermon Mehari, Charles Williams, James Albright and Mike Warren wrapped up the Summit with a concert Friday.
“It went well,” Mair said. “We got a lot of help from students, we ran on time and everything went smoothly.” Mair said more evening performances may be scheduled in 2013.
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PHOTO: The Blue Valley Northwest Big Dog Band directed by John Selzer (foreground) won top honors in the Kansas City Jazz Heritage “Basically Basie” competition held as part of the Kansas City Jazz Summit at Kansas City Kansas Community College April 23-27. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)
Three teenagers charged in Cabela's break-in
By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com
Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome Gorman has charged three teenagers in connection to a break-in at Cabela's.
According to a press release from Gorman, Damon Colum, Laroyce Thomas and Terrell D. Harrison have all been charged with aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, theft and criminal use of weapons.
All three are juveniles - Colum is 17, Thomas is 15 and Harrison is just 14 years old.
The three charged with the crimes will be making separate court appearances in the juvenile department in two weeks.
They are innocent until proven guilty.
Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome Gorman has charged three teenagers in connection to a break-in at Cabela's.
According to a press release from Gorman, Damon Colum, Laroyce Thomas and Terrell D. Harrison have all been charged with aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, theft and criminal use of weapons.
All three are juveniles - Colum is 17, Thomas is 15 and Harrison is just 14 years old.
The three charged with the crimes will be making separate court appearances in the juvenile department in two weeks.
They are innocent until proven guilty.
Man sentenced 75 months in federal prison for Medicare fraud
U.S. Department of Justice
A Texas man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for fraudulently billing Medicare for power wheelchairs and other medical devices, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Edmund Nwaudobi, 49, Sugar Land, Texas, was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison. In February, a jury convicted Nwaudobi on one count of conspiracy to defraud Medicare, two counts of health care fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
During trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence that from 2004 to 2009 Nwaudobi conspired with co-defendants Tom Alabraba, Iyaye Ishmael and George Tasie to fraudulently bill Medicare for power wheelchairs and other medical devices, such as leg and body braces.
In some instances, Medicaid was billed for devices that were not medically necessary, including leg braces for an individual who had previously had his legs amputated, and who never received the braces. In other instances, Medicare was billed for medical devices that Medicare recipients never received.
Nwaudobi conducted business on behalf of Good Care, Inc., an Overland Park, Kan., company that supplied durable medical equipment such as orthotics.
Nwaudobi shared patient information with Tom Alabraba, who owned or operated Tal-Med, Inc., a Kansas City, Kan., company that supplied durable medical devices; George Tasie, who owned or operated Central Medical, Inc., a Kansas City, Kan., company that supplied durable medical devices; and Iyaye Ishmael, who was a manager of Central Medical, Inc.
The companies billed more than $2.9 million in Medicare claims for 397 beneficiaries living in Missouri and Kansas, and received more than $1.5 million from those claims.
Prosecutors presented evidence at trial that Nwaudobi:
Grissom commended Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, HHS - OIG, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.
A Texas man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for fraudulently billing Medicare for power wheelchairs and other medical devices, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Edmund Nwaudobi, 49, Sugar Land, Texas, was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison. In February, a jury convicted Nwaudobi on one count of conspiracy to defraud Medicare, two counts of health care fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
During trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence that from 2004 to 2009 Nwaudobi conspired with co-defendants Tom Alabraba, Iyaye Ishmael and George Tasie to fraudulently bill Medicare for power wheelchairs and other medical devices, such as leg and body braces.
In some instances, Medicaid was billed for devices that were not medically necessary, including leg braces for an individual who had previously had his legs amputated, and who never received the braces. In other instances, Medicare was billed for medical devices that Medicare recipients never received.
Nwaudobi conducted business on behalf of Good Care, Inc., an Overland Park, Kan., company that supplied durable medical equipment such as orthotics.
Nwaudobi shared patient information with Tom Alabraba, who owned or operated Tal-Med, Inc., a Kansas City, Kan., company that supplied durable medical devices; George Tasie, who owned or operated Central Medical, Inc., a Kansas City, Kan., company that supplied durable medical devices; and Iyaye Ishmael, who was a manager of Central Medical, Inc.
The companies billed more than $2.9 million in Medicare claims for 397 beneficiaries living in Missouri and Kansas, and received more than $1.5 million from those claims.
Prosecutors presented evidence at trial that Nwaudobi:
- Submitted false statements to Medicare that physicians had prescribed durable medical devices.
- Provided durable medical devices to Medicare recipients that were different than stated in bills to Medicare.
- Did not require Medicare recipients to make co-payments required by Medicare.
- Used doctors’ identities without permission to make fraudulent claims to Medicare.
Grissom commended Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, HHS - OIG, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.
New heart valve treatment to help the sickest patients now available at The University of Kansas Hospital
The University of Kansas Hospital recently became part of an exclusive club; one of the few hospitals in the country offering the new Sapien transcatheter aortic heart valve.
Sapien is the first valve approved in the United States that doesn’t require open heart surgery to place in a patient’s chest.
The University of Kansas Hospital is one of the few approved to use this procedure to treat aortic stenosis, a fatal disease found in millions of seniors which causes narrowing of the aortic valve. Without an operation, most aortic stenosis sufferers die within two years.
With the Sapien valve, doctors can replace the bone saws and deep incisions of open heart surgery with a catheter the size of a pencil that can be snaked through an artery.
A major advantage of the Sapien valve is the procedure can be done on a patient whose own heart keeps beating and does not require cardio-pulmonary bypass. This is important for patients who are too old or too sick to qualify for traditional open-heart surgery.
“This is one of the most transformative developments I’ve seen in my career,” said Dr. Trip Zorn, a cardiac surgeon who’s leading the team that’s implanting the device into patients. “I think a lot of people would refer to this as a game changer.”
Edwards Lifesciences Corp., maker of the Sapien valve, says so far more than 15,000 patients around the world have received the Sapien valve. It was approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration in November, 2011.
Surgeons at The University of Kansas Hospital began implanting the device in February, 2012 and expect to treat 15 to 20 patients with the Sapien valve in the first year.
Sapien is the first valve approved in the United States that doesn’t require open heart surgery to place in a patient’s chest.
The University of Kansas Hospital is one of the few approved to use this procedure to treat aortic stenosis, a fatal disease found in millions of seniors which causes narrowing of the aortic valve. Without an operation, most aortic stenosis sufferers die within two years.
With the Sapien valve, doctors can replace the bone saws and deep incisions of open heart surgery with a catheter the size of a pencil that can be snaked through an artery.
A major advantage of the Sapien valve is the procedure can be done on a patient whose own heart keeps beating and does not require cardio-pulmonary bypass. This is important for patients who are too old or too sick to qualify for traditional open-heart surgery.
“This is one of the most transformative developments I’ve seen in my career,” said Dr. Trip Zorn, a cardiac surgeon who’s leading the team that’s implanting the device into patients. “I think a lot of people would refer to this as a game changer.”
Edwards Lifesciences Corp., maker of the Sapien valve, says so far more than 15,000 patients around the world have received the Sapien valve. It was approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration in November, 2011.
Surgeons at The University of Kansas Hospital began implanting the device in February, 2012 and expect to treat 15 to 20 patients with the Sapien valve in the first year.
KCK firefighters receive national recognition
Press Release
Firehouse Magazine, a nationally publicized magazine, selected four Kansas City, Kansas Firefighters to receive awards for their heroic actions in 2011.
More information can be found by going to www.firehouse.com/heroism.
The following is a short summary of the incidents that resulted in the firefighters being honored:
Firehouse Magazine, a nationally publicized magazine, selected four Kansas City, Kansas Firefighters to receive awards for their heroic actions in 2011.
More information can be found by going to www.firehouse.com/heroism.
The following is a short summary of the incidents that resulted in the firefighters being honored:
- On Jan. 19, 2011, while Driver Clinton Wheeler was working as a volunteer firefighter in the City of Fort Scott, Kansas, he responded to a house fire in Fort Scott. Driver Wheeler was able to locate a victim in the house and assisted with the removal and medical treatment of the victim. After a lengthy hospital stay, the victim survived.
- On June 12, 2011, Captain Benjamin Huyett and Firefighter/Medic Josh Wagner responded to a house fire in the 5600 block of Yecker Avenue. Captain Huyett and Firefighter Wagner conducted a search above the fire in thick black smoke and high heat conditions. Huyett and Wagner located two victims that were overcome by smoke and heat and removed them from the structure.
- On June 12, 2011 while on the scene of a distraught person threatening to jump from a bridge over I-70, Captain James Letcher scaled a six-foot fence to reach the person. Captain Letcher hung on with one hand while holding on to the person while crews from below were able to raise a ladder and remove the person from the bridge.
My apologies to Robert Findley and his family
Yesterday, I published a story about a car accident involving a utility truck and a trailer getting loose from it.
Following the story, Robert Findley (the driver) and a family member of his reached out to me and expressed disappointment and anger. They felt I was placing blame on him for the accident.
While I don't believe that's the case and it was certainly not my goal, let me offer a public apology to Findley and his family for the pain I may have caused them.
Whether or not the pain was directly or indirectly inflicted - I meant absolutely no malice behind it, trust me - the fact that I caused them pain after a horrifying accident makes me extremely sorry.
I offer my apologies to the family.
For now, I have pulled the story and will talk to the Kansas Highway Patrol again.
Once again - it was not my intention at all to place the blame. I was recently involved in a car accident and car accidents are an unfortunate part of life. Unless if you're texting or driving drunk, it's hard to really place blame on someone.
Any blame that may have been implied in the story is officially retracted.
It's not my goal to hurt people in my reporting. If I hurt one person, it's one person too many.
In this case, I upset a family and for that, I express the biggest regrets imaginable.
----Nick Sloan
Following the story, Robert Findley (the driver) and a family member of his reached out to me and expressed disappointment and anger. They felt I was placing blame on him for the accident.
While I don't believe that's the case and it was certainly not my goal, let me offer a public apology to Findley and his family for the pain I may have caused them.
Whether or not the pain was directly or indirectly inflicted - I meant absolutely no malice behind it, trust me - the fact that I caused them pain after a horrifying accident makes me extremely sorry.
I offer my apologies to the family.
For now, I have pulled the story and will talk to the Kansas Highway Patrol again.
Once again - it was not my intention at all to place the blame. I was recently involved in a car accident and car accidents are an unfortunate part of life. Unless if you're texting or driving drunk, it's hard to really place blame on someone.
Any blame that may have been implied in the story is officially retracted.
It's not my goal to hurt people in my reporting. If I hurt one person, it's one person too many.
In this case, I upset a family and for that, I express the biggest regrets imaginable.
----Nick Sloan
Yoder calls for congressional pay cut
By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com
U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS), who represents Wyandotte County in the Third District of Kansas, is calling for a five-percent, across the board salary cut for all members of Congress.
Yoder has introduced legislation that would cut the salaries by five-percent, along with eliminating all cost-of-living adjustments.
In introducing the legislation, Yoder says cutting the salaries by five percent would save $50 million over the next decade.
“Cutting Congressional pay is a small dent but I’m hopeful my colleagues will wake up to the fact that we need more leadership on serious issues and much less chatter about them,” said Yoder in a statement.
The salary for most members of Congress is $174,000.
The pay-cut, in the unlikelihood it passes, would result in a loss of $8,700.
U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS), who represents Wyandotte County in the Third District of Kansas, is calling for a five-percent, across the board salary cut for all members of Congress.
In introducing the legislation, Yoder says cutting the salaries by five percent would save $50 million over the next decade.
“Cutting Congressional pay is a small dent but I’m hopeful my colleagues will wake up to the fact that we need more leadership on serious issues and much less chatter about them,” said Yoder in a statement.
The salary for most members of Congress is $174,000.
The pay-cut, in the unlikelihood it passes, would result in a loss of $8,700.
Study: Tax-cut proposal would still produce deficit even after improved revenue forcast
By SCOTT ROTHSCHILD, The Lawrence Journal-World
A tax-cut proposal endorsed by Gov. Sam Brownback remained in conference committee Monday as wide-ranging fiscal forecasts showed the measure would lead to state deficits.
An earlier projection provided by the Kansas Legislative Research Department showed the tax cuts would transform a $612 million surplus in the next fiscal year into a $911 million deficit in a little more than five years.
But that, officials said, was based on an earlier version of the bill.
The newest state general revenue fund profile showed a deficit of $161 million by July 1, 2017.
Despite the reduction in the projected deficit, opponents of the proposal said it would still produce huge problems for the state.
"We need to slow this process down," said state Sen. Tom Holland of Baldwin City, who is the lead Democrat in the Senate on tax issues.
Republicans on the House-Senate tax conference committee had agreed to the bill last week, but on Monday indicated more work needed to be done. The committee is scheduled to meet again Tuesday.
Democrats and some Republicans have endorsed a plan to follow current law and allow the state sales tax to decrease from 6.3 percent to 5.7 percent next year. They also have supported a plan aimed at providing $180 million in property tax relief over four years.
But Brownback, a Republican, and his supporters want to cut taxes more.
Brownback has voiced approval of a plan to decrease income tax rates and phase out the non-wage income tax on nearly 200,000 businesses.
The plan would also eliminate or reduce several tax credits aimed at helping low-income Kansans.
Brownback says the plan will boost the economy. Democrats say it will leave no revenues to adequately fund core services of state government.
According to the most recent projection provided by the Kansas Legislative Research Department, the tax cuts would start producing deficits three years out.
A tax-cut proposal endorsed by Gov. Sam Brownback remained in conference committee Monday as wide-ranging fiscal forecasts showed the measure would lead to state deficits.
An earlier projection provided by the Kansas Legislative Research Department showed the tax cuts would transform a $612 million surplus in the next fiscal year into a $911 million deficit in a little more than five years.
But that, officials said, was based on an earlier version of the bill.
The newest state general revenue fund profile showed a deficit of $161 million by July 1, 2017.
Despite the reduction in the projected deficit, opponents of the proposal said it would still produce huge problems for the state.
"We need to slow this process down," said state Sen. Tom Holland of Baldwin City, who is the lead Democrat in the Senate on tax issues.
Republicans on the House-Senate tax conference committee had agreed to the bill last week, but on Monday indicated more work needed to be done. The committee is scheduled to meet again Tuesday.
Democrats and some Republicans have endorsed a plan to follow current law and allow the state sales tax to decrease from 6.3 percent to 5.7 percent next year. They also have supported a plan aimed at providing $180 million in property tax relief over four years.
But Brownback, a Republican, and his supporters want to cut taxes more.
Brownback has voiced approval of a plan to decrease income tax rates and phase out the non-wage income tax on nearly 200,000 businesses.
The plan would also eliminate or reduce several tax credits aimed at helping low-income Kansans.
Brownback says the plan will boost the economy. Democrats say it will leave no revenues to adequately fund core services of state government.
According to the most recent projection provided by the Kansas Legislative Research Department, the tax cuts would start producing deficits three years out.
Monday, April 30, 2012
KCK Crime Map: April 30, 2012
I'm going to try and publish the crime maps again.
Here's the map for April 30, 2012.
A few notes:
- Not every single crime will be listed here. With respect to businesses and gas stations, I'm not going to spend extra time when it comes to putting "stolen gum" or "stolen candy" on the crime map. These crimes include thefts of over $1,000.
- Assault, battery, burglaries, theft and car thefts will be generally on these maps. Of course, homicides warrant their own stories, so you won't see them on here.
- You probably won't see these maps every day. Sometimes the police reports come in daily or every-other day. I will do my best to keep up.
- I'm not doing this in an effort to report just the negatives. It's important information for a lot of people.
Basehor-Linwood Virtual School enrollment now open
Press Release:
Enrollment for the Basehor-Linwood Virtual School 2012 – 2013 school year is now open for new and returning students.
BLVS was established in 1998 as the 1st virtual school for K-12 students in the state of Kansas to provide a quality educational choice to students who, for their own unique and personal reasons, need an alternative to traditional schools.
Basehor-Linwood Virtual School operates as a fully accredited virtual school program with 40 certified teachers all teaching full-time within the Basehor-Linwood Unified School District 458. There is no age limit for enrolling, and all previously earned high school credits will transfer.
For individuals currently seeking a GED that would rather earn an accredited high school diploma: connect with BLVS to develop a plan to earn the credits you need. It's never too late to earn a high school diploma.
Prospective students are encouraged to call (913) 724-1727 to speak to Brenda DeGroot, Director (ext. 102) or Nicole Hodges-Williams, Assistant Director (ext. 106) or to visit BLVS online at: www.blvs.org.
Kansas City woman sentenced to prison in adoption scam
U.S. Department of Justice
A Kansas City woman and a co-defendant have been sentenced to federal prison for running an adoption scam in which she pretended to be pregnant with twins and willing to let them be adopted in return for money and gifts, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Roxanne Janel Jones, 35, Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to 87 months. She pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Taj A. Isaiah, 29, Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to 24 months. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail
fraud.
In her plea, Jones admitted she contacted adoption agencies, claimed to be pregnant and sought to meet couples who wanted to adopt. Jones asked the couples for money for rent and other living expenses.
In her plea, Jones admitted she swindled 14 couples. The couples were from Bonner Springs, Overland Park, Florence, Olathe, Shawnee and Leavenworth, as well as Minnesota, Georgia, California, Tennessee and Massachusetts.
Isaiah sometimes assisted her by pretending to be her landlord. He picked up money orders and wire transfers from prospective adoptive families and he made false statements to the couples.
The victims included the following:
– R.S. and L.S., who lived in Minnesota. Jones falsely told them she was pregnant with twins and wanted to place them up for adoption. In June 2009 they wired $16,265 to an escrow account to be used for Jones’ care during the pregnancy. Jones received $2,400 in gift cards and rent money from the couple.
– K.M. and J.M., who lived in Georgia.
– M.J. and D.W., a couple who lived in California. They flew to Kansas to meet Jones and Isaiah. They bought Jones massages, a haircut, groceries and meals. In September, 2009, Jones sent them a text message saying she had given birth at KU Medical Center. The couple met Jones and Isaiah in the hospital cafeteria before sending the couple to the hospital nursery to pick up the babies. At the nursery, the couple were told there was no record of Jones giving birth.
– J.B. and her husband, who lived in Bonner Springs. Jones contacted them after they placed an advertisement on Craigslist in hopes of putting their dog up for adoption. Jones adopted their dog and then told them she was pregnant with twins and wanted to give them up for adoption. The couple met with an attorney and a social worker in preparation for the adoption. Jones balked at giving them her Social Security number until they insisted. She shouted the number at them and they wrote it down. A check of the number showed it belong to Jones’ son. The couple sent 11 e-Money Grams to Jones totaling $830.
– Jes. B and Jer. B. of Knoxville, Tenn. The couple traveled to Kansas City where they took Jones and Isaiah to dinner. Isaiah pretended to be her landlord. The couple wrote checks to Isaiah to pay Jones’ rent.
– Ji. B. and Je. B., who sent checks to Isaiah to pay Jones’ rent.
– R.P. and A.P., who lived in Olathe. They bought Jones $100 worth of groceries.
– C.D. and D.D., who lived in Minnesota. Jones met them by responding to an online advertisement.
– S.W. and R.W., who lived in Shawnee. They took Jones and Isaiah to lunch. They gave Jones a $200 gift card and a check for $525.
– E.E. and M.E., who lived in Leavenworth. They gave $1,000 to an adoption agency in Overland Park. The agency gave $500 to Jones.
– D.K. and R.G., who lived in Massachusetts. An adoption specialist for an adoption agency in Overland Park gave Jones a $200 Wal-mart gift card and a check for $550, both of which were paid for by the couple.
– H.G. and M.G., who lived in California. Jones sent them photos of two newborn babies who she claimed were her children.
– C.R. and M.R., who wired $650 to Jones to pay her rent.
– K.S. and T.S., who lived in Florence, Kan., They visited Jones while she was incarcerated at the New Century Jail in Johnson County, Kan., and then used a debit card to put $50 on her jail commissary account. The Overland Park Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service investigated. U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom and Assistant U.S. Attorney
Chris Oakley prosecuted.
A Kansas City woman and a co-defendant have been sentenced to federal prison for running an adoption scam in which she pretended to be pregnant with twins and willing to let them be adopted in return for money and gifts, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Roxanne Janel Jones, 35, Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to 87 months. She pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Taj A. Isaiah, 29, Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to 24 months. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail
fraud.
In her plea, Jones admitted she contacted adoption agencies, claimed to be pregnant and sought to meet couples who wanted to adopt. Jones asked the couples for money for rent and other living expenses.
In her plea, Jones admitted she swindled 14 couples. The couples were from Bonner Springs, Overland Park, Florence, Olathe, Shawnee and Leavenworth, as well as Minnesota, Georgia, California, Tennessee and Massachusetts.
Isaiah sometimes assisted her by pretending to be her landlord. He picked up money orders and wire transfers from prospective adoptive families and he made false statements to the couples.
The victims included the following:
– R.S. and L.S., who lived in Minnesota. Jones falsely told them she was pregnant with twins and wanted to place them up for adoption. In June 2009 they wired $16,265 to an escrow account to be used for Jones’ care during the pregnancy. Jones received $2,400 in gift cards and rent money from the couple.
– K.M. and J.M., who lived in Georgia.
– M.J. and D.W., a couple who lived in California. They flew to Kansas to meet Jones and Isaiah. They bought Jones massages, a haircut, groceries and meals. In September, 2009, Jones sent them a text message saying she had given birth at KU Medical Center. The couple met Jones and Isaiah in the hospital cafeteria before sending the couple to the hospital nursery to pick up the babies. At the nursery, the couple were told there was no record of Jones giving birth.
– J.B. and her husband, who lived in Bonner Springs. Jones contacted them after they placed an advertisement on Craigslist in hopes of putting their dog up for adoption. Jones adopted their dog and then told them she was pregnant with twins and wanted to give them up for adoption. The couple met with an attorney and a social worker in preparation for the adoption. Jones balked at giving them her Social Security number until they insisted. She shouted the number at them and they wrote it down. A check of the number showed it belong to Jones’ son. The couple sent 11 e-Money Grams to Jones totaling $830.
– Jes. B and Jer. B. of Knoxville, Tenn. The couple traveled to Kansas City where they took Jones and Isaiah to dinner. Isaiah pretended to be her landlord. The couple wrote checks to Isaiah to pay Jones’ rent.
– Ji. B. and Je. B., who sent checks to Isaiah to pay Jones’ rent.
– R.P. and A.P., who lived in Olathe. They bought Jones $100 worth of groceries.
– C.D. and D.D., who lived in Minnesota. Jones met them by responding to an online advertisement.
– S.W. and R.W., who lived in Shawnee. They took Jones and Isaiah to lunch. They gave Jones a $200 gift card and a check for $525.
– E.E. and M.E., who lived in Leavenworth. They gave $1,000 to an adoption agency in Overland Park. The agency gave $500 to Jones.
– D.K. and R.G., who lived in Massachusetts. An adoption specialist for an adoption agency in Overland Park gave Jones a $200 Wal-mart gift card and a check for $550, both of which were paid for by the couple.
– H.G. and M.G., who lived in California. Jones sent them photos of two newborn babies who she claimed were her children.
– C.R. and M.R., who wired $650 to Jones to pay her rent.
– K.S. and T.S., who lived in Florence, Kan., They visited Jones while she was incarcerated at the New Century Jail in Johnson County, Kan., and then used a debit card to put $50 on her jail commissary account. The Overland Park Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service investigated. U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom and Assistant U.S. Attorney
Chris Oakley prosecuted.
KCKCC spring choral concert this Sunday
The annual Kansas City Kansas Community College Spring Choral Concert will be held Sunday, May 6, at 3 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church at 5010 Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kan.
Directed by John Stafford II, Director of Choral Music, the concert will be highlighted by the first composition funded by the Dale Shetler Commissioning Fund for Choral Music.
The fund was established by Stafford in recognition of his predecessor, Dale Shetler, who served as Choral Music director for 20 years before retiring to Portland, Ore.
“Each year with the support of our alumni, we will commission a composition for our annual concert,” said Stafford.
The first commissioned composition, “I Carry Your Heart,” was written by Jeremy Brunk and will be performed by the Chamber Choir and feature a soprano solo by Sarah LaBarr, a member of the voice faculty.
Also performing will be the Community Chamber Choir and Concert Choir with accompaniment by Joyce Steeby on piano and Jerry Pope on organ.
There is no admission to the concert. Persons wishing to contribute to the Dale Shetler Commissioning Fund may do so at the concert; by calling John Stafford at 913-288-7137; or by e-mail at jstafford@kckcc.edu.
Directed by John Stafford II, Director of Choral Music, the concert will be highlighted by the first composition funded by the Dale Shetler Commissioning Fund for Choral Music.
The fund was established by Stafford in recognition of his predecessor, Dale Shetler, who served as Choral Music director for 20 years before retiring to Portland, Ore.
“Each year with the support of our alumni, we will commission a composition for our annual concert,” said Stafford.
The first commissioned composition, “I Carry Your Heart,” was written by Jeremy Brunk and will be performed by the Chamber Choir and feature a soprano solo by Sarah LaBarr, a member of the voice faculty.
Also performing will be the Community Chamber Choir and Concert Choir with accompaniment by Joyce Steeby on piano and Jerry Pope on organ.
There is no admission to the concert. Persons wishing to contribute to the Dale Shetler Commissioning Fund may do so at the concert; by calling John Stafford at 913-288-7137; or by e-mail at jstafford@kckcc.edu.
KCMO teen hurt in accident
By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com
A Kansas City, Mo., teenager was hurt in an accident in Wyandotte County late Sunday morning.
Jacob Hubbert, 18, was injured after he lost control of his vehicle while traveling eastbound on Interstate 70. The accident happened at 11:53 a.m. on Sunday.
After he lost control of his vehicle, the car went off the roadway and hit the structural support beam for Interstate 435.
Hubbert was taken to the University of Kansas Hospital.
No one else was involved in the accident.
A Kansas City, Mo., teenager was hurt in an accident in Wyandotte County late Sunday morning.
Jacob Hubbert, 18, was injured after he lost control of his vehicle while traveling eastbound on Interstate 70. The accident happened at 11:53 a.m. on Sunday.
After he lost control of his vehicle, the car went off the roadway and hit the structural support beam for Interstate 435.
Hubbert was taken to the University of Kansas Hospital.
No one else was involved in the accident.
KCKCC only one of 23 institutions selected for HLC Conference
By ALAN HOSKINS
Kansas City Kansas Community College has received the ultimate in endorsements from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
One of 23 educational institutions nationally invited to participate in Cohort 3 of an Open Pathway Accreditation Pilot program, KCKCC was the only one of the 23 invited to make a presentation at the HLC’s annual national conference held at its headquarters in Chicago.
“Obviously we are very excited and proud,” said Provost Dr. Tamara Agha-Jaffar, who coordinates KCKCC’s initiative with Dr. Sangki Min, Dean of Institutional Services. “To be the only one of 23 institutions chosen for an initiative of this magnitude would be a feather in the cap of any institution. I’m sure that this is the first time in the history of KCKCC that it has been called by HLC to make a presentation at the national conference.”
The Lumina Foundation with assets of $1.4 billion funded the Open Pathway Pilot project of Cohort 3 in which all 23 institutions were given the same Degree Qualifications Profile (DQP).
Created by the Lumina Foundation, DQP is a series of learning outcomes all graduates need to acquire by the time of their graduation.
“Each institution was told to implement those learning outcomes in any way that suited their institution,” said Dr. Agha-Jaffar. “We learned from one institution that they had allocated a budget of $250,000 for the project while we are doing it on a shoestring.”
“Our first step was to merge our Degree Qualifications Profile learning outcomes with our existing 21st Century outcomes,” said Dr. Min. “The implementation of DQP fulfills the requirement of the Quality Initiative process which is one of two required processes of the Open Pathways Accreditation Process.”
The next step was to generate input from members of the faculty, who were asked to map the competencies in each of their syllabi with the corresponding Degree Profile competencies.
“The faculty was great and very cooperative,” said Dr. Agha-Jaffar. “We could not have done it without them.”
“We had a workshop in which course competencies were mapped out to the corresponding DQP learning outcomes,” said Dr. Min.
Once each competency was linked with learning outcomes, Dr. Min was able to create a database.
“HLC was pretty impressed,” said Dr. Min. “With the database, we are able to evaluate a program curriculum in terms of how much and which learning outcomes the curriculum addresses and calculate how students performed and measure student performances on each competency based on the assessment data submitted by faculty through the Online Competency Index form.”
Prior to their presentation at the HLC annual conference, Dr. Agha-Jaffar and Dr. Min presented their initiative to the other 22 institutions, each of which is able to monitor and review the progress of each of the projects of the other institutions.
Dr. John Stone, Associate Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, was especially impressed by the KCKCC initiative.
“You have worked out a wonderfully efficient process for linking scores or evaluations from individual course assignments and courses to your campus learning outcomes by enabling efficient tabulation of assessment data across the courses that make up a student’s major,” wrote Dr. Stone.
“The automation here is ingenious. The tool will allow a wide variety of data mining related to student achievement of the campus learning. Also, the database of course competencies will be a very useful tool for analyzing programs and student course transcripts and will have many uses. Impressive!”
A three-year undertaking, Dr. Agha-Jaffar and Dr. Min have mapped out eight steps or activities for successful completion of the project.
“By the end of the initiative,” said Dr. Agha-Jaffar, “we hope to have established a culture of assessment at the institution; reviewed the overall assessment and reporting plan based on the results from its implementation; reviewed our measure of success in addressing the DQP outcomes and competencies and the curriculum modifications that were made as a result of participation in the project; chart a course for future direction; and issue a final report to HLC.”
-----
PHOTO: One of 23 institutions nationally to be invited by the Higher Learning Commission to partake in an Open Pathway Accreditation Pilot program, an initiative coordinated by Provost Dr. Tamara Agha-Jaffar and Dean of Institutional Services Dr. Sangki Min, KCKCC was the only one of the 23 to present at the 2012 HLC national conference. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)
Kansas City Kansas Community College has received the ultimate in endorsements from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
One of 23 educational institutions nationally invited to participate in Cohort 3 of an Open Pathway Accreditation Pilot program, KCKCC was the only one of the 23 invited to make a presentation at the HLC’s annual national conference held at its headquarters in Chicago.
“Obviously we are very excited and proud,” said Provost Dr. Tamara Agha-Jaffar, who coordinates KCKCC’s initiative with Dr. Sangki Min, Dean of Institutional Services. “To be the only one of 23 institutions chosen for an initiative of this magnitude would be a feather in the cap of any institution. I’m sure that this is the first time in the history of KCKCC that it has been called by HLC to make a presentation at the national conference.”
The Lumina Foundation with assets of $1.4 billion funded the Open Pathway Pilot project of Cohort 3 in which all 23 institutions were given the same Degree Qualifications Profile (DQP).
“Each institution was told to implement those learning outcomes in any way that suited their institution,” said Dr. Agha-Jaffar. “We learned from one institution that they had allocated a budget of $250,000 for the project while we are doing it on a shoestring.”
“Our first step was to merge our Degree Qualifications Profile learning outcomes with our existing 21st Century outcomes,” said Dr. Min. “The implementation of DQP fulfills the requirement of the Quality Initiative process which is one of two required processes of the Open Pathways Accreditation Process.”
The next step was to generate input from members of the faculty, who were asked to map the competencies in each of their syllabi with the corresponding Degree Profile competencies.
“The faculty was great and very cooperative,” said Dr. Agha-Jaffar. “We could not have done it without them.”
“We had a workshop in which course competencies were mapped out to the corresponding DQP learning outcomes,” said Dr. Min.
Once each competency was linked with learning outcomes, Dr. Min was able to create a database.
“HLC was pretty impressed,” said Dr. Min. “With the database, we are able to evaluate a program curriculum in terms of how much and which learning outcomes the curriculum addresses and calculate how students performed and measure student performances on each competency based on the assessment data submitted by faculty through the Online Competency Index form.”
Prior to their presentation at the HLC annual conference, Dr. Agha-Jaffar and Dr. Min presented their initiative to the other 22 institutions, each of which is able to monitor and review the progress of each of the projects of the other institutions.
Dr. John Stone, Associate Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, was especially impressed by the KCKCC initiative.
“You have worked out a wonderfully efficient process for linking scores or evaluations from individual course assignments and courses to your campus learning outcomes by enabling efficient tabulation of assessment data across the courses that make up a student’s major,” wrote Dr. Stone.
“The automation here is ingenious. The tool will allow a wide variety of data mining related to student achievement of the campus learning. Also, the database of course competencies will be a very useful tool for analyzing programs and student course transcripts and will have many uses. Impressive!”
A three-year undertaking, Dr. Agha-Jaffar and Dr. Min have mapped out eight steps or activities for successful completion of the project.
“By the end of the initiative,” said Dr. Agha-Jaffar, “we hope to have established a culture of assessment at the institution; reviewed the overall assessment and reporting plan based on the results from its implementation; reviewed our measure of success in addressing the DQP outcomes and competencies and the curriculum modifications that were made as a result of participation in the project; chart a course for future direction; and issue a final report to HLC.”
-----
PHOTO: One of 23 institutions nationally to be invited by the Higher Learning Commission to partake in an Open Pathway Accreditation Pilot program, an initiative coordinated by Provost Dr. Tamara Agha-Jaffar and Dean of Institutional Services Dr. Sangki Min, KCKCC was the only one of the 23 to present at the 2012 HLC national conference. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)
KU Medical Center says new education building vital
By ANDY HYLAND, The Lawrence Journal-World
Kansas University Medical Center is looking for ways to build a $75 million medical education building, which administrators say is key for its future, on its Kansas City, Kan., campus.
The building, as described in the campus’ long-range facilities master plan, would be 200,000 square feet and six floors.
It would be placed on an existing parking lot in front of the Hemenway Life Sciences building on the northwest corner of 39th Street and Rainbow Boulevard intersection.
“We need it as soon as we can get it,” said Steffani Webb, vice chancellor for administration at KUMC.
The need for the building has been cited in previous accreditation reviews, Webb said.
The plan, which does not address funding mechanisms for the building, also has two other main goals, Webb said: to provide space for future growth and to target moderate research program growth over the next year.
Steven Stites, the acting executive vice chancellor for KUMC, discussed the plan, developed by Cannon Design, in a message to campus.
“Some of what you see won’t surprise anyone who works here,” Stites wrote. “Cannon concluded that some of our facilities are seriously outdated, and their functions have not kept up with modern curricula and science.”
Webb said the medical school classrooms as they exist today don’t fit the way education happens today.
The medical school does not have adequate space or technology for operating simulation rooms, she said. And classes are designed for lectures and not team-based learning.
Though the plan does not address ways to fund the building, Webb said the school hoped to fund it with a combination of public and private funds. The building is one of the school’s needs in KU’s ongoing comprehensive fundraising campaign.
Other parts of the plan feature the addition of a new parking garage for the campus and a beautification effort, adding new signs and landscaping to the campus’ existing buildings.
“When you’re here (on campus), it’s hard to know you’ve really arrived,” Webb said. “Having the new Medical Education Building on the corner of 39th and Rainbow will help with that.”
Kansas University Medical Center is looking for ways to build a $75 million medical education building, which administrators say is key for its future, on its Kansas City, Kan., campus.
The building, as described in the campus’ long-range facilities master plan, would be 200,000 square feet and six floors.
It would be placed on an existing parking lot in front of the Hemenway Life Sciences building on the northwest corner of 39th Street and Rainbow Boulevard intersection.
“We need it as soon as we can get it,” said Steffani Webb, vice chancellor for administration at KUMC.
The need for the building has been cited in previous accreditation reviews, Webb said.
The plan, which does not address funding mechanisms for the building, also has two other main goals, Webb said: to provide space for future growth and to target moderate research program growth over the next year.
Steven Stites, the acting executive vice chancellor for KUMC, discussed the plan, developed by Cannon Design, in a message to campus.
“Some of what you see won’t surprise anyone who works here,” Stites wrote. “Cannon concluded that some of our facilities are seriously outdated, and their functions have not kept up with modern curricula and science.”
Webb said the medical school classrooms as they exist today don’t fit the way education happens today.
The medical school does not have adequate space or technology for operating simulation rooms, she said. And classes are designed for lectures and not team-based learning.
Though the plan does not address ways to fund the building, Webb said the school hoped to fund it with a combination of public and private funds. The building is one of the school’s needs in KU’s ongoing comprehensive fundraising campaign.
Other parts of the plan feature the addition of a new parking garage for the campus and a beautification effort, adding new signs and landscaping to the campus’ existing buildings.
“When you’re here (on campus), it’s hard to know you’ve really arrived,” Webb said. “Having the new Medical Education Building on the corner of 39th and Rainbow will help with that.”
UG public hearing set for May 17
News Release:
You are invited to attend a public hearing to be held on Thursday evening, May 17, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the Unified Government Board of Commissioners Chambers in the Lobby of the Municipal Office Building.
The public hearing is being co-sponsored by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas Departments of Budget and Community Development.
The purpose of this meeting is to request public comment for the upcoming Unified Government’s revised 2012 and proposed 2013 budgets.
In addition, the public hearing is being held to receive public comment on housing and community development needs, including non-housing community development needs for the 2012 Consolidated Annual Action Plan and budget.
The 2012 Consolidated Annual Action Plan includes the following program applications:
- 38th Year Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)
- 2012 HOME Investment Partnership Grant Program
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas Department of Community Development is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
- The 2012 Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG)
The Department’s mission is to provide safe, sanitary, and attractive housing to the city's low and moderate-income residents and to preserve and revitalize the community's neighborhoods.
KCKPD release identification of man found on Argentine Blvd.
By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com
The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department has released the identity of a man who was found dead in the 900 Block of Argentine Boulevard last Friday.
The body has been identified as Armando Lara's. Lara was 44 years old. He was found in a vacant lot last Friday by police.
KCK police are asking the public for assistance in this case.
If you have information, contact the KCKPD's Major Case Unit at (913) 573-6020 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS.
The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department has released the identity of a man who was found dead in the 900 Block of Argentine Boulevard last Friday.
The body has been identified as Armando Lara's. Lara was 44 years old. He was found in a vacant lot last Friday by police.
KCK police are asking the public for assistance in this case.
If you have information, contact the KCKPD's Major Case Unit at (913) 573-6020 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS.
KCKPD investigating homicide from Sunday morning
By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com
The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department is investigating a homicide that happened early Sunday morning.
Police reported to the 2900 Block of N. 17th Street shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday morning.
When arriving on the scene, they discovered a dead man. Described as a "black male" and "in his forties" by the KCKPD news release, his identity is being withheld for now.
The KCKPD's Major Case Unit is asking the public for help in the case.
If you have information, please contact the KCKPD at (913) 573-6020 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department is investigating a homicide that happened early Sunday morning.
Police reported to the 2900 Block of N. 17th Street shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday morning.
When arriving on the scene, they discovered a dead man. Described as a "black male" and "in his forties" by the KCKPD news release, his identity is being withheld for now.
The KCKPD's Major Case Unit is asking the public for help in the case.
If you have information, please contact the KCKPD at (913) 573-6020 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Blue Devil 5K set for May 5
By ALAN HOSKINS
The annual Blue Devil 5k Fun Run/Walk and Kids Trot will be held Saturday, May 5, at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
The 5k Fun Run/Walk will start at 8 a.m. at the Wellness & Fitness Center on the east side of the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue.
In addition to the 5k Run, there will be a Kids Trot (11 and under) at 9 a.m. and awards presentation at 9:30 a.m.
The entry fee is $30 for adults and $7 for kids and includes a 2012 Blue Devil 5k T-shirt, goodie bag, entry for prizes and an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast provided by Chris Cakes. The event is a fund-raiser to help improve the walking/running path on the college campus.
“By participating, we’ll be closer to our goal of having mile markers, walking and running route maps and possibly some fitness equipment along the trail for community members,” said Joe Mundt of the Wellness & Fitness staff.
Advanced registration can be made at the Wellness Center, by phone to 913-288-7370 or on-lie to jmundt@kckcc.edu.
The annual Blue Devil 5k Fun Run/Walk and Kids Trot will be held Saturday, May 5, at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
The 5k Fun Run/Walk will start at 8 a.m. at the Wellness & Fitness Center on the east side of the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue.
In addition to the 5k Run, there will be a Kids Trot (11 and under) at 9 a.m. and awards presentation at 9:30 a.m.
The entry fee is $30 for adults and $7 for kids and includes a 2012 Blue Devil 5k T-shirt, goodie bag, entry for prizes and an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast provided by Chris Cakes. The event is a fund-raiser to help improve the walking/running path on the college campus.
“By participating, we’ll be closer to our goal of having mile markers, walking and running route maps and possibly some fitness equipment along the trail for community members,” said Joe Mundt of the Wellness & Fitness staff.
Advanced registration can be made at the Wellness Center, by phone to 913-288-7370 or on-lie to jmundt@kckcc.edu.
KCKCC to offer defensive driving class
A four-hour Defensive Driving class will be offered at Kansas City Kansas Community College Saturday, May 12.
A comprehensive driver-improvement program without any in-car instruction, the class will be held from 8 a.m.-noon in the Community Education Building on the east side of the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue.
Instructed by Jim Hathaway, the course is designed to give drivers practical knowledge and techniques to avoid crashes and to choose safe, responsible and lawful driver behavior.
An interactive course with activities, case studies, discussions and video presentations, topics include personal responsibility and driving, hazard recognition, rules of the road, avoiding collisions and driving environments.
The course is approved by the state of Kansas so insurance rates can be reduced by five percent or more upon completion of the class.
The cost is $40 ($35 for Prime Time Club members) and persons may enroll by phone with credit card payment at 913-288-7660; in person at the Community Education Building; or on-line at www.kckcc.edu and clicking on Spring 2012. The class is listed under Continuing Education/Driver Safety.
A comprehensive driver-improvement program without any in-car instruction, the class will be held from 8 a.m.-noon in the Community Education Building on the east side of the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue.
Instructed by Jim Hathaway, the course is designed to give drivers practical knowledge and techniques to avoid crashes and to choose safe, responsible and lawful driver behavior.
An interactive course with activities, case studies, discussions and video presentations, topics include personal responsibility and driving, hazard recognition, rules of the road, avoiding collisions and driving environments.
The course is approved by the state of Kansas so insurance rates can be reduced by five percent or more upon completion of the class.
The cost is $40 ($35 for Prime Time Club members) and persons may enroll by phone with credit card payment at 913-288-7660; in person at the Community Education Building; or on-line at www.kckcc.edu and clicking on Spring 2012. The class is listed under Continuing Education/Driver Safety.
Brownback urges passage of tax cut plan
By SCOTT ROTHSCHILD, The Lawrence Journal-World
TOPEKA — Gov. Sam Brownback on Friday urged the Legislature to approve an estimated $2.9 billion cut in taxes over the next six years.
“We just haven’t grown for 30 years,” said Brownback, a Republican. “This gets us on a path to growth.”
Democrats were critical of the proposal, saying such a tax cut would rob funding for schools, social services and public safety, all of which have been reduced in recent years because of the recession.
And, they said, the way the proposed tax cuts are structured would benefit the wealthy at the expense of the poor.
“In effect, we are taking from the poor and helping the rich through this tax plan,” said House Minority Leader Paul Davis, D-Lawrence.
Sen. Tom Holland of Baldwin City, the ranking Democrat on the Senate tax committee, criticized the plan, saying, “This is a tax plan for Koch Industries.”
Republican leaders in the Senate said any tax-cutting proposal must be considered against the state’s long-term funding needs.
“In my view, we need to look at what the long-term outlook is,” said Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton. “It’s too early to make any prediction on taxes.”
Morris noted the state is committed to increased funding in many areas, such as the public pension system. Those commitments must be balanced against proposed tax cuts, he said.
The complexity of the package, which was produced by the tax conference committee, was daunting to some. Senate Majority Leader Jay Emler, R-McPherson, said he expected it would take a while for legislators to understand what is in the measure. A vote in the Senate on the plan is likely the week after next.
Both Democratic and Republican legislators said the size of the tax plan may be more than the $2.9 billion over six years that the Kansas Department of Revenue had figured. More calculations were expected to be made over the next several days.
The proposal would cut individual income tax rates and phase out income taxes over five years for 191,000 partnerships, sole proprietorships and other businesses. Brownback proposed those measures and has repeatedly emphasized his support of the business tax cut, likening it to a shot of adrenaline to the heart.
“It’s got the key pro-growth features that I think are important,” Brownback said. “Gets the tax off of small business and lowers the overall rates,” he said.
The legislation also would maintain current law by reducing the state’s sales tax to 5.7 percent in July 2013 from 6.3 percent. It would also provide $180 million over four years in state aid to cities and counties to provide property tax relief.
Democrats said it was impossible to determine how much tax revenue the state would lose because of the business tax cut. Supporters of the business tax cut have said it is directed at small businesses, but tax studies have shown many large corporations would benefit by it and many businesses would likely reorganize to take advantage of the proposal.
Democrats also said the package would hit the poor the hardest. It would eliminate the homestead exemption for renters, restrict low-income families to receiving either the Earned Income Tax Credit or food sales tax rebate, but not both, and toss out the child care tax credit.
Under the plan that was agreed to by Republican members of the tax conference committee, taxpayers earning less than $30,000 per year would pay 3 percent in state income tax; while those earning more would pay 4.9 percent. The state’s current top rate is 6.45 percent.
Now that tax revenues are increasing and the state is seeing a budget surplus, Democrats say it is time to increase the pay of state employees, who have not had a raise in several years, restore cuts to schools and reduce waiting lists for services for those with disabilities.
But if the proposed tax cut package were approved, Davis said, “There is no hope for any of those folks that are looking to state government to provide what I think people expect of their state government.”
Supporters of the tax cut, including Brownback, have said it will help Kansans by increasing jobs and boosting the economy. Brownback said he didn’t fear the revenue loss would hurt state government.
“The numbers look doable,” Brownback said. He said that he and the Legislature must “continue to be aggressive in holding our costs down.”
TOPEKA — Gov. Sam Brownback on Friday urged the Legislature to approve an estimated $2.9 billion cut in taxes over the next six years.
“We just haven’t grown for 30 years,” said Brownback, a Republican. “This gets us on a path to growth.”
Democrats were critical of the proposal, saying such a tax cut would rob funding for schools, social services and public safety, all of which have been reduced in recent years because of the recession.
And, they said, the way the proposed tax cuts are structured would benefit the wealthy at the expense of the poor.
“In effect, we are taking from the poor and helping the rich through this tax plan,” said House Minority Leader Paul Davis, D-Lawrence.
Sen. Tom Holland of Baldwin City, the ranking Democrat on the Senate tax committee, criticized the plan, saying, “This is a tax plan for Koch Industries.”
Republican leaders in the Senate said any tax-cutting proposal must be considered against the state’s long-term funding needs.
“In my view, we need to look at what the long-term outlook is,” said Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton. “It’s too early to make any prediction on taxes.”
Morris noted the state is committed to increased funding in many areas, such as the public pension system. Those commitments must be balanced against proposed tax cuts, he said.
The complexity of the package, which was produced by the tax conference committee, was daunting to some. Senate Majority Leader Jay Emler, R-McPherson, said he expected it would take a while for legislators to understand what is in the measure. A vote in the Senate on the plan is likely the week after next.
Both Democratic and Republican legislators said the size of the tax plan may be more than the $2.9 billion over six years that the Kansas Department of Revenue had figured. More calculations were expected to be made over the next several days.
The proposal would cut individual income tax rates and phase out income taxes over five years for 191,000 partnerships, sole proprietorships and other businesses. Brownback proposed those measures and has repeatedly emphasized his support of the business tax cut, likening it to a shot of adrenaline to the heart.
“It’s got the key pro-growth features that I think are important,” Brownback said. “Gets the tax off of small business and lowers the overall rates,” he said.
The legislation also would maintain current law by reducing the state’s sales tax to 5.7 percent in July 2013 from 6.3 percent. It would also provide $180 million over four years in state aid to cities and counties to provide property tax relief.
Democrats said it was impossible to determine how much tax revenue the state would lose because of the business tax cut. Supporters of the business tax cut have said it is directed at small businesses, but tax studies have shown many large corporations would benefit by it and many businesses would likely reorganize to take advantage of the proposal.
Democrats also said the package would hit the poor the hardest. It would eliminate the homestead exemption for renters, restrict low-income families to receiving either the Earned Income Tax Credit or food sales tax rebate, but not both, and toss out the child care tax credit.
Under the plan that was agreed to by Republican members of the tax conference committee, taxpayers earning less than $30,000 per year would pay 3 percent in state income tax; while those earning more would pay 4.9 percent. The state’s current top rate is 6.45 percent.
Now that tax revenues are increasing and the state is seeing a budget surplus, Democrats say it is time to increase the pay of state employees, who have not had a raise in several years, restore cuts to schools and reduce waiting lists for services for those with disabilities.
But if the proposed tax cut package were approved, Davis said, “There is no hope for any of those folks that are looking to state government to provide what I think people expect of their state government.”
Supporters of the tax cut, including Brownback, have said it will help Kansans by increasing jobs and boosting the economy. Brownback said he didn’t fear the revenue loss would hurt state government.
“The numbers look doable,” Brownback said. He said that he and the Legislature must “continue to be aggressive in holding our costs down.”
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