WICHITA, KAN.&nbsp;– A registered sex offender living in western Kansas was sentenced Thursday to 292 months in federal prison on child pornography charges, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

A federal jury convicted&nbsp;Wayne Benjamin Wasson, 60, Great Bend, Kan., on four counts of uploading child pornography to the internet and one count of possessing child pornography.

During trial, a prosecutor presented evidence that Yahoo and Google detected child pornography originating from Wasson's residence. The digital trail led investigators to Wasson, who admitted he had received child pornography via Skype and had operated a number of other accounts. Investigators found child pornography within the accounts and on Wasson's devices.

Wasson registered as a sex offender in 2007 following a conviction for possession of child pornography.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581687689480.png" alt="Wayne Wasson -photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Wayne Wasson -photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN.&nbsp;– A registered sex offender living in western Kansas was sentenced Thursday to 292 months in federal prison on child pornography charges, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.A federal jury convicted&nbsp;Wayne Benjamin Wasson, 60, Great Bend, Kan., on four counts of uploading child pornography to the internet and one count of possessing child pornography.During trial, a prosecutor presented evidence that Yahoo and Google detected child pornography originating from Wasson's residence. The digital trail led investigators to Wasson, who admitted he had received child pornography via Skype and had operated a number of other accounts. Investigators found child pornography within the accounts and on Wasson's devices.Wasson registered as a sex offender in 2007 following a conviction for possession of child pornography.

Sex offender living in Great Bend sentenced for receiving child porn

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Several states along the Missouri River face an elevated flood risk this spring because the soil remains wet and a significant amount of snow is on the ground in the Dakotas, the National Weather Service said Thursday.

The forecast heightened concerns in areas of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri with levees that still have extensive damage from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/84d773fba03f48dd8c18ec0eaa5198bc">massive flooding last year</a>&nbsp;and where residents and officials already anticipated some flooding.

“We are very concerned at this point,” said Jud Kneuvean, who oversees emergency operations at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Kansas City office.

The weather service said Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri and eastern North Dakota and South Dakota face an above-average flood risk this spring. The flood risk is close to normal in Montana and the western half of the Dakotas.

Even in places where the Corps has patched holes in levees that were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/15f799240ef84204b5e2f2f42aaa8043">damaged</a>&nbsp;in last year’s flooding, the level of protection may be lower than it was because initial repairs haven’t all been done to the full regular height of the levees.

Officials say levee repairs will likely take two years to complete.

The status of levees varies greatly. In Iowa and Nebraska, many of the major levees have been patched, although some breaches remain open. In Kansas and Missouri, much of the repair work has yet to begin.

Part of the problem is that the water remained high for so long in some areas that officials couldn’t even assess some of the damage until recently.

In Missouri’s hard-hit Holt County, where Tom Bullock serves as emergency management director, repairs have not yet started on the levees that broke and allowed roughly 95,000 acres (38,445.17 hectares) of mostly rural land to flood last spring.

“We’re not looking very good for spring,” Bullock said.

While most of the breaches around Hamburg, Iowa, have been patched, some repairs probably won’t be done before spring, said Fremont County Emergency Manager Mike Crecelius.

“It’s not a good outlook no matter how you look at it,” Crecelius said.

The Missouri is the longest river in North America, running from western Montana through the Dakotas and touching Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas before cutting across Missouri and entering the Mississippi River at St. Louis. The Corps of Engineers manages the river’s flow using six dams and reservoirs in Montana and the Dakotas.

Even if spring weather is mild, some places could still see flooding when the Corps increases releases from upstream dams on the river to prevent the reservoirs from overflowing.

The Corps estimates 2020 runoff will reach 36.3 million acre-feet (44.8 cubic kilometers) — the ninth highest out of 122 years — so there will likely be significant water releases from the upriver dams. The highest runoff year was 2011 with 61 million acre-feet (75.2 cubic kilometers, followed by 2019, with 60.9 million acre-feet (75.1 cubic kilometers).

Much of the land in low-lying areas nearest the river is cropland, so that often floods first, limiting damage to homes and businesses.

Farmer Gene Walter noted that the private levees that used to protect his cropland north of Council Bluffs, Iowa, remain wide open. Repairs won’t be complete in time for typical spring flooding in March. So it could be a day-to-day decision for Walter on which acres to plant.

“You can’t even plan or make plans,” Walter said. “It’s kind of upsetting.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574018762648.png" alt="Flooding Doniphan County Kansas in 2019" />
 <figcaption>Flooding Doniphan County Kansas in 2019</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Several states along the Missouri River face an elevated flood risk this spring because the soil remains wet and a significant amount of snow is on the ground in the Dakotas, the National Weather Service said Thursday.The forecast heightened concerns in areas of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri with levees that still have extensive damage from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/84d773fba03f48dd8c18ec0eaa5198bc">massive flooding last year</a>&nbsp;and where residents and officials already anticipated some flooding.“We are very concerned at this point,” said Jud Kneuvean, who oversees emergency operations at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Kansas City office.The weather service said Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri and eastern North Dakota and South Dakota face an above-average flood risk this spring. The flood risk is close to normal in Montana and the western half of the Dakotas.Even in places where the Corps has patched holes in levees that were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/15f799240ef84204b5e2f2f42aaa8043">damaged</a>&nbsp;in last year’s flooding, the level of protection may be lower than it was because initial repairs haven’t all been done to the full regular height of the levees.Officials say levee repairs will likely take two years to complete.The status of levees varies greatly. In Iowa and Nebraska, many of the major levees have been patched, although some breaches remain open. In Kansas and Missouri, much of the repair work has yet to begin.Part of the problem is that the water remained high for so long in some areas that officials couldn’t even assess some of the damage until recently.In Missouri’s hard-hit Holt County, where Tom Bullock serves as emergency management director, repairs have not yet started on the levees that broke and allowed roughly 95,000 acres (38,445.17 hectares) of mostly rural land to flood last spring.“We’re not looking very good for spring,” Bullock said.While most of the breaches around Hamburg, Iowa, have been patched, some repairs probably won’t be done before spring, said Fremont County Emergency Manager Mike Crecelius.“It’s not a good outlook no matter how you look at it,” Crecelius said.The Missouri is the longest river in North America, running from western Montana through the Dakotas and touching Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas before cutting across Missouri and entering the Mississippi River at St. Louis. The Corps of Engineers manages the river’s flow using six dams and reservoirs in Montana and the Dakotas.Even if spring weather is mild, some places could still see flooding when the Corps increases releases from upstream dams on the river to prevent the reservoirs from overflowing.The Corps estimates 2020 runoff will reach 36.3 million acre-feet (44.8 cubic kilometers) — the ninth highest out of 122 years — so there will likely be significant water releases from the upriver dams. The highest runoff year was 2011 with 61 million acre-feet (75.2 cubic kilometers, followed by 2019, with 60.9 million acre-feet (75.1 cubic kilometers).Much of the land in low-lying areas nearest the river is cropland, so that often floods first, limiting damage to homes and businesses.Farmer Gene Walter noted that the private levees that used to protect his cropland north of Council Bluffs, Iowa, remain wide open. Repairs won’t be complete in time for typical spring flooding in March. So it could be a day-to-day decision for Walter on which acres to plant.“You can’t even plan or make plans,” Walter said. “It’s kind of upsetting.”

Flooding seems certain for Kansans along the Missouri River

WICHITA, KAN. (AP) — A Kansas woman has pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid by claiming she was caring for a man when he was in jail.

The Kansas attorney general's office said in a news release that 52-year-old Gretta Elaine Smith of Wichita entered the guilty plea Tuesday in Sedgwick County District Court. 

The release said an investigation found that she fraudulently collected nearly $2,800 by claimed to be providing in-home personal care to 65-year-old Joe Ross Mitchell last year when was incarcerated on unrelated charges.

The release said Smith put at least some of the money and possibly all of it in Mitchell’s jail commissary account, where he spent it on discretionary items. He entered a guilty plea in the Medicaid fraud case in January.

Both of them are scheduled to be sentenced next month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581603932748.png" alt="Gretta Smith " />
 <figcaption>Gretta Smith </figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. (AP) — A Kansas woman has pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid by claiming she was caring for a man when he was in jail.The Kansas attorney general's office said in a news release that 52-year-old Gretta Elaine Smith of Wichita entered the guilty plea Tuesday in Sedgwick County District Court. The release said an investigation found that she fraudulently collected nearly $2,800 by claimed to be providing in-home personal care to 65-year-old Joe Ross Mitchell last year when was incarcerated on unrelated charges.The release said Smith put at least some of the money and possibly all of it in Mitchell’s jail commissary account, where he spent it on discretionary items. He entered a guilty plea in the Medicaid fraud case in January.Both of them are scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Kan. woman admits getting paid to care for man who was in jail

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A Kansas City man told police he fatally shot another man after arguing about a woman but claimed the shooting was in self-defense, according to charging documents.

Jackson County prosecutors announced Wednesday that 42-year-old Ronnie Steven Grady faces charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of 44-year-old Michael Jones. It wasn’t immediately known if Grady had an attorney.

Witnesses reported that Jones was shot in November after talking to someone in a pickup truck. The truck was gone when officers arrived.

Police took Grady in custody for questioning Tuesday after a tipster reported that both men had been in a relationship with the same woman.

The probable cause statement said Grady initially said he left the area before the shooting but later acknowledged that he and Jones had been arguing about the woman.

Grady also told police that Jones was high on PCP and being belligerent. He said he fired in self-defense when Jones reach back behind him, saying he “feared what the victim was capable of.” Grady and the woman said that Jones had been aggressive in the past while high on PCP, the probable cause statement says.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581607171424.png" alt="Ronnie Grady photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ronnie Grady photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A Kansas City man told police he fatally shot another man after arguing about a woman but claimed the shooting was in self-defense, according to charging documents.Jackson County prosecutors announced Wednesday that 42-year-old Ronnie Steven Grady faces charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of 44-year-old Michael Jones. It wasn’t immediately known if Grady had an attorney.Witnesses reported that Jones was shot in November after talking to someone in a pickup truck. The truck was gone when officers arrived.Police took Grady in custody for questioning Tuesday after a tipster reported that both men had been in a relationship with the same woman.The probable cause statement said Grady initially said he left the area before the shooting but later acknowledged that he and Jones had been arguing about the woman.Grady also told police that Jones was high on PCP and being belligerent. He said he fired in self-defense when Jones reach back behind him, saying he “feared what the victim was capable of.” Grady and the woman said that Jones had been aggressive in the past while high on PCP, the probable cause statement says.

Kansas City man charged with murder after argument about a woman

Kansas City (AP) —U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's wife on Tuesday endorsed Republican candidate Amanda Adkins in the race for the Kansas congressional seat for the Kansas City area. 

Susan Pompeo said she's known and respected Adkins for nearly two decades. Adkins is a former Kansas Republican Party chairwoman, and she and Mike Pompeo together represented Kansas on the Republican National Committee when Adkins was a state GOP leader. 

Adkins is seeking the right to challenge freshman Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids in the 3rd Congressional District. Adkins is facing Adrienne Vallejo Foster and Sara Hart Weir in the August GOP primary.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1568149149461.png" alt="GOP candidate Adkins" />
 <figcaption>GOP candidate Adkins</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City (AP) —U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's wife on Tuesday endorsed Republican candidate Amanda Adkins in the race for the Kansas congressional seat for the Kansas City area. Susan Pompeo said she's known and respected Adkins for nearly two decades. Adkins is a former Kansas Republican Party chairwoman, and she and Mike Pompeo together represented Kansas on the Republican National Committee when Adkins was a state GOP leader. Adkins is seeking the right to challenge freshman Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids in the 3rd Congressional District. Adkins is facing Adrienne Vallejo Foster and Sara Hart Weir in the August GOP primary.&nbsp;

U.S. secretary of state's wife endorses Adkins in Kansas 3rd

LYON COUNTY — Authorities continue their investigation of Wednesday's school bus crash in Lyon County.

At 9:41 a.m., Lyon County Emergency Communications received a call from Kansas Turnpike Authority about the accident which was approximately 15 miles southwest of the Emporia Toll Gate, according to Lyon County Sheriff's Sergeant Jacob Welsh.

Deputies arrived around 9:59 am and EMS personnel were on scene by 10:05 a.m.

Those who were injured were taken to Newman Regional Health, who was notified and ready to treat when patients arrived. Those who were not injured were taken to Emporia High School, who had gathered a response team of school officials, school counselors, nurses and Crosswinds Counseling and Wellness staff to assist those involved in the crash. They prepared clean clothing and food for everyone when they arrived as well as activities and support.

More patients were identified at Emporia High School and then Emporia Fire Department transported those patients to Newman Regional Health for further evaluation and treatment. In total, Newman Regional Health treated 26 patients for injuries.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581609108216.jpeg" alt="Wednesday's bus crash -photo courtesy Lyon County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday's bus crash -photo courtesy Lyon County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY — Authorities continue their investigation of Wednesday's school bus crash in Lyon County.At 9:41 a.m., Lyon County Emergency Communications received a call from Kansas Turnpike Authority about the accident which was approximately 15 miles southwest of the Emporia Toll Gate, according to Lyon County Sheriff's Sergeant Jacob Welsh.Deputies arrived around 9:59 am and EMS personnel were on scene by 10:05 a.m.Those who were injured were taken to Newman Regional Health, who was notified and ready to treat when patients arrived. Those who were not injured were taken to Emporia High School, who had gathered a response team of school officials, school counselors, nurses and Crosswinds Counseling and Wellness staff to assist those involved in the crash. They prepared clean clothing and food for everyone when they arrived as well as activities and support.More patients were identified at Emporia High School and then Emporia Fire Department transported those patients to Newman Regional Health for further evaluation and treatment. In total, Newman Regional Health treated 26 patients for injuries.&nbsp;

Update: Hospital treated 26 for injuries after Kan. school bus crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and have a teenage suspect in custody.

Just before 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a shooting at a home in the 1500 Block of South Battin in Wichita, according to police Lt. Jeff Gilmore.

At the scene, officers located a victim identified as&nbsp; 22-year-old Amare Holt with multiple gunshot wounds. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died, according to Gilmore.

Investigators learned that 18-year-old Rina Nguyen and her boyfriend Holt were at the home and&nbsp; got into an argument. During the disagreement, Nguyen pulled out a handgun and fired it at Holt as he was walking out the front door of the residence. 

Gunshots also struck a nearby occupied home, according to Gilmore but there were no other injuries. A 17-year-old girl also at the home was not injured, according to Gilmore.

After the shooting, Nguyen fled the residence in a vehicle but returned a short time later and was arrested <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20065344">on requested charges</a> of first-degree murder and discharge of a firearm at an occupied dwelling, according to Gilmore.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581611799752.png" alt="Rina Nguyen photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Rina Nguyen photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and have a teenage suspect in custody.Just before 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a shooting at a home in the 1500 Block of South Battin in Wichita, according to police Lt. Jeff Gilmore.At the scene, officers located a victim identified as&nbsp; 22-year-old Amare Holt with multiple gunshot wounds. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died, according to Gilmore.Investigators learned that 18-year-old Rina Nguyen and her boyfriend Holt were at the home and&nbsp; got into an argument. During the disagreement, Nguyen pulled out a handgun and fired it at Holt as he was walking out the front door of the residence. Gunshots also struck a nearby occupied home, according to Gilmore but there were no other injuries. A 17-year-old girl also at the home was not injured, according to Gilmore.After the shooting, Nguyen fled the residence in a vehicle but returned a short time later and was arrested <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20065344">on requested charges</a> of first-degree murder and discharge of a firearm at an occupied dwelling, according to Gilmore.

Kansas teen accused in shooting death of her boyfriend

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate approved a bipartisan measure Thursday aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to launch military operations against Iran, with eight Republicans including Kansas Senator Jerry Moran joining Democrats in a post-impeachment bid to constrain the White House.

The rebuke was the Senate’s first major vote since acquitting Trump on impeachment charges last week. Trump is expected to veto the war powers resolution if it reaches his desk, warning that if his “hands were tied, Iran would have a field day.’”

The measure, authored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., says Trump must win approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran. Kaine and other supporters said the resolution, which passed 55-45, was not about Trump or even the presidency, but instead was an important reassertion of congressional power to declare war.

While Trump and other presidents “must always have the ability to defend the United States from imminent attack, the executive power to initiate war stops there,″ Kaine said. “An offensive war requires a congressional debate and vote.″

The Senate vote continues a pattern in which Republican senators have shown a willingness to challenge Trump on foreign policy, a sharp departure from their strong support during impeachment and on domestic matters. Congress moved to impose restrictions on U.S. involvement with the Saudi-led war in Yemen last year after U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in a gruesome murder at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Turkey

The bipartisan vote was a rare exertion of authority from Congress, the first since passage of the War Powers Act of 1973. And Trump promptly vetoed it.

The Democratic-controlled House passed a separate, nonbinding war powers resolution on Iran last month. The House could take up the Senate resolution later this month, House leaders said. Two-thirds votes in the House and GOP-run Senate would be needed to override an expected Trump veto of the war powers resolution.

Answering a claim by some of Trump’s supporters and Trump himself that the measure would send a signal of weakness to Iran and other potential adversaries, Kaine said the opposite was true.

“When we stand up for the rule of law ... and say ‘This decision is fundamental, and we have rules that we are going to follow so we can make a good decision,’ that’s a message of strength,″ Kaine said. “If we’re to order our young men and women ... to risk their lives in war, it should be on the basis of careful deliberation by the people’s elected legislature and not on the say-so of any one person.″

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, agreed. Lee supports Trump’s foreign policy, including toward Iran, but said Congress cannot escape its constitutional responsibility to act on matters of war and peace.

As the Senate debate made clear, “there is abundant support for the United States taking tough positions with regard to Iran,″ Lee said. ”And as part of that we want to make sure that any military action that needs to be authorized is in fact properly authorized by Congress. That doesn’t show weakness. That shows strength.″’

Trump disputed that, arguing on Twitter that a vote against Kaine’s proposal was important to national security and pointed to the Jan. 3 drone strike that killed Iran’s top general, Qassem Soleimani.

“We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness. Americans overwhelmingly support our attack on terrorist Soleimani,″ Trump said. “If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Don’t let it happen!″

Tehran responded to the U.S. attack on Soleimani by launching missiles at two military bases in Iraq that house American troops. The attack caused traumatic brain injuries in at least 64 U.S. soldiers, the Pentagon said..

Democrats and Republicans alike criticized a briefing by the Trump administration shortly after the drone strike, saying U.S. officials offered vague information about a possible attack being planned by Iran but no substantial details.

Kaine has long pushed for action reasserting congressional power to declare war. At Republicans’ request, he removed initial language that targeted Trump in favor of a generalized statement declaring that Congress has the sole power to declare war. The resolution also directs Trump to terminate use of military force against Iran or any part of its government without approval from Congress.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a co-sponsor, called the resolution “much needed and long overdue.″ In recent decades, “Congress has too often abdicated its constitutional responsibility on authorizing the sustained use of military force,″ she said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and many other Republicans opposed the resolution, saying it would send the wrong message to U.S. allies. “Just as we have successfully sent Iran this strong signal of our strength and resolve (by killing that country’s top general, a blunt and clumsy war powers resolution would tie our own hands,” McConnell said.

The three senators seeking the Democratic nomination for president — Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts — all returned to the Capitol from campaigning and backed the war powers resolution.

Besides Moran, Collins and Lee, Republicans joining Democrats were Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana,&nbsp; Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Todd Young of Indiana.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581623108583.png" alt="The United States Senate during Thursday afternoon's vote -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The United States Senate during Thursday afternoon's vote -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate approved a bipartisan measure Thursday aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to launch military operations against Iran, with eight Republicans including Kansas Senator Jerry Moran joining Democrats in a post-impeachment bid to constrain the White House.The rebuke was the Senate’s first major vote since acquitting Trump on impeachment charges last week. Trump is expected to veto the war powers resolution if it reaches his desk, warning that if his “hands were tied, Iran would have a field day.’”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My full statement regarding S.J. Res. 68, the Iran War Powers Resolution: <a href="https://t.co/6xe5THuvjF">https://t.co/6xe5THuvjF</a>&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1228043078725971968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The measure, authored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., says Trump must win approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran. Kaine and other supporters said the resolution, which passed 55-45, was not about Trump or even the presidency, but instead was an important reassertion of congressional power to declare war.While Trump and other presidents “must always have the ability to defend the United States from imminent attack, the executive power to initiate war stops there,″ Kaine said. “An offensive war requires a congressional debate and vote.″The Senate vote continues a pattern in which Republican senators have shown a willingness to challenge Trump on foreign policy, a sharp departure from their strong support during impeachment and on domestic matters. Congress moved to impose restrictions on U.S. involvement with the Saudi-led war in Yemen last year after U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in a gruesome murder at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in TurkeyThe bipartisan vote was a rare exertion of authority from Congress, the first since passage of the War Powers Act of 1973. And Trump promptly vetoed it.The Democratic-controlled House passed a separate, nonbinding war powers resolution on Iran last month. The House could take up the Senate resolution later this month, House leaders said. Two-thirds votes in the House and GOP-run Senate would be needed to override an expected Trump veto of the war powers resolution.Answering a claim by some of Trump’s supporters and Trump himself that the measure would send a signal of weakness to Iran and other potential adversaries, Kaine said the opposite was true.“When we stand up for the rule of law ... and say ‘This decision is fundamental, and we have rules that we are going to follow so we can make a good decision,’ that’s a message of strength,″ Kaine said. “If we’re to order our young men and women ... to risk their lives in war, it should be on the basis of careful deliberation by the people’s elected legislature and not on the say-so of any one person.″Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, agreed. Lee supports Trump’s foreign policy, including toward Iran, but said Congress cannot escape its constitutional responsibility to act on matters of war and peace.As the Senate debate made clear, “there is abundant support for the United States taking tough positions with regard to Iran,″ Lee said. ”And as part of that we want to make sure that any military action that needs to be authorized is in fact properly authorized by Congress. That doesn’t show weakness. That shows strength.″’Trump disputed that, arguing on Twitter that a vote against Kaine’s proposal was important to national security and pointed to the Jan. 3 drone strike that killed Iran’s top general, Qassem Soleimani.“We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness. Americans overwhelmingly support our attack on terrorist Soleimani,″ Trump said. “If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Don’t let it happen!″Tehran responded to the U.S. attack on Soleimani by launching missiles at two military bases in Iraq that house American troops. The attack caused traumatic brain injuries in at least 64 U.S. soldiers, the Pentagon said..Democrats and Republicans alike criticized a briefing by the Trump administration shortly after the drone strike, saying U.S. officials offered vague information about a possible attack being planned by Iran but no substantial details.Kaine has long pushed for action reasserting congressional power to declare war. At Republicans’ request, he removed initial language that targeted Trump in favor of a generalized statement declaring that Congress has the sole power to declare war. The resolution also directs Trump to terminate use of military force against Iran or any part of its government without approval from Congress.Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a co-sponsor, called the resolution “much needed and long overdue.″ In recent decades, “Congress has too often abdicated its constitutional responsibility on authorizing the sustained use of military force,″ she said.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and many other Republicans opposed the resolution, saying it would send the wrong message to U.S. allies. “Just as we have successfully sent Iran this strong signal of our strength and resolve (by killing that country’s top general, a blunt and clumsy war powers resolution would tie our own hands,” McConnell said.The three senators seeking the Democratic nomination for president — Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts — all returned to the Capitol from campaigning and backed the war powers resolution.Besides Moran, Collins and Lee, Republicans joining Democrats were Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana,&nbsp; Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Todd Young of Indiana.

Moran votes with Dems to restrain Trump's military powers against Iran

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/almost-all-vaping-flavors-would-be-banned-under-kansas-proposal#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — A proposal to ban all fruity and sweet vaping flavors in Kansas has upset both pro-vaping and anti-tobacco groups.

Hundreds
 of popular flavors would disappear. Menthol would remain. The flavor 
restrictions wouldn’t apply to traditional tobacco products, such as 
cigarettes.

Vape shop owners say the proposed <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/fisc_note_hb2563_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">ban on flavored e-liquids</a> would push more people to smoke. Health advocacy groups, meanwhile, want the ban to include menthol and extend beyond vaping.

Hutchinson
 vape shop owner Kesha Brandt told lawmakers Thursday that she got into 
the business after losing two family members to lung cancer. Vaping, she
 said, helped her stop smoking after 12 years of the habit.

“I had to quit,” she testified. “I had to make sure I was there for my kids.”

Others warned the possible ban would kill jobs and shutter small businesses.

“Out of my 400 flavors, 399 will be gone,” Topeka vape shop owner Eric Cope said.

But
 the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and American 
Lung Association say a complete flavor ban — menthol included — would 
help prevent new generations of addicts.

Smoking has become less 
popular with Kansas teens. State data shows half of high schoolers here 
reported having tried a cigarette in 2005. By 2017, that was down to 
about 25%, but a third said they had vaped.

Republican committee chairman Rep. John Barker voiced frustration with the advocacy groups.

“If you get 95% of what you want up here,” he said about pushing for a menthol ban, too, “you guys need to call it a win.”

Other
 groups that wanted Kansas to ban flavors included the Greater Kansas 
City Chamber of Commerce — which said tobacco and nicotine addiction 
cuts into worker productivity and pushes up health care costs — and the 
state’s main teachers union.

“We need all the help we can get in schools,” said Mark Desetti of the Kansas National Education Association.

School districts across the country and in Kansas are <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/shawnee-mission-and-blue-valley-join-growing-number-school-districts-suing-juul-labs#stream/0" target="_blank">suing Juul</a>, which manufactures small vaping cartridges popular with minors, claiming the company targeted kids with its marketing.

<a href="https://apnews.com/d22aed5d39273150d640e02ef89823cd" target="_blank">The Trump administration</a>
 has also said it would crack down on most vaping flavors, but only for 
the type of cartridge-based vaping systems that became popular with 
teens.

The Kansas bill in question would codify the federal 
government’s new minimum tobacco-buying age of 21 in Kansas. People 
caught smoking or vaping underage wouldn’t face criminal prosecution 
anymore, though sellers would still face penalties for breaking the law.

The
 proposal would also get rid of cigarette vending machines and hike the 
fee that tobacco sellers pay every two years to the state. That fee 
hasn’t gone up since 1972 and would increase from $25 to $100.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@Celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their 
communities and civic life.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581628981847.jpeg" alt=" Flavored e-liquids for sale at Eric Cope's shop in Topeka. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Flavored e-liquids for sale at Eric Cope's shop in Topeka. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/almost-all-vaping-flavors-would-be-banned-under-kansas-proposal#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — A proposal to ban all fruity and sweet vaping flavors in Kansas has upset both pro-vaping and anti-tobacco groups.Hundreds
 of popular flavors would disappear. Menthol would remain. The flavor 
restrictions wouldn’t apply to traditional tobacco products, such as 
cigarettes.Vape shop owners say the proposed <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/fisc_note_hb2563_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">ban on flavored e-liquids</a> would push more people to smoke. Health advocacy groups, meanwhile, want the ban to include menthol and extend beyond vaping.Hutchinson
 vape shop owner Kesha Brandt told lawmakers Thursday that she got into 
the business after losing two family members to lung cancer. Vaping, she
 said, helped her stop smoking after 12 years of the habit.“I had to quit,” she testified. “I had to make sure I was there for my kids.”Others warned the possible ban would kill jobs and shutter small businesses.“Out of my 400 flavors, 399 will be gone,” Topeka vape shop owner Eric Cope said.But
 the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and American 
Lung Association say a complete flavor ban — menthol included — would 
help prevent new generations of addicts.Smoking has become less 
popular with Kansas teens. State data shows half of high schoolers here 
reported having tried a cigarette in 2005. By 2017, that was down to 
about 25%, but a third said they had vaped.Republican committee chairman Rep. John Barker voiced frustration with the advocacy groups.“If you get 95% of what you want up here,” he said about pushing for a menthol ban, too, “you guys need to call it a win.”Other
 groups that wanted Kansas to ban flavors included the Greater Kansas 
City Chamber of Commerce — which said tobacco and nicotine addiction 
cuts into worker productivity and pushes up health care costs — and the 
state’s main teachers union.“We need all the help we can get in schools,” said Mark Desetti of the Kansas National Education Association.School districts across the country and in Kansas are <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/shawnee-mission-and-blue-valley-join-growing-number-school-districts-suing-juul-labs#stream/0" target="_blank">suing Juul</a>, which manufactures small vaping cartridges popular with minors, claiming the company targeted kids with its marketing.<a href="https://apnews.com/d22aed5d39273150d640e02ef89823cd" target="_blank">The Trump administration</a>
 has also said it would crack down on most vaping flavors, but only for 
the type of cartridge-based vaping systems that became popular with 
teens.The Kansas bill in question would codify the federal 
government’s new minimum tobacco-buying age of 21 in Kansas. People 
caught smoking or vaping underage wouldn’t face criminal prosecution 
anymore, though sellers would still face penalties for breaking the law.The
 proposal would also get rid of cigarette vending machines and hike the 
fee that tobacco sellers pay every two years to the state. That fee 
hasn’t gone up since 1972 and would increase from $25 to $100.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@Celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their 
communities and civic life.

Almost all vaping flavors would be banned under Kan. proposal 

DES MOINES, IA. (AP) — Two doctors and other former employees of an Iowa care center for people with intellectual disabilities have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against a state agency and several officials, alleging a conspiracy to silence complaints about sexual arousal research that included using pornographic materials that they claim exploited fragile and dependent residents.

The allegations center on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=3707525026&amp;ename=Jerry%20Rea&amp;lang=en">Jerry Rea</a>, the former superintendent of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=176133672&amp;ename=Glenwood%20Resource%20Center&amp;lang=en">Glenwood Resource Center</a>, a researcher hired in 2017 by the state of Iowa from Kansas. Lawsuit plaintiffs claim Rea was determined to turn the state-owned facility into a research center through medical experimentation, including “sexual arousal research” on extremely fragile residents.

The lawsuit was filed this week in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=3229739589&amp;ename=U.S.%20District%20Court&amp;lang=en">U.S. District Court</a>&nbsp;by Dr. John Heffron and Dr. Michael Langenfeld, two former Glenwood doctors, and other former employees, including an assistant superintendent, a guardian for two patients, the director of quality management and a nurse practitioner.

It names as defendants former&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=45043&amp;ename=DHS&amp;lang=en">DHS</a>&nbsp;Director&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=1103636797&amp;ename=Jerry%20Foxhoven&amp;lang=en">Jerry Foxhoven</a>, who resigned in June 2019 at the request of Iowa Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=911558153&amp;ename=Kim%20Reynolds&amp;lang=en">Kim Reynolds</a>; Richard Shults, director of the Iowa Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health and Disability Service, who retired last month; Rea, who was fired in December; and Mohammad Rehman, Glenwood medical director, who remains on the job.

The doctors and other plaintiffs allege violations of federal civil rights and whistleblower laws, wrongful termination and interference with a doctor-patient relationship.

The lawsuit says the case is the result of a conspiracy to silence, punish and retaliate against longtime medical and administrative professionals for expressing their concerns to management of the Glenwood Resource Center, their state superiors and other officials regarding violations of an array of state and federal laws and policies designed to protect severely disabled and vulnerable patients.

A spokesman for Gov. Reynolds said she wouldn’t comment on the lawsuit. DHS spokesman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=912408753&amp;ename=Matt%20highland&amp;lang=en">Matt Highland</a>&nbsp;said the department does not comment on pending litigation.

“DHS is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of those we serve, and our employees. We continue to take all necessary action to address all allegations,” he said in an email response.

She wouldn't answer questions about when she learned of experimentation on patients and how much of Rea’s background was checked before he was hired.

The lawsuit claims problems began when Rea, a child psychologist from Kansas, was hired to oversee Glenwood.

He had been superintendent of a Kansas facility and was an adjunct assistant research professor at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=3679955942&amp;ename=University%20of%20Kansas&amp;lang=en">University of Kansas</a>. Among his research interests in Kansas were topics related to deviant sexual behavior and arousal, including with individuals with intellectual disabilities. In 1998, before joining Glenwood, he received a patent for a device used to measure sexual arousal.

The lawsuit claims he was hired, in part, because of his personal relationship with Shults, to whom Rea directly reported.

The plaintiffs allege he made significant changes in the management to cut costs and guide the facility toward becoming research focused, including sexual arousal research.

The facility, which cares for about 200 patients, had been investigated by the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=43987&amp;ename=Department%20of%20Justice&amp;lang=en">Department of Justice</a>&nbsp;in 2004 and was required under a settlement with the federal government to provide a safe and humane environment, not to use prone restraints and to limit the use of any physical restraints. The facility also was required to obtain informed consent from guardians for residents, to make use of interdisciplinary treatment and care teams, and to prepare written policies and procedures to ensure the use of recognized standards of medical care. The facility came into compliance in April 2010.

The lawsuit alleges Rea’s goal was to transform Glenwood “from a facility focused on patient care, into a research facility to further Defendant Rea’s longstanding interest in clinical research involving sexual arousal and sexual deviancy, among other things.” The lawsuit claims patients were used as “guinea pigs’ in experiments.

The lawsuit does not specify how many residents were involved.

Rea and his team bought devices and tools including stock photos, which included pornographic images and a dedicated computer, software program and a joystick for the sole purpose of the research, the lawsuit alleges.

Kelly Brodie, the former assistant superintendent of treatment support and one of the plaintiffs, objected but was overruled by Shults, according to lawsuit documents.

The lawsuit also alleges consent from the patient guardians was not obtained before beginning the experiments, and Glenwood officials later were forced to scramble to get consent after receiving notice of a new Department of Justice investigation last year.

Preparing the patients for the sexual arousal experiments included adjustments to their medication, which alarmed the doctors.

“When a non-physician unilaterally adjusts this medication mix, without understanding these related medications, the risk of patient harm is significant,” according to the lawsuit plaintiffs.

They claim interference caused harm to patients, including seizures and behavior that was later used to justify increased use of physical restraints in violation of the earlier consent decree.

The doctors said after they were forced out, the quality of care declined and the rate of deaths and other adverse events for patients increased significantly.

Federal investigators were expected to visit the facility this week as part of the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581601610901.png" alt="Dr. Jerry Rea was Superintendent of the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center as well as KU graduate and Principal Investigator of the Family Care Treatment Program -photo courtesy University of Kansas" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Jerry Rea was Superintendent of the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center as well as KU graduate and Principal Investigator of the Family Care Treatment Program -photo courtesy University of Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, IA. (AP) — Two doctors and other former employees of an Iowa care center for people with intellectual disabilities have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against a state agency and several officials, alleging a conspiracy to silence complaints about sexual arousal research that included using pornographic materials that they claim exploited fragile and dependent residents.The allegations center on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=3707525026&amp;ename=Jerry%20Rea&amp;lang=en">Jerry Rea</a>, the former superintendent of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=176133672&amp;ename=Glenwood%20Resource%20Center&amp;lang=en">Glenwood Resource Center</a>, a researcher hired in 2017 by the state of Iowa from Kansas. Lawsuit plaintiffs claim Rea was determined to turn the state-owned facility into a research center through medical experimentation, including “sexual arousal research” on extremely fragile residents.The lawsuit was filed this week in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=3229739589&amp;ename=U.S.%20District%20Court&amp;lang=en">U.S. District Court</a>&nbsp;by Dr. John Heffron and Dr. Michael Langenfeld, two former Glenwood doctors, and other former employees, including an assistant superintendent, a guardian for two patients, the director of quality management and a nurse practitioner.It names as defendants former&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=45043&amp;ename=DHS&amp;lang=en">DHS</a>&nbsp;Director&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=1103636797&amp;ename=Jerry%20Foxhoven&amp;lang=en">Jerry Foxhoven</a>, who resigned in June 2019 at the request of Iowa Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=911558153&amp;ename=Kim%20Reynolds&amp;lang=en">Kim Reynolds</a>; Richard Shults, director of the Iowa Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health and Disability Service, who retired last month; Rea, who was fired in December; and Mohammad Rehman, Glenwood medical director, who remains on the job.The doctors and other plaintiffs allege violations of federal civil rights and whistleblower laws, wrongful termination and interference with a doctor-patient relationship.The lawsuit says the case is the result of a conspiracy to silence, punish and retaliate against longtime medical and administrative professionals for expressing their concerns to management of the Glenwood Resource Center, their state superiors and other officials regarding violations of an array of state and federal laws and policies designed to protect severely disabled and vulnerable patients.A spokesman for Gov. Reynolds said she wouldn’t comment on the lawsuit. DHS spokesman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=912408753&amp;ename=Matt%20highland&amp;lang=en">Matt Highland</a>&nbsp;said the department does not comment on pending litigation.“DHS is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of those we serve, and our employees. We continue to take all necessary action to address all allegations,” he said in an email response.She wouldn't answer questions about when she learned of experimentation on patients and how much of Rea’s background was checked before he was hired.The lawsuit claims problems began when Rea, a child psychologist from Kansas, was hired to oversee Glenwood.He had been superintendent of a Kansas facility and was an adjunct assistant research professor at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=3679955942&amp;ename=University%20of%20Kansas&amp;lang=en">University of Kansas</a>. Among his research interests in Kansas were topics related to deviant sexual behavior and arousal, including with individuals with intellectual disabilities. In 1998, before joining Glenwood, he received a patent for a device used to measure sexual arousal.The lawsuit claims he was hired, in part, because of his personal relationship with Shults, to whom Rea directly reported.The plaintiffs allege he made significant changes in the management to cut costs and guide the facility toward becoming research focused, including sexual arousal research.The facility, which cares for about 200 patients, had been investigated by the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thegazette.com/topic?eid=43987&amp;ename=Department%20of%20Justice&amp;lang=en">Department of Justice</a>&nbsp;in 2004 and was required under a settlement with the federal government to provide a safe and humane environment, not to use prone restraints and to limit the use of any physical restraints. The facility also was required to obtain informed consent from guardians for residents, to make use of interdisciplinary treatment and care teams, and to prepare written policies and procedures to ensure the use of recognized standards of medical care. The facility came into compliance in April 2010.The lawsuit alleges Rea’s goal was to transform Glenwood “from a facility focused on patient care, into a research facility to further Defendant Rea’s longstanding interest in clinical research involving sexual arousal and sexual deviancy, among other things.” The lawsuit claims patients were used as “guinea pigs’ in experiments.The lawsuit does not specify how many residents were involved.Rea and his team bought devices and tools including stock photos, which included pornographic images and a dedicated computer, software program and a joystick for the sole purpose of the research, the lawsuit alleges.Kelly Brodie, the former assistant superintendent of treatment support and one of the plaintiffs, objected but was overruled by Shults, according to lawsuit documents.The lawsuit also alleges consent from the patient guardians was not obtained before beginning the experiments, and Glenwood officials later were forced to scramble to get consent after receiving notice of a new Department of Justice investigation last year.Preparing the patients for the sexual arousal experiments included adjustments to their medication, which alarmed the doctors.“When a non-physician unilaterally adjusts this medication mix, without understanding these related medications, the risk of patient harm is significant,” according to the lawsuit plaintiffs.They claim interference caused harm to patients, including seizures and behavior that was later used to justify increased use of physical restraints in violation of the earlier consent decree.The doctors said after they were forced out, the quality of care declined and the rate of deaths and other adverse events for patients increased significantly.Federal investigators were expected to visit the facility this week as part of the investigation.

Lawsuit: Center, researcher from Kan. sexually exploited disabled patients

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, says his office will begin next week the process of pardoning misdemeanor marijuana offenses.

&nbsp;Quinton Lucas made the announcement during his first State of the City address on Wednesday. Lucas made the pardons part of his campaign for office in 2019. He said he’d like to go further and remove marijuana from the code of municipal ordinances.

Lucas said his office would post an application on its website next week so nonviolent offenders with misdemeanor marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia possession on their records can ask for pardons.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581616964076.png" alt="Mayor Quinton Lucas during his State of the city address Wednesday" />
 <figcaption>Mayor Quinton Lucas during his State of the city address Wednesday</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, says his office will begin next week the process of pardoning misdemeanor marijuana offenses.&nbsp;Quinton Lucas made the announcement during his first State of the City address on Wednesday. Lucas made the pardons part of his campaign for office in 2019. He said he’d like to go further and remove marijuana from the code of municipal ordinances.Lucas said his office would post an application on its website next week so nonviolent offenders with misdemeanor marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia possession on their records can ask for pardons.

Kansas City mayor starting pardon process for pot offenses

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary in Salina.

Between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday, someone stole guns from a residence in the 1000 block of South Santa Fe Avenue, according toSalina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

The weapons included a black Rock Island Armory 1911 9mm handgun, valued at $700, a black American Tactical GSG 1911 22 caliber handgun, valued at $35 and an American Firearms compact 22, valued at $100

The homeowner told police that when he returned home from work Wednesday, he noticed damage to his front door frame and a broken plexiglass window. He then found three empty gun cases on his bed, according to Forrester.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary in Salina.Between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday, someone stole guns from a residence in the 1000 block of South Santa Fe Avenue, according toSalina Police Captain Paul Forrester.The weapons included a black Rock Island Armory 1911 9mm handgun, valued at $700, a black American Tactical GSG 1911 22 caliber handgun, valued at $35 and an American Firearms compact 22, valued at $100The homeowner told police that when he returned home from work Wednesday, he noticed damage to his front door frame and a broken plexiglass window. He then found three empty gun cases on his bed, according to Forrester.

Police investigating theft of guns from home in Salina

DeKalb County, Mo. —Two Maysville, Missouri&nbsp; women who admit they locked a 9-year-old autistic child in a cage have been charged with child abuse.

The Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office reports the child’s mother, 35-year-old Katrina England, and her wife, 39-year-old Debra England, have been charged with child abuse and child endangerment

The office says deputies and workers with the Children’s Division responded to allegations of abuse, neglect, unsanitary living conditions, and possible drug use at a Maysville home (70 miles north of Kansas City)

Deputies found the child's bunk style bed was fashioned with 2x4's running vertical on the bottom bunk to keep the child from escaping, along with a plywood door. The bottom bunk did not have a mattress, only a sleeping bag.

Deputies says the house had animal feces, urine stains, and cigarette butts scattered on the floor, as well as cockroaches and unsanitary conditions in the kitchen. Trash was piled on the front porch. Ceiling rafters were visible in the living room.

According to the sheriff’s office, the two women admitted they locked the child in the cage for 12 hours at a time. The child was also left in a locked cage when the house was empty.

Deputies arrested the women. The child has been taken into protective custody with the Department of Social Services.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581608897407.png" alt="Katrina England photo Daviess-DeKalb Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Katrina England photo Daviess-DeKalb Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostDeKalb County, Mo. —Two Maysville, Missouri&nbsp; women who admit they locked a 9-year-old autistic child in a cage have been charged with child abuse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581608992622.png" alt="Debra England photo Daviess-DeKalb Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Debra England photo Daviess-DeKalb Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>The Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office reports the child’s mother, 35-year-old Katrina England, and her wife, 39-year-old Debra England, have been charged with child abuse and child endangermentThe office says deputies and workers with the Children’s Division responded to allegations of abuse, neglect, unsanitary living conditions, and possible drug use at a Maysville home (70 miles north of Kansas City)Deputies found the child's bunk style bed was fashioned with 2x4's running vertical on the bottom bunk to keep the child from escaping, along with a plywood door. The bottom bunk did not have a mattress, only a sleeping bag.Deputies says the house had animal feces, urine stains, and cigarette butts scattered on the floor, as well as cockroaches and unsanitary conditions in the kitchen. Trash was piled on the front porch. Ceiling rafters were visible in the living room.According to the sheriff’s office, the two women admitted they locked the child in the cage for 12 hours at a time. The child was also left in a locked cage when the house was empty.Deputies arrested the women. The child has been taken into protective custody with the Department of Social Services.

Couple arrested for caging autistic 9-year-old

EL DORADO —An ambulance crashed on a slushy&nbsp; stretch of Interstate 35 near El Dorado Wednesday.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the ambulance driver identified as Lacy Anette Volz, 37, Wichita, lost control around 10:30 a.m. as the area was under a winter weather advisory. 

She then overcorrected and struck the barrier wall and the guard rail.

A personal vehicle transported Volz to a hospital with a suspected minor injury. 

No mention was made in the report of a patient in the ambulance.

A 2016 Peterbilt tractor-trailer driven by Nicole Dawn Huttegger, 30, DeSoto, Mo. also was involved in the crash. She was not injured.

EL DORADO —An ambulance crashed on a slushy&nbsp; stretch of Interstate 35 near El Dorado Wednesday.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the ambulance driver identified as Lacy Anette Volz, 37, Wichita, lost control around 10:30 a.m. as the area was under a winter weather advisory. She then overcorrected and struck the barrier wall and the guard rail.A personal vehicle transported Volz to a hospital with a suspected minor injury. No mention was made in the report of a patient in the ambulance.A 2016 Peterbilt tractor-trailer driven by Nicole Dawn Huttegger, 30, DeSoto, Mo. also was involved in the crash. She was not injured.

Ambulance driver crashes on slushy Kansas highway

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and have three suspects in custody.

Just 11:30 a.m., officers responded to a highway robbery call at a business in the 1700 block of west McCormick in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

A&nbsp; 50-year-old man at the scene told police a suspect later identified as 18-year-old&nbsp; approached him at the place of business and asked if he had any work.

At around 11:30 a.m., officers responded to a highway robbery call at a business in the 1700 block of west McCormick.

When officers arrived, a 50-year-old man reported being approached by 18-year-old Nykia Watkins at his place of business who asked if he had any work.

While he was speaking with Watkins two males suspects later identified as 23-year-old Larry Williamson and 23-year-old Ziaareas Crosby approached from behind. Williamson was reported to be armed with a rifle, according to Davidson.

The suspects demanded money and property from the victim. The struck the victim in the head with the rifle, causing minor injuries.

The suspects took the victim's wallet and cell phone and fled in a 2007 black Ford Fusion. The suspects immediately began making purchases with the victim's credit cards, according Davidson.

Investigators were able to locate the suspect vehicle driven by Watkins in the area of Pawnee and Rock Road in Wichita.

&nbsp;After a short vehicle pursuit, Watkins stopped the vehicle in the area of Kellogg and Edgemoor. Police arrested all three. They also recovered the victim's wallet, bank cards and cell phone. They also&nbsp;

Police also located a fake rifle in the vehicle, according to Davidson.

Police booked Williams and Crosby on requested charges of aggravated robbery.  They also booked Watkins on requested charges of aggravated robbery, flee and elude and other traffic charges.   Williamson has a previous conviction for aggravated battery, according to Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581538045440.png" alt=" Ziaareas Crosby" />
 <figcaption> Ziaareas Crosby</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and have three suspects in custody.Just 11:30 a.m., officers responded to a highway robbery call at a business in the 1700 block of west McCormick in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.A&nbsp; 50-year-old man at the scene told police a suspect later identified as 18-year-old&nbsp; approached him at the place of business and asked if he had any work.At around 11:30 a.m., officers responded to a highway robbery call at a business in the 1700 block of west McCormick.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581537893819.png" alt="Watkins" />
 <figcaption>Watkins</figcaption>
 </figure>When officers arrived, a 50-year-old man reported being approached by 18-year-old Nykia Watkins at his place of business who asked if he had any work.While he was speaking with Watkins two males suspects later identified as 23-year-old Larry Williamson and 23-year-old Ziaareas Crosby approached from behind. Williamson was reported to be armed with a rifle, according to Davidson.The suspects demanded money and property from the victim. The struck the victim in the head with the rifle, causing minor injuries.The suspects took the victim's wallet and cell phone and fled in a 2007 black Ford Fusion. The suspects immediately began making purchases with the victim's credit cards, according Davidson.Investigators were able to locate the suspect vehicle driven by Watkins in the area of Pawnee and Rock Road in Wichita.&nbsp;After a short vehicle pursuit, Watkins stopped the vehicle in the area of Kellogg and Edgemoor. Police arrested all three. They also recovered the victim's wallet, bank cards and cell phone. They also&nbsp;Police also located a fake rifle in the vehicle, according to Davidson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581537959737.png" alt="Williamson" />
 <figcaption>Williamson</figcaption>
 </figure>Police booked Williams and Crosby on requested charges of aggravated robbery. They also booked Watkins on requested charges of aggravated robbery, flee and elude and other traffic charges. Williamson has a previous conviction for aggravated battery, according to Davidson.

Police: Suspects used fake rifle during Kansas robbery

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/surprise-medical-bills-leave-kansans-struggling-pay-lawmakers-say-these-ideas-would-help#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — A flurry of proposals in the 
Kansas Statehouse this session take aim at rising medical costs, 
including one that may be the state’s first attempt to rein in “surprise
 bills.”

Republican Sen. 
Richard Hilderbrand has introduced two price-transparency proposals and 
Democratic Sen. Barbara Bollier unveiled a plan to join <a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2019/comparing-federal-legislation-surprise-billing" target="_blank">28 other states</a> with consumer protection laws against such bills.

Surprise
 bills come, for example, when you’re being treated in-network but an 
out-of-network medical professional gets involved. To collect more than 
your insurer will pay, the out-of-network providers send you extra bills
 directly.

Kansas may be a hotspot for <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/getting-health-care-kansas-your-odds-may-be-worse-here-youll-get-surprise-bill#stream/0" target="_blank">surprise bills,</a><a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/getting-health-care-kansas-your-odds-may-be-worse-here-youll-get-surprise-bill#stream/0"> </a>according
 to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Only Congress can fix the issue 
completely, because states can’t help people with many job-based health 
plans that fall under federal jurisdiction.

Still,
 slow progress in Washington, D.C., has spurred states to pass at least 
partial fixes. In Kansas, any partial fix could shield more than 600,000
 people on state-regulated health plans.

Nationally, Yale University researchers estimate that limiting surprise bills could save <a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00507?utm_campaign=MEDIA+ADVISORY%3A+Cooper+AOP+12-16-19&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=From+Health+Affairs%3A++The+Cost+Of+Out-of-Network+Billing+For+In-Network+Hospital+Care&amp;utm_source=Newsletter">tens of billions of dollars</a> a year in health care spending.

Here’s a quick look at the ideas from Bollier and Hilderbrand.

The proposal from <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/sb357/" target="_blank">Bollier</a>,
 who’s running for an open U.S. Senate seat this year, would require the
 insurer and biller (say, a doctor or hospital) to duke it out without 
sending surprise bills to the patient.

The biller
 could accept the insurer’s median in-network payout for the procedure, 
or try negotiating upward. If talks fall apart, an independent mediator 
would side with the more reasonable offer, and the loser would pay for 
the mediation.

Bollier, a doctor from Mission Hills, argues her legislation would keep prices fair for providers and patients alike.

“The
 actual patient doesn't end up in debt — and unexpected debt,” she said,
 “when they have done everything right to the best of their knowledge.”

Jack
 Hoadley, a professor emeritus at Georgetown University’s Health Policy 
Institute, tracks surprise billing laws and said many states fall short 
of addressing the matter adequately.

A good law, 
he said, needs to cover both emergency care and in-network hospitals. It
 needs to clarify that insurers and billers must settle up without 
involving the patient, and how to do so.

On first
 read, he said, Bollier’s plan appears to hit the mark. But it’s unclear
 whether the bill will get a hearing in the GOP-controlled legislature. 
Inquiries to insurance committee chairman Sen. Robert Olson went 
unanswered.

The Kansas Hospital Association and Kansas Medical Society said they are reviewing the bill and haven’t taken positions.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb281_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">One of Hilderbrand’s proposals</a> would let patients request price lists for the most common services at their hospitals or doctor’s offices. <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb282_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">The other</a> bill would entitle them to price estimates for any treatments or services expected to cost more than $500.

Health care providers wouldn’t be bound by the figures, but required to make a “good faith effort” at projecting their prices.

“These aren’t silver bullets,” the southeast Kansas senator said, “but it’s a small piece of the puzzle.”

Insurers
 would clarify for patients what the final charges would likely be 
(based on the estimate, and how the insurer and patient would split the
 bill.

The Kansas Medical Society said the idea 
is “well-intentioned,” but argues it wouldn’t necessarily give an 
accurate picture of out-of-pocket costs for several reasons. For 
example, a single surgery can involve several different billers — the 
hospital, the surgeon, the anesthetist.

The Kansas Hospital Association had similar objections and said <a href="https://www.stormontvail.org/patient-services/understanding-hospital-pricing-and-charges/" target="_blank">hospitals already work with patients</a> to help them understand how much things cost, such as when planning for a birth.

Also, hospitals are federally required to publish online chargemasters, a kind of price list.

However, chargemasters often contain jargon and shorthand that <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hospital-price-list-chargemaster-rules-trump-mandate-2019-n959006" target="_blank">patients can’t easily navigate</a> on their own, and they don’t reflect what hospitals ultimately charge insurance companies.

Hospitals are fighting a federal push to reveal those much more common and telling rates, the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/hospitals-push-back-on-price-disclosure-rule-11574256958" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a> has reported. Health care providers and insurers consider them proprietary.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@Celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their 
communities and civic life.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581537795525.jpeg" alt=" Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption> Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/surprise-medical-bills-leave-kansans-struggling-pay-lawmakers-say-these-ideas-would-help#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — A flurry of proposals in the 
Kansas Statehouse this session take aim at rising medical costs, 
including one that may be the state’s first attempt to rein in “surprise
 bills.”Republican Sen. 
Richard Hilderbrand has introduced two price-transparency proposals and 
Democratic Sen. Barbara Bollier unveiled a plan to join <a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2019/comparing-federal-legislation-surprise-billing" target="_blank">28 other states</a> with consumer protection laws against such bills.Surprise
 bills come, for example, when you’re being treated in-network but an 
out-of-network medical professional gets involved. To collect more than 
your insurer will pay, the out-of-network providers send you extra bills
 directly.Kansas may be a hotspot for <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/getting-health-care-kansas-your-odds-may-be-worse-here-youll-get-surprise-bill#stream/0" target="_blank">surprise bills,</a><a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/getting-health-care-kansas-your-odds-may-be-worse-here-youll-get-surprise-bill#stream/0"> </a>according
 to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Only Congress can fix the issue 
completely, because states can’t help people with many job-based health 
plans that fall under federal jurisdiction.Still,
 slow progress in Washington, D.C., has spurred states to pass at least 
partial fixes. In Kansas, any partial fix could shield more than 600,000
 people on state-regulated health plans.Nationally, Yale University researchers estimate that limiting surprise bills could save <a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00507?utm_campaign=MEDIA+ADVISORY%3A+Cooper+AOP+12-16-19&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=From+Health+Affairs%3A++The+Cost+Of+Out-of-Network+Billing+For+In-Network+Hospital+Care&amp;utm_source=Newsletter">tens of billions of dollars</a> a year in health care spending.Here’s a quick look at the ideas from Bollier and Hilderbrand.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581537822492.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A partial ban</h2>The proposal from <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/sb357/" target="_blank">Bollier</a>,
 who’s running for an open U.S. Senate seat this year, would require the
 insurer and biller (say, a doctor or hospital) to duke it out without 
sending surprise bills to the patient.The biller
 could accept the insurer’s median in-network payout for the procedure, 
or try negotiating upward. If talks fall apart, an independent mediator 
would side with the more reasonable offer, and the loser would pay for 
the mediation.Bollier, a doctor from Mission Hills, argues her legislation would keep prices fair for providers and patients alike.“The
 actual patient doesn't end up in debt — and unexpected debt,” she said,
 “when they have done everything right to the best of their knowledge.”Jack
 Hoadley, a professor emeritus at Georgetown University’s Health Policy 
Institute, tracks surprise billing laws and said many states fall short 
of addressing the matter adequately.A good law, 
he said, needs to cover both emergency care and in-network hospitals. It
 needs to clarify that insurers and billers must settle up without 
involving the patient, and how to do so.On first
 read, he said, Bollier’s plan appears to hit the mark. But it’s unclear
 whether the bill will get a hearing in the GOP-controlled legislature. 
Inquiries to insurance committee chairman Sen. Robert Olson went 
unanswered.The Kansas Hospital Association and Kansas Medical Society said they are reviewing the bill and haven’t taken positions.<h2>Price transparency</h2><a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb281_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">One of Hilderbrand’s proposals</a> would let patients request price lists for the most common services at their hospitals or doctor’s offices. <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb282_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">The other</a> bill would entitle them to price estimates for any treatments or services expected to cost more than $500.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581537847937.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Health care providers wouldn’t be bound by the figures, but required to make a “good faith effort” at projecting their prices.“These aren’t silver bullets,” the southeast Kansas senator said, “but it’s a small piece of the puzzle.”Insurers
 would clarify for patients what the final charges would likely be 
(based on the estimate, and how the insurer and patient would split the
 bill.The Kansas Medical Society said the idea 
is “well-intentioned,” but argues it wouldn’t necessarily give an 
accurate picture of out-of-pocket costs for several reasons. For 
example, a single surgery can involve several different billers — the 
hospital, the surgeon, the anesthetist.The Kansas Hospital Association had similar objections and said <a href="https://www.stormontvail.org/patient-services/understanding-hospital-pricing-and-charges/" target="_blank">hospitals already work with patients</a> to help them understand how much things cost, such as when planning for a birth.Also, hospitals are federally required to publish online chargemasters, a kind of price list.However, chargemasters often contain jargon and shorthand that <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hospital-price-list-chargemaster-rules-trump-mandate-2019-n959006" target="_blank">patients can’t easily navigate</a> on their own, and they don’t reflect what hospitals ultimately charge insurance companies.Hospitals are fighting a federal push to reveal those much more common and telling rates, the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/hospitals-push-back-on-price-disclosure-rule-11574256958" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a> has reported. Health care providers and insurers consider them proprietary.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@Celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their 
communities and civic life.

Lawmakers pitch ideas to end surprise medical bills for Kan. families

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Six employees of the Kansas City public works department admitted they conspired over three years to collect about $58,000 in overtime pay they had not earned.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Six employees of the Kansas City public works department admitted they conspired over three years to collect about $58,000 in overtime pay they had not earned.When the city receives calls about downed or damaged signs that are considered essential — such as stop signs or yield signs — public works employees are called to work overtime to repair or replace the signs.Prosecutors said the defendants admitted they or their friends and relatives reported damaged signs on evenings or weekends in order to be called out to fix them. They then submitted time sheets and work orders indicating they fixed the signs, when they had not done so. Signs that were actually damaged often were not fixed until the next working day.The conspiracy lasted from January 2013 to November 2016. An internal investigation found about 75 percent of callouts for damaged signs between Aug. 23, 2016 and Nov. 13, 2016, were fraudulent. City officials then alerted the FBI.Prentis M. Rayford, 37, Eric McKamey, 47, and Edward Lee Ellingburg, 48, all of Kansas City, pleaded guilty Wednesday to participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Co-defendants Paul Myers, 62, Kenneth Gethers, 34, and Julio Prospero, 49, all of Kansas City, have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.