OSAWATOMIE, Kan. (AP) — Federal authorities are no longer threatening to end Medicare and Medicaid funding for the Osawatomie State Hospital after work began on $3 million worth safety improvements.

The Kansas City Star reports that the Department of Health and Human Services told the psychiatric facility Monday that it had made sufficient progress and payments that amount to about one-fourth of the hospital’s $26 million annual budget would continue.

Osawatomie was threatened with the loss of funding after the department inspected the facility in January and found that it was not in compliance with several safety standards to prevent patient injuries and suicides.

The hospital has been replacing beds, installing new bathroom fixtures and replacing suspended ceilings. They have also been eliminating items that could be used for hanging or as a weapon.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House committee has rejected a bill that would give retired teachers and government workers small increases in their pension benefits.

The Pensions and Benefits Committee’s vote Wednesday was 7-5 against the measure.

Chairman and Republican Rep. Steve Johnson of Assaria said the biggest concern was the long-term cost of boosting benefits.

The state is working to close a projected $9.8 billion shortfall in funding for benefits promised into 2033.

The bill was designed to boost benefits for retirees to help them deal with increases in the cost of living. Increases would have ranged from 0.5 percent to 3 percent.

Kansas Coalition of Public Retirees Vice Chairman Ernie Claudel said the vote was disappointing because 70 percent of retirees have not received any adjustments in their benefits.

TOPEKA – A Kansas teenager was injured in an accident just after 8 a.m. on Wednesday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Volvo semi driven by Joseph Kanaha Palaile, 53, Nashport, OH., was making a U-turn on U.S. 24 at NW Huxman Road.

A 1995 Ford F150 driven by Jordan Alexis Sharpe, 16, Topeka, struck the trailer of the semi and came to rest in the westbound lanes of the highway.

Sharpe was transported to Stormont Vail.
Palaile was not injured.

The KHP reported both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident.

SALINA, Kan. (AP) — Federal authorities say the Kansas State-Salina will be able to use unmanned aircraft across the state, with several restrictions.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday that the school will be able to expand its research across Kansas, including over private property with the owner’s permission.

Program manager Mark Blanks says the aircraft would be used for such things as researching drought stress and bug infestation.

The Salina Journal reports the permission comes with several restrictions. For example, all flights must stay below 700 feet and be during the day. And the controller must maintain sight with the vehicle. Also, missions cannot fly over heavily used roads or an outside gathering of people.

Blanks also stressed that the university doesn’t plan to compete with private companies.

KIMBERLY HEFLING, AP Education Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — No Child Left Behind is a widely criticized law, but a GOP bill the House is considering to fix it isn’t winning popularity contests among Democrats.

House Republicans say the measure, which will be debated Wednesday, would restore local control in schools and stop top-down education mandates.

House Democrats and the White House say it would lead to the federal government abandoning its responsibility to poor, minority, non-English-speaking and disabled children.

The bill maintains annual federal testing requirements. It eliminates many federal programs, creates a single local grant program and allows public money to follow low-income children to new public schools.

A vote is expected on Friday, and it’s possible that members will vote strictly along party lines. That’s what happened with a similar bill in 2013.

By Austin Fisher
KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA — House lawmakers heard testimony Tuesday on a bill that would check whether gamblers who hit the jackpot at state-run gambling facilities have overdue child support payments before they walk away with their winnings.

House Bill 2269 would expand the state’s debt setoff program that currently withholds outstanding child support just from scratch ticket winnings of $600 or more. The bill adds state-owned or managed casinos, racetracks, and other licensed establishments as places where winnings can withheld in an effort to increase collections.

The Department of Administration maintains a list of people with debt to state agencies, foreign state agencies, municipalities or the federal treasury, like those who owe back taxes or child support. Scratch ticket retailers can check players’ names against the list to see whether they have debts.

Under the new law if an indebted gambler wins at least $1,200 from a slot machine or bingo, $1,500 from keno, or $5,000 from a poker tournament, the casino would subtract the debt and credit it to the department’s setoff clearing fund.

Rep. Pete DeGraaf (R-Mulvane) told the House Children and Seniors committee that the bill will help children from broken homes.

“We owe it to Kansas children to collect whatever we can before the winnings are lost in further attempts to win more, or squandered somewhere else,” DeGraaf said. “This bill supports the principle of paying debts before gambling away the funds needed to pay for past responsibilities.”

Melissa Johnson, deputy director of Child Support Services, supported the bill and estimated that families would receive an additional $157,300 in child support each year. That figure is based on a similar program in Colorado that deducted $1,430 per collection on average in 2009.

The Department of Administration estimates updating computer systems to implement the bill would cost less than $10,000. It is looking into how much of the debt setoff currently comes from lottery collections.

Representatives for the Kansas Department for Children and Families couldn’t say for sure how many non-custodial parents — those who aren’t paying their child support — are gamblers.

Richard Klemp, director of governmental affairs for the Kansas Star Casino and Boyd Gaming Corporation, also supported the bill.

“We’re not necessarily doing a happy dance if it becomes law but we’re already doing a number of procedures when a jackpot is hit,” Klemp said.

Casinos take a photo of winner, check their identification and whether they’re in a voluntary exclusion program for problem gamblers, deduct state income tax and, if the winner wants, federal income tax.

“This would not slow the process down. And we do this (deduct state debt) in some other states so this is not a brand new concept. In fact it’s pretty seamless,” Klemp said.

The bill excludes Native American tribal gaming facilities that operate under sovereign law separate from Kansas.

Austin Fisher is a University of Kansas senior from Lawrence majoring in journalism.