TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Department of Labor says the state’s unemployment rate rose to 3.9 percent in August, an increase of two-tenths of a percent from July.
The unemployment rate in August 2016 was 4.3 percent.
The department said Friday the increased unemployment was related mostly to manufacturing layoffs and revised government job estimates.
Economist Emilie Doerksen said nonfarm employment grew by 800 jobs last month and the service-providing sector added nearly 2,000 jobs. But that was offset by temporary layoffs in manufacturing and decreased government job estimates.
Officials say Kansas has lost 9,000 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs, including 6,300 private-sector jobs.
State Rep. Cindy Holscher, right, an Olathe Democrat, hands U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos a packet of statements from groups like Stand Up Blue Valley that oppose her position on school choice. CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos touted the importance of making higher education accessible Thursday while on a whirlwind tour of vocational classrooms at Johnson County Community College.
The highly orchestrated two-hour visit included stops to view spaces used for teaching automotive, electrical, welding, nursing and culinary programs.
The stop was part of a six-state tour in which DeVos has traveled to public and private schools, highlighting themes ranging from services for children with autism to Native American education.
Asked how Thursday’s focus on career and technical education at the Johnson County college fits with her agency’s proposal to cut more than $165 million from federal funding for career and technical education, DeVos said the U.S. Department of Education is dedicated to ensuring students have opportunities beyond high school.
“We are actually supporting career and technical education at nearly the same level from the last fiscal year, and the focus is administration-wide on supporting career and technical education as part of a holistic look at higher education,” she said. “For too long, I think we’ve done a disservice to young people in suggesting that four-year college or university was the only way that they could be successful as adults.”
Earlier this year, DeVos put forth a budget proposal with the Trump administrationthat included more than $165 million in cuts to career and technical education. Kansas schools received $10.2 million from that budget in 2016.
A summary of the budget on the U.S. Department of Education website says “a decrease is necessary to align with overall Budget priorities” but adds that states would continue to have spending flexibility for those dollars.
During her short tenure, DeVos has met with fierce criticism from public education and civil rights advocates, in part for her policies relating to higher education.
She’s seen as sympathetic to for-profit colleges on fraud and loan regulations that had been intended to protect students and recently announced a review of Title IX regulations against sexual discrimination on campuses. Advocates fear a rollback that will shield perpetrators of sexual assault, though some faculty have expressed concern with Title IX’s implementation.
‘Energized’ by the opportunity
DeVos’ JCCC visit came late in the afternoon — 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. — meaning some classes already had ended. She greeted and spoke briefly with small groups of students working in the automotive and electrical labs. In the health care lab, where class was over, she heard from a professor and two students who described what they had done that day.
Afterward, health care professor Kathy Carver said she had been excited for DeVos’ visit —“energized that we would have an opportunity to share what we’re doing here at the college.”
“I want her to know that we are creative, we are cutting edge,” Carver said.
Asked about the controversies surrounding DeVos, Carver said those aren’t the point.
“I’m not really speaking to her in that level. I really want to appreciate her being a representative of our government,” she said. “She’s come here to get information about who we are, and I think that’s valuable, because they can’t make decisions if they don’t know who they’re making decisions about.”
Several students expressed a similar sentiment, saying they appreciated the opportunity to showcase their school.
“It’s a great opportunity for her to see our campus and show her what a great example of public education is, so she has that exposure,” said Ryanne Pritchard, a student of American history with a concentration in African American studies. “I try to stay away from the political aspect. I’m only here because I’m a student and I want her to see the positives.”
Fellow student Derek Benson hoped DeVos would come away knowing the value of community colleges.
“I think it’s good to show her how affordable college can actually be,” he said. “You can actually spend like $2,000 a year to go to a community college and still get the same education — or even a better education at that.”
School choice a hot topic
As DeVos wrapped up her visit with by mingling with students in the culinary building, state Rep. Cindy Holscher, an Olathe Democrat, slipped into DeVos’ hands a folder full of statements from public education advocacy groups.
Holscher said the letters express concern about DeVos’ proposals to use federal funding for school choice programs that are a perennial source of debate in education and political circles. The agency’s budget proposal this year included $1.4 billion to advance public and private school choice.
To say she and I are on different pages in regard to our view of public education is probably an understatement,” Holscher said afterward. “I am the product of public schools, my children go to public schools, 90 percent of our children go to public schools in the United States, so to me that’s where we need to be making the investment.”
National media have reported that DeVos attended private school and chose the same option for her children, a detail that rankles public education advocates who fear she doesn’t support their schools.
Asked about criticism that she focuses too much attention on private instead of public schools, DeVos said she has visited “a wide array of schools.”
The focus for her current six-state tour, she said, is visiting schools “that are doing things creatively and innovatively.”
“We are highlighting all schools that do a great job at meeting the needs of their students,” she said. “There are all kinds of educational opportunities — a wide range — that I would hope that we could focus less on what word comes before ‘school’ and more on what we need to do to meet the needs of all individual students and give them the greatest opportunity to personally succeed.”
Public details of DeVos’ six-state itinerary have been sparse and came on short notice, an approach that Education Week has observed repeatedly and says is meant “to thwart potential protestors.”
On Thursday near the JCCC campus, a small group of protesters held signs with messages opposing public funding for private school tuition, DeVos’ stance on Title IX and other policies.
Protests continued Friday morning on the other side of the state line, where DeVos visited a small private school. The school is known for embracing inclusion and the rights of LGBTQ students. DeVos has rescinded federal guidance supporting the rights of transgender students.
Celia Llopis-Jepsen is a reporter for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio and KMUW covering health, education and politics. You can reach her on Twitter @Celia_LJ.
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WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos brought her “Rethink School” tour to Kansas Thursday.
She visited with students at staff at Johnson County Community College. A few who disagree with her and the Trump administration held signs in protest of the visit.
The tour is designed to highlight the innovative and groundbreaking work happening in schools across America.
The “Rethink School” tour will showcase creative ways in which education leaders are meeting the needs of students in K-12 and higher education.
“There are so many new and exciting ways state-based education leaders and advocates are truly rethinking education,” said Secretary DeVos. “It is our goal with this tour to highlight what’s working. We want to encourage local education leaders to continue to be creative, to empower parents with options and to expand student-centered education opportunities.”
The Rethink School tour started in Wyoming. She also made stops Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri and Indiana.
COFFEY COUNTY – One person was injured in an accident during a police pursuit just after 7a.m. Friday in Coffey County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Lyon County Deputies were involved a chase northbound on Interstate 35 five miles south of Waverly with a 2004 Jaguar X-type driven by London Leroy Blaylock, 24, Overland Park,
The driver swerved to avoid the stop sticks overturned and rolled. Blaylock was transported to Newman Regional Health Center. A passenger Raven Deon Anderson, 28, Grandview, MO., was transported to a hospital in Topeka.
The two-county chase started after deputies noticed the incorrect tag on the vehicle. They were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Blaylock is being held for Felony Flee and Elude, Reckless Driving and other traffic violations, according to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department.
RENO COUNTY — Officials are working to determine the cause of a fire at Sonoco the packaging firm at 100 South Halstead Street in Hutchinson.
Just after 1p.m. Thursday, Fire crews responding to the fire in an outside recycling area on the south side of the Sonoco structure, according to a media release.
Strong southerly winds quickly fanned the fire through the paper and cardboard, which quickly spread to the building and cardboard pile north of the building.
In addition, crews had to contain spot fires that were igniting grass north of Sherman Street.
The deep-seated fires quickly created many challenges for firefighters. Those challenges included fighting fires in multiple locations, water supply, and high heat condition. Fire crews continued to monitor hot spots through the night.
Heavy equipment was utilized to assist in breaking up the tightly packed material.
Officials reported no injuries.
The Hutchinson Fire Department was assisted by Reno County EMS, South Hutchinson Mobile Incident Command Unit, Reno County Sheriff’s mobile lighting unit, and Sonoco employees.
CIA Director Pompeo Before becoming Director, Pompeo was serving in his fourth term as congressman from Kansas’ 4th District.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Harvard and Chelsea Manning (all times local):
Harvard University has reversed its decision to name Chelsea Manning a visiting fellow, one day after CIA Director Mike Pompeo scrapped a planned appearance over the designation for the soldier who was convicted of leaking classified information.
In a statement posted to the university’s website early Friday, Harvard Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf writes that naming Manning a visiting fellow was a mistake even though he says the title carries no special honor. He says Manning is still invited to spend a day at the school and speak to students.
Manning responded on Twitter , writing that Harvard chills “marginalized voices under @cia pressure.”
Bradley “Chelsea” Manning-courtesy photo
Manning’s publicist didn’t immediately respond when asked if she would still accept Harvard’s invitation to visit the school.
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CIA Director Mike Pompeo says he scrapped his appearance Thursday at Harvard University over the school’s decision to make Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of leaking classified information, a visiting fellow.
Pompeo calls Manning an “American traitor.”
Pompeo, a Harvard graduate, says he didn’t make the decision lightly. He is citing military and intelligence officials who believe that the leaks endangered the lives of CIA employees.
He was supposed to speak at the university Thursday night, but was a no-show. The CIA released a letter Pompeo wrote to Harvard explaining his decision.
Earlier Thursday, Mike Morell, former deputy director and acting director of the CIA, sent a resignation
letter to Harvard saying he could not be part of an organization that “honors a convicted felon and leaker of classified information.”
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3 p.m.
A former top CIA official has abruptly resigned as a senior fellow at Harvard University over the school’s decision to hire Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of leaking classified information.
Mike Morell, former deputy director and acting director of the CIA, sent a resignation letter Thursday to the dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Morell, who was a non-resident senior fellow, says he cannot be part of an organization that “honors a convicted felon and leaker of classified information.” He says leaking classified information is “disgraceful.”
Manning has been invited to be a visiting fellow at the Kennedy school’s Institute of Politics.
She is a transgender woman who was convicted in 2013 of leaking more than 700,000 U.S. documents. Her sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama.
RENO COUNTY— A Reno County jury deliberated for about an hour before finding 54-year-old Leroy Randall guilty Thursday of all charges associated with an armed robbery of Dollar General in Hutchinson.
The jury agreed that Randall was guilty of two counts of kidnapping, one count of aggravated robbery and two counts of aggravated assault. He chose not to be in court for most of the trial, but was brought in early Thursday to indicate to the court that he wouldn’t testify for his own defense.
The state argued that the evidence pointed to him and his girlfriend because they gave investigators details of the crime that were not released publicly. Clothing that matched what the suspect was wearing in the video was found when a search warrant was issued on Randall’s residence.
The defense argued that Randall was seen talking with another individual and believe that individual wearing a red shirt could be the real suspect.
The case involved a store employee hearing a knock at a back office door. Thinking it was the other employee she was working with, she opened the door and a man came in, stuck a gun in her face and demanded money.
She screamed, causing the other employee to come out of the bathroom. The suspect then allegedly pointed the gun at him as well. Both stated they were scared. One thought the man was going to shoot him after being ordered to lay face down in the bathroom.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Thursday held a hearing, titled, “Nutrition Programs: Perspectives for the 2018 Farm Bill.”
“As we conduct this review, it is important to remember the purpose of these critical nutrition programs,” said Chairman Roberts. “They are not about long-term dependency; they are about giving aid in times of trouble. They are about ensuring our nation’s security, helping folks become productive members of our economy, and assisting the vulnerable among us who cannot help themselves.”
“Unfortunately, we have learned of some significant issues regarding the administration and oversight of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.”
“Investigations by the Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, the Department’s Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Justice have revealed that states have purposely used ‘whatever means necessary’ to mislead the federal government to obtain bonuses or avoid financial penalties.”
“Simply put, no one knows the error rate of SNAP, and that is unacceptable. And, the federal government does not even know the basic elements of the problem, such as how long this has been occurring.”
“This program accounts for over 75 percent of Farm Bill spending. If we are unable to verify that this program is making every dollar count, and ensure that the right amount of assistance is going to those that need it, then something needs to change. And something will change.”
This marks the eighth hearing in preparation for the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization.
First responders on the scene of Monday explosion in Butler Co.-photo courtesy KWCH
ROSE HILL, Kan. (AP) — Butler County authorities say an explosion that destroyed a rural home and critically injured a man was caused by a propane leak.
The home near Rose Hill exploded on Monday. A 67-year-old man suffered severe burns.
Andover Deputy Fire Chief Mike Roosevelt said investigators are sure propane caused the explosion but are still investigating the exact ignition source.
Propane is a common home fuel source in rural Kansas.
A family member said the injured man remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for theft of a vehicle.
Just before 7p.m. Wednesday, police attempted to stop a suspected stolen vehicle near 10th and SE Golden Avenue in Topeka, according to a media release.
The driver, identified as Brandon King, 25, refused to stop and drove the vehicle south on Golden to 21st where the intersection comes to a T-intersection. He lost control of the vehicle. It jumped the curb, struck a power pole and slid into the ditch.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped their case against a Kansas man accused of representing the bulk laundry detergent he was selling as Tide-brand detergent.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Brian Glenn had been scheduled to go on trial next week on a felony counterfeiting charge. But a deputy attorney general with the Kansas Attorney General’s Fraud and Litigation Division said in a motion dated Thursday that more testing is needed. The case was dismissed in a way that allows it to be refiled later.
Law enforcement agents and Proctor & Gamble representatives raided Glenn’s home last year.
Glenn’s attorney, Cooper Overstreet, said his client “made no representations that he was selling Tide soap.” Glenn told an agent that when he sold the soap, he described it as “Tide like” or “Tide type.”
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Department of Labor says the state’s unemployment rate rose to 3.9 percent in August, an increase of two-tenths of a percent from July.
