DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farm groups and some members of Congress from farm states are decrying proposed cuts to crop insurance and other safety net programs for farmers included in President Donald Trump’s budget.

The proposed cuts come as farmers are facing their fourth straight year of falling income. They could particularly affect farm states such as Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska that helped Trump win the November election.

One proposal would cut the federal crop insurance program by $28 billion over 10 years. Programs that provide crop subsidies would lose $9 billion.

But Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa farmer, says the crop insurance cuts won’t make it through Congress.

The Trump administration says the proposed cuts help fulfill a campaign promise to balance the federal budget.

MEADE COUNTY – A Kansas teen died in an accident just after 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Meade County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1980 Chevy van driven by Kincaid Myers, 15, Meade, was southbound on 18 Road six miles south of Kansas 23.

The vehicle left the road to the right and the driver overcorrected. The vehicle entered the east ditch, rolled multiple times and came to rest on its top.

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

 

JEWELL COUNTY – A small earthquake shook north-central Kansas Saturday afternoon.

The quake just before 3:30 p.m. measured a magnitude 3.0 and was centered approximately 3 miles southeast of Mankato.

It is the sixth quake reported in Kansas in the past two days. The other 5 were in Sumner and Harvey Count and measured 2.6- to 3.3, according to the USGS.

The agency recorded numerous quakes in Jewell County in April and this is the first since a 2.8 quake on May 23.

The USGS reported 9 Kansas earthquakes in May, nearly a dozen in April, seven in March and six in February.

There are no reports of damage or injury from Saturday’s quake, according to the Jewell County Sheriff’s Department.

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SUMNER COUNTY – A fifth earthquake in two days shook Kansas on Friday afternoon. The quake just after 6p.m. measured 2.6 and was centered northeast of Caldwell, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake at 2a.m. measured a magnitude 2.7 and was centered approximately 9 miles northwest of Bell Plaine.

The USGS also reported quakes in Sumner County at 2 a.m. Friday and just after 7p.m. Thursday.
Just before 1:30p.m. Thursday, a 3.3 magnitude quake was centered approximately 6 miles southeast of Harper, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The agency reported 9 Kansas earthquakes in May including two quakes in Sumner County over the Memorial Day weekend. They measured 2.5 and 2.6 and were centered near Belle Plaine.

The USGS recorded nearly a dozen Kansas earthquakes in April, seven in March and six in February. They measured from 2.5. to 3.3.

There are no reports of damage or injury from Friday’s quake, according to the Sumner County Sheriff’s Department.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A proposal to restore guaranteed tenure for some Kansas public school teachers has become part of legislative talks on education funding.

Republican Rep. Clay Aurand of Belleville outlined the proposal Friday as the House negotiated with the Senate over a plan to boost spending on public schools.

Negotiators said they would review it.

Lawmakers adjourned Saturday afternoon and are expected back Sunday.

They are looking at phasing in an increase in spending of at least $230 million over two years in response to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling in March that education funding is inadequate.

Republican legislators stripped teachers of guaranteed tenure in 2014. Teachers have been pushing to get it back.

Aurand’s proposal would restore tenure to teachers who had it in 2014. They would lose those job protections in 2019 unless lawmakers passed a new tenure law.

RILEY COUNTY – A driver avoided serious injuries following an accident just before 10p.m. Friday in Manhattan.

A driver in an SUV crashed into a liquor store at 1129 Bluemont Avenue, according to a social media report.

There were only minor injuries reported. No arrests have been made, according to police.

 By STEPHEN KORANDA

The Kansas Senate and House voted Thursday to allow public health care facilities to continue banning concealed weapons. The 24-16 Senate vote and 91-33 House vote send the bill to Gov. Sam Brownback for consideration.

A state law taking effect July 1 will allow people to carry concealed guns into any public building that is not secured by armed guards and metal detectors.

During debate, Republican Sen. Carolyn McGinn said it doesn’t make sense to allow guns in places like state psychiatric hospitals.

“These are individuals who are severely ill. They could take a gun away from an employee, and then we have a problem,” McGinn said.

The bill also would exempt public hospitals and the University of Kansas Health System.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning said allowing guns at the KU Health System would make it harder to attract staff. He said it also would be difficult to install security at the facility so the hospital could continue barring guns.

“Just think of the TSA when you fly. Ten thousand humans walk through the KU door every day,” Denning said. “It makes no sense from just a practical matter.”

Critics of the bill said if security isn’t in place to bar all guns, law-abiding citizens should be able to carry a weapon for self-defense.

“You’re just taking away the right for someone to protect themselves legally in these facilities,” said Republican Sen. Rob Olson, who added that a gun ban won’t stop people who are intent on breaking the rule.

“The only people we’re empowering here are the people who are going to do bad things,” he said.

Reporters asked Brownback before Thursday’s debate if he would veto or sign the bill.

“I’m not going to articulate anything. I’m going to watch the debate. It’s an important one,” the governor said.

Senate President Susan Wagle offered an amendment backed by the National Rifle Association that would have narrowed the bill to only bar guns in some areas of mental facilities and the KU hospital. She said narrowing the bill would mean a likely signature from the governor.

“This is the best solution that we can come to that protects the Second Amendment rights that we have already enacted in the state of Kansas and yet gives flexibility,” Wagle said.

The chamber rejected Wagle’s amendment. Threats of a veto didn’t sway some lawmakers who want a wider exemption, including Republican Sen. Barbara Bollier.

“I refuse to be held hostage to the governor’s pen, and thus will be voting no,” Bollier said.

Kwanequa Jones is a Washburn University graduate who was at the Statehouse for a rally. She wanted lawmakers to expand the firearm discussion to include an exemption for universities, so those buildings could continue barring guns after this summer.

“I am happy they are working on not allowing guns in medical facilities,” Jones said. “I think guns not being allowed in all facilities would be great.”

Even lawmakers who want to exempt universities from the concealed carry law decided not to pursue it as part of the bill. They were concerned adding an exemption for universities would garner a veto from the governor and mean losing the health care facility exemption as well.

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for kcur.org a partner in the Kansas News Service.

DICKINSON COUNTY- One person was injured in a small plane crash just after 3p.m. Friday in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Sky Arrow LSA piloted by Michael Farley, 54, Port Orange, FL., was taking off on runway 23 four miles south of Chapman.

The aircraft was approximately 15 feet off the ground and encountered cross winds. The right wing tipped and struck the ground and the aircraft rolled.

Farley was transported to Geary Community Hospital.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 36-year-old Topeka man will undergo a psychiatric evaluation before trial in the 2014 death of an 8-year-old boy in a traffic collision.

A Shawnee County District judge on Thursday ordered the evaluation of Marvin Leroy Tibbs III. He is charged with alternate counts of reckless second-degree murder or involuntary manslaughter in the death of Trenton Feliciano.

Tibbs was giving Feliciano a ride on his moped when it crashed in October 2014. A police report said witnesses reported that Tibbs was speeding and passed a stop sign before colliding with a vehicle.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports it could be two months before the evaluation because of a lack of beds at Larned State Hospital.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An 82-year-old woman from Texas was arrested and booked into jail after scuffling with a security agent at the Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita.

Law enforcement and Transportation Security Administration reports say the Lila May Bryan became verbally abusive early Wednesday when agents tried to confiscate an oversized bottle containing a liquid hand product. The reports say she struck the TSA agent after trying to walk around an X-ray screening machine.

The woman spent nearly two hours in the county jail’s booking area and was photographed and fingerprinted before she was freed.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett says his office authorized her release without bond after finding out about her arrest.

She was taken back to the airport and left on another flight with her husband.

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Law enforcement authorities have located the three children in connection with Friday’s Kansas Amber Alert.  

The suspect, Dane Wright is also in custody.  No additional details were released.

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SEDGWICK COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation issued an amber alert on Friday afternoon for 3 children reported missing after a house fire.

Just before 12:30 Friday fire crews responded to just a home in the 300 block of North Ash in Wichita.

Crews found the body of a woman in the home. Wichita Police consider the death suspicious, and think three children associated with the deceased are missing and with a

person they consider a suspect.

Authorities are looking for Dane A. Wright, 29, who  was last seen leaving the scene of the fire 2001 in a 4-door White Ford Focus with Kansas plates 718 JHX.

The missing children are 12-year-old William J. Thompson III, 5-year-old Ethan A. Thompson, and 2-year-old Damien A. Wright

The public is asked to Call 911if you see the missing children, the suspect, or the vehicle.