TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says it is taking steps to reduce the state’s backlog of Medicaid applications for residents of nursing homes. Those steps include more advanced payments and a hotline to assist facilities. The state has a backlog of nearly 2,700 applicants. Many are unprocessed. For others, the agency is awaiting documents from the applicant or the applicant was previously denied and is applying again. Providers testified Wednesday before the House Health and Human Services Committee that the backlog means homes often pay for care and may not be reimbursed. State Medicaid Director Mike Randol…
Author: KMAN Staff
UPDATED: Sunday, 3:31 p.m. Weather officials continue to downgrade ice accumulations predicted for the Manhattan area. What was worried would be a repeat of the 2007 ice storm going into the weekend turned into significantly less as warmer than expected temperatures staved off what easily could have been. Of course, Manhattan residents who remember the damage the 2007 storm caused — substantial tree damage and some homes without power for a week or more — the concern was justified. Updated forecasts show light freezing rain through Sunday night into Monday. An Ice Storm Warning was issued Friday for much of the state…
Today’s guests on In Focus included Wamego USD 320 Supt. Tim Winter and Rock Creek USD 323 Supt. Kevin Logan, as well as Program Coordinator & Instructor at the Stanley School of Leadership Studies Kaitlin Long, Hannah Kleopfer from Flint Hills Job Corp, Community Volunteer Debbie Nuss, and Interim Associate Provost for Diversity at K-State Dr. Zelia Wiley. Winter and Logan: Long, Kleopfer, Nuss, and Wiley:
KMAN’s Dave Lewis and Cathy Dawes visited with State Rep. Tom Phillips and Sydney Carlin of Manhattan and State Sen. Tom Hawk about Tuesday night’s State of the State address by Gov. Sam Brownback. Phillips: Hawk: Carlin:
Three people were injured in a one vehicle Geary County accident on I-70 Tuesday evening. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Timothy Musil, 38, of Topeka was first taken to the Geary Community Hospital and then lifeflighted to a Topeka medical facility. Also injured were Brandi Clark, 33, of Oskaloosa and Michael Mahoney, 34, of Topeka… Clark and Mahoney were taken by life flight to Stormont Vail in Topeka from the scene of the accident, at the 304 exit ramp westbound, one mile east of the K-18 bypass. KHP indicates a 2013 Nissan passenger car driven by Musil was westbound on…
More than $40 million in park improvements could be made over the next ten years as discussed by Manhattan city commissioners at Tuesday evening’s work session. The improvements would be part of a quality of life 25-cent sales tax renewal which would generate $27.5 million over a 10-year period. Bruce McMillan of Bruce McMillan Architects unveiled two options for construction at CiCo Park, which would be coordinated with USD 383. Tennis courts, improved drainage, parking, and an overhaul to the baseball diamonds are all on the list for improvements at the tune of $8.5 million. Commissioners largely favored the second option…
TOPEKA — The Latest on Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s annual State of the State address and budget issues (all times local): 6:40 p.m. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback says he’ll propose some “one-time measures” to help balance the state’s current budget. Brownback wasn’t more specific Tuesday evening in speaking with reporters after his annual State of the State address. He plans to release the details of his budget proposals Wednesday. The state faces a projected shortfall of $342 million in its current budget. Lawmakers don’t think they can raise taxes quickly enough to fill the gap before the fiscal year ends…
TOPEKA — The Kansas lawmaker whose 10-year-old son was killed on a water slide is urging his colleagues to remember there’s more to life than what happens in the Capitol. The Kansas City Star reports that Scott Schwab was emotional after being sworn in Monday as a leader in the Kansas House. The Republican from the Kansas City suburb of Olathe told lawmakers to “let it go” when their bills die or amendments fail. He says, “Life isn’t worth wasting too much emotional energy on such things.” He added that “it could get worse.” His son, Caleb Thomas Schwab, died in…
TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is preparing to give his annual State of the State address to a less-friendly Legislature amid serious budget problems. The Republican governor was scheduled to speak Tuesday evening to a joint session of the GOP-controlled House and Senate. The address gives Brownback a chance to outline his agenda for the 90-day legislative session and tout his policies. But Kansas is facing projected budget shortfalls totaling $1.1 billion through June 2019. Elections last year left the Legislature less conservative as voters ousted two dozen Brownback allies. The state has struggled to balance its budget since Republican…
Today’s guest was Riley County Commission chair Ron Wells.