TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration is trying to reassure Kansas legislators that Medicaid participants won’t suffer if the federal government delays an overhaul of the program. State Division of Health Care Finance Director Kari Bruffett said Wednesday that services won’t be interrupted if the state can’t go ahead with its Medicaid overhaul in January as planned. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Bruffett told the Legislative Budget Committee that the state remains committed to the Jan. 1 start date. Critics say Brownback’s administration is moving too quickly, which it denies. Brownback plans to turn administration of the $2.9 billion-a-year Medicaid…
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A federal judge has again refused to toss out an abuse lawsuit brought by families of 11 former cadets at St. John’s Military School in Salina. The academy wanted the lawsuit dismissed or an order putting the dispute into arbitration. The school contends the enrollment contract signed by cadets’ parents requires any claims to be submitted to arbitration. U.S. District Judge John Lungstrum on Wednesday denied the school’s request on the same grounds that he denied it in June. He had previously ruled the arbitration clause agreed to by the parents does not apply to claims from…
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) The University of Kansas plans to offer a master’s degree program in social work in western Kansas. The university announced this week that its School of Social Welfare will offer its advanced Master of Social Work Program in western Kansas starting next summer. The program will be offered through partnerships with Fort Hays State University and Garden City Community College. The school’s dean, Mary Ellen Kondrat, says the program will blend classroom and online instruction. Currently, all social work master’s degree programs are offered in eastern Kansas. That had made it difficult for social workers in western…
Kansas State University’s public safety team was notified Tuesday afternoon that soil under the L.P. Washburn tennis courts was contaminated with diesel fuel. A contractor found the layer of contaminated soil 12 to 36 inches below the surface as crews were leveling the ground. The area has been blocked off and covered. According to Steve Galitzer, the university’s director for public safety, roughly 100 cubic yards of soil is being removed. The North Central Regional Office of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, or KDHE, was immediately contacted Tuesday afternoon. A KDHE official surveyed the area Wednesday morning. The…
A planned overhaul in the Medicaid program is set to go into effect on January 1st that would turn administration of the $2.9 billion program to three private health insurance companies. During Thursday’s Riley County Commission Meeting, County Counselor, Clancy Holeman came before commissioners to recommend extension for pending Medicaid contracts. Holeman’s main concern with the contract is that it involves a document that has yet to be completed. Another potential issue with the changes is the state will assign the entire pool of Medicaid recipients to the companies, which leaves very little room for negotiation. Health Department Director, Susie…
The first K-State men’s basketball team coached by Bruce Weber was picked 5th in the Big 12 preseason poll by his new peers, released on Thursday morning. The Cats though are less than a full vote away from second place in the poll. Kansas is an unanimous pick to win the Big 12, after being picked as a co-favorite with the now departed Texas A&M last season. Baylor was voted as the league runner-up, and received the other first place nod since Bill Self couldn’t vote for his own team. Oklahoma State is picked third on the strength of highly regarded…
A couple of rulings were handed down Thursday, dealing with a Riley County murder that occurred in December of last year. The judge in the Domingo Soto case has ruled statements made by Soto to Riley county police detectives will be allowed at trial. Soto is charged with aiding and abetting the first degree murder of Steven Freele, whose body was found on a country road in Manhattan. In addition, the judge ruled another defendant in the case, 19 year old Reyna Youdath, who had been a student at Kansas State, can testify regarding statments made to her about the alleged murder.…
A special meeting for the Manhattan Ogden school board was held Wednesday. The topic of conversation was to discuss and take action on the start times of the schools. A few weeks ago, the board opened up for a public hearing and last night they joined the conversation. A presentation was given on Wednesday to go over the results of the surveys for both the parents and for the faculty. The majority who responded wanted to keep the schedule as is. During their discussion, the board brought up issues of buses and money to increase the fleet, the loss of family time,…
K-State placed three players on Phil Steele’s Midseason All-American Team as linebacker Arthur Brown, kick returner Tyler Lockett and quarterback Collin Klein were recognized Wednesday by the publication. Brown was named to the All-America first team, as he has 41 tackles this season, four of which were for loss, with a sack and fumble recovery. Lockett was a second team pick as he’s returned seven kickoffs for a 35 yard average, including a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against North Texas. Dri Archer of Kent State was the first team kickoff returner. Klein earned third team honors at the…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Southeastern Conference and Big 12 held a meeting to work out the details of their joint bowl game, including a host city. SEC spokesman Charles Bloom confirmed that representatives of the two leagues, including SEC Commissioner Mike Slive and Big 12 chief Bob Bowlsby, met Wednesday in Nashville. Bloom says they have made progress over the last month but didn’t elaborate. The front-runners to host the Big 12-SEC game are believed to be the Cotton Bowl held at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Groups from Atlanta, San…