SUMMER BALLENTINE, Associated Press
MICHAEL FELBERBAUM, Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — In a rush to keep electronic cigarettes out of children’s hands while the federal government creeps forward with a proposed national ban for minors, experts say that many states are passing laws that could mean fewer restrictions on the nicotine devices later.

Lawmakers last month made Missouri the 41st state to outlaw selling e-cigarettes to minors. Age restrictions have wide support, but Gov. Jay Nixon and public health advocates opposed a piece of the legislation that prevents tobacco taxes or regulations from being imposed on the electronic devices, which heat liquid nicotine into an inhalable vapor.

E-cigarette makers have been in a tug-of-war with state and federal governments since the battery-powered devices first were sold in the U.S. in 2007.

By Mike Sherry
Hale Center for Journalism

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A new health care partnership, looked upon as a potential model for the rest of the country, is taking direct aim at heart disease and stroke in northwest Kansas.

The federally funded initiative – the Kansas Heart and Stroke Collaborative — encompasses the University of Kansas Hospital along with 13 rural health centers and hospitals, including Hays Medical Center. Heart disease and stroke are responsible for about 20 percent of the deaths in the state.
“We are not going to try and boil the ocean,” said Martie Ross, speaking about the narrow focus Thursday during a session of a national conference in Kansas City, Mo., put on by the National Rural Health Association. Ross, an Overland Park-based health care consultant, is helping to administer the collaborative.

The model of the consortium, she said, is to have separate organizations maintain their independence while formalizing a relationship aimed at better coordination of care for patients.

One aspect, Ross said, is establishing a shared-savings program where the partners benefit financially from improved outcomes that lower the cost of care.

The collaborative began in July when the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation awarded a $12.5 million, three-year grant to KU Hospital. Ross said the consortium was one of 39 projects across the country included in the funding round.

The aim of the collaborative, she said, is to reduce the incidence of heart disease and stroke in northwest Kansas by 20 percent. The partners also expect to produce cost-of-care savings of about $13 million.

She said the consortium is similar to the Health Network of Missouri, announced in June, which includes University of Missouri Health Care in Columbia along with community hospitals in Sedalia, Jefferson City, Hannibal, and Osage Beach.

One key to success in these ventures, Ross said, is establishing an organizational structure designed to meet many goals, including collaborative decision making and a lean management structure.

“You can’t do any of these things informally,” she said.

Along with KU Hospital and Hays Medical Center, members of the collaborative are:

• Cheyenne County Hospital

• Citizens Medical Center Inc.

• Gove County Medical Center

• Ness County Hospital District 2

• Norton County Hospital

• Pawnee Valley Community Hospital

• Phillips County Hospital

• Russell Regional Hospital

• Sheridan County Health Complex

• Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital

• First Care Clinic Inc.

• Great Bend Healthcare Center

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – A new report shows a spike in alcohol and drug law violations at Missouri State University.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that the school released the federally mandated report Tuesday.

Arrests and tickets issued for students with alcohol violations on campus increased 144 percent from 2012, with 22 cases in 2013. The report also showed that arrests and citations for drug violations increased 71 percent, with 48 cases in 2013.

Dean of students Mike Jungers said he wasn’t surprised to see the increase in alcohol and drug violations. He said it seemed there was a “culture of alcohol consumption” and added that he didn’t think it was unique to the university.

Missouri State’s Springfield campus has more than 22,000 students.

JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Greg Orman, who’s running for the U.S. Senate in Kansas, says he knows about working with others because he grew up in a house with five siblings and one bathroom.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Sprint Corp. has signaled that job cuts are underway as the nation’s third-largest wireless company seeks to cut costs amid heightened competition.

The Overland Park-based company said Friday in a regulatory filing that the workforce reduction of management and non-management positions will result in a $160 million expense for severance and other costs in the fiscal second quarter.

The Kansas City Star eports that the job cuts started Tuesday and will largely be completed by Oct. 31. The filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission didn’t specify how many jobs will be lost.

Sprint’s new chief executive, Marcelo Claure, has told employees to expect cost cuts and a more vigorous competitive edge.

Sprint has about 33,000 employees, down from 36,000 the company reported as of the end of March.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Monarch butterflies are rebounding after three years of significant drops.

Chip Taylor of Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas says the number of Monarchs wintering in Mexico could be two to four times more than last year. Monarch Watch organizes tagging to track the migration of the butterflies.

The Wichita Eagle reports that favorable weather seems to be the reason for the improved numbers.

The butterflies have been thick the past couple of weeks, but a weather front may have lifted them on their way by now. Wichita naturalist Jim Mason says Monarchs look for northerly winds to help them migrate more easily.

 

KANSAS CITY (AP) – A Kansas City man has been convicted of fatally shooting two people in 2012.

The Kansas City Star reports that Jackson County jurors Friday found 51-year-old Oliver L. Todd guilty of two counts of second-degree murder. Court records say the killings happened after Todd argued with several people on the front porch of home. He then returned with a gun, killing 24-year-old Travis Pernell and 29-year-old Melvin Taylor.

The jury also found Todd guilty of one count of first degree assault and three counts of armed criminal action. Sentencing is set for Nov. 24.