MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Health officials say prepackaged caramel apples are linked to five deaths and more than two dozen illnesses in 10 states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says investigators are trying to determine the specific brands that were involved. But consumers are being warned not to eat prepackaged caramel apples until more is known.

The CDC says it knows of 28 cases in which people were sickened by a form of bacterial food poisoning called listeria, with 26 hospitalized. They got sick between Oct. 17 and Nov. 27. CDC said it’s possible other illnesses have occurred since then.

Two of the deaths were in Minnesota, according to state health officials. The CDC said the illnesses also occurred in Arizona, California, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.

By Jim McLean
KHI News Service

TOPEKA — A coalition is forming to make healthy food less expensive in Kansas.

Led by KC Healthy Kids, a nonprofit organization supported in part by the Kansas Health Foundation, a coalition is being formed to guide a legislative effort to exempt food from the state sales tax.
“Cutting the sales tax on food will make it more affordable for Kansans to eat healthier,” said Ashley Jones-Wisner, state policy manager for KC Healthy Kids.

Kansas is one of only 14 states that levies a sales tax on food. And its 6.15 percent per dollar is the second highest in the nation, trailing only Mississippi’s 7 percent rate.

Low-income Kansans can apply for a $125 reduction in their state income tax bill to partially offset the amount of sales tax they’ve paid on food.

Even in good financial times, legislators have rejected attempts to exempt food from the sales tax. So, it’s a given that it will be an even tougher sell in the coming session given the state’s mounting budget problems.

With a steep drop in tax collections due in large part to the income tax cuts championed by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, legislators will be faced with the urgent task of cutting $280 million from this year’s already approved budget when they convene in January. They also must deal with a projected deficit in the neighborhood of $600 million as they craft the budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2015.

Exempting food from the sales tax would lower revenue collections by about $390 million a year.

Jones-Wisner sees opportunity where others see almost certain failure. The budget crisis, she said, guarantees that state tax policy will be discussed. That discussion will give the coalition an opportunity to shine a brighter light on a tax that its members believe is both regressive and a contributing factor to Kansas’ steady drop in national health rankings, she said.

In 1991, Kansas was the nation’s eighth healthiest state, according to rankings compiled annually by the United Health Foundation. It now ranks 27th.

“We know that there is going to have to be a really robust conversation this session about tax policy, and we think that this needs to be a part of that conversation,” Jones-Wisner said.

If lawmakers refuse to consider the exemption because of its cost, Jones-Wisner said the coalition may urge a partial exemption for whole fruits and vegetables.

Two members of the Kansas Senate – a Republican and a Democrat – announced in October that they would pursue legislation to eliminate the sales tax on food. Republican Michael O’Donnell and Democrat Oletha Faust-Goudeau, both from Wichita, said their proposal would likely phase out the tax over several years.

In addition to its support of KC Healthy Kids, the Kansas Health Foundation is the main funder of the Kansas Health Institute, the parent organization of the editorially independent KHI News Service.

Jim McLean is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Saying the word “Redskins” on the air isn’t obscene or profane — at least not according to the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC on Thursday dismissed a petition that called for one of the team’s flagship radio stations not to have its license renewed. The petition claimed repeated use of the word “Redskins” violates rules against indecent content.

But the FCC said that the law defines profanity as sexual or excretory in nature — meanings that don’t relate to the name of the football team.

Many Native American and other groups consider “Redskins” to be a racial slur and have demanded that owner Dan Snyder change the name. Snyder has vowed to keep it, despite mounting pressure over the past two years.

Thursday’s ruling affects the Snyder-owned station WWXX-FM.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmate, being held for crimes in NE Kansas, was formally charged on Thursday in connection with a July 2014 attack on a prison contract worker.

Steven Stumpner, 28, was charged with rape and aggravated sexual battery. The state alleges he forced a contract worker for the prison into sex without consent.

Stumpner is serving time in prison for two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of theft and battery of a correction’s officer. The first four counts are for crimes in Johnson County, while the final conviction is out of Pawnee County.

The case will move to a waiver status docket on Jan. 7.

DETROIT (AP) — Chrysler is recalling nearly 257,000 older Ram pickup trucks because the rear axle can seize or the drive shaft can fall off.

The recall covers Ram 1500 pickups from the 2005 model year.

Chrysler says in documents posted Friday by U.S. safety regulators that the rear-axle pinion nut can come loose. That can cause problems that make the trucks spin out of control.

The recall comes after an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that began in June.

The agency found 15 complaints, including seven drivers who reported that the wheels locked at speeds over 50 miles per hour. At the time, no crashes or injuries were reported.

Dealers will install a fix at no cost to owners. The recall will begin in February.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 20-year-old Lawrence woman charged with killing her 52-year-old roommate will go on trial in March.

Douglas County District Judge Paula Martin on Thursday set the new trial date for Sarah Gonzales McLinn, charged with first-degree murder in the January death Harold M. Sasko. Her trial was scheduled for Jan. 5 but attorneys sought the delay.

At a preliminary hearing in May, witnesses testified that Sasko was drugged with sleeping pills, bound and nearly decapitated at the home he shared with McLinn.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson is seeking a Hard 50 sentence for McLinn.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports (http://bit.ly/1DRklhn ) McClinn’s attorney has argued she is mentally ill and has never denied killing Sasko.

McLinn remains in the Douglas County Jail on a $1 million bond.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Douglas County judge has found a Lawrence man guilty of drug and alcohol-related charges after an accident that caused an 18-year-old University of Kansas student to have both his legs amputated.

After a bench trial last week, 24-year-old Julian M. Kuszmaul was found guilty of second-offense DUI, refusing to submit to alcohol or drug testing and possession of marijuana.

Kuszmaul struck 18-year-old Colby Liston, who is now 20, in August 2012 on a Lawrence street. Liston was pinned between Kuszmaul’s vehicle and another car. He later had to have his legs amputated.

6NewsLawrence reports (http://bit.ly/1DRkdyi ) Kuszmaul’s blood-alcohol level was 0.25 at the time of the accident.

Each of Kuszmaul’s convictions is a misdemeanor. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 22.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Salvation Army spokesman says someone has dropped a gold tooth into a holiday collection kettle.

Spokesman Rick Carroll said Thursday that he’s found diamond rings, silver bars and four-leaf clovers but has never heard of a tooth donation. He says the item could be worth $100 depending on the amount of gold it contains.

Kansas City’s Red Kettle Campaign began Nov. 7 and is currently running about $50,000 behind where it was a year ago.

Carroll says he at first considered the donation to be gross, but now thinks it’s a nice gesture. He worries that the donation might have been unintentional and he is temporarily hanging onto the tooth in case someone claims it.