JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback is telling Kansas that the income tax cuts he championed already have started to generate long-term prosperity.

BILL DRAPER, Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A U.S. senator wants to know whether Department of Justice protocols have changed since a white supremacist now accused of killing three people in Kansas was given leniency a quarter-century ago.

Sen. Jerry Moran sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder on Friday urging a review of relevant DOJ policies that led to a five-year sentence for Frazier Glenn Miller in 1987 for possessing stolen military weapons and declaring war on the country.

Miller — identified as Frazier Glenn Cross in Kansas court documents — is accused of killing three people in April at two Jewish sites in Johnson County, Kansas.

Moran questions whether the victims would still be alive if prosecutors had heeded their own conclusions that Miller was a danger to society in a 1987 sentencing memorandum.

By Bryan Thompson, KPR

TOPEKA — Expanding liquor sales to grocery and convenience stores in Kansas could lead to more underage drinking, according to a new report from the Kansas Health Institute.
The report, called a health impact assessment, is designed to give policymakers information about the potential health consequences of expanded liquor sales.

KHI’s second statewide health impact assessment says allowing more outlets to sell alcohol may lead to increased consumption by underage drinkers. Tatiana Lin, who leads the institute’s health impact assessment work, said expanding liquor sales to grocery and convenience stores could make alcohol more available to teens wanting to try it.

“In convenience and grocery stores, there’s just not the same level of surveillance and enforcement that is in liquor stores,” Lin said.

Studies in other states indicate it’s easier for young people to steal alcohol when sales are expanded beyond liquor stores, she said.
Tom Palace, executive director of the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association of Kansas, said enforcing laws already on the books is the way to prevent underage drinking. He said consumers want to be able to buy liquor at grocery and convenience stores, which already sell beer, lottery tickets and tobacco products.

“The consumer wants to buy these products because it’s more convenient,” Palace said. “You have competition in the market, and when you have competition the consumer wins.”

Health concerns aside, most of the opposition to expanded liquor sales is coming from people who want to protect liquor retailers from competition, Palace said.

A bill that would have allowed liquor sales in grocery and convenience stores was introduced during the 2014 session but died in committee.

The health impact assessment analyzed eight health issues related to the bill: alcohol consumption, youth alcohol consumption, driving under the influence (DUI) arrests, alcohol-related traffic accidents, alcohol-related traffic deaths, alcohol-related traffic deaths among youth, crime and sexually transmitted diseases.

According to the report, expanded liquor sales may cause a slight increase in overall consumer consumption, but that is not likely to result in a higher number of DUI arrests or alcohol-related traffic accidents. However, there may be a slight increase in some types of crime – such as domestic child abuse and violence – and in STDs.

The report includes recommendations to counter these effects, including limits on days and hours of alcohol sales, increased sobriety checkpoints and stronger enforcement of laws prohibiting alcohol sales to underage customers.

The Kansas Health Institute is the parent organization of the editorially independent KHI News Service.

BLUE MOUND, Kan- A Kansas woman died in a Saturday afternoon motorcycle crash in Linn County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1995 Harley Davidson driven by Jerry G. Purdy, 24, Blue Mound was eastbound on Kansas 31 five miles east of Blue Mound.

The driver made an emergency-braking maneuver. The motorcycle skid sideways and ejected both the driver and passenger.

Trisha A. Purdy, 24, Blue Mound, was pronounced dead at the scene. She was transported to Coffel, Schneider Funeral Home.

Eagle Med transported him to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

LAWRENCE- Three people were injured in a four-vehicle crash in Douglas County on Saturday afternoon.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Dodge Stratus driven by Kaylee L. Trieb, 17, Tonganoxie, was northbound on Highway 24 three miles east of Lawrence when it crossed left of center striking a 1989 Chevy Blazer driven by James L. Cox, 57, Lawrence. The Blazer left the roadway and rolled.

A 1996 Ford Ranger driven by Matthew C. Vossler, 29, Tonganoxie, attempted to avoid a collision with the Dodge but made contact with the Stratus in the northbound lane.

A 2011 Nissan Altima driven by Kathryn A. Wecker, 21, Tonganoxie, avoided contacting any of the vehicles but came to rest in the west ditch.

Trieb was transported to Stormont Vail in Topeka. Wecker and Cox transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

The KHP reported all were properly restrained at the time of the accident.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — One motorcyclist has been killed and a second critically injured in separate accidents in which they collided with turning vehicles in Topeka.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the first crash happened around 11:15 a.m. Friday when 32-year-old Christopher Cook of Carbondale ran into a pickup truck that had crossed into his path.

Cook sustained major head trauma and a broken leg and was taken to a Topeka hospital before being transferred to The University of Kansas Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. He was in critical condition Friday night.

At 5:30 p.m. Friday a second motorcyclist collided with a sport utility vehicle that turned in front of him when the driver didn’t see the motorcycle. The man, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says child care, family leave and workplace flexibility aren’t frills, they’re basic needs.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama is lamenting workplace policies that he says are outdated. He says the U.S. is one of just three countries that don’t require paid maternity leave.

Obama says some businesses are pursuing family friendly policies. But he says the U.S. must make it easier for parents and those with sick relatives to stay in the workplace. He says something’s wrong when hard workers must choose between work and family.

Obama plans to hold a summit on working families on Monday.

In the Republican address, Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan says Obama’s record on energy development is abysmal. He says the U.S. must build an infrastructure that will lead to energy abundance.

Fort Riley, Kan- An unexploded ordnance was unearthed near the intersection of

Jackson Avenue and Hampton Place on Custer Hill Friday.

Since the ordnance could not be identified, Fort Riley officials temporarily evacuated about 60 residences in the area. The ordnance was removed and transported to a safe location for proper disposal.

Fort Riley officials thanked those impacted for their patience as the scene was secured and the ordnance removed.

Responding agencies included Fort Riley’s Directorate of Emergency Services, the 1st Infantry Division’s 84th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion, and Corvias Military Living.

A gathering point for displaced families was temporarily established to accommodate those evacuated.

PAOLA, Kan- A semi-truck driver was injured in a Friday afternoon accident in Miami County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1983 Peterbilt semi-truck driven by Brian Miller, 33, Excelsior Springs, MO., was northbound on U.S. 169 just north of 223rd in the right lane.

The truck left the roadway, went onto the shoulder and overturned into the right ditch.

Miller was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

The KHP reported he was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

GARDNER, Kan. (AP) — Police in a northeast Kansas community say a tree trimmer has died after falling about 60 feet.

The Kansas City Star reports the 47-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene in the city of Gardner. The accident happened just before noon Friday.

The man’s name was being withheld while relatives were notified.

It was the second tree-trimming fatality of the week in the Kansas City metro area.

On Monday, a 34-year-old tree trimmer was electrocuted in Parkville, Missouri, when a piece of metal on his buckstrap touched a power line. Carlos Enrique Gomez-Escobar was part of a three-member crew hired by a homeowner to remove limbs from a large tree.