CHEROKEE, Kan. (AP) — Some southeast Kansas residents are concerned with plans by the state for three reclamation projects on formerly mined land.

But officials with Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism say the projects will improve safety, recreation and habitat.

Three reclamation projects are scheduled to begin in the spring are at Mined Land Wildlife Area in Cherokee and Crawford counties.

Residents who attended a meeting about the projects Wednesday criticized state officials for not seeking public input for the land, which is 14,500 acres open to the public that was once mined for coal.

The Joplin Globe reports (http://bit.ly/1EKTQY0 ) KDHE mining section chief Murray Balk said the $1.6 million in planned improvements were ranked based on the hazards they presented.

PHILIP MARCELO, Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — Police departments across the country are bracing for large demonstrations when a grand jury decides whether to indict a white police officer who killed an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, in August.

Boston police leaders met this week to discuss possible preparations. Los Angeles police have been in touch with their counterparts in Missouri, who released their security plans for the indictment decision this week. And Las Vegas police joined community leaders in calling for restraint at a rally planned northwest of the casino strip.

For some cities, a decision in the racially charged case will inevitably reignite long-simmering debates over local police relations with minority communities. But big-city police departments stress they’re well-equipped to handle unruly crowds.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, Chairman of the Senate’s panel on Consumer Protection, today released a statement following news reports that Japanese manufacturer Takata has received a federal grand jury subpoena from the Department of Justice. Takata has been accused of knowingly hiding safety defects in its airbags from safety regulators—information that may have saved lives:

“When companies put their own profits ahead of the lives of American consumers, they deserve to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. So I’m pleased the U.S. Attorney has taken swift action here to open a criminal probe.”

Earlier this week, McCaskill called on the Justice Department to consider criminal charges against Takata.

According to reports, Takata employees conducted tests on airbags a decade ago and identified safety problems, which were subsequently covered up by company leadership. Currently, more than 14 million vehicles have been recalled due to airbag rupture risks, with four deaths being tied to the defect.

Earlier this year, McCaskill led the Senate’s investigation into recent recalls at General Motors. McCaskill led three Senate hearings into issues surrounding 2.6 million vehicles recalled for defective ignition switches that have been linked to a number of deaths, and also held a hearing on bipartisan rental car safety legislation that she has introduced.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — As the nation heads into the second year of the health care law, the federal government and states are preparing for open enrollment. Starting Saturday, consumers will be able to enroll for 2015 coverage through health insurance marketplaces, also known as exchanges. The marketplaces in each state will allow you to shop for plans and apply for tax credits that can greatly reduce your premiums. You can also find out if you qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid.

Here are some changes for 2015:

Q: What is happening with health plan costs and how much will I pay?

A: Plans and premiums for 2015 are now online at HealthCare.gov or your state’s exchange. You can apply between Nov. 15, 2014, and Feb. 15, 2015. Plans cover essential health benefits, pre-existing conditions, and preventive care. If you were already covered this year, you can change plans during open enrollment.

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers’s Health Research Institute, the average premium will be around $344 before tax credit subsidies. That’s an increase from 2014 of about 3.5 percent. Premiums vary from state to state with some down as much as 22 percent and others up 35 percent.

The good news is that most people who apply through exchanges will qualify for tax credits that reduce their premiums. For 2015, individuals earning between $11,670 and $46,680 qualify for a premium tax credit. For a family of four, the range is $23,850 to $95,400.

Q: What should I have ready when applying?

A: If you had coverage in 2014, it’s helpful to take stock of what’s changed and include any changes you expect in 2015 including: Income changes, births, deaths, marriage or divorce, anyone in the family who got coverage through a job, anybody getting health coverage through a public program like Medicare or Medicaid.

Q: What other out-of-pocket costs should I consider?

A: The maximum out-of-pocket cost for any marketplace plan for 2015 can be no more than $6,600 for an individual plan and $13,200 for a family plan. This is the most you pay a year before your health insurance or plan starts to pay 100 percent for covered essential health benefits.

This limit includes deductibles, coinsurance, copayments or any other qualified medical expense. It does not have to count premiums, out-of-network costs or non-essential health benefits.

Q: Will I get to keep my doctor?

A: Check with your insurance company to make sure your doctor will still be in the plan’s network in 2015. Exchange websites will route you to the health insurance company’s online list of doctors. You also can contact your doctors directly to see which health plans they will accept in 2015.

Q: What if I don’t buy health insurance?

A: The penalty is going up for people who go without health insurance. It’s at least $325 per adult, or 2 percent of income, whichever is greater, up to a cap.

Q: If I signed up for insurance through the exchange last time, do I have to go through that again?

A: No, but that might not be wise. If you do nothing, you will be automatically renewed in your current plan on Jan. 1. But you’ll be getting last year’s tax credit, which could well be lower than the amount you’re entitled to for 2015. And there are lots of new plans available, so you may also miss out on a lower-cost option. Officials are advising existing customers to go back to HealthCare.gov or their state exchange, update their financial and household information, and at least check other plans. If you want to make any changes, you’ll have to do that by Dec. 15 to avoid a break in coverage on Jan. 1.

If you live in a state that is running its own exchange, the rules for automatic renewal may be different.

Q: How will my premium tax credits impact my taxes?

A: The vast majority of current customers are getting tax credits to help with premiums. Those subsidies are tied to income, so you’ll have to account for them when you file your 2014 taxes. HealthCare.gov or your state’s exchange will send you a form in January that reports how much you got. You’ll use that information on a new tax form to be filed with your 2014 tax return, to prove you got the right amount of tax credits. Too much subsidy and your tax refund will get dinged. Too little, and the government owes you. It’s bound to cause anxiety because many people depend on their tax refunds to pay bills.

Q: What happens to me if I got an extension under President Barack Obama’s decision to allow people to keep plans slated for cancellation last year?

Some plans that existed before the health care law passed do not include new benefits and protections. They are not offered by exchanges. Some of them are being changed by insurers to incorporate new benefit requirements, some are being canceled and some states are allowing people to renew their plans through 2016.

By Dan Margolies
Heartland Health Monitor

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two Kansas City-area companies that challenged the Affordable Care Act’s so-called contraception mandate won’t be required to cover birth control as part of their employees’ health care plans.

Citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision, Senior U.S. District Judge Ortrie Smith on Wednesday barred federal officials from enforcing the requirement against Randy Reed Automotive Inc. and Sioux Chief Manufacturing Co.

Smith issued separate – and except for the names of the companies – identically worded orders in the cases. The outcomes were expected in the wake of the Hobby Lobby decision.

Smith made clear the orders he issued Wednesday applied only to current contraceptive regulations under the Affordable Care Act and not to future ones. He added that the plaintiffs were free to file new lawsuits to challenge any future regulations.

“It’s always great when you can score a win for religious liberty, especially when you have an attempt to force these owners of companies that have sincere religious convictions to violate those convictions under threat of severe penalties,” said Kevin H. Theriot, an attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom who represented Randy Reed and Sioux Chief.

The companies were among scores of businesses across the country that sued over the contraception requirement, saying it ran afoul of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-to-4 that closely held, for-profit companies cannot be forced to cover contraceptives in their employees’ insurance plans if the companies’ owners object to birth control on religious grounds.

The Supreme Court case was brought by two companies whose owners claimed to operate them on Christian principles: Hobby Lobby, a crafts store chain, and Conestoga Wood Specialties, a manufacturer of wood cabinets.

J.E. Dunn Construction Co., a Kansas City-based company owned by the Dunn family, filed a brief in support of Hobby Lobby and Conestoga.

The Hobby Lobby case marked the first time the Supreme Court recognized the right of corporations, as opposed to individuals, to exercise religious beliefs.

Randy Reed is owned by Kansas City car dealer Randy Reed, who operates Chevrolet, Buick and Nissan dealerships. Sioux Chief, based in Peculiar, Mo., is owned by the Ismert family and makes plumbing products.

Theriot said Randy Reed has 179 full-time employees and Sioux Chief has 370 full-time employees.

Smith’s orders were the second time in five days that he ruled in cases involving controversial social issues.

On Nov. 7, he found that Missouri’s 2004 constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage violates the U.S. Constitution. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said he plans to appeal the decision.

 

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

While many shoppers are feeling the pinch of price increases, there’s a way today’s smart, frugal shoppers can save money on the family food bill. Some estimates place this figure at 10 -15 percent. On the average food bill, this could mean a savings of $700 – $1,200 a year.

Most shoppers, my wife is one of the best, have compiled a list of cost-cutting ideas. Here are some effective ways to save at the checkout counter.

First, smart shoppers should know what they are buying. Today’s modern supermarkets carry as many as 50,000 items. This number has more than tripled since 1980.

Product information is essential in selecting the best buy. This requires reading, listening and studying. For example, the product label is a source of information on nutrition, menu use, quantity and quality of the food item.

Secondly, cost-conscious shoppers must buy when and where the price is right.

There are many times to buy on special. Purchase store or generic brands or buy in quantity. Comparative shopping leads to savings because different stores usually specialize in different items.

Shopper loyalty cards may be another way to save on the family food bill.

Accurate record keeping has become an important part of a smart shopping routine. Money-saving ideas take time but result in time well spent. One-half hour of planning before each shopping trip can result in substantial savings.

Cost-conscious shoppers influence the entire food industry. If shoppers do not check prices, retailers may display items that sell by saturation advertising or gimmick packaging which increase food costs.

Retailers who respond to cost-conscious shoppers must look for the best buy from suppliers. Farmers who fill these orders must make the best use of their resources to meet the competition.

Smart shopping can bring satisfaction instead of frustration. Initially, this satisfaction results from actual savings in the family’s food budget. Secondly, the wise shopper realizes intelligent buying keeps our food industry the best in the world.

Securing the most for your food dollar is significant to every consumer. It is worth the effort.

John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –A Nixa, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for producing child pornography, said United States Attorney Tammy Dickerson in a news release.

 Michael John Kinney, 40, of Nixa, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Kinney to pay $3,000 in restitution to a victim of child pornography and a $7,000 fine.

On July 30, 2014, Kinney pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. Kinney admitted that he used a minor victim to produce child pornography between Jan. 27, 2007, and Jan. 26, 2009. Kinney also admitted that he was in possession of child pornography on April 29, 2011.

Federal agents executed search warrants at Kinney’s residence and at his business, ABC Baby Goods, which sold children’s furniture and clothing. Agents seized two laptop computers from his residence. Investigators discovered 10 videos of child pornography that were made from a hidden camera in Kinney’s home and additional videos and images of child pornography, including children under the age of six engaged in acts of sexual intercourse with adults or other children. Investigators also discovered numerous images of child erotica, including a child victim in various stages of undress. Kinney must forfeit those computers to the government.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

 

ST. LOUIS – A state panel is debating how much of a salary increase to give Gov. Jay Nixon and other statewide officials.

The Missouri Citizens’ Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials continued hashing out the appropriate raise for state officials and General Assembly members Friday in St. Louis.

State law requires a commission to meet every two years to decide whether to bump up officials’ pay.

Members so far have not made efforts to increase judges’ salaries, which were increased two years ago and again last year.

Chairman and former state Rep. Charles Schlottach (SHLAH’-tihk) says the group hopes to vote Nov. 18 on proposed raises.

It has until Dec. 1 to make a final recommendation. Its proposals will take effect automatically unless two-thirds of the General Assembly votes against them.

RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says some functions of HealthCare.gov will be temporarily shut down overnight as the website transitions to the start of sign-up season on Saturday.

Spokeswoman Lori Lodes (Low-dess) said Friday that consumers will not be able to update or start new 2014 applications during the overnight transition. However, they will still be able to look at plans and premiums for 2015 during this time.

Lodes says that when consumers wake up Saturday morning the site will be working, and they will be able to sign up for 2015 coverage. She gives no specific time.

Last year, HealthCare.gov was plagued by technical problems. It froze the first day, and repairs took about two months. The administration says that won’t happen this year, though there may be some outages.