Stan Unruh – Page 349 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Kansas gets $3.8M federal grant for conservation

Posted on September 17, 2014September 17, 2014

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will receive $3.8 million in conservation funding to help landowners protect key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands.

The grant was announced Tuesday by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. It’s part of $328 million the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing nationwide for conservation easements.

The USDA’s Kansas conservationist, Eric Banks, said conservation easements will help farmers protect valuable farmland from development, restore lands best suited for grazing and return wetlands to their natural conditions.

The 2014 farm bill created the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. About 18 projects in Kansas were chosen to restore 4,800 acres.

Justice Ginsburg: Watch 6th Circuit on gay marriage

Posted on September 16, 2014September 16, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — People looking for clues about how soon the Supreme Court might weigh in on state bans of gay marriage should watch the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told a Minnesota audience Tuesday that there would be “some urgency” if an appeals court upholds same-sex marriage bans. Such a ruling would run contrary to a legal trend favoring gay marriage.

But Ginsburg says if the appeals court covering Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee falls in line with other rulings, there’s “no need for us to rush.”

She says the nation’s top court will reach a decision point “sooner or later,” while commenting on how much societal attitudes regarding same-sex marriage have changed.

Ginsburg spoke at the University of Minnesota Law School.

University group aims to boost graduation

Posted on September 16, 2014September 16, 2014

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas is joining 10 other major institutions in an initiative to increase graduation rates for low-income and first-generation college students.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the University Innovation Alliance will develop what the group calls a “playbook” on how to help such students complete their degrees.

Kansas chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little was in Washington on Tuesday as the alliance was announced. Gray-Little says the initiative will allow university leaders to share and adapt ideas that have proven to help students from all backgrounds.

The group said studies show students from wealthy families are seven times more likely than low-income students to earn college degrees.

All of the participating universities have large numbers of low-income and first-generation students and have developed programs to help them succeed.

Feds allow Kansas to withhold test data

Posted on September 16, 2014September 16, 2014

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Federal education officials have granted a request from Kansas to not release assessment test results that experts say are invalid because of technical problems and cyberattacks.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports only generalized information about how Kansas students did on certain test items will be made public. The decision means parents, teachers and administrators won’t be able to see how specific students, schools or districts performed in math and reading assessments.

Kansas State Board of Education chairwoman Jana Shaver says there were so many problems it was not feasible or fair to release the data.

The Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation at the University of Kansas department administers the tests. It says problems affected up to one-third of this year’s math tests and two-thirds of the English tests.

No appeal of rewrite for Mo. early voting proposal

Posted on September 16, 2014September 16, 2014

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – The Missouri attorney general’s office will not appeal a ruling rewriting the ballot summary of an early voting proposal.

A spokeswoman for Attorney General Chris Koster said Tuesday that he won’t ask the state Supreme Court to hear the case following Monday’s decision by an appeals court panel.

The appellate judges said the summary drafted by legislators was misleading, because it failed to note that the proposed six-day early voting period would occur only if state funding is provided.

The appeals judges ordered the funding contingency to be included in the ballot summary.

House and Senate leaders had said they did not want to appeal the ruling, because they didn’t want further legal complications before the measure appears on the November ballot.

Area residents on Moran’s Service Academy Selection Board

Posted on September 16, 2014September 16, 2014

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., in a news release Tuesday announced the members of his 2014 Kansas Service Academy Selection Board. The 20-member board will review applications and interview candidates who are applying for admission to U.S. Service Academies. These include the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Those selected will enter the academies in June 2015.

“Our country is fortunate to have so many intelligent, hard-working and patriotic young men and women interested in serving our country through the Armed Forces,” Moran said. “I know the Selection Board will have a difficult time narrowing the field of qualified candidates, but I value their insight and thank them for their help in making difficult decisions.”

Moran accepts applications for nominations to the United States Service Academies each year. This year, more than 60 high school students have applied to be considered for very few nominations. Candidates are then required to interview with Moran’s Service Academy Selection Board. Following interviews, the Board will make recommendations to Moran for his decision. If nominated, applicants must then meet the individual admission requirements of each academy. The academies will make the final decision on who will receive an appointment of admission in early 2015.

Members of the 2014 Kansas Service Academy Selection Board include:

• Ron Lucas of Goodland – Vietnam War Veteran and served in the U.S. Army

• Jayne Pearce of Wallace – Marketing and Tourism Director for the Wallace County Visitors Bureau, served in the U.S. Air Force and mother of U.S. Air Force Academy Graduate

• Maceo Braxton, III of Salina – 8th Grade Boys Team Leader at The City and son of U.S. Military Academy graduate

• Karen DeGraaf of Mulvane – U.S. Air Force Academy Graduate

• Anne Emerson of Fort Scott – Southeast Kansas, Inc. Board Member

• Nicholas Falcetto of Fort Leavenworth – U.S. Army Major and U.S. Military Academy Graduate

• Ernest Garcia of Overland Park – Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent, retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel and former U.S. Selective Service System Chief of Staff

• Steve Harmon of Emporia – E-Town Solutions Owner/President, Emporia City Commissioner and Kansas National Guard Member

• Steve Hawley, Ph.D., of Lawrence – University of Kansas Director of Engineering Physics Program and former NASA Astronaut

• Robin Jackson, Ph.D., of Hutchinson – Central Christian College Professor of Science and Mathematics

• Ryan Kriegshauser of Topeka – Director of Policy and Special Counsel Kansas Office of the Securities Commissioner and a Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserves

• Katrina Lewison of Manhattan – U.S. Military Academy Graduate and Purple Heart Recipient

• Wendell Maddox of Kansas City – United Way of Wyandotte County President and CEO and served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps

• Jill McCarthy of Overland Park – Kansas City Area Development Council Vice President of Business Development and mother of U.S. Military Academy Graduate

• Lynne Murray, Ph.D., of Baldwin City – President of Baker University and wife of U.S. Air Force Member

• Janet Nichols of Manhattan – Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Military Community Liaison

• Paula Ripple of Dodge City – Retired Dodge City High School English instructor and mother of U.S. Air Force Academy Graduate

• Matt Treaster of Newton – U.S. Naval Academy Graduate and an Assistant United States Attorney

• Samuel Turner of Leawood – Retired Shawnee Mission Medical Center CEO, Vietnam War Veteran and served in the U.S. Army

• Ron Whitney of Emporia – American Legion Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars Member and served in U.S. Army

Severe respiratory illness confirmed in 12 states

Posted on September 16, 2014September 16, 2014

CDC: States with Lab-confirmed Enterovirus D68

MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Health officials say 12 states now have respiratory illnesses caused by an uncommon virus — enterovirus 68.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials say Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania together have 130 lab-confirmed cases. All are children.

The virus can cause mild to severe illness, with the worst cases needing life support for breathing difficulties. Kids with asthma have been especially vulnerable. No deaths have been reported.

The strain is not new but only a small number of labs can test for it. Since mid-August, there’s been an unusual spike in identified cases. The CDC has tested more than 200 specimens from more than 30 states.

Investigators say it’s not yet clear what triggered the outbreak or whether it’s worsening.

Feds launch policing bias study

Posted on September 16, 2014September 16, 2014

ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Eric Holder says the Justice Department has enlisted a team of criminal justice researchers to study racial bias in five American cities.

He says the shooting last month of an unarmed black 18-year-old in Ferguson, Missouri, underscored the need for the initiative.

In an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press, Holder said the project could serve as a “silver lining” to the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown in striving to ease racial tensions and community mistrust.

The five cities haven’t been selected yet.

The Justice Department will announce Thursday that it’s awarding grants to a team of researchers from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, along with Yale University, UCLA and the Urban Institute.

Poll: Davis and Orman lead in Kansas races

Posted on September 16, 2014September 16, 2014

Davis and Orman

Raleigh, N.C. – Public Policy Polling’s new Kansas survey continues to find Greg Orman in the lead for US Senate- and that Orman’s lead could expand further if Chad Taylor is able to get off the ballot. Orman leads with 41% to 34% for Pat Roberts, 6% for Taylor, and 4% for Libertarian Randall Batson. But if Taylor supporters had to choose between Orman and Roberts, they’d take Orman by a 67/16 spread. That’s enough to push Orman up to a double digit lead in a head to head match up with Roberts, at 46/36.

The big story in this race continues to be Roberts’ unpopularity. Only 29% of voters approve of the job he’s doing to 46% who disapprove. Those numbers have barely budged from when he posted a 27/44 spread last month. Roberts continues to be plagued by his residence issues- only 29% of voters think he considers Kansas to be his home, compared to 53% who think it’s Washington DC.

Despite their current support of Orman, 49% of Kansans still want a US Senate that is controlled by the Republicans to only 39% who want one controlled by the Democrats. Right now only 62% of people who want a GOP controlled Senate say they’re going to vote for Roberts. If he can effectively nationalize the race- Barack Obama has a 33/58 approval rating in the state- and get those folks who want GOP control to cast their votes for him Roberts will find himself in a much better place.

In the Kansas Governor’s race we find Paul Davis leading Sam Brownback 42/38 with Libertarian Keen Umbehr at 7%. Brownback continues to be very unpopular, sporting a 36/53 approval rating. Davis still has a relatively low profile- 35% of voters have no opinion about him one way or another- but his favorability is a positive 38/26 spread among those who are familiar with him.

“We continue to find Greg Orman with an advantage over Pat Roberts,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “The question is if that will be sustainable after Republicans make the argument to voters that electing Orman could potentially keep Democrats in control of the Senate.”

PPP surveyed 1,328 likely voters from September 11^th to 14^th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-27%. 80% of interviews for the poll were conducted over the phone with 20% interviewed over the internet to reach respondents who don’t have landline telephones.

Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve ………………………………………………… 33%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 58%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%

Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
Sam Brownback’s job performance?
Approve ………………………………………………… 36%
Disapprove…………………………………………….. 53%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 12%

Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Paul Davis?
Favorable………………………………………………. 38%
Unfavorable …………………………………………… 26%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 35%

Q4 The candidates for Governor are Republican
Sam Brownback, Democrat Paul Davis, and
Libertarian Keen Umbehr. If the election was
today, who would you vote for?
Sam Brownback……………………………………… 38%
Paul Davis……………………………………………… 42%
Keen Umbehr…………………………………………. 7%
Undecided……………………………………………… 14%

Q5 Combined Horse race, with Umbehr supporters
allocated to whether they’d vote for Brownback
or Davis
Sam Brownback………………………………………. 39%
Paul Davis……………………………………………… 45%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 15%

Q6 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Pat
Roberts’ job performance?
Approve ………………………………………………… 29%
Disapprove…………………………………………….. 46%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 25%

Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Greg Orman?
Favorable………………………………………………. 39%
Unfavorable …………………………………………… 19%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 42%

Q8 The candidates on the ballot for Senate this fall
are Republican Pat Roberts, independent Greg
Orman, Democrat Chad Taylor, and Libertarian
Randall Batson. If the election was today, who
would you vote for?
Pat Roberts…………………………………………….. 34%
Greg Orman……………………………………………. 41%
Chad Taylor…………………………………………….. 6%
Randall Batson ……………………………………….. 4%
Undecided………………………………………………. 15%

Q9 (Asked only of Taylor supporters:) Are you
aware that Chad Taylor has dropped out of the
U.S. Senate race, or not?
Aware of that…………………………………………… 59%
Not aware of that …………………………………….. 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 4%

Q10 If you had to choose between just Republican
Pat Roberts and independent Greg Orman,
who would you vote for?
Pat Roberts…………………………………………….. 36%
Greg Orman……………………………………………. 46%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%

Q11 The candidates for Secretary of State are
Republican Kris Kobach and Democrat Jean
Schodorf. If the election was today, who would
you vote for?
Kris Kobach …………………………………………… 43%
Jean Schodorf………………………………………… 42%
Undecided……………………………………………… 15%

Q12 The candidates for Attorney General are
Republican Derek Schmidt and Democrat A.J.
Kotich. If the election was today, who would
you vote for?
Derek Schmidt ……………………………………….. 50%
A.J. Kotich……………………………………………… 27%
Undecided……………………………………………… 24%

Q13 The candidates for state Treasurer are
Republican Ron Estes and Democrat Carmen
Alldritt. If the election was today, who would
you vote for?
Ron Estes ………………………………………………. 47%
Carmen Alldritt ………………………………………… 28%
Undecided………………………………………………. 24%

Q14 The candidates for Insurance Commissioner
are Republican Ken Selzer and Democrat
Dennis Anderson. If the election was today,
who would you vote for?
Ken Selzer …………………………………………….. 43%
Dennis Anderson ……………………………………. 32%
Undecided……………………………………………… 25%

Q15 In general, would you prefer that Democrats or
Republicans had control of the U.S. Senate?
Democrats ……………………………………………… 39%
Republicans ……………………………………………. 49%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 12%

Q16 Democratic Senate candidate Chad Taylor has
asked for his name to be removed from the
ballot. Do you think his name should be
removed, or not?
Think his name should be removed ……………. 63%
Think it should not be………………………………. 21%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 15%

Q17 Do you approve or disapprove of how
Secretary of State Kris Kobach has handled
the recent issues related to the U.S. Senate
race?
Approve ………………………………………………… 26%
Disapprove…………………………………………….. 44%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 30%

Q18 Do you think Pat Roberts spends enough time
in Kansas, or not?
Think he does ………………………………………… 19%
Think he does not …………………………………… 63%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 19%

Q19 Do you think Pat Roberts considers his home
Kansas or Washington, D.C.?
Kansas………………………………………………….. 29%
Washington, D.C……………………………………… 53%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%

Q20 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Jerry
Moran’s job performance?
Approve ………………………………………………… 39%
Disapprove…………………………………………….. 27%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 34%

Q21 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Kathleen Sebelius?
Favorable………………………………………………. 39%
Unfavorable …………………………………………… 49%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 12%

Q22 If the candidates for U.S. Senate in 2016 were
Republican Jerry Moran and Democrat
Kathleen Sebelius, who would you vote for?
Jerry Moran…………………………………………….. 52%
Kathleen Sebelius……………………………………. 37%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%

Q23 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Jeb
Bush, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton…………………………………………. 40%
Jeb Bush……………………………………………….. 46%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 15%

Q24 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Chris
Christie, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 40%
Chris Christie ………………………………………….. 42%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%

Q25 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Ted
Cruz, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton…………………………………………. 44%
Ted Cruz ……………………………………………….. 41%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 16%

Q26 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Mike
Huckabee, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton…………………………………………. 42%
Mike Huckabee ………………………………………. 45%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 13%

Q27 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Rand
Paul, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton…………………………………………. 41%
Rand Paul ……………………………………………… 43%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 15%

Q28 Would you support or oppose raising the
minimum wage to $10 an hour?
Support ………………………………………………….. 54%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%

Q29 Is your favorite Major League Baseball team
the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago
Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals,
New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, St.
Louis Cardinals, or some other team?
Braves ………………………………………………….. 2%
Red Sox………………………………………………… 2%
Cubs …………………………………………………….. 4%
Rockies…………………………………………………. 2%
Royals…………………………………………………… 62%
Yankees ………………………………………………… 4%
A’s………………………………………………………… 0%
Cardinals……………………………………………….. 4%
Someone else / Don’t have a favorite …………. 20%

Q30 (Asked only of Royals fans:) What do you think
the outcome of the 2014 season will be for the
Royals? Do you think they will win the World
Series, win the American League but not the
World Series, make the playoffs but not win the
American League, or not make the playoffs at
all?
Win the World Series ……………………………….. 13%
Win the AL but not the World Series …………… 25%
Make the playoffs but not win the AL ………….. 45%
Not make the the playoffs at all………………….. 8%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 9%

Q31 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 21%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 43%

Q32 Do you think that Roger Goodell should resign
as NFL Commissioner, or not?
Think he should resign…………………………….. 29%
Think he should not ………………………………… 32%
Not sure ………………………………………………… 39%

Q33 In the last presidential election, did you vote for
Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama……………………………………….. 38%
Mitt Romney…………………………………………… 52%
Someone else / Don’t remember ………………. 10%

Q34 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal …………………………………………….. 6%
Somewhat liberal ……………………………………. 14%
Moderate……………………………………………….. 36%
Somewhat conservative…………………………… 24%
Very conservative …………………………………… 19%

Q35 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man………………………………………………………. 47%

Q36 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ………………………………………………. 26%
Republican……………………………………………… 51%
Independent / Other…………………………………. 22%

Q37 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.
White ……………………………………………………. 90%
Other…………………………………………………….. 10%

Q38 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are 65
or older, press 4.
18 to 29…………………………………………………. 9%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 20%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 45%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 26%

Q39 Mode
Phone …………………………………………………… 80%
Internet …………………………………………………. 20%

Obama: Ebola outbreak ‘spiraling out of control’

Posted on September 16, 2014September 16, 2014

President Obama spoke Tuesday from the CDC

JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — President Barack Obama says the world is looking to the United States to address the deadly outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.

Obama says the U.S. embraces that responsibility.

The president is outlining new U.S. efforts to respond to the outbreak during a visit to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Obama is ordering 3,000 military personnel to West Africa to erect new facilities and train health workers. He says it’s the largest international response in the history of the CDC.

Obama says the outbreak is now an unprecedented epidemic that threatens global security and is spiraling out of control. But he says chances the outbreak will spread into the U.S. are “extremely low.”