WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The process of obtaining a new Real ID is creating headaches for some Kansas residents.
Real ID license
Vietnam War veteran Armando Fleming is among several Kansas residents who have left driver’s license offices empty-handed after learning that the documents they brought to verify their identity weren’t enough to get approved for a Real ID.
The credential will be required under federal law to board airplanes and enter some federal buildings beginning next year. Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 as a security measure following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Many states have been waiting to come into compliance closer to the Oct. 1, 2020, deadline.
Fleming, a Wichita retiree, was initially denied a Real ID with the name he’s been using his entire life because it doesn’t match the name on his birth certificate, the Wichita Eagle reported.
“I pulled out military records, discharge records, my awards . and I took them down (to the DMV) and the guy said, nope, it won’t satisfy the requirements” he said. “Needless to say, I started to get a little upset because I spent 15 years in the Army and fought for my country and got wounded for my country. I didn’t think I needed to prove who I was.”
The veteran’s documents listed Fleming as his last name, but they conflicted with his birth certificate.
Fleming’s maternal grandmother had filled out his birth certificate with his mother’s last name, Robinson. But he ended up using his father’s last name, Fleming, and didn’t even know about the issue until years later.
To obtain a Real ID, residents must present proof of their current legal name with a birth certificate or passport, as well as documents proving a social security number and residence. Individuals whose names don’t match their birth certificates or passports have to show additional documentation that traces their name changes, such as marriage, divorce or adoption records.
Fleming had to go to court and spend $204 to legally change his name so that he could get a Real ID with the name he’s been called for 74 years.
The Kansas Department of Revenue has acknowledged that some people are seeking legal name changes to obtain a Real ID that matches the rest of their personal, military, school and financial documents.
Kent Selk, the department’s driver services manager, said it’s a problem that mostly affects older residents.
“The state’s just upholding the federal law,” Selk said. “We’re following all of the guidelines from the federal government that says this is what you have to do to issue this credential.”
It’s unclear how many people across Kansas have changed their name to obtain a Real ID, or how many have decided not to apply for one because of the trouble or cost of getting a legal name change.
According to the department, more than 40% of Kansas’ 2 million licensed drivers have a Real ID.
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — An autopsy confirmed drowning as the cause of death for a Missouri fisherman whose boat capsized on a Montana lake during a spring snowstorm.
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton tells the Independent Record the April 28 death of 63-year-old Craig Bristle of Pacific, Missouri, is considered accidental.
Bristle was on a guided fishing trip on Upper Holter Reservoir when the boat he was in became swamped near the Gates of the Mountains Marina north of Helena. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden Sgt. Justin Hawkaluk says the occupants of a second boat returned and pulled them from the water, but the extra weight and waves caused the second boat to capsize.
Bristle, who was not wearing a life jacket, died at the scene. Five others, including two guides, were treated for hypothermia.
Republican Senators met with President Donald Trump last week to discuss steel and aluminum tariffs and the effect they’re having on possible passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. Bloomberg says the senators talked about economic and political concerns on the tariffs, the negotiations with China, as well as new tariffs that Trump is threatening to impose on auto imports from the European Union.
The group emphasized just how important it is to get Trump’s trade deal with Canada and Mexico passed through Congress. Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley told the president they want to work with him to “get past the steel and aluminum tariff issue so USMCA can become law.”
However, Bloomberg says the appeal didn’t seem to work. Trump followed up the meeting with a Twitter post declaring that “the tariffs are working for Pennsylvania,” one of the key states that helped him to get elected. Grassley’s most pointed attack on the president’s tariffs came in a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece. Grassley wrote that Trump’s signature trade agreement is “dead-on-arrival if he decides not to lift the tariffs on steel and aluminum.”
In the waning days of the 2019 session, the conservative Republicans controlling the Kansas Legislature made one thing clear to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and her allies: They were ready for a fight against Medicaid expansion.
Republican Majority Leader Rep. Dan Hawkins (left) and Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman worked the phones to secure enough votes to end a standoff over Medicaid expansion and pass the budget to end the legislative session.. STEPHEN KORANDA / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
The issue commanded the four-month session, which ended in the wee hours Sunday. The session was the first with the new Democratic governor in office, which gave people who wanted to expand health coverage for thousands of low-income Kansans the energy to push hard in the final days. Their efforts ultimately failed.
“Medicaid expansion has characterized this entire session,” Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Bishop said during a final budget vote. “It has run up against the will of the minority to thwart the will of the majority.”
Conservative leaders in the House convinced enough Republican moderates to fold to break a logjam over expansion and approve a budget that boosts funding for roads, prisons, and education.
“Our ultimate goal was to make sure that we funded core government and that our schools were funded,” Republican House Speaker Ron Ryckman said.
Everyone involved agreed this wasn’t the last word on Medicaid expansion. House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer said “we gave it our best fight, and we’re going to keep fighting.” Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, who refused to debate it this year, promised to prepare a “much more robust” bill before the 2020 legislative session starts in January.
But that’s all in the future.
While Medicaid expansion stalled, other initiatives advanced and faltered in 2019.
What lawmakers did.
Increased school funding, yet again.
Lawmakers handed Gov. Laura Kelly a victory by approving her K-12 education proposal with a bipartisan majority.
Kelly based her plan on calculations from the Kansas Department of Education, adding about $90 million per year to account for inflation. The Kansas Supreme Court must sign off; if they do, it will end a long-running lawsuit over education spending.
But the plaintiffs in the Gannon case say the state got the math wrong, and that the Legislature will have to put in more still to make school funding adequate. Oral arguments are on May 9.
Gave businesses and itemizers a tax break.
In late March, Kelly quashed tax-relief legislation that was crafted in response to changes at the federal level. Lawmakers successfully tried again at the end of the session, passing a more modest bill.
It will save Kansas residents used to itemizing from paying more in state taxes after changes to the federal tax code. And it will exempt corporations’ overseas income from state taxes.
That’s if the governor doesn’t veto this bill too. She’s called the measure hasty and wants to instead study the Kansas tax code over the coming year.
Lawmakers tried to make it more palatable by including provisions to cut the sales tax on food, which Kansas taxes more than almost any other state. Kansas would collect sales taxes from more online retailers to make up for it.
Let the state Farm Bureau market health coverage.
Citing the rising cost of health care, the Kansas Farm Bureau lobbied lawmakers to market coverage exempt from state insurance regulations and the rules put in place by the federal Affordable Care Act.
Critics said the group shouldn’t be allowed to sidestep insurance regulations, especially when it comes to guaranteeing coverage for pre-existing conditions. But the farm bureau argued the flexibility will create new, cheaper health plans that their members could afford.
The governor expressed reservations, but let the bill become law without her signature, in part to encourage a compromise on Medicaid expansion.
Approved more money for prisons, with a twist.
Kelly offered a last-minute budget amendment to boost corrections spending by about $30 million. The administration is hoping that raising officers’ pay and moving some inmates to county jails and private prisons will ease the pressure on the state prison system.
Lawmakers ultimately included more than $25 million, but there’s a catch: the money’s being routed through the state Finance Council. It’s made up of the governor and leaders of both parties, who all will decide on actually doling out the funding.
Took baby steps toward fixing the child welfare system.
The across-the-board consensus to start off the session was that children dying on the state’s watch and kids sleeping in offices of overwhelmed foster care contractors constituted an emergency.
Lawmakers agreed to add staff for the Department for Children and Families to lighten the load, including more child abuse investigators. They also agreed to funding programs that will allow the state to get federal money to help struggling families stay together.
But most recommendations of the state’s child welfare system task force remained on the shelf, things like improving foster home recruitment and strengthening safety-net programs like Medicaid. And lawmakers cut support for child welfare oversight from the final budget.
Restored some funding for state colleges and universities.
Kelly wanted $8.9 million to fully restore what lawmakers had cut during the state’s lean financial years.
Lawmakers agreed and added more, boosting spending on colleges and universities by almost $16 million, plus about $4 million in additional funding targeted at specific programs, including a technical education initiative.
Overall, it’s still less than the $50 million the Board of Regents had requested, but the regents said they were thankful for what they got.
Got some highway projects rolling again.
Lawmakers routed extra money to speed up projects in the 10-year transportation plan, T-WORKS, that had been delayed due to the post-2012 tax-cut budget crunch.
A task force recommended finishing the delayed highway projects, and lawmakers agreed to pursue that before working a on a new long-term transportation plan.
Made it easier to vote, and get your ballot counted.
Another piece of the legislation allows voters to fix problems with the signature on their mail-in ballot. In some cases, ballots have been thrown out because county officials said the signature didn’t closely match an example on file. The new law will require county officials to try to contact voters and let them correct their ballot before all the votes are tallied.
The Legislature did not, however, revoke the Kansas secretary of state’s authority to prosecute election crimes. The move had broad support, and the endorsement of current Secretary of State Scott Schwab, but lawmakers ran out of time.
Allowed medical use of CBD oil containing some THC.
THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana still isn’t legal in Kansas. But lawmakers made allowances for having CBD oil with THC in it for medicinal purposes.
Patients and caregivers who have a doctor’s note will be protected against prosecution and child welfare proceedings. Republican Rep. Eric Smith, a sheriff’s deputy, said such a letter won’t necessarily protect against being arrested for possessing CBD oil containing THC.
What lawmakers did not do.
Amend the state constitution to ban abortion.
The Kansas Supreme Court ruled last month that the state constitution guarantees a right to abortion. Abortion opponents say that could knock down many of the restrictions that have been added to state law in recent years.
The court’s long-awaited decision amplified calls for a constitutional amendment, which would need two-thirds support in the Legislature to get on the ballot for a public vote. Abortion opponents are waiting until 2020 to make their push for that.
Legalize sports betting.
It has bipartisan support, but legalizing betting on sports turned out not to be a slam dunk. While eight states already have done it and two others look to be in line, Kansas lawmakers got hung up on who should run gambling, how much to tax betting and other nitty-gritty details. The issue will likely come back in the 2020 session.
Refinance the state pension program.
Kelly wanted to stretch out repayment of state pension debt to free up money for other priorities, like highways and Medicaid expansion. But the proposed refinancing might have increased overall costs by $7 billion. Lawmakers scoffed and chose not to pursue it. Still, the reamortization idea could rerturn in the coming years.
Expand Medicaid.
Democrats and moderate Republicans maneuvered to get Medicaid expansion passed in the House in March. With the goal of inducing a debate on expansion in the Senate, the coalition blocked the budget twice as the session wound down.
Despite the bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate, and popular support, Republican leaders held off the last-ditch efforts.
(USDA) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on Friday announced the finalists of the 136 Expressions of Interest received from parties in 35 states vying to become the new homes of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Secretary Perdue said that “This short list of locations took into consideration critical factors required to uphold the important missions of ERS and NIFA. We also considered factors important to our employees, such as quality of life. Relocation will help ensure USDA is the most effective, most efficient, and most customer-focused agency in the federal government, allowing us to be closer to our stakeholders and move our resources closer to our customers.”
The top Expressions of Interest were reviewed in detail, and USDA selected a short list of locations offering existing buildings with sufficient space to meet ERS and NIFA requirements. The top three Expressions of Interest under consideration are: the Greater Kansas City Region in KS and MO, the Research Triangle Region in NC, and multiple locations in IN.
Besides the top 3, the USDA says that two other Expressions of Interest remain under consideration as alternative locations should the top three locations not suit USDA’s needs: St. Louis, MO and Madison, WI.
As part of the site selection process, USDA narrowed the Expressions of Interest list using a set of established criteria defined by USDA, NIFA, and ERS leadership. The criteria included: Quality of Life, Costs (Capital and Operating), Workforce, and Logistics / IT Infrastructure.
More information about the site selection process can be found at, https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2018/12/21/perdue-announces-ers-nifa-site-selection-criteria
HENRY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have a suspect in custody. Just before 9p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 500 Block of South Carter Street in Clinton where they discovered a subject who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Schley -photo Henry Co.
Despite life saving measures administered by responding officers, Jonathan Joseph Nahrstedt, age 24, of Warsaw, MO was transported to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital Emergency Room via ambulance where he was pronounced deceased, according to a media release.
Police arrested Jeremy Dalton Schley, age 21, of Clinton, at the scene and was held in the Henry County Jail on a 24 hours investigative hold. He was no longer in custody early Monday, according to online jail records.
Schley has not been formally charged with any crime yet.
Clinton Police Officers and Detectives were assisted at the scene by Henry County Sheriff’s Deputies
(NAFB) The U.S. House is set to work on a disaster aid bill that includes financial help for Midwestern and Southern Farmers. The Hagstrom Report says House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer made the announcement last week as the House adjourned until tomorrow. Hoyer says the House will consider H.R. 2157, which is the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2019.
“The legislation would provide relief and recovery assistance to Americans that have been affected by recent natural disasters,” Hoyer says. “It includes an additional $3 billion to address serious needs that resulted from flooding in the Midwest and tornadoes in the South.”
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans say they have a plan put together that includes $300 million in additional aid to Puerto Rico, which Democrats want. They also say that President Trump has agreed to support the bill. Republican Senator David Perdue of Georgia says that Trump is “on board.” Perdue also told the Washington Post that, “I hope the logjam in Congress is breaking. I honestly think both sides are trying right now.”
LONDON (AP) — The Latest on the newest royal baby in Britain (all times local):
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are the proud parents of a new baby boy.
The baby, who has not yet been named, is seventh in line for the British throne and is Queen Elizabeth II’s eighth great-grandchild.
It is the first child for Harry and Meghan, who married a year ago. Harry spoke before cameras on Monday afternoon.
The duchess is a 37-year-old retired American actress formerly known as Meghan Markle. The 34-year-old prince is the son of Prince Charles — next in line for the throne — and Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997.
Harry has long spoken of his desire to start a family.
VITERBO, Italy (AP) — Italian police have arrested a 22-year-old American and accused him of killing a 74-year-old Italian owner of a clothing store in Viterbo, a city near Rome.
Police arrested Michael Aaron Pang on Saturday and allege the killed the Italian storekeeper by striking him with a stool. The body of Norveo Fedeli was found inside his store Friday, Lt. Col. Guglielmo Trombetta said.
Trombetta said Pang, who was born in South Korea, is a graphic designer from the Kansas City area who arrived in Italy about two months ago. Trombetta said it was unclear why Pang was in Italy. He said the suspect has not spoken yet with detectives.
Pang’s lawyer, Remigio Sicilia, said he came to Italy on a tourist’s visa and had a desire to learn Italian and work in Italy. He said Pang is from Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. He said Pang appeared to have no criminal past.
“He’s 22, but he is like a child,” the lawyer said. “He’s a well-behaved boy from a good American family.”
Trombetta said Pang ordered designer clothes worth about 600 euros ($670) from Fedeli’s store. He said Pang had gone to the store twice before Friday to purchase the clothes, but his credit card was rejected.
Police allege Pang and Fedeli scuffled before Pang killed the storekeeper. Police say Pang changed his clothes and took the man’s wallet before fleeing the store with one of his shoes covered in a bag because it was stained in blood.
Police say they found Fedeli’s stolen wallet and other evidence linking Pang to the killing at a room he rented in Capodimonte, a lake town near Viterbo.
Pang, who faces murder and robbery charges, is expected to appear in court Monday, Trombetta said.
BATES COUNTY — Two motorcycle riders from Missouri died in separate crashes Sunday.
Just after 5:30p.m., the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Honda driven by Taylor L. Eicholz, 23, Drexel, was westbound on 17402 Road 0 just west of 12001 Road. The motorcycle traveled off the road, became airborne, struck an embankment and into a creek. Eicholz was transported to Cass Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Just before 8:30p.m., the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 2014 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Douglas P. Falloon, 55, was eastbound on Interstate 44 on the exit ramp to Pacific in Franklin County. The motorcycle rear-ended a 2019 Volo semi driven by Kaner Celik, 37, Carnegie, PA..
Falloon was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.
(USDA) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on Friday announced the finalists of the 136 Expressions of Interest received from parties in 35 states vying to become the new homes of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
(NAFB) The U.S. House is set to work on a disaster aid bill that includes financial help for Midwestern and Southern Farmers. The Hagstrom Report says House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer made the announcement last week as the House adjourned until tomorrow. Hoyer says the House will consider H.R. 2157, which is the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2019.
