CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — For the third straight year, a volatile pesticide is damaging crops across the Midwest and South, despite federal and state efforts to lessen the drift.
Since 2017, farmers have sprayed an increasing amount of the weed killer, called dicamba, on soybean and cotton crops genetically engineered by agribusiness company Monsanto to withstand being sprayed by the herbicide.
But each year, dicamba has drifted off-target and damaged millions of acres of non-resistant soybeans, specialty crops and other plants.
In fact, farmers in Illinois, the nation’s leading soybean producing state, have reported record levels of crop damage caused by pesticide drift in 2019, with 590 dicamba-related complaints as of Aug. 23.
In 2017, the state had 246 dicamba-related complaints. In 2018, the state had 330.
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The nonprofit news outlet Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting provided this article to The Associated Press through a collaboration with Institute for Nonprofit News.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and
Just after 4:00 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the 2500 Block of SW Hillcrest Road in Topeka for a reported shooting, according to Lt. Robert Simmons.
Officers located an 18-year-old girl suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim identified as Reyna A. Soto was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Authorities reported late Saturday she was still in critical condition but expected to survive.
Police have a 17 year old suspect in custody. He was the only suspect identified in this investigation, according to Simmons.
Police transported him to the Shawnee County Juvenile Department of Corrections on requested charges of attempted first degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon and criminal discharge of a firearm into an occupied vehicle. Police did not release the suspect’s name.
RENO COUNTY — A small earthquake shook portions of south-central Kansas Sunday morning.
Location of Sunday’s quake USGS image
The quake just before 8:30a.m. measured a magnitude 3.1 and was centered approximately 2 miles northwest of South Hutchinson, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Sunday’s quake follows a series of quakes in Reno County in Mid-August including a 4.2 magnitude quake on August 16.
There were no reports of any damage from Sunday’s quake.
Aetna Medicaid CEO Randy Hyun (center) and Regional Vice President Deb Bacon (right) met with Kansas lawmakers in Topeka on Tuesday. STEPHEN KORANDA / KANSAS NEWS SERVIC
Aetna Better Health is struggling to keep its Medicaid contract with KanCare, to the point that state officials found fault with Aetna’s recent plan to improve services.
But Kansas lawmakers had two words this week for the company: Keep trying.
At a two-day hearing, health care providers told lawmakers how Aetna isn’t paying them on time. Aetna executives took responsibility for the shortfalls, which have put the company at risk of losing its contract after the state said it wasn’t in compliance and later rejected a proposal to fix the problems.
“We get it. Talk is cheap,” Randy Hyun, CEO of Aetna’s national Medicaid division, told the panel. “We need to show action. We need to show progress, and we absolutely intend to do that.”
Already, Aetna has replaced its state-level CEO, and told lawmakers that it did the same with another top staffer.
The company is one of three groups managing patient care the state’s privatized Medicaid program, KanCare, which provides coverage for nearly 400,000 low-income, elderly and disabled people through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP.
“I want to apologize for not living up to the expectations that I’ve had,” Hyun said. “We preach operational excellence, and we certainly have not demonstrated that to you.”
During the hearing, lawmakers heard from industry groups about the challenges of working with Aetna. The Kansas Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes, said health care providers are having trouble getting paid by Aetna for the services performed. One facility owner has more than $800,000 in unpaid claims submitted to Aetna.
Cindy Luxem, the group’s CEO and president, said she’s worried about facilities burning through reserves while waiting for the reimbursements.
“Maybe Aetna needs to lay out the money and go back and reimburse at some other point,” she said, “because this isn’t a system that’s working right now.”
The Kansas Hospital Association said some clinics have had trouble signing up with Aetna in the first place to become in-network health care providers. That means the facilities have to get prior approval before providing patients health care.
“We are concerned that access to patient care will be hampered until these network issues are resolved,” said Tish Hollingsworth, vice president of reimbursement for the KHA.
Kansas regulators told Aetna last month that it was out of compliance with its state contract and was at risk of being effectively fired by the state. Aetna’s corrective action plan, delivered Aug. 6, didn’t receive a warm response.
“Quite frankly, we were not satisfied,” Kansas Medicaid Director Adam Proffitt said. “It lacked the necessary detail to show that they were going to get back into compliance.”
The state is reviewing Aetna’s latest proposal this week. Proffitt said it would be a big disruption to cancel Aetna’s contract, as about 100,000 people would have to be shifted to the two other Medicaid contractors. But that doesn’t mean the state will go easy on Aetna. Proffitt wants a quick resolution
“We’re not going to fix the problems for them,” Proffitt said in an interview. “We’re going to provide the support necessary from the state for them to fix the problems.”
Republican Rep. Susan Concannon pointed to the staff shakeup and said she was glad to see the company responding. But, she said, Aetna should have looked at troubles the other managed-care organizations had when the state’s privatized Medicaid program launched in 2013, and “learned from the issues.”
State lawmakers said they’ll keep a close eye on Aetna as the company works to fix problems.
“It’s important that we follow up and make sure the law is being followed and that people get paid and get the care they need,” Democratic Sen. Barbara Bollier said. “If that isn’t being adequately met, then we need to make changes.”
Aetna confirmed during the hearings that David Livingston would replace Keith Wisdom as CEO of the Kansas operation. A LinkedIn profile shows Livingston previously worked for the company on Medicaid in Illinois. Mark Grippi is taking over as acting COO, and previously worked for Aetna in Louisiana.
Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda or email skoranda (at) ku (dot) edu.
CALDWELL COUNTY, Mo. — One person died in in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Saturday in Caldwell County.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica driven by Caitlyn Galloway, 32, Overland Park, was eastbound in a driveway on private property on Southwest Ore Road eight miles east of Lathrop.
The vehicle struck 1-year-old Elijah J. Galloway of Overland Park. Caldwell County EMS transported the boy to Liberty Hospital where he died.
Authorities released no additional details late Saturday
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after a a tip from the public.
Tim Kaberline photo Shawnee Co.
On Thursday, the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Unit investigated information received on illegal drug activity at a residence in the 600 block of NE Twiss Avenue in Topeka, according to Lt. Shayna Anderson.
Drug Task Force Officers from the Sheriff’s Office and the Topeka Police Department executed a search warrant and discovered a marijuana grow operation, methamphetamine, firearms and drug paraphernalia.
They arrested 59-year-old Timothy J. Kaberline and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substance, Unlawful Cultivation of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Stimulant and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
The Shawnee County Drug Task Force continues to investigate this narcotics distribution operation. Kaberline has four previous convictions for driving under the influence, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have three suspects in custody.
Avalos photo Sedgwick Co.
Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday police responded to a burglary in progress call at a home in the 5200 Block of South Mount Carmel in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
When officers arrived, an 18-year-old resident told police when he arrived home, he heard individuals inside the residence. The teen exited the house, called police and then saw a suspect later identified as Alejandro Avalos, 18, Wichita, and two 14-year-olds run from the back of the residence with items from the home, according to Davidson.
Additional officers arriving located the suspects and arrested them without incident. Police also recovered two stolen handguns, electronics, clothing and alcohol, according to Davidson.
Avalos and the two 14-year-old are being held on requested charges of aggravated residential burglary and theft, according to Davidson.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Kansas City Zoo is planning a $10 million renovation of its elephant exhibit.
Photo courtesy KC Zoo
The project announced this week will include easier access to the pool for the elephants, as well as adding shade and softer ground for the animals to walk on.
Zoo Director Randy Wisthoff says the renovations will also improve visitors’ views of the elephants, with additional seating and handicapped-accessible renovations.
The zoo is still waiting to announce final plans for a $75 million saltwater aquarium.
KCUR reports the delay is caused mostly by a $7 million contribution from Kansas City.
The city council directed City Manager Troy Schulte to try and find the money but a city spokesman said this week no funds have been identified to fulfill the request.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have a suspect in custody.
Just after 7:30p.m. Thursday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received
reports of an armed robbery that had just occurred at at the Ibannos Grill Food Truck at the intersection of SE 6th Ave. and SE Carnahan Ave. in Topeka, according to a media release.
Officers were able to identify one of the suspects as 29-year-old Javier A. Martinez. They located him and made an arrest. Martinez is being held on requested charges that include aggravated robbery, aggravated assault and theft.
Officers are working to locate the second outstanding suspect.
