News
Medicaid giant Centene settles fraud allegations with Kansas for $27.6M
Centene, the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care provider, has settled fraud allegations with a fifth state, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Monday. The $27.6 million Kansas settlement comes after Mississippi, Illinois and Arkansas announced settlements totaling $154 million. All of those follow a settlement with Ohio — the only state to sue the company […]
Kansas long-term care residents air concerns over inadequate living conditions, staffing response
TOPEKA — At an Overland Park nursing home, Rita Headley has witnessed many elderly Kansans without access to reliable care and unable to live with dignity. Headley, who worked for 30 years at a nursing home in Fort Scott in a variety of roles, said she knows the treatment residents should receive, and the Overland […]
Investigation urged of doctor who operated on immigrant women in detention
WASHINGTON — Two congressional panels are calling for Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to investigate a doctor who was accused of performing gynecological procedures on immigrant women in a Georgia detention center without their consent or full understanding of the treatment being performed. In a Dec. 3 letter, Democrats on the House Homeland Security and Oversight […]
Bob Dole championed ‘lives of greater dignity’ for Americans with disabilities
TOPEKA — In 1969, during his maiden speech on the Senate floor, Bob Dole focused his remarks on the rights and opportunities of individuals with disabilities, a subject with which he was intimately familiar. Dole’s passion for disability rights stemmed from his service as a soldier in World War II, where he was rendered unable […]
Three champions of Build Back Better make pitch for federal economic development bill
A trio of Kansas activists laud the Build Back Better bill pending in Congress because it greatly enhances Medicaid, child care and preschool services.
‘Statesman,’ ‘hero,’ ‘favorite son’: Well wishes pour out after death of Sen. Bob Dole
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Reverence for U.S. Sen. Bob Dole’s service as a soldier in World War II, a longtime senator and fixture in Washington, D.C., was evident Sunday morning following the announcement of his death. In the hours after the Elizabeth Dole Foundation announced Dole, 98, had died following a battle with lung cancer, […]
Bob Dole, Kansas political icon, dies at 98 after battle with lung cancer
TOPEKA — Kansas political icon Bob Dole, who represented the state for decades in Washington, D.C., and was the Republican nominee for president in 1996, died Sunday morning at age 98. The Elizabeth Dole Foundation announced his death. He said in February he had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. “It is with heavy […]
Women would sign up for the military draft under defense bill in Congress
WASHINGTON — As the Senate works to finalize a major annual defense measure, there is a bipartisan push to include a requirement that all young Americans — including women — for the first time register for the military draft. The $777.9 billion measure, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022, also would allocate millions to […]
K-State’s economic development plan focuses on agriculture, biosecurity innovation
Kansas State University wants new 10-year economic development plan to add 3,000 jobs, investment of $3 billion by focusing in ag and biosecurity issues.
Biden’s oil and gas policy falls short on climate goals, House Democrats say
Democrats on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee on Thursday encouraged President Joe Biden to take stronger action to limit oil and gas production, while Republicans said reducing domestic production would only increase global emissions from overseas suppliers. In a hearing less than a week after the U.S. Interior Department released a report that called […]
Kansas panel prepares recommendation for long-term telehealth modernization committee
TOPEKA — A panel focused on issues relating to telehealth is preparing a recommendation to the Legislature requesting the establishment of a committee to further discuss potential avenues for payment parity for the remote services. The telehealth working group, part of the Special Committee on Mental Health Modernization and Reform, decided Thursday against recommending any […]
Kansas Supreme Court reverses lower courts, allows broad use of out-of-state DUI convictions
TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court sought to bring clarity to prosecution of driving-under-the-influence offenses Friday by unanimously granting district courts authority to view prior DUI convictions in Missouri as comparable to the Kansas law. The court examined the Kansas Legislature’s modification of state law in 2018 aimed at accounting for DUIs from other states. […]