I wonder if this is the guy that wrote a false check on my account: I got it resolved. But one wonders. Preston Craig Clowdus, 40, on a warrant charging him with making a false writing, 12:03 p.m. 5/16.

Police & fire calls: CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Police fire calls

Published Sunday, May 18, 2008
Police calls

Felony cases reported to the Topeka Police Department.

Address,

Crime, Time, Day

1600 blk. S.W. Huntoon,

house burglary, criminal damage, 10 a.m. 5/16-10:05 a.m. 5/17

3100 blk. S.E. 6th,

passing counterfeit money, 11 a.m. 5/17

People booked into the Shawnee County Jail in connection with a felony.

Preston Craig Clowdus, 40, on a warrant charging him with making a false writing, 12:03 p.m. 5/16.

Andrew Lee Parkhurst, 20, in connection with crimes that included aggravated battery, 5:30 p.m. 5/16.

Kylie Anne Halstead, 20, in connection with crimes that included criminal damage to property, 2:48 a.m. 5/17.

Felipe DeJesus Cuevas-Delgado, 38, in connection with crimes that included felony drug possession and possessing contraband in a penal institution, 5:15 a.m. 5/17.

Stephen Rea Shanks, 36, on a warrant charging him with aggravated battery, 8:05 a.m. 5/17.

Jesse James Griffin, 23, on a warrant charging him with crimes that included possessing stolen property, 11:05 a.m. 5/17.

Fire calls

Address, Action, Time, Day

Topeka Fire Department

3750 N.W. 62nd,

Potentially hazardous conditions at the scene of a possible meth lab, 12:28 a.m. Fri.

1141 S.E. Lime,

Vegetation fire, no loss, 1:19 a.m., Fri.

534 S. Kansas Ave.,

Service call, 6:21 a.m., Fri.

731 S.E. Lafayette,

Public assistance call, 7:18 a.m., Fri.

1312 S.W. Polk,

Structure fire, no loss, 1:43 p.m., Fri.

2930 S.W. Foxcroft Ct.,

Structure fire, no loss, 2:20 p.m., Fri.

S.W. I-470 and Burlingame Rd.,

Mobile property fire, no loss, 4:05 p.m. Fri.

107 S.W. 16th,

Vegetation fire, no loss, 4:41 p.m. Fri.

115 S.E. 6th Ave.,

Trash fire, no loss, 5:30 p.m. Fri.

1600 N.W. Taylor,

Steam or gas mistaken for smoke, 5:59 p.m. Fri.

1600 S.W. Randolph Ave.,

Steam or gas mistaken for smoke, 9:41 p.m. Fri.

536 N.E. Lime,

Potential toxic conditions, 10:21 p.m. Fri.

N.E. Division, Wilson,

Steam or gas mistaken for smoke, 11:15 p.m. Fri.

28 medical calls and no false alarms on Friday.

Mission Township Fire Department

One medical call and one false alarm between 3 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.

Soldier Township Fire Department

N.W. US-24 and K-4 highways,

Traffic accident, 3:57 p.m. Fri.

One medical call between 3 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.

Shawnee Heights Fire District

Lake Shawnee,

Bicycle accident, 3:30 p.m. Fri.

N.W. US-24 and K-4 highways,

Mutual aid call on a traffic accident, 3:57 p.m. Fri.

Two medical call and one false alarm between 3 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

the face of opponents of the coal fired plant in S.W. Kansas. S. Dakota wins it but now there might be problems KS., might have avoided. It shows that Big Business wants it all their way again! But hey a new oil refinery plant any where is good news.

Hyperion refinery: possibility or politics?
Impact of Sunflower decision under scrutiny: CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Hyperion refinery: possibility or politics?

By James Carlson
The Capital-Journal
Published Sunday, May 18, 2008
Officials called it Project Nicole, and for almost two years they concealed its details.

While a fight over the proposed $3.5 billion expansion of a coal-fired power plant boiled in public, negotiations for an even bigger investment played out in the background.

The details of this secret development dwarfed all others. Hyperion Resources Inc., a Dallas-based company, was considering four sites, including Kansas, for a $10 billion oil refinery producing 8,000 construction jobs and 1,800 well-paying permanent positions.

"Wow is all I can say," wrote Deb Miller, secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation, when she learned of Project Nicole in March 2007.

Then in March 2008, the refinery and coal plant projects collided. Reporters were summoned to a Statehouse office where Rep. Richard Carlson, R-St. Marys, revealed that Kansas was no longer in contention for this previously undisclosed oil refinery. Why? Because Hyperion's president was unsure of Kansas' regulatory climate, Carlson said.

This offered the ultimate example of what supporters of the coal-fired power plant had said all along — the decision by the state's top environmental regulator to deny the power plant, decried as outside his authority, was driving investment away from the state.

But others said Hyperion had long ago decided to locate its refinery in South Dakota and that Kansas was only a fallback site.

Was Kansas in serious contention for the project or was connecting the coal-plant denial to the lost $10 billion project just political hyperbole?

Compelling reasons

In April 2006, Bob Cole, director of the Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation, replied to a request by Hyperion for possible sites to locate an oil refinery. Over the next 10 months, Cole and others in the Kansas Department of Commerce talked with Hyperion, and by Feb. 15, 2007, the state was one of four remaining areas in contention.

The company also was considering Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, according to a questionnaire submitted by Hyperion to state officials in March 2007.

On April 11, 2007, Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson and other state officials flew to Dallas for a meeting with the company. Six days later, Hyperion executive Preston Phillips e-mailed Bill Graper, a development consultant with the commerce department.

"Kansas presents many compelling reasons for doing business in the state," Phillips wrote. "Hyperion wants to move forward with more detailed discussions."

Between that meeting and the end of May, Phillips and other Hyperion representatives visited Topeka twice, according to an e-mail from Graper to Kansas officials involved in the negotiations.

The purpose of these meetings, Graper wrote, was to "begin permitting protocols" and to "discuss the process for optioning needed property."

"You never really know if we were a secondary option (for Hyperion)," Cole said in an interview. "But suffice it to say, they spent a lot of money and a lot of time on the Kansas side."

Kansas, a backup

In June 2007, after media speculation about a mystery company buying up land around Elk Point, S.D., Hyperion announced it was considering the South Dakota city as a location.

Soon after, RTP Environmental Associates Inc., a consultant for Hyperion, began work on the permitting process with South Dakota officials.

In September, Colin Campbell, the RTP employee in charge of the Hyperion project, e-mailed the Environmental Protection Agency, saying he would be submitting an air-quality permit application for the South Dakota location soon.

"A different site could ultimately be selected, but we can deal with that circumstance if and when it arises," Campbell wrote.

Carlson acknowledges South Dakota was moving ahead. "We were probably a little behind," he said. "(Hyperion was) renewing land options up there."

The Kansas Department of Commerce points to the South Dakota site announcement and the subsequent months of dialogue between that state and Hyperion as a clue that Kansas was a backup.

"All indications in the summer and fall were that the gears were turning in South Dakota and that South Dakota had emerged as the top candidate," said Joe Monaco, spokesman for the commerce department.

Moving forward

But also at this time in Kansas, Phillips met with landowners in Pottawatomie County, according to an e-mail he sent to Kansas officials in early September 2007.

"She was very nice and receptive to the project," the Hyperion executive wrote about one landowner.

Meanwhile, Campbell with the consulting firm said he was moving forward with an air-quality permit application in Kansas, per instructions from Hyperion.

"South Dakota was definitely where we first filed," Campbell said in an interview. "But I don't know if that was any indication of preference."

'We need to discuss'

On Oct. 19, 2007, Rod Bremby, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, announced he was denying an air-quality permit for the 1,400-megawatt expansion of a power plant outside Holcomb in Finney County that was sought by Sunflower Electric Power Corp. He cited dangers posed by the plant's projected 11 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, a greenhouse gas many scientists link to global warming.

Critics of the decision said Bremby didn't have the authority to regulate pollutants not spelled out in the federal Clean Air Act. Sunflower, opponents said, had met all known requirements, and its permit denial would scare off other businesses.

Two days after the ruling, Phillips e-mailed Graper at the commerce department.

"We need to discuss as this is of major concern," Phillips wrote. He added, "Hyperion has to understand where the state of Kansas is on this issue."

Keeping on track

If Bremby's ruling scared off Hyperion, it wasn't immediately.

Phillips wrote to commerce officials on Oct. 31, 2007 that he was flying to Kansas the next day and would meet with another landowner.

But e-mails between the two sides show Kansas' uneasiness with their claim to the Hyperion project.

"We are trying to keep things on track as best we can while things sort out," Steve Kelly, deputy secretary of business development with the commerce department, wrote to KDHE officials in mid-November. He continued, "I think one of the things these companies are looking for is information and direction as to process and standards that will be in place."

On Dec. 6, 2007, Hyperion filed its rezoning application for land in Union County, S.D., and on Dec. 20, 2007 the company officially filed its air-quality permit with that state.

According to an e-mail from Kelly on Jan. 4, 2008, Hyperion was anxious to nail down specifics in Kansas because it was coming up on a deadline to commit to buying land.

"The cost associated with that transaction is approximately $500,000, so they understandably would like to have some conversation prior to that date to determine whether that sort of financial commitment is prudent," Kelly wrote to KDHE.

Much uncertainty

Phillips wrote to Kansas commerce secretary David Kerr on Jan. 22 asking for a commitment to approve the air-quality permit if Hyperion applied in Kansas. Bremby replied Feb. 11, "Kansas remains open for business."

Bremby wrote he couldn't commit to issuing the permit but said if Hyperion submitted the same application as they did in South Dakota, there "should not be a problem with issuance."

Sometime around this time, Hyperion told Campbell, the environmental consultant, to stop planning for the Kansas air-quality permit application, Campbell said.

On March 11, Union County officials in South Dakota approved Hyperion's request to rezone the land, and a few days later Phillips called Cole at the Pottawatomie Economic Development Commission to tell him Kansas was no longer in the running.

"Hyperion told me that with the CO2 emissions question up in the air, there was just too much uncertainty," Cole said.

Lawsuit

Cole, Carlson and others contend regulatory uncertainty created by Bremby's decision on the coal plant cost Kansas its chance. The state wasn't a fallback, they say.

"I think they were very serious about us," Carlson said.

But others say South Dakota was always Hyperion's first choice and point to the fact that only days after the company's land was approved for rezoning in South Dakota, Kansas was removed from contention.

Hyperion has run into some problems lately in South Dakota. The company's CEO, Albert Huddleston, is being sued by the trustees of his wife's multi-million dollar inheritance to try to block those funds from being used for the refinery.

The company also has applied for a $10 billion federal loan guarantee, which critics say is evidence of the project's shaky financial standing.

Open for business

The 17 million tons of CO2 the Hyperion refinery is projected to emit, according to its South Dakota application, is well above that of the rejected Sunflower plant.

Still, Kansas is interested.

"We cannot speak with any certainty as to what level of emissions would be generated at a Kansas version of the proposed Hyperion facility," said Mike Heideman, KDHE spokesman.

Carlson said he has heard there may be renewed interest by Hyperion in the state, and Monaco with the commerce department said "fairly recent" conversations with the company have been promising, though he declined to go into more detail.

Nicole Corcoran, spokeswoman for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, said Kansas is still interested. "We're definitely open to continuing conversations with Hyperion, but we're not saying that this specific project would be approved," Corcoran said.

James Carlson can be reached at (785) 233-7470 or james.carlson@cjonline.com.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

One can only hope the Dem's upset the Republicans this coming election. I am tired of the Republicans always for big businesses and not the people of KS. so you know how I will vote. A few Dem's won't get mine and I hope these big interest Dem's have someone, anyone running against them. One reader comment. Which says it all for me. These clowns need to go!

Drama, defeats mark house speaker's tenure: CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Drama, defeats mark house speaker's tenure

By Tim Carpenter
The Capital-Journal
Published Sunday, May 18, 2008
Major legislative defeats define the two years Republican Melvin Neufeld has gripped the gavel as the House's top political operative.

The western Kansas lawmaker's first session will be forever linked to passage of legislation establishing Kansas as the exclusive domain of state-owned and -operated casino gambling.



The Capital-Journal
Melvin Neufeld opposed expanded gaming.
HOUSE SPEAKER

Rep. Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls.

Leadership position: Speaker of the House

House service: 1985-1988, 1991-present

Occupation: farmer, stockman
"I'm afraid so," Neufeld said.

His second year at the helm has been marked by an epic struggle to break Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' blockade of a proposed coal-fired power plant at Holcomb. The speaker boasted in January he would get the $3.6 billion project on track. However, Sebelius vetoed Friday a third coal bill. The Senate, but not the House, has twice before demonstrated a capacity to override the governor on coal.

Legislators and political activists say two years of political drama in Topeka have left Neufeld in a weakened position. There are doubts Neufeld, while recognized for his solid work ethic, has diplomatic skills a House speaker requires to forge coalitions.

It makes the outcome of the November general election important to Neufeld's future as speaker. If Democrats slice into the GOP's 78-47 lead in the House, Neufeld can expect to face a rebellion during leadership races in December. If House Republicans hold the line, Neufeld stands a better chance of being rewarded by peers with another two-year term as House leader.

"Winning cures all ails," said Christian Morgan, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party.

Neufeld was chosen speaker by GOP colleagues in December 2006 after then-Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, declined to seek re-election. On a final-ballot vote of 47-31, Neufeld defeated moderate Rep. Kenny Wilk, of Lansing.

Neufeld said it was his intention to run for another term as speaker of the House, but he didn't believe it was appropriate to dwell on leadership races before the November elections.

"Every seat in the Kansas House is up for election," he said. "That is what I am focused on — getting returning House Republican caucus members re-elected as well as getting more Kansas Republicans elected to the House."

He said it was disruptive for members to "focus on their personal gain rather than what is best for the caucus and those we represent."

Wilk, who is retiring after 16 years in the House, said Democrats could make modest inroads against Republicans in the House during the '08 election cycle. The wild card is Sebelius, a popular chief executive who is expected to campaign diligently for Democratic candidates for the Legislature. If events conspire to undermine GOP representation in the House, Wilk said, the buck shouldn't stop at Neufeld.

"If that happens," Wilk said, "then I think the whole Republican leadership team pays a price."

Mike Gaughan, executive director of the Kansas Democratic Party, said Neufeld's struggle centered on an inability to effectively bridge a long-simmering divide in the House between about two dozen moderate Republicans and a similarly sized group of deeply conservative Republicans.

A 31-seat GOP majority in the House doesn't automatically translate into success with the caucus so fractured, Gaughan said.

He said Neufeld's leadership problems were a legitimate election issue.

"Of course," he said, "we are looking forward to giving Kansans a choice this fall."

Sebelius, who represented Topeka for eight years in the House prior to running for statewide office, said she wouldn't get involved in Senate and House leadership debates. She said it would be appropriate for legislators to bring a "fresh attitude" to the Statehouse in 2009.

"This session is probably the most difficult session I have had in my years as governor, because it was an attitude of ultimatum," Sebelius said. "I'm hoping next year we can start on a more collaborative basis."

Hutchinson Rep. Mike O'Neal, a candidate for speaker in 2006, said he shares Neufeld's philosophical approach to state government and holds many of the same positions on public policy. Both men support the Holcomb coal project and oppose casino gaming.

However, O'Neal said he was exploring the possibility of challenging Neufeld for speaker in December.

O'Neal said his candidacy, if it comes to fruition, would tap into discontent with Neufeld's leadership ability. O'Neal said Neufeld took his eye off the ball during the 2007 session long enough for the casino gambling amendment to be attached to a widely supported bill renewing the Kansas Lottery. In 2008, he said, Neufeld moved to the floor a Holcomb coal bill that was drafted behind closed doors. Lack of attention to detail and willingness to cut back-room deals are red flags, O'Neal said.

"We've had a lot of colleagues concerned about that," O'Neal said.

Neufeld has one more chance to counter Sebelius on coal and remove this sore spot with House members. The House and Senate can try a veto override May 29 when the Legislature returns for a ceremony to close the session.

Senate Republicans hold a 30-10 majority and gathering 27 votes for a veto override on coal hasn't been a problem. Without 84 votes in the House to trump Sebelius, O'Neal said the speaker would lose a political battle he should have won.

"There was no reason to lose," O'Neal said. "You had bipartisan support that was geographically balanced."

O'Neal said the coal issue could have been settled long ago with a more delicate leadership approach in the House. He said Neufeld didn't personally reach out to representatives who might have changed their vote against coal. More one-on-one dialogue could have made a difference, O'Neal said.

"To me," O'Neal said, "it's a fundamental part of the process of developing public policy."

Rep. Peggy Mast, an Emporia Republican who backed O'Neal two years ago, said she was generally pleased with Neufeld's handling of the 2007 session. She said the speaker's orchestration of the 2008 session was disappointing because immigration and education reform was sidetracked by the attention given to coal.

"I feel like he should take some of the responsibility for the lack of accomplishment," Mast said.

Neufeld said the Legislature made significant progress during the past two years on reducing taxes for business and the elderly, financing public education, launching health care reform, controlling state spending and promoting economic development.

"We have a lot of good things to talk about with voters," Neufeld said. "People can say what they want to say, but they need to look at the performance."

Rep. Arlen Siegfreid, R-Olathe, said Neufeld had proven himself to be a resilient and tough legislative leader with a "chess-master mentality."

Bob Beatty, a professor of political science at Washburn University, said that while an unusually strong showing by Democrats in November could threaten Neufeld's place in the Statehouse hierarchy, it isn't clear the time is right to draft Neufeld's political obituary.

"It's a lot easier to talk about taking on a speaker than it is to successfully do it," Beatty said.

Tim Carpenter can be reached at (785) 295-1158 or timothy.carpenter@cjonline.com.

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Reader Comments
+ 2 Rating Posted by: leslea at May 18, 2008 at 09:39:27 AM
Okay, for me, the performace that really concerns me is the coal fired power plants. I don't undertsand why this continues to be pursued. My understanding is that the bulk of the power will go out of state and Kansas only gets a small fracton of the power generated and all of the polution. It's not like it's going to lower our electric bills in the forseeable future. If the pursuit of this is job creation, the same people who would gain employment from building a coal plant could gain the same employmet building wind farms, where all the generated power could be used in Kansas. I can't help but wonder what kind of benefit legislators are getting from the coal industry and the people who want to build the plants.

And if the Republicans want to talk with the people, talk with us about access to health care for low income Kansans, talk with us about increases in Medicaid to pay for people in nursing homes to live in the community. The state pays more to keep people in nursing homes, than they would to allow them to live in the community as the legislators do. Talk with us about low income housing-we need so much more of it. Talk with us about how to help people on Medicaid see doctors that won't see Medicaid clients because of low reimbursement rates. Talk to us about how to help low income people who can't afford to pay their utilities, pay rent, purchase groceries and medication in the same month. Sure you can talk a lot, and we read it, but many of us ARE looking at performance and that may very well be why voters will be looking at making big changes when they go to the polls.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

My comment says it all.

Kansas Democratic Party chairman backs Obama: CJOnline Page Not Found

The Associated Press
Published Monday, May 19, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. CDT
Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates is endorsing Barack Obama’s bid for the party’s presidential nomination.

Gates, one of Kansas’ superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention, said today he was backing Obama for his ability to win in Republican-dominated states and for “his positive campaign.”

Gates joins Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson, who have endorsed Obama’s campaign over Hillary Rodham Clinton. All three are among the state’s superdelegates to the national convention this summer in Denver.

Obama defeated Clinton in the Kansas caucuses in February.

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Reader Comments
Posted by: mlurp at May 19, 2008 at 04:48:03 PM
And I thought that they were suppose to support the popular vote. So why not wait till the few remaing staes have their say?

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

Sunday standoff ends peacefully: CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Sunday standoff ends peacefully

By Phil Anderson
The Capital-Journal
Published Monday, May 19, 2008
A standoff that started about 9 a.m. Sunday in southeast Topeka ended peacefully about 90 minutes later when a man voluntarily surrendered to police.

The incident took place in the 2300 block of S.E. Kentucky, police said.

Officers were called to a residence after receiving reports of a man who was despondent and making suicidal threats.

The police Response Team was activated, according to departmental policy.

"Part of our policy and protocol is to make contact with the individual and make sure no one gets hurt," said police Sgt. J.P. Anguiano. "We were able to make contact with him. He came out and spoke to us."

Anguiano said the situation "ended really peacefully," as the man decided to go to a local hospital for evaluation.

The incident ended about 10:30 a.m.

A few streets were blocked off as a matter of public safety, Anguiano said. No injuries were reported.

Phil Anderson can be reached at (785) 295-1195 or phil.anderson@cjonline.com.

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Reader Comments
Posted by: bluesguy at May 19, 2008 at 12:29:22 PM
First class job TPD. No suicide by police last night and that is a good thing.

Posted by: docputer at May 19, 2008 at 02:09:25 PM
Yep, good job TPD. No loss of life is always good.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

58 patients dead and this doctor and his wife think they should go free. All he gave out was drugs. 5 minutes in and a new script written pay as you leave. Sound like proper medical help to any of you?
I have followed the story for a while. But felt keep it to crime and politicals. I think this fits under crime.. look at the defense reasoning.
One can use the Archives or the search to find the earlier stories on this issue.

Defense: Feds ‘commandeered’ medical board: CJOnline - Defense: Feds medical board

The Associated Press
Published Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. CDT
WICHITA — Prosecutors “commandeered” the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, improperly asserting federal authority over the regulation of medicine in their prosecution of a Kansas doctor charged with illegally prescribing narcotic painkillers, his defense attorneys said.

Court documents filed in the criminal case against Dr. Stephen Schneider and his wife, Linda, contend their prosecution is an abuse of the federal criminal process and an affront to the constitutional rights of the sick and those who attempt to care for them.

“When the federal government steps into the medical examination room and second-guesses a doctor’s judgment as to the type of treatment, I think we are opening a Pandora’s Box in this country we should not open, and we are asking the court to keep that box closed and apply proper standards to these prosecutions,” defense attorney Lawrence Williamson said. “If the lower court doesn’t do it, we believe the appellate court will — or maybe even the Supreme Court.”

A federal indictment links the Schneiders’ Haysville clinic to the accidental overdose deaths of 56 patients. The government charged the doctor and his wife with directly causing four deaths and contributing to the deaths of 11 other patients cited in the indictment.

The Schneiders face federal charges including conspiracy, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death, health care fraud, illegal money transactions and money laundering. They have pleaded not guilty.

Williamson said that unlike other cases against doctors built on the testimony of undercover agents, in the Schneider case there are no allegations that he was providing narcotic medication to people who did not need it.

“In this case, everybody they name in the indictment had a true medical need or were long-term patients of Dr. Schneider or the clinic,” Williamson said.

Larry Buening, executive director of the state’s medical board, laughed when asked whether he felt the federal government had commandeered his board, as the defense contended. But he said it would not be appropriate for him to make any comments on a pending criminal matter.

Buening said the board is proceeding with its case. Schneider’s medical license was suspended after his indictment, and the board has set a Nov. 11 hearing date on the petition to revoke his license.

Federal prosecutors said Monday they are reviewing the defense motions and won’t make other comments until they file their responses in court.

In a massive court filing encompassing six motions and hundreds of pages in supporting documents, defense attorneys challenged the constitutionality of the Controlled Substances Act and asked for dismissal of charges. They also sought to suppress any evidence gathered in clinic raids, demanded a bill of particulars with details of the alleged illegal acts, and requested the federal prosecution abstain until the state board completed its process.

Attorneys contended in one court filing that prosecutors asked the state regulatory board to stay its proceedings out of fear it would clear the doctor of medical impropriety before the U.S. attorney’s office could get an indictment.

A month after the Schneiders were arrested, the state board sent two letters to the doctor informing him that the treatment provided in those unrelated cases adhered to applicable standard of care, according to letters obtained by The Associated Press.

U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren has denied in the past that federal prosecutors asked the state to hold off on its proceedings. But board officials have just as adamantly stood by their testimony that they delayed their process at the request of Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Treadway.

Melgren declined to comment on the latest filing. But when AP first documented that contentious relationship between the agencies in February, Melgren said that his office has always tried to work cooperatively with the state board.

“We have different responsibilities and different tools for the job, but we share the goal of protecting the public,” he said.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

Some reader comments included.

No plans yet on trying veto override: CJOnline Page Not Found

The Associated Press
Published Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. CDT
Speaker Melvin Neufeld says House leaders will decide Wednesday whether to attempt to override the latest veto of an energy bill.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed a measure last week to allow two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas. It was the third time she has rejected such legislation.

Legislators are out of session, having finished almost all of their business for the year.

But they have a brief adjournment ceremony scheduled for May 29. They could take up work that day.

Neufeld, an Ingalls Republican, is a strong supporter of the two plants. Sunflower Electric Power Corp. wants to build them in Finney County.

But Sebelius’ administration has blocked the plants over their potential carbon dioxide emissions.

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Reader Comments
+ 2 Rating Posted by: TopekaIsBoring at May 20, 2008 at 03:02:11 PM
How much more time is the Legislature gonna waste on this unwanted and unneeded expansion in Holcomb?

-2 Rating Posted by: kansasman101 at May 20, 2008 at 03:25:13 PM
This expansion is both wanted and needed. Both political parties support it overwhelmingly and it is vital to the energy needs of this state and also provides huge demand for those outside of the state willing to pay the price.

The governor is playing obstructionist politics. Barring a miracle the governor will have succeeded in caving in to the false premise the Holcolmb expansin is a "bad" thing.
Her only concern is to drive business away from Kansas (i.e. new oil production plant wanting to locate in Kansas to the tune of TEN BILLION DOLLARS) so she can get out of Kansas to further her political "savvy" elsewhere.

Posted by: kdj699 at May 20, 2008 at 03:41:23 PM
I keep hearing about this oil refinery. Does anyone have any links to an article about this on the web so I can read about it?

-2 Rating Posted by: jhoracek at May 20, 2008 at 03:55:11 PM

She is acting against the economic well being of the state for her own personal political gain. This action is beneath contempt. There is no evidence that CO2 is causing global warming, thus there was no need to veto this plant. The earth's temerature has not risen for 10 years now, and scientits are predicting the earth will cool for, at least, the next 10 years, even though CO2 emissions continue apace, why? According to 3000 submergible intruments in place since 2003 there has been no increase in the oceans' temperature and the oceans may have actually cooled. Why? Last winter the artic ice cover reached an unprecedented maximum since satellite's first started measuring it in 1979. I say, once again, there is virtually no empirical evidence that CO2 generated by mankind is causing global warming. CO2 generated by mankind's activities represent less than 0.37% of greenhouse gases. Water vapor, mostly clouds, represent about 95%. Do you really believe that 0.37% generated by mankind outweighs the effects of 99.67% of the greenhouse gases that occur naturally? Why would anyone think the generation of CO2 would be hazardous? In a news release Monday, a petition signed by 31,000 scientists, 9,500 of whom are PHDs, said they do not believe that mankind is the cause of global warming. The IPCC only had 2,400 and some of them have since changed their minds, or distanced themselves from the IPCC summary statement. Seems like mankind causes for Global Warming is far from a consensus position and that the debate is far from over doesn't it?

Posted by: TopekaIsBoring at May 20, 2008 at 04:40:21 PM
kdj699 said...
"I keep hearing about this oil refinery. Does anyone have any links to an article about this on the web so I can read about it?"

They're not coming to Kansas and never had any legitimate plans to do so. They're just using us as a bargaining chip against South Dakota (or whichever Dakota) so that they can get whatever they want.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: kdj699 at May 20, 2008 at 04:57:57 PM
Who cares about the CO2? What about the other harmful pollutants that the neighbors to this plant have to breathe in and the other crap going up in the air that will further taint our beautiful Kansas skies?

Posted by: picke810 at May 20, 2008 at 05:44:41 PM
Have you noticed the skies lately? 2 days of sun, and 5 days of clouds. These past few days have been the exception for some time.

Posted by: jhoracek at May 20, 2008 at 07:56:27 PM

Kdj699,

CO2 was the reason cited by Sebelius for denying the coal plants. The plant met all existing regulatory requirements. Ergo any emissions given off by the plants would be acceptable under the law. In fact, they would be cleaner than existing Kansas coal fired power plants. But then again I guess you don't have to follow the law if you are governor. At least in Kansas. What arrogance she has to take actions that are constitutionally delegated to the legislature. She is trying to change regulations without a single vote being cast by any legislator or any Kansas citizen.


Posted by: mlurp at May 20, 2008 at 08:02:55 PM
I quote kansanman101, "This expansion is both wanted and needed. Both political parties support it overwhelmingly and it is vital to the energy needs of this state and also provides huge demand for those outside of the state willing to pay the price"End quote. Both parties. So the Gov., is doing this on her own? Overwelming need to our state which gets how much and where will it be used? And the out of state users will pay in their states not a nickle will be spent for the cost to them here. This is another big business deal for profit nothing more or less.
And I saw the Obama short list for VP, gee the Gov., name wasn't on it at all. Have you read any posts below yours?
Sure som ethink CO 2 is ok and has no harm. But these (maybe) are the ones watching Lil Bush while the History, National Geo and Discovery channels are proving them wrong!

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

I'm sure some of the readers have seen this before..

Guard unit returns to Topeka on Friday: CJOnline Page Not Found

The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. CDT
Approximately 160 soldiers of the 35th Military Police Company of the Kansas National Guard will be welcomed home on Friday.

The Guardsmen, who deployed to Iraq in June 2007 to conduct military police operations, will arrive at approximately noon at Lee Arena in Petro Allied Health Center on the Washburn University campus, 1700 S.W. College Ave.

The unit is headquartered in Topeka and is commanded by Maj. Robert Stinson. Approximately 85 soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor, headquartered in Manhattan, along with soldiers from other Kansas units, were transferred to the 35th Military Police Company to augment the unit for this mission.

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Reader Comments
+ 2 Rating Posted by: seriously08 at May 21, 2008 at 03:15:03 PM
Welcome home! Thank you.

Posted by: spiritwind at May 21, 2008 at 05:09:01 PM
I am so glad when each unit comes home. I so wish I could get around and great and thank every one of them. I do not agree with what were are doing over there, in all things, but I am so proud of the men who fight.

Posted by: treedoc at May 21, 2008 at 06:48:27 PM
My dear friend's husband is with this unit and it is with open arms that we welcome he an his soldiers home! He has a new baby whom he has never met waiting to see him. Welcome home!!

Posted by: mlurp at May 21, 2008 at 06:57:02 PM
My thanks to each. God Bless and keep them and the men/women still in the thick of things safe.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”