tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15744082992732901522024-03-13T07:42:40.808-05:00Kansas City MetroJayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-86804556189412623662012-03-30T21:49:00.000-05:002012-03-30T21:49:24.447-05:00Trouble in Kansas! Civil rights enforcers meet with Brownback<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="dateline">By <a href="http://www.khi.org/staff/dave-ranney/">Dave Ranney</a><br />
KHI News Service<br />
<a href="http://www.khi.org/staff/mike-shields/">Mike Shields</a><br />
KHI News Service<br />
Originally published March 29, 2012 at 7:40 p.m., updated March 30, 2012</span><br />
<br />
<span class="dateline"><em>Kansas Health Institute reports:</em></span><br />
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<span class="dateline">TOPEKA</span> — Four civil rights enforcers from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services met privately today with Gov. Sam Brownback and top Kansas welfare officials to discuss the state's long waiting list for services to the disabled.<br />
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Federal officials for several months have been reviewing complaints filed against the state by disabled persons and their advocates and now seem poised to take some sort of legal action, if Kansas doesn't move to remedy the problem. <br />
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Federal courts have found states in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act for not providing adequate services to the disabled and federal officials have warned for months that they would act if the state didn't move to shorten the lists.<br />
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In Georgia, the state has had to spend close to $100 million over the past three years on additional services for the disabled as the result of a settlement with the federal government.<br />
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“Kansas had better be paying attention,” said Deirdre O’Brien, an advocate of the developmentally disabled in Georgia. “Let me tell you, the Department of Justice isn’t fooling around on this. They’re pretty serious.”<br />
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<strong>Federal team</strong><br />
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Leader of the federal visitors was Leon Rodriguez, national director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights in Washington, D.C. He was joined by Frank Campbell, the agency's regional director for civil rights. Also in the group were Mary Giliberti, a ranking HHS civil rights analyst and Robinsue Frohboese, a top civil rights litigator for HHS.<br />
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Neither Kansas nor federal officials would comment on the record about the details of the meetings.<br />
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But Brownback administration sources said the federal officials made clear they were prepared to take action unless significant movement was seen in the waiting lists.<br />
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Since President Obama took office, the U.S. Department of Justice, acting on behalf of HHS, has joined or filed more than 25 lawsuits alleging discrimination against the disabled in 17 states.<br />
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About 3,400 Kansans with physical disabilities are waiting for services and about 3,900 persons with developmental disabilities are on a separate list. The services in question are provided under what are called Medicaid "waiver programs." The federal government pays about 60 percent of the costs of the services.<br />
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Federal officials first began looking at the waiting list for the physically disabled several months ago but then expanded their investigation to also include the waiting list for the developmentally disabled, according to a source familiar with the investigation.<br />
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The feds have sent repeated signals about their concerns to the Brownback administration.<br />
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Twice last summer, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said HHS was close to citing Kansas for not doing enough to help disabled people live in community settings rather than in institutions.<br />
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“This is a big deal guys,” Grissom said, addressing a July 21, 2011, meeting of the Topeka Human Relations Commission.<br />
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Then last month, federal officials met privately with Kansas welfare officials in Kansas City to discuss their concerns. The meeting with the governor was sought because federal officials weren't sure from earlier communications whether they were getting through to Kansas officials, according to a source familiar with the investigation.<br />
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<strong>Upcoming changes</strong><br />
<br />
But sources in the Brownback administration on Friday said the governor had asked for the meeting to better explain the state's position on the issue and to describe some upcoming policy changes expected to help reduce the waiting lists, particularly with respect to the physically disabled.<br />
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Administration sources also noted that Kansas has proportionately more disabled people receiving non-institutional services than all but a few states. That fact, they said, should help neutralize any legal argument federal officials might try to make that the state was violating the Americans with Disabilities Act as defined in the so-called Olmstead decision, a Supreme Court ruling that has sparked a stream of subsequent civil actions by the U.S. Justice Department in other states.<br />
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After Thursday's meeting, at least one Brownback administration official complained privately that the feds were pressuring Kansas over a waiting list problem that began under the administration of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who left office in 2009 to join the cabinet of President Barack Obama as HHS secretary. And more than one administration official said they suspected some political motivation on the part of Sebelius for the interest that HHS is showing here.<br />
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An administration source also said the meeting shouldn't be characterized as the feds "cracking the whip" on the issue and that Brownback officials had told the HHS team that they believed the waiting list likely was "inflated," meaning it included some people who might not actually need or qualify for services. The source said federal officials were told that KanCare, the administration's Medicaid makeover plan, in the long run could solve much of the waiting list problem and that in the short term better "quality management" training for case overseers could help assure that people on the list or those receiving services actually need or qualify for them. The sources said that the costs and numbers of people receiving or awaiting services had grown faster in Kansas than in many other states, evidence that perhaps the assistance rolls were inflated. <br />
<div class="inline inline_photo inline-left "><div class="thumbnail"><a href="http://www.khi.org/photos/2012/mar/29/1339/"><img alt="photo" class="photo" src="http://media.khi.org/img/photos/2012/03/29/Screen_Shot_2012-03-29_at_8.02.40_PM_t180.png?6ec45598a0efd272cf6d6631efc8bbae7a2ee918" /></a></div><div class="caption"><br />
</div><div class="caption">Kansas revenues and expenditures.</div></div><br />
<strong>Since 2008</strong><br />
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On Dec. 1, 2008, then-Gov. Sebelius and then-SRS Secretary Don Jordan <a href="http://www.srs.ks.gov/News/Pages/12-1-2008.aspx">essentially froze services</a> for the physically disabled. For those not already receiving services, only those deemed "in crisis" could newly get them. In 2008, state revenues were just beginning to decline as a result of the economic recession. In March 2009, as state revenues continued to decline, a "rolling waiting list" was implemented. That meant two people had to leave the service rolls before a new person could begin receiving services.<br />
Then, in January 2010, the list once again was frozen and only those in crisis could get off it. By August 2010, the waiting list had grown to 2,286 people and it has grown steadily since.<br />
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<strong>Three-year wait</strong><br />
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Meanwhile, state revenues have rebounded and the governor in January urged the Legislature to consider both tax cuts and a budget plan that would essentially leave the state with about $500 million in reserve by the end of the coming fiscal year.<br />
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The governor's recommended budget would cut spending on the waiting list for the physically disabled and neither the House nor Senate have approved additional funding for the services.<br />
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"The last (physically disabled) person offered services this year had been on the waiting list three years," said Shannon Jones, executive director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas, a group that advocates for the physically disabled.<br />
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Jones said the physically disabled supported the rolling waiting list when state coffers were empty and also supported a temporary sales tax increase to help boost revenues. But that was with the expectation that the state would spend more on services once the treasury began to replenish.<br />
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"We've seen the ending balance grow and grow with not one dollar thrown toward the waiting list," Jones said. "In fact, the programs have been reduced."<br />
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The waiting list for those with developmental disabilities also has continued to grow.<br />
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"There's been virtually no movement on the DD waiting list," said Tom Laing, executive director of Interhab, the association for most of the state's community organizations that provide services for the developmentally disabled.<br />
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"There used to be an effort every year by the administration and the Legislature to address the waiting list," Laing said, "and that has become a much more sporadic activity on the part of the governor and the Legislature. Legislators 15 years ago were far more interested in how we deal with this than they are today."</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-27882524859040393102012-02-17T19:50:00.000-06:002012-02-17T19:50:56.448-06:00Whitney Houston- You Give Good Love **Super Quality** (digital) hi*fi<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rfKCKsLUXdg?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="459" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-69000654770577246292012-02-17T19:47:00.000-06:002012-02-17T19:47:51.522-06:00Whitney Houston - Didn't We Almost Have It All<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/i_4PlM85NJo?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="459" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-26560680403903110972012-02-17T19:44:00.000-06:002012-02-17T19:44:03.268-06:00Whitney Houston - Where Do Broken Hearts Go<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8yvsU4SNWPA?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="459" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-47565137132687414332012-02-17T19:42:00.000-06:002012-02-17T19:42:34.971-06:00Whitney Houston - Exhale<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wrTuV4Szxzo?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="459" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-20699529756173038882012-02-17T19:38:00.000-06:002012-02-17T19:38:39.330-06:00Whitney Houston - How Will I Know<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m3-hY-hlhBg?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="459" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-55601045673581518712012-02-17T19:32:00.000-06:002012-02-17T19:32:01.620-06:00Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ewxmv2tyeRs?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="459" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-90681900080959588012012-02-17T19:28:00.000-06:002012-02-17T19:28:39.332-06:00Whitney Houston - One Moment In Time<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/96aAx0kxVSA?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="459" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-5916697875079239532012-02-17T19:23:00.000-06:002012-02-17T19:23:37.833-06:00Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IYzlVDlE72w?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="459" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-38251167045582183092012-02-17T19:19:00.000-06:002012-02-17T19:19:42.828-06:00Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eH3giaIzONA?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="459" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-14946345953410937052012-01-14T23:31:00.000-06:002012-01-14T23:31:37.529-06:0043 - Happy Birthday!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong><em>43</em></strong></span></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Birthday!</span></div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-29588630109947768632012-01-05T23:37:00.000-06:002012-01-05T23:37:45.208-06:00KC MAYOR SHOULD RUN CITY NOT SCHOOL DISTRICT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51brgJbg4KQ/TwaIhwu7VmI/AAAAAAAAAY8/h8WY7-QHZZs/s1600/stupid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51brgJbg4KQ/TwaIhwu7VmI/AAAAAAAAAY8/h8WY7-QHZZs/s1600/stupid.jpg" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">Just when I thought that I heard it all, some nut job comes along and says something stupid. The Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, proclaims to the world that Kansas City has the worst schools in the entire nation. Not great public relations for the city and a region as a whole. I wonder if the fine folks at the convention and tourist commission or folks that work hard every day to bring people and business to Kansas City, Missouri, jaws all dropped in disbelief and disgust. The mayor just made their jobs harder. So much for trying to keep businesses in Kansas City from leaving for Kansas.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"> </div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">I wonder why a mayor of a city would even have a meeting with a high ranking official at the United States Education Department? Wouldn't that be something that the acting superintendent would do or even the school board? Shouldn't the performance of the school district be between the school district and the Dept. of Ed? All very good questions I think that need to be asked.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"> </div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">It would seem that we have a well intentioned Mayor who is sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong. Mayor Sly was elected to deal with the problems and issues with the city. Take crime of example. The number of homicides in Kansas City was the highest it has been in years. What does the well intentioned Mayor do? Has a few smoke and mirror news conferences and meetings to address the issues only minutes later ducking from shots fired on the Country Club Plaza and rioting teenagers.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"> </div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">Maybe the mayor should focus on things a little closer to home. The mayors son has seemed to be getting himself in trouble. When law enforcement show up to arrest little James, he warns them that he will have their badges because he is the mayors son. </div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"> </div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">So, Sly, you have bitten off more then you can chew. I would venture to guess that your chances of re-election have just dropped.</div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-322985862963225392011-12-31T14:35:00.000-06:002011-12-31T14:35:15.403-06:00"So Long" People and things we lost in 2010<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">2010 was an interesting year. As the saying goes, It was the best of times and it was the worst of times for all of us, especially me.<br />
<br />
In 2010 we said goodbye to...<br />
<div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Air America, radio</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Bob Guccione, Founder of Penthouse</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Liz Claiborne outlets</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>GM's Pontiac Automobile</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Ford Mercury</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>The Hummer</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>U.S. News and World Report Magazine</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Fred Morrison, the inventor of the Frisbee</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Mr Goodwrench</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>The Sony Walkman</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Microsoft Windows XP</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>B. Dalton Bookstores</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Movie Gallery</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>AirTran</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>John Shephard-Barron, inventor of the ATM</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">The Oprah Winfrey Show</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Live! with Regis and Kelly</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">All My Children</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Brothers and Sisters</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Elizabeth Taylor</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Osama Bin Laden</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Kim Jong Ill</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Jack Kevorkian</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Betty Ford</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Geraldine Ferraro</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Warren Christopher</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">R. Sargent Shriver</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Amy Winehouse</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Steve Jobs</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Moammar Gaddafi</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>John Forsythe</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Dennis Hopper</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Lynn Redgrave</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Gary Coleman</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Lena Horne</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Golden Girl Rue McClanahan</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Patricia Neal</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>My 2004 Toyota Avalon</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Tom Bosley</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Leslie Nealson</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Lucy Kitty Arnold-Holmes</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Beau Kitty Arnold</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>Don Harmon, WDAF-Fox 4 Kansas City Meteorologist</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Peter Falk</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Jane Russell</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Clarence Clemons</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Harry Morgan</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Jack Lalane</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Dorothy Rodham, Hillary Clinton's Mother</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Andy Rooney, CBS News</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Bryan Nichols</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-77898080388547706232011-12-31T13:30:00.001-06:002011-12-31T14:36:34.766-06:002012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RWiFJma4ut0/Tv9hN9oebDI/AAAAAAAAAYs/xpZaagElpbQ/s1600/2012_golden_3d_happy_new_year-t2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RWiFJma4ut0/Tv9hN9oebDI/AAAAAAAAAYs/xpZaagElpbQ/s1600/2012_golden_3d_happy_new_year-t2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong><span style="color: red;">H</span><span style="color: orange;">a</span><span style="color: yellow;">p</span><span style="color: lime;">p</span><span style="color: cyan;">y</span> <span style="color: blue;">N</span><span style="color: purple;">e</span><span style="color: magenta;">w</span> <span style="color: red;">Y</span><span style="color: orange;">e</span><span style="color: yellow;">a</span><span style="color: lime;">r</span></strong><span style="color: black;">!<strong> </strong></span></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>Let</strong><span style="color: black;">'</span><strong>s hope that</strong> <span style="color: black;">i</span><strong><span style="color: orange;">t</span> will be better</strong><span style="color: black;">.</span> </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>Because</strong><span style="color: black;">,</span><strong> when we know better</strong> </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>we do better</strong><span style="color: black;">!</span></em></span></div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-47797650367978083292011-12-11T10:28:00.001-06:002011-12-11T10:30:53.806-06:00R.I.P Beau Kitty, I will always love you!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JKztHvQC1qs/TuTX-veX7LI/AAAAAAAAAYM/0hv90oosmfM/s1600/heart-with-cat-silhouette-yellow-600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JKztHvQC1qs/TuTX-veX7LI/AAAAAAAAAYM/0hv90oosmfM/s320/heart-with-cat-silhouette-yellow-600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><strong>The loss of Beau has been so very hard. The pain that I feel I can't describe. One minute I am fine and all of a sudden I start to think about Beau and I break down again into the ugly cry. One minute I feel that I can go on and live then next minute I feel that I can't. I have quilt. I have remorse. Part of me feels that I did the right thing but the other part feels like a bad owner. I wonder if he knew how much I loved him. I hope that it gets better. I have on picture of him in a frame and it's not his best. My printer has been locked up in storage for over a year and a half so the ink is dry. I would like to get some other pictures of him. I want to get this done soon.</strong></span></div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-42617339763173623882011-12-09T12:26:00.000-06:002011-12-09T12:26:26.561-06:00Saying goodbye to my best friend!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ky3Uz_tejw4/TuG30pAfRbI/AAAAAAAAAYE/4WwNBOZYuog/s1600/383183_2570454914012_1633425336_2417931_1290506867_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ky3Uz_tejw4/TuG30pAfRbI/AAAAAAAAAYE/4WwNBOZYuog/s1600/383183_2570454914012_1633425336_2417931_1290506867_n.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="story_text">Beau Kitty Arnold, 14, Mission, KS died Friday, Dec. 9, 2011 at Mission Animal Clinic, Mission, KS. He was born Spring 1998 west of Hays, KS to a homeless mother and stray father. He was rescued by Shawna Petterson who took good care of him until he was old enough to venture out into the world and explore. Beau moved to his new home in Roeland Park, KS, the fall of 1998 with his life long owner. He was an active member of the window watchers outdoors club, believed strongly in helping with the dishes, enjoyed long lazy naps under the covers and was sometimes shy to strangers but once he got to know you, he would let you scratch the fur. Survivors include owner, Jay Arnold and Betty Jo Kitty Arnold of the home. A privte family services was conducted. </span></div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-13733529215740970942011-11-13T16:21:00.000-06:002011-11-13T16:21:22.668-06:00It must be in the air!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3Y7D1mwrBw/TsBCqG_oWDI/AAAAAAAAAX0/kWLu32--Sw0/s1600/Various-Holidays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3Y7D1mwrBw/TsBCqG_oWDI/AAAAAAAAAX0/kWLu32--Sw0/s320/Various-Holidays.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am looking forward to the holidays this year! I have not been able to say that for a very long time. First Thanksgiving and then Christmas. Dam that</span> <a href="http://hallmarkchannel.com/">Hallmark Channel</a>!!</div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-44515919942810222602011-10-13T21:54:00.000-05:002011-10-13T21:54:31.892-05:00It's called KARMA!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h1 class="entry-title" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">Panel recommends Kline be suspended from practicing law!<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2011/10/13/3205584/panel-recommends-kline-be-suspended.html">The Kansas City Star</a></span></h1><div align="center" class="entry-title" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><em><strong>Driven by dishonesty and selfishness, Kline attached confidential or sealed documents to public court filings and lied or tried deceiving the courts and even the disciplinary panel</strong></em>, <strong>the report said.</strong><br />
<br />
<em><strong>KC Metro says</strong></em><br />
If you were to put Kline on a pendulum it would have to be with Fred Phelps!</div><br />
</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-31919754170514147122011-09-04T11:05:00.000-05:002011-09-04T11:05:01.597-05:00Yes Jay, their is a Santa Claus!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GJd-v8zHMjo/TmN99cvOtAI/AAAAAAAAAXk/BnSCh1ZNWc4/s1600/toyota_04avalon_angularfront_Regular.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GJd-v8zHMjo/TmN99cvOtAI/AAAAAAAAAXk/BnSCh1ZNWc4/s1600/toyota_04avalon_angularfront_Regular.jpg" xaa="true" /></a></div><div align="center" closure_uid_4sknbv="129">2004-2011</div><div align="center" closure_uid_4sknbv="129"></div><div closure_uid_4sknbv="129">Last Tuesday, I was on my was home from a job that I love in a car that I love when someone went through a red light and hit my car on the passenger side. It is a total loss. Went shopping for a new car Saturday and now I am now the proud owner of a 2011 Toyota Camry thanks to 0% financing!</div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-38554107270989912482011-09-02T23:02:00.000-05:002011-09-02T23:02:09.670-05:00Whatever will be will be!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xZbKHDPPrrc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>For some reason, this song popped into my head tonight! So, I had to look it up on YouTube. Ah, yes..whatever will be will be!</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-21260914251922807802011-08-28T19:07:00.000-05:002011-08-28T19:07:53.255-05:00Beatrice Arthur discusses "Maude", comedy, and her legacy (2001)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/WQlmopQT0OI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/g9NY8R-LmIw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-76698309462811930722011-08-28T18:59:00.000-05:002011-08-28T18:59:02.041-05:00Dog and owner reunite!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ysKAVyXi0J4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-62688978891551901092011-08-14T09:40:00.000-05:002011-08-14T09:40:38.695-05:00Change begins with a whisper!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFVbvyHaOyM/Tkfd9D8vrtI/AAAAAAAAAXc/OC_PLwWDJhg/s1600/the-help.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFVbvyHaOyM/Tkfd9D8vrtI/AAAAAAAAAXc/OC_PLwWDJhg/s320/the-help.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><div closure_uid_u2izpe="134" style="text-align: center;">"Eat my shit!" What an awesome movie! I highly recommend it to all! A must see movie of the summer.</div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-42215380189928263772011-08-12T23:51:00.000-05:002011-08-12T23:51:18.230-05:00We won't forget you!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSMWvZaNWO4/TkYCrRYn1CI/AAAAAAAAAXY/CXRVSBpGZzw/s1600/rememberthosewhopaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSMWvZaNWO4/TkYCrRYn1CI/AAAAAAAAAXY/CXRVSBpGZzw/s320/rememberthosewhopaid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_4x1blp="122"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_4x1blp="122"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_4x1blp="122"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_4x1blp="122"><strong closure_uid_4x1blp="153">Chief Warranr Office Byran J. Nichols, 31, of Hays, Kan.</strong> He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kan. Nichols graduated from Thomas More Prep-Marian in 1998. </div>Bryan Nichols always wanted to be a solider. His father was in the Army and fought in Vietnam, his ex-wife Jessica Nichols said. Bryan and Jessica met in sixth grade, and she said he enlisted in the military before they had graduated high school. Nichols worked his way up through the ranks, and eventually piloted a helicopter with which he’d had a boyhood fascination. “He came across the Chinook …” she recalled. “His father flew Chinooks.” During the years Bryan and Jessica were married, he did three deployments. She had their son, Braydon, who is now 10. Bryan and Jessica’s marriage ended amicably, and he remarried.<br />
<div closure_uid_4x1blp="144">Together with Bryan’s new wife, the three helped raised Braydon. The little boy dreamed also of flying one day, alongside his father, Jessica Nichols said. The boy, instead, posted an iReport on CNN.COM on Saturday about his fallen father, in the hopes that the world would never forget him.</div><div closure_uid_4x1blp="144"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_4x1blp="150"><strong>Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter, 47, of Centennial, Colo. is a 1982 graduate of Hays High School. </strong> He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Aurora, Colo.</div><div closure_uid_4x1blp="152">The National Guardsman had dreamed of being a pilot since his high school days in Kansas. He was a chief warrant officer at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colo. “He was flying our nation’s elite forces into combat and, as an aviator, for him that is what he wanted to do,” Col. Chris Petty, a fellow pilot and Carter’s friend, said. Carter’s family friend Yolanda Levesque spoke at a news conference in Centennial, Colorado, on a hilltop selected because its view of the surrounding hills was one of Carter’s favorites, “He was an outstanding husband and father, son, brother and soldier,” Levesque said. “He was a friend to all who met him ... quick with a smile and always with a twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes.”</div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1574408299273290152.post-45966992699121558702011-08-12T23:30:00.001-05:002011-08-12T23:31:27.441-05:00Secretary Sebelius wants to cut Home and Community Based Services<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_156p3l="112"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3AnD9b-kKg/TkX9EvxCeWI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/dfENNAseobU/s1600/imagesCAWCP9OS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3AnD9b-kKg/TkX9EvxCeWI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/dfENNAseobU/s1600/imagesCAWCP9OS.jpg" /></a></div><div closure_uid_156p3l="112"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_156p3l="112" style="text-align: justify;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br />
August 8, 2011 <br />
<br />
Contact: <br />
Bruce Darling, 585-370-6690<br />
Dawn Russell, 303-884-1471 <br />
<br />
<div closure_uid_jribla="113">Disability Rights Group Outraged and Demands to Meet with Secretary Sebelius after CMS Issues Guidance on Cutting Home and Community Based Services.</div></div><div closure_uid_156p3l="112" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
ADAPT, a national grassroots disability rights organization, is outraged by a Dear State Medicaid Director letter issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Friday, August 5th. That letter</div><div closure_uid_156p3l="112" style="text-align: justify;">explained how states can cut Medicaid home and community based services, which provide alternatives to institutionalization, and not run afoul of the maintenance of effort requirement in the Affordable Care Act.<br />
<br />
The organization is particularly upset because Secretary Sebelius spoke before national disability rights groups in July, highlighting how the Affordable Care Act benefits people with disabilities, including the <br />
potential to improve access to home and community based services. While the Secretary gave rousing speeches and was applauded by our community, her staff were crafting guidance to states on cutting our services, said Rahnee Patrick, an ADAPT Organizer from Chicago, IL. This is reprehensible.<br />
<br />
The national advocacy group has other concerns about the federal agency. Although the United States Department of Justice has taken action to assure that Americans with Disabilities are not forced into institutions as mandated in the Supreme Courts Olmstead decision, the Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights has done little to address Olmstead concerns identified in the states. Though talking tough about the need for states to comply with the Olmstead decision, CMS has not developed any accountability criteria to monitor states to assess if states are really complying with the decision" said Bruce Darling, an ADAPT Organizer from Rochester, NY.<br />
<br />
Additionally, the group is frustrated by inconsistency within the federal agency. The guidance issued Friday was developed in response to concerns by states which face increasing costs as Medicaid enrollment increases because more Americans are eligible for the program due to lost income and expansions mandated in the Affordable Care Act. This same federal agency misinterpreted statutory language establishing the Community First Choice Option and developed proposed rules that would require states to provide more expansive services beyond what the statutory language would require. Ultimately that means fewer states would select the option and fewer Americans will have the opportunity to live in freedom, said Ms. Patrick. <br />
The fact that the federal agency took this action despite being told directly by the provisions sponsors that this was not Congress's intent is particularly upsetting to advocates.<br />
<br />
The only thing these policy directions have in common is that they negatively impact Americans with disabilities and older Americans who want to stay in their own homes, said Darling who indicated that ADAPT is seeking to meet with the Secretary. We intend to take our concerns directly to the Secretary, one way or another.<br />
<br />
For more information about ADAPT, please visit <a href="http://www.adapt.org/">http://www.adapt.org/</a> <br />
ADAPT is also on Twitter at <a href="http://twitter.com/nationaladapt">http://twitter.com/nationaladapt</a><br />
FOR MORE INFORMATION on ADAPT visit our website at <a href="http://www.adapt.org/">http://www.adapt.org/</a></div><div closure_uid_156p3l="112" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_156p3l="112" style="text-align: justify;">Shame on you Sebelius! Shame on you!</div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17995335603920707004noreply@blogger.com0