ST. LOUIS (AP) – For many who leave the U.S. military with less-than-honorable discharges, including thousands who suffered injuries and anguish on the battlefields of Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, most or all of the standard veterans benefits are off limits.

That includes items such as medical and mental health care, reduced rates for home loans, subsidized college and work training.

The effects can be severe: Ex-military members with mental health problems or post-traumatic stress disorder can’t turn to Veterans Affairs hospitals or clinics. They are excluded from the GI bill, job training and homeless programs.

Republican Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, believes reforms are needed to assist men and women who sacrificed for their country, even if they made mistakes that led to the less-than-honorable discharge.

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, light snow or a light wintery mix are possible this morning generally north of I-70, with highs rising into the 40s and 50s this afternoon. Similar temperatures are expected onChristmas day, with dropping temperatures on Saturday as a cold front comes in. This front sets the stage for potential winter weather impacts early Sunday through Monday or Monday night. The track of this storm, and therefore the weather types it brings, remains uncertain, so stay tuned for forecast updates as they become available.

Today: Mostly cloudy. Light freezing rain likely…possibly mixed with snow or rain in the morning. Little or no snow accumulation. Highs in the mid 40s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the west 5 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. North winds up to 5 mph shifting to the east after midnight.

Christmas Day: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 40s. East winds 5 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain showers. Lows in the mid 30s. East winds 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday: Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain showers. Highs in the lower 40s. North winds 10 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Breezy…colder. Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of light freezing rain and snow. Lows in the mid 20s.

Sunday: Colder. Partly sunny with slight chance of snow. Highs in the lower 30s.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Lows in the lower 20s.

Monday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Highs around 30.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Lows in the lower 20s.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with slight chance of snow. Highs in the lower 30s.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy with slight chance of snow. Lows around 19.

Wednesday: Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s.

The issue of rural blight shuld be addressed by Geary County officials during the coming year.

Ben Bennett, Geary County Commission Chair, said this week they are still looking at something that they can do to take care of the blighted areas in the county. “and get some kind of an enforcement process. We’re looking at the county code court. We’re going to study that in 2016, and hopefully have something in place by the 2017 year. But it’s going to take awhile to get all the nuts and bolts put together to try to come up with that.”

Bennett noted it would work just like a municipal court with a judge who can rule on what must be done. “And if nothing done then we can have a ruling that we can attach that property somehow to the tax part of that particular party if people don’t abide by the zoning regulations and the code ethics.”

This is still a work in progress at this point.

Westar energy is still expected to build a large electric substation in southeast Geary County in 2016.

The planning and zoning director for the county, David Yearout, said zoning for the project has been approved. “Last word I had was the company is inquiring about getting an address assignment made which we’re waiting on confirmation of the location of the driveway to do that. I understand that they are out doing preliminary core drilling and environmental work to do final design for the substation.”

Yearout added the Wester Energy plan was to have the project completed in 2016.

 

 

The Geary County Fish and Game Association is collecting used Christmas trees to be used for wildlife habitat.

The collection point is the northeast corner of 14th and Jackson St. where the sign indicates. All decorations and plastic must be removed. No yard trash will be accepted.

Final day for collection will be January 16th at 9:00 am.

MANHATTAN – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are investigating a reported shooting on Tuesday evening.

Officers with the Riley County Police Department responded just before 6:30 p.m. to the 200 block of East Park Road in the Manhattan City Park for a report of a juvenile who had sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, according to a police department media release.

Officers on scene were able to determine that the wound appeared to be accidental and possibly self-inflicted.

Throughout further investigation officers found that a firearm had gone off accidentally inside of a vehicle, which was occupied by several juveniles.

The driver, a 16-year-old boy, was stuck in the upper leg and required transport to Via Christi for medical treatment.

Police filed a criminal report for the offense of criminal use of a weapon and continue to investigate the matter.

No arrests had been made or citations issued. Police did not release the names of those involved.

Sheriff Tony Wolf said Wednesday that the Geary County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a burglary at an 8189 Carlyon Road residence on November 6. The owners at a home at that residence had discovered personal belongings missing from the residence.

Following an extensive investigation, on December 22 the Geary County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at 2220 Prospect Circle, Lot Number 5 and 501 West Elm Street in Junction City.  While executing the search warrants, Deputies recovered property belonging to the victims of the burglary. One juvenile was taken into custody.

Wolf stated that authorities anticipate more arrests will be made in the case as the investigation continues.

Junction City police have reported that a robbery occurred at 618 West 6th Street in the parking lot at Dillons Tuesday evening.

Police received the report of the robbery at 8:46 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, showers will continue through the day today. Counties north of I-70 may see some light snow showers overnight with some light accumulations possible near the Nebraska border. Christmas day will also see a chance for some light rain in the north, but the big weather maker is forecast to start impacting the area late Saturday through Monday. Light freezing rain is possible Saturday evening as a cold front moves through. As the larger upper system moves over the state Sunday into Monday, there is still uncertainty of not only the timing of the system, but of the type of precipitation it will bring. Possibilities range from freezing rain to heavy snow to heavy rain, so stay tuned to the forecast for updates.

Today: Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely in the morning…then chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 40s. North winds up to 10 mph increasing to northwest 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of showers 70 percent.

Tonight: Colder. Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow. Lows in the upper 20s. Southwest winds up to 10 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny. Slight chance of snow in the morning. Highs in the mid 40s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

Christmas Day: Mostly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers. Highs in the upper 40s. East winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the southeast around 15 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Not as cool. Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain showers. Lows in the upper 30s.

Saturday: Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain showers. Highs in the mid 40s.

Saturday Night: Breezy…colder. Cloudy with light freezing rain or snow likely. Lows in the upper 20s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

Sunday: Breezy…colder. Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of light freezing rain or snow. Highs in the lower 30s.

Sunday Night: Snow likely. Lows in the mid 20s. Chance of snow 60 percent.

Monday: Cloudy with snow likely…possibly mixed with rain. Highs in the lower 30s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy with slight chance of snow. Lows around 18.

Tuesday: Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s

WASHINGTON – Congressman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) reacted to a new investigative report that finds systemic problems at the Leavenworth and Topeka VA Medical Centers’ Eye Clinics.

The report substantiates the allegations of unauthorized secret wait lists at the Leavenworth VA Medical Center Eye Clinic. Additional, VA bureaucrats were not adequately trained to use the VA scheduling software, and they did not consistently enter new eye care requests as required. Lastly, both Eye Clinics have not employed a Chief in 6 years.

Huelskamp released the following statement on this report:

“These disturbing findings further confirm that there is substantial work yet to be done to ensure our Veterans receive the care they deserve. The ongoing use of secret, unauthorized waiting lists, more than a year after top VA leadership promised otherwise, further prove the lack of accountability and leadership failures in Obama’s VA system.

“As a leading member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I will continue to demand the VA hold accountable those responsible. Manipulating data to give the appearance of productivity is unacceptable, and I’m committed to ending the leadership crisis in Obama’s VA.”