Several candidates already are on the ballot for the summer primary election.
The filing deadline for most offices is noon June 1 at the Kansas secretary of state’s office. Independent candidates must file by noon Aug. 1.
The primary election is scheduled Aug. 2, and the general election is Nov. 8.
Candidates who are on the ballot so far, as of March 30, according to the list of candidates on the secretary of state’s website, include:
For U.S. Senate, Democrat:
Monique Singh, Kansas City, Kan.
Patrick Wiesner, Lawrence, Kan.
For U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd District, Democrat:
Reggie Marselus, Lenexa, Kan.
Nathaniel W. McLaughlin, Kansas City, Kan.
For Kansas Senate, District 5, Democrat:
Bill Hutton, Basehor, Kan.
Donald G. Terrien, Lansing, Kan.
For Kansas Senate, District 6, Democrat:
Pat Pettey, Kansas City, Kan., incumbent
For Kansas House, District 31, Democrat:
Louis E. Ruiz, Kansas City, Kan., incumbent
For Kansas House, District 32, Democrat:
Pam Curtis, Kansas City, Kan., incumbent
For Kansas House, District 34, Democrat:
Valdenia C. Winn, Kansas City, Kan., incumbent
For Kansas House, District 35, Democrat:
Kimberly L. Lampkin, Kansas City, Kan.
For Kansas House, District 36, Democrat:
Kathy Wolfe Moore, Kansas City, Kan., incumbent
For Kansas House, District 37, Democrat
Stan Frownfelter, Kansas City, Kan., incumbent
For judge, Wyandotte County District Court, 29th district, Division 2:
Michael A. Russell, Kansas City, Kan., incumbent
For judge, Wyandotte County District Court, 29th district, Division 7:
Courtney Mikesic, Kansas City, Kan., Democrat
For judge, Wyandotte County District Court, 29th district, Division 8:
R. Wayne Lampson, Kansas City, Kan., Democrat, incumbent
For judge, Wyandotte County District Court, district 29, Division 9:
Daniel Cahill, Kansas City, Kan., Democrat, incumbent
For judge, Wyandotte County District Court, district 29, Division 13:
Renee S. Henry, Kansas City, Kan., Democrat
For judge, Wyandotte County District Court, district 29, Division 14:
Deryl W. Wynn, Kansas City, Kan., Democrat
For judge, Wyandotte County District Court, district 29, Division 16:
Constance M. Alvey, Kansas City, Kan., Democrat, incumbent
For Wyandotte County District Attorney, division 29:
Mark Dupree, Kansas City, Kan., Democrat
Jerome Gorman, Kansas City, Kan., Democrat, incumbent
The Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education recognized three students of the month for March at a recent meeting.
The students who were recognized include Meloney Chavira-Solis, New Stanley Elementary; Alejandra Aragon-Rosas, West Middle School; and Caleb Taussig, Schlagle High School. The students of the month were recommended by Superintendent Cynthia Lane.
The students’ nomination letters:
Meloney Chavira-Solis, 4th grade
New Stanley Elementary School
Nominated by Clare Anthony, teacher
“Meloney is a wonderful student to have in our fourth grade class. She brings so many great assets to our classroom that not only improves her own learning but all the students around. She always strives to increase her knowledge in all subject areas by reading and asking questions. Meloney nevers turns in work that is not done to the best of her abilities and many other students can learn from her. She is a hard worker, respectful, helpful and reliable. It is a joy to teach a student like Meloney!” Sincerely, Clare Anthony, teacher
Alejandra Aragon-Rosas, 8th grade
West Middle School
Nominated by Rachael Mcllvain, teacher
“Alejandra is a wonderful example of a student who is a student that is genuine, respectful, engaged and fun. Throughout her classes, she is willing to work in many different settings with many different people. While working with others she encourages them to do their best and is always willing to help others whenever she can. She also believes in smiling and making others day! She is always kind and quick to say hello.” Sincerely, Rachael Mcllvain, Teacher
Caleb Taussig, 9th grade
Schlagle High School
Nominated by Blair Waite, teacher
“Caleb is a model student. He is hardly ever absent, maintains great grades, and is always willing to help fellow students and teachers. Caleb can frequently be found in the morning holding a stairwell door open for students and staff!” He always has a positive attitude. Caleb is one of the few freshman who is also a Socratic Seminar leader. Sincerely, Blair Waite, teacher
– Story and photo from Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said two fraudulent “cancer charities” and their leader who scammed more than $75 million from consumers across the country have been permanently banned from doing charitable business as a result of a settlement reached Wednesday.
Schmidt, along with law enforcement partners from every state in the nation, the District of Columbia, and the Federal Trade Commission, filed a lawsuit in May 2015 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.
The complaint alleged that the defendants, including Cancer Fund of America, Children’s Cancer Fund of America, Cancer Support Services and the Breast Cancer Society, portrayed themselves to donors as legitimate charities with nationwide programs whose primary purposes were to provide direct support to cancer patients, children with cancer, and breast cancer patients in the United States.
Specifically, these entities through their telemarketers told donors that contributions would be used to provide pain medication to children suffering from cancer, transport cancer patients to chemotherapy appointments, and/or pay for hospice care for cancer patients, according to the attorney general’s office. The complaint alleged this was a sham and the defendants did not operate programs that provided these services, the attorney general’s office stated.
Wednesday’s settlement dissolves the remaining two organizations, the Cancer Fund of America Inc. and Cancer Support Services Inc., and permanently bans their president from operating a charitable organization or engaging in any type of charity fundraising in the future. The other organizations and individuals involved in the lawsuit, including Children’s Cancer Fund of America and the Breast Cancer Society, agreed to settle the charges against them in 2015.
Most of the funds donated to the scam charities were spent and cannot be recovered, according to the attorney general’s office. Any funds actually recovered from the defendants will be redirected to legitimate cancer charities and to cover litigation costs.
“There are many charitable organizations who are providing important services that support cancer patients and work toward finding a cure,” Schmidt said. “Unfortunately, we frequently see con artists take advantage by setting up fake charities to scam generous donors out of money that they think is going to a good cause.”
Schmidt urged Kansans to do their homework when donating to charities. Con artists often use names similar to those of well-known charities and popular charitable causes in efforts to sound legitimate, according to the attorney general. Schmidt’s office offered the following tips to keep in mind when making charitable contributions:
• Ask for written information, including how much of the money raised is actually used for charitable purposes and how much will end up in the hands of the professional fundraiser.
• Be careful with telemarketers requesting contributions ‑ oftentimes the telemarketer keeps a substantial portion of the donation.
• Do not be pressured into making a contribution or pledge.
• Do not feel obligated to send a donation to charities that send token gifts such as key chains, greeting cards, mailing labels, etc.
• Make certain the charitable organization actually serves the need it claims to serve.
• Ask for financial statements of the organization to determine who will benefit from the donations.
• Make a personal giving plan and support well established charities on your terms, not in response to marketing solicitations.
More information on staying safe from scams is available on the attorney general’s consumer protection website at www.InYourCornerKansas.org.
