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NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IDMESD
DEVELOPMENT
City looks to move wetlands
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WICHTTA — Wichita is considering a plan to relocate a major wetland in Sedgwick County to allow for private development and help reduce flooding in residential neighborhoods.
The proposal calls for the city to spend $1.7 million to relocate the 18.5 acres of federally protected wetlands. A commercial developer would then be allowed to fill in part of Cadillac Lake, which was once known for its bird-watching.
Developers NewMarket V LLC and Eastside Development LLC
will contribute more than $1 million to the wetlands project, which hinges on approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They hope to create a $31 million commercial development on the land, which would add about 1,500 new jobs and generate about $10.5 million in sales tax.
The plan would also alleviate a flooding problem in several Wichita neighborhoods brought on by previous development in the area surrounding Cadillac Lake.
Under the proposal, the city and developers would share the $2.9 million cost of designing and digging new wetlands.
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
Negotiations for pact stall
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — With the clock ticking toward a March 31 deadline, officials with the University of Kansas Hospital said negotiations on a new affiliation pact with the University of Kansas Medical Center are stalled.
Irene Cumming, the hospital's president and chief executive, told state lawmakers in Topeka on Monday that the medical center has refused a long-term agreement that would provide $400 million in funding. The agreement would also require that the hospital remain the lead teaching hospital for the medical center.
Medical center spokeswoman
Amy Jordan Wooden said officials there haven't rejected the hospital's offer but they aren't likely to approve conditions that could be considered an exclusivity clause. She also said the medical center believes it can still reach an agreement with the hospital.
Kansas City area leaders are pushing to realign the medical center, the university hospital and St. Luke's Health System in Kansas City, Mo., to provide new teaching and research relationships. But Kansas lawmakers and medical officials have criticized the plan, saving they were left out of negotiations and that it could siphon new doctors away from Kansas.
Bill could hurt immigrant's benefits
》LEGISLATURE
BY CARL MANNING ASSOCIATED PRESS
Anthony S. Bush/ Associated Press
TOPEKA — Hispanics are Kansas' fastest-growing ethnic group, but legislators continue to pursue immigration policies leading some of them to believe they're not really welcome.
Ballet Folklorico de Topeka dancers, Adriana Cortez, 16, left, and John Alfrey, 15, perform for the people in line for lunch March 2 at the Statehouse in Topeka. The dance troop is performing as part of the activities during Hispanic Day on the Hill. Hispanics are Kansas' fastest-growing ethnic group, but legislators continue to pursue immigration policies leading some of them to believe they not welcome.
While critics see that message in proposals before the Republican-controlled Legislature, backers say they're responding to demands from constituents to do something about illegal immigration.
Lawmakers are considering designating English the state's official language and cracking down on voter fraud. There's talk about denying government services to illegal immigrants, while efforts to impose tougher penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants have proven problematic.
Last year, 84 proposals in 32 states became law, and 570 bills were introduced, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures This year has seen similar activity on issues like education, employment, public benefits and human trafficking.
Meanwhile, there's little doubt about demographic trends. The state Hispanic population doubled between 1990 and 2000, and according to the nonpartisan, Washington-based Pew Hispanic Center, it grew an additional 19 percent between 2000 and 2005 to about 218,000 in a population of 2.7 million.
A decade ago, immigration was an issue for a half dozen states, but it now spans the nation.
"All of the bills send a message of a preoccupation of immigration. It's not based on anything rational," said Melinda Lewis, policy and research director for El Centro, Inc., an advocacy group in the Kansas City area.
"There are immigrants in every state, and states are trying to figure out what to do because the federal government hasn't acted," said Sheri Steisel, who follows immigration issues for the NCSL.
The English bill has received the most comment so far. The idea still faces criticism even though House
The Pew Center estimates that up to 70,000 illegal immigrants are living in Kansas. Lewis said most are from Latin America.
House Majority Leader Ray Merrick said Kansans are frustrated and worry that illegal immigrants consume resources and burden the health care system. He said when he surveys his district, "It's the No. 1 issue."
members added a provision aimed at bolstering adult language education programs before approving it two weeks ago.
"It's a type of racism," said Rodrigo Bonilla, of Salina, state director of the League of United Latin American Citizens. "Some people are uncomfortable to hear people speaking other languages."
But Rep. Don Myers, the bills main sponsor, said Bonilla and other critics are "flat wrong." The bill is about helping non-English speakers assimilate into society, so they can fill some of the 3,000 to 5,000 new jobs the state will create over the next three years, he said.
"You have to be able to communicate in a common language to get these jobs," Myers said.
Denying benefits like welfare and unemployment to illegal immigrants is being pushed by Rep. Lance Kinzer, though his bill wouldn't include education and emergency medical care
"The Legislature should take a strong stand that public benefits only are going to those who lawfully should receive them," said Kinzer, R.Olathe.
His bill also repeals a 2004 law allowing illegal immigrants to pay lower, in state tuition at state universities if they've graduated from a Kansas high school and are seeking U.S. citizenship.
"It's the worst decision they could make," said Cindy Perez, a Pittsburgh State University student from Olathe, who attended an annual Hispanic Day event at the Statehouse last week. "A lot of students are dependent on that. If they are forced to pay out-of-state tuition, there will be fewer students."
Meanwhile, a Senate passed bill requires people to prove American citizenship when registering to vote by showing either a birth certificate or U.S. passport.
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TRANSPORTATION
Rescues examine the wreckage of a Garuda jetliner after it caught fire upon landing at Adisucipto airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on Wednesday. A commercial jetliner carrying more than 130 people board burst into flames as it landed at an airport on Indonesia's Java island on Wednesday, an airline official and witnesses said. At least eight people were killed, an airport official said.
Sumaryanto Bronto/ Associated Press
Indonesian 747 crashes, catches fire
BY CHRIS BRUMMITT ASSOCIATED PRESS
JAKARTA, Indonesia — A jetliner carrying more than 130 passengers and crew caught fire Wednesday as it landed on Indonesia's Java island, trapping a number of people inside the burning plane, the airline and witnesses said. Officials reported at least eight deaths.
Some passengers escaped and rescues battled flames to reach those still on the Boeing 737-400, said Capt. Art Sappi, operations director of national carrier Garuda.
Fire fighters put out the blaze after two hours. Sapari did not say how many people were trapped or provide a number on survivors.
"I saw at least eight corps piled up at the front of the plane," said Capt. Yos Biantoro, who witnessed the fire at Yogakyarta airport in central Java.
Several passengers told local media that there were many survivors. Metro TV reported that a nearby hospital was treating around 60 injured
"It caught alight when it landed" said Sapari. He didn't provide any other
details. The cause of the accident was unclear, but at least one passenger said the jetliner had overshot the runway.
BBC. World television carried footage of raging flames poking through several windows of the passenger compartment. Witnesses said the aircraft had been gutted.
Metro TV said that 133 people were listed on the plane's manifest.
Among the passengers were Australian journalists and diplomatic staff who were in Indonesia in connection with a visit by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, said Australian Treasurer Peter Costello in Canberra. The foreign minister was not on the plane.
One passenger who survived told local TV station RCTI TV that "before landing I felt the plane shake strongly"
"There appears to have been a significant loss of life," said Australian Prime Minister John Howard. "There were up to 10 Australians on board and not all of those have been accounted for."
"We overshot the runway, then I heard the sound of an explosion and ran through an emergency exit," continued passenger Muhammad
Dimiyat, "I believe many passengers remained trapped on board."
Another passenger described smoke in the passenger compartment
"Suddenly there was smoke inside the fuselage," said Dien Syasudin, a local Islamic leader. "It hit the runway and then it landed in a rice field. ... I saw a foreigner. His clothes were on fire and I jumped from the emergency exit."
Indonesia has been hit by a string of transportation disasters in recent months. In late December, a passenger ferry sank in a storm in the Java Sea, killing more than 400 people. Days later, a passenger plane operated by the budget airline Adam Air crashed into the ocean, killing all 102 people on board. A ship that sank near the capital's port left at least 50 dead.
The government responded by saying it would ban local commercial airlines from operating planes more than 10 years old, though most experts say maintenance and the number of takeoffs and landings are the most important factors in preventing accidents.