Month: April 2022

Federal funding obtained for cancer imaging machine

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., visited The University of Kansas Cancer Center Tuesday to celebrate passage of her funding request for a new imaging machine to advance cutting-edge cancer research and treatment in Kansas.

Rep. Davids joined KU Medical Center Executive Vice Chancellor Robert Simari, KU Cancer Center President Roy Jensen, and acting Department Chair of Cancer Biology Stefan Bossmann to tour an active research lab and hear how this federal funding will affect the thousands of Kansans who are fighting cancer.

In March, the President signed a government funding law fulfilling Rep. Davids’ request for $1,000,000 to purchase an IVIS/Quantum X2 Ultra-High-Resolution Imaging Station. With this funding, KU Cancer Center researchers will become the first in the region to have this advanced imaging technology. The new machine will benefit cancer patients and survivors and uplift the entire regional scientific community, enhancing the 3rd District’s reputation for innovation and excellence, according to a spokesman.

“The University of Kansas Cancer Center is already a source of hope for cancer patients and their loved ones, for physicians and researchers, and for aspiring medical students. I’m glad to help further that reputation and our work towards treatment breakthroughs by delivering this new imaging machine,” Rep. Davids said. “This project passed detailed reviews and vetting, and it will ensure that Kansas continues to lead in the field of cancer research and treatment.”

“On behalf of The University of Kansas Cancer Center I would like to thank Representative Davids and Congress for their support,” said Dr. Roy A. Jensen, vice chancellor and director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center. “Federal funding for cancer research is crucial for advances in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for patients. This state-of-the-art preclinical imaging facility will have a direct positive impact on thousands of Kansans who are battling cancer and benefit the entire regional scientific community.”

The University of Kansas Cancer Center project funding was passed along with H.R. 2471, the broader government funding bill for fiscal year 2022. Members of Congress were able to request federal resources for up to 10 projects with demonstrated community support.

Out of hundreds of bipartisan submissions, eight Rep. Davids-requested projects were passed into law. Each project was submitted in tandem with local officials and selected for its potential to improve health and safety in the community, tackle climate change, and bring economic opportunity to the 3rd District, according to Rep. Davids’ office. In total, more than $15.7 million is coming to the Kansas 3rd.

  • Story from Rep. Sharice Davids’ office

Armored car company stopped for hauling legal weed funds across Kansas settles federal suit

Litigation over Kansas case continues

Topeka — The U.S. Department of Justice agreed Wednesday to return all cash seized from an armored car company used by legal marijuana dispensaries during several traffic stops in California last year.

The California seizures occurred based on what authorities learned in Kansas during a May traffic stop of an Empyreal Logistics car. Conversations between state and federal law enforcement agencies stemming from a stop resulted in a series of events in which Kansas and California officers seized more than $1.2 million.

Soon after, the company filed a federal lawsuit detailing how a sheriff’s deputy in Dickinson County stopped one of their vehicles transporting cash from licensed marijuana dispensaries to banks and credit unions, seizing more than $165,000 on Interstate 70. In response, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas filed a civil forfeiture action against Empyreal, asserting that the cash was connected to sales in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.

A firm representing Empyreal announced Wednesday the DOJ had agreed to return all funds seized by the San Bernardino County Sheriff —approximately $1.1 million — in exchange for dropping the lawsuit. However, according to the firm representing Empyreal in the federal suit, the settlement does not address the San Bernardino sheriff or the case in Kansas.

“Empyreal has always viewed ourselves as a partner to financial institutions and law enforcement,” said Empyreal CEO Deirdra O’Gorman. “Our service increases transparency and makes communities safer. Empyreal is committed to continuing our mission of working with financial institutions and their state-legal business customers.”

Empyreal operates in 28 states and provides cash logistics solutions, including secure delivery between businesses such as state-licensed cannabis operations and financial institutions. The company never transports cannabis products.

The lawsuit alleged Dickinson County Sheriff’s Deputy Kalen Robinson pulled over a transit van heading east on the interstate because the license plate tag was partially obscured. After a conversation with a Drug Enforcement Administration agent, Robinson told the Empyreal driver she was free to go.

As the van headed back to Colorado the next day after picking up cash from Missouri dispensaries, Robinson pulled over the van. During the three-hour stop, the sheriff’s office seized five bags of cash that totaled $165,855, according to the offense report filed in connection with the case.

Empyreal said no traffic citations were issued to their drivers during any of the five stops mentioned in its complaint. However, in the lawsuit, the company said it has been forced to stop transporting cash through Kansas because of the seizures.

Their attorneys argued the stop occurring in Kansas was of no consequence, even if the state has not legalized any form of marijuana use, because it harms legally operating cannabis businesses.

“Empyreal was operating legally under California law, but with current federal civil forfeiture laws, even compliant businesses can be targeted,” said senior attorney Dan Alban of the now settled federal case. “Returning this money is the right thing to do.”

Federal law prohibits the U.S. Department of Justice from spending money to prevent states from “implementing their own state laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana.”

The prohibition, known as the Rohrabacher–Farr Amendment, became law in 2014 and must be renewed every year. It remains in effect.

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
See more at https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/14/armored-car-company-stopped-for-hauling-legal-weed-funds-across-kansas-settles-federal-suit/

Temperatures to reach 60s today

Photo by Mary Rupert

After a cool start, today’s weather will climb into the 50s and 60s today, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

The temperature was 41 at 9 a.m. and is expected to reach 62 today, the weather service said.

Strong wind gusts and elevated fire conditions are possible today, according to the weather service.

Winds may gust as high as 34 mph today, and relative humidity will range through the mid-20 percent level, resulting in elevated fire weather conditions, the weather service said.

Outdoor burning of any kind is discouraged as any fire would have the potential to spread rapidly, according to the weather service.

Today, it will be sunny, with a high near 62 and a west southwest wind of 9 to 17 mph, gusting as high as 34 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, there will be increasing clouds, with a low of 41, according to the weather service. A west wind of 5 to 10 mph will become light and variable after midnight, and winds may gust as high as 23 mph.

Friday, there will be a 20 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m., then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 64, the weather service said. An east northeast wind of 5 to 8 mph will become south southeast in the afternoon.

Friday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 38, according to the weather service. A north northeast wind of 9 mph will gust as high as 20 mph.

Saturday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 57, the weather service said. A north northeast wind of 8 to 11 mph will gust as high as 21 mph.

Saturday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m., with a low of 40, according to the weather service. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.

Easter Sunday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m., with a high near 51, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 35, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 57, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 35, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 63, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a low of 49, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a high near 70, the weather service said.