Medicaid agreement could save millions

Topeka — Gov. Kathleen Sebelius announced Friday that Kansas would join four other states in trying to get discounts on prescription drugs purchased for Medicaid recipients.

Sebelius said the compact would save the state several million dollars each year.

The agreement will be completed within 10 days and take effect July 1. Legislative approval is not necessary.

Under the arrangement, Kansas will join Michigan, Vermont, South Carolina and Wisconsin in purchasing drugs for Mediciad patients.

By combining purchasing power, the states are able to negotiate rebates from the drug manufacturers, she said.

3-year-old boy dies in bicycle accident

Moundridge — A 3-year-old boy was killed when he rode his bicycle into the path of a pickup truck on a McPherson County road.

Jesse Diederich was riding his bicycle with training wheels on Wednesday near the blacktop road in the front of his home four miles west of Moundridge when he pulled out in front of a pickup, McPherson County Sheriff Larry Powell said.

The driver of the pickup swerved but was unable to avoid striking the child, Powell said.

Last reserve fliers leaving McConnell

Wichita — The last remaining reservists in the 18th Air Refueling Squadron are leaving McConnell Air Force base by Monday.

About 100 of the reservists in the squadron have been mobilized, said Staff Sgt. Jason Schaap. Most are already gone, with the group leaving over the next few days representing the remaining third.

The 18th ARS is the flying squadron of the 941st Air Refueling Group, the largest air refueling squadron in the Air Force.

Schaap says the fliers are mostly traditional reservists who hold other civilian jobs primarily in the Wichita area.

County treasurer could face charges

Topeka — People upset that former Shawnee County Treasurer Rita Cline won’t face criminal charges over allegations she misused nearly $22,000 in county funds have the power to call a grand jury, County Commission Chairman Vic Miller said.

Cline resigned Monday, a day before a court hearing on whether she should be suspended from office. Dist. Atty. Robert Hecht said he had no plans to file criminal charges. He said it probably would cost $50,000 to prosecute Cline on charges that would likely result in probation.