THE TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNALwww.cjonline.com | $1.00SATURDAY | DECEMBER 8, 2012

Critics school

politicians on votes

By Megan Hartthe Capital-journal

CoreFirst Bank posted a $12 mil-lion loss through the first three quar-ters of 2012, but company officials said that was a planned move to get rid of bad loans.

John Fager, CoreFirst chief market-ing officer, said the recession had left some borrowers unable to repay loans, and the bank had to restruc-ture some loans and foreclose on some properties. The bulk of the loans that needed action were to de-velopers, not homeowners, he said.

“The recession and the economy, they have not been kind to our cus-tomers,” he said. “This $12 million loss you’re looking at is an extraordi-nary item that we specifically planned for.”

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s quarterly report on the perfor-mance of the banks it insures report-

Please see BANK, Page 5A

By Andy Marsothe Capital-journal

Throughout more than three de-cades in the Legislature, Sen. An-thony Hensley, D-Topeka, has

worked as a pub-lic school teacher while also being one of the most outspoken pro-ponents of in-creasing state funding for edu-

cation.Republican Casey Moore cam-

paigned against Hensley this year on the idea that that is unfair to tax-payers.

Please see POLITICIANS, Page 12A

Costumes adorn Cirque’s appeal

Gathering to worship,confess and repent

Bankposts$12Mloss

KanCare gets shot in armBy Andy Marso

the Capital-journal

The federal Centers for Medi-care and Medicaid Services has approved Gov. Sam Brownback's plan to move Kansas to a managed care Medicaid system called "Kan-Care."

Brownback and administration officials announced Friday that, though state and federal officials are still "finalizing terms and con-ditions," CMS will allow Kansas to "fully implement" KanCare on Jan. 1, 2013, as planned.

“It is extraordinary," Brownback said of completing the process. "It has been tedious, and it’s very im-portant. KanCare is truly what Kansas needs.”

KanCare will put most of the state's 383,000 Medicaid recipients

under the guidance of three man-aged care companies tasked with coordinating their physical and mental health and other services to improve outcomes at lower costs. Long-term care services for developmentally disabled Kan-sans won’t be included until 2014.

The three companies contract-ed by the state are Amerigroup, United Healthcare and Sunflower State Health Plan, a division of Centene.

Brownback said the companies

will offer services new to Medic-aid, including heart transplants, obesity surgery and adult dental care.

Administration officials say KanCare is imperative to stem the burgeoning costs of Medicaid in anticipation of federal budget cuts. They estimate it will save the state more than $1 billion during the next five years without cutting benefits, limiting enrollment or lowering provider compensation rates.

Advocacy groups have ex-pressed concerns about the speed and scope of the change, and Fri-day's announcement didn’t quell them completely.

"The federal government has determined today that Kansas is ready to move forward with Kan-Care, but what is less clear is whether children and families are ready for this transition," said Shannon Cotsoradis, president

Please see KANCARE, Page 5A

By Bill Blankenshipthe Capital-journal

Of the 18 tractor-trailer rigs that de-livered Cirque du Soleil's "Dral-ion" show to Landon Arena at the Kan-sas Expocentre, one and a half of them carried wardrobe.

The evocative and colorful costumes were designed by Francois Barbeau in Montreal where each was handcrafted in processes that could take as many as 100 hours for each set of wardrobe.

While she didn't design or make the wardrobe, it is the job of Melody Wood and her full-time staff of three to make certain each of the 54 performers' cos-tumes is ready to don and that each performer stays inside of their ward-robe while on stage, avoiding the dread-ed "costume malfunction."

"Yes, we try to avoid them," Wood said with a laugh.

One or two of the wardrobe staff are

Please see CIRQUE, Page 9A

Feds say state can have managed care Medicaid

Secular Coalition of america opposes eventBy Phil Anderson

the Capital-journal

A nationally televised worship event that has received the blessing of Gov. Sam Brownback and the scorn of atheists, ag-nostics, and freethinkers will take place Saturday afternoon in a park just south of the governor’s mansion.

The event, titled ReignDown USA, will be from 3 to 6 p.m. under a large tent at Ma-cLennan Park, located at S.W. Cedar Crest Road and Fairlawn. It will be telecast live on Dish Network Channel 458 and on the In-ternet at www.ReignDownUSA.org.

Organizers stressed no public funds were used for the event, the fourth in a se-ries that began in 2008 in Washington, D.C. Other ReignDown events have taken place in 2009 in Minneapolis and in 2010 in New Bedford, Mass.

The ReignDown movement was envi-

sioned in July 2005 by stay-at-home mom Shawn-Marie Cole, of Glendale, Ariz., the daughter of the Rev. Walt Kallestad, pastor of Community Church of Joy in Glendale, Ariz.

Cole said God revealed to her that he was about to move in a “mighty way.” She said God was calling Americans back to humility, prayer, worship and repentance of personal sins.

Cole said she believed God was calling her to launch another ReignDown event in America’s Heartland, and the date of Dec. 8, 2012, was confirmed to her by two other individuals.

Speaking Thursday morning from a parking lot overlooking MacLennan Park, Cole said she and her father only knew one person in Kansas — a man in Hillsboro — before they came to the state in June to pray for guidance.

The man directed Cole and her father to Topeka, where they were able to meet briefly with Brownback and share their vi-sion of a ReignDown event in the capital city.

“Gov. Brownback didn’t approach us,” she said. “We approached him.”

When the governor seemed receptive to the event, Cole said she and her father be-gan to move forward with bringing Reign-Down to Topeka.

They came back to Topeka a couple of weeks later and met with local ministry leaders who helped get the event off the ground. Kathy Weyrens, 56, of Topeka, was selected as the point person for the event.

About 400 people from nearly a dozen local churches that are supporting Reign-Down showed up Wednesday night at

Please see WORSHIP, Page 9A

PHIL ANDERSON/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

From left, the Rev. Walt Kallestad and his daughter, Shawn-Marie Cole, both of Glendale, Ariz., and Kathy Weyrens, of Topeka, stand in a parking lot just south of the governor’s mansion near S.W. Cedar Crest Road and Fairlawn that overlooks the site where a prayer and praise gathering called ReignDown will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday.

BILL BLANKENSHIP/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Backstage of Cirque du Soleil’s “Dralion” show in Landon Arena at the Kansas Expocentre sit the heads acrobats don to portray the show’s title creature.

Head of wardrobe describes her job, breadth of inventory

CoreFirst says some borrowers unable to repay loans

REIGNDOWN USA

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Index

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purple prideSports columnist Kevin

Haskin writes that even though K-State quarter-back Collin Klein isn’t a Heisman Trophy favorite, his legacy is secure.

Sports, Page 1B

in the woodsA wooded setting is the

perfect site for a couple’s dream home.

At Home section

Seeing starsA Holton observatory is

raising money to expand its facility, equipment and programs.

Sunday in Midway

‘overdue’A memorial to

emergency responders who served for years or died in the line of duty has been dedicated in a state office building.

Today, Page 2A

Inside today

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ONLINEView video of Sen. Anthony Hensley offering his side of school aid votes.

CJOnline.com

On Sunday: Senator tries to undercut rivals for housing tax credits.

POLICY MATTERS8th in a series of 15 articles.CJOnline.com/policymatters

SPOTTEDGo online to see more backstage photos of Cirque du Soleil wardrobes.

Spotted.CJOnline.com