New Director Named for African-American Commission After Delay
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita woman has been named the new executive director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission. The appointment of Kenya Cox, the president of the Wichita branch of the NAACP, was announced yesterday (FRI). She will take office on January 11th. Cox serves on several boards and organizations in Sedgwick County and was the assistant regional director for community service for the Kansas Department for Children and Families. The announcement came a day after The Wichita Eagle reported that former members of the commission were criticizing Governor Sam Brownback's administration for letting partisan politics delay the appointment of the commission's executive director. The commission's last executive director, Mildred Edwards, resigned in May.
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Lawsuit Accuses KCK Priest of Abuse
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Missouri man has filed a civil lawsuit accusing a Kansas City, Kansas area Catholic priest of abusing him three decades ago.The lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in Wyandotte County court, also names the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas. The plaintiff alleges the archdiocese knew of the abuse and did nothing to stop it. The lawsuit doesn't name the victim and identifies the accused priest with initials.The lawsuit claims the sexual abuse occurred at a lake house in the 1980s when the alleged victim, who is now in his 40s, was between 15 and 17 years old.The archdiocese said yesterday (FRI) in a statement that when it was told about allegations against the priest in 2012, the archdiocese investigated, notified law enforcement and removed the priest from ministry.
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Wichita Picks New Police Chief
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita city officials have chosen Duluth, Minnesota's police chief to lead the largest police force in Kansas.The city announced yesterday (FRI) that 43-year-old Gordon Ramsay will become Wichita's new police chief on January 28th. He will be paid $170,000 a year.Ramsay said in a statement that he was humbled and "beyond excited" to be chosen for the job.Ramsay has been Duluth's police chief since 2006 and a police officer for 22 years. The Duluth department has a $25 million budget and more than 200 employees.In Wichita, he will lead a department with a nearly $82 million budget and 836 employees.Wichita's last police chief, Norman Williams, retired in 2014. Since then, Deputy Chief Nelson Mosley has led the department as interim chief.
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Woman Accused of Fleeing Country with Daughters Indicted
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Lawrence woman accused of fleeing to Europe with her two daughters has been indicted for kidnapping. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Samantha Elmer was indicted Thursday on charges of parental kidnapping, making a false statement on a passport and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors say Elmer took the girls in October and boarded a flight from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago to Vienna, via Istanbul, ahead of a custody hearing and a trial on theft charges in Johnson County in early November. Elmer returned to the U.S. with her daughters earlier this month, and was arrested. She faces up to three years in prison for the kidnapping charge, and a maximum of 10 years in prison for the passport charge.
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Kansas State University to Spend $6M More on Student Union
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State University is set to spend $6 million more than originally budgeted for the renovation of its student union. The Manhattan Mercury reports that the Kansas Board of Regents approved a request Wednesday to increase the project's budget from $25 million to $31 million. University students voted for the renovations in 2013 to update the food services and provide additional space for student lounges and study space. The increase in budget allows for changes to the building's dining services.The budget increase also allows $2.1 million for the renovation and replacement of the union's roof and exterior windows. Student privilege fees and university resources will fund the renovations.
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KU Attempts Holiday-Sweater World Record
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people wearing holiday sweaters during the first half of the school's upcoming men's basketball game. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the attempt will happen during today's (SAT) game. University officials say the current record belongs to Loughborough University in Loughborough, England. They say 1,175 people gathered in holiday sweaters on December 10th, 2014. Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony says he and his colleagues on the marketing staff came up with the plan during a brainstorming session last summer. To join the record attempt, participants must wear a holiday sweater, which has been defined as having long sleeves and at least one holiday-themed motif.
