ACLU seeks to block Kansas voter-citizenship move
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union is asking a Kansas judge to bar Secretary of State Kris Kobach from starting what the group calls a dual voting system to help enforce a proof-of-citizenship requirement. The ACLU filed a request yesterday (FRI) with Shawnee County District Judge Franklin Theis (tys) for a temporary injunction to keep Kobach from imposing a new election policy for the state's August 5th primary. Kobach has said the relative handful of Kansas residents who register to vote using a national form will be allowed to complete full ballots at the polls, but only their votes in congressional races will be counted. The national registration form does not require voters to submit documentation of their U.S. citizenship. The state's registration form does.
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Wolf to air TV ads in US Senate race in Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Tea party challenger Milton Wolf says he's reserved $250,000 in television advertising time for his U.S. Senate race, but Republican incumbent Pat Roberts' camp says it has spent twice that in recent weeks. Wolf announced yesterday (FRI) that he's reserved time on cable and broadcast stations throughout Kansas starting Wednesday and running through the August 5th GOP primary. Spokesman Ben Hartman said Wolf will start next week with an ad his campaign first aired on cable in April. It touts Wolf's work as a Leawood radiologist and notes Roberts' long tenure in Washington. But Roberts executive campaign manager Leroy Towns said that since late May, the senator's campaign has spent more than $500,000 on radio and TV ads.Towns said the Roberts camp will continue to make substantial ad buys.
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Kansas state trooper charged with assault, threats
GREAT BEND, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper faces multiple felony charges stemming from a domestic dispute with his wife. A complaint filed Friday charges 37-year-old Darrin Hirsh of Great Bend with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of criminal threat, domestic battery, two counts of witness intimidation and two counts of violation of a restraining order. Hirsh was released on a $50,000 bond after his arrest Thursday night. A first court appearance is scheduled for July 21st. It wasn't immediately clear Friday whether Hirsh has an attorney. A phone number listed at his address rang unanswered. The aggravated assault charge stems from a 2013 incident during which he allegedly threatened his wife with a handgun. The patrol says Hirsh is on leave without pay pending an internal investigation.
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Kansas agency says coal plant would meet standards
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman says the agency believes a new coal-fired power plant in the southwest part of the state would comply with all federal and state air-quality laws. KDHE spokeswoman Sara Belfry made the statement yesterday (FRI) after the Sierra Club filed a new lawsuit with the state Court of Appeals over the $2.8 billion project proposed by Hays-based Sunflower Electric Power Corporation. KDHE Secretary Robert Moser last month approved changes in a 2010 permit to allow construction of the 895-megawatt plant outside Holcomb. The changes were necessary because of a Kansas Supreme Court ruling last year in an earlier Sierra Club lawsuit. The Sierra Club contends even with the changes the plant wouldn't comply with federal clean-air rules.
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Sedgwick County deputy gets probation
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Sedgwick County Jail deputy accused of trying to have sex with inmates has been sentenced to two years of probation. The Wichita Eagle reports that David Kendall was sentenced yesterday (FRI). He pleaded no contest in May to six counts of attempted unlawful sexual relations with inmates and one count of making a false information. The crimes under Kendall's plea agreement carry the presumption of probation. The judge said Kendall would have to register as a sex offender and undergo a sex-offender evaluation, and that if it showed he needed treatment, he would have to get treatment. The crimes under the plea agreement involved attempted consensual sex with six different inmates in April and June of 2012. Kendall resigned after the allegations were made against him.
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Woman unhurt as bullet travels through mattress
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a Salina woman is lucky to have escaped injury when a bullet fired into her home struck her bed and traveled through the mattress. The Salina Journal reports the shot was one of two fired into the woman's home as she slept Thursday night. A house across the street was also hit by a bullet that was found in a closet. Investigators continued looking Friday for whoever was firing multiple shots with a high-powered rifle. Police Capt. Mike Sweeney says two rounds entered the rear of the sleeping woman's home. One came through a bedroom wall, struck the headboard and traveled through the mattress and a front wall. That bullet was found on the porch.
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58 chickens, 2 turkeys removed from Wichita home
Wichita, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say charges are possible after 60 birds and four guinea pigs were removed from a home. Animal control officers who went to the home in west Wichita Thursday found the animals in the basement and called police and firefighters for help. Police Lieutenant Dan East said firefighters had to use breathing apparatus while removing the animals because the smell of waste was so strong. All the chickens and turkeys had to be euthanized but the guinea pigs were taken to an animal shelter. KAKE-TV reports two adults and five children live in the home. The couple told police they had so many chickens because they like fresh eggs. East says the animals had been living at the home for at least two weeks.