Methodists to Sponsor Syrian Families in Kansas, Nebraska
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The United Methodist Church in Kansas and Nebraska says 35 congregations are willing to sponsor at least one Syrian refugee family. Bishop Scott J. Jones, leader of the church in the two states, announced yesterday (FRI) that the number of participating congregations could increase in the future. Jones says the vast majority of Muslims in the world are our allies, and the church wants to stand with them against the jihadists. The church's Great Plains Conference includes 1,032 congregations in the two states. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback issued an executive order Monday prohibiting state agencies and organizations receiving state money from relocating Syrian refugees in the state. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has urged resettlement agencies not to participate in any efforts to bring Syrian refugees to that state.
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Topeka Councilman, Wife, Charged with Abusing Children
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka City Council member and his wife each has been charged with one felony count and four misdemeanor counts accusing them of abusing some of the 16 children in their care. The Shawnee County prosecutor's office says 34-year-old Jonathan Robert Schumm and 32-year-old Allison Schumm were charged on Thursday with aggravated battery or, in the alternative, abuse of a child. Prosecutor's spokesman Lee McGowan says the battery charge is a lower-level felony than the abuse count. The two also are charged with four misdemeanor counts of child endangerment. They made their first court appearance yesterday (FRI) in Shawnee County District Court, where Jonathan Schumm was appointed counsel from the public defender's office. McGowan says the two were still in custody as of yesterday (FRI) afternoon.
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Discrimination Lawsuit Filed Against Emporia State Leaders
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former assistant professor is suing four Emporia State University officials, alleging he faced racial discrimination and retaliation before he was fired. Rajesh Singh taught at the university's School of Library and Information Management from 2009 to 2015. He is suing two current administrators in the department, a provost and the university's former president. He plans to add the university to the lawsuit. The lawsuit comes about a month after Melvin Hale, a current assistant professor in the same department, filed a defamation and invasion of privacy lawsuit against the university. Singh, who is Asian, contends he was subjected to years of discrimination at the university, despite receiving outstanding reviews, and his efforts to argue his case were ignored. Emporia State did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
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2 Teens Arrested in Kansas in Fatal Tulsa Shooting
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Two teenagers have been arrested in Kansas in connection with the fatal drive-by shooting of a 16-year-old girl in Tulsa. Tulsa Police say a 15-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man were arrested in Wichita on charges of first-degree murder in the July 17 death of Deouijanae Terry. Police say the suspects were 14 and 17 at the time of the shooting. Police have said they believe Terry was a victim of gang violence and wasn't the intended target. Tulsa Police Sgt. Dave Walker says the teens have been on the run since they were charged with murder on Aug. 21. He says investigators tracked them as they traveled to Dallas and then to Wichita, where agents kept surveillance on the teens. They were arrested Thursday at a home in Wichita.
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Kansas Suspends Greene for 6 Basketball Games
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Fourth-ranked Kansas has suspended junior guard Brannen Greene for six games for unspecified conduct detrimental to the team. Coach Bill Self announced the suspension yesterday (FRI) with the Jayhawks (1-1) traveling to Hawaii this weekend for the Maui Invitational, which begins Monday. Greene will not make the trip, but can practice with the team upon its return. Greene has averaged about 12 minute and 12 points this season and made all six of his shots from the field, including five 3-pointers. Kansas also said the NCAA is allowing Cheick Diallo to travel to Maui, though he has not been cleared to play. The NCAA has been looking into the prospect's relationship with guardian Tidian Drame.
