Man Charged in McPherson Homicide
MCPHERSON, Kan. (AP) — Police say a 25-year-old man is charged in connection with a McPherson homicide. Travis Belt is charged with first-degree murder in the Friday shooting of 58-year-old Steven Carlson, whose body was found in a house. Investigators say Belt was arrested early today (SUN). Police say in a statement that Carlson was "specifically targeted," though they did not elaborate about a possible motive for the shooting. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation assisted with the investigation.
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Mild Kansas Winter Draws Oak Mites Out of Hibernation Early
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A mild winter has drawn oak mites out of hibernation earlier than expected. Extension agent Dennis Patton tells KSHB-TV in Kansas City, Missouri, that the mites never did go fully dormant. He says there have been lots of reports of people getting bit while raking leaves and cleanup for spring. The fear is that the problem will get worse this fall. But he says other summer factors such temperatures and rainfall affect the pest's reproduction so it's difficult to say whether there will be another severe outbreak like last winter. He recommends people wear long sleeves and spray bug repellant to avoid being bit. Patton says there is no way to spray for the bugs because they can hide within the tree ridges.
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Lawrence Man Pleads No Contest in Grandmother's Death
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Lawrence man has pleaded no contest in the stabbing death of his grandmother. Jaered Long entered the plea Thursday to second-degree murder and two counts of battery of a law enforcement officer. Long was arrested in December 2015 after his 67-year-old grandmother, Deborah Bretthauer, was found dead in her Lawrence apartment. He was 16 at the time but was to be tried as an adult for first-degree murder before he entered the plea. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the two battery charges were filed after Long attacked two corrections officers while he was held at a juvenile facility. A Lawrence detective testified at a hearing in September that Bretthauer was stabbed dozens of times with a bread knife. Long will be sentenced June 5th.
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Eudora Woman Charged in Day Care Death
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Douglas County district attorney has charged a woman with first-degree murder after a 9-month-old child died last year at a day care in Eudora. District Attorney Charles Branson says 42-year-old Carrody Buchhorn was charged Friday. She is scheduled to make her first court appearance tomorrow (MON). The license for Sunshine Kids Group Daycare Home in Eudora was placed under emergency suspension after the toddler died in September. The state later ordered the day care closed. The Lawrence Journal-World reports a criminal complaint filed with the charges does not detail how the child died. Buchhorn's position at the day care also was not released. Buchhorn is jailed in lieu of a $250,000 bond.
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Authorities: No Suspects at Large in Coffeyville Shooting
COFFEYVILLE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says preliminary information about the shooting deaths Thursday night of three people in Coffeyville indicates gunshots were exchanged between two of them. Authorities said in a news release that they do not believe any suspects remain at large. Coffeyville police arriving at a residence found the three deceased individuals: 50-year-old Reginald Johnson of Coffeyville, 47-year-old Kimberly Bell of Coffeyville, and a 17-year-old male. The KBI says it will be assisting Coffeyville police in the investigation. Authorities say they are continuing to investigate the crime to determine what events led to the deaths.