Donations Top One Million Dollars for Olathe Shooting Victims
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — GoFundMe sites for the families of an Indian man who was killed and two men who were injured in a shooting at an Olathe bar have raised more than $1 million combined. The four sites were set up to help relatives of Srinivas Kuchibhotla pay for expenses in the wake of his shooting death Wednesday at Austins Bar and Grill, as well as assist the families of the other victims. Kuchibhotla's friend and co-worker for GPS device-maker Garmin, Alok Madasani, was wounded. Another man, Ian Grillot, was shot when he tried to stop the gunman. A GoFundMe spokeswoman said in an e-mail yesterday (SAT) that the outpouring to the four funds involves more than 26,000 donations from all U.S. states, the District of Columbia and 39 countries. The suspected gunman, Adam Purinton, remains jailed on charges of murder and attempted murder.
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Kansas Legislature's Shift to Center Cuts Governor's Clout
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has seen its once-conservative Legislature lurch to the center with the flowering of a bipartisan coalition. Democrats and moderate Republicans are bent on erasing much of Republican Governor Sam Brownback's tax-cutting legacy and ready to bedevil other GOP leaders. In a week's time, the state House approved a huge increase in personal income taxes, voted to override Brownback's veto and approved an expansion of the state's Medicaid program. Supporters of the tax bill couldn't override the veto in the Senate but had a solid majority for undoing past, Brownback-inspired cuts in personal income taxes. Voters turned on the term-limited governor last year, largely because the state's budget has cratered. Two dozen allies lost seats. Lawmakers of all stripes say the Legislature's shift to the left is real.
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Wichita Police Investigate Shooting that Wounds 13-year-old Boy
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Wichita are investigating a shooting that wounded a 13-year-old boy. The Wichita Eagle reports that a witness told police that someone repeatedly fired into a bedroom window yesterday (SAT) morning, hitting the boy in the leg. Police say the boy was hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening. Police say seven other people were in the house at the time of the shooting. There was no immediate word about any arrests or charges.
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Kansas Counties Hit by January Ice Storm Slated for Federal Aid
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Eighteen Kansas counties affected by a severe ice storm in January will receive federal disaster aid. The Kansas Adjutant General's office announced Friday that President Donald Trump has granted Governor Sam Brownback's request for the disaster declaration. The 18 counties were hit by ice January 13th-16th. Counties eligible for aid are Barton, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Ellsworth, Ford, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kiowa, Meade, Ness, Pawnee, Pratt, Rush, Seward, Sheridan, Stafford, and Trego. More counties might be added at a later date. The declaration allows county governments to apply for funds for emergency work and to help repair or replace facilities damaged by the ice storm. It also activates a grant program statewide that seeks to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
