Comcast Cancels Event at KS State Senator's Home
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Comcast has canceled a promotional event at the home of a Kansas state senator. The cable company announced the open house in a recent news release that paired Republican Sen. Julia Lynn of Olathe and promotional language about its home security service.After queries from The Kansas City Star about an elected official endorsing a commercial service, Comcast moved the event to another home. Comcast spokeswoman Mary Beth Schubert says Comcast didn't provide Lynn with any free products, equipment or services. Earlier this year, a Senate committee that Lynn chairs introduced a bill to keep cities from starting their own TV or broadband services. The measure died in the committee. Lynn says she thought the Comcast demonstration would give her a better understanding of how security technology works.
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Kansas City Clinic to Offer HIV Drug
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kansas, clinic is offering a medication used to prevent infection in people at high risk of contracting HIV. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration two years ago approved the HIV drug, Truvada, for HIV prevention. The Kansas City Star reports that Sharon Lee, CEO of Family Health Care in Kansas City, Kansas, is holding a weekly clinic for people who want to take the drug. Lee says the clinic is among the first of its kind in the nation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines recommending that doctors offer Truvada to people at substantial risk of HIV infection.
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Judge Steps Down in Midst of Capital Murder case
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge has recused himself from a capital murder case after the defendant filed a complaint accusing the judge of disregarding his rights. Phillip Cheatham was convicted of capital murder in 2005 and sentenced to death for the slayings of Annette Roberson and Gloria Jones in December 2003. The Kansas Supreme Court last year overturned the capital murder conviction and death sentence because of ineffective counsel. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Shawnee County District Judge Mark Braun stepped down Friday at the start of what was expected to be a lengthy motions hearing. His decision means all of the motions upon which he already had ruled will have to be heard again by a different judge, and the scheduled Jan. 5 trial date will be pushed back.
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Report: Kansas City Airport Terrorist Travel Hub
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A report compiled when Kansas City was seeking federal terrorism and emergency response grants claims Kansas City International Airport is a hub for terrorist travel. The Kansas City Star reports the Feb. 7 document prepared by Kansas City area emergency management officials seeking federal security grants was sent to the Department of Homeland Security to provide a threat picture for the Kansas City region. The report says KCI is a primary hub for known or suspected terrorist travel. Kansas City Police Capt. Daniel Gates says he sent the report to the Federal Emergency Management Agency so FEMA could evaluate the region's terrorism risk. Gates says the report shouldn't create fear. Mayer Nudell, a terrorism and security expert, says the report could have been amped up to win federal funds.
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Junction City Police Investigating Man's Death
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — Junction City police are investigating the death of a man who was reportedly run over by a truck. Police Lt. Jeff Childs says in a release that officers were called to a disturbance early Saturday and then received a second call asking for an ambulance for a person who'd been run over by a truck. Officers found 23-year-old Cody Allen Martin of Junction City lying in the roadway. Martin was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Childs says an autopsy has been scheduled.