State Senator Tyson Enters Race for Kansas 2nd Congressional District
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ A conservative state senator from eastern Kansas is the latest Republican to enter the race to succeed retiring Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins. State Senator Caryn Tyson of Parker announced her candidacy this (THUR) morning for the 2nd Congressional District seat that Jenkins has held since 2009. Tyson and her husband a ranch in eastern Linn County. Tyson said in a news release that it was crucial to ``embrace the President's call to repeal and replace Obamacare, secure our borders, and pass comprehensive tax reform to cut taxes.'' Other Republicans in the race include state Representative Kevin Jones of Wellsville, state Senator Steve Fitzgerald of Leavenworth and Basehor City Councilman Vernon Fields. On the Democratic side, former Kansas House member Paul Davis of Lawrence and Neosho County resident Kelly Standley are running.
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Jury in Kansas Rejects Bias Claim Against Kobach's Office
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Jurors have rejected a former employee's claim that religious discrimination was key factor in her firing from Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach's office. The jurors sided Thursday with the office and chief Kobach deputy Eric Rucker in former employee Courtney Canfield's federal lawsuit. The secretary of state's office had argued that performance issues led to Canfield's firing in November 2013 after 9½ months. Canfield learned of her firing through her grandmother, who was a friend of Rucker. The grandmother testified that Rucker told her that Canfield's lack of regular church attendance was a reason for her firing. Rucker testified church attendance was not a factor. He said the subject came up only when Canfield's grandmother mentioned it in telling him that Canfield's life was a mess.
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Crash Kills 3 on Kansas Highway 10
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) - Authorities say three young men from Olathe died in a crash in their hometown. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 3:15 a.m. Thursday on Kansas 10 when a car crashed into a guardrail. The victims were identified as 21-year-old Darius J. Thomas, 24-year-old Nicholas A. Sands, and 21-year-old Dalton R. Suggs. The patrol says Thomas was driving and lost control of his car for an unknown reason. The crash closed the eastbound lanes of the highway for several hours before it was reopened about noon.
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Officers Involved in Deadly Shooting in Olathe
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after officers were involved in a deadly shooting in Olathe. Johnson County authorities say 26-year-old Ciara Howard, who is from the Kansas City metro area, was shot Wednesday evening while police and deputies were trying to serve a warrant to her. Olathe police and Johnson County Sheriff deputies say Howard, who is from the Kansas City metro area, resisted arrest and was in a standoff that lasted several hours. When officers eventually tried to arrest her, Howard allegedly threatened them with a weapon. The Kansas City Star reports two Olathe police officers and one deputy fired at Howard, killing her. No officers or deputies were injured.
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Former Kansas Governor Sebelius Heads to Ohio to Support 'Obamacare'
CINCINNATI (AP) — A former Barack Obama administration Cabinet member is returning to her native state to rally opposition to Republican efforts to repeal his health care overhaul. Cincinnati-born Kathleen Sebelius is joining a bus tour campaign for press conferences Wednesday in Cincinnati and Dayton. Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, both Democrats, are among officials joining her in their cities. The former secretary of Health and Human Services says Republicans should stop trying to "sabotage" Obama's Affordable Care Act and work with Democrats to improve it. She and two Republicans who also headed HHS say President Donald Trump and Congress should make stabilizing health insurance marketplaces their immediate goal. Sebelius is the Democratic former governor of Kansas. Her late father, Democrat John Gilligan, served as Ohio's governor.
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Escaped Inmates Seen in Northeastern Oklahoma
FAIRVIEW, Okla. (AP) — The search for two inmates who escaped after overpowering prison transport officers in northwest Oklahoma moved to northeast Oklahoma after they were spotted at a convenience store in the Tulsa suburb of Sapulpa. Major County Sheriff's Deputy Gary Swymeler said Thursday that 32-year-old Andrew Foy and 37-year-old Darren Walp were seen on surveillance video Wednesday at a Quik Trip along Interstate 44, more than 130 miles from where the escaped. Swymeler said the two could be heading to Pennsylvania or Delaware, where both have ties, or could still be in Oklahoma where Walp has ties. Swymeler says they were driving a semitrailer stolen from the Oklahoma City suburb of El Reno when they stopped in Sapulpa and left the trailer in the store parking lot. Authorities say Foy was being taken to Wyoming and Walp to Kansas, both to face charges for nonviolent offenses, when they escaped early Tuesday.
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Deadly Shooting Under Investigation in Suburban Kansas City
MERRIAM, Kan. (AP) - Authorities are investigating a deadly shooting in the Kansas City suburb of Merriam. Officials report that the shooting happened early Thursday after a confrontation outside a house. Police say they have identified all the people involved. No other information was immediately released, including the name of the victim.
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Kansas Man Charged with Murder in Death of Infant Son
EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have charged a Greenwood County man with first-degree murder and child abuse after his 6-month-old son died in a Wichita hospital. The Emporia Gazette reported that 22-year-old Benny Clark of Reece was charged Thursday in the death of his son Cooper Clark. He is being held on a $1 million bond. It was not immediately clear whether he had a defense attorney, and the prosecutor on the case did not immediately return a message. The newspaper reported that deputies responded to the Greenwood County Hospital emergency room on Tuesday for a report of a possible child abuse. The boy was later taken to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. Deputies learned the next day that he had died.
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Suspect in Young Wichita Girl's Attack to Go on Trial
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has ruled that a man accused of raping and trying to kill a 7-year-old Wichita girl will go on trial. Corbin Breitenbach is charged with attempted capital murder, aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated burglary. Prosecutors allege he broke into a woman's condo in June and attacked the girl before putting her back into a bed and leaving. The now 8-year-old girl testified during a preliminary hearing Wednesday. She and her younger brother were staying at the woman's home the night she was attacked. Breitenbach was staying at his girlfriend's nearby apartment. Prosecutors say DNA linked Breitenbach to the crime. A trial is tentatively set for September 25. Breitenbach did not say anything during the hearing. His attorney entered not guilty pleas to all the charges against him.
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Funeral Services Set for Off-Duty Officer Killed in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Funeral arrangements are set for an off-duty police officer who was killed in a shooting at a restaurant in Kansas City's Westport entertainment district. The services for Officer Thomas Orr will be held this (THUR) morning at Abundant Life Church in Lee's Summit. Orr was killed and a woman was shot in the arm Sunday on the patio of Californos after an argument broke out between patrons. The 30-year-old Orr was a school resource officer for the police department in the Kansas City suburb of Lee's Summit. Before taking the job with Lee's Summit in March 2015, Orr had worked for the police department in Marshall, Missouri. Lee's Summit Police Sergeant Chris Depue says Orr will be buried in his hometown outside of Chicago.
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Kansas Festival Brings Tourists to Giant Shovel Attraction
WEST MINERAL, Kan. (AP) — An annual festival in southeast Kansas is bringing crowds in to see a giant electric coal-mining shovel that has turned into a tourist attraction. The Polka Fest will be held Saturday at Big Brutus near the town of West Mineral. Big Brutus Museum Manager Betty Becker says the 16-story electric shovel was built in the early 1960s. It was shut down about a decade later when coal prices declined and has been a mining museum since 1985. It was also designated a Regional Historical Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1987. Becker says the festival brings in about 30,000 visitors a year to see Big Brutus. The festival will also include polka music and dancing, as well as a beer garden and a variety of food.
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Royals Rally in 9th Inning to Beat Rockies 6-4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Eric Hosmer hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning off former Kansas City teammate Greg Holland, lifting the Royals over the Colorado Rockies 6-4 on Wednesday night. Hosmer's 21st home run of the season was the first game-ending shot of his career. Holland (2-5) fell to 0-4 with one save in four opportunities in his past six games, allowing 10 hits, three home runs and 12 runs over five innings. The former Royals closer allowed a leadoff walk in the ninth, gave up a two-out single to Melky Cabrera and then was tagged by Hosmer on a 1-1 pitch.
