Hundreds Turn Out for Impromptu Kansas Gun Rally
(Information in the following story is from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com)
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A hastily organized protest of proposed federal gun control legislation brought hundreds of people to the Kansas Statehouse to voice their anger at President Barack Obama's policies. Organizer Thomas Stalder of Atchison says he was amazed so many people showed up Saturday to an event he announced only a few days ago on Facebook. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports about a dozen spoke at the rally, most sharing the message that gun control violates their constitutional rights. Unseasonably mild temperatures approaching 60 degrees and the opening of a large gun show at the Kansas Expocentre that drew more than 1,000 people likely contributed to the crowd. But the fear that restrictions on assault rifles could also lead to sharper curbs on handguns also was a unifying theme for the crowd.
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Police Officer Kills Olathe Man Inside Store
(Information in the following story is from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com)
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A man who was fatally shot by a suburban Kansas City police officer inside a Dollar General store has been identified as 21-year-old Cody Kincheloe of Olathe. Police say Kincheloe confronted an Olathe officer who had gone into the store Friday night to investigate reports of a car driving east in the westbound lanes of a nearby street. The Kansas City Star reports the officer found the suspect car in the parking lot of the store around 8 p.m. Friday, and witnesses said the driver had gone inside. Police say Kincheloe displayed a handgun and the officer shot him. Kincheloe died at the scene. The officer wasn't injured.
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Kansas Woman Raising 3 boys Orphaned By Violence
(Information in the following story is from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com)
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kan., woman says she's struggling to raise her three young grandsons who saw their father shoot their mother to death and then kill himself. Forty-year-old Bridget Mitchell says she's determined to keep the 2, 3 and 4-year-old boys together as they struggle to make ends meet. Mitchell's 24-year-old daughter, Alyshia Alexander, was killed March 13th by her estranged husband, Jedidiah Alexander. He shot her in her car while the boys were in the back seat and then shot himself. The Kansas City Star reports Mitchell lost her job because of the time she has to devote to the boys. She has them in counseling and is using legal aid to get guardianship of her grandsons.
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Officials React to Idea of Merging KDOT, Turnpike
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — For more than 50 years, the Kansas Turnpike has been a major transportation artery, carrying thousands of commuters between the Kansas City metro area and the Oklahoma border. It's also been maintained by an independent agency outside of the state Department of Transportation — something Gov. Sam Brownback wants to change. His proposal, first announced during the State of the State address, would merge the Kansas Turnpike Authority into the Transportation Department. But that's raising questions about the turnpike's future and the possibility of Kansas building new toll roads. Legislators say the turnpike is a Kansas gem that shouldn't be diminished in the spirit of finding efficiencies. They also fear the proposal could ultimately divert future money away from the turnpike.
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KU's Biggest Individual Donor Madison Self Dies
(Information in the following story is from: Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World, http://www.ljworld.com)
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Madison "Al" Self, a Kansas native who donated more money to the University of Kansas than any other individual donor, has died at the age of 91. The Lawrence Journal-World ( http://bit.ly/10rnvE7) reports Self died Sunday in Hinsdale, Ill., where he and his wife, Lila, had lived since 1966. The couple gave more than $44 million to the university for various purposes, including fellowships and capital projects. Self graduated from the school in 1943 with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. In 1947 he bought a three-person company named Bee Chemical Company in Illinois. The company had five U.S. manufacturing facilities and sites in Japan and England when he sold it 37 years later. University Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little called Self was a visionary who changed the lives of countless students.
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Kansas Man Sentenced to Life for Molesting Girl
(Information in the following story is from: Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World, http://www.ljworld.com)
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Douglas County judge has sentenced a 39-year-old Lawrence man to two life sentences for sex crimes involving a 6-year-old girl. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Dean Oliver Tapedo was convicted in August of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated criminal sodomy. Douglas County prosecutor Amy McGowan had accused Tapedo of molesting the girl in her bed in October 2011. District Judge Kay Huff sentenced Tapedo on Friday morning to two life terms that will run concurrently. Each charge carries a sentence of 25 years to life under Jessica's Law.
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Kansas University Quarterback Baty Leaving Program
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Sophomore quarterback Turner Baty is leaving the Kansas program and returning to City College of San Francisco after not getting into a game last season. Jayhawks coach Charlie Weis announced that Baty was transferring in a statement Saturday. Baty was expected to add depth at the quarterback position. Despite struggles by Dayne Crist and Michael Cummings all season, Baty never got onto the field. Cummings will be back next season, and BYU transfer Jake Heaps also will be eligible after sitting out this season. Baty said in a statement that the chance to play factored into his decision to leave. But he and Weis both said they were open to him returning to the Jayhawks after next season.