UPDATED: Miami County Sheriff: Spring Hill Teenager Detained After Death of Olathe Teen
MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. (KC Star) — One teenager is dead and another is in custody following a suspicious death early Wednesday morning in rural Miami County. The Kansas City Star reports that the 16-year-old suspect in the death of a 15-year-old Olathe teen has been remanded to a juvenile detention center in Miami County.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home near Spring Hill (in the 22800 block of Lewis Drive) around 3:00 am Wednesday after someone inside the home called an ambulance. An teenage boy from Olathe was pronounced dead at the scene. A 16-year-old boy, a Spring Hill resident, was sent to a nearby hospital as a precaution, though he was not injured.
Both the suspect and the victim were students within the Spring Hill School District. Neither has been publicly identified, and the district has not commented. No charges have been filed in conjunction with the alleged killing as of Thursday night.
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Details Emerge in Former KCK Police Detective's Apparent Suicide
UNDATED (KCUR) — More details were released Thursday on the apparent suicide of former Kansas City, Kansas, Police Detective Roger Golubski. KCUR reports that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issued an update saying an autopsy was conducted on Golubski on Tuesday and the medical examiner found a single gunshot wound to his temple. But a final determination on cause of death could take another 12 weeks because of toxicology reports. The statement also said that agents have not found evidence of foul play. Golubski was found dead Monday, the day his federal trial was set to start. He was charged with using the power of his badge to violate the civil rights of two women through rape and kidnapping.
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Swiss Firm Announces Intent to Acquire Berry Global, Inc.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (The Lawrence Times) – Swiss company Amcor PLC announced that it is purchasing plastic packaging company Berry Global, Inc., in a deal worth about $8 billion. The Lawrence Times reports that Berry Global, which manufactures plastic drink cups in Lawrence, is the city's largest commercial employer. The future of the company's local employees is still unclear. Both Amcor and Berry Global manufacture plastic packaging products, including plastic bags, bottles, building materials, and plastic devices for a wide variety of food, beverage, and health care applications. The proposed merger is expected to be completed in mid-2025.
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Ford County Alleges ExxonMobil, Chevron Misled Public on Recyclability of Plastics
LIBERAL, Kan. (KNS) – Ford County in southwest Kansas is joining an effort to call out oil companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron for misleading the public about the recyclability of plastics. The Kansas News Service reports that the county is seeking $5 million in a lawsuit after the Center for Climate Integrity published a report revealing large plastic companies knew recycling plastic was not viable, but promoted it anyway. Chelsea Linsley, an attorney for the Center for Climate Integrity, said “...smaller counties are the ones who are hurting the most, like they don't have the resources to deal with all of the plastic waste that's being thrust on them.”
Ford County is asking for relief to help clean up the large amounts of plastics in their landfills. ExxonMobil says it invites governments to work with them on solutions that recognize the value of plastics and improve recycling rates.
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Honey Bee Colony Losses Hit 14-Year High
UNDATED (HPM) — Honey bee keepers in the U.S .saw the highest rate of colony losses in 14 years, according to a new national survey. Harvest Public Media reports that research from Auburn University and the Apiary Inspectors of America shows U.S. bee keepers lost an estimated 55 percent of their managed honey bee colonies between April of 2023 and 2024. That was nearly 15 percent higher than the previous average. Auburn University researcher Agostina Giacobino worked on the survey, which received responses from more than 16 hundred beekeepers. She says the results are concerning, adding that they were “...surprised by the results because this is one of the higher losses recorded so far.” Giacobino says the losses could be due to poor weather conditions and parasites.
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Wild Geese, Ducks Drop Dead Across Kansas, What's the Cause?
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) — Dozens of wild geese and ducks have been dropping dead across the state and wildlife biologists are trying to find out why. They are currently monitoring reports of wild migrating birds being found dead in different parts of the state this month, including Cheyenne Bottoms near Great Bend. Bird flu is the likely culprit but that has yet to be confirmed.
Officials with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks told KSNT that wild geese are being reported dead or dying in several wetlands and reservoirs across Kansas. The dead birds include migratory geese species like snow, Canada and Ross varieties. Dead birds have been found at the following places:
- Glen Elder Reservoir
- Jeffrey Energy Center
- Elk City Reservoir
- Webster Reservoir
- Kirwin Reservoir
- Lovewell Reservoir
- Norton Reservoir
- Cheyenne Bottoms
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Bill to Ban Smoking at State-Owned Casinos Proposed for Next Legislative Session
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – A bill introduced in the Kansas Legislature would ban smoking at the four casinos owned by the state. The Kansas News Service reports that casinos are some of the last public places in Kansas where people can smoke indoors. But a group called Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects - or CEASE - says it’s a health hazard for casino workers. They’ve introduced bills in Kansas and Missouri to prohibit smoking in all casinos. It’s not clear how Kansas legislative leaders might react to the bill. But similar legislation never received a vote last session. Casino operators are likely to oppose the measure. Kansas lawmakers return to Topeka in January for their next session.
(–Additional Reporting–)
Legislation in Kansas and Missouri Would Ban Smoking in Casinos
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KWCH) — Smoking inside casinos would be banned in Kansas and Missouri if new legislation is adopted in those states. KWCH TV reports that a group called CEASE is behind the idea. CEASE stands for Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects. Organizers with the CEASE say 85% of Kansans and Missourians do not smoke and many different groups already support the ban, including the American Heart Association.
Jeff Morris, a spokesman for Penn Entertainment, which operates Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, Kansas, and the Argosy Casino in Riverside, Missouri, said they seek to accommodate the needs of both smoking and non-smoking patrons. He said they do that by using state-of-the-art ventilation systems, extremely high ceilings, and through adequate separation of smoking and non-smoking areas.
Kansas has four state-owned casinos, located in Mulvane, Dodge City, Pittsburg and Kansas City, Kansas.
Missouri lawmakers return to the state capitol on January 8 for the new legislative session. Kansas lawmakers will return to Topeka on January 13.
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Kansas Supreme Court Appoints Committee to Examine Pretrial Detention Policies
UNDATED (KNS) — The Kansas Supreme Court has appointed a committee to study the policies that dictate whether someone stays in jail or is released before trial. The Kansas News Service reports that a previous study found more than half of local jail inmates in Kansas have not been convicted of a crime. Many people can’t afford to pay their bond. Karen Arnold-Burger, chief judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals, will lead efforts to study those policies as chair of the new committee. She says it's not just about justice. Holding inmates is expensive. “These are people that have never been convicted of anything...so, the question is, is that where we want our resources to go is jailing people prior to trial?” she asked. Arnold-Burger says it could take up to two years to propose new reforms to state law and court policies.
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Officials: Hutch Prison Conditions Could Lead to Lawsuit
UNDATED (KNS) — Kansas officials say poor conditions at a prison in Hutchinson could force the state into a federal lawsuit. The Kansas News Service reports that they want about $450 million to build a new one. The Hutchinson prison is more than a century old. It lacks air conditioning in most areas and has cells that are much smaller than recommended standards. Kansas officials say the state needs to improve the prison’s conditions or risk ending up in federal court. Esmie Tseng of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas says the prison also lacks access to medical and mental health care. She says building a new facility won’t fix those issues. “It can’t just be a question of air conditioning and air flow. It’s a lot of different things,” she added. Lawmakers will need to approve funding for the project. They could pursue bond financing to break up the cost over multiple years.
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KPR's Mini Winter Fund Drive Hopes to Raise $60,000
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - The commercial-free summary of KPR news headlines posted on this webpage is made possible by contributions from listeners. In fact, everything we do online and on the air at KPR is made possible by listeners who pledge their financial support. Friday is the last day of KPR's mini winter fund drive. Please support our efforts to bring state and regional news to the people of Kansas. Make a pledge by calling (888) 577-5268 and your contribution will be matched by the Harrison Family Fund of the Douglas County Community Foundation. With the help of matching funds, KPR is hoping to raise $60,000 during this winter drive.
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Wamego Man Convicted of Numerous Crimes Dies in Kansas Prison
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KPR) — An inmate serving time at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility for crimes committed in northeast Kansas died unexpectedly this week. The Kansas Department of Corrections reports that 33-year-old Chancellor Copenhaver, of Wamego, was found unresponsive in his cell Wednesday morning. His death is under investigation. Copenhaver was serving a 10-year sentence following convictions of numerous crimes in Riley County, including attempted murder, attempted kidnapping, assault, battery, burglary and stalking.
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KBI Cancels Silver Alert from 2019 After Finding Man's Remains in Saline County
SALINE COUNTY, Kan. (KPR) — A Silver Alert that has been active since 2019 has now been cancelled after law enforcement officers in Saline County identified some human remains. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) says the remains of 69-year-old Kenneth Reitcheck were idenfied Monday, cancelling a five-year-old Silver Alert for the missing man. It was on November 4, 2019, that the Salina Police Department first reported him missing, which triggered a statewide Silver Alert. The human remains were discovered in late April at an abandoned campsite near Salina. DNA testing confirmed to investigators that the remains matched Reitcheck. The testing did not determine his cause of death.
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GOP Governors, Farm Groups Urge Reauthorization of Farm Bill
UNDATED (HPM) — Seventeen Republican governors and several farm groups are urging Congress to reauthorize the farm bill before the end of the year. Harvest Public Media reports that the last five-year Farm Bill expired in 2023, and a one-year extension ran out as well. National Farmers Union’s Aaron Shier says Congress ought to pull together to pass a new Farm Bill before adjourning December 20th, but he’s pessimistic, adding that "I do think it’s much more likely that we get a short-term extension of the 2018 Farm Bill than we get a five-year Farm Bill done." But Shier says farmers need a new Farm Bill now, not next year, to help them deal with inflation, catastrophic weather and rising interest rates. The Farm Bill also authorizes federal food benefits such as SNAP. (Read more.)
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