Red Flag Warning Takes Effect Across Eastern Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for eastern Kansas. Windy, dry conditions and low humidity have combined to create the danger of wildfires across much of the state. Northwest winds, expected this afternoon, could gust up to 30 miles per hour. Any fire that develops could catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is prohibited.
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More Charges Sought Against Lawrence Grade School Educator
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - Lawrence police say they have identified more victims in a sexual assault case involving a school employee and grade school children. Police are now seeking additional charges against 60-year-old Mark Gridley, a former employee in the Lawrence School District. Gridley has already been charged with sexually assaulting two students. Police now say they believe the total number of victims is eight. The victims range in age from six to 11. Gridley is a former speech-language pathologist at Prairie Park Elementary. (Read more in the Lawrence Journal-World.)
(–Additional reporting–)
Police Seek More Charges in Alleged Lawrence School Assaults
UNDATED (KCUR) – Police in Lawrence asked prosecutors to file more charges against a former educator who they allege sexually assaulted at least eight children. KCUR reports that officers arrested Mark Gridley on February eighth after a concerned parent reported an incident at Prairie Park Elementary School. Sixty-year-old Gridley was a speech and language pathologist at the school. Lawrence police have now found eight victims, ages six to eleven. The department said the incidents reportedly occurred at the school from February sixth to February seventh. Lawrence Public Schools’ interim superintendent said in a letter to families that Gridley was immediately relieved of all duties and staff was connecting with families who may have had direct contact with him.
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Former Leaders of Kansas Foster Care Provider Negotiating Plea Deal in Federal Fraud Case
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) — Two former leaders of a Kansas foster care provider have entered plea negotiations to avoid trial for allegedly bilking the organization out of millions of dollars. A grand jury indicted the former CEO of Saint Francis Ministries, Robert “Father Bobby” Smith and William Whymark, the organization’s former IT director, in November 2022. They were charged with wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering with damages totaling at least $4.7 million. The Kansas Reflector reports that a court filing in the federal case this month shows that the parties are now involved in plea negotiations. Under the charges included in the indictment, they could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, plus fines and restitution.
Kansas Reflector first reported on allegations of misconduct by Smith, an Episcopal priest, and Whymark shortly after they left Saint Francis Ministries in November 2020. An internal investigation revealed excessive billing for IT services and charges by Smith for lavish personal expenses. At the time, Saint Francis Ministries was the largest foster care provider in Kansas, serving more than 3,000 foster kids.
By January 2020, Saint Francis was in financial peril. The organization survived in part by receiving a $10 million Payment Protection Program loan, which it wasn’t eligible for and never repaid, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, the Kansas Department for Children and Families awarded new foster care contracts and replaced Saint Francis as the provider for the Wichita region. Saint Francis continues to provide foster care services for much of central and western Kansas.
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Kansas Lawmaker Ends Hearing on Immigration Bill
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – A Kansas lawmaker abruptly ended a hearing on a bill about immigration Thursday after a critic of the bill spoke over their allotted time. The Kansas News Service reports that the bill would block immigrants without legal status from getting benefits like in-state tuition at Kansas universities.
Republican State Attorney General Kris Kobach spoke in favor of the bill, saying that if Kansas gives immigrants without legal status in-state tuition, federal law could require the state to do the same for citizens from anywhere in the U.S. “Congress anticipated that no state would want to do that. Kansas is not doing that. We charge many, many students out-of-state tuition,” he explained.
Republican state Senator Mike Thompson allowed both supporters and critics 12 minutes to testify. But there were far more opponents than proponents, which made some critics feel they were not given enough time. One man tried to testify at the podium after the time was up. "You cannot just hear from one side of bigotry and racism and not hear from the people that are affected, whose lands you are all on," the man said. Thompson then ended the meeting and ordered people to leave. He later told the Topeka Capital-Journal that the disruption ultimately denied critics the opportunity to answer questions about their testimony.
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Exact Cause of Gas Explosion in Hutchinson Remains Unknown
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KSNW) — The exact cause of a major gas explosion in Hutchinson last weekend remains unknown. City officials held a news conference Thursday to update residents on the progress of the investigation into last Saturday's explosion at Steffen’s Auto Parts.
The auto parts shop was completely damaged after a gas leak caught fire. Six firefighters were able to escape the building just before it exploded. KSNW TV reports that Kansas Gas Service has installed a new 10-inch natural gas main and restored service to the remaining businesses that had been without service since the blast.
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Kansas GOP Hopes to Change System for Selecting Supreme Court Justices
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – Kansas Republicans are renewing efforts to make state Supreme Court justices elected officials. The Kansas News Service reports that as it stands, Kansas Supreme Court justices are nominated by an independent commission and appointed by the Governor. Republicans have wanted to change the process for years, especially since recent decisions that established abortion rights and school funding mandates. A who’s who of the state legal establishment shared their views in a hearing. Supporters like state Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, said a judge’s political bias is always a factor in how they decide controversial cases. “Since the decisions are inevitably in that gray area going to reflect the ideology of the judge, they should be held accountable,” Kobach argues. Opponents of the proposal say merit-based selection helps keep the courts independent from partisan politics.
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Kansas House Passes Bill Eliminating Mail-in Ballot Grace Period
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – The Kansas House on Thursday passed a bill that would eliminate the three-day grace period for mail-in ballots. The Kansas News Service reports that under the bill passed by the House, mailed ballots would not be counted if they arrive after 7 p.m. on Election Day. Proponents say the change would eliminate any appearance that results are changing after the day of an election. But critics say it could disenfranchise voters, especially those who live out of the state for school or military service. Republican Representative Pat Proctor says the change would take effect in 2026 to give voters time to adjust, adding that he thinks “...Kansas voters are smart, and if we tell them what the rules are, they will adjust their behaviors to follow the rules.” The bill already passed the Senate. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly is likely to veto it.
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Kansas Senate Approves School Board Transparency Bill
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) – The Kansas Senate has narrowly approved a bill requiring school boards to be more transparent. But opponents say it goes too far. The Kansas News Service reports that the measure would require districts to list the names and email addresses of school board members online. It would also give board members wider access to school property, and it would let them add items to an agenda without a vote of the board. Democratic Sen. Dinah Sykes opposes the bill. She says the Legislature has rules to keep meetings safe and efficient, just like school boards. “If this passes, we are saying that we are not holding other groups to the same standard that we hold ourselves to,” Sykes added. Supporters say the bill would make school boards more responsive to the public.
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Federal Prosecutor Facing Discipline on Ethics Charges
UNDATED (KCUR) – A former federal prosecutor faces discipline from a Kansas board of legal ethics for her role in a long-running recording scandal at a private Leavenworth prison. KCUR reports that the Office of Disciplinary Administrator is accusing Erin Tomasic of improperly viewing surveillance tape of privileged defense attorney meetings with their clients. She was a federal prosecutor in the Kansas City, Kansas, office. Officials say Tomasic didn’t tell the truth when called out on the ethical breach back in 2016. But during a hearing in Topeka this week, Tomasic defended herself as a young attorney who was unfairly made the face of the scandal and that she’s been honest about her role. A three-attorney panel will issue a ruling in several months. (Read more.)
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K-State Leading Incentive to Preserve Rural Grocery Stores
LIBERAL, Kan. (KNS) – Rural Kansas grocers need help to continue providing fresh food to small towns. Kansas State University is leading an initiative to ensure nutrition access in rural Kansas can sustain itself. Rural Kansans providing groceries say they sometimes feel they are on an island within a food desert. The Kansas News Service reports that one in four Kansas grocers expects to retire within five years without a plan to continue operating. Clara Misenhelter with K-State’s Rural Grocery Initiative says they provide education and offer support groups to help rural grocers feel less alone. “That brings rural grocers together and helps them feel less isolated, they can talk about the challenges they're facing,” she explained. Misenhelter says to combat the growing food deserts in rural Kansas, the K-State program offers economic development expertise to help communities keep their grocery stores.
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Leavenworth Teacher Charged with Inappropriate Behavior
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — An elementary school teacher in Leavenworth has been arrested and charged following allegations of inappropriate contact with students. WDAF TV reports that 54-year-old Jerome Riscovallez, a teacher at Henry Leavenworth Elementary, is charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child. School officials say the teachers was suspended and placed on leave as of February 14. Later that same day, the teacher was arrested by Leavenworth police and fired by the local school board.
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KC Families Forced to Vacate Apartments Due to Safety Concerns
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMBC) - Seventy-five families in Kansas City were given just 48 hours to find a new place to live. KMBC TV reports that the families were ordered to leave the Cloverleaf Apartments after fire inspectors deemed the units unsafe. The Kansas City Fire Department cited multiple safety hazards for the evacuation order, including broken pipes, flooding, mold and collapsed drywall ceilings.
One fire official said that the property owner is currently incarcerated and stopped paying the property manager, leading to widespread neglect. The Red Cross and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are now working to assist displaced families in securing temporary or permanent housing. Residents have until the weekend to gather their belongings. Starting Monday, no one will be allowed on the property.
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Missouri Lawmakers Work on Deal for Tax Incentives to Keep Chiefs, Royals In-State
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) – Missouri lawmakers are working out a deal to provide tax incentives to keep the Chiefs and Royals on the Missouri side of Kansas City. KCUR reports that a new Missouri Senate bill would set terms for the state to chip in for new sports stadiums, like the one demanded by the Royals and suggested by the Chiefs. It would free up state tax incentives totaling up to 100 million dollars. Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith says stadium funding currently leans heavily on Jackson County taxpayers. "This is, this is really flipping that on its head and aligning bearing the cost with which entities also generating the most tax revenue," he said. Smith says the total package would outshine Kansas's incentives to lure the Royals or the Chiefs across the state line.
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Kansas Golfer Gary Woodland Receives PGA Tour Courage Award
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Former Kansas Jayhawks golfer and Topeka native Gary Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, has been named the winner of the PGA Tour Courage Award. The award…which was started in 2012…goes to Gary Woodland after his comeback story on the Tour last year. Woodland underwent surgery in September of 2023 after a lesion was discovered in his brain. He recovered at his home in Florida, for several months, then made 26 starts on the PGA Tour last year. Woodland had one top-ten finish and two other times placed in the top 25. This year, he has made four starts and already has three top-25 finishes.
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