Competing Rallies Held in Kansas for and Against Abortion
UNDATED (KNS/LJW) - Competing rallies are being held across Kansas concerning abortion rights in Kansas. People in favor of abortion rights rallied over the weekend in Lawrence, encouraging people to vote against a constitutional amendment that could restrict abortion rights, according to the Lawrence Journal-World. Meanwhile, a Wichita church will host a rally Monday in support of that constitutional amendment. Conservative activists Matt and Mercedes Schlapp will headline the evening event in Wichita. It’s one of many expected before a vote on the amendment in August. Central Christian Church says the rally is an opportunity for Kansans to get involved in the campaign surrounding what supporters call the Value Them Both amendment. If approved, the amendment would say there’s no right to abortion in the Kansas Constitution. A 2019 Kansas Supreme Court ruling found the state constitution protects the right to abortion, spurring the amendment effort. The vote comes during the August 2nd primary. Any registered voter in Kansas may cast a ballot on the amendment, even if they aren’t affiliated with a political party.
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Kansas City Dealing with Shortage of 911 Dispatchers
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) - A number of 911 calls in Kansas City are going unanswered. That's the result of a shortage of 911 dispatchers. KCUR Radio reports that a year ago, the Kansas City Police Department had three vacancies for 911 dispatchers. That number has grown to 22 unfilled positions. Dispatchers are now working extended shifts of mandatory overtime. Kansas City's 911 hiring dilemma is not a new problem, but it has worsened in recent times. According to figures compiled by the Mid-America Regional Council, the industry standard is to answer 90% of incoming 911 calls within 15 seconds. But in Kansas City, 911 dispatchers are struggling to answer 75% of incoming calls within that 15 second time frame.
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KU Docs Recommend COVID Vaccines for Kids Under 5
UNDATED (KNS) - Doctors at the University of Kansas recommend getting kids under 5 a COVID vaccine once federal approval happens, which could be in a couple weeks. Right now, vaccines are available only for children who are at least 5 years old. But that is expected to change soon - and shots may become available for younger kids by the end of the month. Pediatricians at KU Health System say getting everyone vaccinated protects the wider population against new covid variants. About 60% of Kansans have had at least one dose of the covid vaccine. Vaccine rates are lower for kids and teens than adults.
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Kansas Appeals Court Judge Anthony Powell to Retire
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Appeals Court Judge Anthony Powell plans to retire on June 30. A court spokeswoman announced Monday that Powell intended to step down from the court, on which he has served since January 2013. Before being appointed to the appeals court, Powell was a district court judge in Sedgwick County for 11 years. He also served four terms in the Kansas House of Representatives. Governor Laura Kelly has 60 days from the day the position becomes vacant to appoint a replacement. A majority of the Kansas Senate must approve the appointment.
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Holcomb Teenager Killed in Western Kansas Rollover
WICHITA CO., Kan. (WIBW) - One teenager was killed, another seriously injured, in a Sunday evening accident in western Kansas. WIBW TV reports that the crash happened around 6:15 pm in Wichita County. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 17-year-old Trevor A Korbe, of Holcomb, was driving a 2004 Dodge Intrepid when he lost control, over-corrected and left the road. State troopers say the vehicle rolled on the passenger side an undetermined number of times in a ditch. Korbe was pronounced dead at the scene. The patrol says he was not wearing a seatbelt. A passenger, 16-year-old Tyler Korbe, of Wallace, was injured. Another passenger, 14-year-old Travis Korbe, of Holcomb, did not appear to be hurt. Troopers say both passengers were wearing seatbelts.
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13-Year-Old Dies in Collision While Riding Bike in De Soto
DE SOTO, Kan. (KMBC) - A family in De Soto is mourning the death of a teenage girl. A 13-year-old girl died in De Soto while riding her bike. The Johnson County Sheriff's Office says the girl was riding her bike Friday evening and was unable to stop at a stop sign when her bike collided with a trailer being pulled by a pick-up truck. KMBC TV reports that the driver of that truck has been cooperating with the investigation. The collision in De Soto comes on the heels of another fatal collision involving a young girl in nearby Eudora. In that case from last month, a 10-year-old girl was killed by a hit-and-run driver while she was the passenger on a motorcycle. KMBC TV reports that an Overland Park man wanted in connection with that case was recently arrested in Indiana.
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Five Teenagers Plead Not Guilty in Killing of Kansas Man
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Five young teenagers who are charged in a Kansas man's shooting death have pleaded not guilty in juvenile court to first-degree murder. Court documents say the teenagers entered their pleas Monday. Three of the suspects who pleaded Monday are 14 years old and two are 13. A hearing for a sixth 14-year-old scheduled for Monday was postponed to June 15. They are charged in the May 14 death of 19-year-old Marco Cardino of Smithville, Missouri. He was found dead in his car in an Olathe park. The Johnson County prosecutor is seeking to try the 14-year-olds as adults. Kansas law does not allow 13-year-olds to be tried as adults.
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Wichita to Settle Lawsuit over 2012 Fatal Police Shooting
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The city of Wichita plans to settle a lawsuit over the fatal shooting of a man by police in 2012. The City Council is expected to approve a $175,000 settlement this week with the mother of 24-year-old Troy Lanning. He was killed by officer Randy Williamson in April 2012 after a police pursuit and foot chase. The lawsuit claimed Lanning was shot as he raised his hands to comply with the officer's demands, and then was shot again as he lay on the ground. The city admitted no liability in the case. Its attorneys argued Williamson was justified in using force because he believed Lanning was a threat.
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Colorado Cyclist Perishes in Fatal Accident Before Big Race in Emporia
EMPORIA, Kan. (KVOE/WIBW) - A Colorado cyclist in Emporia’s UNBOUND 200 died before the bicycle race began. KVOE Radio reports that on Friday evening, a Colorado man died following a fatal vehicle vs. bicycle collision northwest of Emporia. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the collision took place near the intersection of Lyon County Road 190 and Road F. Gregory Bachman, a 61-year-old cyclist from Frisco Colorado, was headed northbound on Road F and entered the intersection when he was struck by a truck. The truck, headed westbound, was a 2021 Chevy Silverado, driven by 52-year-old Cory Smith, of Emporia. Troopers said Bachman was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a helmet and was registered in the UNBOUND Gravel 200-mile race on Saturday. ( Read more.)
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New Incentives for Midwest Farmers to Plant Cover Crops
UNDATED (HPM) - Farmers across six Midwest states have a new incentive program to plant cover crops, which help keep soil in place and carbon in the ground over the winter. Harvest Public Media reports that the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded nearly $3 million in grants to help farmers plant cover crops in Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota. Lydia English, with Practical Farmers of Iowa, says the grants are a great start to put more acres under conservation practices. "Realistically, we would love to see cover crops before every acre of soybeans. 50% adoption each year is, I think, a totally reasonable target," she said. The grants are expected to help grow cover crops over a half a million acres this year. There are other federal and state funding programs for cover crops, but experts say demand usually outpaces available funding.
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Nationwide Suicide Hotline Number Set to Launch
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KNS) - A new, three-digit, suicide hotline number is launching to help people who are in a mental health crisis. That new number is 9-8-8. Governor Laura Kelly recently signed a new bill into law that provides funding for local resources connected to the national hotline. The law sets aside $10 million a year for that purpose. When dialing 9-8-8, Kansans suffering a mental health emergency will be connected to health professionals in the area and crisis teams that may be able to help. After signing the bipartisan bill into law, Kelly said the hotline will help save lives. The 9-8-8 line will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Centers network.
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Lawsuit over Kansas City Police Control Allowed to Proceed
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A judge has declined to dismiss a lawsuit challenging state control of the Kansas City police department. Civil rights leaders claim in a lawsuit filed against the Kansas City Police Board of Commissioners that state control of the local police department is discriminatory and prevents Kansas City residents from having a say in how millions of tax dollars are spent in their city. A Jackson County judge ruled last week that the lawsuit could proceed. The lawsuit is the latest step in a long fight between state lawmakers and Kansas City over control of the Kansas City police department.
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Álvarez's HR Boosts Houston Astros to 7-4 Win over Kansas City Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yordan Álvarez hit his 16th home run of the season and Framber Valdez won his fifth straight start for the Houston Astros, who beat the Kansas City Royals 7-4. Álvarez extended his hitting streak to seven games. Valdez allowed only a third-inning leadoff single before the Royals got on the board in the sixth. Valdez went six innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out five. Rafael Montero got his fourth save. Salvador Perez had a home run and RBI double for the Royals. Jonathan Heasley was given the loss for the Royals. The Royals begin a three-game series Monday night against the Toronto Bluejays at Kauffman Stadium.
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U.S. to Open World Cup vs Wales, Held to 0-0 Draw by Uruguay
KANSAS CITY, Kan, (AP) — Jesús Ferreira failed to convert a pair of first-half chances as U.S. forwards kept up their goal-scoring struggles and the Americans played a 0-0 draw against Uruguay in their second of four World Cup warmup matches this month. The U.S. took the field three hours after learning Wales would be its opening World Cup opponent in November and the Americans stretched their home unbeaten streak to 25 matches since a September 2019 loss to Mexico. That's one shy of the team record set from 2013-15. American forwards have one goal in the team's last 13 matches.
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These area headlines are curated by KPR news staffers, including J. Schafer, Laura Lorson, Kaye McIntyre, and Tom Parkinson. Our headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays, 11 am weekends. This news summary is made possible by KPR listener-members. Become one today.