Legislature Considers Bill to Restrict Transmission Lines
TOPEKA, Kan. (The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle) — The Kansas Legislature is considering a proposal that would require utilities to undergo a rigorous permitting process before they install transmission lines in urban areas, including allowing communities to comment on the plans. In 2018, Evergy replaced older, wooden poles with metal poles that were taller and wider in some Wichita neighborhoods. The project occurred with little public notice in predominantly low-income and black communities, and prompted a wealth of complaints. The bill requires utilities to undergo a permitting process for transmission lines in urban areas that includes a public hearing. The House approved the legislation last week and it now goes to the Senate.
====================
Report Says Virus Outbreak Making Mark on Midwest Economy
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Worries about a new virus that's infected tens of thousands of people globally are making a mark on the economy of a nine-state region in the Midwest and Plains. A new survey report says the Mid-American Business Conditions Index sank in February to 52.8 from 57.2 in January. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the softer reading and the economic harm from the virus should concern policymakers. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
====================
5 Killed in Wrong-Way Collision on I-70, West of Topeka
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Highway Patrol says five people died and one person was injured when two vehicles collided on Interstate 70 west of Topeka. The State Patrol says the crash happened around 6:30 am Sunday when a Ford F-150 pickup drove east in the westbound lanes and collided with a van near Maple Hill. The crash happened about 25 miles west of Topeka. The driver of the truck and four people in the van died at the scene. One other person in the van was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The names of the crash victims were not immediately released.
====================
Woman Rescued, Man Dies in Attempt to Pull Truck from Brink
HOLTON, Kan. (AP) — Officials in northeastern Kansas say an attempt to pull a truck found dangling over a culvert ended with the vehicle flipping over and landing upside down in a full ditch, killing a man inside. Station KSNT reports that the incident happened Friday night on state Highway 116 about four miles east of Holton. Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says a passerby who came upon the stranded truck tried to get it back on the road when it flipped over into the ditch. A woman in the truck was pulled to safety, but Morse says the man in the truck could not be saved. His name has not yet been released.
====================
Police Arrest Man in Deadly Weekend Kansas City Shooting
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kansas, man has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting in a popular Kansas City entertainment district that killed one person and injured four others. Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said 25-year-old Devon L. Carter has been charged with armed criminal action in connection with the shooting that happened around 1:30 am Saturday. Prosecutors said the shooting appeared to be related to an earlier altercation that took place inside a Westport nightclub. Police said a gunman fired shots from a white sport utility vehicle traveling in the Westport district in midtown Kansas City, Missouri.
====================
Police: Man Shot to Death in Domestic Dispute in Topeka
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Topeka say a domestic dispute led to the shooting death of a 51-year-old man. Police say the shooting happened shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday. Officers called to the area found a man dead and later identified the victim as Kelly Parker Sr. Police arrested 47-year-old Raishawn Smith-Parker on suspicion of second-degree murder. Police did not release details on what led to the shooting. Parker's death is the city's third homicide this year.
====================
Man Dies in Western Kansas Crash While Escorting WW II Veteran's Body
GOVE COUNTY, Kansas (AP) — A motorcycle rider who was escorting the body of a World War II veteran died after he lost control of his motorcycle in western Kansas, and a second deadly crash happened minutes later when a car crashed into a firetruck responding to the first crash. The Kansas Highway Patrol said the motorcycle crash happened on Interstate 70 in Gove County shortly after 7 pm Saturday. The second crash happened a few minutes later. The motorcycle driver was identified as 65-year-old Lennie Riedel of Colby. The car's driver was 81-year-old Cal Silvrants of Fredericksburg, Virginia.
====================
Report: Kansas Female Prison Population Growing Faster than State's Male Prison Population
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A report from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights says the number of women in prison in Kansas is growing far faster than the number of men, outpacing national trends. Kansas News Service reports that from 2000 to 2019, the women's prison population in Kansas rose by 60% while the men's rose by 14%. The report doesn't say why Kansas' female prison population grew so much, but policy changes intended to reduce the number of inmates likely had different effects on men and women. Topeka Correctional Facility Warden Gloria Geither says the prison is trying to manage overcrowding and improve inmates' lives.
====================
Suicide Rates Increasing, Mainly in Rural Parts of Kansas
GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) — The number of suicides in Kansas has increased by more than half in recent years, particularly in the northwest rural areas of the state. Kansas News Service reports that mental health professionals say the geographical isolation, low population and struggling economy in rural parts of Kansas are challenges increasing suicide risk. Kansas overall had 555 suicides in 2018 — the highest rate in 20 years. A commissioner of behavioral health services says suicide risk is highest when people feel like they are a burden on others, feel outcast or isolated from others and have ready access to lethal means.
====================
Man Who Died in Kansas City Police Chase Was Murder Suspect
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police say a man who died during a police chase last week was a murder suspect. The man, 22-year-old Twashon Wilkins, died Thursday when a vehicle he was driving hit a power pole at a high rate of speed. The car continued through a fence and hit an apartment building. Police said Monday that Wilkins was a suspect in the Feb. 23 death of Antonio Smith in Kansas City. The chase began when police tried to arrest Wilkins on a felony warrant. He rammed a police vehicle and fled the scene. A passenger in his car was seriously injured.
====================
Leavenworth Woman Sentenced for Death of Infant Son
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A 32-year-old Leavenworth woman was sentenced to three years in prison for the death of her infant son. Catherine Smith was sentenced Friday for involuntary manslaughter and other charges in the November 2018 death of her son at their home. The boy was found unresponsive and died after unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate him. The Leavenworth Times reports a coroner said the child probably died of hyperthermia, an abnormally high temperature. Law enforcement officer said the boy was found in an upstairs room where the temperature was close to 100 degrees. His temperature at the hospital was 105 degrees.
====================
3 Kansas State Football Players Arrested in Separate Events
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Three Kansas State University football players were arrested over the weekend, including a talented freshman on an outstanding warrant and two others on suspicion of impaired driving. Redshirt freshman running back Jacardia Wright was arrested early Sunday near the university on an outstanding warrant for failing to show proof of insurance. A Riley County police spokeswoman says Wright was freed on bond. Freshman linebacker DeMarrquese Hayes and redshirt sophomore linebacker Nick Allen were arrested in separate incidents Saturday night on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Police say both were freed on bond.
====================
Panel Seeks Censure, Coaching for Foul-Mouthed Kansas Judge
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judicial disciplinary panel has recommended that a foul-mouthed Kansas judge should be publicly censured and receive professional coaching, but not kicked off the bench. The Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct unanimously concluded Friday that Montgomery County Judge F. William Cullins violated central judicial canons of independence, integrity and impartiality. Its recommendations will be sent to the Kansas Supreme Court, which will ultimately decide his fate. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the decision.
====================
Corps Decreasing Water Flowing into Lower Missouri River
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The amount of water being released into the Missouri River from Gavins Point Dam will be decreased somewhat this week, so the river levels won't interfere with ongoing levee repairs downstream. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Monday that the amount of water flowing out of Gavins Point on the Nebraska-South Dakota border will be reduced to 35,000 cubic feet (991.09 cubic meters) per second. That's down from the current 38,000 cubic feet (1076.04 cubic meters) per second. Even at the new level, the releases from Gavins Point dam will remain more than double what is typical for this time of year.
====================
Medical Marijuana Licensing Generates Hundreds of Appeals
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — More than 800 appeals have been filed by companies that were denied state permits to grow, sell or distribute medical marijuana in Missouri. As part of the process to launch Missouri's new medical marijuana program, the state received 2,266 marijuana business applications filed by at least 700 different groups. It awarded 60 licenses to grow marijuana, 86 to make marijuana-infused products and 192 to open dispensaries. The state's Administrative Hearing Commission had received 845 appeals of those denials by Friday. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has hired three outside lawyers to help the state's legal team review all the appeals.
====================
KU Unanimous No. 1 in Top 25; Baylor Down 2 Spots to 4th
UNDATED (AP) — Kansas is the unanimous No. 1 in a week of upheaval in the AP Top 25. The Jayhawks received all 64 first-place votes from the media panel in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll. Gonzaga was No. 2, with Dayton, Baylor and San Diego State rounding out the top five. The Aztecs, No. 9 Maryland and No. 18 Iowa were the only teams to hold their place after a week in which nine Top 25 teams lost to unranked opponents. Dayton has its highest ranking since reaching No. 2 in 1955-56 after stretching its winning streak to 18 games. Virginia, Illinois and Wisconsin moved into the poll. West Virginia, Colorado and Texas Tech fell out.
====================
KPR's daily headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays and updated throughout the day. KPR's weekend summary is usually published by 1 pm Saturdays and Sundays.
