Asian American Kansas Lawmaker Says He Was Threatened at Bar
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The only Asian American lawmaker serving in the Kansas Legislature says he was physically threatened in a Russell, Kansas bar by an out-of-state patron, who he said questioned if he had been carrying COVID-19. State Representative Rui Xu, a Westwood Democrat, said the man also, using an expletive, questioned why he was wearing a face mask. Many members of the Asian American community see the shootings at three Georgia massage parlors and spas that left eight people dead, six of them women of Asian descent, as a reminder of harassment and violence that have been occurring against Asian Americans since COVID-19 entered the country.
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Plan Approved for Clearing COVID-19 Backlog in Kansas Courts
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators have approved a measure that would give judges and prosecutors a little more than two years to clear a backlog of criminal cases that built up during the coronavirus pandemic. The Kansas House voted 114-7 to pass a bill that would suspend until May 1, 2023, legal deadlines for criminal cases meant to protect defendants’ constitutional right to speedy trials. The bill goes next to Governor Laura Kelly because the state Senate approved it last week. The Kansas House vote came just before the state health department reported that more than 1 million COVID-19 vaccine shots have been administered within the state.
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Still Unclear If Medical Proof Necessary for COVID-19 Shots
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas residents ages 16 to 64 with certain underlying health conditions are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations starting today (MON), but it's still unclear if they need to show proof of their medical condition. The Kansas City Star reported that as of late Friday, the state was "in the process of developing further guidance." Some counties have already decided their approach. Health officials in Johnson and Wyandotte counties said they will not require documentation of health risks but will require proof of residency.
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Scientists Optimistic About Herd Immunity
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - One in five Kansans has gotten at least one dose of COVID vaccine. More than half a million Kansans have gotten a shot of COVID vaccine. Some scientists think herd immunity could be reached once enough people have gotten shots. Though estimates vary on where that threshold might lie. Many scientists think COVID will stick around -- like common cold and flu viruses -- and become less dangerous over time. If the virus keeps circulating, vaccines -- and possibly booster shots -- will help adults avoid serious cases. And children may grow up less susceptible to the illness because of exposure early in their lives.
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Kansas COVID-19 Case Count Tops 300,000 Since Start of Pandemic
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR/AP) - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reported Monday that there have been 300,125 cases of COVID-19 in the state, including 4,850 deaths since the start of the pandemic. That's an increase of 615 cases and eight deaths since Friday. Johnson County continues to report the highest number of cases in the state, with more than 55,600. Another update will be released Wednesday.
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Merger Will Result in Moving Railway's U.S. Headquarters to Kansas City
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Canadian Pacific Railway's acquisition of Kansas City Southern means Minneapolis will no longer be the company's U.S. headquarters, but what impact that will have on its employees in the Twin Cities is still unknown. The $25 billion deal in cash and stock was announced Sunday. It creates the first rail network linking the United States, Mexico and Canada. Railway officials say Kansas City, Missouri will be designated as the new U.S. headquarters for Canadian Pacific Kansas City, or CPKC. The combined company would operate about 20,000 miles of railway, employ 20,000 people and generate annual revenue of about $8.7 billion.
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Racial Justice Panel's Bills Stalling in Kansas Legislature
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Legislature has so far not acted on proposals from a racial justice and equity commission established by Democratic Governor Laura Kelly. The Commission on Racial Justice and Equity was established last year. It's released more than 30 recommendations to state lawmakers regarding policing practices, including proposals to ban no-knock warrants in drug cases. Lawmakers say they've prioritized other issues this session. Commission co-chairwoman Shannon Portillo said the group's work is really for the "long haul" and the commission looks forward to continuing to work with lawmakers in future sessions.
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Emporia Man Charged with Murder After Crash While Fleeing
EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — A 23-year-old Emporia man is charged with first-degree murder after a fatal crash that happened as the suspect was fleeing from police. During his first court appearance Monday, Devawn Mitchell declined a court-appointed attorney. He faces more than 25 charges resulting from the incident in Emporia on Thursday, Police say a pursuit began after Mitchell swerved in the direction of a patrol car, forcing the officer to evade a collision. Police say they tracked Mitchell in Emporia but called off two pursuits because of he was speeding and running stop lights. Police say Mitchell eventually hit a pickup truck, killing 64-year-old Steven Henry. Mitchell is being held on $1 million bond.
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Officials: 3 Injured in Kansas City, Kansas, Apartment Fire
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Officials say three people — including a firefighter — were injured in a two-alarm fire that destroyed an apartment building in Kansas City, Kansas. The fire broke out Sunday morning in a two-story home that had been converted into four apartments on North 14th Street. When firefighters arrived, flames were visible coming from the home, and two people jumped from the second story to escape the fire. Both were taken to a hospital with minor burns and are expected to recover. Officials say a firefighter was injured when a porch collapsed. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of a broken foot. Officials are investigating to determine the cause of the fire.
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Person Fatally Struck by Train in Sumner County
BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) - One person is dead after being struck by a train in Sumner County. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck around 6:30 pm Saurday in the town of Belle Plaine. The victim's name has not been released. Police have not disclosed why the person was on the railroad track.
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Bicyclist Fatally Struck by Car in Independence, Missouri
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) - A bicyclist has died after being struck by a car in Independence. The Kansas City Star reports that the accident happened Saturday morning on Missouri 78. Police say an eastbound Ford Mustang struck the bicyclist, who was heading south across the roadway. The bicyclist died at the scene. The driver of the Mustang was not hurt. Authorities have not said what caused the accident.
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Car of Woman Pronounced Dead After Wichita EMS Call Found
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police have found the car of a woman whose death is believed to be a homicide. Police spokesman Charley Davidson said Saturday afternoon that a 911 call from a citizen led officers to the 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis that belonged to 38-year-old Natasha Arvidson. The Wichita Eagle reports that It had at least one window on the driver's side broken out. The discovery came one day after EMS crews went to a home and found Arvidson injured. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police consider her death to be criminal and had asked for the community's help finding her vehicle.
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Kansas City, Kansas, Police Investigate Shooting Death
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police in Kansas City, Kansas say a man was fatally shot outside a business, and detectives are searching for clues in the case. Police say the shooting happened around 7:30 pm Sunday, when officers were called to 47th Street and Parallel Parkway. Arriving officers found a man in his late 50s who had been shot. The man was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Police have not released the man's name and have not said whether they have any leads on a suspect.
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Police ID Motorcyclist, Passenger Killed in Crash with Truck
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Topeka have identified a motorcyclist and his passenger killed when their bike collided with a truck this weekend. Police say the accident happened shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday on Highway 24 at Meriden Road, killing 46-year-old Anthony Vardys and 47-year-old Tamara Vardys, both of Topeka. The driver was taken to a hospital and later died, while the passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. The two people in the truck were not hurt. The investigation into how the crash occurred is continuing.
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Christian School Teacher Accused of Relationship with Minor
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 41-year-old teacher at a private Christian school is accused of having a sexual relationship with a minor student. Police arrested Matthew McFarren, a high school teacher at Trinity Academy in Wichita, on Saturday. Wichita police spokesman Charley Davidson said in a news release that detectives began investigating after receiving a tip that McFarren was having a relationship with a 16-year-old student. Police say Trinity Academy officials are cooperating with the investigation. The school has students in K-12. References to McFarren are no longer on the school's website. Investigators turned the case over to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
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Reduced Threat of Major Flooding This Year
UNDATED (HPM) - Hydrologists predict an average flood risk in much of the Missouri River Basin this spring. Harvest Public Media reports that dry conditions across the basin are playing a big role in reducing the risk of flooding. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is not predicting major flooding across the country for the first time in three years. That’s good news, but there’s bad news: prolonged and widespread drought. Much of the Missouri River Basin is experiencing moderate to severe drought, and even has some pockets of extreme drought. Brian Fuchs is a climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center. He says soils in the basin are dry and have a lot of room to take in water from rain and melting snow, which lowers the flood risk. "Think of them as a big sponge, that when they are dry and there's room in that profile for moisture to get in, any type of rain that hits them is going to get soaked in." Fuchs expects the drought to persist in the High Plains through June.
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University of Kansas to Stop Requiring Entrance Exams
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - No more ACTs and SATs at the University of Kansas. KU is doing away with the requirement that incoming freshmen take a standardized test -- such as the ACT or SAT -- in order to be admitted. The new standards approved last week by the Kansas Board of Regents are scheduled to be in place for the freshman class that begins in the spring 2022 semester. The change allows any student with a 3.25 high school GPA to be admitted without taking the ACT or SAT. Under the old rules, freshmen had been required to take either the ACT or SAT, or else seek relief from a special review panel that could waive the requirement.
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Topeka Mayor Won't Seek Reelection
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Topeka's mayor says she still plans to serve the community, but it won't be by serving another term as mayor. Michelle De La Isla won't seek reelection. She made the announcement Friday, saying she's exploring options, but politics isn't on the list. De La Isla says she began thinking about not running during the coronavirus pandemic. She serves on Shawnee County's COVID-19 Incident Command team and says the workload, combined with her work as mayor, is difficult to balance.
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Counterfeit Purses, Other Items Headed to Wichita Home Seized at Chicago Airport
CHICAGO (AP) — A package containing 445 counterfeit designer purses and other items has been seized at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport mail branch. Customs and Border Protection says Friday that the shipment from Thailand was intercepted Thursday by officers. Authorities said the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the actual items would have topped $635,000. The bogus products were seized for violating trademark laws. They were being shipped to a home in Wichita. Items included 11 Louis Vuitton, 11 Gucci, eight Chanel and four Christian Dior handbags; 131 pairs of Chanel and 72 pairs of Gucci earrings; and 52 Chanel hairclips.
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Kansas Jayhawks Face USC in 2nd Round of NCAA Tourney
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (KPR) - The Kansas Jayhawks advanced in the NCAA men's basketball tournament over the weekend. Tonight (MON), the Hawks will face the Trojans of USC. Tipoff is set for 8:40 pm. After the team paused for COVID-related reasons during the Big 12 tournament, the Jayhawks got the bonus coach Bill Self was looking for in the first round when forward David McCormack rejoined the team. He came off the bench and led the team in scoring. "I was just trying to play with a high motor and high energy. Doing whatever I could," he said. Another starter, Jalen Wilson, missed Saturday’s game because of COVID protocols, but may see some action in the game against USC.
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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.