Kansas Orders Less Than 1% of its COVID Vaccine Allocation
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas ordered less than 1% of its vaccine allocation from the federal government for this week. The state health department's disclosure yesterday (FRI) came as its data showed that Kansas still had nearly 593,000 unused doses. The state health department said that this week it ordered only 1,020 or 0.7% of its federal allocation of 147,660 vaccine doses. Its data showed that an average of 4,348 vaccine shots a day were administered during the seven days ending Friday to make it the lowest seven-day average since January 21st. The department said 42.5% of the state’s 2.9 million residents had received at least one vaccine shot as of Friday.
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Universities Asked for List of Critical Race Theory Classes
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents is asking the state's six public universities to provide a list of classes that include Critical Race Theory teachings. The regents asked for the list after a request from Senator Brenda Dietrich, a Republican from Topeka. Dietrich said she sought the information so she could better answer questions from her constituents. She said she did not intend to create any chilling effect in university classrooms. Critical Race Theory discusses how historical inequities and racism still shape public policy and social conditions. Critics say it promotes a distorted view of American history and vilifies white Americans.
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Missouri Lawmakers Asks Governor to Pardon KC Inmate
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Republican House member says he and some other lawmakers plan to ask Missouri Governor Mike Parson to pardon a Kansas City man who has spent more than 40 years in prison for a triple murder that prosecutors now say he didn’t commit. State Representative Andrew McDaniel, who leads the Missouri House committee that oversees the state's prison system, said he plans to send a letter to Parson seeking a pardon for Kevin Strickland. McDaniel says three other Republican and five Democratic lawmakers plan to sign the letter. Strickland has been in prison since being convicted of a triple murder in 1978.
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Body of Soldier Recovered from Riley County Lake
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a search team has pulled the body of a man from a lake in northeastern Kansas after nearly 10 hours of searching. The Riley County Police Department says in the man's body was found late Wednesday in Tuttle Creek Lake. Authorities were called to the lake Wednesday afternoon after someone found a vehicle and clothes near the shoreline. The man was identified yesterday (FRI) as 24-year-old Okheem Riley. Fort Riley officials say Riley was a First Lieutenant from the 1st Sustainment Brigade and had served at the Fort since 2018. Foul play is not suspected in this death.
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Lawrence Shelter Director Placed on Leave During Investigation
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - The Lawrence Community Shelter is under investigation among allegations of a hostile environment for staff and guests. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that about 30 employees of the shelter have quit, been fired, or otherwise left their jobs in 2020 and 2021, with some voicing concerns about a toxic and hostile environment. Executive Director Renee Kuhl has been placed on paid adminstrative leave during the investigation, which is expected to take about two weeks.
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Kansas Panel Recommends Disbarring Prosecuting Attorney
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - A disciplinary panel is calling for a Kansas prosecutor to be disbarred. The Kansas City Star reports that the panel released their 78-page report on attorney Jacqie Spradling, saying that she carried out a deliberate pattern of misconduct which led to the reversal of two high-profile cases, including the 2012 double homicide conviction of Dana Chandler in Shawnee County. The Kansas Supreme Court will make a final decision on disbarring Spradling.
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KCK Teen Injured in Memorial Day Crash Dies
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police in Kansas City, Kansas, said a teenage girl who was among six people injured in a two-car Memorial Day crash has died of her injuries. Police say 16-year-old Chelsey Updike, of Kansas City, Kansas, died Wednesday at an area hospital from the injuries she sustained. Two adults injured in the crash remained hospitalized four days later, but are expected to recover. Police say the crash happened around 4 a.m. Monday, when a speeding car carrying four teens collided with an oncoming vehicle. The car with the teens then hit a utility pole. Police say five of the six victims were thrown from their cars. One person had to be cut out of a wrecked vehicle.
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Salina Police Identify Woman Found Dead in Park
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — Salina police have identified a woman who was found dead in a park as 43-year-old Kristie Fisher. News reports said police have not said how Fisher died and are still gathering information about her death. Police responding to a report early Tuesday morning found Fisher lying face down near the south entrance of Lakewood Park. She was declared dead at the scene.
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Parolee Arrested in Topeka Woman's Shooting
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a 31-year-old man on parole in connection with the fatal weekend shooting of a woman at a Topeka mobile home park. Local news organizations reported that federal marshals took Kajun Brock into custody Wednesday night in Topeka. Police had described him as a person of interest in the death of 32-year-old Shakeita Young. Brock was being held Thursday in the Shawnee County jail and its online records showed that his bond was $1 million. State records showed that Brock served time in prison on charges including robbery and assaulting a law enforcement officer before being paroled in May 2020.
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Man Killed in Lyons House Explosion is Identified
LYONS, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in Rice County have identified the man killed in a house explosion last month in the town of Lyons. The victim on Thursday was identified as 65-year-old Terry Sawyers. Firefighters responded to the home on May 27th. The fire chief says Sawyers was found dead in the home where he had lived for 10 to 12 years. The cause of the explosion has not been determined, but Lyons Police Sgt. Cory Ryan says there was no crime. Results of an autopsy of Sawyers are expected in July.
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Wichita Police say Man Killed when Riding Mower Overturned
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man is dead after he became pinned under water by an overturned riding lawn mower. Authorities say 42-year-old Juan Salazar died after the accident Wednesday afternoon on the city’s east side. Salazar was mowing residential property when the mower slid into a lake and pinned him. Witnesses told police that Salazar was submerged for about 10 minutes before first responders found him. Medics pulled him from the water and performed CPR, but could not revive him. Police said Salazar worked for a lawn service.
