Man Convicted in Shooting that Killed Washburn Football Player
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A jury has convicted a man of killing a Washburn University football player and wounding another man who went on to play in the NFL. 21-year-old Francisco “Franky” Mendez was found guilty Friday of first-degree murder in the April 2019 shooting death of Dwane Simmons. Mendez was also convicted on four counts of attempted murder for shooting at four other Washburn players. One of them, Corey Ballentine, had been drafted hours before the shooting by the New York Giants. He was shot but recovered and currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons. The three other players were not injured.
==========
KU Beats Providence 66-61, Advances to Elite Eight
CHICAGO (AP) — The Kansas Jayhawks remain the only Number 1 seed left in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, beating Providence 66-61 to reach the Elite Eight. The Jayhawks made it farther than fellow Number-1 seeds Gonzaga, Arizona and Baylor. They will face Miami in the Midwest Region final on Sunday. With the win over Providence, KU now holds the record for most all-time wins in NCAA Division One men's basketball history.
==========
Russian Officials Charged in Energy Sector Hacks
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department says four Russian government officials have been charged in hacks that targeted critical global infrastructure including the U.S. energy and aviation sectors between 2012 and 2018. Officials said Thursday Wolf Creek nuclear power plant’s business network was compromised. Though the intrusions date back years, the indictments come as the FBI has raised fresh alarms about Russian hackers scanning the networks of energy firms in the U.S. for vulnerabilities that could be exploited amid Russia’s war against Ukraine. The four indicted Russians include an employee at a Russian Ministry of Defense research institute and three officials with Russia’s Federal Security Service, which conducts domestic intelligence and counterintelligence.
==========
KCK Lawmaker Agrees to Counseling to Avoid Battery Charge
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 21-year-old Kansas legislator has agreed to undergo mental health counseling and a domestic violence assessment to avoid being prosecuted on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. The charge against freshman Democratic Representative Aaron Coleman stemmed from a fight in October with his younger brother. Coleman also agreed to submit to drug or alcohol testing if asked. Coleman signed the diversion agreement with the Johnson County district attorney’s office last week, and it was filed in district court Monday. In a separate case over a November traffic stop in Douglas County, records say Coleman pleaded no contest last month to a traffic charge.
==========
Missouri Radio Station Broadcasts Russian State Programming
LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A radio station based in suburban Kansas City is facing criticism for airing Russian state-sponsored programming during the Ukrainian war. Peter Schartel owns KCXL in Liberty, Missouri, a small station run on a shoestring budget. He began airing programming from Radio Sputnik, which is run by the Russian government, in January 2020. Criticism has increased since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Schartel says the $5,000 a month he gets paid by the Russian organization also helps keep his small station afloat. He also says he wants to provide alternative programming with different viewpoints as way to support free speech. Critics say he's promoting propaganda and misinformation.