Kansans, Missourians Warned of Salmonella Outbreak
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indianapolis-based company has issued a recall for melon products sold in 16 states after being linked to a salmonella outbreak. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday that the recall includes cut watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe produced by Caito Foods LLC. The fruit has been sold under various brands or labels at Kroger, Walmart, Trader Joe's, Target and Whole Foods. The affected states are Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Health officials advise consumers to check packaging to determine if the melon was distributed by Caito Foods, and, if so, not to eat it. They advise stores to pull the products from shelves. Authorities say 93 people have been sickened, 23 of whom were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Salmonella Carrau is described as rare. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.
===============
Former FBI Agents Hired to Compile List of Credibly-Accused Priests
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — An investigative and consulting company operated by three former FBI agents has been hired by the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph to compile a list of priests who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. The Kansas City Star reports that St. Louis-based Fidelity Consultants will review diocesan files and write a report that includes the names of priests who have served in the diocese and been credibly accused. More than half the dioceses across the country and some religious orders have recently released lists of priests with substantiated abuse allegations. The church has come under renewed scrutiny since August, when a Pennsylvania grand jury released a report finding that church leaders had covered up sexual abuse by hundreds of priests over seven decades.
===============
Topeka Man Convicted of Second Degree Murder in July Shooting
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Shawnee County jury has convicted a man of second-degree murder in the July shooting death of a Topeka man. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 33-year-old Tony Lee Foster was convicted Friday of second-degree murder and a weapons count in the July 9th fatal shooting of 36-year-old David Payne. Officers responding to report of a shooting at a home in the northern part of the city found Payne with a gunshot wound to his torso. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later died. Foster will be sentenced at a later date.
===============
Missouri Man Arrested in Wichita Fatal Shooting
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Wichita say a 21-year-old man has been killed and another man has been arrested in his death. Police say officers were called to a home around 8:30 a.m. Friday for a report of a shooting and found 21-year-old Justin Lane, of Grain Valley, Missouri, dead with a single gunshot wound to the head. Detectives say an initial investigation revealed that Lane and an acquaintance, 22-year-old Brandon Craig, of Independence, Missouri, were visiting a friend at the home when a fight between the two broke out. Police say Craig fired one shot from a handgun, hitting Lane. Craig was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder.
===============
Judge Orders Australian Firm to Repay Lawrence, Douglas County
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — An Australian animal health company that abandoned its Kansas offices has been ordered to repay some incentives it received from the city of Lawrence and Douglas County. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that a Douglas County judge recently ruled that Integrated Animal Health breached its incentives contract with the local governments and must pay back more than $33,300. But Lawrence officials say it's unlikely they'll recoup the money because the company appears to be defunct. Integrated Animal Health moved its global headquarters to Lawrence in 2015. The city and county had approved incentives for the company, such as subsidized rent and a $100,000 forgivable loan. The company is believed to have abandoned its Kansas lab and offices in 2017. The court has been unable to contact the company.
===============
Wichita Man who Fled to Oklahoma During Trial Sentenced to 71 Years
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 31-year-old Wichita gang member who fled to Oklahoma during a trial in 2018 has been sentenced to 71 years in prison. Tremain Shears was sentenced Friday for nine felonies, including attempted first-degree murder. District Attorney Marc Bennett said in a news release that Shears shot at Marcqual Hightower three times in 2016. Hightower was wounded three times but survived. A motive was not disclosed in court. While Shears was on trial, he had his GPS monitoring bracelet removed and fled to Oklahoma. The jury found him guilty the day after he fled. Shears was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Oklahoma City a few days after he fled.
===============
Former KC Chief Walter White Dies
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs say former tight end Walter White has died. White was 67. The team said White's family said he died Wednesday of complications from pancreatic cancer. He played his entire five-season pro career with the Chiefs, retiring after the 1979 season. In his second season, White finished among the top 10 in the NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns. White also played at Mesa Junior College in Colorado and at Maryland. In 1989, White became a founding member of the Kansas City Ambassadors, former players and team executives who represent the Chiefs in outreach and charity events. White was the group's inaugural president. White was employed at Commerce Bank in Kansas City for 22 years and most recently served as vice president of the bank's investment group.
