Police Identify Victim Killed by Road Rage Punch
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Topeka have identified a driver who died days after being punched in a road rage incident by another driver. Police said Saturday in a news release that 55-year-old Charles McPeek died on Friday, a week after police say the violent confrontation happened on December 20th. Police say the incident began when McPeek and the driver of an SUV pulled over in north Topeka. Police say the SUV driver punched McPeek and fled the scene, leaving McPeek unconscious on the side of the road. McPeek was later taken to a hospital with critical injuries.
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Family: Kansas Girl Dies of Flu While Vacationing in Nebraska
HIAWATHA, Kan. (AP) — The family of a 9-year-old Kansas girl say she has died after contracting the flu. Topeka television station KSNT reports that the family of Leighya Marie DeLong, of Hiawatha, confirmed the girl died on December 22nd in Lincoln, Nebraska, while she was visiting family there for the Christmas holiday. The girl's family say she was diagnosed with the flu at a Lincoln hospital on December 21st, released, then saw her condition worsen the next day. Hiawatha School District Superintendent Lonnie Moser says counselors will be available to students and staff to help cope with the loss of the Hiawatha Elementary School fourth-grader.
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Clay Center Plant to Issue Pork Recall
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health officials say a voluntary recall of several pork products produced in Clay Center will be issued on Monday because of possible listeria contamination. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said in a news release Saturday that Clay Center Locker Plant will issue the recall for any ready-to-eat product including smoked pork loins, ham hocks and smoked ham from the plant produced on November 21st. The department is urging the public not to consume any of the products, including those bought at the retail counter in the plant and hams that were delivered to the Future Farmers of America Clay Center and Chapman chapters.
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Kansas' Moran to Lead Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran is preparing to take over as chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee in January. The Kansas City Star reports that the Republican's top issues will be suicide prevention and ensuring veterans get the care they deserve when suffering from cancer and other illnesses tied to toxic exposure. He says he will be leaning on veterans to help him set the committee's agenda. He's served on the committee since joining the Senate in 2011 and says most of the veterans legislation he's pursued has originated with Kansas veterans. He will replace retired Georgia GOP Senator Johnny Isakson.
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KC Police Offer Reward in Homicide Case
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police are offering a $25,000 reward for information about the death of a woman whose body was found near Interstate 435 last week. Police say they are investigating the death of 28-year-old Renita Thompson as a homicide. Thompson's body was found December 21st by family members who had reported her missing days earlier. Police have not said how she died, but confirmed Friday that her death was a homicide.
