Kansas School Districts Review Safety Procedures in Wake of Texas School Shooting
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW/KNS) - Some Kansas school districts are reviewing their safety procedures following a deadly shooting at a Texas school that killed 19 students and two teachers. Terri Moses is director of safety for the state’s largest school district in Wichita. She says mass shootings anywhere prompt somber discussions about violence prevention and safety protocols here at home. “Even today, it’s the last day of school. It should be an upbeat, ‘Hey, we’ve successfully completed another school year,’ and it’s difficult to have these conversations with kids and even staff," she said. Following the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, Wichita schools implemented several new safety measures. Most buildings have buzz-in entrances, and playgrounds are fenced and locked. Students and teachers also practice lockdown drills. Moses says limiting entrances can be tricky because of fires and other potential emergencies.
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Kansas City Police Seek Driver in Pedestrian Fatality Following Car Chase
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police are searching for a driver they say fatally hit a pedestrian on a Kansas City road following a police chase of a stolen pickup truck. Police say the chase began Wednesday afternoon when officers spotted the pickup and tried to pull it over. The truck fled, ramming a patrol car in the process. Police say the officers called off the chase as the truck entered the northbound lanes of Interstate 435 traveling southbound. Less that a minute later, police found the body a man in the road and the truck a short distance away. A woman who was a passenger in the truck was arrested. The driver of the truck fled on foot and has not been found.
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One Person Dies After Standoff with Wichita SWAT Team
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say a man died after exchanging gunfire with a SWAT team during a nearly nine-hour standoff. Wichita Officer Chad Ditch said officers were called to a home in west Wichita early Wednesday after reports of a shooting. They found a woman and a child in the front yard. Ditch says the officers saw a man run into the home with a gun in his hand. A short time later, some people inside the house left the residence. After about nine hours, SWAT members went into the home. Ditch said the suspects exchanged gunfire with the officers and was shot to death. Ditch said the 39-year-old suspect was wanted on an aggravated kidnapping warrant.
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Kansas Wildlife Officials: Beware of Snakes, Especially in State Parks
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KAKE) - Watch your step! Parks officials in Kansas are warning residents about snakes becoming more active in the wake of recent weather. KAKE TV reports about a warning on the Facebook page for the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department: "With heavy rains and warmer weather, snakes (including copperheads) become more active in many of our parks, their natural habitat, as they venture out and explore." Officials said the increased activity can lead to more encounters with people and pets. "If you see a copperhead or other snake, leave it alone – do not attempt to capture, harm or approach it," the department said. "All park wildlife is protected by state law."
Check out the snakes of Kansas.
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WHO: COVID-19 Cases Mostly Drop, Except for the Americas
LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization says the number of new coronavirus cases and deaths are still falling globally after peaking in January. In its latest weekly assessment, the U.N. health agency said there were more than 3.7 million new infections and 9,000 deaths in the last week, drops of 3% and 11% respectively. New COVID-19 cases rose in only two regions of the world: the Americas and the Western Pacific. COVID-19 deaths increased by 30% in the Middle East, but were stable or decreased everywhere else. China, meanwhile, is vowing to stick to a "zero-COVID" policy despite the fact that the WHO describes the policy as "unsustainable," given the infectious nature of omicron and its subvariants.
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Wichita Woman Admits Defrauding Employer of $3.1 Million
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ Federal prosecutors say a 77-year-old Wichita woman has admitted to embezzling about $3.1 million from her employer. The U.S. Attorney's office in Kansas said in a news release Thursday that Nancy Martin pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax document. Martin was bookkeeper, business manager, and chief operating officer of Mid-Kansas Wound Specialists and Emergency Services. An audit found she fraudulently obtained about $3.1 from her employers' banks and used the money for personal expenses, travel and investments. She also admitted filing false tax returns from 2013 to 2016. She is scheduled to be sentenced August 17.
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Who Will Let the Dogs Out? Lawrence Humane Society Lowers Fees for Adoptions
LAWRENCE, Kan. (The Lawrence Times) – The Lawrence Humane Society has too many dogs, and is seeking help from the public. The Lawrence Times reports that the humane society is above its capacity for dogs and has lowered its dog adoption fees...which normally begin at $150...to $20, to encourage people to adopt. Elina Alterman, director of development and communications for the Lawrence Humane Society, said via e-mail that the shelter has 75 dog kennels, and all of those were full as of Wednesday. Meanwhile, they're also taking in a unusually high number of stray dogs and a large number of owner surrenders. Alterman said that shelters all around the region are grappling with the same situation. For more information on fostering or adopting a dog, visit lawrencehumane.org.
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Kansas Lawmakers Fail to Legalize Medical Marijuana; Will Study the Issue this Summer
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - When this year’s session of the Kansas Legislature began, supporters of legalizing medical marijuana were optimistic. But lawmakers once again failed to reach agreement on the issue. In late April, members of the Kansas House and Senate committees working on medical marijuana bills met to negotiate and seemed headed for progress. The House team, headed by Republican John Barker, was eager for an agreement. But Senate negotiators had a problem. They didn’t have the backing of Senate President Ty Masterson. So, the talks stopped and never resumed. Shortly after lawmakers adjourned for the final time this week, the head of the Senate negotiating team, Republican Rob Olson, released a statement. In it, he said he planned to work over the summer on a compromise bill that could pass next session.
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Kansas Agencies Work to Gather Clothes for Foster Children
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas foster children do not always have the extra clothes they need when placed in state custody. Foster agencies are now working to drive up clothing donations. When a child is removed from a home, he or she may only have the clothes they're wearing. The children are often moved from one home to another and items can get lost or worn out. Meanwhile, stipends for Kansas foster parents are not enough to buy every child new clothing. Lori Ross is the CEO of Foster Adopt Connect, a group that supports foster families. The group even used a 5K race to raise awareness of this issue. Some foster homes might not be expecting a kid, which can make stocking up on supplies hard. “Those people are as surprised about the placement as the kids are, right. They weren’t planning on taking those kids," she said. She says diapers, new underwear and socks are always in need. Foster Adopt Connect and state foster contractors accept donations year-round.
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Mother of High School Player Who Died Sues Joplin School District
JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — The mother of a Joplin High School football player is suing the school district over his death from cardiac arrest during a football practice. Kadin Roberts-Day died in September 2019 after suffering breathing problems that led to his death. The lawsuit filed by Lashonda Roberts alleges in a wrongful death lawsuit that several coaches and trainers with the football team knew Roberts-Day had asthma but watched him struggle for 26 minutes and called 911 only after he became unconscious during a practice, which was held indoors because of the heat. Joplin district officials said they would not comment on pending litigation.
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Lawrence's Raven Book Store Gets National Recognition
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCUR/LJW) - Publishers Weekly has named the Raven Book Store in downtown Lawrence "Bookstore of the Year." KCUR Radio reports that authors, booksellers, and publishing professionals recognized the Raven for its work to sustain the independent bookstore industry, especially during the pandemic. Co-owner Danny Caine called the award a big honor. "This is the biggest book industry trade publication saying we’re the country’s bookstore of the year. That’s enough for us," he said. In 1987, the Raven was founded as a mystery bookstore. But it’s become more general interest since Caine bought it in 2017. In January, Caine also shook up ownership when he sold 49% of his shares in the business to seven of his employees.( Read more in the Lawrence Journal-World.)
Editor's note: The Raven Book Store is a financial supporter of Kansas Public Radio.
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Lawrence Teacher Wins $10,000 Excellence in Teaching Award
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LJW) - A longtime English teacher in Lawrence, Sam Rabiola, is this year’s winner of the prestigious Excellence in Teaching Award. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the award, also known as the Bobs Award for the anonymous donors who share the first name, comes with a check for $10,000. The Lawrence Schools Foundation presented the award during a surprise ceremony Tuesday attended by Rabiola’s family, peers, friends, foundation board members and school district leaders. The award comes as Rabiola prepares to retire from his long career with the Lawrence school district. Rabiola began his career at Lawrence High School in 1987. More recently, he's taught English at Free State High School. The Bobs Award, which has been presented annually since 1997, honors a teacher who “exemplifies extraordinary instruction skills; reflects commitment to quality education and dedication to teaching." ( Read more.)
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Remains of Man Killed at Pearl Harbor Returned to Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The remains of a man who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 have been returned to Missouri for burial. The remains of Seaman 1st Class Wilbur Francis Newton arrived in Kansas City on Tuesday. His remains were identified as part of a project started in 2015 by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Investigators contacted Newton's oldest living maternal relative in 2012 to obtain DNA used to identify him. Robin Deeds, the child of Newton's cousin, said Newton will be laid to rest this weekend in Mound City. He will buried in a plot that Newton's parents bought for him before their deaths in the 1940s.
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Quirky Small Town Attractions in Kansas Aim to Cash in on Tourism
HAYS, Kan. (KNS/HPPR) - For small towns with dwindling populations and shrinking tax bases, luring travelers to stop and spend a few dollars is a matter of community survival. Some turn to quirky roadside tourist attractions. The community pride these offbeat sites generate can be just as valuable as the money they bring in. Kansas doesn’t have the mountains or beaches that draw crowds to some other states. But getting even a little bit of tourist money can boost rural economies. So, some Kansas small towns manufacture their own, larger-than-life wonders to put themselves on the tourism map. Cawker City's giant ball of twine is one such example. The Kansas News Service explores this and some of the other roadside attractions in the Sunflower State.
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Kansas Lawmakers Override Governor's Veto of Medicaid Bill
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Kansas lawmakers have wrapped up their 2022 session. They spent part of their final day overriding a veto from the Democratic governor. Republicans overrode Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill that blocks her administration from negotiating new multi-billion-dollar contracts with companies that run KanCare, the state’s Medicaid program. They say that should be left to the next governor, who they’re hoping will be Derek Schmidt, the state’s Republican attorney general. Opponents - mainly Democrats - argue the bill could give the current KanCare companies what amount to no-bid contract extensions. To ensure they had the votes, Republicans combined the contracts bill with one that prohibits the governor from closing down religious services during disease outbreaks. Representative Brenda Landwehr. “That occurred right here in the state of Kansas. This bill assures us that that cannot happen again," she said. With the override vote, the combined bills are now state law.
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Republicans in Kansas Senate Block Efforts to Legalize Fentanyl Test Strips
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Republicans in the Kansas Senate have blocked efforts to legalize possession of fentanyl test strips. Fentanyl is a prescription opioid 100 times stronger than morphine. Because dealers often blend it with illegal drugs, it’s contributing to a sharp increase in Kansas overdose deaths. Democratic Representative Jason Probst says legalizing test strips would allow outreach programs that would save lives. “To make sure that students, active drug users (and) people working towards recovery are aware of fentanyl, the danger of it and how to protect themselves," he said. The House supports legalization of testing strips, but the Senate does not. Republican Senator Kelli Warren, a candidate for attorney general, says the proposed change would suggest that Kansas condones illegal drug use.
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Researchers Hope Kansans Will Sign Up to Catch and Release Bumblebees
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Scientists are looking for Kansans across the state to help count bumblebees. That will require people to take training on how to catch bumblebees, take photos of the insects and let them go. Volunteers in Missouri and Nebraska have already recorded thousands of sightings. Katie Lamke is a biologist with the Xerces Society, a conservation group that focuses on insects. Insect populations are dropping in the Midwest, but bees are critical for many plants to reproduce. “They are by far the most effective pollinator," she said. "They’re constantly gathering pollen and nectar because that’s their only source of food.” Next month, the Xerces Society will offer training in Kansas City, Wichita and Strong City.
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Rain, Snow Slow New Mexico Fire, but Hot, Dry Weather Looms
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Light rain and a bit of snow in the mountains of northern New Mexico helped slow the largest wildfire in North America. But nearly 3,000 firefighters are continuing to scramble to clear flammable vegetation and deploy aircraft to douse flames ahead of a worsening fire forecast into the weekend. The Memorial Day weekend traditionally marks the beginning of the primary wildfire season across many parts of the Southwest. But wildland blazes already have burned an area larger than the state of Delaware this year in extremely dry conditions created by lingering drought and climate change. A new fire that broke out Wednesday briefly forced some evacuations near Flagstaff, Arizona.
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Some New Mexico Wildfire Evacuees Worry About Their Future
MORA, N.M. (AP) — As nearly 3,000 firefighters in northern New Mexico continue to battle the nation's largest active wildfire, many evacuees are worried about their future. Hundreds have been away from their homes for more than a month now due to the biggest fire in state history, and some say their financial resources are dwindling. Officials at Glorieta Adventure Camps said there have been 67 coronavirus cases among evacuees, including some that required hospitalization. Meanwhile, the six-week-old wildfire remained 40% contained around its perimeter Sunday.
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Missouri Women Plead Guilty to Capitol Riot Participation
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Two women from Springfield have pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge after participating in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol building. Cara Hentschel and Mahailya Pryer, both 34, pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Their sentencing is scheduled for August 19. Court documents say the women admitted to being inside the Capitol and walking around for about 12 minutes before they were left. So far, 22 Missourians have been charged with participating in the riot. Hentschel and Pryer are the 12th and 13th to plead guilty.
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California Couple Gives McPherson College $25 Million Gift
MCPHERSON, Kan. (AP) - A California couple known for their philanthropy is donating $25 million to McPherson College in central Kansas. Melanie Lundquist announced the gift from her and her husband, Richard, during her commencement address Sunday at the small liberal arts college. The Lundquists did not attend or graduate from McPherson but have been supporters since 2012. The gift is the largest donation in McPherson's 135-year history. Richard Lundquist owns Continental Development Corporation, a property development firm based in California.
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These area headlines are curated by KPR news staffers, including J. Schafer, Laura Lorson, Kaye McIntyre, and Tom Parkinson. Our headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays, 11 am weekends. This news summary is made possible by KPR listener-members. Become one today.