UPDATE: Authorities Recapture Sexual Predator Who Escaped from Treatment Program
PARSONS, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say they have recaptured a convicted rapist and kidnapper who escaped from a sexual predator treatment program in southeast Kansas. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services says 58-year-old Randy Eugene Snodgrass ran away Monday while being taken to Parsons State Hospital and Training Center. The Wichita Eagle reports that a state hospital staffer was injured during the escape and received treatment at another hospital. Snodgrass was considered armed and dangerous when he fled on foot, but he was recaptured early this (TUE) morning north of Parsons.
===================
Kansas Looks to End Spousal Exemption in Sexual Battery Law
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas law that makes it a crime to grope, rub or touch others in a sexual manner without their consent doesn't apply to spouses. State lawmakers are moving to eliminate the problem after the same fix failed last year. The House could debate a bill next week that would eliminate a provision in the law against sexual battery that says it does not apply when the victim is married to the offender. The law applies to unwanted sexual touching when no force or fear is involved and when the victim is 16 or older. The bill cleared the House Judiciary Committee last week.
====================
Kansas Teenager Enters Plea in Failed $8 Xanax Drug Deal Killing
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A suburban Kansas City teenager has pleaded guilty to lesser charges in the shooting death of another teen during a failed $8 Xanax deal. The Kansas City Star reports that Jordan Denny, of Olathe, originally was charged with felony murder in the March 2019 death of 17-year-old Rowan Padgett. But she instead pleaded guilty Monday to attempted possession of Xanax with intent to distribute, conspiracy to commit possession of Xanax with intent to distribute, interference and use of a telecommunication device during a drug felony. She will be sentenced February 20.
====================
Rising Kansas Revenues Fuel GOP Anger over Lack of Tax Cuts
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has collected more tax revenue than expected almost every month for more than two years. Republicans are growing increasingly angry that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly still insists the state can't afford income tax cuts favored by the GOP-controlled Legislature. The state reported Monday that tax collections in January were nearly $60 million more than anticipated for a 9% surplus for the month. Tax collections have beaten expectations 31 of the past 32 months, and top Republicans believe a key reason is that some individuals and businesses are paying more in state income taxes because of federal tax changes at the end of 2017.
===================
Kansas No Longer Fighting Claims of Wrongly Convicted Man
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is dropping its fight against the compensation claim from a man who spent 23 years in prison for a double homicide. A judge in 2017 vacated Lamonte McIntyre's convictions, which had been secured even though no physical evidence or motive tied him to the crimes. Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Tuesday that his office decided to drop its fight after reviewing 900 pages of documents from McIntyre's attorney that had not been provided to it previously. He also says an ongoing Kansas Bureau of Investigation review of the 1994 crimes for which McIntyre was charged turned up new information.
====================
13-Year-Old Wichita Boy Arrested in Carjacking
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a 13-year-old boy has been arrested in a carjacking at a Wichita mall. Officer Charley Davidson said the boy was arrested Friday at a Wichita home. Davidson said Monday officers were led to the suspect through witnesses and people involved in a short car chase with Sedgwick County Sheriff's deputies on Wednesday. The stolen car was found after that chase. Authorities say a 57-year-old JC Penney employee told police she was leaving work Monday when two teens demanded her keys, hit her and drove off in her car. She suffered minor injuries. The second suspect hasn't been found.
====================
KHP Warns People Not to Abandon Cars for Chiefs Parade in Downtown Kansas City
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – The Kansas Highway Patrol expects more than one million people to attend Wednesday’s parade in Kansas City. As KSNT TV reports, troopers are telling Chiefs' fans going to the parade that they will need to leave hours in advance and expect a lot of traffic. When the Royals won the World Series five years ago, people got tired of sitting in traffic so they ditched their cars and started walking. The Kansas Highway Patrol expects even more people to go to Wednesday’s parade. This time they said if you leave your car, you can expect it to be towed. “When we have people parked on the shoulders, you know turning the interstate into a parking lot really hampers our ability to respond to incidents quickly,” said Lt. Adam Winters, with the Kansas Highway Patrol. Sometimes we do have to utilize the shoulder to get to an incident so that presents massive issues for us.” Lt. Winters said they don’t plan on pulling officers from other parts of the state to deal with the traffic on Wednesday and recommends carpooling. If you can, bring lots of snacks and warm clothes, and be patient in traffic. He said people planning on going should expect to be stuck in traffic for more than two hours.
The Kansas City Chiefs have returned to Kansas City as fans celebrate their Super Bowl victory. The Chiefs landed at Kansas City International Airport and drove in a bus caravan back to Arrowhead Stadium. Coach Andy Reid led the team off the plane carrying the Super Bowl trophy. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was not with the Chiefs because he flew to Disney World in Orlando to lead fans in a Super Bowl celebration parade as part of his duties as MVP. The party will continue Wednesday with a parade through downtown Kansas City and a rally at Union Station.
- Related -
Kansas House Cheers Trump Tweet on Chiefs Mentioning State
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A tweet from President Trump saying the Kansas City Chiefs had represented Kansas well by winning the Super Bowl was deleted quickly, but Sunflower State lawmakers didn't let it pass unnoticed. The Kansas House had a little fun Monday with Trump's geographical fumble in congratulating the Chiefs on their come-from-behind victory Sunday over the San Francisco 49ers. Trump later tweeted that he was proud of the team and Missouri, where the Chiefs play. House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., a Kansas City-area Republican, had a clerk read Trump's original tweet as if it were a formal message to the chamber and members cheered.
- Related -
Super Rally: Mahomes, Chiefs Win NFL Title with Late Surge
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to three touchdowns in the final 6:13, and they overcame a double-digit deficit for the third postseason game in a row to beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs trailed 20-10 and faced a third and 15 when Mahomes threw to Tyreek Hill for 44 yards. They scored a touchdown four plays later, and quickly forced a punt. Mahomes then hit Sammy Watkins for 38 yards to set up a 5-yard scoring reception by Damien Williams that put Kansas City ahead to stay with 2:44 to go.
- Related -
Big Play: Hill Gets Behind D and Triggers a KC Comeback
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — After being clogged up all game by a defense that doesn't allow big plays, Patrick Mahomes finally found his opening. Somehow, receiver Tyreek Hill slipped behind the entire San Francisco secondary. Mahomes heaved it his way. Kansas City gained 44 yards on the play and the comeback was on. The Mahomes-to-Hill connection led to the first of three fourth-quarter touchdowns in Kansas City's come-from-behind 31-20 victory in the Super Bowl. This marked Kansas City's third straight double-digit comeback in the playoffs. It brought the Lombardi Trophy back to KC for the first time since 1970.
====================
Woman Convicted in Missouri Stabbing Death
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A woman has been convicted in a 2012 northwest Missouri stabbing death during a retrial. The St. Joseph News-Press reports that jurors found Angela Henderson guilty Friday of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and evidence tampering in the death of Clinton “Sam” Justice. Assistant Prosecutor Chad Gaddie said Justice's family is “relieved that this step is behind them.” He told jurors that even if Henderson was not the one to stab Justice, she is guilty because she was at Justice’s apartment with two other to get money for drugs when the killing happened.
====================
Trial Delayed Again for Man Jailed 5 Years in Murder Case
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 23-year-old man who has been in jail for five years awaiting trial in a Lawrence murder case will wait longer, after a judge ordered more testing in the case. Rontarus Washington is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery in the November 2014 death of 19-year-old Justina Altamirano Mosso. The Lawrence Journal-World reports a trial has been delayed several times for various reasons. The first trial in September 2019 ended in a hung jury and a second trial was scheduled to begin this month. The latest delay revolves around fingernail clippings from Mosso. During a hearing Monday, defense attorneys argued for more time to have the evidence tested.
====================
Board Revokes Certification of Former Kansas Police Officer
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A state oversight board has revoked the law enforcement certification of a former Kansas police officer who is serving time in a sex crime case. The Wichita Eagle reports that the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and Training took the action last month against 36-year-old Casey Lee Wills, of Valley Center. He was sentenced in December to just over five years in prison for two counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of aggravated domestic battery.
====================
Survey Suggests Economy Growing in 9 Midwest, Plains States
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A survey report suggests the economy continues to grow in nine Midwest and Plains states. The Mid-America Business Conditions index jumped to 57.2 in January from 50.6 in December. The survey was conducted before much of the bad news was reported about the coronavirus outbreak that originated in China. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the outbreak could harm the regional economy in the weeks ahead. The survey covers Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Iowa, Arkansas, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Survey organizers say any index score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline.
====================
Some Hospitals Wary as New Liver Transplant Rules Begin
WASHINGTON (AP) — Long-delayed rules that will more broadly share scarce donated livers go into effect Tuesday. Where you live makes a difference in how sick you must be to get a transplant. The new rules aim to ease that geographic disparity by giving the sickest patients first chance at a new liver even it if has to be flown about 500 miles to reach them. But some hospitals in the South and Midwest, where there are more organ donors, say their patients will wait longer as livers once used locally are shipped to urban centers where the shortage is more severe.
====================
KPR's daily headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays and updated throughout the day. KPR's weekend summary is usually published by 1 pm Saturdays and Sundays.
