Police Arrest 2 in Downtown Lawrence Fatal Shooting
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - Lawrence police say two Topeka men have been arrested in a shooting that killed three people and wounded two others in a popular entertainment area of downtown Lawrence. The Lawrence Police Department said early this (TUE) morning that 22-year-old Ahmad Malik Rayton is being held on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. 19-year-old Dominique Jaquez McMillon is suspected of aggravated assault and battery. The shooting happened early on October 1 in an area crowded with people from local bars and several nearby concerts and events. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Lawrence police believe the incident was related to an earlier altercation. Those killed were identified as Colwin Lynn Henderson III, 20, and Tre’Mel Dupree Dean, 24, both of Topeka, and Leah Elizabeth Brown, 22 of Shawnee.
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Police Release Man Connected to Missing Sisters
TONGANOXIE, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on three missing foster children in Kansas being found (all times local):
6:15 p.m.
Police have released a man who was considered a person of interest after three sisters who disappeared in August from their Kansas foster home were found safe. Authorities did not release details about where the 12-, 14- and 15-year old girls were found but police said they were safe. The 48-year-old man was taken into custody in Kansas City, Missouri. Police had said the girls might be in danger if they were with him. Kansas City police released him Tuesday morning after Tonganoxie officials said they didn't have enough evidence to charge him. KCTV5 reports police said the man was trying to help the girls after they lied to him and said they were being abused at their foster home. Police say there is no evidence the man abused or hurt the girls. Police have said the girls ran away from their foster home August 26.
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8:50 a.m.
TONGANOXIE, Kan. (AP) - Authorities have arrested a man and found three sisters whose disappearance in August from their Kansas foster home touched off a larger debate about runaway foster children. Tonganoxie police chief Jeffery Brandau says police in Kansas City, Missouri, arrested the 48-year-old man early this (TUE) morning, hours after identifying him as a "person of interest" and saying the 12-, 14- and 15-year-old girls would be "in danger" if they were with him. Brandau says the man is being detained on a 24-hour investigative hold. The case led to broader concerns among lawmakers who learned last week during a Statehouse meeting that more than 70 foster children are missing in Kansas. The number of missing represents about 1 percent of the state's foster care population, which is in line with the national average.
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Kansas Wins Approval to Continue Private Medicaid System
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The federal government has given Kansas permission to operate its private Medicaid system for another year. State officials announced Monday afternoon that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has given the state until December 31, 2018 to operate the KanCare system. The program was set to expire at the end of 2017 had the federal oversight agency not approved an extension. The state's original request for an extension was denied because the federal agency said Kansas was not meeting federal standards and risked the health of the low-income patients served. The state is now working to gain permission to extend the program beyond 2018.
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Kobach to Get Help from Trump Jr. in Kansas Governor's Race
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach's run for the Republican nomination for Kansas governor is getting a boost from President Donald Trump's son. Kobach announced Monday that Donald Trump Jr. will be in Kansas on November 28 for a campaign fundraiser. Kobach is vice chairman of the President's commission on election fraud. So far 18 candidates — 11 Republicans, six Democrats and an independent — have appointed treasurers or committees for a campaign for governor next year, a requirement to raise money. Kobach says in a news release it is an honor that Trump Jr. will join his campaign "at this important time." Governor Sam Brownback is term-limited and is expected to step down this fall to become U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.
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Work Nearly Done at McConnell Air Force Base for New Tanker
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Work is nearly complete at McConnell Air Force Base in preparation for the KC-46A Pegasus air refueling tanker. It has been almost three years since work began on $267 million in new construction projects. The Wichita Eagle reports that on Monday officials celebrated the work at the base. McConnell will be the first base to receive the new Boeing tankers that will replace a nearly 60-year-old fleet of KC-135 aircraft. The project features three new hangers. They are among 16 construction projects on and off McConnell's flight line required to support the new tankers. The Air Force says the first KC-46 delivery to the Air Force is expected in spring 2018.
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Wichita Landscaper Who Defrauded Victims Sent to Prison
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita landscaper has been ordered to spend 10 months in prison after he failed to make restitution to two customers he defrauded. The Sedgwick County District Attorney's office says 31-year-old Ricky Moyer was previously sentenced to five years of probation after pleading no contest to felony theft. At the time, he was ordered to pay $16,000 to two customers. The district attorney's office says Moyer, owner of Rick's Tree and Landscape, didn't make payments to his victims and committed other violations of his probation, including using cocaine. A judge on Monday ordered that Moyer be sent to prison. Both victims had to hire other contractors to finish work they originally hired Moyer to do.
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Kansas State Apologizes After Stadium Breast Pump Confusion
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State University has apologized to a concession worker who complained on Facebook about being told she would have to put her breast pump in a clear plastic bag before entering the football stadium. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Katie Doyle, of Holton, said she was humiliated by the experience Saturday. The mother of a 5-month-old son says she decided against putting the pump in a clear bag because she didn't think anybody wanted to look at the milk-covered pump parts. Kansas State began requiring clear bags for ticketed athletic events last school year, although breast pumps are exempted as medically necessary. Kansas State senior associate athletic director for communications, Kenny Lannou, says there will be more staff training. Doyle told the newspaper that a security official was "very apologetic."
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Missouri's Westminster College Announces Pick for New President
FULTON, Mo. (AP) — Westminster College has picked Fletcher Lamkin to take over as its next president later this year. The college made the announcement Monday. Lamkin is now president of West Virginia University at Parkersburg and previously served as president of Kansas Wesleyan University. His selection marks Lamkin's return to Westminster College, where his 2000-2007 administration included record fundraising and campus improvements. Lamkin says in a news release that Westminster is the only school that could have induced him to leave his present position. The college says news of his return was celebrated by faculty, administration and alumni. It cited his knowledge of the school and his relationships with alumni. Kurt Jefferson, director of the Churchill Institute for Global Engagement at Westminster, says Lamkin led Westminster to its "greatest era of student growth."
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Book Buyer Finds Wichita BTK Serial Killer's Drawing Inside
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man who bought a used copy of the book co-written by BTK serial killer Dennis Rader has discovered inside the book one of the killer's drawings showing a bondage rack and rope. Rader is known for binding and torturing his victims. The crayon-and-ink drawing has his name and a July date on it. The Wichita Eagle reports that research scholar Katherine Ramsland says the artwork appears to have been made by Rader. She co-wrote with him "Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer." She says Rader sends bookplates to pen pals and people who've bought the book. The Kansas Department of Corrections says inmates are allowed to send and receive mail as long as it's not a security risk or sexually related.
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Multi-State Crime Suspect Sentenced for Shooting in Kansas
PRATT, Kan. (AP) — A man suspected of killing or wounding people in Mississippi, New Mexico and Kansas has been sentenced in Kansas. Local media outlets report that Alex Deaton was sentenced Monday to nearly 13 years in prison and $4,000 in restitution for shooting a Pratt convenience store clerk in March. Deaton pleaded guilty in July to attempted first-degree murder and aggravated robbery. He's charged in Brandon, Mississippi, with first-degree murder, auto theft, and drive-by shooting. He's accused of strangling his girlfriend, stealing her car, and shooting a jogger in February. He's also suspected of killing a woman near Philadelphia, Mississippi. Police say Deaton then carjacked a New Mexico couple before fleeing to Kansas and shooting the clerk. Pratt County District Attorney Tracey Beverlin says she doesn't know when Deaton will go to Mississippi.
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Kansas Woman Sentenced for Stealing from Older Acquaintance
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - An elderly Wichita woman has been sentenced to probation for stealing more than $57,000 from an 89-year-old acquaintance. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennet said Monday that 80-year-old Shirley Morgan was had durable power of attorney for the acquaintance, who he didn't name. Bennett says Morgan used the victim's money and assets for gambling trips and other expenses, rather than paying nursing home bills. Morgan was convicted of mistreatment of a dependent adult. She was sentenced to two years and 4 months in prison but given probation because of her age and lack of a criminal history. She also must pay restitution and cannot gamble.
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Kansas Man Convicted in Wreck that Killed Western Missouri Commissioner
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas man has been convicted of manslaughter in the drunk-driving crash that killed a western Missouri county commissioner. Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley has announced the conviction of 30-year-old Wesley Michael Hays of Pleasanton, Kansas. He was also convicted of second-degree assault and failing to keep on the right side of the roadway in the 2014 wreck that killed Bates County Commissioner Larry Berry. Sentencing will be December 7. Hays could face up to life in prison. The case was tried by the Missouri Attorney General's office. Jurors were told that Hays consumed 10 alcoholic drinks before driving his GMC Sierra that crossed the center line on Route A near Hume, Missouri, striking Berry's Ford Taurus. Berry's 20-year-old son was injured.
