Southeast Kansas Seeing Upturn in COVID-19 Variant
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) - Health officials in southeast Kansas are urging residents to get vaccines against COVID-19 as the delta variant spreads across the region. Kansas counties have higher vaccination numbers than Missouri counties across the border, but they lack the herd immunity needed to insulate the community from a new outbreaks. Over the past two weeks, 18% of COVID-19 tests in Crawford County have been positive, a sign of increasing community spread and inadequate testing. And in Cherokee County, the positivity rate is is 27%. The delta variant is the dominant strain in Kansas, with nearly 300 (289) confirmed cases, hitting Crawford, Cherokee, Sedgwick, Johnson and Riley counties particularly hard.
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Attorney General to Ask Kansas Supreme Court to Reconsider Abortion Ruling
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Attorney General Derek Schmidt says he will ask the Kansas Supreme Court to reconsider a 2019 ruling declaring access to abortion a “fundamental right” under the state constitution. Schmidt filed a notice Tuesday that he plans to appeal an April lower-court ruling striking down a state law banning a common second-trimester abortion procedure as unconstitutional. Shawnee County District Judge Teresa Watson’s decision was the first on abortion from a lower court since the 2019 decision from the state’s highest court. The Republican-controlled Legislature earlier this year put on the August 2022 primary ballot a proposed amendment to the state constitution to overturn that Supreme Court decision.
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Kansas Governor Expands Parental Leave for State Employees
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Governor Laura Kelly has expanded the paid leave that Kansas state employees can take from their jobs when they become parents or act as caregivers. Kelly issued an executive order Tuesday that provides an extra two weeks of paid leave for state workers who are a child's primary caregiver and an extra week for secondary caregivers. The order also makes foster parents eligible for the same paid leave. Primary caregivers will now receive up to eight weeks of paid leave, rather than six. Secondary caregivers will receive four weeks instead of three. Kelly said the state is demonstrating a commitment creating a supportive environment for families.
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Kansas Lawmakers Plan to Hold 14 Town Halls on Redistricting
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers plan to hold 14 town hall meetings across the state to gather opinions later this summer and fall on how the Legislature should redraw political boundaries next year. Six legislative leaders agreed Wednesday to have the same number of town hall meetings that lawmakers held ahead of the last redistricting in 2012. The state must redraw congressional, legislative and State Board of Education districts every 10 years to reflect shifts in the population. The Republican-controlled Legislature plans to tackle the work next year so that the new lines are in place for the June 2022 candidate filing deadline.
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GOP State Senator Running for Kansas Attorney General
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS/AP) - There’s now competition for the Republican nomination for Kansas attorney general. GOP State Senator Kellie Warren says she'll run for the job, pitting her against former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. The Leawood woman launched her campaign by attacking Kobach, her main primary rival. Warren, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released a campaign video declaring that she fights for conservative values and wins. It was a dig at Kobach, who's lost campaigns for governor and a Republican primary for U.S. Senate.
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Dole, Roberts Back Kansas AG Schmidt in 2022 Governor's Race
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas political icons Bob Dole and Pat Roberts have endorsed Attorney General Derek Schmidt for governor in 2022. The announcement Tuesday came as Schmidt worked to solidify support among fellow Republicans early enough to blunt a serious primary challenge from former Gov. Jeff Colyer. The 97-year-old Dole is a former U.S. Senate majority leader and the 1996 GOP presidential nominee. The 85-year-old Roberts served four terms in the U.S. Senate before retiring this year. Both Dole and Roberts said Schmidt can defeat Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in the November election. Colyer's campaign manager responded to the endorsements by saying, "Elections are about the future not the past."
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Former Naval Officer Running as Democrat for Congress in the Kansas Second District
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A former U.S. Navy intelligence officer is running as a Democrat for Congress in eastern Kansas. Patrick Schmidt announced his candidacy Tuesday and is the first Democrat seeking to challenge freshman Republican Congressman Jake LaTurner in 2022. The 30-year-old Schmidt moved to Topeka after leaving active duty military service earlier this year, but he says five generations of his family lived in Pittsburg in the district's southeast corner. LaTurner's campaign spokesperson took a dig at Schmidt for so recently moving to Topeka, saying LaTurner's campaign is happy to recommend a good realtor if that's helpful.
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Frito Lay Workers Remain on Strike
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Hundreds of workers at the Frito-Lay plant in Topeka remain on strike. They rejected a contract negotiated by union leaders and the company. Striking workers say they want better pay and more time off. On Tuesday, horns honked in support of workers outside the entrance of the Topeka plant that packages chips like Doritos and Cheetos. Workers say conditions are bad and they’re required to work six or seven days a week at wages that haven’t increased in a decade. Charles Taylor operates the machines that process the chips. "Why can’t I get a day off? They appreciate their machines there more than they do us. They get 24 hour, 36 hour maintenance on their machines. But we can’t even get one day off, how does that make sense? A machine shouldn’t be treated better than their employees," he said. The company said in a statement that it believes wages are competitive for Topeka and says the plant will continue operating.
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ACLU Seeks Training in Kansas District over 'Lesbian' Remark
AMERICUS, Kan. (AP) _ A civil rights group is threatening to sue a Kansas school district if it doesn't train employees about LGBTQ rights in response to an eighth-grade student being suspended from riding a school bus after saying, "I'm a lesbian.'' The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas sent a letter Tuesday to the 350-student North Lyon County school district about 60 miles southwest of Topeka. The ACLU is representing student Izzy Dieker. She was suspended from her bus for two days in January but the ACLU's legal director says the girl didn't ride again for two weeks because she felt humiliated. The district superintendent didn't immediately comment.
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Police: Fleeing Man Causes Crash that Killed Pregnant Woman
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ Police in Wichita say a man fleeing officers caused a crash that killed a pregnant 22-year-old woman. The incident happened Tuesday, as police were investigating two robberies involving the same suspects. Police say one suspect was arrested, but the other fled in a pickup truck. A brief chase ensued, and a short time later, police say the truck sped through a red light and hit several vehicles. Among them was a car driven by 22-year-old Samantha Russell, who was 33 weeks pregnant. Police say Russell was rushed to a hospital, where she died. Doctors delivered the baby in an emergency procedure, and the baby is currently in critical condition. Police say the driver of the truck, 37-year-old Javan Jermaine Ervin, was arrested.
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Teenager Dies After Shooting in Topeka; Suspect in Custody
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Topeka police say a 17-year-old girl who was shot over the holiday weekend has died from her injuries. Police say Navaeh Martinez, who was shot late Saturday, has died. A 21-year-old suspect, Daisha Butler, was arrested Sunday. She's being held in the Shawnee County jail on potential charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery. Police have not released any other information about the shooting.
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Rural Leavenworth Man Arrested in Half-Brother's Death
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) - Leavenworth County officials say a 25-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of his half-brother during the holiday weekend. Cody Huninghake made his first court appearance Tuesday in the death of 17-year-old Robert Nelson. Huninghake's next court date is scheduled for July 16.
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Longtime Wichita TV News Anchor Roger Cornish Dies at 66
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — KWCH-TV in Wichita reports that former longtime news anchor Roger Cornish has died at the age of 66. The station said Cornish died of liver disease. He was a news anchor at KWCH from the 1980s until his retirement in 2018. Cornish began his career in broadcasting as a 17-year-old camera operator in Hutchinson in 1972. He worked as a producer and reporter before he anchored newscasts. The station said Cornish helped make KWCH the top-rated station in the Wichita-Hutchinson market and was known for his ability to remember dates and details. He also was an avid Indy Car racing fan. Funeral services are pending.
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Kansas Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Distributing Meth, Cocaine Across U.S.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Hutchinson man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine across the U.S. Federal prosecutors say 32-year-old Lloyd Parker was sentenced last week to 262 months in federal prison. Parker pled guilty in March. The crimes took place between 2014 and 2018 and involved the distribution of drugs in East St. Louis, Illinois; Los Angeles, Ontario, California; Houston, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi and other locations. Overall, the criminal organization was responsible for the distribution of approximately 240 pounds of methamphetamine and 48 kilograms of cocaine in the Southern District of Illinois and elsewhere. Parker personally distributed or assisted in the acquisition of over 60 pounds of methamphetamine and over 5 kilograms of cocaine. As part of his sentence, Parker was ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release and pay a $700 fine. Some of Parker’s alleged co-conspirators were charged in the same case, and several are still awaiting trial. This case was investigated by the DEA, the IRS, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Illinois State Police, and other law enforcement agencies. ( Read more.)
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Kansas Man Among 3 Found Shot to Death at Georgia Golf Course
KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) — Investigators have identified three men found shot to death on the golf course of a country club in the Atlanta suburbs. But it’s still unclear what prompted Saturday's violence. Police say golf pro Eugene Siller was gunned down when he went to find out why a white pickup truck had driven onto the 10th green at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw. Two other men were found dead in the bed of the pickup truck. Both had been fatally shot. Police on Wednesday identified those men as 46-year-old Henry Valdez of California and 76-year-old Paul Pierson of Kansas. The gunman is believed to have gotten away on foot.
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U.S. Agrees to $7 Million Settlement in Kansas V-A Hospital Abuse Case
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — The federal government will pay $7 million to settle eight cases filed by veterans who said they were sexually abused by a former physician assistant at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Leavenworth. The veterans alleged that Mark Wisner subjected them to unnecessary genital exams and other physical abuse at the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center. Wisner was a physician assistant at the hospital from 2008 to 2014. More than 80 veterans represented by other lawyers settled their lawsuits over abuse from Wisner for $6.7 million in 2019. Wisner was convicted of aggravated sexual battery and related charges in 2017 and sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison.
(–Additional reporting–)
Settlement Approved in Lawsuits over Abuse at Leavenworth VA Hospital
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) - The federal government has agreed to pay nearly $7 million to settle eight cases involving a former physician's assistant convicted of sexually abusing veterans at the VA hospital in Leavenworth. The settlement comes after three veterans took their cases to trial last year, resulting in hefty damage awards against the government. Before that, more than 80 veterans settled with the government for $6.7 million. Danny Thomas is an attorney who represented the veterans in the latest settlement. “The Department of Justice fought these cases tooth and nail for years. They treated these veterans like dirt," he said. The veterans were subjected to unnecessary genital exams and other physical abuse by Mark Wisner, a physician assistant at the Leavenworth V-A from 2008 to 2014. Wisner is serving a 16-year prison sentence for aggravated sexual battery.
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Northwest Missouri Man Pleads Not Guilty in Death of 5-Month-Old Son
PLATTSBURG, Mo. (AP) — A northwest Missouri man has pleaded not guilty in the death of his 5-month-old son. Dillon Livingston is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of child abuse or neglect. He appeared in court Tuesday. A probable cause statement says first responders were sent to Livingston's home in February after a call about an unresponsive child. Livingston was taking care of his son at the time. A court document says Livingston claimed the boy was injured when he rolled out of a recliner. Livingston's next court appearance was scheduled for September 7.
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Program Helps Kansas Kids Explore Educational Activities Across the State
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas students and their parents can get free admission to dozens of museums, zoos and other attractions through the new Sunflower Summer program. It’s run through a smart phone app and funded with federal aid. Denise Kahler, with the Kansas Department of Education, says the goal is to keep students learning over the summer. "Because we wanted a really fun way for our students to be able to engage in summer learning while spending quality time with their family and friends, right? And touring some of the greatest attractions that we have here in Kansas. And all this is for free, so it’s really pretty exciting," she said. The program runs through August 15th. Find more information at SunflowerSummer.org.
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KU Basketball Team Set to Welcome Ochai Agbaji, Remy Martin
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - Versatile forward Ochai Agbaji and high-scoring point guard Remy Martin have withdrawn from the NBA draft, opting instead to help KU chase a sixth national championship. Agbaji announced his decision to return to the Jayhawks, whom he helped reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament, about two hours before Martin withdrew from the draft. Martin starred for Arizona State last season but announced he was transferring to Kansas if he withdrew from the draft.
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