Kansas Congresswoman Sharice Davids Backs Impeachment Inquiry Without Saying Impeachment
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kansas Democratic Representative Sharice Davids is supporting a formal impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump while avoiding using the term impeachment in a public statement. The freshman Democrat tweeted Tuesday that she trusts relevant House committees to investigate and supports "this process continuing unimpeded." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi launched the inquiry into whether Trump abused his presidential powers by seeking help from Ukraine's president to undermine Democratic opponent Joe Biden. A rough transcript of a summer phone call with the Ukrainian leader released today (WED) said Trump prodded him to investigate Biden's son, Hunter. Davids represents a GOP-leaning Kansas City-area district and had resisted calls for impeaching Trump. But she said Monday that if Trump sought Ukraine's help to investigate an opponent, it would be "a clear abuse of power."
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US Troops from 1st Cavalry Division to Be Sent to Lithuania
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Lithuania's defense minister says more than 500 U.S. soldiers are set to arrive in the Baltic nation next month to help strengthen NATO's position against Russia's military presence in the region. Raimundas Karoblis said the battalion-sized unit equipped with tanks and other military vehicles is being deployed as part of a U.S. initiative that keeps 6,000 troops on 9-month rotations in Europe. Karoblis called the deployment in Lithuania "good and awaited news" and U.S. troops "a vital factor of deterrence." The unit from the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas, will replace one from the 1st Infantry Division based at Fort Riley, Kansas. Soldiers assigned to the Defense Department's operation Atlantic Resolve conduct training exercises across 17 nations.
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Riley County Man's Trial in Child's Death Ends in Hung Jury
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — The trial of a Kansas man charged in an infant's death ended in a hung jury. The jury on Tuesday could not reach a unanimous verdict in the first-degree murder and child abuse trial of D'Khari Lyons of Manhattan. Lyons was charged after 2½-month-old Michael Calver Jr. died in November 2018 while Lyons was watching him. The Manhattan Mercury reports when Michael's mother returned home, the boy was having trouble breathing and was bruised. He died three days later at a Kansas City hospital. Officials ruled Michael died from head trauma after sustaining severe internal injuries. Prosecutors alleged Lyons hurt the child to stop him from crying. Lyons testified he wouldn't hurt a child and didn't know what caused Michael's injuries. Judge Meryl Wilson set a hearing for Oct. 7 to determine how to proceed.
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Police Look for Suspect in Apparent Random Wichita Stabbing
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police are searching for a man who stabbed a woman several times in what is believed to be a random attack. Police spokesman Paul Cruz says the 28-year-old woman was stabbed on Monday as she was standing near her vehicle in front of her home in northeast Wichita. The victim was in serious but stable condition Tuesday at a Wichita hospital. The man fled after stabbing the woman. Police are looking for a white man in his 40s. He's about 5-foot-9 and 140 pounds, with blonde or brown short hair and a scruffy beard.
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Kansas Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Death of Drug Informant
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 33-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the October 2017 death of a confidential drug informant. Steven Meredith was sentenced Monday for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the shooting death of 48-year-old Carrie Jones. Both were from Junction City. Jones' body was found by deer hunters in rural Riley County in October 2017. The Manhattan Mercury reports prosecutors contend Meredith shot Jones because he thought she would tell authorities that he was selling drugs. Meredith pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge in July, days before his trial was set to begin. He initially was charged with first-degree murder. Meredith testified Monday that he was present when Jones was shot but said he did not shoot her.
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Kansas Wesleyan Nursing Center Campaign Closer to Goal
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — A new $250,000 grant brought Kansas Wesleyan's efforts to establish a new Nursing Education Center less than $1 million from its goal. The Dane G. Hansen Foundation announced the grant Tuesday to the fundraising effort. So far, the project has attracted $3.75 million. The Salina Journal reports the center will be built in a renovated 13,400-square-foot building donated by the Salina Regional Health Center. The Dane G. Hansen Foundation, based in Logan, was established in 1965 through an estate donation from Dane Hansen. It awards grants and scholarships every year to qualified recipients in northwest Kansas who demonstrate a strong desire for community improvement.
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"Miscommunication" of Gun Causes Fear at Lawrence Middle School
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Police say a report that someone with a gun was at a Lawrence middle school led worried parents to break a window and pull children out. Officials say the report at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School Tuesday turned out to be a "miscommunication" and there was no threat or gun at the school. The Lawrence Journal-World reports police spokesman Patrick Compton said some students told school administrators that another student might have brought a gun to school. As a precaution, the school was put on lockdown while administrators questioned the child. Parents began arriving at the school after receiving text messages from students. Police arriving at the school found concerned parents trying to help the students out of the broken window. Five students suffered minor cuts from broken glass.
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Bonnie and Clyde-Related Items Sold at Auction
JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A sawed-off shotgun used by Bonnie and Clyde will remain in Joplin, Missouri, after being sold at auction. The Joplin Globe reports the weapon and other items related to the notorious criminal couple were auctioned Saturday in Boston. The Western Field Browning Model 30 shotgun was recovered after a 1933 gunfight in Joplin that killed two Missouri law officers. Bonnie and Clyde and their gang escaped. Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auction, said the shotgun sold for $68,750. Livingston said the bidder wanted to remain anonymous but was determined to keep the weapon in Joplin. A Bulova wristwatch taken from Clyde Barrow's body after his death in a 1934 gunfight sold for $112,500. And bidding on a book of poetry written by Bonnie Parker reached $25,000 before a cosigner withdrew it. Bonnie and Clyde's gang robbed small town banks in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma and engaged in numerous shootouts with law enforcement officers. In 1934, they were killed in a shootout with officers in Louisiana. The two outlaws were killed in a car they had stolen from Topeka.
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Man Shot by Kansas Police During Traffic Stop Files Lawsuit
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Lawrence, Kansas, motorist who was shot by police claims in a lawsuit that officers used excessive force and the city doesn't properly train its police. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Akira Lewis filed the lawsuit Friday against the city, the police department and its chief, and the two officers involved in the March 2018 altercation. Lewis was shot by Officer Brindley Blood as he fought with Officer Ian McCann when Lewis refused to get out of the car during a traffic stop. Lewis, who is black, contended the stop was racially motivated. Blood, a rookie officer, said she meant to draw her Taser but drew her gun instead. An aggravated battery charge against her was dropped in March. Lewis is seeking damages in excess of $100,000. City Attorney Toni Wheeler said she could not comment on the lawsuit.
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Bicyclist Sues After Stop by Police, Subsequent Drug Charges
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Hutchinson man whose drug conviction was overturned because a court determined he had been illegally searched after he was stopped while riding a bicycle is suing the city and the officer who searched him. Jon Heter, 55, claims in the lawsuit filed Monday that his arrest in November 2016 was unlawful and violated his constitutional rights. He is seeking more than $75,000 in damages. Officer Josh Long stopped Heter after noticing he didn't have a light on his bicycle. Heter gave Long a fake name and refused to provide his birthday, prompting Long to arrest him on suspicion of interfering with law enforcement, The Wichita Eagle reported. Long searched Heter and found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in a container on Heter's bike. He also learned that there was an outstanding warrant for Heter's arrest. Heter was convicted in Reno County of possessing meth and drug paraphernalia. He eventually spent three months in prison before the conviction was overturned, according to the lawsuit.
"Hutchinson violated Jon's federal rights when he was unlawfully seized, and thus deprived of his rights and privileges secured by the Constitution and laws," Heter's attorney, Larry Michel, wrote in the lawsuit. "Hutchinson inadequately trained Officer Long and/or had customs or policies that led to the violation of Jon's constitutional rights."
The Kansas Appeals Court ruled in January that the arrest had no legal basis and evidence of the drug crimes should be suppressed because it was found through an illegal search and seizure. Hutchinson City Manager John Deardoff said Thursday the city would not comment on the lawsuit.
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Sprint Accused of Taking Millions in Subsidies While Failing to Deliver Service
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) _ The federal government has accused Sprint Corp. of failing to provide service to low-income subscribers after accepting millions of dollars in subsidies to do so. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said Tuesday he's asked the agency's enforcement bureau to investigate. KCUR reports Sprint said it had used government funds to provide monthly subsidies for about 885,000 subscribers to the program, called Lifeline. Under the program, low-income consumers are given a $9.25 monthly subsidy toward phone and broadband service. FCC spokesman Mark Wigfield said it's unclear how much money Sprint received for the program. But Sprint collected at least $8.2 million a month for some period of time. Sprint said in a statement that it made an error in July 2017 while implementing changes to the Lifeline program that the FCC had approved. Sprint said it would reimburse federal and state governments for subsidy payments collected because of the error.
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Longtime Shelter Dog Finds Home After Man Rooms with Her
MERRIAM, Kan. (AP) — A dog that spent more than 400 days at a suburban Kansas City animal shelter has found a home after a man moved into a kennel with the terrier mix and posted videos of the experience on Facebook. Staff with the Great Plains SPCA shelter in Merriam, Kansas, cheered as the 3-year-old dog, named Queen, left the shelter with her new owner, Tony Puluso. He told KMBC-TV that Queen is a "perfectly sweet dog." He said he didn't even know she was at the center of a viral campaign to find her a home. The man behind the campaign was Scott Poore, of Mission Driven Goods, which creates fundraisers for shelters. He moved in with Queen on September 18, bringing with him a laptop, desk and a small twin mattress.
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Beto O'Rourke Campaign Says It Takes Threat Seriously
WASHINGTON (AP) — The presidential campaign of former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke says it is in direct contact with the FBI regarding the case of an Army soldier accused of sharing bomb-making instructions online and targeting left-leaning activists. When an FBI undercover agent asked Jarrett William Smith if there was anyone in Texas who would be a good fit for "fire, destruction and death," Smith reportedly replied, "Outside of Beto? I don't know enough people that would be relevant enough to cause a change if they died." O'Rourke spokeswoman Aleigha Cavalier said in an emailed statement that they take any threat like this very seriously. The campaign says this isn't about any one person or one campaign, and they "won't let this scare us or cause us to back down in fighting for what's right." The 24-year-old soldier was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.
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Kansas Reports 2nd Death from Vaping-Related Lung Disease
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is reporting its second death from a vaping-related lung disease in less than two weeks. Governor Laura Kelly announced Monday that a man over 50 has died. The state health department said it is not releasing the names, hometowns or other details about people who've died or become sick to protect their privacy. The state's first reported death related to e-cigarette use was a woman over 50 and reported September 10. Kelly's office said both people who died had other underlying health issues. Seven other Kansas residents have been sickened in an outbreak tied to more than 500 reported vaping-related illnesses nationwide. Five have been treated and released from a hospital, while two remained hospitalized Monday. Kelly said the state is considering policy options, without being more specific.
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Monkey Injured in Apparent Break-in at Kansas Zoo Recovering
DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — A capuchin monkey at a western Kansas zoo is recovering after it was injured while apparently trying to stop an intruder from taking a younger monkey. Officials at the Wright Park Zoo in Dodge City say the older monkey, named Vern, was hurt and his son, Pickett, was found on the outskirts of Dodge City Sept. 3. The younger monkey was not injured. The Dodge City Daily Globe reports officials initially thought Vern's injuries were minor but a veterinarian found injuries apparently caused by blunt force trauma. The monkey underwent surgery at Kansas State University September 10 to repair broken bones. Zoo spokeswoman Abbey Martin said Monday Pickett is doing well and is back on display. Vern remains in quarantine while he recovers. Dodge City police are investigating the incident. Martin says there are no developments in the investigation.
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