More Nasty Weather Could Complicate Power Restoration Efforts in Kansas City Area
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Utility officials say it may take until Thursday to finish restoring power in the Kansas City area after last week's winter blast and forecasts for more bad weather won't help. The Kansas City Star reports that about 175,000 Kansas City Power & Light customers were without electricity at some point after a storm that started Friday dumped up to 10 inches of heavy, wet snow in the area. By Tuesday morning, about 20,000 remained in the dark. KCP&L spokeswoman Katie McDonald says it's the "worst storm" the utility has seen in decades. McDonald says more than 1,500 line workers, engineers, tree-trimmers and other staff members are working to restore electrical power. But she warned that forecasts calling for freezing rain, black ice and sleet this week could slow the effort.
====================
Kansas Governor Renews, Expands Ban on State Anti-LGBT Bias
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' new Democratic governor has reinstated a ban on anti-LGBT bias in hiring and employment decisions by state agencies and extended it to state government contractors. Governor Laura Kelly's executive order Tuesday fulfills a promise she made repeatedly in her successful campaign last year and restores a policy that had been rescinded by a conservative Republican predecessor. It was Kelly's first official action since taking office Monday. In 2007, Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius issued an executive order against anti-LGBT bias in state government. In 2015, conservative Republican Governor Sam Brownback rescinded Sebelius' order and argued that state lawmakers should set such a policy. Kelly's order applies to state agencies under her direct control, which have about 19,000 employees. But it's broader than the Sebelius policy because it applies to contactors.
====================
Kansas Governor Expected to Make Pitch on Schools, Medicaid Expansion During State of the State Speech
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — New Democratic Governor Laura Kelly is expected to make a pitch to the Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature for boosting spending on public schools and expanding Medicaid. Kelly was scheduled to deliver her first State of the State address Wednesday evening to a joint session of the Legislature. She took office Monday. The governor and fellow Democrats want to move quickly to boost education funding. The Kansas Supreme Court ruled last year that a new law increasing aid to public schools wasn't enough because it didn't account for years of inflation. The state school board has proposed phasing in a $364 million increase over four years. Kelly also wants to expand the state's Medicaid health coverage for the needy. Republican leaders have been skeptical that the state can afford the two initiatives. The governor's State of the State address will be broadcast live on Kansas Public Radio starting at 6:30 tonight (WED).
====================
Kelly Names Kansas Lottery Attorney as Interim Director
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Laura Kelly has named the Kansas Lottery's top attorney to serve as its interim executive director. The new Democratic governor announced Wednesday that Stephen Durrell will lead the agency. He has worked at the lottery since 2007, serving as its general counsel and an assistant Kansas attorney general assigned to the agency. Durrell also served previously as an assistant attorney general assigned to the state Racing and Gaming Commission. The lottery operates its games of chance and oversees four state-owned casinos through contracts with private management companies. Kelly's office said Durrell was involved in negotiating the existing contracts and drafted rules for the lottery's games. As interim director, he replaces Terry Presta, a former Kansas House member appointed to the job in 2013 by then-Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.
====================
Ex-Kansas Rep. Yoder Joins Quayle's Son in DC Lobbying Firm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Kansas Rep. Kevin Yoder has joined a Washington lobbying firm in which one of former Vice President Dan Quayle's sons is a partner. HHQ Ventures announced Wednesday that the former Republican congressman from Kansas is now a partner in the firm. Another partner is Ben Quayle. He is the younger of the former vice president's two sons and a former GOP congressman from Arizona. Yoder represented the 3rd District of the Kansas City area from 2011 through 2018, losing his bid for a fifth term to Democrat Sharice Davids. Ben Quayle said Yoder's "deep knowledge of policy" will benefit the firm. Yoder is a former chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on homeland security.
====================
Judge Rules Somalis Targeted in Garden City Bomb Plot Can Testify
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that Somali immigrants can testify at the sentencing of three militia members convicted of plotting to bomb their Kansas apartment complex. The decision Tuesday is a blow to the efforts by defense attorneys to block 20 short videos of testimony that prosecutors want to play at the men's Jan. 25 sentencing hearings. Attorneys for Patrick Stein, Gavin Wright and Curtis Allen contend that the Somalis aren't victims because no one was hurt. U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren ruled that the intended victims are entitled to have their statements heard. The defendants were convicted of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction and conspiring to violate civil rights. Wright was also convicted of lying to the FBI.
====================
Woman Dies After Vehicle Crashes into Kansas Pond
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a suburban Kansas City woman has died from injuries sustained when she crashed into a pond. The Kansas City Star reports that police in Olathe, Kansas, say 61-year-old Helen Riddle apparently suffered a medical emergency last week before her sport utility vehicle struck a car and went off the side of a road. She then crashed through a fence before the SUV became submerged in the pond. Police announced Tuesday that she died after she was rescued and rushed to a hospital with critical injuries. Divers also searched the water after the crash to make sure no one else had been in the SUV.
====================
Filing: Salina Military School Failed to Supervise Cadets
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An arbitrator has found that a Kansas military school failed to supervise its cadets and intentionally inflicted emotional distress in 2014 on a bullied 11-year-old student who had been tied together with his harasser in public as punishment. The boy was later allegedly raped and sodomized by his harasser in a dorm room. A $369,175 arbitration award last month against St. John's Military School and its endowment fund was made public Monday when the family's attorney filed a procedural motion in the case seeking a court order. The Salina school and its attorneys did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The arbitrator also found St. Johns was suffering from decreasing enrollment and did little review of applicants to determine their own safety or the safety of other students.
====================
Kansas Library Asked to Move Children's Books with Transgender Characters
ANDOVER, Kan. (AP) — Members of a Kansas public library board are considering a request to move books that include transgender characters out of the children's section. Andover resident Marci Laffen said in a written request that the books "George," ''Lily and Dunkin," and "I am Jazz" should be moved to the library's adult section, or at least to the young adult section. She cited the "sexual content" of the books, along with issues such as bullying, rebelling against police and refusing to take medications, The Wichita Eagle reported . Library board member Blake Cooper said that Laffen's written request referred to the books as part of a "sexual revolution agenda, indoctrination of children." "I am Jazz," a picture book biography of a transgender child, is classified as juvenile nonfiction at the library. It had been shelved with other picture books in the children's section, but is now in the nonfiction books section on "institutions pertaining to relations of the sexes." "George" and "Lily and Dunkin" are both classified as juvenile fiction at the library. The books are about transgender children, one in fourth grade and one in eighth grade. Library board members will decide where each of the books will be shelved on February 13. About 55 people attended a board meeting last week to discuss the issue. Brenda Way, a transgender woman, said a child who wants to check out of one of the books "has something that makes them want to connect with that book."
"That child has a question," Way said. "Why are we saying that a child who is 7, 8 or 9 years old and has questions and wants to pick up that book should be denied finding that book in their section?"
Donna Lippoldt, executive director of the Culture Shield Network, said she supported moving the books to a higher level because she doesn't believe libraries should teach sex education. She said just one experience being exposed to a confusing child can scar a child for life.
"(The books) will still be accessible, but maybe not just haphazardly found by children that would be confused," she said.
====================
2 Men Arrested After Incident at Home of Koch Family Member
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two men were arrested after their car intentionally rammed a police car at the home of a member of the Charles Koch family. The Wichita Eagle reports the incident happened Tuesday night at the home of Chase Koch, son of Wichita billionaire Charles Koch. Police spokesman Charley Davidson said in a new release that officers were called to the home after a car intentionally rammed a private security vehicle before driving through a closed security gate. The driver then hit a Wichita police car. The car became disabled after it hit a tree. The officer suffered minor injuries. No one at the home was endangered. Rob Carlton, a spokesman for Koch Industries, confirmed the incident happened but said the family would have no comment while it is being investigated.
====================
Kansas City Police: 1 Address Fired 360 Shots at New Year's Eve Party
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police say people at one address fired 360 shots from at least nine guns to celebrate New Year's Eve. Police Chief Rick Smith posted a picture of the bullet casings on his blog Tuesday. It is illegal to fire guns in celebration in Kansas City. The Kansas City Star reports police used a ShotSpotter gunshot detection system to find the address, which is in east Kansas City. Smith said the illegal shooting continues even after an 11-year-old girl died from a stray bullet wound during a celebration on July 4, 2011. Police are gathering evidence so they can issue citations to those who illegally discharged firearms on New Year's Eve.
====================
Dodge City Plans 2 New Polling Sites as Legal Fees Mount
DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — Ford County says it plans to announce two new polling locations within Dodge City for this year's elections amid mounting legal fees in a lawsuit over voting access. The Hutchinson News reports the county will mail notices to voters informing them of their new polling place after arrangements for them are finalized. The county does not plan to use the former Civic Center location, nor the single polling site outside town that sparked a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas. The ACLU says if Ford County announces the two polling places it would discuss with clients the next steps in the litigation. It says opening more polling places would have cost the county less than the $71,000 that the county has spent so far in legal fees.
====================
Mother Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Overland Park for $2.3 Million
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — The mother of a suburban Kansas City teenager who was fatally shot by police as he backed a minivan out of his family's garage has reached a $2.3 million settlement. The Kansas City Star reports that the city of Overland Park makes no admission of wrongdoing in the January 2017 death of 17-year-old John Albers. He was killed after officers responded to a report that he was making suicidal comments on social media. Police say the teenager backed toward an officer, who told the teen to stop before firing 13 times. The teenager's mother, Sheila Albers, says "there is nothing that can ever excuse such an unreasonable use of force." The officer resigned after the shooting, but prosecutors declined to file charges. The Kansas City Star obtained the settlement agreement Monday through an open records request.
====================
Man Convicted in Wichita Death Connected to Drug Deal
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 20-year-old Wichita man has been convicted in the shooting death of another man in what police say was a botched marijuana deal. The Wichita Eagle report s Mark Holley III was found guilty Monday of first-degree felony murder in the death of 18-year-old D'Shaun Smith. He was also convicted of six other charges. Holley will be sentenced March 13. Police have said Smith and an 18-year-old woman connected with Holley met him in a residential neighborhood to buy drugs. Smith later was found dead in the woman's car. Holley is facing life in prison on the murder charge.
====================
Medical Tech in Hepatitis C Outbreak Challenges Sentence
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A traveling hospital technician who was sentenced to 39 years in prison for infecting patients in multiple states with hepatitis C through tainted syringes has asked a federal judge to vacate his sentence, saying his lawyer was ineffective in representing him. David Kwiatkowski, 39, was a cardiac technologist in 18 hospitals in seven states before being hired at New Hampshire's Exeter Hospital in 2011. He was sentenced in 2013 after admitting that he stole painkiller syringes from hospitals where he worked and replaced them with saline-filled syringes tainted with his blood. Kwiatkowski had moved from job to job despite being fired at least four times over allegations of drug use and theft. When he was arrested, at least 46 people had been diagnosed with the same strain of hepatitis C he carried. Authorities said the disease played a role in a woman's death in Kansas. In all, 32 patients were infected in New Hampshire, seven in Maryland, six in Kansas and one in Pennsylvania. Kwiatkowski also worked in Michigan, New York, Arizona and Georgia. Kwiatkowski, who is representing himself, filed his motion from prison in Sumterville, Florida, in December. He's scheduled to be released in 2046. His case was assigned to a federal judge in Concord on Monday. Kwiatkowski wrote that his lawyer allowed him to plead guilty under extreme emotional distress and that his sentence was incorrectly calculated. He said when he learned about the death, he "found himself in a state of depression and though not the actual cause of death felt himself to be responsable (sic) for it." He said the lawyer "played on this" to convince him to plead guilty to facts he wasn't charged for. Kwiatkowski also said the sentence should have been much lower and that his mental state "should have been in question" for agreeing to the deal. In 2013, Kwiatkowski's lawyers argued that a 30-year sentence would better balance the seriousness of the crimes against his mental and emotional problems and his addiction to drugs and alcohol, which they said clouded his judgment. Prosecutors had not yet responded to the motion.
"We are aware of the filing but will not be making a comment in pending matters," said Dena Blanco, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office.
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that attacks the liver. For most people, it turns into a chronic disease. Kwiatkowski, who learned he had the disease in 2010, apologized to his victims at his sentencing, saying his crime was caused by an addiction to painkillers and alcohol.
