Kansas Commerce Chief Confirmed Despite Vocal Opposition
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has confirmed Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's commerce secretary despite vocal opposition from some Republicans and the state's most influential anti-abortion group. The vote Monday on Secretary David Toland was 23-14. If the Republican-controlled Senate had rejected him, Toland would have been forced to step down. Toland formerly served 11 years as executive director of the Iola-based economic development group Thrive Allen County. He earned praise from business leaders and local chambers of commerce across the state. The anti-abortion group Kansans for Life opposed his confirmation. Thrive Allen County received two grants totaling less than $20,000 to promote women's health from a fund named for the late abortion provider Dr. George Tiller. Local politics also generated opposition and Toland served as Kelly's unpaid campaign treasurer last year.
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Past Disagreements in Iola Might Be Factor in Toland Debate
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some residents say disagreements and personality clashes in their small southeast Kansas town could be one of the root causes of a battle over Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's nomination to lead the Kansas Department of Commerce. Some Republicans and the state's most influential anti-abortion group are fighting David Toland 's nomination, citing two small grants to Thrive Allen County, an economic group he previously managed in Iola. The grants came from a fund tied to the late abortion provider Dr. George Tiller. The Kansas News Service reports Toland often clashed with Virginia Crossland-Macha when he was CEO of the organization. Crossland-Macha is vice-chairwoman of the Kansas Republican Party. She said in emails to former Iola Mayor John McRae that she opposes Toland's politics and what she called his efforts to punish her and other Iola business owners who criticized Thrive initiatives. A vote on Toland's confirmation is expected Monday.
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Manhunt in Olathe After Officer Involved Shooting
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say police have shot and wounded one suspect of an attempted robbery and are looking for another suspect in suburban Kansas City. The Kansas City Star reports that the shooting happened Sunday after the suspect fired at the robbery victim and then at a responding officer in Olathe. Neither the victim nor the officer was wounded. The suspect was treated at a hospital and then booked into jail. Police say another man was with the suspect during the attempted robbery. Police blocked off streets Sunday while looking for him and instructed residents to lock their doors.
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Kansas Troopers: 2 Bicyclists Killed on State Highway
MEDICINE LODGE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Highway Patrol says two bicyclists have been killed after being hit from behind by a vehicle in south-central Kansas. Troopers say the crash happened Thursday evening just before sunset on U.S. 160 about a mile west of Medicine Lodge. A police report says the cyclists were riding eastbound on the highway when a car slammed into the back of them, killing 64-year-old Robert Christensen, of Medicine Lodge, and 56-year-old Thomas Foust, of West Columbia, South Carolina. Troopers say Christensen died at a local hospital; Foust died at the scene. The 44-year-old driver of the car was not injured.
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Police: 17-Year-Old Boy Shot to Death in Olathe
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Police in suburban Kansas City, Kansas, are investigating a shooting that left a 17-year-old boy dead. Olathe police say officers were called to a disturbance just before 5 p.m. Friday. Arriving officers found the teen unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound. The officers performed CPR, but the teen was pronounced dead at the scene. Police on Saturday identified the teen as Rowan Padgett, of Overland Park. No arrests have been reported, and police are asking the public to provide any information on the shooting.
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Kansas City Police Investigate Shooting Death
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police in Kansas City are investigating a late-night shooting that left one person dead. Police say in a news release that officers were called to a home in the Oak Park Southeast neighborhood around 11:30 pm Friday. Arriving officers found a victim with at least one gunshot wound. Police have not released the victim's name or age. No arrests or suspects have been announced.
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Person of Interest in 17-Year-Old's Killing Located
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have located a person of interest in the deadly shooting of a 17-year-old in suburban Kansas City. Police in Olathe say the person of interest is 18. He was contacted Sunday as part of the investigation into the death of Rowan Padgett, of Overland Park, who was found dead Friday on a driveway. Officials wouldn't say if the person of interest was taken into custody or if he is a suspect in the case. No charges have been filed. Counselors will be available for students Monday at two Olathe schools where Padgett was a student.
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Burn Ban for 16 Kansas Counties for the Month of April
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A burn ban is in effect in 16 Kansas counties through the month of April. The ban restricts burning trees and brush from land clearing, crop residues, construction debris, yard waste, and the use of backyard chimineas and fire pits. The counties under the ban are Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Geary, Greenwood, Johnson, Lyon, Marion, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Sedgwick, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte. Effective Monday, no new burn permits will be issued and all previously issued burn permits will be suspended until at least May 1. Live fire training also is suspended. This ban does not include outdoor cooking devices or ceremonial fires. It also does not include burning for crop, range, pasture, wildlife or watershed management.
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After 38 Years, Woman Still Fighting Kansas Rapist's Parole
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A woman who was raped on the University of Kansas campus in 1981 says she won't stop returning to Kansas to oppose her attacker's release on parole. Jean Rhea, who has lived in California for more than 30 years, was 25 when a man grabbed her as she jogged, held a knife to her throat and repeatedly raped and abused her. She testified against her attacker, Sherman Galloway, who was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 15 years. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Galloway was later sentenced to another 30-to-life sentence for raping a second woman. Rhea has returned to Kansas seven times for parole hearings, including again this year. Galloway will appear before the parole board in April.
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Kansas Dropping State Charges in "Swatting" Case After Sentencing
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas authorities are dropping involuntary manslaughter and other state charges against a California man who was sentenced in federal court to 20 years in prison for a hoax emergency call that led to a Wichita man's death. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said Friday he will dismiss the state charges because Tyler Barriss would be getting more prison time in the federal case than in state court. Barriss was sentenced on 51 federal charges related to fake calls and threats, the most serious one for making a false report resulting in the death of Andrew Finch. Finch's sister, Dominica Finch, says Barriss got what he deserved. The family wants to see police also be held accountable. Finch was unarmed when an officer responding to a bogus kidnapping call shot him. Barriss apologized to Finch's family in court Friday. He said he takes full responsibility for what happened.
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Man Who Ran Kansas City, Kansas, Drug House Sentenced
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 35-year-old Arizona who ran a drug house in Kansas City, Kansas has been sentenced to 21 years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said Jose Badilla, of Phoenix, was sentenced Monday on counts involving the distribution of methamphetamine and heroin, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. In his plea, Badilla admitted that when investigators served a search warrant at the house in Kansas City they found more than 6 pounds of heroin and two guns. Investigators said Badilla moved to Kansas City from Phoenix in August 2017 in order to distribute drugs. He was paid $2,000 to $2,500 every other week to keep the drugs at his homes. The drugs he stored were shipped from Mexico.
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Geary County Sheriff Arrested for Second Time in Alleged Thefts
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas sheriff already charged with theft has been arrested a second time. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation arrested Geary County Sheriff Anthony Wolf on Friday at the sheriff's office in Junction City. He was booked into the county jail on suspicion of two counts of felony theft. The KBI said in a news release that the new charges allege Wolf used county funds to buy items that were sold for personal profit, or kept for personal use. Wolf had appeared at a pre-trial conference earlier Friday on charges stemming from his arrest in October. In that case, Wolf was accused of giving away a county-owned firearm as a gift and of misusing public funds. Wolf was placed on administrative leave after the October arrest.
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Montgomery County Sheriff Suspended Without Pay During Investigation
INDEPENDENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas sheriff is suspended without pay while a case against him is investigated. KOAM-TV reports a court issued the suspension to Montgomery County Sheriff Robert Dierks on Friday. Undersheriff Richard George will be acting sheriff. Court documents say Dierks was charged with two misdemeanors after he tried unsuccessfully to interfere in the drunken driving arrest of his girlfriend. He is charged with interference with law enforcement and witness intimidation. Dierks' then-girlfriend, Valerie Smith, was pulled over in January 2018 on suspicion of drunk driving. Prosecutors allege Dierks tried to talk deputies out of taking Smith to jail, and then asked them not to show up at her court hearing. The deputies did not agree to Dierks' requests.
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Kansas to Investigate Missing Money/Documents at State Park
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas parks officials plan to investigate financial irregularities at Clinton State Park near Lawrence. The investigation will proceed even though public documents concerning cash handling at the park are missing. Brad Loveless, secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, says someone stole the relevant documents. The records show that placards were issued to campers who used a self-pay station. But those payments aren't recorded in an account of the cash from the box that is supposed to be put in a safe at the park. State Parks Director Linda Lanterman says she is in the process of hiring someone to conduct an investigation and audit. The Lawrence Journal-World reported that park leaders couldn't prove the money from the self-pay boxes was going to the state.
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Kansas Pastor Removed After Financial Irregularities Found
SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Catholic officials have asked a pastor to resign from a Kansas church amid an investigation into financial irregularities. The Hutchinson News reports that the Catholic Diocese of Wichita contacted local law enforcement after they were made aware of the suspicious activity at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in South Hutchinson. The diocese notified parishioners of the pastor's removal Friday in a letter. Wichita Bishop Carl Kemme said in the letter that diocese is cooperating fully in the investigation. He added that, "the diocese will see to it that the parish is made whole on the loss." The diocese provided no other details about what happened. The Reno County Sheriff's Office says it's still interviewing witnesses and that the investigation findings haven't yet been turned over to prosecutors.
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Siblings Buy Lottery Ticket Worth $2 Million from Kansas Store
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two siblings have bought a Powerball ticket worth $2 million from a suburban Kansas City convenience store. The Kansas Lottery says in a news release that the siblings anonymously claimed their prize Friday. The release says they rarely play Powerball but decided to buy four tickets Wednesday when they saw that the jackpot had reached an estimated $768.4 million. On one ticket, they used the random ages of family members and got all but one number right. Picking five of the six numbers would normally be worth $1 million. But because they also bought the Power Play option, they doubled their prize. The Shawnee, Kansas, store that sold the ticket is eligible for a $1,000 bonus. One of the siblings lives in Kansas, while the other lives out of state.
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Kansas Groceries, Gas Stations Start Selling Stronger Beer
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Grocery and convenience stores in Kansas are stocking their shelves with stronger beer. Starting Monday, they can sell beer with up to 6 percent alcohol by volume. Previously, groceries and convenience stores could stock beer with only up to 3.2 percent alcohol content — considerably lower than even leading light beer brands. In exchange, liquor stores will be able to sell more non-alcoholic products, such as shot glasses, mixers, lottery tickets and tobacco products. Lawmakers have debated the issue for years. Some said they were concerned large grocery chains would put independent liquor stores out of business. Oklahoma and Colorado have made similar charges. The beer revolution leaves just two states — Utah and Minnesota — where only 3.2 percent beer may be sold in grocery and convenience stores.
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Kansas Teenager Dies in 'Tragic Firearm Accident'
CONCORDIA, Kan. (AP) — A funeral is scheduled Thursday for a northern Kansas teenager who died in an accident involving a firearm. WIBW-TV reports an email sent to parents in the Concordia school district that eighth-grader Mason Berk died Saturday in a "tragic firearm accident." An obituary said the teenager passed away at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia. Further details about the death were not released.
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Some Kansas City Leaders Oppose Early Childhood Tax Proposal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A proposal to expand early childhood education across Kansas City is receiving pushback from some school and nonprofit leaders who say increasing the sales tax to fund the idea is inappropriate. Mayor Sly James is proposing a three-eighths of a cent tax increase to fund the opening of preschool centers in parts of the city where none exist. The Kansas City Star reports that the tax increase would raise about $30 million a year. Urban League of Greater Kansas City CEO Gwendolyn Grant expressed concern that the tax takes a bigger portion of income from the poor than the wealthy. Grant says research and history show low-income families pay more for goods and services. Some school leaders question using taxpayer money to fund private education. Voters will decide April 2.
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Survey Suggests More Economic Growth for Midwest, Plains
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new report says a March survey of business supply managers is signaling solid economic growth over the next three to six months for nine Midwest and Plains states. The report issued Monday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index hit its highest level since August, 58.2, compared with 57.9 in February. The January figure was 56.0. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says even stronger growth was hampered by international trade disputes and the global economic slowdown. The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
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KCU Joplin to Share Research Lab with Missouri Southern
JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences is planning to open a laboratory at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin to provide research opportunities to faculty and students. KCU Joplin is an osteopathic medical school that teaches student doctors who to treat patients with diseases and disorders. Jeff Staudinger, chairman of the school's basic science division, said the medical research lab would help understand how the diseases occur to help with prevention. The Joplin Globe reports Missouri Southern invited KCU Joplin to share the research space located at an annex. The lab is still being set up, and students from both campuses are being recruited. Work in the lab is expected to begin this summer.
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