Kansas Lawmakers Aim to Clear Backlog of Criminal Cases
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas lawmakers are working to give prosecutors and courts time to clear a backlog of several thousand criminal cases that built up during the pandemic, though they disagree about how much is enough time. The state Senate has approved a bill that would suspend until May 1, 2023, a law aimed at protecting a criminal defendant's constitutional right to a speedy trial. The law requires cases to come to trial within five months of a defendant who has been jailed entering a plea, and within six months if the defendant is free on bond. Lawmakers say there's a backlog of about 5,000 criminal cases. Prosecutors worry many of them will have to be dismissed if the deadlines are not suspended.
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Kansas Among States Considering Make-Up Learning this Summer
MISSION, Kan. (AP) - Schools across the country are making plans to help kids catch up academically this summer after a year or more of remote learning for many of them. The governors of Kansas, California and Virginia are among those pushing for more summer learning, as are school districts in many cities and towns. Education experts say the pandemic has left many kids trailing behind where they otherwise would be and that it's crucial for kids to do some learning over the summer. The new coronavirus stimulus package should help, as it allocates billions of dollars for K-12 summer school, after-school and other enrichment programs.
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Kansas Lawmakers at Odds over How to Legalize Sports Betting
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — With the first round of college basketball’s March Madness underway, Kansas legislators are moving closer toward legalizing sports betting. But action Friday by a Kansas House committee showed that lawmakers disagree about where sports fans should be able to place live wagers. The House committee approved a bill that would allow live sports wagering at four state-owned casinos, racetracks and as many as 1,200 retail stores that currently sell Kansas Lottery tickets. The state Senate approved a proposal earlier this month to limit live wagering to four state-owned casinos. Both bills would allow online and mobile-app betting but with different players operating them.
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Kansas City Man Charged in Death of 4-Month-Old
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Prosecutors say a 40-year-old Kansas City man has been charged in the death of his fiance's 4-month-old grandchild. Matthew Beck faces one count of second-degree murder, and the child's grandmother, 38-year-old Carly George, has been charged with hindering prosecution of a felony. It's not clear whether the two have attorneys who can speak on their behalf. In a news released Thursday, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker described the child's death as "an awful tragedy" and urged people to report child abuse.
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Authorities Say Man Found Dead on Side of Kansas Interstate
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in northeast Kansas say the body of an Arkansas man was found on the shoulder of Interstate 70, and the Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating. The Manhattan Mercury reports that the Geary County Sheriff’s Office initially received a call around 5:15 a.m. Thursday about a person down by the interstate near Fort Riley. Kansas troopers responded and found the body of 18-year-old Bennet Trotter, of West Memphis, Arkansas, on the eastbound shoulder of the interstate. Investigators believe Trotter had been walking along the road when he was hit by one or more vehicles that left the scene. No arrests had been reported or suspects named in the case by Friday morning.
(–Earlier Reporting–)
Kansas Highway Patrol: Body Found on I-70 near Fort Riley
FORT RILEY, Kan. (KPR) - Authorities are investigating after a body was discovered along the interstate in Geary County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says a body was found on eastbound I-70 near Fort Riley early Thursday morning. It's believed the man had been walking along the interstate when he was struck by a passing vehicle. ( Read more.)
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Kansas COVID-19 Case Total Approaches 300,000
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR/AP) - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reported Friday that there have been 299,510 cases of COVID-19 in the state, including 4,842 deaths since the start of the pandemic. That's an increase of 606 cases and five deaths since Wednesday. Johnson County continues to report the highest number of cases in Kansas, with 55,557. Another update will be released Monday.
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About 40% of Prison Staff, 30% of Inmates Decline COVID Shot
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — About 40% of Kansas prison staff and about 30% of inmates have declined to be vaccinated for COVID-19 despite outbreaks that have infected thousands inside lockups. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Kansas Department of Corrections is in its sixth week of offering vaccinations to inmates and staff. It plans to continue operating vaccination clinics through mid-April. As of Thursday, the prison system had reported 1,277 cases among staff and 6,117 among inmates since the pandemic started. There also have been 21 deaths among prisoners and staff. The agency doesn’t require employees or inmates to explain their reasons for declining the vaccine.
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Missouri's Homeless, Restaurant Workers Soon Eligible for Vaccines
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - The homeless, minorities and restaurant workers soon will be eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Missouri, and vaccinations will be opened up to everyone shortly after. On Thursday, Governor Mike Parson said people included in Phase 2 can get the vaccine beginning March 29. All other adults will be eligible April 9. A new effort has begun in St. Louis County to help homebound residents and people with disabilities get COVID-19 vaccinations. St. Louis Public Radio reports that the county health department is working with fire and emergency management services districts to deliver vaccine to homes and independent living facilities.
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Seaman School Board Moves Forward on Possible Name Change
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The Seaman School Board in north Topeka has taken a key step toward dumping its name because it comes from a Ku Klux Klan leader. The move comes five months after student journalists at Seaman High School discovered that Fred Seaman was a leader of the Topeka Klan a century ago. The school board decided to create a committee to explore a name change after fielding more than an hour of public comments this week. Some people argued that renaming school property would cost too much money or alienate alumni. Others said the name perpetuates racism at the school. Seaman junior Kevinh Nguyen said he’s repeatedly been the target of racist attacks. He hopes ditching the Seaman name will send a signal. "I just want to plead and plead that we need to do something about this, because a name won’t solve racism, but it’s a steppingstone along a highway of change," he said. The Seaman High School newspaper reports that a decision on the name change could still be more than a year away.
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UPDATE: Deal Says City Would Report Officer Resigned Voluntarily
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City suburb agreed to report to a statewide oversight agency that a former officer...who killed a teenager in 2018 as he was backing a minivan out of his family’s garage...left voluntarily for personal reasons. The Kansas City Star reports that it obtained the severance agreement for former Overland Park officer Clayton Jenison from Overland Park on Friday. The document’s release came one day after a judge sided with the paper in its lawsuit against the city and ruled that the agreement must be disclosed under the Kansas Open Records Act.
(–Earlier Reporting–)
Judge Rules in Favor of Document Request in Overland Park Police Shooting
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) - A Kansas City suburb has been ordered to turn over records related to the 2018 police killing of a teenager after The Kansas City Star sued for the documents. The Star reports that a judge found that that the severance agreement for Clayton Jenison must be disclosed under the Kansas Open Records Act. Jenison, who was paid $70,000 through the agreement, didn't face charges for fatally shooting 17-year-old John Albers as he was backing a minivan out of his family's garage. The officer had responded to the home because the teen was believed to be suicidal.
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Kansas, Missouri Attorneys General Join Lawsuit over Keystone Pipeline
UNDATED (KNS) - The attorneys general of both Kansas and Missouri have joined 19 other states in a lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline. It’s the latest lawsuit by Republican attorneys general challenging actions taken by President Biden. In this case, they say he exceeded his constitutional authority in changing energy policy set by Congress. Biden revoked a permit for the pipeline, which would transport 830,000 barrels a day of carbon-intensive heavy crude from Alberta, Canada, to Nebraska. Missouri and Kansas have also challenged a provision of the recently enacted $1.9 trillion COVID bill barring states from using the money to offset tax cuts; and Kansas has challenged the expansion of federal regulations through executive orders.
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Almost All AMC Theaters Opening Up Nationwide
LEAWOOD, Kan. (KPR) - Coming soon to a theater near you... movies! Leawood-based AMC says most of its movie theaters are back up and running, nationwide. A year ago, the pandemic forced AMC Theaters to close all its locations. Most AMC theaters will be open today (FRI) and the rest will reopen before the end of the month. AMC’s revenue took a big hit during the pandemic, losing nearly $4 billion last year. ( Read more.)
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Counterfeit Purses, Other Items Headed to Wichita Home Seized at Chicago Airport
CHICAGO (AP) — A package containing 445 counterfeit designer purses and other items has been seized at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport mail branch. Customs and Border Protection says Friday that the shipment from Thailand was intercepted Thursday by officers. Authorities said the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the actual items would have topped $635,000. The bogus products were seized for violating trademark laws. They were being shipped to a home in Wichita. Items included 11 Louis Vuitton, 11 Gucci, eight Chanel and four Christian Dior handbags; 131 pairs of Chanel and 72 pairs of Gucci earrings; and 52 Chanel hairclips.
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Wichita Police Shoot, Injure Domestic Violence Suspect
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Wichita say officers shot and injured a man after being called for a report of a domestic violence incident in southeast Wichita. Police say the shooting happened Thursday night in a restaurant parking lot, after a man threatened to kill his ex-wife and children. Police say when officers confronted the man in the parking lot, he brandished a gun, and officers fired on him. The man was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive. No officers were injured, and police say it's unclear whether the man fired his gun. Police said the woman reportedly threatened was also present, but was not hurt.
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Forecast for Spring: Nasty Drought Worsens for Much of U.S.
UNDATED (AP) — Government forecasters say the spring in the United States looks like it will be dry and warm with little flooding. Thursday's spring outlook is bad news for the West, which has been under a megadrought for more than 20 years. About two-thirds of the country is now abnormally dry or under drought conditions. Forecasters say that's only going to get worse. They expect water use cutbacks, dangerous wildfires, low reservoir levels and damage to wheat crops. Forecasters expect nearly the entire country to be warmer than normal for the next three months, and that worsens drought.
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Church Council Calls for Resignation of Kansas City Police Chief
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ The regional body that represents the Presbyterian Church is joining other civil rights organizations in calling for the dismissal of Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith. The Kansas City Star reports that the Heartland Presbytery said in a letter this week that the church wants the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners to hire a new chief who would protect residents equally and discipline officers who "act lawlessly, unethically and without proper respect, especially for Black and Brown people." Captain David Jackson, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department, said the chief has no plans to resign. The council represents 81 congregations and 173 ministers in Missouri and Kansas.
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KC Authorities ID Body Discovered in Burned Out House
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Police in Kansas City identified a man whose body was found by firefighters who were battling a house fire near the city's east side. Kansas City police say the body was that of 37-year-old Edwyn Roland. His body was discovered around 9 pm Tuesday as fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze along Wabash Avenue. Police say an initial investigation has led detectives to believe Roland's death was a homicide. Police have not released details about how he died and said they were seeking leads in developing a suspect in the case.
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Police ID Woman Fatally Hit by Pickup Truck in Wichita
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Police in Wichita have identified a woman who was fatally hit when she ran into the roadway following a minor crash. Police say 54-year-old Michelle Truong, of Wichita, died in the Tuesday night incident in south Wichita. Officers who arrived at the scene say Truong had just been in a minor crash when she walked into the road to exchange insurance information with the other driver. That's when she was hit by a pickup truck traveling east on Pawnee Street. Police say the driver of the truck stopped and is cooperating with the investigation.
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Flooding Forces More than 100 Missouri Roads to Close
MISSION, Kan. (AP) - More than 100 roads are closed across largely rural areas of Missouri as waters rise following recent heavy rains, putting officials on guard as repairs continue on some levees that were previously damaged. National Weather Service hydrologist Scott Watson said the flooding "is pretty typical of what we see in most springs." It comes after 2 to 6 inches of rain fell over the past week in an area stretching from Nebraska down through eastern Kansas and into parts of Missouri. Watson said levees are holding up and most of the areas taking on water are unprotected lowland and agricultural areas.
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Medicaid Expansion Still a Tough Sell in 12 States
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Democrats' nearly $2 trillion coronavirus relief package includes a big financial incentive for the states that have opted against expanding Medicaid to provide health coverage for more low-income Americans. It's proving to be a tough sell. Through interviews and public statements, AP found little change in the 12 states that have held out against the Medicaid expansion, which was a key provision of former President Barack Obama's heath care law. Kansas is one of the dozen states that have not expanded Medicaid. Some states have softened their opposition, but the gatekeepers - governors or legislative leaders - said they have no plans to take up the offer.
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Bankers Survey for Parts of 10 States Rockets to Record High
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey of bankers points to a quickly recovering economy in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states as the survey's individual indicators soared and the overall index rocketed to its highest reading since it began in 2006. The overall index of the Rural Mainstreet Survey shot up more than 18 points to 71.9 in March from February's 53.8. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss credits, in part, sharp gains in grain prices, federal farm support and the Federal Reserve's record-low interest rates. Bankers from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
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Wichita State Knocked Out of NCAA Tourney; KU Prepares for First Game
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KPR) - While the Kansas Jayhawks prepare for Eastern Washington in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, Wichita State is already headed home. The Shockers lost a close one to Drake last (THUR) night, falling 53-52. The Shockers had double-digit leads in each half against Drake, a familiar opponent from Wichita State’s days in the Missouri Valley Conference. But the game slipped away when it mattered most. Shockers coach Isaac Brown said, "We just didn’t do a good job. They stepped up. They made some 3’s. They hit some timely baskets and they were the better team tonight." Brown was recently rewarded with a five-year contract from being named the permanent coach after Gregg Marshall’s departure. The Jayhawks play their first-round game Saturday night after withdrawing from the Big 12 tournament for COVID-related reasons.
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