Former Kansas Attorney General Vern Miller Dies
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Former Kansas Attorney General Vern Miller has died at the age of 92. Miller's son said his father died Friday at home in Mesa, Arizona. He served in law enforcement for more than 50 years, mostly in Sedgwick County. He gained notoriety for his hands-on law enforcement philosophy, jumping out of car trunks and seizing liquor on planes and passenger trains crossing the state’s borders. He was Kansas Attorney General from 1970 to 1974. He was so popular that he won all 105 Kansas counties when he ran for reelection in 1972. In 1974, he ran for governor but lost to Robert Frederick Bennett.
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McCall Sewing Pattern Plant in Manhattan to Close
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A plant in Manhattan that prints sewing patterns for most of national sewing pattern companies is closing after more than 50 years. McCall Pattern Company officials announced this week the plant will close by the end of the year. It currently employs 85 workers. A spokeswoman for Design Group, which owns McCall, says the work will be transferred to Neenah, Wisconsin. At its height the plant printed and folded about 200 million patterns a year. That's dropped to 20 million to 30 million today. McCall’s printing plant has been based in Manhattan since 1969.
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Missouri Governor Signs Bill Banning Enforcement of Federal Gun Laws
LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican Governor Mike Parson has signed a bill banning local enforcement of federal gun laws. Parson signed the legislation yesterday (SAT) at a Kansas City-area gun store and shooting range. The measure allows local police departments to be sued and fined $50,000 for every violation. Republicans argued the measure is necessary to block enforcement of any new gun restrictions that might be enacted under Democratic President Joe Biden. Missouri Democrats say the law is unconstitutional and predict it will be struck down in court.
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Fort Riley Soldier Fatally Shot in Junction City
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — Junction City police are investigating a shooting that left a 23-year-old man dead. Police say LaVincent Perdue was shot outside the Elite Cuts Barber Shop on Friday afternoon. Fort Riley officials said Perdue was a Specialist in 1st Infantry Division at the fort. Junction City police said 21-year-old Willie Powell Jr., from Grandview Plaza, was jailed on a possible charge of second-degree murder. He was taken into custody after turning himself into Topeka police early Saturday. Police said the investigation is continuing.
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Plan Would Restore Rail Service to Kansas, Oklahoma
MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Proponents of expanding passenger rail service through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas hope an anticipated influx of federal infrastructure funding will get the the long-discussed route off the ground. The project, which is among 39 new routes that Amtrak has proposed, calls for extending the Heartland Flyer. The train now travels south from Oklahoma City in the morning and returns in the evening, with an afternoon layover in Fort Worth, Texas. With the expansion, one trip would start and end in Newton, Kansas, in the early morning. The expansion also would add two more round trips daily between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.
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Wyandotte County Investigating Homicide of Woman at KCK Boat Ramp
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - The Wyandotte County Sheriff's office is investigating the death of a woman whose body was found near a boat ramp in Kansas City, Kansas. Police were called to the boat ramp yesterday (SAT) morning where they found the body of the woman, who appeared to be in her mid-60s. The Wyandotte County Sheriff's department is investigating the death as a homicide. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact law enforcement officials.
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Woman Dies Week after Wichita Hit-and-Run
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say a woman who was injured in a hit-and-run last weekend has died. The Wichita Eagle reports the woman's family identified her as Lynny Poell. She was hit by a car as she crossed a street last Saturday in central Wichita. Police say the driver of the vehicle was speeding and fled after Poell was hit. The car was later found abandoned at a hotel. Police arrested 18-year-old Bricetin Wedel of Wichita on suspicion of aggravated battery and two counts of hit-and-run after the collision. More charges are possible after Poell's death.
