UPDATE: Kansas House Moves to Make Counties Keep Electing Sheriffs
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ The Kansas House has approved a measure aimed at ensuring that counties don't stop electing their sheriffs. The vote Wednesday was 97-24 on a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution declaring that sheriffs are elected to four-year terms. The constitution now says only that lawmakers will create county offices ``as may be necessary.'' The measure had far more than the two-thirds majority necessary for passage in the House. If the measure passes the Senate, it will go on the ballot in November for voters' possible approval. Backers said electing sheriffs makes them more accountable to voters. Opponents said counties should be allowed to decide how to manage law enforcement.
(–Earlier Reporting–)
Lawmakers Don't Want Kansas to Stop Electing County Sheriffs
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Many Kansas legislators want to make sure that counties don’t change the longstanding tradition of electing sheriffs by enshrining the policy in the state constitution. The Republican-controlled state House gave first-round approval Tuesday to a proposal to add language to the Kansas Constitution’s short article on county government to ensure that sheriffs are elected to four-year terms. A final vote was expected Wednesday. Only Riley County out of the state's 105 counties doesn't elect a sheriff. However, a commission in the state's most populous county of Johnson County reviewed a proposal to make the sheriff there appointed before deciding against any major changes in county government.
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Kansas Moves to Block Plastic-Bag Bans by Cities, Counties
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans in the GOP-controlled Kansas Legislature have moved to block local bans, restrictions or taxes on plastic bags or other packaging. The state Senate voted 27-13 for a bill that would strip cities and counties of their power to regulate or tax bags, cups, bottles or other packaging. The measure has the backing of business groups and would cover not only plastic, but cloth, paper, cardboard, aluminum, glass or foamed plastic such as Styrofoam. The bill goes next to the House. Business groups said a patchwork of local regulations would be difficult to follow. Critics said local communities should be allowed to deal with trash as they see fit.
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Kansas School Board to Meet After 'Inappropriate' Remark
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas state school board has scheduled a special meeting for Friday to discuss personnel issues. The meeting was set after Education Commissioner Randy Watson made what one board member called an inappropriate remark during a conference last week. State Board of Education member Ann Mah told The Capital-Journal on Wednesday that the board was taking Watson’s comments “very seriously.” She said Watson had reached out to her after the comments but she couldn’t share exactly what Watson said in his remarks. Watson did not immediately return a telephone message or email Wednesday evening seeking comment. The 10-member elected board appoints the commissioner to run the State Department of Education.
(–Additional Reporting–)
Kansas Board of Education to Meet Friday over Education Commissioner's Comment
UNDATED (Kansas News Service) – The Kansas Board of Education has scheduled a special meeting for Friday to discuss an offensive comment allegedly made by Commissioner of Education Randy Watson. Members of the board told multiple media outlets that the comment, made at a virtual conference earlier this month, was about Native Americans. The state Board of Education appoints the education commissioner, and the board picked Watson for the job in 2014. Before that, he was the superintendent of the McPherson school district.
Kansas Board of Education to Meet Following Reports of Commissioner's "Inappropriate" Comment
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) – The Kansas Reflector reports that the Kansas State Board of Education is planning a closed-door meeting on Friday to address a comment the state's education commissioner allegedly made with regard to Native Americans. Randy Watson reportedly made the comment earlier this month. A Facebook post from last week indicated Watson made an offensive comment regarding American Indians during a virtual conference. State Board of Education member Ann Mah said the post wasn't entirely accurate, but that a comment was made that was "...what we consider to be inappropriate." She said board members would meet in executive session on Friday to discuss the situation, but declined to say what actions the board might take.
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Kansas Juvenile Officer Accused of Having Sex with Teenager
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A former officer at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex in Topeka is accused of having sex with a teenager at the center. Twenty-five-year-old Pedro Cruz-Garcia was released from the Shawnee County jail after posting a $50,000 bond on Sunday. He is charged with having unlawful sexual relations with a victim who was 16 years old or older. The Kansas Department of Corrections said in a statement Tuesday that an investigation began after a staff member at the juvenile center heard other inmates talking about Cruz-Garcia and the victim. Cruz-Garcia was fired from the detention center on February 11.
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Topeka Teen Who Was Subject of Protest Arrested on 11 Counts
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Shawnee County authorities have charged a Topeka West High School student who was the subject of protests from other students with 11 sex-related crimes. District Attorney Mike Kagay says he will ask a judge to charge the student as an adult because of the serious nature of the crimes. The student's name has not been released because he is a juvenile. Kagay says the 11 charges involve five alleged victims. Topeka West High School students staged a protest on September 17 because of what they called a lack of response to allegations that the male student had sexually assaulted a female student in July.
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Kansas House Passes Proposal for New Constitutional Amendment Restricting State Agency Regulations
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – The Kansas House Monday approved a constitutional amendment that would give the Legislature the authority to revoke rules and regulations created by the governor's administration and state agencies. The proposal failed in the House last week, but a procedural move gave lawmakers one last chance. The amendment got the two-thirds majority vote needed in the Kansas House with support from Republican lawmakers. They say it will stop governors and state agencies from making rules that effectively change state law. But Democrats oppose the bill, saying the change would disrupt the state’s balance of power. They say the bill is targeting Democratic Governor Laura Kelly. If the amendment is approved in the Senate, it will go to a statewide vote this fall.
(AP version...)
GOP Saves and Advances Plan to Limit Kansas Agency Regulations
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House has approved a proposed amendment to the state constitution to make it easier for the GOP-controlled Legislature to overturn state agencies' regulations. Republicans had help from two dissident Democrats in Monday's 85-39 vote. That was one vote more than the two-thirds majority necessary for passage. Most Democrats see the measure as a political attack on Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, but Republicans say they're trying to curb bureaucrats' power. Under the proposal, lawmakers could repeal regulations with simple-majority votes in both chambers. Lawmakers now must pass a bill and obtain the governor's approval or two-thirds legislative majorities to override a veto. The measure went to the Senate.
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Kansas Lawmakers May Make It Harder for Police to Seize Cash
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are considering two proposals that would make it harder for police to seize and keep cash and property from people suspected in crimes. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that one bill would require law enforcement to get a criminal conviction before seizing assets. Currently, law enforcement can go to civil court to get approval to take property officers believe is linked to a crime. Supporters of the process say it serves as a deterrent to crime and provides important funding for law enforcement. The latest Kansas Bureau of Investigation report on the practice said law enforcement agencies statewide claimed $2.1 million in cash and nearly $800,000 in other property in 2020 through the civil forfeiture process.
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Missouri GOP Rejects Filing Fee from Candidate over Views
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Republican party has rejected a filing fee from a man who has previously been criticized by his own children for what they call his racist and homophobic views. The Missouri GOP announced on Twitter Tuesday that it rejected a filing fee from Steve West, a Kansas City-area Republican. The party called previous statements from West “vile” and said they conflict with the party's platform. West narrowly won the GOP primary for a Missouri House seat in 2018 and 2020 but lost to the Democratic candidates both years. In both those races, West's children and the GOP party urged voters to reject him.
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Ex-Kansas City Officer Won't Be Jailed During Conviction Appeal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A judge says a former Kansas City, Missouri, police detective will be allowed to remain out of jail while he appeals his conviction in the shooting death of a Black man. Jackson County Circuit Court Presiding Judge J. Dale Youngs ruled Tuesday that Eric DeValkenaere will remain free on bond while his attorneys appeal his conviction for involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the death of 26-year-old Cameron Lamb in December 2019. DeValkenaere will be sentenced March 4. DeValkenaere shot Lamb as he backed his truck into a garage where he lived. Youngs found him guilty in November, saying DeValkenaere and another detective had no probable cause or a search warrant to go on Lamb's property.
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Missouri House Backs Bills Against COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House has passed a pair of bills pushing back on requirements to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The legislation passed Tuesday includes one bill that would ban public employers from requiring vaccinations, with exceptions for nursing homes and other health care facilities that need to mandate vaccines in order to get federal funding. A second bill would ensure people who are unvaccinated still get unemployment benefits if they’re fired for not getting the vaccine. It also states that people can't be disqualified from getting organ transplants for not getting the vaccine. The bills now head to the Missouri state Senate.
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Medical Examiner: Motorcycle Driver Shot Before Crash
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — What appeared to be a deadly motorcycle crash turned into a homicide investigation after a medical examiner determined the driver had been shot before the crash. The crash was reported shortly before 3 am Sunday after the motorcycle driver went straight into a roundabout at the intersection of Benton Boulevard and St. John Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. Police department spokesman Jake Becchina said the motorcycle driver was thrown off his burnt orange Harley Davidson in the crash. The driver, who was identified as 50-year-old Jeffrey Nemitz of Omaha, Nebraska, was pronounced dead at a hospital. The Jackson County Medical Examiner determined later that Nemitz had been shot.
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Shots Fired at Vehicle That Crashed in Wichita; 2 Dead
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say two people were found dead in a car that crashed in Wichita after it came under gunfire. KSNW TV reports that the crash happened early Monday. Police say that although someone was shooting at the car, officers don’t think bullets hit any of the people inside the vehicle. Police identified the two victims as 21-year-old Amill Williams and 20-year-old Alonzo Montgomery. A 22-year-old woman also was ejected from the car but is expected to survive. Police are still investigating.
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Missouri State Senator Protests Punishment for Wearing Overalls
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri state senator punished for wearing overalls on the Senate floor has blocked any work from getting done in protest. Republican Senator Mike Moon on Tuesday filibustered to prevent even administrative tasks from getting done. Moon is running for Congress. Earlier this month, he wore denim overalls paired with a tie and jacket on the Senate floor. There's no formal rule against wearing overalls. But senators are expected to dress professionally. Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz says he'll restore Moon's committee assignments if Moon apologizes to the Senate. Moon says he was treated unfairly and violated no written rule.
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Kansas City Settles with Black Man Wrongly Jailed at Age 15
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ The Kansas City Police Department has agreed to pay a $900,000 settlement to a Black man who was wrongly arrested when he was 15 and held for three weeks before being released without charges. Tyree Bell sued in 2017 over his arrest for a crime he did not commit. Attorneys on both sides on Tuesday told the judge in the case about the settlement, which the judge still must approve. Bell was arrested in June 2016 by officers who said he resembled a Black teenager who ran from them earlier that day. An appeals court found in October 2020 that Bell's only resemblance to the suspect was that he was Black, juvenile and male.
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KU Administrator Named President of North Dakota State University
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A University of Kansas administrator has been chosen to be North Dakota State University's next president. The North Dakota Board of Higher Education unanimously chose David Cook, the vice chancellor for public affairs and economic development at the Lawrence, Kansas, school. He beat out two other finalists: Marymount provost and vice president Hesham El-Rewini, and University of Minnesota Crookston chancellor Mary Holz Clause. Cook will replace Dean Bresciani, who is stepping down after a dozen years at the helm to become a tenured professor in health sciences and education. Asked to name some of the challenges he’ll face at North Dakota State, Cook said he feels there’s an opportunity to improve on enrollment, research and internal relations.
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Infrastructure Deal Includes Money to Fix 2019 Flood Damage
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The nation’s massive infrastructure bill includes $248 million to help repair damage from 2019 flooding along the Missouri River. The St. Joseph News-Press reports that the flood damaged most of the structures used to control the river in an area that stretches from Rulo, Nebraska, to St. Louis. Dane Morris, of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said the intent is that once these structures are repaired, that they should be able to sustain a flood similar to 2019 better than they did previously. The flooding three years ago breached levees, inundating tens of thousands of acres and forcing thousands from their homes.
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Ochai Agbaji Passes Wilt Chamberlain in Kansas Victory over Kansas State
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Ochai Agbaji scored 23 points and passed Wilt Chamberlain on Kansas' career scoring list, leading the No. 5 Jayhawks to a 102-83 win over Kansas State. Agbaji has 1,444 points in 110 games, 26th on Kansas' all-time list. He passed Chamberlain with his 13th point of the first half. Chamberlain had 1,433 points in 48 games. Markquis Nowell scored 20 points, Nijel Pack, Selton Miguel and Mike McGuirl each had 13, and Mark Smith added 11 for Kansas State.
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These area headlines are curated by KPR news staffers, including J. Schafer, Laura Lorson, Kaye McIntyre, and Tom Parkinson. Our headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays, 11 am weekends. This news summary is made possible by KPR listener-members. Become one today!