KBI: Police Officers Shoot, Injure Armed Man Outside Kansas Bank
LEON, Kan. (AP) — Police say an armed man has been shot by deputies outside a Kansas bank. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says the shooting happened Thursday afternoon in Leon as Butler County sheriff's deputies sought to serve an arrest warrant on 53-year-old James Watts. The KBI says deputies followed Watts' vehicle to the bank and ordered him out of the vehicle in the bank's parking lot. Deputies reported that Watts got out of the vehicle armed with a pistol and walked toward the bank. Deputies say they repeatedly ordered him to drop the gun and shot him several times when he reached the bank's entrance. Watts was rushed to a Wichita hospital, where he was in critical-but-stable condition following surgery.
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Kansas Legislation Aims to Ban "Sanctuary Cities"
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - A Kansas House committee has endorsed a controversial bill aimed at stopping local governments from adopting what opponents call sanctuary city policies. The bill would nullify a recently passed Wyandotte County ordinance that prohibits local law enforcement from working with federal immigration authorities. The ordinance also makes special ID cards available to people who are in this country illegally so that they can access government services. Supporters say local officials shouldn’t be allowed to pick and choose which laws to enforce. Opponents argue that local police and sheriffs are under no legal obligation to enforce federal immigration laws. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the leading contender for the Republican nomination for governor, is among the most vocal supporters of the bill. Schmidt says local officials shouldn’t be allowed to turn a blind eye to the law. But Democratic Representative Boog Highberger, a former Lawrence mayor, says Republicans are politically selective when it comes to overriding the judgment of local officials. “This body is at least as restrictive to my community as the federal government is to the state of Kansas and I’m getting kind of tired of it," he said. The committee’s party-line vote sends the bill to the House floor.
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New Coronavirus Surfaces in Kansas, Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) - A new COVID variant is driving a surge in Europe, and it’s starting to show up in Kansas and Missouri. But overall, case numbers are still going down. The BA2 variant makes up about 14% of COVID infections in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, according to estimates by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. The BA2 variant has been in this region at least since early February, and it’s since grown to make up a larger share of infections. Unlike in Europe, however, the variant so far isn’t causing a surge of cases or hospitalizations. In fact, numbers continue to decline in all four states. However, health experts warn that the BA2 variant does appear to be highly transmissible.
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Wildfires Prompt Evacuations in Texas While Kansas and Oklahoma Battle Their Own Blazes
EASTLAND, Texas (AP) — Low humidity and gusty winds are fueling multiple wildfires in Texas, burning homes and other structures and prompting evacuations of hundreds of homes in small communities. Several wildfires merged to form what fire officials call a “complex” that's burning near Eastland, about 120 miles west of Dallas. The fire as of this (FRI) morning had burned about 62.5 square miles. It was only 2% contained. About 475 homes were evacuated in the town of Gorman. A nursing home in Rising Star was evacuated. The Texas A&M Forest Service warned that the “rare, high impact wildfire phenomenon” could also affect parts of Oklahoma and Kansas, where several wildfires have cropped up this week. Fires across the nation's midsection have caused hazy conditions hundreds of miles away.
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GOP Lawmakers Revive Plan to Weaken Vaccine Requirements for Children
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Conservative Republican lawmakers have revived a proposal to weaken Kansas vaccination requirements for children enrolling in school and day care and to make it easier for people to get controversial treatments for COVID-19. The Senate health committee approved a bill that would allow parents to get a no-questions-asked religious exemption from requirements to vaccinate their children against more than a dozen diseases, including measles, whooping cough, polio and chickenpox. The measure also limits pharmacists’ ability to refuse to fill prescriptions for drugs such as the anti-worm treatment ivermectin as COVID-19 treatments. Backers say the measure protects religious freedom and patient choice. Critics say it harms public health.
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Plan Aimed at Keeping GOP Supermajority Clears Kansas Senate
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A redistricting plan aimed at preserving the Republican supermajority in the Kansas Senate has cleared the chamber on a bipartisan vote. The bill was approved on a 28-8 vote Thursday and would create two districts with a pair of incumbents each. It could force Republican Senators Michael Fagg, of El Dorado, and Rick Wilborn, of McPherson, to face off in 2024, while Republican Senator Beverly Gossage, of Eudora, has a potential race against Democratic Senator Tom Holland, of Baldwin City. Two new Senate districts would have no incumbent, one in Johnson County and another linking eastern Topeka and northwestern Lawrence. The bill goes next to the House.
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Kansas Senate Committee Continues Hearings on Medical Marijuana
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - A Kansas Senate committee has been holding hearings on a bill to legalize, but strictly regulate, medical marijuana. Jim Ricketts, a retired mechanic from Holton, told lawmakers he’s been using the drug illegally since suffering serious injuries in a pair of car crashes decades ago. He says it’s time for legalization. "Everybody tells me ‘don’t go down there and testify, they’ll be at your house knocking on your door and take you to jail tonight.’ That’s fine. I’m here because if somebody doesn’t stand up and speak, it’s not going to go through," he said. Lawmakers who support the bill say it’s written to ensure that only those with legitimate medical needs will be allowed to purchase cannabis from state-regulated dispensaries. The committee is expected to wrap up its hearings on the bill today (FRI).
(-Earlier reporting-)
Kansas Legislature Inches Closer to Legalizing Medical Marijuana
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Kansas lawmakers are working on a plan to legalize medical marijuana. A Senate committee began hearings on the measure Wednesday. The Senate bill is similar to one passed last year by the Kansas House. It would legalize medical marijuana for treating about 20 diseases and psychiatric disorders - a list that could be expanded in the future. Sam Jones, a Wichita lawyer looking to partner in a cannabis business, says the drug is safer than many alternatives, including opioids. “The medical benefits are legitimate and verifiable," he said. "They’re backed by studies. Studies that are more numerous as more states begin to legalize.” Doctors would need a special certificate to recommend cannabis and patients would need a state-issued ID card to purchase it. There are pages of rules in the bill for businesses that would grow, process and sell a limited list of cannabis products. Smoking or vaping the drug in Kansas would still be illegal.
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Kansas Lawmakers Consider Phasing Out State Sales Tax on Food
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - A Kansas legislative committee has forwarded a plan to phase out the state sales tax on groceries to the full House. Republicans are looking to compromise with Democratic Governor Laura Kelly who wants to eliminate the food tax immediately. The compromise bill would reduce the overall Kansas sales tax rate by a fraction this coming July, but cut the grocery tax itself by almost half. As long as the state has the money, the rate would continue to inch downward, reaching zero in about three years. Republicans on the committee defeated attempts by Democrats to speed up that timetable. Representative Adam Smith, the GOP chair of the committee, says because the state’s financial condition could change in a hurry, the gradual approach is safer. Doing away with the tax will reduce state revenues by about $600 million a year.
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Kansas Bill Would Reimburse Teachers Who Purchase School Supplies for Class
TOPEKA, Kan. (KCUR) - A bill in the Kansas legislature would require school districts to repay teachers for classroom supplies. The Kansas Reflector reported the bill would require school districts to reimburse teachers up to $250 in personal expenses spent on classroom supplies. Senator Caryn Tyson, a Republican from Parker, introduced the bill. She said the legislation will show support for the state’s teachers. "Our teachers, for some reason, they feel like they’re not respected, or second-class citizens of Kansas. And that is not true," she said. According to the Reflector, critics opposed the bill because it excludes many items that teachers often buy, and would redirect district funding that could go toward teacher pay.
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Kansas Legislation Would Give "Bill of Rights" to Foster Children and Foster Parents
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas lawmakers could create a Bill of Rights for foster children and foster parents, outlining what protections they have. A plan to include the standards in state law is currently in a Kansas House committee. The legislation gives Kansas foster children the right to school supplies and a safe living environment. Foster parents would have the right to get information about the child and receive standardized training. Democratic Rep. Gail Finney has been a foster parent for eight years. She says all these rights are already included in state law but creating an easy-to-understand Bill of Rights could help foster kids and parents understand them. “I think this is a really good start to making foster parents feel better. And also for foster youth that are old enough to understand, knowing that they do have a voice. It’s going to make a difference to a lot of those kids that are very vocal," she said. The plan would also give foster children additional rights. When they’re an appropriate age, they could choose to attend court hearings that affect them.
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Lawmakers Consider Plan to Boost Math Scores in Kansas Middle, High Schools
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas lawmakers could mandate an online tutoring program in some school districts because they say too many students are struggling with math. A plan approved by a House committee this week would require some districts to pay for a program called Math Nation. The proposal would mandate the program in districts where at least half of middle school and high school students score near the bottom in state math assessments. Republican Representative Susan Estes says test scores show Kansas students are falling behind. "The whole reason we’re going here and doing this is (because) we’re very concerned about how students are doing," she said. Critics say lawmakers shouldn’t mandate specific education programs. The mandate could cost districts up to $4 million, depending on their enrollment.
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Kansas Legislation Would Help Survivors of Sexual Assault Gain Greater Access to Mental Health Services
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Survivors of sexual assault would get easier access to mental health services under a bill moving through the Kansas Statehouse. The Kansas News Service reports that the plan has bipartisan support. Victims of sexually violent crimes can request compensation for mental health services from the state’s victim compensation board. Deadlines can be 10 years from the date of the crime or when the victim turned 18. But supporters of the bill say that delays in testing rape kits can mean people lose their chance to access help. The bill would extend the deadline to two years after the kit is tested. Republican Senator Kellie Warren says passing this legislation will help people recover. “The purpose of the bill is to address the emotional, mental health impact of particular crimes listed in the bill," she said. Kansas used to have a rape kit backlog, but it has been reduced.
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3 Ex-Sedgwick County Jail Deputies Charged in Steroids Case
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Three former Sedgwick County jail deputies are among four people charged with felonies involving the use of steroids. The Wichita Eagle reports the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office announced in February 2020 that eight deputies were suspended without pay after being suspected of using steroids and selling the drug to each other. The prosecution of the case was delayed during the COVID pandemic. Court records say the former deputies and one other person were charged March 9 and are scheduled for court on March 31. Of the other five deputies suspended, only one continues to work for the sheriff's department.
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Affidavit Details Shooting of Three People at Kansas School
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A newly released affidavit says a student at a Kansas high school began shooting after two school officials asked to search his backpack because of rumors the student had a gun. The affidavit released Wednesday says the confrontation on March 4 at Olathe East High School came after a student told a school counselor about rumors that a student called Jay was bringing a gun to school. The affidavit says 18-year-old Jaylon Desean Elmore fired five shots when assistant principal Kaleb Stoppel and Erik Clark, the school's resource officer, asked to search his backpack. Clark returned fire, wounding Elmore. The two school officials were released from the hospital the day of the shooting. Elmore remains hospitalized.
(-Related-)
Kansas High School Shooting Suspect in Critical Condition
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — An 18-year-old Olathe East student charged in a shooting that injured two school officials underwent surgery this week and remains in critical condition at a hospital. Jaylon Elmore was unable to attend a hearing in his case Thursday because of his injuries. Elmore was shot by school resource officer Erik Clark at the high school March 4. Investigators say Clark shot Elmore after Elmore fired at him in a school office. Clark and assistant principal Kaleb Stoppel also were shot in the confrontation. The Kansas City Star reports that Elmore's attorney, Paul Morrison, said Thursday that Elmore will be in the hospital for at least a few more days.
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Bird Flu Reported in Mixed Flock in Franklin County
OTTAWA, Kan. (AP) — Federal and state agriculture officials say avian influenza, more commonly called bird flu, has been found in Franklin County in northeast Kansas. Heather Lansdowne, spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, says the infected flock was a mixture of chickens, ducks and other birds at a home farm. The department has issued guidelines for bird owners to protect their flocks from wild birds, particularly waterfowl. The guidelines include removing possible nesting and feeding areas for wild birds, and washing equipment and clothing after visiting areas where waterfowl might be present. Nearly 7 million chickens and birds have been killed in 13 states this year because of the bird flu.
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Alzheimer's Disease Projected to Grow in Kansas, Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) - The number of Alzheimer’s patients is projected to grow in Kansas and Missouri, but a new report shows that health care systems in the two states are not prepared. Citing numbers from the Alzheimer's Association, KCUR Radio reports that Alzheimer's cases are expected to grow about 13% in Kansas and about 8% in Missouri between 2020 and 2025. However, both states are far short of the elder care doctors and caregivers who will be needed if dementia rates continue at high levels. Association spokesperson Juliette Bradley says that many primary care doctors say they feel unprepared to discuss memory issues with patients. “Half of them are not comfortable doing so, and that’s primarily because they just don’t feel like they’ve had the kind of training they need," she said. The report also showed caregivers for people with dementia in Kansas and Missouri suffer from high rates of chronic illness and depression.
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Enrollment Falls Again at Kansas Universities
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Enrollment at most Kansas universities fell again this school year. The enrollment numbers, released Wednesday, also show that more Kansas students need remedial classes when they start college. During the past 10 years in Kansas, enrollment at the state’s largest universities is down more than 7%. Data from community colleges is even worse — a decline of more than 27% over the past decade. Board of Regents members say they’re also worried about trends that show more high school graduates aren’t ready for college. Last year, only 21% of Kansas students who took the ACT exam met benchmarks in reading, math and science. Board chair Cheryl Harrison-Lee says colleges need to partner with K-12 schools to make sure students are on track. “If you get there and you’re not ready, it is of great concern, I think, for us as Regents," she said. KU enrollment is down 7% over the past decade. K-State is down almost 17%.
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Missouri Man Charged with Kidnapping, Murder in 2021 Homicide
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a Kansas City man with kidnapping, murder and other counts in the stabbing death last spring of another man whose body was found wrapped in a blue tarp days after he had been reported missing. The Kansas City Star reports that 31-year-old Ahmad Herring has been charged with second-degree felony murder, kidnapping, robbery and other counts. Gutierrez's body was found nearly a week after he had been reported missing, and that he had suffered several stab wounds. Investigators say a ransom call was made from Gutierrez's phone the day he disappeared, and that an investigation led to Herring. Police say they found bleach, vinegar and ammonia in Herring’s trunk and a receipt for a blue tarp.
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KCK Middle School Drops Native American Mascot
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCUR) - A middle school in Kansas City, Kansas, will no longer call itself the Apaches following a district review of mascots. Arrowhead Middle School appointed a committee of board members, students, and community members to decide on the new mascot. The Kansas City Kansas School District will review about a dozen options before taking feedback from community members. District spokesperson Edwin Birch said the Apaches mascot is insensitive and not representative of the community. “Having that name here could be offensive to Native Americans," Birch said. Last year, the Shawnee Mission school district removed Native American imagery from the mascots of four schools.
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Joplin Officer Wounded in Shooting Released from Hospital
JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri police officer who was wounded in a shooting that killed two other officers has been released from the hospital. The Joplin Police Department says 53-year-old officer Rick Hirshey was released Wednesday from Freeman Health System in Joplin. Hirshey was wounded March 8 when he was shot through the windshield of his patrol car by 40-year-old Anthony Felix. Video on KOAM-TV shows hospital personnel lining the hallways and applauding as Hirshey left the hospital. Felix was shot and killed by another officer after Hirshey was wounded. Felix fatally shot Cpl. Benjamin Cooper and Officer Jake Reed. Cooper was laid to rest Tuesday and Reed's funeral is scheduled for Friday.
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VW Recalls over 246,000 SUVs Due to Unexpected Braking
DETROIT (AP) — Volkswagen is recalling more than 246,000 SUVs in the U.S. and Canada because faulty wiring harnesses can make them brake unexpectedly, sometimes while in traffic. The recall comes three days after The Associated Press reported that 47 people had complained to U.S. safety regulators about the problem, some reporting nearly being rear-ended by other vehicles. The recall covers certain Atlas SUVs from 2019 through 2023, Atlas Cross Sports from 2020 through 2023. The documents say the electrical contacts on a wiring harness can corrode, interrupting electrical connections. The problem also can cause the side air bags to deploy late in a crash. The company hasn't developed a fix yet. Owners will get letters starting May 10.
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Talking to Kids About Nukes: Parents, Experts Suggest Truth
NEW YORK (AP) — On social media, in classrooms and at the playground, children who hear about Russia's invasion of Ukraine are wondering where the war could lead. Questions about nuclear weapons can sometimes make this moment feel reminiscent of growing up during the Cold War. Experts and parents recommend speaking simply with younger kids who ask questions but avoiding detailed discussions of scary topics. With adolescents who ask about nuclear war, they say honesty is the best policy. Child psychologist Dr. Jessica Griffin says parents should make sure children aren’t consumed by their worries or what's on the news. She says you can encourage kids to ask questions but also engage them in daily routines of schoolwork, play and bedtime. She says routines are calming and let kids feel safe.
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Top Seed Kansas Opens 50th NCAA Tournament with 83-56 Win over Texas Southern
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Remy Martin had 15 points and Christian Braun 14 to lead five players scoring in double figures for top-seeded Kansas, and the Jayhawks opened their 50th NCAA Tournament with an 83-56 victory over Texas Southern. The SWAC champion Tigers had their only lead over the Big 12 champs after Bryson Etienne made their first shot of the game. Kansas is 29-6 and plays its second-round Midwest Regional game Saturday against ninth-seeded Creighton. John Walker III had 13 points for the Tigers.
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Creighton Center out After Knee Injury in 1st-Round NCAA Tourney Victory
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Creighton sophomore center Ryan Kalkbrenner will miss the rest of the NCAA Tournament with a left knee injury. Coach Greg McDermott says the injury isn't as significant as had been feared when Kalkbrenner got hurt in the Bluejays’ first-round win. But the Big East defensive player of the of the year has some damage and will need two or three months of recovery time. McDermott says it's not an ACL injury and will not require surgery. Ninth-seeded Creighton plays top seed Kansas in a second-round Midwest Regional game Saturday. Kalkbrenner had 16 points and 10 rebounds before getting hurt in overtime of Creighton’s win over San Diego State.
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Royals Sign RHP Zack Greinke to $13 Million Contract for 2022
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals signed six-time All-Star pitcher Zack Greinke to a $13 million contract for this season Wednesday, reuniting the left-hander with the club that drafted him in the first round two decades ago. Greinke also can make up to $2 million in performance bonuses, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not disclosed. The 38-year-old Greinke was the sixth overall pick of the Royals in the 2002 amateur draft, and he spent his first six seasons with the club, winning the Cy Young Award during his standout 2009 season.
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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!