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Headlines for Monday, February 20, 2023

A graphic representation of eight radios of various vintages, underneath the words "Kansas Public Radio News Summary"
Emily Fisher
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KPR

Attorney General Kobach: Walgreens Won't Send Abortion Pills into Kansas

TOPEKA – (KPR) - Walgreens has announced it will not send abortion pills into Kansas. In a letter, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach warned the company in early February that dispensing the abortion drug Mifepristone would be a violation of state and federal law. “This is a significant victory for the pro-life cause and for women’s health,” Kobach said. “The dispensing of these pills without a supervising physician present would expose women to complications and potentially to coercion as well." Walgreens responded to the attorney general’s warning with its own letter dated February 17. In it, Walgreens Executive Vice President Danielle Gray writes: “Walgreens does not intend to dispense Mifepristone within your state and does not intend to ship Mifepristone into your state from any of our pharmacies. If this approach changes, we will be sure to notify you."

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Topeka Man Arrested, Accused of Sex Trafficking Child

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A Topeka man has been arrested on charges of child sex trafficking. Police say 57-year-old Dwayne G. Cheshire was taken into custody last week. He's accused of human trafficking a child to engage in sexual acts.WIBW TV reports that Cheshire was booked into jail, where he remains on $500,000 bond. His next court appearance has been scheduled for June 1.

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Dodge City Cargill Plant Named in Labor Investigation

MINNEAPOLIS, Kan. (AP/KPR) - The Cargill plant in Dodge City has been named in an investigation into children working dangerous jobs in food processing. The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered Packer Sanitation Services pay $1.5 million for employing more than 100 children in meat processing plants around the country. Officials say the children have been working overnight shifts in hazardous jobs at the plants. Packer Sanitation Services was fined more than $393,000 for employing 26 kids, aged 13 to 17, at the Cargill plant in Dodge City. The Labor Department's investigation also named several meat processing plants in Nebraska, Minnesota, and five other states.

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Two Convicted in KCK Kidnapping and Torture Case

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – Two Kansas men have been convicted on charges related to the kidnapping and torturing of a victim in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2019. KCTV reports that a federal jury has convicted 36-year-old David Carr of Kansas City, Kansas, and 46-year-old James Michael Poterbin, of Edwardsville, of kidnapping and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, among other charges. Prosecutors say the two men supplied meth that was sold throughout the region and that they kidnapped the boyfriend of a woman who they mistakenly thought had stolen money from them. They pistol-whipped, stabbed, beat and tortured the victim then ordered another man to burn the victim’s house. The house was destroyed. Carr and Poterbin both face a maximum penalty of life in prison when they are sentenced on May 1.

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Proposal Would Outline Foster Families "Bill of Rights"

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas foster parents and children could soon have stronger legal protections to help them navigate the system. State lawmakers are now considering a bill of rights to protect foster kids and parents. The law would add 40 total rights. These rights would ensure family visits for kids and proper training for parents. Most of the rights already exist somewhere else, like in foster care policy. But lawmakers say this would strengthen those protections. Kristi Cundiff is the CEO of a foster parent advocacy group in Indiana. That state already has a bill of rights for parents, and she says it has made a difference. “Foster parents felt like they weren't being heard," she said. "And that has definitely changed because of the foster parent bill of rights. It actually states that certain rules need to be followed.” Supporters of the bill say foster care is complex and creating a law that centralizes people’s rights will simplify the system.

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SNAP Emergency Allotments Coming to an End in Kansas

UNDATED (HPM) - Early in the pandemic, the federal government gave extra food benefits to low-income families through SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But those additional benefits will end next month for all households on SNAP. Congress passed a law at the end of last year ending the pandemic boost to SNAP benefits nationwide by March. In the Midwest, that includes Kansas, Illinois and Oklahoma. Deborah Smith, with Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services, says $300,000 households in her state receive SNAP benefits. And she says they’ve likely come to depend on their increased food budget. "With the emergency allotments ending, after this amount of time, there's no doubt there'll be a lot of families who will struggle with this transition," she said. Her department has been trying to make them aware through social media and emails. Eighteen states - including Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska - already ended emergency allotments.

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A Member of the Kansas House Wants to Extend School Year by 40%

TOPEKA, Kan. (TCJ) - A proposal in the Kansas Legislature would lengthen the school year by about 40%, extending the academic year by 11 weeks. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the idea faces widespread opposition. The bill in the Kansas House Education Committee would increase the school year by 444 hours. Rep. Bill Rhiley, a Wellington Republican, introduced the plan, saying it would help students learn more. He also said many school districts are barely meeting the minimum requirement for instruction hours. Critics say there's little evidence to suggest a longer school year would improve student achievement. Others have complained about the cost, saying teachers would need to be paid more and longer school years would also require additional maintenance and increase transportation costs.

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Kansas Bill Would Limit Campaign Finance Oversight Efforts

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The head of the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission says a bill backed by Republican lawmakers would hinder the agency’s ability to enforce campaign finance laws. The proposed bill puts restrictions on the commission’s subpoena power. Mark Skoglund says that would make it nearly impossible to thoroughly investigate complaints against candidates and political action committees. “This bill, as written, means that we would never be able to support most, especially complex violations of the campaign finance act," he said. "There’s just no reason to have the law.” Backers of the bill say the proposed restrictions are aimed at curbing overly aggressive enforcement tactics that inhibit free speech. The House Elections Committee is expected to vote on the bill this week.

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Kansas Professors Alarmed By Lawmakers' Requests for Diversity Data

WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW/KNS) - Some university professors are worried a request from Kansas lawmakers for information about diversity efforts at public universities could be part of an effort to stifle teaching. Lawmakers asked the Kansas schools to report how much money they spend on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, including teaching critical race theory. They haven’t said how they’ll use the data. But it comes amid a national effort by some conservatives to limit teaching about race in public education. Kansas State University Professor Greg Paul is one of the people alarmed by the request. “I just want to make sure that the faculty can continue to do what they do best, which is teach and prepare students to serve; to carry out really outstanding research," he said. He added that pulling resources from diversity education could result in students being less prepared to enter a diverse workforce.

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Kansas Lawmakers Battle over Plastic Bag Bans

TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - An effort by Kansas businesses to stop cities and counties from regulating certain kinds of plastic waste has hit a snag at the Statehouse. A Kansas Senate committee has sidetracked a bill that would prohibit cities and counties from banning plastic shopping bags and other types of single-use containers used by retailers and restaurants.The committee rejected the measure despite efforts to narrow its impact by removing a section that would have made it illegal for local governments to regulate virtually any kind of consumer product. Republican Senator John Doll joined Democrats on the panel in opposing the bill despite the change. “There isn’t enough lipstick in the world to make this a good bill," he said. Even so, the bill is backed by several influential business groups. So, it could be resurrected. Lawmakers passed a similar measure last year but Democratic Governor Laura Kelly vetoed it.

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Kansas Citians Get Sneak Peek at New KCI Terminal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Thousands of Kansas Citians got a sneak peek at the new terminal at KCI over the weekend. KCTV reports that 10,000 people toured the $1.5 billion terminal on Saturday. The new building replaces older terminals that opened more than 50 years ago. The new terminal sits on the ground where Terminal A used to sit. The new terminal is set to open for business February 28.

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$11 Million Headed to Kansas to Help Revamp Airports

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Around $11 million in federal funds is headed to Kansas to revamp dozens of airports for public use. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced last week that 66 airport projects across the state were chosen to receive grants. WIBW TV reports that the Kansas Airport Improvement Program funds will be used to plan, construct or rehabilitate general aviation airports. Among the airports receiving grant money:

  • Lawrence Regional – Airport master plan update, $360,000; apron rehabilitation, $130,500 design, $800,000 construct; runway extension, $99,750 design
  • New Century Air Center, Johnson County– Airfield electrical vault building, $89,300 design, $338,400 construct; rehabilitation of a central portion of the west apron, $133,000 design, $800,000 construct; maintenance materials, $13,600
  • Johnson County Executive – Pavement maintenance materials, $13,600; southwest fence, $129,600; north fence, $156,150

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Man Charged in Death of Kansas City Officer and His K-9 After Crash

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KAKE/KMBC) - An 18-year-old man is charged in the deaths of a Kansas City police officer, his K-9 and a pedestrian after a fatal crash last week. Authorities say the crash happened Wednesday night when a speeding driver ran a red light and crashed into a police cruiser. Inside the cruiser was officer James Muhlbauer. The officer, his police dog and a pedestrian were all fatally injured. The pedestrian, identified only as a man in his 50s, died at the scene, as did the officer’s dog, Champ. Muhlbauer was rushed to a hospital where he later died. Police say the driver of the speeding car, 18-year-old Jerron Lightfoot, suffered minor injuries. KAKE TV reports that he was taken into custody and has since been charged with two counts of first-degree, involuntary manslaughter. The officer who was killed was married and a father. He was also a 20-year veteran of the Kansas City Police Department.

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Scranton Man Found Guilty of Ex-Girlfriend's Brutal Axe Murder

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A northeast Kansas man has been found guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend with an axe. A Shawnee County jury returned a guilty verdict Friday against 62-year-old John K. Ewing, of Scranton. WIBW TV reportsEwing was found guilty of murder, kidnapping and other charges in the death of his ex-girlfriend, 58-year-old Deborah Stephens. She was killed with an axe at the Coachlight South mobile home park in April 2021. Ewing is scheduled for sentencing in May.

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KU Rises to Number 3 in AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll

UNDATED (AP) – Houston returned to number one in the AP men’s college basketball poll for the third time this season while Northwestern and Texas A&M barged into the rankings after each had a pair of impressive wins last week. The Cougars picked up 48 first-place votes from the 62-member national media panel with just two weeks left in the regular season. Alabama dropped one spot after losing to Tennessee and routing Georgia in its lone week at No. 1. The Crimson Tide held onto seven first-place votes, while Kansas also earned seven to climb two spots to No. 3. North Carolina State and Florida Atlantic dropped out after each lost games last week.

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Former KU Women's Basketball Coach a Finalist for Naismith Hall of Fame

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KC Star/KPR) - Former University of Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington has been named a finalist for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Kansas City Star reports that Washington is the winningest women's basketball coach in KU's history. Gene Keady, a Larned native who lettered in three sports at Kansas State University and went on to coach 25 seasons at Purdue, was also named one of the 12 finalists. Whether Washington and Keady receive enough votes for induction will be announced April 1st at the college basketball's Final Four.

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This summary of area news is curated by KPR news staffers, including J. Schafer, Laura Lorson, Tom Parkinson and Kaye McIntyre. Our headlinesare generally posted by 10 am weekdays. These ad-free headlines are made possible by KPR members. Become one today. And follow KPR News on Twitter.