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GOP Newsletter Talks About 'KNEA Trolls'WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Republican Party has sent out a newsletter that offers advice on dealing with "trolls" from the Kansas National Education Association. The Wichita Eagle reports that the newsletter sent Friday talks about clashes with "KNEA Trolls" in a section titled "HOW TO DEAL WITH TROLLS WHO CHALLENGE THE EDUCATION REFORM BILL." The Legislature passed a school finance bill in April that coupled increased funding with several reforms, including the elimination of state-mandated hearings before a public school teacher can be fired. The KNEA opposed the bill and has dogged conservative candidates throughout the summer. Kansas GOP executive director Clay Barker says the intent was to show members how to combat falsehoods. KNEA spokesman Marcus Baltzell stressed in an email that the organization represents thousands of eligible voters.==========Crews Demolish Partially Collapsed KC ChurchKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Crews are demolishing a northeast Kansas City church that partially collapsed with children inside. The Kansas City Star reports that demolition began Thursday on the Rios De Agua Viva Church. Work continued through Saturday. Walls at the church collapsed August 7th with more than 60 people inside, including children attending a vacation Bible school. No one was injured. The city determined the rest of the three-story building must be demolished because structural engineers found that it was unsafe. The building was insured and the church said previously that it was planning to move to Kansas City, Kansas.==========Man Convicted of Pottawatomie County KillingWESTMORELAND, Kan. (AP) — A St. Marys man has been convicted of unintentional second-degree murder in the New Year's Day shooting death of a friend. Twenty-two-year-old Pablo Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced September 25th for the killing of 24-year-old Levi Bishop of Rossville. Pottawatomie County jurors returned the guilty verdict Thursday. The Manhattan Mercury reports that Bishop was shot while riding around St. Marys with Gonzalez and two others looking for another party to ring in the New Year. They all had been drinking heavily. The defense described what happened as an accident. Gonzalez testified that he had put the gun to his own head, thinking it was unloaded. He said Bishop told him not to, but he turned the gun on Bishop, saying it wasn't loaded and pulled the trigger.==========K-State Researchers Find Food Safety Habits Vary By CountryMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State University researchers have found widespread variations in the food safety practices used in different countries. The researchers worked with 100 consumers from India, Korea, Thailand, Russia, Estonia, Italy, Spain and two U.S. cities. From country to county, there were differences in how poultry and eggs are consumed, stored, handled and prepared. For instance, most of the consumers in Argentina and Colombia stored meat on higher shelves, putting them at a higher risk for contamination. That's because juices from the meat can leak onto ingredients on lower shelves. Differences also were found among countries in how eggs are stored and cutting boards are cleaned. The findings were published in the journal Foods. The study is part of a larger project to develop science-based messages about food safety.=========KS Research Could Make Solar Energy More AttractiveTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — University researchers and utilities are conducting solar panel research that could make the energy source more attractive for Kansas users. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that a lab at the University of Kansas is working on producing flexible panels that will be more cost-effective than current silicon models. The technology they're using would print a "solar ink" on a panel and use that to generate electricity. Meanwhile, Westar Energy recently made $1 million in grants to 15 schools and nonprofits around Kansas. The money will be used to install solar setups that have capacities ranging from 10 to 30 kilowatts. The data will be available to residents and business owners who are considering installing solar panels and want to know what kind of results they can expect.==========Fort Larned Celebrates 50th Anniversary As ParkWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — It's going to be a big weekend at the Fort Larned National Historic Site about 130 miles northwest of Wichita. The fort is celebrating the 50th anniversary of becoming the Fort Larned National Historic Site — making it the first national historic site in Kansas. The Wichita Eagle reports President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the law that made the fort an historic site on August 31st, 1964. The fort itself stretches back to 1859, when it served several thousand soldiers for 19 years. Chief Ranger George Elmore says the fort was chosen as a national historic site because it was one of the best preserved forts from the Indian Wars era. Nine of the original buildings still stood in 1964, and the parade ground was intact.

Judge Nixes Couples' Attempt to Join SuitKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has spurned an effort by a heterosexual couple to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the Kansas ban on gay marriage. U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree ruled Friday that Phillip and Sandra Unruh, of Harper, have no legal right to join the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas. The Unruhs claimed in a Wednesday filing that they have a property right in their traditional marital status. They argued an adverse decision on the constitutionality of the state's same-sex marriage ban could diminish their marital status and harm their property right. Crabtree concluded the Unruhs' interests are already represented by the Kansas attorney general's office, which is defending the ban. But the judge also invited the couple to file a friend-of-the-court brief stating their arguments.==========Roberts Touts Backing in Johnson CountyOVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Several dozen leaders in Johnson County are supporting U.S. Senator Pat Roberts' re-election and are talking him up as a likely Agriculture Committee chairman if Republicans recapture a Senate majority. The Roberts campaign released a letter yesterday (FRI) from legislators, mayors and other prominent county residents. Johnson County is the state's most populous county and home to affluent Kansas City suburbs. The letter praising the three-term Republican incumbent included endorsements from 29 GOP state legislators and four mayors. They wrote that a potential Agriculture Committee chairmanship would be vital to Kansas. Roberts serves on the committee. Roberts is in a tight race with independent candidate and Olathe businessman Greg Orman. ==========Orman Outlines Aid to VeteransTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Independent candidate Greg Orman has outlined proposals for helping veterans as he campaigns against Republican Senator Pat Roberts in Kansas. Orman had a Statehouse news conference with several veterans yesterday (FRI) to tout his initiatives. They include a loan program to help tide over veterans who are waiting to receive disability payments. The independent candidate also said the federal government needs to act to protect veterans from predatory loans for higher education. He said steps include forgiving some loans and greater resources to investigate abuses. Orman also proposed expanded federal funding for special courts aimed at providing treatment rather than prison for veterans with legal problems and expanded efforts to combat homelessness among veterans. Roberts is a former Marine who has touted his past work on national security issues and military projects.==========Crowd-sourcing Website Kanstarter Goes LiveHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A crowd-sourcing website aimed at helping Kansas communities has gone live with its first four projects. Kanstarter is powered by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. The site, which went live Thursday, allows people to donate time, talent or money to the projects. The Hutchinson News reports the four projects on Kanstarter all have a common theme of improving Kansas rural life. One project is aimed at helping Burdett update its public miniature golf course. Another wants to help Plains purchase land to build a grocery store. The foundation's director described the website launch as soft, since the projects are new and everyone involved is still in the learning process. The foundation received $200,000 in community service tax credits from the state's commerce department to build the website.=========Woman Pleads Guilty in Highway ShootingLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Lawrence woman has pleaded guilty to arranging the shooting of her ex-boyfriend on a highway south of Lawrence. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that 22-year-old Brittany Nicole Smith pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The victim, 24-year-old Skylar Workman, survived after being shot May 26th on Highway 59. Testimony at a preliminary hearing in July indicated that Smith persuaded 25-year-old Edward Joseph Parker to shoot Workman. Sentencing was scheduled for January 9th. Parker pleaded not guilty in July to attempted first-degree murder. His trial is scheduled for December 1st.=========Former Bondsman Sentenced on Sex ChargesHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas bail bondsman convicted of forcing women to have sex has been sentenced to 21 years in state prison. KWBW-AM reports that 66-year-old Dwight Jurgens told the judge at his sentencing yesterday (FRI) that the women who testified against him had lied. A Reno County jury convicted Jurgens last month of rape, aggravated human trafficking and attempted human trafficking. Prosecutors said Jurgens told four women he would revoke their bonds if they didn't have sex with him. The crimes occurred while Jurgens was a bonding agent for TNT Bonding. In at least one case, a woman was given drugs by Jurgens and passed out, only to discover him on top of her.

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. And follow KPR News on Twitter.

Schlingensiepen (left) and Jenkins during a debate in Lawrence. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)One of the most closely watched races in the state this campaign season is in the 2nd Congressional District of eastern Kansas. Two-term Republican Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins, of Topeka, is facing a challenge from Topeka pastor Tobias Schlingensiepen, a political newcomer. KPR’s Stephen Koranda has more on the race, and how the candidates have been branding themselves and each other.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7b6c40000 ====================(TRANSCRIPT) Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins and her Democratic challenger, Tobias Schlingensiepen, are shaking hands with supporters and meeting people on the KU campus. The chance for glad-handing came right after a debate, one of several between the two. In these debates, Jenkins points to work she’s done on behalf of Kansas in her nearly four years in Congress - including times where she says she reached across the aisle. But she also points out that when she first came to Congress, Democrats controlled both the House and the Senate. And these days, Jenkins paints herself as a conservative -- who has fought against a tide of Democratic bills. “The stimulus, Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, cap and trade. They actually believe that the government can solve our problems, and I happen to believe that many times the government is the problem.” Schlingensiepen is new to elective politics. But while this is his first time running for office, he has been an advocate for various issues in the past. Now, he's trying to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction with partisanship and gridlock in Congress. “I’m in this race to bring traditional Kansas values to Washington. But I can’t do that, and no one can, until we change the way Washington works.” Tobias has tried to characterize Jenkins as a Washington insider - saying she's in the pocket of corporations and special interest groups who fund her campaign. Jenkins enjoys a big fundraising advantage over Schlingensiepen, but he's quick to point out that some of her funding has come from big banks. “Now, there’s nothing wrong with them giving my opponent money, and there’s nothing wrong with her accepting it. What is wrong is for my opponent to accept their money while voting for their interests, instead of yours.” Jenkins says her opponent is distorting the facts, and that she has received a lot of support from individuals and community banks. She says she voted against some bank regulations because they were a bad idea, like the Dodd-Frank bill. “Anybody familiar with Barney Frank’s financial bill knows that it was not good for Kansas. He was trying to fix a problem and he didn’t accomplish it with Dodd-Frank. It is doing great harm to our local main street banks and credit unions.” The two have stark differences on some of the big issues. On the economy, Jenkins wants reduced taxes and regulations. Schlingensiepen wants investment in education and infrastructure. Jenkins has several advantages in this race: she has more name recognition, more money for things like campaign signs and advertising and a district with more registered Republicans than Democrats. Because of this, Schlingensiepen's effort to unseat her has been an uphill battle. “On average, people who run for the first time for an office like U.S. House or U.S. Senate aren’t successful.” That’s Michael Lynch, a political science professor at the University of Kansas. “He’s not a candidate that has a lot of experience being a candidate, he hasn't run for office previously. And having his first office be a federal House election is tough.” Lynch says Jenkins’ strategy of saying she has worked across the aisle on some issues is a good angle, but he says it’s not clear if voters will be convinced. “It’s pretty hard to look at the last two years of Congress and point out a lot of really great examples of bipartisanship.” For a first time candidate in a tough race, Lynch says Schlingensiepen has done a good job. He’s been actively campaigning, speaking and taking part in debates, and getting out the Democratic message. Even so, Lynch says Schlingensiepen is climbing a steep hill if he hopes to be giving an acceptance speech when the polls close. In Lawrence, I’m SK.

Brownback Sets Goal of 100K New Jobs in KansasTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Governor Sam Brownback says he'll work to create 100,000 new private-sector jobs over four years if he's re-elected. Brownback, a Republican, announced his goal Tuesday as part of a platform that his campaign calls "Road Map 2.0." It follows up on a set of goals he outlined in seeking his first, four-year term in 2010, called "The Road Map for Kansas." The governor attended rallies in Overland Park, Topeka and Wichita to unveil his platform. Brownback said four years ago that he wanted to increase private-sector employment. Since he took office in January 2011, the state has added nearly 55,000 private sector jobs. Critics note that the percentage of job growth is lower than the U.S. figure. Brownback faces a tougher-than-expected race against Democratic challenger Paul Davis.==============================Brownback: Growth Will Close Kansas Budget GapTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback says his plan to create 100,000 new private-sector jobs in Kansas over the next four years will also close a projected state budget shortfall. Brownback pledged Tuesday to work to create the new jobs if he's elected to a second, four-year term. The promise is a key part of his campaign platform. He said during a rally at a Topeka business that aggressive income tax cuts enacted at his urging are creating economic growth. But he's facing questions about whether the reductions are undermining the state's finances. The Legislature's nonpartisan research staff issued a new forecast last week predicting the state will have a $238 million budget shortfall by July 2016. But Brownback said economic growth will allow the state to avoid budget problems.==============================New Poll Shows Davis Ahead in Kansas Governor's RaceTOPEKA, Kan. — A new Rasmussen Reports Poll shows has Democratic nominee for governor Paul Davis up by 10 points over incumbent Governor Sam Brownback. Davis leads Brownback 51 percent to 41 percent in the statewide telephone survey of likely Kansas Voters. Five percent of voters polled said they were undecided, while three percent prefer a third-party candidate. The survey of 750 likely voters in Kansas was conducted on August 6 and 7 by Rasmussen Reports with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.==============================Roberts, Orman on Tour in US Senate Race in KansasTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Republican incumbent Pat Roberts and independent candidate Greg Orman are holding multiple events across Kansas as they run for U.S. Senate. Roberts launched what he called a listening tour this week, promising to visit all 105 counties. He stopped Wednesday in south-central Kansas for a Wichita forum on small-business issues and town hall meetings in Derby and Andover. Orman was on an 18-stop bus tour that took him Wednesday to Hays, Colby and Garden City. Roberts is seeking his fourth, six-year term in the Senate. Orman is an Olathe businessman and the co-founder of a business capital and management services firm. The Democratic nominee is Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor.===============================None of State's KanCare Providers Hit BenchmarksTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health officials say none of the state's KanCare providers met benchmarks for timeliness in claims processing during 2013. The Wichita Eagle reports the state set a goal to have all claims without mistakes processed in 20 days and all claims processed in 60 days. An August report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said the state's three KanCare providers — Amerigroup, Sunflower Health and United Healthcare — failed to meet that benchmark in any month last year. KDHE spokeswoman Sara Belfry says part of the companies' payments for the year were withheld, and the state continues to work with the providers. The companies did meet a goal of resolving 98 percent of all inquiries within two business days in each month of 2013.==============================Kansas Protesting Federal Domestic-Service RuleTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas is protesting a planned federal labor rule applying to domestic service workers, arguing it would reduce the care available to the disabled and elderly in their homes. The state Department for Aging and Disability Services said Tuesday the new rule would increase the cost of services and force consumers to cut back. Secretary Kari Bruffett wrote this week to U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez, requesting an exemption from the rule for disabled and elderly Kansans who direct their own care. The rule is set to take effect next year. The federal agency says it's designed to ensure that domestic service workers are protected by federal wage and overtime rules. But Bruffett said the law will treat health care consumers as employers.===============================One Man Dies, Another Critical After Kansas ExplosionPITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — One of two men injured in an explosion at a southeast Kansas fireworks manufacturer has died, while the second man remains in critical condition. The Crawford County Sheriff's office says in a news release that 28-year-old Kenny L. Clark died at a Joplin hospital hours after the explosion Tuesday afternoon. The Pittsburg Morning-Sun reports that a second man, 42-year-old Howard O. Harper, was in critical condition Wednesday at a Springfield hospital. The men were injured by an explosion and fire at the former headquarters of Jake's Fireworks in Pittsburg. They were moving materials that were to be taken to the company's new headquarters in a Pittsburg industrial park. No other employees were injured. The cause of the explosion and the fire are still under investigation.==============================Topeka Board Votes to Buy Heartland Park Race TrackTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Topeka's governing board has voted to buy the Heartland Park racing facility and expand its redevelopment district. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Tuesday's vote is only a preliminary step needed before the city can buy the financially struggling racetrack. The city council in 2006 issued $10.46 million in STAR bonds to finance improvements at the racing park, intending to use sales tax revenue to pay off the bonds. But Heartland Park's STAR bond revenue was not enough and the city used property tax revenue to make up the difference. City manager Jim Colson said the city will be able to break even on the STAR bond debt, partly by expanding the redevelopment district. The city plans to find a buyer for the track or contract with someone to manage it.==============================New Police Headquarters on the Ballot in LawrenceLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - Lawrence voters will be asked to approve a sales tax increase to pay for a new police headquarters. The city commission voted Tuesday to put the request for a two-tenths of a 0.2 percent tax increase on the November 4 ballot. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the vote gives the city less than 90 days to persuade voters to approve the nearly $28 million project. The ballot language says the tax increase will end nine years and could end sooner if revenue is higher than expected. City commissioners last week authorized a $2.25 million contract to buy land for the headquarters, if the sales tax question is approved.==============================Sister of Inmate Who Died in Western Kansas Jail Enters PleaGOODLAND, Kan. (AP) - A Missouri woman whose sister died in a western Kansas county jail has pleaded guilty to a felony drug count. Joy Biggs, of Kansas City, pleaded Tuesday to not having a tax stamp on less than an ounce of marijuana found in the women's vehicle when a trooper stopped them near Goodland. Six other charges were dropped. The Salina Journal reports Biggs is expected to be placed on probation when she is sentenced in October. Biggs's sister, Brenda Sewell, died in the Sherman County jail in January, three days after the women were arrested. Biggs alleged jail guards refused to help her sister as she became ill. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation declined to investigate Sewell's death after an autopsy found she died of natural causes.==============================Virus Found in 14 Kansas City-Area NewbornsKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Health authorities in Missouri and Kansas are investigating infections among 14 infants in the Kansas City area with a virus that can cause meningitis and other inflammation. The Kansas City Star reports the first cases of a strain of human parechovirus were discovered in June. Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman Aimee Rosenow says none of the infants has died from HPeV3 but all have been hospitalized. Shawnee Mission Medical Center and Children's Mercy Hospital have reported cases. She says it's unclear if the infections are connected. Nine of the children are from Kansas and the rest are Missouri residents. Rosenow says the department is working with the Missouri Health Department and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine if there have been other infections.==============================Kansas Plant Reopening After 'Pink Slime' ControversyWICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A shuttered Kansas processing plant that made a treated ground beef product critics dubbed "pink slime" plans to reopen next week with limited operations amid rebounding sales. Beef Products Inc. said Tuesday it plans to start collecting fresh beef trimmings at its Garden City facility on Monday to support its Dakota City, Nebraska, operations. The Kansas plant is the first to reopen since the South Dakota-based company closed three facilities over the 2012 controversy about the meat. Beef Products will rehire 40 to 45 workers at its Garden City location. Some 236 workers at the Garden City plant lost their jobs in 2012 amid the dustup over a meat product called lean, finely textured beef.============================== Homeless Man Wounded by Target ShootersPRATT, Kan. (AP) — A homeless man has been shot and wounded near a central Kansas park where a pair of teens were practicing target shooting. The Pratt County sheriff's office says the incident happened around 11:30 am Wednesday. Authorities say two boys, ages 15 and 16, were target shooting at a trash barrel and apparently didn't see the man sleeping behind it. KSNW-TV reports that one of the rounds hit the man in the leg. The boys called for help, and the 42-year-old man was taken to a hospital for treatment. The severity of his injury wasn't immediately known. ==============================Citing Errors, Reno County Cuts Treasurer's PayHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) - Citing several accounting errors that cost the county thousands of dollars, the Reno County Commission has cut the treasurer's salary by more than 24 percent. Treasurer Jan Hull defended her work and questioned if she was being singled out before the commission voted Tuesday to reduce her salary to $52,000 from $69,000 a year. The deputy treasurer's salary was reduced by $8,000. The Hutchinson News reports Hull's mistakes since she took office in October 2013 have cost the county an estimated $40,000. Hull acknowledged she had made errors, but said her predecessor made similar errors, and that most of the problems occurred during her first three months while she was still learning the job.===============================Kansas Woman Admits Stealing from EmployersKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A northeast Kansas woman whose criminal history barred her from jobs involving money has admitted stealing $731,000 from two employers who didn't know about her past. The U.S. Attorney's office says 45-year-old Susan Elise Prophet, of Bucyrus, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and identity theft Wednesday in federal court in Kansas City, Missouri. Prophet admitted embezzling $543,000 over eight months from Dorfman Plumbing Supply in Kansas City while working as a bookkeeper. After being fired in 2013 she was hired as a bookkeeper by North Point Skilled Nursing in Paola, Kansas, where she stole more than $188,000. Prophet spent the embezzled money on vehicles, travel, and other personal expenses. Prosecutors said Prophet had felony convictions in Tennessee that barred her from holding jobs where she would have access to cash and checks.==============================2 Arrested in Blowgun Attack on Kansas GirlsNEWTON, Kan. (AP) — Police investigating a blowgun attack on two children in central Kansas have made two arrests. The incident happened in late July as the girls, ages 12 and 14, were swimming in Sand Creek in Newton. The girls said two people who were fishing became annoyed when they swam too close to the fishing lines. The girls said the anglers followed them to a bike path, picked up blowguns and began firing long darts. The 14-year-old needed treatment after being wounded in the foot. KAKE-TV reports Newton police have arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of battery and assault. A 29-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of obstructing an investigation. No charges had been filed as of Wednesday.==============================Former Soldier Sentenced for 2009 CrimesMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - A former Fort Riley soldier whose five life sentences were vacated by the Kansas Supreme Court will instead serve 77 years in prison. Tony Tremayne Lewis was convicted in a series of crimes including rape, kidnapping and assault that occurred in Riley County in the spring of 2009. He was initially given five life sentences. The state's high court in June upheld the convictions but sent the case back for a new sentencing, finding that a judge misinterpreted Kansas law on punishment for habitual sexual offenders. Riley County District Judge Meryl Wilson imposed the 77-year sentence during a hearing Tuesday. Lewis will serve the time concurrent with sentences in Geary County for similar crimes.==============================Kansas Man Found Guilty in 2013 Motel MurderTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A Kansas man has been found guilty of strangling a 39-year-old woman to death and setting her car on fire. A Shawnee County District Court judge convicted 30-year-old Andrew Charles Redick on Tuesday. He was found guilty of premeditated first-degree murder and arson in the 2013 death of Lena Keithley. Maintenance workers found her body November 15 in a room at the Country Club Motel in Topeka. A coroner says she died due to strangulation causing a lack of blood flow to the brain. Redick elected for his case to be heard by the judge rather than a jury. He's scheduled to be sentenced in October. The Keithley family says the verdict is "sound and just."==============================Drawing Decides Southeast Kansas ElectionIOLA, Kan. (AP) — A southeast Kansas man has won a seat on the Allen County Commission thanks to the luck of a draw. The Iola Register reports that Jerry Daniels and Jim Mueller were vying for the Republican nomination in last week's primary election. A recount by hand confirmed the initial electronic tabulation of a tie, with each candidate receiving 255 votes. So on Monday, County Commission Chairman Jim Talkington reached into a bowl and pulled out a slip of paper with Daniels's name. Mueller, of Moran, said he won't seek a second recount. Daniels, who lives in Humboldt, doesn't have a Democratic opponent in November's general election, meaning he'll fill a vacant seat on the commission in January.===============================DNA Leads to Charges in 1991 Kansas City RapeKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas man is charged in Missouri with sexually assaulting a teenage girl in a Kansas City park 23 years ago. The Jackson County (Missouri) prosecutor says DNA testing led to the arrest of 42-year-old Maurice Parnell Webber, of Overland Park, Kansas. Webber was being held Wednesday on $250,000 bond on multiple charges of rape and sodomy, and did not have a lawyer. The victim was 17 years old when she was attacked in September 1991 after pulling her car into a Kansas City parking lot to sleep. She told police she awoke in the back seat of another vehicle occupied by four men who robbed her of jewelry and money. She told police she was then driven to Swope Park and sexually assaulted by three of the men.==============================Kansas Expected to Have Bountiful Harvest of Fall CropsWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A government report predicts bountiful fall crops in Kansas following a devastating winter wheat harvest. The National Agricultural Statistics Service forecast on Tuesday that Kansas farmers would bring in 544 million bushels of corn this year. That is 7 percent more than a year ago. The report also estimated the state's grain sorghum harvest at 187 million bushels. That is up 13 percent from last year. Kansas soybean production is forecast at 151 million bushels, up 18 percent from the previous year. All of the fall crops benefited from widespread rains throughout their growing season. But drought conditions earlier this spring decimated the state's winter wheat. Wheat production is estimated at 235 million bushels. That is down 26 percent from last year for the worst harvest in 25 years.==============================ACLU Says Offender Registry UnconstitutionalWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas is urging the Kansas Supreme Court to uphold a judge's finding that the state's criminal offender registry is unconstitutional. The registry includes sex offenders as well as people convicted of certain violent crimes and drug offenses. The ACLU said in a filing Tuesday that instead of improving public safety, the registry laws impede offenders from reintegrating into a community. The arguments come in a lawsuit filed by a child molester seeking to have his name removed from the Kansas offender list. Shawnee County Judge Larry ruled a law extending his registration requirement was a punishment that couldn't be retroactively enforced under the U.S. Constitution. But the National Center for Victims of Crime says upholding the ruling would "profoundly affect" victims.==============================Attorney: Manning Not Receiving Approved Hormone TherapyKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union and an attorney say convicted national security leaker Chelsea Manning isn't receiving medical treatment for her gender identity condition as previously approved by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. The ACLU and Manning's civilian attorney sent a letter Tuesday to the U.S. Department of Defense and the federal military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas threatening to sue if Manning does not receive treatment for gender dysphoria, the sense of being a woman in a man's body. Manning, who changed her name from Bradley after her conviction, is serving a 35-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth for giving WikiLeaks classified documents. She has asked for hormone therapy and to be able to live as a woman. Messages seeking comment were left Tuesday for the U.S. Army and the prison.==============================2 Workers Severely Burned in Fireworks ExplosionPITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) - Authorities in southeast Kansas say two employees of a fireworks manufacturer were severely burned in an explosion outside the company's former headquarters in Pittsburg. Crawford County Undersheriff Steve Geier says the blast occurred at 2:35 p.m. Tuesday while the employees of Jake's Fireworks were moving materials from a shipping container. The materials were to be transported to the company's new headquarters in a Pittsburg industrial park. The Morning Sun newspaper reports both workers were flown to hospitals in Missouri. Crews extinguished a fire caused by the explosion but planned to remain at the scene overnight.==============================Wichita Man Says Ebola-Stricken Mother ImprovingUNDATED (AP) — The son of a North Carolina-based missionary says his mother is doing well as she's being treated for the Ebola virus in an Atlanta hospital. Jeremy Writebol of Wichita told NBC's "Today" show in an interview broadcast Tuesday that Nancy Writenbol's eyes are getting brighter and she's even joking a little. Jeremy Writebol said he had been concerned his mother might not make it when she was taken out of an ambulance at Emory University's hospital last week after being flown from Liberia. A second American, Dr. Kent Brantly, had been able to walk from the ambulance into the hospital. Writebol said doctors have said they expect her to recover, though they haven't elaborated. He also said he wouldn't be surprised if his parents want to return to Liberia after she recovers.==============================Bystanders Halt Attempted Abduction of ChildGRANDVIEW, Mo. (AP) — Authorities in western Missouri are crediting a pair of bystanders with stopping the attempted abduction of a 4-year-old boy as his mother watched from her wheelchair. KSHB-TV reports that the incident took place around 6:30 pm Monday at an apartment complex in Grandview. Officers said the boy and his mother were outside when a woman grabbed the child and ran up the stairs in a nearby apartment building. Two men followed the abductor and confronted her, but the woman refused to release the boy and hung him over a railing. Police said one of the men was able to grab the child, who was returned to his mother unharmed. The suspect was taken into custody. Grandview police said they don't think she was related to the boy or his mother.==============================Growing Kansas Wine Industry Poised for HarvestWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — It's grape harvest time in Kansas, and the state's growing wine industry is expecting a big crop this year. The Kansas Grape Growers & Winemakers Association says the state has 35 registered wineries and vineyards. Most are small, with two to five acres of grapes, rather than large-scale farms. Nearly all of them are in eastern Kansas. The Wichita Eagle reports the state's climate doesn't allow wineries to grow well known grapes such as Cabernet or Merlot. Instead, they grow hybrids that include part of the heartier native American grapes. Winemakers produced 107,000 gallons of wine worth $6.9 million in 2010, the last official count. Wine experts say this year's production is likely to be much higher, thanks to a strong harvest of grapes.==============================Crash Suspect Pleads Guilty to Firearms ChargeKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City man accused of killing a police technician in a motor vehicle crash has pleaded guilty to a federal weapons offense. The U.S. Attorney's office says 29-year-old Larneal Davis admitted having two semi-automatic pistols in his vehicle when he crashed into a car driven by Michael Chou while fleeing from police last July. Davis has previous convictions for drug offenses, making it illegal for him to possess firearms. He pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court and agreed to request a 10-year sentence. Davis is also charged in state court with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Chou, who worked for the Kansas City Police Department as a crime scene technician. He's scheduled for trial on that charge next month.

KS Supreme Court Reverses Permit for New Coal PlantTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has reversed a state agency's decision to issue a permit to construct a new coal-fired power plant in southwest Kansas. Friday's unanimous decision by the justices is a setback for Sunflower Electric Power Corporation in its plans to build a second plant near Holcomb. The justices ruled that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment failed to account for new emission standards imposed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency that were in place at the time the permit was issued. The ruling sends Sunflower's permit request back to the KDHE to consider the stricter standards before granting the permit. The case was brought by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups who claim the permitting process was flawed.==================KS Officials: Gay Couples Must File Taxes as SinglesWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas revenue officials are saying that same-sex couples must file their state income tax returns as if each person were single — even if they filed as married on their federal returns. The state Revenue Department issued the guidance Friday. It plans to provide a worksheet in its instruction booklet for calculating income, deductions and other data. The agency says the approach adheres to the Kansas Constitution's definition of marriage. It contends the recent U.S. Supreme Court case upheld the rights of states to define and regulate marriage. But Thomas Witt, executive director of Equality Kansas, says tax officials are sidestepping Kansas law. Witt says Kansas law says requires married couples to use their federal filing status as the basis for their Kansas taxes. He wants the governor to rescind what he calls the discriminatory directive.==================KS Supreme Court Expands Post-Conviction DNA TestingTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that a state statute limiting post-conviction DNA analysis to cases involving only first-degree murder or rape is unconstitutional. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the court said Friday that the statute violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The decision reverses a Wyandotte County district court ruling that denied DNA testing to Jerome Cheeks, who was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison after being convicted in 1993 of second-degree murder. The high court's decision says the Kansas law limiting post-conviction DNA analysis only to people convicted of first-degree murder or rape should be extended to cover people serving life sentences for second-degree murder.==================Thunderstorms Expected in Plains StatesSIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Autumn storms are threatening much of the Midwest, dumping heavy snow in South Dakota, spawning a tornado in Nebraska and threatening possibly dangerous thunderstorms from Wisconsin to Oklahoma. A foot of snow had already fallen in the northern South Dakota's Black Hills early Friday. John Chamberlain with the National Weather Service in Rapid City tells South Dakota Public Broadcasting that the storm is one of most intense fall storms in a long time in the area. No travel was advised on some western South Dakota roads and some schools canceled classes. Other states in the storm's path include Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri. Even Texas could be affected. In South Dakota, as much as 30 inches of snow could fall in the Black Hills, with 12 inches on the plains.==================Kansas National Guard Furloughing Civilian Support StaffTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The federal shutdown has already furloughed 772 members of the Kansas National Guard, and the Adjutant General's Department says 263 civilians who support the Guard will be furloughed as well. Friday's announcement says the civilians are state employees whose jobs are funded by the federal government. The adjutant general, Major General Lee Tafanelli, said 139 of the affected civilians work mainly in Topeka, Wichita and Salina. They perform supply, clerical, maintenance and repair support for the federal functions of the Guard and the Adjutant General's department. The other 124 civilians work at the Regional Sustainment Maintenance Sites at Fort Riley and in Salina. The furloughed Guard members include 417 soldiers, 209 airmen from the 190th Air Refueling Wing in Topeka and 146 airmen at the 184th Intelligence Wing in Wichita.==================KS Agency Reminds Visitors: State Parks Are OpenTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas agency wants to clear up confusion about the effects of the federal shutdown on camping, fishing and other recreational activities around the state. The Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism issued a statement Thursday pointing out that all state parks and state-run fishing lakes remain open. The picture is a little murkier at the reservoirs owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. The state agency says federal campgrounds, day-use areas and boat ramps at the reservoirs are closed. But the state operates parks and wildlife areas at many of the reservoirs that allow access to a variety of activities, including camping, fishing and boating. The five National Historic Sites in Kansas remain closed.================== Federal Shutdown Brings Halt to Wichita Aviation SalesWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The federal government shutdown has affected the Wichita general aviation industry, which can't complete aircraft sales without a key office in the Federal Aviation Administration. Aircraft sales can't be finalized because aircraft registrations can't be obtained through the Federal Aviation Administration's Aircraft Registry Branch in Oklahoma City. The Wichita Eagle reported that the registry office is closed. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been furloughed and offices closed Tuesday when Congress failed to pass legislation to authorize spending after September 30. General Aircraft Manufacturers Association president and CEO Pete Bunce says the current closure also comes at the start of the busiest time for aircraft deliveries. Bombardier and Beechcraft say they're closely monitoring the federal shutdown. Cessna declined comment.==================KS Woman Struck, Dragged by KC BusKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A northeast Kansas woman is hospitalized after being struck and dragged nearly a block by a bus in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. KCTV reports that the 68-year-old Shawnee woman suffered what police Sergeant Bill Mahoney described as life-threatening injuries. The woman was walking near a downtown intersection just before 7 am Friday when she was hit by an Area Transportation Authority bus making a left turn. Mahoney says the driver was alerted by a passer-by who pounded on the bus after seeing the woman being dragged underneath. Investigators believe the woman was in the driver's blind spot as he made the turn. Mahoney called it "a terrible accident" but says police will examine video from cameras mounted on the bus.==================KS Scraps Idea of Clinton Lake ResortLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Lawrence city manager's office says the state has scrapped plans for a resort at Clinton Lake State Park. City Manager David Corliss told The Lawrence Journal-World that state officials have notified the city that the only bid for a resort at Clinton Lake State Park is no longer being considered. A letter from state officials says the project wasn't financially feasible for the state. The prospects for the Clinton Lake resort appeared dim earlier when the state received only one proposal. Officials with the Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks & Tourism had hoped a 175-room hotel, resort and conference facility could be built at the state park.==================Olathe Police Seeking 3 Women for Lifting WalletsOVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Police in suburban Kansas City are searching for three women suspected of stealing wallets from patrons at two grocery stores. The Kansas City Star reports that police in Olathe and Overland Park are circulating photographs of the women suspected in "distraction" thefts at stores on September 22. Police say two victims reported being distracted by the women and later found their wallets missing from their purses. The victims' credit cards were then used in unauthorized transactions. One victim's credit cards were used for more than $3,000 in unauthorized purchases. Authorities identified the suspects as three women in their 20s. Video from an incident in Overland Park shows three women entering the store together and two of them approaching the victim while a third removed the victim's wallet from her purse.==================De Soto School Board Complains About No-Bid PurchaseDE SOTO, Kan. (AP) — A Johnson County school district superintendent is coming under fire for spending almost a million dollars on wireless technology without taking bids or getting board approval. The Kansas City Star reports that the district tried to return the equipment and start over. But the manufacturer told district officials that its 30-day window for returns closed a month ago. The board was discussing the issue more Friday morning. But district spokesman Alvie Cater says officials have determined the board essentially has two options: Keep the equipment and pay for it, or don't keep the equipment and pay for it. Superintendent Doug Sumner has declined to comment on the purchase, but Cater acknowledged a "misstep." The De Soto school board requires that bids be taken if a product's cost exceeds $20,000.================== Funerals Set for Mom, Child Killed in Hutchinson FireHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Funerals are scheduled for a mother and her 11-year-old daughter who died in a house fire that Reno County authorities allege was set by the woman's son. The Hutchinson News reports the fire broke out at the family's Hutchinson home on September 26, killing the woman and her daughter. The 14-year-old suspect's father was also injured in the fire. The funerals are scheduled for Friday morning, with burials later Friday in McPherson. The family issued a statement asking for privacy as they "go through this time of unspeakable pain and heartbreak." Reno County Prosecutor Keith Schroeder filed a motion this week seeking to charge the 14-year-old as an adult on charges of first-degree murder of his mother and 11-year-old sister and attempted murder of his father.================== Driver Rolls Truck After Topeka Drive-Through CrashTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A driver has struck two vehicles in a Topeka restaurant drive-through lane before jumping a curb, hitting a tree and rolling her pickup truck. Topeka police Lieutenant Chuck Haggard says authorities are looking into the possibility that medical issues contributed to Thursday night's wreck at a McDonald's restaurant. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the driver was in her early 20s and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The driver was the truck's sole occupant, and no other people were injured. The other two vehicles that were struck sustained minor damage.================== Wichita Woman Sentenced in Fatal ShootingWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita woman has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for firing a bullet through a wall and killing a man in the next room. The Wichita Eagle reports that 36-year-old Desiree Boone was sentenced Thursday for involuntary manslaughter. She also received a one-year sentence Thursday for threatening another man with a gun. Boone had a long history of mental illness. She told a Sedgwick County jury in April that her handgun discharged accidentally in November 2011 as she and her cousin argued in a home they shared near Friends University. The bullet struck 47-year-old Earle Sullivan Jr. in the head and killed him instantly. Sullivan was helping the cousin move a table and curtains into the home when he was shot.================== KS Man Sentenced for Killing Woman, ToddlerKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kansas man has received two life sentences for killing his girlfriend before starting a fire that killed the woman's 2-year-old niece. The Kansas City Star reports that 37-year-old Curtis T. Horn will serve 40 years in prison before he is eligible for parole under the sentence imposed Thursday. Prosecutors said Horn strangled 34-year-old Brandi Johnson last February inside an apartment where she was babysitting her niece, Amiyah McClenton. He then started the fire that killed the toddler and forced apartment complex residents to flee. No one else was injured. Horn pleaded guilty in August in Wyandotte County District Court to two counts of first-degree murder.================== Jury Trial Begins in Dodge City Gang CaseDODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — Several Dodge City residents are on trial in federal court in Wichita for their alleged involvement in a street gang that's accused of drug trafficking, robbery and murder. The Wichita Eagle reports that their jury trial, which began this week, is expected to last several weeks. The defendants are charged in a 38-count indictment unsealed last year. The indictment says 23 members of the Nortenos gang promoted its drug trafficking with violence and threats. The defendants are charged under the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Four of the suspects are also charged with taking part in the 2009 murder of Israel Peralta, who was shot to death when he was sitting outside on the south side of Dodge City.================== KS Woman Honored for Weather ObservationsMINNEAPOLIS, Kan. (AP) — The National Weather Service in Topeka says a north-central Kansas woman has submitted weather observations from her area every day for 29 years. KSAL-AM reports that the Weather Service has now rewarded Melba Bruce, of Minneapolis, with its Thomas Jefferson Award. The award is given annually to just five of the more than 11,000 people nationwide who serve as cooperative weather observers. Governor Sam Brownback and Weather Service officials traveled to the Ottawa County town on Thursday to present the award. It's the highest honor the agency bestows on its volunteer observers. As a cooperative observer, Bruce provides daily high and low temperature reports, precipitation and snowfall measurements and river measurements.================== KS Aircraft Group Offers Flights on 1929 PlaneWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas aircraft enthusiasts are getting a chance to experience a 1929 plane known as the "Tin Goose." The Wichita Eagle reports that a Wichita-area chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association is offering rides to the public on a Ford Tri-Motor. The plane got its nickname because of its corrugated all-metal cover. Flights will depart Friday from Jabara Airport. On Saturday and Sunday, the plane will fly out of the Newton Airport as part of its 50-year anniversary celebration. The plane's enclosed cabin had nine padded seats, making it the first all-metal, multi-engine passenger airliner. It led to the construction of the first airline terminal, the first hotel for air travelers, and the first paved runways. Henry Ford built 199 of them from 1926 to 1933 in Michigan.================== KC Community College System Gets $12M GrantKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City's Metropolitan Community College system is receiving $12 million in federal grants to better support students. College officials said in a release the grants come from the U.S. Department of Education. Some of the funds will be used to improve remedial courses designed to catch students up and prepare them for regular coursework. Money also will be used for enhanced tutoring, expanded peer mentoring and improved advising. Nancy Russell, who heads the system's Institute for Workforce Innovation, says the intensive support systems are proven to be effective and will be of great value to students. Metropolitan Community College has five campuses in the Kansas City area, including a Business and Technology campus.================== Reno County Removing Rural BridgeHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Two timber bridges in rural Reno County have been removed so far this year, and the removal of a third timber bridge is planned. The Hutchinson News reports that the removal of the Clark Road bridge is set to begin Monday, with no replacement planned. A new bridge would cost about $550,000. Earlier this year, the Longview Road bridge was removed because of damage, and the High Point Road bridge was removed after it was damaged in spring flooding. Some residents in the area of the Clark Road bridge say the bridge is part of a key rural route and should stay. But County Public Works Director David McComb says the bridge was rated in "poor" condition before the August 2013 flood, which damaged it even more.================== MO High Court Asked to Rule in KC Light Rail CaseKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — An attorney for a Virginia resident pushing for light rail in Kansas City has asked the Missouri Supreme Court to force the city to place the man's latest ballot initiative before voters. Clay Chastain is a former Kansas City resident who gathered enough signatures to put a sales tax increase for light rail on the city ballot. The Kansas City Star reports the proposal sought a three-eighths-cent sales tax increase for 25 years to pay for a 22-mile light rail line, 19-mile commuter rail line and an 8-mile streetcar line. The City Council says the measure violated the Missouri Constitution by failing to provide full funding for construction. Chastain's attorney, Jeffrey Carey, on Thursday told the court the voters should be allowed to decide the issue.================== Fort Hays State University to Receive $1.6M GiftHAYS, Kan. (AP) — A Fort Hays State University graduate and his wife will donate $1.6 million over the next four years to the northwest Kansas school. Peter Werth said Thursday the couple wants the gift used for education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and for the university's chemistry department. Werth is a Hays native who received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the university in 1959. He is the founder and CEO of Connecticut-based ChemWerth, which develops pharmaceutical ingredients to produce generic drugs. Werth announced the gift ahead of receiving Fort Hays State's Alumni Achievement Award.================== SM West Receiver Hospitalized with StrokeOVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A high school football player in suburban Kansas City has been hospitalized after having a stroke during a football game. The Kansas City Star reports the family of Shawnee Mission West senior Andre Maloney said in a statement Friday that Maloney is in intensive care after suffering a stroke during the game Thursday night. Shawnee Mission West football coach Tim Callaghan says Maloney was on the sideline when he became dizzy and "lost functioning" after scoring a 63-yard touchdown reception during Shawnee Mission West's 37-34 loss against Leavenworth. Shawnee Mission West athletic director Don Perkins says Maloney was "pretty much untouched" during the play. Maloney was taken off the field in an ambulance. Maloney, who starts at wide receiver and cornerback, has verbally committed to play football at Kansas.==================Harvick Qualifies on Pole for Cup Race at Kansas SpeedwayKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kevin Harvick turned the fastest lap in qualifying for Sunday's race at Kansas Speedway, and will sit on the pole for the first time since the 2006 season. Harvick, who is tied for fourth in points, negotiated brutal crosswinds entering Turn 3 that ruined several good qualifying runs to post a lap of 187.526 mph on Friday. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was second-fastest at 187.480 mph, followed by Jimmie Johnson with a lap of 187.162 mph. Harvick was fastest in practice earlier in the day, and his first pole since September 17, 2006, gives him the first pit stall for Sunday's race. That could prove especially important at a place where track position is of the utmost importance. Points leader Matt Kenseth qualified seventh.==================Wichita Sub's Preliminary Hearing Pushed BackWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A hearing has been pushed back that will determine whether there's enough evidence to try a Wichita substitute teacher on child sex charges. The Wichita Eagle reports that the preliminary hearing for Jarrod Alan Acquistapace has been moved to October 16. The 31-year-old is jailed in Sedgwick County Jail on charges that he unlawfully engaged in sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl in August. Bond is set at $150,000. His public defender didn't immediately return a phone call. Acquistapace became part of the Wichita school district's substitute database in September 2011. He was removed from the database this week, although he hadn't worked as a substitute in the district this school year. District spokeswoman Susan Arensman said in an email that Acquistapace had undergone a background check.==================Man Making Cross-Country Walk with GoatSALINA, Kan. (AP) — A man walking across the country with a goat to raise money for a Kenyan charity is hitting the halfway point of his journey. The Salina Journal reports that Steve Wescott set off on in May from the Space Needle in Seattle. Now, he's crossing through Kansas with his pack goat as he makes his way toward Times Square in New York City. His primary goal is to raise $200,000 to help a longtime friend build an orphanage in Kenya. Wescott says he's made friends and been treated to kindness along the way. As he walked Thursday along the shoulder of Kansas 140 between Salina and Brookville, a driver pulled over to give him a bottle of water, a can of tea and a couple of granola bars.================== MN Man Convicted of Human TraffickingOAKLEY, Kan. (AP) — A jury in western Kansas has convicted a 27-year-old Minnesota man on charges related to human trafficking. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt's office says in a release that a Logan County jury on Thursday convicted Preston Sanders of St. Paul, Minnesota of transporting a person under 18 knowing that person would be used for sex. He also was found guilty of transporting an open container of alcohol, furnishing alcohol to a minor and driving on a suspended license. Schmidt's office says Sanders was arrested after a traffic stop on Interstate 70 and an investigation that involved the Logan County Sheriff's Office, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol. Sentencing is scheduled for December 5.================= Bowyer Finding Some Peace as He Returns to KansasKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) _ To some, Clint Bowyer has become a pariah. To those in Kansas, he's still one of their own. The native of Emporia, Kansas insists his spin at Richmond that set off a chain of events that rattled NASCAR to its core was unintentional. NASCAR failed to prove that Bowyer was attempting to manipulate the finish to get teammate Martin Truex Jr. into the Chase for the championship. But the fallout from Richmond still resulted in harsh sanctions against his Michael Waltrip Racing organization that included knocking Truex out of the Chase. In the eyes of some, the whole situation turned Bowyer from one of the most popular drivers in the series to one worthy of contempt. Not at Kansas, though, where he's still as popular as ever.

The WNBA star took the stand in Russian court Wednesday to explain why she had vape cartridges in the first place, how they ended up in her luggage and what happened after they were discovered.

The Wall Street Journal reporter is among four Americans who will be returning home as part of a massive prisoner swap announced Thursday that involves six nations and two dozen people.

A new year brings the same old drought conditions... and Kansas grocery bills should be getting slightly less expensive. Those stories and other headlines can be found here.

Kansas City, Missouri police have released a man who was considered a person of interest after three sisters who disappeared in August from their Kansas foster home were found safe. Police released him Tuesday morning after Tonganoxie officials said they didn't have enough evidence to charge him with a crime.