Search results for

A string of Jehovah's Witnesses have been convicted since Russia's Supreme Court banned the Christian denomination as an "extremist organization" in 2017.

Eric James has been taken into custody. He is the last of a group of four men who escaped from the Ottawa County Jail earlier this week to be apprehendedOVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — The last of four inmates who escaped from a north-central Kansas county jail this week is back in custody. The state Department of Corrections says 22-year-old Eric James was apprehended around 5:30 p.m. Friday in Omaha, Nebraska, and is now in the custody of Omaha police. Omaha police spokesman Michael Pecha says officers saw a gold 2002 Nissan Altima believed to have been stolen by the inmates in Minneapolis, Kansas, where they escaped on Wednesday morning. James was not inside the car, but officers made contact with the driver. That led them to a nearby house where they located James. He was arrested without incident.Police are questioning the male who was driving the Nissan.James was serving a state sentence for robbery and other crimes when he and three fellow inmates escaped from the Ottawa County Jail in Minneapolis, Kan., about 120 miles west of Topeka. *****this story was updated. The prior version of this story, which aired on KPR prior to the capture of Eric James, may be found below. ****** Police have now picked up three of the four inmates who escaped from the Ottawa County jail. Convicted double murderer Santos Carrera-Morales was apprehended in Russell late last (THUR) night. Jeremy Barclay is a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections.Authorities continue to hunt for 22-year-old Eric James, who may have been driving a stolen 2002 gold Nissan Altima with Kansas tags. James is a black male with a cornrow-type hair style. He's approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 180 pounds. James is serving time for an aggravated robbery and kidnapping conviction in Anderson County.

(Flickr Photo by Jimmy Emerson)A Kansas legislative committee will meet next week to look for ways to fix the state’s so-called Hard 50 sentencing law. The law allows judges to sentence convicted murderers to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 50 years. But a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling raised questions about the legality of the process. Representative Lance Kinzer, a Republican from Olathe, heads the committee. He says they’ll use a proposed change from Attorney General Derek Schmidt as a starting point in Monday’s hearing.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7c3540002The basic sentence for first-degree murder in Kansas is life in prison, with parole possible after 25 years. The Kansas Hard 50 law allows judges to add to that sentence, but the Supreme Court says juries must be allowed to decide whether an enhanced sentence should be given.====================(VERSION TWO)A Kansas legislative committee will meet Monday to begin work on modifying the state’s so-called Hard 50 sentencing law. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling raised questions about whether the law could stand as-is. The Kansas law allows judges to sentence convicted murderers to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 50 years. The committee is headed by Representative Lance Kinzer, a Republican from Olathe. Kinzer says the committee will hold a public hearing on a fix proposed by Attorney General Derek Schmidt.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7c3540003Lawmakers will have the option to amend the plan or propose different solutions. The basic sentence for first-degree murder in Kansas is life with parole possible after 25 years. The Supreme Court says that juries must be able to weigh in on enhanced sentences like a Hard 50, rather than leaving the decision solely in the hands of judges.

Here's the latest Kansas and regional news from the Associated Press, compiled by KPR staff.

Photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House has approved changes to a state law that automatically imposes a 50-year sentence on some convicted murderers, a move sparked by a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a similar law in Virginia. Tuesday's 122-0 vote came on the first day of a special session called by Governor Sam Brownback to fix the state's so-called Hard 50 law. The legislation — which puts the sentencing process in the hands of juries — now goes to the Senate, which is expected to approve it Wednesday. Kansas adopted the Hard 50 sentence in 1990, after the Legislature rejected the death penalty but sought to ensure long prison terms for certain murders. ================KPR carried another version of this story, focusing on the "Hard 50" law's revision hearing before a House committee earlier today (TUE): A Kansas House committee today (TUE) passed a proposed fix for the state’s Hard 50 sentencing law. The law allows judges to sentence certain convicted murderers to at least 50 years in prison without eligibility for parole. The House's proposed revision would change the process so that juries also play a part in doling out Hard 50 sentences. The revised law would also attempt to preserve the Hard 50 sentences currently being served by prisoners. Lawrence attorney Jessica Glendening told the committee that making changes retroactive is unconstitutional, and the bill could lead to costly appeals. But Stephen Howe, Johnson County district attorney, says the bill can help keep past Hard 50 sentences intact.A recent U.S. Supreme Court case raised questions about the constitutionality of the state’s old Hard 50 law. The full Kansas House is likely to debate the bill today (TUE).

Pakistanis generally take a bleak view of their system of law and order, which tends to be dysfunctional and corrupt. But the recent conviction of two men for murder has caught the attention of many critics with hope for reform.

Former President Donald Trump still can't speak about prosecutors in his New York criminal trial after an appeals court decision denied his attempt to lift the gag order.

President Trump's mug shot is one of the first things visitors will see when approaching the Oval Office.

In a decision Friday, New York Judge Juan Merchan noted that his inclination was to not impose a sentence of incarceration.

These are the hews headlines for our area, as compiled by KPR news staffers.