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A federal judge and special prosecutor have harsh words, however, for the government's lapses in evidence-sharing during Stevens' 2008 trial. Stevens was convicted, but while he was appealing the government dropped its case.

Oscar Pistorius, superstar athlete, was back in court this week for his sentencing hearing, after a culpable homicide conviction. Journalist Mandy Wiener says his case reminds her of a favorite book.

Those are just some of the issues lawmakers hope to address before the legislative session ends.

Erin Patterson was convicted last month of killing her estranged husband's relatives with a meal laced with toxic mushrooms. Newly unsealed evidence alleges she previously poisoned his meals too.

It's been a year since Russia detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on spying allegations.

The legal complexities tied to former President Donald Trump's classified documents case are unique and the judge's lack of experience in such a case could contribute to lingering delays, lawyers say.

Kansas Company Building Drones for FarmersNEODESHA, Kan. (AP) — A company in Neodesha is building drones that its owner believes could someday help farmers watch over their fields without spending hours walking or driving through their property. The company, called AgEagle, has shipped 125 unmanned aircraft systems to customers across the world since January 1st. AgEagle was started by Bret Chilcott, a former aircraft employee who grew up on a farm near Udall. Chilcott says his firm is a pioneer in an industry that he believes will grow quickly, despite current federal regulations that prohibit commercial use of drones. The Hutchinson News reports the machines could someday allow farmers to map out fields using imagery to detect how a crop is growing. Data collected by the drones would be sent to a laptop for study by the farmer. =========== Monarch Numbers Improve After 3 Years of DropsWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Monarch butterflies are rebounding after three years of significant drops. Chip Taylor of Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas says the number of Monarchs wintering in Mexico could be two to four times more than last year. Monarch Watch organizes tagging to track the migration of the butterflies. The Wichita Eagle reports that favorable weather seems to be the reason for the improved numbers. The butterflies have been thick the past couple of weeks, but a weather front may have lifted them on their way by now. Wichita naturalist Jim Mason says Monarchs look for northerly winds to help them migrate more easily. ========= Kansas City Man Convicted of Double MurderKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City man has been convicted of fatally shooting two people in 2012. The Kansas City Star reports that Jackson County jurors Friday found 51-year-old Oliver Todd guilty of two counts of second-degree murder. Court records say the killings happened after Todd argued with several people on the front porch of home. He then returned with a gun, killing 24-year-old Travis Pernell and 29-year-old Melvin Taylor. The jury also found Todd guilty of one count of first degree assault and three counts of armed criminal action. Sentencing is set for November 24th. ========== Inmate Gets 25 Years in 2010 ShootingWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in a killing that witnesses say was revenge for the death of his brother. Sedgwick County District Court records show that 32-year-old James Vell Holloman will begin serving time on his second-degree murder conviction after completing a 12-year federal prison term for weapons violations and conspiracy to commit robbery. The Wichita Eagle reports that Holloman pleaded guilty in June to the 2010 killing of 41-year-old Stephen Smallwood outside Perfection Auto shop. During testimony, witnesses said Smallwood was shot because Holloman thought the auto shop owner was involved in the killing of Holloman's brother, Sammy Smith, in 2009. ========= Kyle Busch Wins at Kansas SpeedwayKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kyle Busch raced his sixth NASCAR Nationwide Series victory of the year yesterday (SAT,) making a late pass on Kevin Harvick and holding on at Kansas Speedway. Busch, also the winner last week at Dover, extended his series-record victory total to 69. Harvick pulled away at the final restart with 40 laps to go, but Busch got around him with 20 to go and won by 0.767 second. Ryan Blaney was third after starting on the outside of the front row. Chase Elliott tightened his hold on the points lead with four races to go, finishing 10th after avoiding a collision with Jamie Dick shortly after the three-quarter mark in the 200-lap, 300-mile race. Regan Smith, who came into the race 26 points behind Elliott, crashed in practice Saturday morning and finished 22nd in a backup car.

Randy A. Ridens, Sr. (photo courtesy of Kansas Department of Corrections)EDGERTON, MO. (AP) — Two of three inmates who walked away from a northeast Kansas prison are in custody in northwest Missouri. The Platte County Sheriff's Office says the men emerged from a rural home late Friday afternoon after hours of negotiations. Captain Erik Holland says 31-year-old Allen M. Hurst and 49-year-old Scott A. Gilbert walked out from under a back deck and surrendered without incident. The pair had holed up in the house Friday morning, sometime after escaping Lansing Correctional Facility in Kansas early Friday. The whereabouts of the third escaped inmate, 57-year-old Randy A. Ridens Sr., remain unknown. Ridens is described as being 5' 11", 230 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. The Kansas Department of Corrections notes that Ridens (pictured above) has removed all of his facial hair as of Friday, May 10, 2013. Ridens is considred armed and dangerous. Anyone with information concerning his whereabouts is asked to call 911, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-572-7463, or the Lansing Correctional Facility at 913-727-3235. ======================earlier versions of this story follow:======================EDGERTON, MO. (AP) — Authorities say they believe two armed men holed up in a northwest Missouri home escaped from a Kansas prison Friday. Platte County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant Erik Holland says officers began chasing the suspects in Platte City, Missouri. Holland says shots were fired at officers as the men fled in a stolen car and the men bailed at a home near Edgerton. Three inmates walked away from a minimum-security unit at the Lansing Correctional Facility in Kansas. Authorities believe the men in the Missouri house are two of the inmates. It's unclear where the third inmate is. Authorities say the homeowners said there were firearms inside. The Kansas Department of Corrections has identified the escaped inmates as 31-year-old Allen M. Hurst, 49-year-old Scott A. Gilbert and 57-year-old Randy A. Ridens Sr.======================EDGERTON, MO. (AP) — Three inmates who walked away from a Kansas prison are holed up in a northwest Missouri home. Kansas Department of Corrections spokesman Jeremy Barclay says the inmates escaped early today (FRI) from the minimum security unit at the Lansing Correctional Facility. He says they ran into a home in Platte County, Missouri, on Friday. No shots have been fired. Area TV broadcasts show lines of police cars surrounding the home in a rural area near Edgerton. The escaped inmates are 31-year-old Allen M. Hurst, 49-year-old Scott A. Gilbert and 57-year-old Randy A. Ridens Sr. They were in prison for burglary and theft convictions. North Platte R-1 School District Superintendent Jeff Sumy says the district was asked to keep students inside at an Edgerton school.======================LANSING, Kan. (AP) — Law enforcement officials are looking for three inmates who walked away from the Lansing Correctional Facility. The inmates escaped early Friday from minimum security. Further details of their escape were not immediately available. The inmates are 31-year-old Allen M. Hurst and 49-year-old Scott A. Gilbert, who both were convicted in Sedgwick County in 2010 of multiple counts of burglary and theft; and 57-year-old Randy A. Ridens Sr., who was convicted in Shawnee and Douglas counties in 2010 of several burglary counts and one count of theft. Corrections officials say all escaped inmates should be considered armed and dangerous.

Combs had been convicted in July on two counts of transportation for prostitution. During his sentencing hearing he spoke at length for the first time in the trial, addressing the judge at length.

Here's the latest Kansas and regional news from the Associated Press and KPR newsroom.