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UPDATE: Kansas DA Says Evidence Lacking on Governor's EventsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor says a lack of evidence from interviews with legislators prevented him from concluding that private meetings with Governor Sam Brownback resulted in substantial violations of the state's open meetings law. Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor said Tuesday that lawmakers committed technical violations of the Kansas Open Meetings Act during seven dinner meetings with Brownback in January at Cedar Crest, the governor's official residence. Brownback held the gatherings for members of 13 legislative committees. Taylor told reporters during a news conference that Kansas courts generally won't impose sanctions or issue corrective orders over technical violations of the open meetings law. He said the lawmakers his office interviewed in investigating the meetings couldn't remember enough details for him to show that substantial violations had occurred.====================Aide Says DA Confirms Kansas Governor's View of MeetingsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A spokeswoman for Kansas Governor Sam Brownback says a prosecutor's report confirms the governor's position that private meetings with legislators did not violate the state's open meetings law. Spokeswoman Sherriene Jones-Sontag said Tuesday that the report from Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor confirms that Brownback and his staff clearly understood the Kansas Open Meetings Act and took appropriate steps to prevent violations. Taylor's office investigated seven private dinners in January for members of 13 legislative committees at Cedar Crest, the governor's residence. His office's report said it found no substantive violations of the open meetings law. The report from Taylor's office said the governor and his staff were aware of the risks of violating the law and made some effort to prevent them.==================== Top Kansas Senator Not Surprised by Meetings ReportTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ Kansas Senate Majority Leader Jay Emler says he's not surprised by a prosecutor's finding that private meetings Governor Sam Brownback had with legislators didn't substantially violate the state's open meetings law. The Lindsborg Republican also said Tuesday that he's not offended by Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor's criticism of the gatherings in January at Cedar Crest, the governor's residence. A report Tuesday said that technical violations of the law may have occurred during the seven meetings and that many legislators have a limited understanding of the open meetings law. Emler said it's good for lawmakers to be reminded regularly that the law requires them to be careful about having private meetings. He attended one of the gatherings and said he saw nothing that violated the law.======================Kansas Media Group Disappointed in Report on EventsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Press Association's executive director sees what he calls a hollow victory in a prosecutor's criticism of Governor Sam Brownback's private meetings with legislators at his official residence. Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor concluded Tuesday that no substantive violations of the Kansas Open Meetings Act occurred during the seven January gatherings at Cedar Crest. But Taylor's office said technical violations may have occurred. Brownback invited members of 13 legislative committees, more than 90 lawmakers in all. Press Association Executive Director Doug Anstaett says it's the kind of outcome that people who fight for open government have come to expect. Anstaett says Taylor is acknowledging problems but only urging lawmakers to get more training while admonishing them not to violate the law again.======================Kansas Court to Stream Hearings Video OnlineTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court will offer live, online video streaming of oral arguments beginning next week. The court has offered live audio streaming of arguments since 2004. Chief Justice Lawton Nuss announced the addition of video streaming Tuesday. Nuss says it's intended to make the judicial process more accessible to the public. He says the justices believe the service will also benefit schools, colleges and universities. The high court will hear arguments Monday through Friday next week from 9 am to noon. Nuss noted that the week's docket includes arguments August 31 on a case of broad public interest — a challenge by environmental groups to state permits for a proposed coal-fired power plant in southwestern Kansas.====================== AG Schmidt to Travel State Touting Anti-Gang InitiativeWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt plans to tour the state this week to announce a new anti-gang initiative. The Wichita Eagle reports Schmidt will start his tour at 9 am Wednesday in Kansas City, Kansas, followed by stops at 11:30 am in Topeka and 4 pm in Wichita. On Thursday he'll be in southwest Kansas, with stops in Dodge City at 9 am, Garden City at 11:30 am, and Liberal at 3 pm. Schmidt will conclude the tour Friday with a 9 am presentation at the Kansas Highway Patrol auditorium in Salina. All of the attorney general's appearances will be open to the public.====================== Basehor Pays $200K to Fired City OfficialBASEHOR, Kan. (AP) — The city of Basehor will pay $200,000 to a former city administrator who was fired last year. The City Council on Monday also formally apologized to Mark Loughry for allegations of wrongdoing that were made by some council members when he was fired. The allegations were found to be false. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the settlement comes after Loughry said he planned to sue the city for defamation, breach of contract and due-process violations. None of the council members who voted to fire Loughry in September 2011 are on the council. Voters recalled two of them, along with Mayor Terry Hill. A third council member resigned after the recall. Loughry was hired last year as the finance director for Raytown, Missouri. Basehor has not hired a replacement for Loughry.========================Lawrence Group Tries Again to Limit Underage DrinkingLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — With a new school year beginning, a coalition in Lawrence is starting another campaign to convince underage students not to drink. A group called Draw the Line Lawrence Coalition discusses the consequences minors face when they get caught drinking. The coalition includes several area law enforcement agencies. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the group also stresses the importance of special patrols in bars, liquor stores and in neighborhoods. And they spread the word about recent prosecutions involving city and state drinking laws. The coalition, law enforcement and University of Kansas officials last week distributed "good neighbor" packets in the Oread neighborhood around the Lawrence campus and at apartment complexes. The packets discussed laws on noise and other issues.========================PETA Threatens to Sue Kansas State FairWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is threatening a free speech lawsuit against the Kansas State Fair over restrictions on its booth. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri and a Kansas City law firm have agreed to represent PETA in a potential federal suit. Attorneys have given fair officials until Thursday to rescind a demand that PETA shield passersby from any videos or pictures depicting animal slaughter. ACLU legal director Doug Bonney says this is an obvious ACLU case because the state fair is imposing a content-based restriction on PETA's speech that is blatantly unconstitutional. Fair manager Denny Stoecklein did not immediately return an email and phone message seeking comment.======================== Dueling Petitions Submitted on Hutch Anti-Discrimination RuleHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Supporters and opponents of a new anti-discrimination ordinance in Hutchinson have presented dueling petitions to the county clerk. The Hutchinson City Council approved an ordinance June 5 that prohibits people from being fired or evicted because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. The Hutchinson News reports that opponents seeking to repeal the ordinance delivered petitions to the clerk last Thursday. Supporters who are seeking to expand the protections submitted their petitions on Friday. The county clerk office has three business days to determine whether the petitions have enough signatures to require action by the Hutchinson City Council. If the petitions are certified, the council will have 20 days to adopt changes in the anti-discrimination ordinance or schedule a public vote within another 90 days.===================== 4 Former Cadets to Join Kansas Military School LawsuitWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal magistrate judge is allowing four more former cadets to join an abuse lawsuit against a Kansas military school. The decision Monday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth Gale brings to 11 the number of plaintiffs in the lawsuit against St. John's Military School in Salina. Gale rejected a request to name the school's principal as a defendant. He also refused to allow a separate damage claim for alleged destruction of evidence. Among the new plaintiffs are a Colorado boy who was branded on his arm and a Texas boy allegedly beaten for not cleaning his room. A California boy claims he was swatted multiple times with a saber while taking a shower, and a Texas teen contends he was injured after strenuous physical training.===================== Topeka Police Say Man in Standoff Took Own LifeTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Topeka say a standoff between officers and a suicidal man ended with the man taking his own life. WIBW-TV reports that police negotiators and the Police Department's special response team were called to a home on the city's east side around 8:30 pm Sunday. Police say an armed man was making suicidal threats and refusing to come outside. Police Department spokeswoman Kristen Veverka says the man fired shots through a window but didn't hit anyone. She says officers did not fire any shots. Officers said the standoff ended around 1 am Monday when the man shot himself in the chest. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.====================== Report: Kansas Crops Continue to Deteriorate WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The state Agricultural Statistics Service says last week's scattered rainfall did little to stem the deterioration of parched crops throughout Kansas. A weekly survey released Monday showed every major crop rated in poor to very poor condition: corn at 72 percent, soybeans at 75 percent, and sorghum at 70 percent. The agency said it's the worst condition report for all three crops since data collections began in 1985. Farmers have cut 17 percent of their corn, well ahead of the 3 percent harvested at the same time last year. There was no good news for livestock producers, either. About 92 percent of range and pasture throughout Kansas was rated in poor to very poor condition. Supplies of stock water were short to very short across 74 percent of the state.======================Kansas Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Golden EagleWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A central Kansas man has pleaded guilty to killing a golden eagle while he was hunting coyote near Cedar Bluff Reservoir earlier this year. The U.S. Attorney's office says 35-year-old Chad Irvin, of La Crosse, entered the plea Tuesday in federal court in Wichita. He was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and assessed $8,000 in fines and restitution. Eagles are protected under federal law. Irvin admitted firing at the eagle twice after spotting it January 9 in Trego County. The injured bird was recovered and sent to the Great Bend zoo for veterinary care. Officials said the eagle's legs were paralyzed from the shooting, and it had to be euthanized. Irvin's sentence also includes three years of probation, during which he's barred from hunting, fishing, trapping and guiding.======================Ex-Soldier Testifies Kansas Marriage Was FraudulentWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Fort Riley soldier has testified he was in a financial bind when he married a Jamaican immigrant so he could get more money from the military and she could get her green card. The testimony came Tuesday in the federal trial of 28-year-old Shannakay Hunter in Wichita. Hunter, who lives in Bronx, New York, is charged with conspiracy, marriage fraud and making a false statement to the government. Joshua Priest was an Army private stationed at Fort Riley when he and Hunter married in 2010. He has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. Prosecutors say the marriage was never consummated. The defense attacked the credibility of Priest's testimony against Hunter, forcing him to admit numerous lies including some he made under oath.==================== Charter Schools Don't Owe Millions to KC DistrictKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri appeals court has ruled that a trial judge erred in ordering charter schools to repay millions of dollars to the Kansas City school district. At issue in Tuesday's ruling was money diverted from Kansas City charter schools starting in 1999 when they opened and began luring students from the district. That money was used to help the Kansas City district pay off bonds that funded school construction and renovations mandated by a desegregation case. The withholdings temporarily stopped in 2005 after a state commission found the district didn't need the money to pay off the bonds. A federal judge ruled in 2006 that the withholdings could resume. The litigation centered on the $6.2 million the district was unable to collect over that one-year span.======================Chiefs Linebacker Suspended for Violating NFL Substance Abuse Policy The Kansas City Chiefs will play their season opener without one of their best defensive players. Pro Bowl linebacker Tamba Hali has been suspended for one game for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. That means he'll be on the sidelines as the Chiefs try to begin their season with a win against the Atlanta Falcons on September 9th. Hali is entering his seventh season with the Chiefs since being drafted out of Penn State in the first round of the 2006 draft. The Chiefs have not released any details about the nature or scope of Hali's violation.======================DA Expected to Release Report on Kansas Governor's MeetingsTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top aides say a Kansas prosecutor is preparing to report on his investigation of Governor Sam Brownback's private meetings with state legislators at his official residence. Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor has been studying whether the meetings at Cedar Crest violated the Kansas open meetings law. Aides to the Democratic prosecutor said they expect Taylor to report his findings Tuesday. Brownback, a Republican, held seven dinner meetings at Cedar Crest in January with members of 13 legislative committees. More than 90 lawmakers were invited, all but one a Republican. Many of the lawmakers have described the events as social gatherings, and Brownback has said he's confident the open meetings law wasn't violated. But he's also acknowledged that he scheduled them to discuss his legislative agenda.**this story has been updated. Please see above. =======================DA Says Kansas Governor's Meetings Didn't Violate LawTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ A Kansas prosecutor says there's no evidence to suggest that private dinners Governor Sam Brownback hosted for dozens of legislators at his official residence violated the state's open meetings law. Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor issued his findings Tuesday after a nearly seven-month investigation into seven meetings in January involving members of 13 legislative committees -- almost all of them fellow Republicans. Taylor, a Democrat, says his investigation found no substantial violations of the Kansas Open Meetings Act. He says his investigation found that in some instances the legislators touched on issues before them at Cedar Crest gatherings, but that generally they did not intend to violate the act.**this story has been updated. Please see above.

Polls Indicate Brownback Support Strengthening in Governor's RaceOVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — After lifting the spirits of Kansas Democrats eager to oust conservative Republican Governor Sam Brownback, challenger Paul Davis now appears to be losing ground. The state's longstanding GOP loyalties and negative television ads seem to have been eroding his onetime lead in the polls. Incumbent Brownback has been gaining since the Republican Governors Association began bombarding television viewers with spots focused on how Davis was caught as a young attorney in a strip club during a 1998 meth raid. Davis has attacked Brownback for sharp tax cuts that led to a projected budget shortfall and a downgrading of the state's credit rating. The latest independent polls have indicated the race is a toss-up or with Brownback slightly ahead.==============================Judge Nixes Opposite-Sex Couple's Bid 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.===============================Brownback Unveils Urban Opportunity Zone PlanKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback has unveiled a new program intended to bring new economic development to financially struggling metropolitan areas in Kansas. Brownback said Thursday his Urban Opportunity Zone initiative will offer tax breaks and other financial incentives to people who start small businesses or other economic activities. The program is similar to the governor's Rural Opportunity Zone program. The Kansas Department of Commerce, working with the Department of Revenue, will run the program. The pilot program will include the Kansas City ZIP codes 66101, 66102, 66104, 66106 and other high-poverty areas in Wichita and Topeka. Brownback's Democratic challenger in the governor's race, Paul Davis, said the governor's programs and policies have harmed urban and rural areas of Kansas and the state cannot afford four more years of his "experimenting."===============================KS Gov Backs Ouster of 2 High Court JusticesTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ Governor Sam Brownback says he's voting against retaining state Supreme Court Justices Lee Johnson and Eric Rosen on November 4th. The governor has criticized the court for its July ruling that overturned the death sentences of Jonathan and Reginald Carr, who were convicted of killing five people in Wichita nearly 14 years ago. Members of the victims' families formed a group to work to remove the justices. Brownback would fill any vacancies on the seven-member court.===============================Kansas State Troopers Backing DavisTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ A political action committee for Kansas state troopers is backing Paul Davis in the governor's race. The troopers' PAC says it's endorsing the Democrat because he has a strong record on public safety issues as a Kansas House member. Governor Sam Brownback has tried to portray Davis as soft on criminal justice issues. ===============================Judge Seals Affidavits in KU Rape AllegationsLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Douglas County judge says probable cause affidavits in the alleged rapes of two women last month at the University of Kansas will not be open to the public. University police said the alleged rapes occurred September 28 in Hashinger Residence Hall. Two 21-year-old men, one a Kansas student and the other a Johnson County Community College student, were arrested. They both posted $50,000 bonds last week and are still enrolled at their schools. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 16. After a hearing Tuesday, Douglas County District Court Judge Kay Huff ruled that the probable cause affidavits will remain sealed but did not explain her decision. Defense and prosecution attorneys asked that affidavits be sealed. The Lawrence Journal-World sought the affidavits, citing a new state law.===============================Kansas Court Upholds Verdict in Abortion ShootingTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the first-degree murder conviction of a man who admitted shooting abortion provider Dr. George Tiller to death at his Wichita church in 2009. But the court also overturned Scott Roeder's sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 50 years and ordered him to be resentenced. Roeder was sentenced under an older version of the state's "Hard 50" law later deemed unconstitutional under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2013. Roeder testified that he killed Tiller to prevent future abortions. Tiller's clinic in Wichita was among a handful in the U.S. known to perform late-term abortions. The state Supreme Court rejected Roeder's argument that he should have been allowed to present a defense that the shooting was necessary to stop abortions.=============================== 51 Animals Taken from Salina Boarding FacilitySALINA, Kan. (AP) — Salina officials removed 51 animals from a boarding business that authorities believe was operating without proper permits. The 50-year-old owner of Playful Pets owned most of the animals at the facility but some pets were returned to their owners. The Salina Journal reports that the business was searched Thursday after the Salina Animal Shelter received complaints. The owner could face up to 18 charges of violating Salina codes and several requirements for animal care. Vanessa Cowie, animal services supervisor for the shelter, said Playful Pets advertised day and overnight boarding for all types of animals but did not have a permit and the facility had not been inspected. The animals, which included birds, cats, dogs, rabbits, rats and pigs, are being cared for at the city animal shelter.=============================== 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 26 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 9. Parker pleaded not guilty in July to attempted first-degree murder. His trial is scheduled for December 1.===============================Man Guilty of Using Girlfriend as Police ShieldHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Hutchinson man is guilty of kidnapping after using his girlfriend as a shield to escape from police. After a Reno County jury convicted 32-year-old Todd Lloyd Thursday, he was arrested as he was being led to the jail for allegedly complaining and threatening to kill several police officers. The Hutchinson News reports that prosecutors alleged Lloyd pointed two knives at his girlfriend's head in April when police came to arrest him on a warrant. He also placed her between himself and armed officers. Lloyd's attorney contended the girlfriend voluntarily went with Lloyd and stood between him and officers to keep him from being shot. State records show Lloyd has 11 convictions since 2001 in Reno, Sedgwick and Leavenworth counties.==============================Student Brings Gun to Northwest Missouri SchoolLATHROP, Mo. (AP) — A middle school student in northwest Missouri was taken into custody after pulling out an unloaded gun in the lunchroom. The incident happened around 11:30 am Friday at Lathrop Middle School. Superintendent Chris Fine says many other students were present when the boy waved the gun at the end of the lunch period. The school's principal heard about the gun and safely took it from the student, then called authorities. Lathrop police and the Missouri Highway Patrol responded along with Clinton County sheriff's deputies, who took the boy into custody for questioning. Lathrop is located about 40 miles northeast of Kansas City.===============================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 that 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.===============================Reno County Finds Cemetery Vases Too LateHUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — The Reno County Sheriff's Office was too late when it found more than 25 vases that were stolen from cemeteries. Detective David Post says 26 brass vases were reported stolen from graves at the Turon Cemetery in October. The Hutchinson News reports a check with area scrap yards found more than 26 vases, and they all were crushed. Reno County investigators are advising other cemeteries in the region to check for similar thefts. Rolla Fetterman, the sexton of the Turon Cemetery, says monument and ground-mounted vases were stolen. Cemetery brass vases cost $400 to $500. The market price for scrap brass is about $2 per pound and the typical vase weighs about 7 pounds. Fetterman says people who own the burial plots and vases are responsible for replacing them.===============================Dole Concluding Statewide Homecoming TourMOUND CITY, Kan. (AP) — Former U.S. Senator Bob Dole returns to Kansas next week for the 10th and final leg of a statewide homecoming tour that began in April. The 91-year-old Russell native has scheduled stops in nine southeast Kansas communities Tuesday through Thursday. Those visits will complete his tour of all 105 counties to greet friends and supporters. Dole, who lives in Washington, spends about an hour at each stop.The tour will begin Tuesday with a stop at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Mound City. On Wednesday, Dole is to visit Fort Scott, Pittsburg, Columbus and Oswego. He concludes the tour Thursday with stops in Fredonia, Chanute, Iola and Garnett. The visits are separate from campaign appearances Dole plans to make on behalf of Republican candidates next week.===============================Still No Cause Identified in Plane Crash that Killed 3 KansansTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ The NTSB's preliminary report on an Illinois plane crash that killed three doctors from Kansas doesn't say what caused the crash. But it says there was mist and skies were overcast on the night the plane went down and suggests the pilot could have become disoriented in the darkness. The crash occurred near Chicago nearly two weeks ago. ===============================Brownback Appoints District Court Judge in SalinaSALINA, Kan. (AP) _ Governor Sam Brownback has appointed a veteran public defender in Salina to fill a soon-to-be vacant district court judgeship. Brownback announced yesterday that Paul Hickman will replace Saline County District Judge Jerome Hellmer, who is retiring in January. Hickman is currently the deputy public defender in the state's Salina public defender office. ==============================Deer Cam Captures Mountain Lion on KS TrailOSWEGO, Kan. (AP) _ Kansas wildlife officials have confirmed a mountain lion sighting in Labette County. They've verified the authenticity of a recent photo from a deer hunter's trail camera that shows the mountain lion walking down a trail. It's the first confirmed sighting in Kansas in two years. ===============================SCOKAN Travels to KCKKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) _ The Kansas Supreme Court is traveling to Kansas City next week for a special session to hear arguments from attorneys in five cases. The court's session begins Wednesday morning at Kansas City Kansas Community College.===============================Sheriff: Kansas Teen Injured in Police ChaseBELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — The Sumner County Sheriff's Office says a 14-year-old driver has been hospitalized after a police chase that ended in a crash. Deputies tell KAKE-TV that the teenage boy from Wellington crashed into a lumberyard on Thursday. He was taken to a Wichita hospital. His condition is unclear. No other injuries were reported. The sheriff's office didn't say how the pursuit began. It says the chase ended when the teen ran a stop sign and crashed into Rothgeb Belle Plaine Lumber.===============================Police Seek Man in Alleged Hatchet AttackWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police are searching for a man who they say struck his brother in the head with a hatchet. The 19-year-old victim was hospitalized yesterday morning with a laceration and skull fracture. Witnesses say he was arguing with his 20-year-old brother before the attack on Wednesday night.===============================Former Bail 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 Friday 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.===============================Religion Keeps Runner from Competing for State ChampionshipHESSTON, Kan. (AP) — One of the top high school cross country runners in Class 3A in Kansas won't be competing in this weekend's regional qualifying races because of her religious beliefs. Hesston senior Mikala Heddin has won three races of her five races this season and her fastest 4-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 2 seconds would make her a strong candidate to win a state title. The Wichita Eagle reports that Heddin says she can't compete because her beliefs won't let her run on the day of the Sabbath, which is Saturday. Heddin's family does not consider the faith they practice Jewish or Christian. They say they strictly follow the Ten Commandments and the Fourth Commandment prohibits work or to make others work on the Sabbath.===============================Orange-Clad Marlins Fan Stands Out at World SeriesMIAMI (AP) — Among the standouts at the World Series has been a Miami Marlins fan in the front row behind home plate. Laurence Leavy's orange Marlins jersey made him easy to spot at Games 1 and 2 amid a sea of Kansas City Royals blue. He says a Royals official approached him offering to move him to the team owner's suite, but Leavy (pronounced Leh'-vee) declined. Two nights of network TV air time made Leavy a celebrity. Since the World Series began, his followers on Twitter have climbed from 175 to 6,800. The 58-year-old South Florida attorney describes himself as a sports geek who can afford to go to games around the country because he has no wife or children. He has been traveling to big events for 15 years, buying tickets on the Internet.

Nancy Pelosi led highly pivotal moments in recent U.S. political history. Here, a look at Pelosi's career and its impact on that history.

As coronavirus-related restrictions take hold, the number of runners hitting roads and trails outside is surging. Here are some ideas for how to minimize your risks as you log your miles.

Drive Underway to Oust Judge in Gay Marriage CaseLOUISBURG, Kan. (AP) — The husband of a state senator is working to oust a northeast Kansas trial judge who ordered the court clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The Kansas City Star reports Brian Baumgardner is targeting Johnson County Chief District Judge Kevin Moriarty. Moriarty faces a retention vote November 4th in the 10th Judicial Circuit, which is made up of Johnson County. Baumgardner — husband of Republican state Senator Molly Baumgardner — lives in neighboring Miami County but told The Star on Friday that "a bad judge harms everybody." Moriarty issued his order October 8th after the U.S. Supreme Court let stand lower-court rulings striking down bans on gay marriage as unconstitutional. The Kansas Supreme Court has halted the issuance of any licenses pending a hearing scheduled November 6th.==========Huelskamp Faces Aggressive Democratic ChallengerSALINA, Kan. (AP) — A former Manhattan mayor little known to rural western Kansas voters is giving Congressman Tim Huelskamp an aggressive re-election challenge. Democrat Jim Sherow has mounted a hard-fought challenge in the sprawling 1st District of Kansas despite seemingly overwhelming odds in a heavily Republican district against a well-funded incumbent. Sherow has crisscrossed the mostly rural district on bus tours to meet voters, stretching his already limited budget. It remains unclear whether Huelskamp is vulnerable, largely because there is no reliable independent polling on the race. While many statewide races are close, it is difficult for a Democrat to win in the 1st District, where 53 percent of registered voters are Republicans. By contrast, the number for registered Republican voters statewide is 44 percent.===========Teen Charged in Wichita Double MurderWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 17-year-old suspect has been charged as a juvenile with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of a Wichita couple.The Wichita Eagle reports that the teen is accused of killing 70-year-old Martha Moreno and her husband, 72-year-old Godofredo Moreno. Court records also show the teen faces an aggravated robbery charge. The Morenos' son found their bodies October 16th on a bedroom floor of their home. Police said they had been shot multiple times and that the motive was robbery. Meanwhile, a 19-year-old who was also arrested in the killings is being jailed on a warrant accusing him of violating his probation from a 2013 robbery. Records show the 19-year-old has not been charged with the killings and is no longer being held on suspicion of murder.==========Reward Rises in KC Girl's KillingKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The reward has risen to $21,000 for information about a drive-by shooting that killed a 6-year-old Kansas City girl. The Kansas City Star says tips are coming in to a group called the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime. But Major Karl Oakman says police seeking to solve the killing of Angel Hooper need more leads and more people to call.Angel died this month when shots were fired into the parking lot of a 7-Eleven where the girl and her father had just bought bubblegum. Donations have come from the Carter Broadcast Group and 7-Eleven Stores, which operates the chain of convenience stores. City Councilman Jermaine Reed is the interim executive director of Ad Hoc. He says he is "fed up" with the violence.

A station to detect nuclear weapons tests picked up the volcanic eruption in Tonga from Antarctica. Some experts say the blast could be more than 50 megatons, while NASA estimates 6-10 megatons.

The latest poll by NPR and its bipartisan polling team shows President Obama with a 7-point lead among likely voters nationally and a 6-point lead in the dozen battleground states where both campaigns are spending most of their time and money. But battleground voters were also more downbeat about the direction of the country.

The latest poll by NPR and its bipartisan polling team shows President Obama with a 7-point lead among likely voters nationally and a 6-point lead in the dozen battleground states where both campaigns are spending most of their time and money. But battleground voters were also more downbeat about the direction of the country.

More than 7 in 10 Kansans support expanding Medicaid, according to the survey from Fort Hays State University. More than 6 in 10 Kansans say women are better-positioned than politicians to make the decision about whether to get an abortion.

He rose to fame in the 1960s with frequent appearances on The Tonight Show and roles in such movies as It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World. In the '80s, he was on TV's Mork & Mindy. Winters' comedy albums are considered to be classics. He was 87.