A Shawnee County District Court judge says a juror who posted comments on a newspaper website during a murder trial committed misconduct.

The ruling issued Monday requires the Shawnee County district attorney to show beyond a reasonable doubt that the misconduct did not affect the trial against Anceo D. Stovall.

The juror posted a comment on a Topeka Capital-Journal story about the trial while the jury was recessed.

Stovall was one of nine suspects in the July 2011 killing of Natalie Gibson and the wounding of her life partner, Lori Allison. His trial ended in a hung jury on nine counts, an acquittal on one count and a conviction on another count.

The Capital-Journal reports that Stovall is seeking a new trial based on juror misconduct.

A 7-month-old girl was a bit of a medical mystery after being admitted to a Hutchinson hospital Saturday when an area of her jaw swelled up larger than a golf ball.

Luckily, a doctor at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center discovered the problem when she pulled a 2-inch black feather out of young Mya Whittington’s neck area.

The girl at some point likely swallowed or inhaled the feather, which then pierced the inside of her cheek or throat. The feather was trying to force its way out of her body, which caused the swelling.

Doctors say the girl probably had been in a lot of pain for quite awhile. But her mother, Emma Whittington, says her daughter cried only when nurses poked her.

The Kansas Senate’s new budget committee chairman filed for bankruptcy in 2010 and listed nearly $885,000 in unsecured debts in a federal court filing.

But other incoming Senate leaders defended Andover Republican Ty Masterson after his selection Tuesday as Ways and Means Committee chairman. They said colleagues respect him.

The Wichita Eagle reports that Masterson said he’s working with creditors to pay off debts that were discharged this year.

A GOP leadership panel picked Masterson. He and other incoming Senate leaders will begin their jobs when legislators convene their 2013 session in mid-January.

Masterson said he understands that some might question his appointment with the bankruptcy in his background. But he said it gives him a personal perspective on the tough economic times many people are facing.

Dodge City police say the western Kansas city is seeing a big increase in burglaries.

Police responded to 52 burglaries at homes, businesses and vehicles in November. That’s a 60 percent increase over November of last year.

Police Chief Craig Mellecker says the crimes are happening across the city. He says it’s not clear what is prompting the increase but he added that such crimes increase around the holidays.

The Dodge City Daily Globe reports that Mellecker also says drugs often play a part in property crimes.

A new industry snapshot suggests this year’s drought has had little effect on sales of farm machinery around the country.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers said Tuesday that sales of farm tractors were up 10.5 percent in November from the same month a year ago. Retailers reported selling 10,352 tractors nationwide.

Sales of combines were down 1.3 percent with 517 sold in November.

So far this year, sales of farm tractors have been up 10 percent over the first 11 months of last year with slightly more than 167,000 tractors sold. Sales of combines dipped a fraction of a percent, with nearly 8,900 sold.

The new speaker of the Kansas House is retaining the chairmen of the chamber’s powerful Appropriations, Taxation and Judiciary committees.

Incoming House Speaker Ray Merrick, a Stilwell Republican, announced committee leadership appointments late Tuesday. Members of the chamber’s GOP majority chose Merrick as speaker last week.

Merrick kept Lance Kinzer, of Olathe, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Kinzer had run against Merrick for speaker.

Marc Rhoades of Newton is remaining as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and Richard Carlson of St. Marys will continue to head the Taxation Committee.

All House committee chairmen and chairwomen are Republicans, in line with the GOP’s 92-33 majority. They’ll take over when lawmakers convene their 2013 session in mid-January.

A special council of Kansas officials is weighing a request for funds to implement the state’s new system for administering Medicaid services.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is asking the State Finance Council to approve funds for the billing system for KanCare, the state’s revised Medicaid program. KDHE officials have not said how much they’re seeking.

The Finance Council was scheduled to consider the request at a meeting Wednesday. The panel is made up of Gov. Sam Brownback and top leaders of the state House and Senate.

Also on the agenda is a request for money to give raises to selected state employees. The goal is to bring their pay closer to that of people doing similar jobs in the private sector.