(AP) — Former Republican state senator Jean Schodorf says she will run for Kansas Secretary of State next year as a Democrat.

Schodorf, from Wichita, confirmed her intention to run Tuesday during a meeting of the Saline County Democratic Party.  Schodorf will challenge incumbent Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach.

After serving 12 years in the state Senate as a moderate Republican, she lost a bid for re-election after conservative Republicans targeted her for defeat in 2012. Schodorf switched her party affiliation to Democrat in September 2012.

Schodorf said she plans to officially file for office Oct. 11.

Mission Hills businessman Randy Rolston already has filed to run for the Democratic nomination.

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts has taken his turn keeping the filibuster alive for Senator Ted Cruz. Roberts gave a little relief to the Texas Senator who has been at the podium since early afternoon on Tuesday. The filibuster is an effort to stall a vote on the  bill which would fund the government but not fund the President’s health care law.  Roberts has been talking about the farm bill.

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More suspects in a kidnapping and beating case are being sought by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office according to Reno Sheriff Captain Steve Lutz He says they are being sought by investigators as persons of interest.

One of those individuals is 56-year-old William Dale Runyon. He is a white male, 5-ft., 10-inches tall, weighing 180-pounds, with brown eyes and having gray hair. He is driving a red 1983 Chevy Blazer bearing Kansas tag 759 FKZ.

The other person of interest’s identity is unknown at this time but is an associate of Runyon’s. He is described as a white male, tall, stocky in stature, with short brown hair.

Runyon is listed as an absconder from the Kansas Department of Corrections for convictions involving the manufacture and use of methamphetamine.

The two arrested by Salina Police for allegedly being involved with the beating and kidnapping case may not have actually been in Reno county. That according to Captain Lutz.

Arrested in Salina was 25-year-old Thomas Beatty and 27-year-old Chivon Leon, both of Salina. They were taken into custody after the victim reported that he was abducted and beaten.

Beatty is originally from Hutchinson according to Lutz, while the victim was living in Hutchinson and is originally from Salina. Lutz says there is a connection between the people involved in both cities.

The investigation shows that a kidnapping took place in Reno County with said victim escaping from the trunk of a vehicle in which he had been placed.

Lutz says the case is ongoing and several leads are still being investigated.

Beatty and Leon face charges in Saline County of kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal restraint. Bond for Leon is set at 40-thousand 500-dollars while Beatty is being held with out bond at this time.

If anyone has information about the case and/or the location of Runyon, please contact 620-694-2735 or you can remain anonymous and call Reno County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or 620-694-2666.

(AP) — A Derby city employee is accused of stealing from the city’s police department.

The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office has charged 29-year-old Frank Sneller, of Derby, with 11 counts, including felony theft, felony burglary and official misconduct. The items allegedly stolen included prescription drugs.

Sneller is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 3.

Prosecutors allege Sneller, an operations technician for the city, used a fake ID with the name “Sergeant Joe Smith” to get access to the evidence.

Police Chief Robert Lee said the city won’t comment on Sneller’s case because it is under investigation.

It was not immediately clear if Sneller had an attorney.

(AP) — Kansas prison officials are turning to Facebook to help find people who skip out on court-mandated parole.

Each Monday, the Department of Corrections will post information about an offender who has failed to maintain contact with his or her parole officer. Such individuals are known as absconders and have warrants issued for their arrests.

Corrections spokesman Jeremy Barclay says Kansas currently has about 170 absconders, down from more than 400 three years ago. He calls Facebook another tool for locating people and getting them back into custody.

The first person featured on the agency’s Facebook page is Harlan Hurst, a convicted burglar from Kansas City, Kan., who absconded in May 2012.