COLLYER — No new details have been released in an accident involving a pickup and a Greyhound bus early Wednesday morning.
The accident claimed the life of the pickup driver, and eight people on the bus reportedly were injured. The Kansas Highway Patrol has yet to identify those involved, and an official report on the incident has yet to be released.
The incident happened just before 3 a.m. Wednesday in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 in Trego County near the Collyer exit.
Trooper Tod Hileman, KHP spokesman, said Wednesday that investigators were working to determine the cause of the crash.
Check Hays Post for more information as it becomes available.
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – An Olathe man pleaded guilty Wednesday to computer fraud, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Ryan Cauble, 41, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of computer fraud. In his plea, he admitted he committed the crime while he worked for G.E. Consumer Finance, a saving and loan holding company with an office in Merriam, Kan. Cauble sent an email to a vice president of the company claiming there was a security breach and credit card numbers of the company’s customers had been compromised. The email – sent from an address of [email protected] – included 20 credit card numbers. The email stated, “If you want to identify the person who is responsible, message me immediately to discuss compensation for the information.”
A review of the 20 account numbers confirmed that there were fraudulent ATM transactions on those accounts in New York and California. Cauble used various employee credentials to login to the company’s databases and transfer account numbers and information including customers’ names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers in exchange for Bitcoins. He told investigators he sold the account numbers in batches of 40 for $1,000. He said that over time he sold 250 to 300 account numbers.
Sentencing is set for Aug. 19. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the U.S. Secret Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble for their work on the case.
It seems there is a new, major computer security breach or issue popping up all around us on a weekly, if not daily basis. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear the bad guys are going to let up; a new era is officially upon us where any information that holds any type of value is under constant siege and the bad news is that this line of thought is here to stay.
Dallas Haselhorst
Case in point… Remember a few years ago when identity theft was covered consistently by the media? What happened to the constant media coverage? Has identity theft miraculously gone away because of new changes in place? No, thieves are still stealing identities at an alarming rate and with greater ease than they were just a few years ago.
The difference is that identity theft is no longer the worst thing out there and the media (and us in general) have become somewhat complacent and accepting of identity theft. It’s going to happen and simply a matter of when and how; the difference is that all of it may occur without any fault of your own.
The big security issue this week deals with Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer is the lower case ‘e’ you might find on your desktop to browse the internet. First and foremost of importance is that this particular flaw doesn’t require you to do anything out of line on your end other than simply browsing to a website. Keep in mind that an “infected” website doesn’t necessarily mean the dark, shady corners of the internet. In the past, websites inadvertently serving up malware to unsuspecting users have included some of the most notable and trusted websites on the internet.
Second, Microsoft has yet to release a security patch for the vulnerability. That means you could be doing absolutely everything you are told to do — running Windows Updates, not clicking pop-ups, etc. — and you will still be susceptible. That being said, because the hole is tied to Adobe Flash, the good news is that Adobe has just recently released a patch for the software which patches the hole in a somewhat roundabout way. Microsoft will ultimately come up with their own patch to “officially” close the door on the flaw, but it might not be for some time.
Or will they? Microsoft will patch the hole for some, but not for all. The other importance of this issue is that Windows XP users will never receive a patch for this particular vulnerability. Yes, Adobe has released a patch for Flash users who are still running Windows XP, however, the underlying issue still exists. It’s not quite the worst case scenario or the official death knell for Windows XP, but it is the first major “enduring” blemish since Microsoft ended support for it on April 8th, 2014.
What are some simple steps you can perform to protect yourself and your data? Although it wouldn’t particularly help you in this situation, make sure you are running your updates! Whether those updates are for Windows, Apple, Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader or Java, it is always a good idea to keep them up-to-date.
At Sicoir, we always recommend an “alternative” browser for customers regardless of their operating system — Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows XP, Apple OS, etc. I would emphatically advise using an alternative browser if you are still using Windows XP. What is an alternative browser? Basically, you ditch Internet Explorer and instead use a free alternative such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera; most of the time, your internet experience doesn’t change and you typically will have a little higher level of security… especially if you are running Windows XP.
In closing, giving tips on keeping your Windows XP system safe doesn’t mean I condone using it, but that shouldn’t stop you from doing everything you can to protect yourself if you are.
Dallas Haselhorst, CISSP, GSEC, is the founding partner at Sicoir Computer Technologies (www.sicoir.com). He has more than 20 years of IT experience and in that time, he has traveled all over the U.S., physically and virtually, assisting companies large and small with their computers, networks and security. Whether dealing with an individual surfing the web or a business/organization whose primary data relates to PCI, HIPAA, or SOX, he has likely secured it in some way, shape, or form. When he’s not working, Dallas enjoys tinkering in all things technology and spending time with his wife, two children and their family dog.
An upcoming seminar aims to prevent seniors from falling victim to financial fraud.
“Seniors are typically more vulnerable for theses types of financial crimes because of their competency levels at times, because of their trustworthy nature, typically very loyal and they want to help others, very giving, kindhearted, so typically they are easy prey … easy targets … for a lot of white-collar crimes,” said Darci Cain, Sunflower Bank wealth management adviser. “And we are continuing to see those (crimes) increase.”
Cain will present at the May 14 session with Assistant Attorney General Robert Novak.
According to the coordinator Herb Callison of Mainstream Inc., a Topeka-based nonprofit, “a lot of scam artists prey on (seniors) and take advantage because they don’t know how to say ‘no.’ ”
Callison said the seminar will teach seniors how to say “no” to scams, understand and prevent identity theft, learn the signs and risk factors of financial abuse, and learn how to protect their bank accounts from scams and fraud.
According to Callison, the program will not only benefit seniors but also their caregivers, employees of financial institutions, law enforcement and others concerned with the prevention and intervention of financial abuse aimed at older adults.
The free session is scheduled for May 14 at the Kansas Highway Patrol Office, 1821 Frontier Road, Hays. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with refreshments, and the program is from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
For more information, call (800) 582-1428. The informational sessions are funded by a grant from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, the U.S. Administration on Aging and the Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging.
Dr. Tom Jackson Jr., one of five finalists for the Fort Hays State University presidential position, has accepted the presidency at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D., according to a press release on the university’s website. Jackson will take over at BHSU on July 3.
“Tom Jackson has dedicated his professional life to improving the student experience, and that kind of student-centered focus is very important to the success of Black Hills State University and our public university system as a whole,” said Regent Kathryn Johnson, chairwoman of the search committee. “The search committee was also very impressed with Dr. Jackson’s experience in leading large and small teams through strategic planning and organizational change, as well as his demonstrated record of cultivating strong relationships on the campuses where he has worked and with local communities and business partners.
“We look forward to Tom’s leadership as BHSU continues on its course of growth in enrollment, resources, and research,” she added.
Before accepting the role at BHSU, Jackson served as vice president of student affairs at the University of Louisville. Current FHSU President Edward Hammond, who is retiring at the end of this academic year, held the same role before he came to Fort Hays State.
Black Hills State serves approximately 4,500 students.
Another finalist, Dr. Michael Droge is also a finalist to become chancellor at Montana State University.
The other finalists for the FHSU position are:
• Dr. Tisa Mason, vice president of Student Affairs at Fort Hays State
• Dr. Mirta Martin, dean of the Reginald F. Lewis School of Business at Virginia State University
• Dr. Gregory Mosier, dean of the College of Business at the University of Nevada-Reno
EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Fire officials continue to investigate the cause of a fire that killed a man at his home in Emporia.
Officials on Wednesday identified the victim as 64-year-old David Warnke. His body was found inside his home after the fire was extinguished Tuesday afternoon.
Authorities say they are investigating if Warnke was killed by the fire or if other factors were involved.
MAIZE, Kan. (AP) — The Maize school district has tabled a proposal for a $10 million aquatic center.
The decision comes in part because nearby Goddard voted last week to approve the first phase of a $130 million swimming complex/retail project.
The Wichita Eagle reports that earlier this year, a group of advisers named an aquatic center as a top athletic priority for the Maize district.
Maize superintendent Doug Powers says shrinking budgets, combined with the Goddard project, prompted the Maize board to put the proposed pool complex on hold. He says Maize could perhaps eventually use the Goddard complex.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly economic index for nine Midwestern and Plains states hit a three-year high in April, suggesting more economic growth over the next three to six months.
A report issued Thursday says the overall Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose to 60.4 from 58.2 in March.
Looking six months ahead, the business confidence portion of the overall index jumped to 64.2 in April from 59.0 in March.
The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth, while a score below that suggests decline.
The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Defendants convicted of premeditated first-degree murder in Kansas would face a mandatory life sentence with no chance of parole for at least 50 years under a bill heading to Gov. Sam Brownback.
The House approved the measure Wednesday on a 123-0 vote. Senators approved the bill, 37-3, on April 5.
The bill would double the mandatory time defendants must serve before being eligible for parole but allow judges to decide whether a lesser sentence is warranted.
Currently, prosecutors can seek the so-called “Hard 50” sentence against first-degree murder defendants, but it can only be imposed by juries after weighing factors presented during a trial.
The bill also would impose a minimum 25-year prison sentence for defendants convicted of attempted capital murder or committing murder during another felony.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislative negotiators are considering a new proposal for challenging the federal government’s listing of the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species.
Three senators and three House members were meeting Thursday to draft a compromise on a bill declaring that the federal government has no authority to regulate prairie chickens in Kansas.
The Senate wanted to make it a felony for a federal employee to attempt to regulate the lesser prairie chicken or the larger and darker greater prairie chicken.
The House wanted to allow the attorney general to file lawsuits to block enforcement actions.
The compromise from Senate Republicans calls for fining federal employees up to $1,000.
A steep decline in the lesser prairie chicken population led the federal government to list it as threatened in March.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge scheduled another hearing for a man accused of plotting a suicide bombing at Wichita’s airport.
U.S. District Judge Monti Belot on Wednesday set a July 21 date for a status conference in the case of Terry Loewen, an avionics technician facing terrorism-related charges. Such proceedings are routinely used to keep the court informed on progress. Belot held the last such hearing on Monday.
Loewen was arrested Dec. 13 after allegedly trying to bring a van filled with inert explosives onto the tarmac at the airport, where he worked. The arrest followed a months-long federal sting operation.
He has pleaded not guilty to attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to use an explosive device to damage property and attempting to give material support to al-Qaida.
LENEXA, Kan. (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency says it’s working to remove hazardous chemicals from a laboratory facility in suburban Kansas City.
The EPA’s regional office says in a release that it will begin work next week at the abandoned Beta Chem Laboratory facility in Lenexa, Kansas. The federal agency says work at the site will take about a month.
Beta Chem used the facility for medical research involving radioactive carbon. The EPA says the company failed to follow directions from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to attain compliance with its Radioactive Materials License.
KDHE seized the facility in 2013 and referred the facility to the EPA.
