WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty in federal court in Wichita Thursday to a robbery charge according to U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.

Eric Emmanuel Dear, 23, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of commercial robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on July 27, 2014, he robbed the Dollar General Store at 2747 E. Boulevard Plaza in Wichita.

He entered the store about 10:25 a.m., approached the cash register and demanded money. He carried what appeared to be a handgun in his right hand. During the robbery, he touched the counter with his left hand. Fingerprints taken from the counter were matched to three fingers on his left hand. No firearm was recovered.

Sentencing is set for May 7. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 57 months in federal prison. Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. David Lind for their work on the case.

BERLIN (AP) — The World Health Organization has approved a quick test for Ebola that will dramatically cut the time it takes to determine with reasonable accuracy whether someone is infected with the deadly virus.

The Geneva-based U.N. agency says the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test Kit, made by the U.S. company Corgenix, meets sufficient quality, safety and performance requirements. WHO said Friday the new test can provide results within 15 minutes by detecting an Ebola protein. In trials it correctly identified 92 percent of the patients with Ebola and 85 percent of those not infected.

Until now, Ebola tests have been mainly conducted in laboratories. These gene-based tests are more accurate but can take between 12 and 24 hours.

Almost 9,400 people have died in the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

WICHITA – Two people were injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. on Friday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Ford Truck driven by Jason F. Oliver, 38, Wichita, was northbound on Interstate 135 just south of South Hydraulic in Wichita.

The vehicle drifted to the right and struck a bridge rail.

The driver overcorrected. The vehicle went down the embankment and struck a tree.

Oliver and a passenger Cynthia M Oliver, 41, Wichita, were transported to Wesley Medical Center.

The KHP reported both were properly restrained at the time of the accident.

By Austin Fisher
KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA — Lawmakers heard testimony Thursday on a bill that would allow public employees to carry concealed handguns while on the job outside of their offices.

Senate Bill 65 would amend the concealed carry law to prohibit public employers from restricting their employees from carrying concealed handguns in or out of office buildings, or in company- or privately-owned vehicles. The bill defines public employers as any state, county, or city agency that employs one or more people.

Testifying in favor of the bill in front of the Senate Federal and State Affairs committee, Sen. Forrest Knox (R-Altoona) said public employees should be trusted to provide their own security.

“The logic is that we should not deny the right of somebody to provide for their own security unless we’re providing that security and you’re pretty hard-pressed to provide that for state, county, and city employees while they’re out on the job,” Knox said.

Patricia Stoneking, president of the Kansas State Rifle Association, said the problem is that some municipal employers allow their staffs to carry concealed weapons in the office but impose policies prohibiting concealed carry in public or while driving.

“We’re only asking to extend to public employees what has already been extended to private employees in the private sector,” Stoneking said.

At the end of Stoneking’s testimony, Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau (D-Wichita) asked Knox for his thoughts on the motivation behind the legislation.

Knox replied, “It’s always a pleasure to talk to you Senator. I must say, if I was in your home I think I would want to have a gun. That is to say, you need to view this from the public employee’s point of view and their protection.”

“Senator Knox, I don’t know how I should have taken your comment,” Faust-Goudeau said. “I think we should be concerned for all people in the state of Kansas.”

“I apologize. If I could apologize, Mr. Chairman, for not being entirely serious,” Knox said. “But I am serious about this. We need to be concerned about everybody’s safety. It’s why I advocate for concealed carry as opposed to open carry.”

Eric Smith, legal counsel for the League of Kansas Municipalities, opposed the bill.

“Municipalities should maintain the authority to regulate their employees concerning the carrying of weapons,” Smith said. “We understand that the right to bear arms is a constitutional right. At the same time, as an employer, a city has certain duties and obligations.”

Mike Taylor, public relations director for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, said the legislature too often ignores the rights of local control as defined in the Kansas Constitution’s Home Rule amendment.

“This bill is an unwarranted intrusion into local control and meddles with our ability to operate our workplace,” Taylor said. “Too many Kansas legislators rail against the federal government imposing unwanted policies on the state, but then turn around and do the same thing to local governments.”

Mark Tallman, associate executive director of the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB), gave neutral testimony and suggested a change to the bill’s language to specifically exclude school districts from the mandate.

“If it is not the intent to exclude districts, KASB would oppose the bill,” Tallman said. “We are concerned school districts could not get liability insurance if employees are allowed to carry concealed weapons in the course of their employment.”

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt wrote in a fiscal note attached to the bill that concealed carry amendments result in numerous requests for legal opinions by his office.

“If the number of these requests continues to grow, the Office may need an additional attorney to handle the increased volume of opinion requests,” he wrote.

Committee Chair Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer (R-Grinnell) said the committee will work more on the bill in the next two weeks.

Austin Fisher is a University of Kansas senior from Lawrence majoring in journalism.

RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says it sent about 800,000 HealthCare.gov customers the wrong tax information, and officials are asking those consumers to delay filing their 2014 taxes.

The tax error disclosed Friday is a self-inflicted injury that comes on the heels of what President Barack Obama had touted as a successful enrollment season, with about 11.4 million people signed up.

California, which is running its own insurance market, just announced a similar problem affecting about 100,000 people in that state.

The errors mean that nearly 1 million people may have to wait longer to get their tax refunds this year.

Another 50,000 or so who already filed may have to resubmit their returns.

Federal officials also announced a special sign-up extension for uninsured people facing the health care law’s tax penalties.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Senate committee is considering two bills that would delay or possibly prevent enactment of new federal clean air regulations.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the Senate Utilities Committee is expected to advance one of the bills next week.

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing rules that would require states to adopt plans for reducing carbon emissions from power plants by 30 percent by 2030. The rules are to take effect in June.

One bill would require the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to notify the KCC before entering agreements with utilities over carbon dioxide emission standards. The other bill would prohibit the KCC and health department from even drafting a state plan before all of litigation surrounding the rules has been resolved.

KANSAS CITY -If you’ve ever dreamed of performing the national anthem and “God Bless America” at Kauffman Stadium, here’s your chance.

The Kansas City Royals announced in a media release that they will hold the sixth annual “Royals Fans Got Talent” auditions on Saturday, March 14 starting at 8 a.m. at Kauffman Stadium, and you’re invited. But you have to qualify.

Auditions will be conducted on an invitation-only format. To be considered, fans need to complete and submit paperwork, accompanied by an MP3 or YouTube link of performance via email to ‘[email protected]’.

Information for submission can also be found by visiting royals.com/perform.

All National Anthem and God Bless America auditions and paperwork must be submitted via email to ‘[email protected]’ no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6. Submitting an application does not guarantee an audition. Applicants will be reviewed and approved performers will be sent an invitation via email on Tuesday, March 10 with remaining details of their auditions.

If the application is approved, the performers will need to be present on the day of auditions. All National Anthem and “God Bless America” performances must be 90 seconds or less and in the traditional version of the song and must be done a cappella.

Pyrotechnics and/or harmful materials are prohibited. All participants will audition on a volunteer basis with the understanding that no compensation will occur for their participation. Following auditions, a representative from the Royals organization will contact each person via email to let them know the outcome of their audition. All talent is subject to approval by the Royals.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A national group’s push to redefine and outlaw a procedure commonly used in second trimester abortions is advancing in Kansas.

The state Senate voted 31-9 Friday to approve model legislation drafted by the National Right to Life Committee. The group unveiled the proposal in Kansas last month.

The measure bans what doctors call the dilation and evacuation procedure used in about 8 percent of the abortions in Kansas and redefines it as “dismemberment abortion.”

Abortion rights advocates say the procedure can be the safest way to perform an abortion in the second trimester, but the ban could outlaw some earlier abortions.

The bill goes next to the House. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback is a strong abortion opponent and has pledged to sign the measure if it clears the GOP-dominated Legislature.