Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON— Fire crews remain on the scene of a large grass fire north of Hutchinson. Officials say the blaze damaged one structure and some trees and fence posts were burning throughout the early morning hours on Tuesday.

The blaze was reported just after 4 p.m. on Monday afternoon north of 82nd Avenue and forced the closing of Plum from 82nd to 108th Street. 95th east of Plum was also closed as a precaution and coordinated by the Reno County Sheriff’s office and Kansas Highway Patrol.

Hutchinson and Reno County firefighters were assisted by a dozen other fire agencies in the area because of the size of the fire.

There were also reports of brush fires near Cheney Lake and also in McPherson and Rice Counties on Monday.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A man has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated burglary in connection with the death of a woman who lived two doors down from him at a Lawrence apartment complex.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports 18-year-old Rontarus Washington Jr. was arrested in January in Mississippi and was returned to Lawrence. He was booked into Douglas County Jail early Monday morning.

He made his first appearance via video in Douglas County District Court on Monday afternoon. He denied that he was involved in the death of 19-year-old Justina Altamirano Mosso, whose body was found in November in her apartment.

A judge set his bond at $750,000. His next court appearance is set for March 23.

It wasn’t immediately known if Washington has an attorney.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas growers are picking up their farm activities with the recent mild weather.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service said Monday that farmers applying fertilizer and herbicides to fields and moving cattle off crop residue.

Their latest snapshot pegs winter wheat condition as 13 percent poor to very poor. About 46 percent is rated as fair, 38 percent as good and 3 percent as excellent.

No significant rain was reported this past week with the exception of extreme southeast Kansas. Topsoil moisture was rated as adequate to surplus in 53 percent of the state. Subsoil moisture was adequate in 45 percent of the state.

STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are getting older, but not this old: Social Security records show that 6.5 million people in the U.S. have reached the ripe old age of 112.

In reality, only a few of them could possibly be alive. As of last fall, there were only 42 people known to be that old in the entire world.

But a report by Social Security’s inspector general says the agency doesn’t have death records for any of the 6.5 million people in the United States who would be that old. The report says only 13 of these people are still getting Social Security benefits.

But their Social Security numbers are still active, so those numbers could be used to report wages, open bank accounts, obtain credit cards or claim fraudulent tax refunds.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A bill that would keep fantasy sports leagues legal amid a dispute with the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission has moved forward by a state legislative panel.

The House Federal and State Affairs Committee endorsed the bill Monday.

It would define fantasy sports as a game of skill. The distinction is important because the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission said in August that fantasy sports meet the criteria of a lottery, which would make them illegal.

Under the Kansas Constitution, only the state is allowed to administer lotteries.

Republican Rep. Brett Hildabrand of Shawnee said he introduced the legislation so ordinary Kansans who enjoy fantasy football would not become criminals.

The federal government and 45 states consider fantasy sports legal games of skill. However, five states consider them illegal.

NICHOLAS CLAYTON, Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s $4.1 billion plan to overhaul public school funding has passed through the Senate.

The Senate voted 25-14 to approve the measure Monday, but a district court order issued on Friday signaled that the plan may be blocked before it gets off the ground.

The three-judge panel issued the order shortly after the school funding plan was passed by the Kansas House. It said the court may block changes to the current school funding formula due to a pending case on whether the state is funding schools at constitutionally adequate levels under the formula.

An earlier non-binding ruling by the court said Kansas must spend at least $548 million more on schools.

Brownback is expected to sign the bill later this week.

KEN DILANIAN, AP Intelligence Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the federal government, seeking to force a response to its request for documents about drone missile strikes against terror suspects.

The complaint, filed in New York’s southern district, says the Justice and Defense Departments and the CIA have failed to respond to the ACLU’s year-old request for records relating to drone strikes under the Freedom of Information Act. While many details of the strikes are classified, President Barack Obama has acknowledged that the U.S. engages in the practice.

The lawsuit says the government failed to make a reasonable effort to search for records responsive to the request.

The ACLU says Obama in May 2013 promised greater transparency about drone strikes, but has failed to deliver.

The government had no immediate comment.