KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A woman accused of pretending to be pregnant to scam prospective adoptive parents in Kansas and elsewhere is expected to return to court next week.
A court notation Thursday shows Chrystal Marie Rippey, of Marshall, Texas, is scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing May 1 in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas.
U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil rejected in January an earlier plea deal in which the parties agreed to a binding 48-month sentence.
Rippey was indicted in February 2014 on charges of mail and wire fraud.
Prosecutors allege Rippey contacted adoption agencies and individuals, pretending she was pregnant and seeking to give up her unborn child for adoption. The indictment contends prospective parents bought her meals and gifts, believing she was willing to let them adopt her baby after birth.
The brilliant tapestry of young stars flaring to life resemble a glittering fireworks display in the 25th anniversary NASA Hubble Space Telescope image, released to commemorate a quarter century of exploring the solar system and beyond since its launch on April 24, 1990.
MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — What better way to celebrate the Hubble Space Telescope’s quarter-century in orbit than with cosmic fireworks?
On Thursday — one day before the 25th anniversary of Hubble’s launch — NASA released an image taken by the space telescope showing a brilliant breeding ground for stars. This stellar nursery is 20,000 light-years from Earth in the Constellation Carina. NASA’s science mission chief John Grunsfeld says the fact that it’s taken thousands of years for the light from these bright, young stars to reach us means “they planned really far in advance.”
Grunsfeld was among five former shuttle astronauts who flew on Hubble missions, who attended a Washington ceremony. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden also was there; he helped deliver Hubble to orbit on April 24, 1990.
ELLSWORTH COUNTY – Four people were injured in an accident just before 4 p.m. on Thursday in Ellsworth County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Hummer driven by Isaac Zuniga, 21, Dodge City, was westbound on Interstate 70 at the Kansas 232 near the Wilson exit when the rear driver’s tire blew out.
The vehicle entered the north ditch and rolled.
Zuniga and passengers Estrella Chavez, 18, and a 6-month-old, both of Dodge City, were transported to Ellsworth Medical Center.
Another passenger, Margarita Sanchez, 49, Dodge City, was transported to Hays Medical Center.
The KHP reported Chavez was not wearing a seat belt.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Government scientists say more than a dozen regions in the United States have experienced a rise in man-made earthquakes in recent years.
A report released Thursday found that 17 areas in eight states have seen small quakes triggered by oil and gas drilling. They include parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas.
The U.S. Geological Survey says most of the shaking is caused by the oil and gas industry injecting wastewater deep underground, which can activate dormant faults. A few cases stemmed from hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
The agency plans to study how often man-made quakes are expected to occur in the next year and how much shaking they would produce.
Scientists released the report at an earthquake meeting in Pasadena, California.
MANASSAS, Va. (AP) — Michelle Obama says the technology industry has committed to hiring or training 90,000 military veterans and spouses over the next five years.
The first lady also says the private sector has far exceeded her husband’s goal of hiring 100,000 veterans and military spouses.
Less than four years after President Barack Obama issued the hiring challenge, Mrs. Obama says U.S. businesses have employed or trained more than 850,000 veterans and military spouses.
The first lady is marking the fourth anniversary of Joining Forces, her nationwide campaign to secure jobs and other support for military veterans and their families.
She made the announcement at Micron Technology, a Manassas, Virginia-based manufacturer of memory storage devices.
Micron Technology also trains and hires military veterans.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — More than 30 people have been arrested in a phony driver’s licenses scheme in suburban Kansas City.
Former Kansas Department of Revenue employee Samantha Jo Moore is jailed in Johnson County on 51 felonies, including bribery, identity theft and official misconduct. Bond for the 28-year-old has been set at $250,000. Her public defender, Joseph Astrab, didn’t immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment.
Moore is accused of taking bribes to supply licenses to dozens of people while working as a driver’s license examiner at the license office in Mission. The Kansas City Star reports that authorities also allege that Moore took actions to destroy or tamper with evidence.
TOPEKA- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 2 p.m. on Thursday in Shawnee County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Michael Finton, 45, Carbondale, was westbound on 10th Street in Topeka. The vehicle failed to yield to a stop sign.
A 1996 Chevy van driven by Kent Hubert, 50, Linwood, was northbound on Lane Street in Topeka and struck the truck in the driver’s side.
Hubert was transported to Stormont Vail. Finton was not injured.
The KHP reported both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident.
Karissa Cochrane, Preschool A teacher at HACC, rides with students during Thursday’s Trike-A-Thon.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
There was some serious biking and triking going on Thursday morning in the parking lot east of the Hays Area Children’s Center, 94 Lewis Drive.
The kids, who all attend HACC, were cheered on by their family members and friends during the perfect spring weather.
One youngster got her bike’s training wheels stuck in a pavement rut, and was helplessly spinning her back wheel. Luckily, the Hays Public Library’s “Book Fairies” (aka Angie Aeillo and Nichole Lang of the HPL Children’s Dept.) came to the rescue.
They sprinkled some special fairy dust on her and the bike, and she was quickly off and pedaling away.
“Trike-A-Thon is a celebration of our kids and the center,” said Kaley Conner, HACC Community Relations Coordinator. ”
It’s also an opportunity for the children to become more involved in the upcoming fundraiser Tumbleweed Tour For Tykes, formerly known as the Rope ‘Em Ride.
“They have the opportunity to do some fundraising themselves and can seek sponsorship for participating in Trike-A-Thon. We had orange T-shirts made for the kids,” Conner said.
Victor E. Tiger, FHSU, cheers on the bikers and trikers at HACC.
Trike-A Thon proceeds will be used for classroom supplies for HACC child care programs.
“We have great families. It’s nice of them to observe their child’s interactions today with the other children and their teachers.
“They (the kids) sure will nap well for their teachers this afternoon,” Conner said with a smile as she watched the noisy fun.
The Tumbleweed Tour For Tykes is Saturday, May 2. For the first time, motorcyclists will also bike the scenic routes which range from 5 to 100 miles across Ellis County.
Late registration is still available, according to Conner, although you won’t get a T-shirt. Contact Conner at [email protected] or call (785) 625-3257 for more information.
Proceeds will benefit HACC services for young and disabled children.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A retrial has been pushed back to August for a Lawrence man whose first homicide trial ended with a hung jury.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the trial for 30-year-old Dustin D. Walker initially was scheduled for next month. But it was rescheduled for Aug. 17 after a new defense attorney was named Thursday.
Walker is charged with first-degree murder in the March 2014 shooting death of 37-year-old Patrick Roberts during a robbery. Walker was found guilty in February of aggravated burglary, but the jury could not agree on the murder charge.
Another man, Archie Robinson, was found guilty of both charges in March. He was sentenced in April to life in prison with no chance of parole for 20 years in the killing.
The scene of the March 1 accident, 500 block of Antonino Road
By KARI BLURTON Hays Post
Joseph King, 34, Ellis, is facing several charges, including aggravated battery, after to an incident last month in which King allegedly fled the scene after the vehicle he was driving hit a bridge, rolled and caught on fire. He is accused of leaving his passenger, a 43-year-old Hays woman, behind.
Authorities from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office were called to the scene on Antonino Road on March 1 at 9:19 p.m.
The woman was transported to Hays Medical Center, but reportedly did not sustain serious injuries.
Ellis County Assistant Attorney Crystalyn Oswald said King has been charged with aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, failure to stop and remain at the scene of an accident, circumvention of an ignition interlock, and failure to render aid after the accident.
King’s first appearance in Ellis County court is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 19.
DERBY, Kan. (AP) — A miniature dachshund has been rescued after spending 13 days trapped underneath a concrete slab at her home in Kansas.
The Wichita Eagle reports that the dog, named Lucy, disappeared April 3 while in her fenced Derby yard. It turns out Lucy had dug underneath the slab that was supporting the house’s air-conditioning unit.
Owner Rebecca Felix says her other dog, Thor, had acted interested in the spot where Lucy was buried. But it wasn’t until last Thursday that she and her husband heard a quiet bark come from under the concrete. Her husband dug deep enough to see
Lucy’s nose and one closed eye. He called 911 and firefighters helped extract her.
Veterinarian Kelly Miller says it’s “amazing” Lucy survived and didn’t suffer organ failure.
