WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say a man has died after accidentally shooting himself in the leg and then crashing his vehicle while trying to get to a hospital.
Lt. James Espinoza said 28-year-old Kenneth Richards III shot himself in the upper left thigh in his car. Richards lost control of his vehicle Monday morning while trying to get to a hospital and crashed.
Espinoza said an autopsy will determine his cause of death.
MARION, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says a Marion man must serve more than 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to lewd contact with a 9-year-old child.
A Marion County judge sentenced 47-year-old Kenneth Newell to 177 months in prison on Monday.
Newell was charged with two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child younger than 14. He pleaded guilty last month.
BRENHAM, Texas (AP) — Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries is recalling all of its products on the market after two samplings of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream tested positive for listeriosis.
Blue Bell’s chief executive Paul Kruse said in a statement Monday night that the company “can’t say with certainty” how the bacteria was introduced to the manufacturing line.
The company last month issued its first recall after ice cream contaminated with listeriosis was linked to three deaths at a Kansas hospital. Five others in Kansas and Texas were sickened with the disease.
The foodborne illness was tracked to a production line in Brenham, Texas, and later to a second line in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
The recall extends to retail outlets in 23 states and internationally.
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Edinson Volquez dodged trouble for seven innings, and the Kansas City Royals scored a pair of runs on wild pitches before pounding the bumbling Minnesota Twins, 7-1 on Monday night.
Alcides Escobar returned from a sprained knee to score a run, and Kendrys Morales and Paulo Orlando drove in a pair each as the Royals finally figured out Twins nemesis Kyle Gibson.
The right-hander gave up four runs in five-plus innings. Gibson (1-2) had earned the win in his first four starts against Kansas City, including a dominant performance in a 3-1 victory last week at Target Field.
Volquez (2-1) was more than his match Monday night at Kauffman Stadium. He allowed five hits while striking out five with only one walk, wiggling out of jams whenever he got into them.
The Royals’ defense, featuring three Gold Glove winners, sure helped him out.
Kansas Athletics
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Brandon Schneider, who has led Stephen F. Austin women’s basketball to the 2014 and 2015 Southland Conference regular-season titles, has been named head women’s basketball coach at the University of Kansas.
Schneider will be formally announced at a press conference scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 at 10 a.m., in the Allen Fieldhouse media room.
In five seasons at SFA, Schneider’s teams have won 95 games and reached postseason play three times, including an appearance in the championship game of the 2014 Women’s Basketball Invitational.
Before going to SFA, Schneider won 306 games and the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship at Emporia State University in Kansas. He led the Lady Hornets to 11 NCAA tournament appearances in his 12 seasons in Emporia, winning 81 percent of his games there. In addition to the 2010 NCAA Championship, his Lady Hornets reached the Division II Final Four in 1999, two Elite Eights (2000 and 2006) and three Sweet 16’s (2001, 2005, 2008).
Schneider is a 1995 graduate of Wayland Baptist University and was a four-year letterman in basketball. He came to coaching naturally: His father, Bob, won more than 1,000 women’s basketball games in a coaching career that spanned 43 years, and coached West Texas A&M to the NCAA Division II Championship game in 1988.
“Brandon is an excellent fit for the University of Kansas,” said KU Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger. “He is an exceptional teacher, and someone who has spent his entire career in Kansas and Texas. He is known as a terrific recruiter and a firm, knowledgeable coach. And we know he has coaching in his blood, having watched his dad have so much success for so many years. We are confident that Brandon’s teams at KU will display the same tenacity and competitiveness that his teams have shown at Emporia State and Stephen F. Austin.”
Schneider and his wife, Ali, have two sons, Cash and Cole.
WASHINGTON PARK, Ill. (AP) — Authorities say a couple from Kansas died in a fiery crash along Interstate 64 in southwestern Illinois.
The Belleville News-Democrat reports 68-year-old Ervin Huflig and 63-year-old Mary Huflig of Lawrence, Kansas, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident Monday evening in Washington Park.
St. Clair County Deputy Coroner Dean Darnall says the couple was driving an RV, with a minivan in tow, when they lost control of the vehicle, causing it to strike a large sign post and burst into flames. He says the Hufligs were on their way from Kansas to Kentucky.
Coroner Rick Stone says it appears one of the tires blew. He says the Hufligs probably died in the fire.
Eastbound lanes on the highway were closed for several hours after the crash.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House committee plans to meet later this week to review a new, more pessimistic fiscal forecast for state government and to discuss budget issues.
The Appropriations Committee’s session Thursday would be the first legislative meeting since state officials and university economists issued the new forecast.
Lawmakers are taking their annual spring break but the full House and Senate plan to reconvene April 29 so that the Legislature can wrap up its business for the year.
The new fiscal forecast was issued Monday and cut projections for tax collections from now through June 2016 by $187 million. It revised a forecast made in November.
State Budget Director Shawn Sullivan says lawmakers must fill a $400 million hole in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
FHSU University Relations
The Management Development Center at Fort Hays State University is still accepting applications from Northwest Kansas businesses and entrepreneurial startups who can use subsidized managerial intern help from the university’s College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
The internship program aims to support the needs of a Northwest Kansas business or startup business while simultaneously providing valuable learning experiences for students — and funding is provided to underwrite the internship.
Four undergraduate or graduate students will be matched with a business working on a project or need that can be identified and developed over the summer.
Each internship will be supported by a $2,000 grant from FHSU, and businesses will provide $500. Intern wages, tax withholding and workers compensation will be paid by FHSU. Full projects are expected to be approximately 240 hours in length.
Priority deadline for applications is Thursday, April 30.
Projects may include but are not limited to:
· Developing a marketing plan.
· Developing a competitive analysis strategy.
· Assisting with the transition of company records from one software to another or from a manual system to an electronic one.
· Developing a training program for a specific set of operational procedures.
· Establishing a recruitment and selection process.
· Analyzing operation processes to determine efficiency.
· Planning and executing a promotion or event.
Business owners are expected to work with the intern in defining the problem or project to be addressed, setting initial and any revised expectations, providing guidance and insight over the course of the internship and, evaluating the intern at the completion of the relationship or semester.
For more information, contact Sabrina William, MDC director, at 785-628-4124. Businesses interested in this opportunity can submit the application online at www.fhsu.edu/cob/mdc/Internship-Program or email [email protected].
Funding is limited, so businesses and students will be selected through a competitive selection process. Priority will be given to northwest Kansas businesses or individuals who are in the startup process or in their first one to three years of business; however, all businesses are encouraged to apply.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Heavy rains across Kansas this past week have slowed spring planting due to wet soils.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 1 percent of the soybeans and 23 percent of the corn in Kansas has now been planted.
The agency says precipitation came across the eastern two-thirds of Kansas, with heavier amounts in south-central Kansas. Southwestern counties stayed mostly dry.
About 28 percent of the state’s winter wheat crop is rated in poor to very poor condition despite the welcomed moisture. About 46 percent of the wheat is in fair condition with 24 percent in good and 2 percent excellent shape.
About 4 percent of the state’s wheat crop has now headed.
Heartland Community Foundation
Thirty-two grant recipients representing organizations from Ellis, Rooks and Trego Counties were honored Monday evening by the Heartland Community Foundation at their Annual Awards Reception in Hays. Heartland presented grant checks totaling over $106,000 to nonprofit organizations during the event.
“We received 60 applications for grants made from the Heartland Area Action Fund, Healthy Living Fund and the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund,” said Heartland President Brandon Prough. “Our Grants Selection Committee was charged with the difficult task of sorting through the applications to choose who would be awarded funds during this grant cycle.”
Ellis County grant recipients from the Heartland Action Fund include: Hays Public Library, Tinker Tots Program; Hays Area Children’s Center, mixed-age room equipment.
Rooks County grant recipients from the Heartland Action Fund include: The Damar Community Historical Foundation, “Memories” project; City of Plainville, Trap/Neuter/Return Feral Cat Program; Plainville United Methodist Church, Wednesday at the Well.
Trego County grant recipients from the Heartland Action Fund include: WaKeeney Travel and Tourism, Tourist Walk with 3D Christmas Trees.
Ellis County Heartland Healthy Living Fund recipients: The Hays Lions Club, spot vision screener; Ellis County Coalition for the Prevention of Child Abuse, “Incredible Years” parent education class; Hays Med Center for Health Improvement, community fitness events.
Ellis County Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund recipients: Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, technology expansion; Hays Community Theatre, theatre expansion; Hays Area Children’s Center, playground equipment replacement project; Friends of the Hays Dog Park, dog park shelter; USD 489/Ellis County Imagination Library, Ellis County Dolly Parton Imagination Library; Jana’s Campaign, “Love Doesn’t Hurt” Reducing teen gender violence in secondary schools; and the Ellis Public Library, Maker Space project.
Rooks County Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund recipients: Sacred Heart Grade School, Playground Phase Two; Stockton Pool and Recreation Commission, plans for swimming pool; Plainville Recreation Commission, Wellness Center; Damar Community Historical Foundation with Loren Newell Family, Webster Lake Ball Court; Jana’s Campaign, “Love Doesn’t Hurt” Reducing teen gender violence in secondary schools; Rooks County Healthcare Foundation, MRI Vital Signs Monitoring System; Plainville Rescue Squad, Hydraulic Pump Project; Fusion Christian Youth Center in Stockton, Flooring Renovation Project.
Trego County Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund recipients: Trego County Recreation Commission, Wellness Fair; The Gathering, music at event; Trego Arts Council, Arts in the Schools; Smoky Valley Scenic Byway, Wilcox School Beautification; Jana’s Campaign, “Love Doesn’t Hurt” Reducing teen gender violence in secondary schools; Prairie Faith Shared Ministry, Faith Community Nurse Ministry; Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Healing Comfort Lobby Project; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3449, building enhancement.
“This year we were able to grant a significant amount of dollars to some very deserving projects. The thanks goes to the many donors who make the grant making possible including the Dane G. Hansen Foundation in Logan,” said Heartland executive director Tammy McClellan. “This fall we will be asking for grant applications once again in Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties. Nonprofit organizations can find more information at our website heartlandcommunityfoundation.org.”
The Heartland Community Foundation was established in 2007 as an affiliate of the Greater Salina Community Foundation. Heartland serves communities and their residents in Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties.
Hays High had three golfers in the top-10 and finished third at their own Bob Blazer/Hays High Invitational Monday at the Smoky Hill Country Club.
Payton Ruder led the Indians with an eight-over par 79 to finish fifth. Nathan Romme also shot a 79 and was seventh. Cash Hobson fired an 80 to finish ninth. Garden City’s Daniel Gaspar won the individual title with a three-over 74.
The Indians had a team score of 329 which was two shots back of second place Hutchinson and 17 back for first place Garden City.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka man charged with plotting to detonate a 1,000 pound bomb outside Fort Riley is preparing to appear before a federal magistrate.
John T. Booker Jr.’s hearing Tuesday in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas, comes after a grand jury handed down a three-count indictment for the 20-year-old last week. The hearing is to inform Booker of its details.
Prosecutors say Booker was arrested while trying to arm what he thought was a bomb outside the Army base. Booker told an FBI informant he wanted to kill Americans and wage jihad for the Islamic State group, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.
The imam at the Topeka mosque Booker frequented said he suffers from bipolar disorder, which is characterized by mood swings that can affect functioning.
OXFORD- Four people were injured in an accident just after 2 p.m. on Monday in Sumner County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Jeep Cherokee driven by Catherine Willis, 58, Mulvane, was eastbound on U. S. 160 one mile west of Oxford.
The vehicle attempted to pass slower traffic and struck a 2000 Chevy Classic 2500 driven by Bobbie L. Treat, 76, Winfield, head on.
A 2000 Dodge Stratus driven by Samantha Fortner, 28, Oxford, then rear-ended the Chevy.
Wills, Treat and Fortner were transported to the Winfield Hospital.
A passenger in the Cherokee John Willis, 57, Mulvane was transported to Wesley Medical Center,
The KHP reported all were properly restrained at the time of the accident.
