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Police make another arrest in robberies near KSU campus

MANHATTAN- Law enforcement authorities in Riley County have made another arrest in connection with a string of recent aggravated robberies that led to a nearly four-hour lockdown at Kansas State University on September 4.

Just before 3:30 a.m., the Riley County Police reported they were searching for a suspect considered ‘armed and dangerous’ in the area of Manhattan Area Technical College.

The suspect was seen running through backyards and jumping fences to avoid police.

Police caught the suspect just after 4:30 a.m.

Additional details on the arrest are expected to be released later Wednesday.

Kansas man dies after van hits power pole, rolls into a cornfield

PERRY – A Kansas man died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. on Tuesday in Jefferson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1993 Ford Econoline van driven by Courtney M. White, 61, Topeka, was was westbound on U.S. 24 six miles east of Perry.

The driver failed to negotiate a right hand turn. The van entered the west ditch, struck a power pole and rolled into a cornfield.

White was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Barnet Funeral Home.

He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Man injured after being shot by Kansas deputy

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man is in critical condition after being shot by a sheriff’s deputy in Wichita.

According to Sedgwick County sheriff’s Lt. Lin Dehning, a deputy was investigating someone who seemed suspicious Tuesday afternoon when the deputy fired shots and the man was struck in the abdomen.

The man was transported to a hospital.

Dehning said someone called authorities about a suspicious person around 4:20 p.m. Dehning says the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is still trying to determine whether someone in the area of the incident made the report or if the deputy investigated on his own.

An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

Kansas City police: 1 dead, 7 hurt after shooting, crash

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police say one person is dead and six children are critically injured after a car accident that happened amid a gunfight. A seventh person was wounded by gunfire.

Sgt. Kari Thompson said in a statement that police believe the occupants of two vehicles were exchanging gunfire Tuesday night when one vehicle struck a nearby uninvolved vehicle.

Thompson says 30-year-old Mariana Hernandez-Gonzales was in the uninvolved vehicle when she was killed. Six children who were passengers in the same vehicle were taken to hospitals in critical condition.

She says an occupant of one vehicle involved in the gunfight was also hospitalized in critical condition.

Thompson tells The Associated Press police have a person of interest in custody.

No identities were released, and no further details were immediately available.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police say one person is dead and six children are critically injured after a car accident that happened amid a gunfight. A seventh person was injured by gunfire.

Sgt. Kari Thompson said in a statement that police believe the occupants of two vehicles were exchanging gunfire Tuesday night when one vehicle struck a nearby uninvolved vehicle.

Thompson says one occupant of the uninvolved vehicle was pronounced dead as a result of the crash. Six children who were passengers in the same vehicle were taken to hospitals in critical condition.

She says an occupant of one vehicle involved in the gunfight was also hospitalized in critical condition.

Thompson tells The Associated Press police have a person of interest in custody.

No identities were released, and no further details were immediately available.

More LIEAP payments being distributed in Kansas

lieapo logoKansas Department for Children and Families

Kansans with low income are receiving a little extra help paying their utility bills this month, thanks to the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP).

Supplemental benefit payments are now being distributed throughout the state.

“Although we’re enjoying a nice comfortable week of weather and summer is winding down, those cooling bills may be piling up,” Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Phyllis Gilmore said in a news release Tuesday. “This extra assistance will help Kansas families with that expense.”

LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating bills. Persons with disabilities, older adults and families with children are the primary groups assisted. In the winter of 2015, slightly more than 44,000 households received an average benefit of $412. The supplemental benefit amount varies, but will be approximately 38 percent of the original benefit each household received. Statewide this amount averages to be $157.

This year, funding is available to provide an additional benefit to those households for energy costs. This is not a new application period. Households that applied for and received a benefit during the regular application period will automatically be issued a supplemental benefit. Households receiving the supplemental benefit will receive written notice of the specific benefit amount they will receive. Supplemental benefits will be paid in the same manner and to the same vendor as they were for the regular benefit. The supplemental funds are in the process of being dispersed.

LIEAP funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Service through the Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

For more information on the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, visit http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Energy/EnergyAssistance.aspx or call 1-800-432-0043 toll free.

Kan. woman pleads to lesser charges in death of homeless advocate

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A homeless woman previously convicted of murdering a homeless advocate has pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

The Shawnee County District Attorney announced Tuesday that Kimberly Sharp will be sentenced Sept. 30 for voluntary manslaughter and aggravated battery in the death of 38-year-old David Owen, a homeless advocate from Topeka who disappeared in June 2006. His body was found the next month.

An appeals court in July ordered a new trial for Sharp, ruling that her confession was involuntary and should not have been admitted at her first trial. The court said the confession couldn’t be used in a new trial.

Owen was killed during a confrontation at a homeless camp near Topeka.

Two men also were convicted of first-degree murder in Owen’s death. Another person was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

Hays High, TMP-Marian and La Crosse remain ranked in latest prep volleyball rankings

Several area volleyball teams remain ranked in the latest prep volleyball rankings from the Kansas Volleyball Association released Tuesday. Hays High is up one to No. 8 in 4A Division II, TMP-Marian drops two to No. 5 in 4A Division II. La Crosse sits at No. 3 in 2A.

Complete rankings below…

Class 6A
1. Olathe Northwest 11-1 (1)
2. Olathe East 7-1 (2)
3. Shawnee Mission East 11-0 (5)
4. Blue Valley North 9-1 (3)
5. Derby 9-1 (4)
6. Washburn Rural 5-1 (6)
7. Blue Valley 7-5 (8)
8. Maize 8-4 (NR)
9. Wichita East 6-2 (NR)
10. Manhattan 4-4 (7)

Class 5A
1. St. James Academy 10-1 (2)
2. St. Thomas Aquinas 8-1 (1)
3. Shawnee Heights 8-1 (3)
4. Blue Valley West 7-2 (4)
5. Lansing 9-2 (5)
6. Newton 8-0 (6)
7. Bishop Carroll 7-1 (7)
8. Goddard-Eisenhower 8-2 (8)
9. Andover 7-3 (9)
10. Emporia 8-2 (10)

Class 4A – Division 1
1. Topeka-Hayden 10-0 (2)
2. Bishop Miege 3-4 (1)
3. McPherson 9-1 (5)
4. Louisburg 9-3 (4)
5. Abilene 8-2 (3)
6. Rose Hill 10-2 (6)
7. Andale 12-3 (7)
8. Hays 5-0 (9)
9. Basehor-Linwood 13-4 (NR)
10. Wamego 0-2 (8)

Class 4A – Division 2
1. Holton 6-0 (1)
2. Rock Creek 14-1 (2)
3. Frontenac 8-1 (10)
4. Girard 10-5 (4)
5. Thomas More Prep-Marian 5-2 (5)
6. Holcomb 6-0 (9)
7. Royal Valley 5-4 (3)
8. Clay Center 7-2 (NR)
9. Pratt 7-5 (7)
10. Smoky Valley 6-4 (8)

Class 3A
1. Silver Lake 5-0 (1)
2. Hesston 11-0 (2)
3. Douglass 6-0 (6)
4. Garden Plain 9-0 (7)
5. Beloit 8-1 (NR)
6. Southeast of Saline 7-2 (8)
7. Nemaha Central 7-1 (NR)
8. Wichita Collegiate 8-2 (NR)
9. Burlington 10-5 (4)
10. Wellsville 7-5 (5)

Class 2A
1. Central Plains 8-0 (1)
2. Spearville 6-0 (4)
3. St. Mary’s Colgan 8-1 (6)
4. South Central 13-2 (2)
5. Bishop Seabury 10-3 (5)
6. Washington County 8-2 (NR)
7. Kiowa County 9-1 (8)
8. Valley Falls 12-2 (9)
9. Smith Center 6-0 (NR)
10. Olpe 7-2 (10)

Class 1A – Division 1
1. Goessel 9-0 (1)
2. Centralia 9-0 (2)
3. LaCrosse 10-1 (3)
4. Hoxie 5-0 (4)
5. Waverly 6-3 (5)
6. St. Paul 7-2 (7)
7. Dighton 9-2 (8)
8. Hanover 8-3 (NR)
9. Immaculata 5-1 (NR)
10. Flinthills 7-2 (10)

Class 1A – Division 2
1. Beloit-St. John’s/Tipton 12-2 (1)
2. Axtell 7-3 (3)
3. Northern Valley 5-3 (2)
4. Wheatland-Grinnell 9-2 (5)
5. Logan 9-1 (4)
6. Attica 9-3 (7)
7. Wallace County 3-3 (6)
8. Fowler 6-2 (8)
9. Golden Plains 7-2 (NR)
10. Linn 5-4 (10)

Kansas City based Hallmark Cards announces reorganization

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Hallmark Cards Inc. is creating three new independently operated businesses as part of a major reorganization of the greeting card company.

The company announced Tuesday that the new businesses are Hallmark Greetings, Hallmark Retail and Hallmark Home and Gifts. Each of the businesses will be led by a separate president.

Hallmark officials said the reorganization is expected to allow for more focused decisions to meet customer and marketplace needs in each business.

As part of the changes, David Hall, formerly president of Hallmark North America, will be president of the entire company, which reported 2014 sales of $3.8 billion.

The Kansas City Star reports the three new businesses join Crayola, Crown Media Holdings, Crown Center Redevelopment, and Hallmark International as separate businesses in the company’s realigned structure.

Winner announced in Grass Kicking Giveaway

The conclusion to the summer long promotion from Eagle Radio of Hays, The Grass Kicking Giveaway, was held Tuesday evening at Carrico Implement in Hays.

IMG_3846
Todd Lynd, Scott Boomer, Mike Kreutzer, Judy Lohrmeyer, Ray Morris, and Brian Pekarek

There were a total of 60 finalists selected throughout the summer at a number of sponsor locations.

Mike Kreutzer from Hays won the Grand Prize, a brand new John Deere Z-Trak Mower along with a trailer.

Judy Lohrmeyer from Russell came in second place, winning a new Green Egg Grill.

Ray Morris rounded out the winners receiving third place, and taking home a Honda Walk-Behind Mower and a Stihl Leaf Blower.

All finalists that attended the finalists party received a pair of tickets to the remaining FHSU Football Games in Hays.

Plans are already in place to have another great prize pack offering for next summer.

 

Hay tonnage in Kansas good this year, but quality lacking

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wetter weather in Kansas has brought needed moisture after years of drought, but it is causing problems for hay growers.

Steve Hessman is the hay market reporter for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s office in Dodge City.

He said Tuesday that Kansas has had good hay production when it comes to tonnage, but it is not the best quality in most cases.

Untimely rains have damaged much of cut alfalfa in fields, making it is only good for grinding hay.

Those rains have also delayed timely cutting, and much of the hay was overly matured when it was finally cut.

It has been only in the past couple of weeks during the recent dry spell that some growers have been able to cut the top-quality, dairy hay off irrigated fields.

Allegations of sexual assault, harassment up at Kansas jail

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Claims of sexual assault and harassment at the Sedgwick County jail are up for the second year in a row.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the number of allegations substantiated after internal investigations remained unchanged at four each of the past two years

Data filed with federal authorities shows 37 allegations of inappropriate sexual misconduct, harassment or contact last year. That compares with 30 such claims in 2013.

The sheriff’s office tracks the data as part of its compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act. The act is a 2003 federal law aimed at identifying and eliminating sexual violence in America’s prisons.

Capt. Jared Schechter says incidents of sexual assault are reported to the district attorney’s office if substantiated.

Facebook ready to test button that goes beyond ‘like’

facebookThe Associated Press

Facebook may finally be getting a button that lets you quickly express something beyond a “like.”

Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday that people have been asking for a “dislike” button on the social media site for years.

Speaking at an event at Facebook’s Menlo Park, California, headquarters that was streamed live online, Zuckerberg acknowledged that “like” isn’t always appropriate for some posts — about a tragic news event, for example — when people might want to express empathy.

Zuckerberg said the company, however, has veered away from making a “dislike” button, which could be used to vote down other people’s posts. He said the new button is ready to be tested soon and could be rolled out broadly depending on how it does.

Kan. school adding laptops after concerns about unequal access

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Schools in Lawrence will be receiving additional laptops after some teachers raised concerns that digital textbooks were creating inequity for low-income students.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that 25 additional laptops will be delivered to each of the city’s two high schools.

The laptops will be available for semester- or year-long checkout for students enrolled in classes that rely on digital content. Those include algebra and advanced placement history at both high schools.

Lawrence schools Superintendent Rick Doll says as new curriculum is adopted districtwide, more digital textbooks will go into use. That creates a need for the district to purchase more computers.

The district is doing a cost analysis and inventory of laptops and tablets to determine how many computers are needed so that each student has a device.

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