MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Chief Medical Writer

A new study finds that many women with early-stage breast cancer can skip chemotherapy without hurting their odds of beating the disease. The study shows the value of using a gene-activity test to gauge each patient’s risk.

The test accurately identified a group of women whose cancers are so likely to respond to hormone therapy that adding chemo would do little if any good. In the study, women who skipped chemo based on their gene test scores had less than a 1 percent chance of cancer recurring far away, such as the liver or lungs, within the next five years.

Results were published online Monday by the New England Journal of Medicine and discussed at a European cancer conference.

JULIE CARR SMYTH, Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A working group of U.S. drilling states, seismologists, academics and industry experts has issued guidance to state regulators for handling human-induced earthquakes caused by hydraulic fracturing or the disposal of fracking wastewater.

The StatesFirst initiative’s 150-page report was released Monday. It represents perhaps the most candid discussion on the topic since tremors across the mid-continent were first linked to fracking-related activity around 2009.

But it stops short of suggesting model regulations.

Ohio Oil & Gas Chief Rick Simmers, who co-chaired the effort, tells The Associated Press that’s because each state’s regulatory framework, laws and geography are unique.

He described the report as a primer, providing states with up-to-date scientific and technical data, case studies and several suggested approaches for detecting and managing quakes potentially tied to human activity.

CLAY COUNTY, Mo. – Mathew McConkey of Kansas City became the most recent record-breaking fisherman  when he caught his giant flathead catfish on the Missouri River using a trotline, according to a media release from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The new “alternative methods” record flathead catfish caught by McConkey on Sept. 19 weighed 100 pounds and was 57-inches long. He caught the fish around 10:30 a.m. on a four-inch goldfish.

“Once I grabbed the line I knew right away that I had big one,” McConkey said. “The giant moved my 17-foot Lowe boat around like it was nothing.”

The new behemoth broke the previous alternative-method state-record flathead catfish of 99 pounds caught on the Missouri River in 2010.

Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) staff verified the record-weight fish using a certified scale at the post office in Liberty.

“I’ve caught several big fish in the Missouri River, but this one is by far the biggest and most memorable,” McConkey said.
The longtime fisherman said the fish is now skinned and in his freezer ready to be eaten. But before he skinned it he took several measurements, and he said he plans to have a replica made in the future.

“I still can’t believe I caught this giant of a fish and broke the state record. My goal now is to catch an even bigger fish and break the world-record,” McConkey said.

McConkey’s record-breaking flathead catfish makes eight new state-record fish for 2015. There hasn’t been this many new state records since 2002, when there were 10.

“This year has been a great year for fishing for many reasons. We had a great spring where we received plenty of rain that kept our rivers and lakes full, giving fish plenty of food and numerous areas to spread out,” MDC Fisheries Programs Specialist Andrew Branson said. “Our summer was mild, which many anglers took to their advantage and fished more. So when the weather is great and more anglers get out on the water, that’s when we see state records broken.”

Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Fishing with trotlines is considered an alternative method and consist of heavy fishing line with baited hooks attached at intervals by means of drop lines. A drop line is a short length of line which is attached to the main line using a clip or swivel, with the hook at the other end.
Other alternative methods include: bowfishing, throwlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, and atlatl.
Conservation makes Missouri a great place for more than a million anglers to fish for flathead catfish and more than 20 other sport-fish species. According to research by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Missouri is one of the top-five states for fishing.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A $3.5 million art garden has opened outside the Wichita Art Museum after about three years of planning and installation.

Hundreds of people attended a grand opening and dedication event on Saturday. Museum benefactors Paula Downing and Martie Walker came up with the idea to install the art garden in 2012.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the garden is designed to represent a natural prairie environment. It features 13 new tree varieties, seven deciduous shrub varieties, 37 perennial varieties and 14 grass varieties.

Museum director Patricia McDonnell hopes the garden will be a “welcome mat” for the community to access the art museum.

The art garden was funded entirely by private donors.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A California man who was being paid to drive drugs to Kansas City has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison without parole.

Prosecutors say 21-year-old Juan Carlos Ahumada of San Ferdinando, California, pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to deliver heroin after being caught on Interstate 70 with 15 pounds of the drug.

Ahumada was pulled over by a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in Wabaunsee County, where investigators found a hidden compartment where the heroin was concealed.

In his plea deal with prosecutors, Ahumada admitted he was hired to drive a load of the drug from California to Kansas City. He was sentenced Monday.

HERINGTON – Law enforcement authorities in Dickinson County are investigating three suspects on various drug charges.

The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department and the Herrington Police reported in a media release they executed a search warrant at 201 South 12th Street in Herington on Friday.

During the search of the residence drug paraphernalia items consistent with methamphetamine sales were located. Also located was 8.8 grams gross of marijuana and over 19 grams of methamphetamine along with a firearm.
Arrested include:

Gary McEwen, 63, on allegations of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, failure to obtain a Kansas drug tax stamp, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael Garrett, 34, on allegations of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm.

Skylar Pruyn, 20, allegations of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia.
All three were living at the 12th Street residence in Herington and all three are currently in the Dickinson County Jail awaiting first appearance.

The case is considered ongoing and further arrests are expected.

GARDNER- A Kansas man was injured in a single engine, high wing, fixed-wing aircraft  just before 9 a.m. on Monday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Cessna 172R piloted by Edward M. VanMorlan, 69, Olathe, took off and made a banking turn.

During the turn, the engine cut off and the aircraft fell approximately 300 feet, striking nose first into the ground.

The aircraft rotated from impact and came to rest on its wheels.

VanMorlan was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.  Officials did not release his condition.