HIALEAH, Fla. (AP) — The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust has sued a Miami-area mayor who tried to pay a $4,000 fine with 28 buckets filled with pennies and nickels.

The commission also doubled the fine imposed on Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez, saying he intentionally broke the rules by sending them 360,000 coins on Nov. 6 even though he knew the panel only accepts checks.

According to a statement from the commission, a hearing on the complaint filed in small claims court is scheduled Dec. 9.

The commission ruled in July that Hernandez lied about his charge of usurious interest rates on a $180,000 loan to a jewelry salesman now jailed for a pyramid scheme.

El Nuevo Herald reports that Hernandez has called complaints against him a “political circus.”

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback says Kansas has to make changes to address concerns over the state’s water supply.

 

Today’s adventure, 600 water folks at Governors conference, Manhattan, KS, to talk to about Art. Not nervous honest pic.twitter.com/41bfKC0EjX

— Sans facon (@sans_facon) November 18, 2015

Brownback told about 600 participants in the state’s annual water conference Wednesday in Manhattan that the time has come to make changes to extend life of the underground Ogallala Aquifer and to rehabilitate silted reservoirs to preserve the state’s water resource.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Brownback says he intends water preservation to be part of his legacy as governor.

He also says wells that enable irrigation of crops, withdrawal for business use and pumping for the drinking supply were depleting the aquifer at an unsustainable rate and that work begins soon on a $25 million project to dredge the John Redmond Reservoir, which has lost considerable water storage capacity to silt.

GREAT BEND – Authorities have released the identity of the man who was shot and killed in Great Bend on Sunday.

Aron Villegas, 23, Great Bend, died in a shooting at his home on Lakin Avenue, according to Barton County Attorney Doug Matthews.

On Sunday morning, police were called to the residence where they found Villegas suffering from gunshot wounds. He later died at Great Bend Regional Hospital.

The Great Bend Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are interviewing witnesses.

When completed, the results of the investigation will be presented to the Barton County Attorney.

 

ATCHISON –A student at Benedictine College was in custody for allegedly posting a threatening message Tuesday night on social media.

Collen A. Carey, 18, a freshman student at the school from Colorado is facing charges of a felony for aggravated criminal threat.

Benedictine College in Atchison, was placed on alert Tuesday night after receiving word of a threat to the college community.

On Facebook, college officials said they became aware of the threat on the anonymous social media Web site Yik Yak.

 

Benedictine College became aware of a threat on Yik Yak tonight. Additional posts indicate it is a hoax, but campus remains on alert status. — Benedictine College (@BenedictineKS) November 18, 2015

 

Benedictine College ALL CLEAR – Police have the person who posted a threat on Yik Yak in custody. Classes are in session as scheduled.

— Benedictine College (@BenedictineKS) November 18, 2015

Benedictine spokesman Steve Johnson says security was stepped up on the campus after the comments were posted. Classes were held as scheduled Wednesday on the campus, which is located about 50 miles northwest of Kansas City.

Recent threats on YikYak also led to arrests of students at Northwest Missouri State University and the Missouri University of Science & Technology.
– The Associated Press contributed to this report

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents has discussed the issue of racial tension on university campuses amid heightened conversation at the University of Kansas.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the topic was brought up by University of Kansas student body president Jessie Pringle, who was threatened to be ousted along with two other officers last week for what critics called their lack of response to diversity complaints.

Pringle, who is also chairwoman of the Regents Students’ Advisory Committee, encouraged the board and university representatives to take the issue of creating inclusive campuses seriously.

Board chairman Shane Bangerter says he supports an environment that allows everyone to “feel safe and welcome.”

He says changes will most likely occur at the campus level because the Board of Regents sets broad policy and doesn’t dictate details to universities.

CHEROKEE, Okla. (AP) — A magnitude 4.7 earthquake rattled northern Oklahoma and many areas in Kansas early Thursday.

According to the National Earthquake Information Center, the quake happened at 1:42 a.m. and was centered about 8 miles southwest of Cherokee.

Vance radar indicating birds taking off earlier this morning just after the Earthquake. #kswx pic.twitter.com/TT7v5d3I4b

— NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) November 19, 2015

 

Preliminary magnitude of the earthquake at 142 am was 4.7, centered 13km SW of Cherokee, Oklahoma. — NWS Wichita (@NWSWichita) November 19, 2015

 

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quake, which was felt in 9 states.

Two other earthquakes were reported later Thursday: a 3.1-magnitude temblor at 3:46 a.m. and a 3.7-magnitude quake at 6:03 a.m. Both were centered 9 miles south-southwest of Cherokee, which is near the state’s border with Kansas.

National Earthquake Information Center geophysicist Randy Baldwin says Oklahoma has seen more than 20 magnitude 4 quakes this year.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita again needs a new director.

Richard Moore, president of the museum’s board of directors, told The Wichita Eagle that Daniel Bateman, who started in May 29, has left the museum. Bateman’s last paid day was Friday.

Bateman said Tuesday he’s pursuing job leads, but also says he’s more concerned with his family and medical issues his mother is having in Colorado.

Bateman replaced Lon Smith, who announced his resignation in March. Smith had been the museum’s director for seven years and is now president of the Wichita Independent Business Association.

A search committee is being formed and a national search will begin for the museum’s new director.

LINDSBORG, Kan. (AP) — Bethany College has selected a committee to find the college’s next president.

The Salina Journal reports that the college’s board of directors on Tuesday announced the selection of a search firm and presidential search committee.

Edward Leonard III announced his resignation six months ago to take the same position at Birmingham Southern College in Alabama. He had been Bethany’s president since 2007. Robert Vogel has been serving as interim president since July.

Sean Patty, vice chairman of the board of directors, says the committee will begin meeting in January, and the search is expected to run through May.

Bethany is a private, liberal arts college with about 600 students.