SEWARD COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities and officials with USD 480 in Liberal are investigating a threat against one of the district’s schools.

Administrators with the district and law enforcement authorities in Seward County are taking appropriate measures to address the situation with the individuals involved, according to a media release.

The name of the school or few additional details on the threat were released on Wednesday.

The school district did remind the community of their commitment to the safety and security of students. They also encouraged parents to discuss the situation with their students and anyone with information that could assist with the investigation to come forward.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court will hear arguments on a Barton County case on Thursday in Topeka.

According to the Office of Judicial Administration, the case of the State of Kansas v. Jeffrey Wade Chapman will be heard by the Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon.

Damon Galyardt accused Chapman of having an affair with his girlfriend and came at Chapman with a knife.

Chapman shot Galyardt in the chest and then took the body to the country. Despite Chapman’s claim of self-defense, the jury convicted Chapman of first-degree murder.

Issues on appeal are whether the district court erred in denying a change of venue, and abused its discretion in allowing the state to introduce evidence of a text message.

Chapman is serving a 25-year prison sentence.

Chapman’s case drew attention in 2013 when he asked for permission to cover or remove a tattoo of the mirrored image of the word “murder” on his neck. He was allowed to wear a turtleneck during the trial.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents has appointed several members to a committee searching for a new chancellor for the University of Kansas.

The 24 new members announced Wednesday include representatives of the university’s faculty, staff, students, alumni, endowment, administration, athletics and residents of Lawrence. The committee will be led by regent Dave Dillon.

The committee will be looking for a replacement for chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, who has said she will step down next summer. The search group has been instructed to identify three to five candidates for the job.

The regents said in a news release the committee will work during the next several months with the search firm R. William Funk & Associates.

Search committee members representing alumni/foundation include: Lydia Beebe, Senior Of Counsel in the San Francisco office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and KU Endowment Association Trustee; Greg Ek, First Vice-President and Wichita Branch Manager for Morgan Stanley, and KU Alumni Association National Board member; Dave Roland, President of NDC Technologies and KU Alumni Association National Board member; Deanell Reece Tacha, retired federal judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and Chair of the KU Endowment Association Board of Trustees; and Steve Sloan, Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Minerals, Inc. and KU Endowment Association Trustee representing KU Athletics.

Search committee members representing KU students include: Stephonn Alcorn, a senior from Gardner, Kansas, studying Finance and the KU Lawrence Student Body President; Gabby Naylor, a senior from Providence, Rhode Island, majoring in Accounting and presently serving as the KU-Lawrence Student Body Vice President; and Christina Hughey, a third year medical student at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Chair of the Student Governing Council for the Medical Center Campus, and that body’s incoming President-elect.

Search committee members representing faculty, administration, and staff include: Ann Brill, Ph.D., Dean of the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas; Tracie Collins, M.D., Chair at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita; Joseph Harrington, Ph.D., Professor in the KU Department of English and University of Kansas University Senate President; Roy A. Jensen, M.D., William R. Jewell, M.D. Distinguished Kansas Masonic Professor, director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, and director of the Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute; Amalia Monroe-Gulick, Associate Librarian faculty member with the University of Kansas Libraries, and University of Kansas Faculty Senate President-Elect; Robert D. Simari, M.D., executive dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine; Rodolfo H. Torres, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for the University of Kansas Office of Research and a University Distinguished Professor of Mathematics; Brian Moss, Staff Senate President-Elect; and Elizabeth Phillips, President of the KU Staff Senate.

Search committee members representing the wider Lawrence community and the broader Kansas community include: Willie Amison, Jr., Ed.D., former elementary school Principal and President of Amison Consulting; Joan Golden, Senior Vice President of Development for U.S. Bank of Lawrence; and Debbie Nordling, State Farm Agent and KU Alumni Association Southwest Kansas chapter co-leader.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback says his budget proposals next year will include a new scholarship program for training teachers for rural schools.

Brownback also said in an Associated Press interview Wednesday that another initiative will help bring doctors and dental services to rural areas lacking them.

The Republican governor acknowledged that he’ll be pursuing the programs while outlining proposals for eliminating projected budget shortfalls totaling $1.1 billion through June 2019. But he said budgeting is about setting priorities.

He said he will propose providing scholarships to university students who train to be teachers and serve in rural areas facing teacher shortages.

Brownback also responded to criticism from Senate President Susan Wagle for not imposing immediate budget cuts. He said it would be “more constructive” for lawmakers to offer their own proposals.

GEARY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating 3 suspects on drug charges.

Just before 10p.m. on Tuesday, Deputies stopped a vehicle on Kansas 18 Bypass just after Boller Road.

They arrested David Kohen, Roy Gilmore and James Houpt all of Wichita on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A health care company is working to open the first private hospital in Topeka since the famed Menninger psychiatric clinic left town more than a decade ago.

Plans call for the Freedom Behavioral Hospital of Topeka to open its door in Topeka within a week. The Topeka Capital-Journal  reports that it is housed in a former nursing home facility that underwent a $3.5 million renovation. The facility will add 24 beds for seniors age 50 and up to in-patient mental health care options in the capital city.

Jason Reed is president and CEO of the parent company, Freedom Healthcare, of Lake Charles, Louisiana. He says the hospital is awaiting final regulatory approval from one agency.

He says the hospital already is receiving calls from people seeking services.

WILSON COUNTY – Officials are still working to determine the cause of fatal fire in Wilson County.

Just after 3 a.m. on Tuesday, fire crews responded to a fire in a two-story home at 509 Wisconsin Avenue in Neodesha, according to Fire Chief Dwayne Banzet.

“When we arrived, the house was fully involved in flames,” he said.

The home, appraised at $57K is a total loss.

Late Wednesday, officials were still working to confirm the identity of the male victim.  The Kansas State Fire Marshal is assisting with the investigation.

“It’s the first fatality we’ve had since 2007, according to Banzet.