JIM SUHR, Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A federal prosecutor in Kansas says a prison drug-smuggling scheme in which six people are charged actually may involve more than 90 inmates and dozens of outsiders who assisted them.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Tomasic recently has told a judge she assumes more Leavenworth Detention Center employees may be charged than the one already being prosecuted.

According to transcripts of the July 21 hearing in Kansas City, Kansas, Tomasic said “new targets” of the investigation are being identified “at an alarming rate.”

The 1,126-bed lockup is run under contract by the Corrections Corporation of America and is separate from the federal prison in Leavenworth.

The case is at the center of a legal storm over privacy rights involving prison recordings of confidential lawyer conversations with clients at the Leavenworth

SHAWNEE COUNTY – Four people died in an accident just after 7:15 a.m. on Thursday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Subaru Impreza driven by Devin Michael Greeve, 17, Topeka, was westbound on U.S. 24 two miles east of Silver Lake.

The vehicle crossed the centerline.

An eastbound 2007 Pontiac Vibe driven by Lance Jason Lenard, 47, Rossville, struck the Subaru on the passenger side.

Greeve and Lenard were transported to Stormont Vail where they died.

Passengers in the Subaru Gaby N. Greeve, 11, and Tyler M. Crouse, 14, both of Topeka were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Shawnee County Coroner.

A passenger in the Pontiac Kade Lenard, 13, Rossville, was transported to Stormont Vail.

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

————

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say two people have died and three are critically injured after a crash northwest of Topeka.

Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Jory Custar says the crash happened Thursday morning when a westbound vehicle veered into the path of an eastbound vehicle on U.S. 24.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that two people in the westbound vehicle were killed and a third occupant was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Both passengers in the eastbound vehicle also sustained critical injuries.

The names of the victims weren’t immediately released.

SALINE COUNTY – Investigators are working to determine the cause of a Thursday morning mobile home fire in north Salina.

Two occupants of the home located at 708 North 2nd Street were able to escape the fire without injury, according to Salina Fire Marshal Roger Williams.

They were both treated by EMS at the scene and refused transport to the hospital.

Firefighters also pulled a dog from inside the home. The condition of the animal was not immediately known, but personnel with the Salina Animal Shelter were at the scene.

No additional details were available early Thursday afternoon.

BRADLEY KLAPPER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department says a $400 million cash payment to Iran was contingent on the release of American prisoners.

Spokesman John Kirby says negotiations over the United States’ returning Iranian money from a decades-old account was conducted separately from the prisoner talks. But he says the U.S. withheld delivery of the cash as leverage until the U.S. citizens had left Iran.

Both events occurred Jan. 17.

Kirby spoke after The Wall Street Journal reported that the departures of the crisscrossing planes were linked.

BARTON COUNTY – Uber Technologies Inc. is available in cities worldwide, in portions of Kansas and now in Great Bend.

The Uber app allows consumers with smartphones to submit a trip request and a registered Uber driver in town will pick them up and take them to their destination.

Unlike a taxi system, Uber is made up of community drivers that use their own vehicles.

“Uber transportation is completely cashless. Everything is done through the Uber App,” according to Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes.

She says there are already 10 drivers signed up in Great Bend.

The fares driver’s earn automatically deposit into their bank account every week.

Drivers have to pass a series of questions and background checks.

Hayes says anything that might limit drunk driving and provide a convenience to residents is something the city supports.

In Kansas, the company originally offered service in Wichita, Kansas City, Kansas, Johnson County and grew to include Lawrence, Leavenworth, Manhattan

GEARY COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating four suspects in connection with a aggravated kidnapping and battery.

Four suspects are in custody in connection with an incident near Old Highway 13 in the rural southeast portion of Geary County, according to the Geary County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies say man was found severely injured at the edge of a field.

The victim alleged he had been beaten and kidnapped from his residence in rural Wabaunsee County near Alta Vista and was transported to a residence in rural Geary County.

The Sheriff’s Department initiated an investigation and requested assistance from the United States Marshal’s Service in locating and apprehending the suspects.

Mark Daniel Lee, 33, Herington, was already in the custody of the US Marshal’s Service on unrelated charges, according to Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf .

On August 11 the Geary County Sheriff’s Office apprehended Justin David Spiker, 26, Alta Vista.

On August 16 the Kansas Apprehension Task Force arrested Randy Carroll Fetters Jr., 36, and Story Lee Blocker, 36, both of Herington.

Wolf confirmed all of the suspects were charged in Geary County District Court warrants with Aggravated Kidnapping, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Kidnapping and Aggravated Battery.

The identity of the victim has not been released.

The incident allegedly involved illegal drugs and stolen property, according to Wolf.

The Kansas Apprehension Task force is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force comprised of the United States Marshals Service, Topeka Police Department, Shawnee County Sheriff’s

Office, and the Kansas Department of Corrections.

HUTCHINSON -Law enforcement authorities in Reno County have taken a report of a man missing since Monday morning.

Beau Strickland, 37, Hutchinson was last seen morning dropping his daughter off at daycare on Monday, according to police.

Strickland is six foot two inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes.

He could be driving a 1995 Ford F-150 Crew Cab truck, which is also missing.

Police ask that if you have any information that you contact them at 620-694-2816 or call Reno County 911.