EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — An east-central Kansas woman has been ordered to spend a year behind bars for a 2013 fatal crash that killed a bicyclist.

KVOE-AM of Emporia reports that a Lyon County judge sentenced 41-year-old Jean Getten on a conviction of vehicular homicide. She was acquitted last month of a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Authorities say a pickup truck driven by Getten, who at the time of the crash was known as Jean McComber, hit and killed 51-year-old bicyclist Ronald Kennedy of Ottawa, Kansas, on a highway west of Emporia.

MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Last week, Mercury stole the show. Now it’s Mars’ turn.

On Sunday morning, Mars, Earth and the sun will line up perfectly in the sky. This once-every-two-years event is called Mars opposition. That’s because Mars and the sun will be on opposite sides of Earth.

Right now, Mars is about 48 million miles from us. That won’t change much by Sunday. But on May 30, Mars will pass within 47 million miles of Earth, the closest in a decade.

Sky-watchers, gazing to the southeast at nightfall, can enjoy a brighter, seemingly bigger Mars into June. The Hubble Space Telescope, meanwhile, will be zooming in for some pretty pictures.

SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating six reported thefts and asking the public for help.

Between April 8th and May 6th, 2016, six commercial air conditioning units were reported stolen along Broadway Boulevard between South Street and Grand Avenue in Salina, according to Saline County Crime Stoppers.

Due to the weight of the units, there would more than likely be more than one suspect involved.

Total loss and damage is estimated at $17,000.

Any information concerning who committed this crime should be reported to Crime Stoppers at 785-825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit www.pd.salina.org and follow the Crime Stoppers link to submit a web tip.

You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 and you are not required to give your name.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The remains of a U.S. Navy member killed in the Pearl Harbor attack will be returned to be buried in his hometown in Kansas nearly 75 years after his death.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the remains of Navy Seaman 2nd Class Dale Pearce will be flown by military escort to Tulsa.

Family members, escorted by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and local police, will take the casket to Parsons. It’ll be buried Thursday in Dennis, a town of about 300 people.

According to military records, Pearce’s remains were recovered about a year after the 1941 attack. But advances in DNA technology in recent years have allowed authorities to identify remains of those deceased long ago.

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency scientists used family DNA and dental comparisons to identify Pearce.

ABILENE -One week after being named the new Abilene Chief of Police, Mike Marshall resigned on Friday.

Marshall, who cited personal reasons for his resignation, issued the following statement via social media.

“Since I shared my good news last week, I need to share my disappointing news today.

I resigned my position as Police Chief with the Abilene Police Department. Albeit I was excited for the position, once I started working, I realized it was not for me. I believe six years of retirement changed me and I was not willing to start over again.”

Marshall, who previously served more than three decades with the Salina Police Department, took over the position on May 17, replacing Mark Heimer, who retired in February after serving nearly six years as Abilene’s Police Chief.

Following Marshall’s announcement, the City of Abilene named Michael Mohn as its next Police Chief. Mohn will assume the duties of the position effective immediately.

Mohn has served as a Lieutenant of the Abilene Police Department since 2007 and has been a police officer with the Abilene Police Department since 1997. He has served as Range Master and Field Training Officer, and has administered Patrol and Operations Command for the Department.
He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wichita State University and attended the FBI National Academy, Class #259 at the University of Virginia. He is also a certified law enforcement officer by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. He has also received training from the Southern Police Institute, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association.

“Michael will no doubt step into the role of Police Chief with the dedicated responsibility of ensuring that Abilene continues to have quality law enforcement services provided to its citizens,” said Abilene City Manager David Dillner.

“He has a very good understanding of the community and is fully capable of keeping the Abilene Police Department moving forward in a complex world that constantly changes.”

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A former U.S. Army explosives expert has been charged with illegally possessing grenades after investigators found several explosives at his Kansas home.

Forty-two-year-old John Panchalk of Overland Park, Kansas, was charged Friday with one count of possessing two fragmentation grenades unregistered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Panchalk was initially charged by Kansas prosecutors with one count of criminal use of explosives. That felony was dropped Friday to give way to the federal charge.

Panchalk, who also is a firearms instructor at a Johnson County shooting range, was arrested late Thursday after authorities searched his home. Authorities say Panchalk caught their attention after explosives were found at a storage facility registered to him in nearby Parkville, Missouri.

Online court records do not show whether Panchalk has an attorney.

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A former U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal expert in suburban Kansas City is accused by federal prosecutors of illegally possessing grenades.

Forty-two-year-old John Panchalk of Overland Park, Kansas, was charged Friday with one count of possessing two fragmentation grenades unregistered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Panchalk initially had been charged by Kansas state prosecutors with one count of criminal use of explosives. But that felony was dropped Friday to give way to the federal charge.

Panchalk, who also is a firearms instructor at a Johnson County shooting range, was arrested late Thursday after authorities searched his home.

Online court records do not show whether Panchalk has an attorney.

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a former U.S. Army explosive ordinance disposal expert after federal agents searched his suburban Kansas City home and found explosives.

The Kansas City Star reports that the 42-year-old man was booked into the Johnson County Jail late Thursday. No charges were immediately fired against the Overland Park man, who also is a firearms instructor at a Johnson County shooting range.

Authorities haven’t released the type of explosives that were found, but Overland Park police said no one had to be evacuated from the area and there was no danger to the public.

A spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says the search was the result of a tip obtained during another investigation.