KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A fleet of two dozen expensive cars and motorcycles seized from a Kansas City-area accountant who defrauded more than $4 million from clients is heading for the auction block.

The U.S. Marshals Service says the 25 machines up for bidding at noon Thursday include Thomas Hauk’s former Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Ford GT, Mosler MT900S and McLaren 12C.  See all the vehicles here.

A dozen Ducati motorcycles also will be sold during the auction at KCI Auto Auction in Kansas City, Missouri. That’s where potential buyers can preview the items from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. See

Hauk, of Overland Park, Kansas, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty last December to federal fraud charges linked to his on-the-job theft at a financial services company.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A University of Kansas professor has used 3-D printers to design an engine for a Topeka museum’s replica of a World War I fighter plane.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Huw Thomas, an associate professor of industrial design at the university, took on the project after the Topeka Combat Air Museum acquired an 80 percent replica of a De Havilland 2 World War I fighter plane about a year ago.

Three 3-D printers made dozens of parts with the same material as Lego bricks. Thomas used a substance similar to super glue to attach the pieces together.

The 3-D replica rotary engine was placed onto the back of the aircraft Wednesday. It weighed a few pounds and was about 3 feet across and 14 inches wide.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 34-year-old man has been convicted in the death of a Lawrence man who was found bleeding outside a fast-food restaurant.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Joshaua Back was found guilty Friday of intentional second-degree murder in the May 2015 killing of Tracy Dean Lautenschlager. The jury also found Back guilty of felony theft.

Authorities say Back stabbed Lautenschlager in the neck outside a Lawrence home. Lautenschlager was found bleeding in a McDonald’s parking lot. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Back fled in a truck that he told authorities he planned to steal as collateral for a drug debt. He was arrested two days later in Leavenworth County. The defense said the killing was an act of self-defense.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 2.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A national credit rating service says there’s at least a 50-50 chance it could lower Kansas’ AA credit rating later this year, depending on how the Legislature handles the state’s current budget crisis.

The Kansas City Star reports Standard and Poor’s Rating Services said Monday it had placed Kansas on a “credit watch” because of the state’s budget shortfall and concerns about Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposal for filling the gap.

New revenue estimates for the state recently projected a $290 million budget shortfall through June 2017.

Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley says the governor has presented three options for the Legislature to consider in balancing the budget.

The rating service says it will resolve the credit watch in 90 days, based on the Legislature’s actions.

SETH BORENSTEIN, Associated Press
KELLY P. KISSEL, Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Meteorologists are finding that it’s easier to forecast stormy weather than it is to predict what goes on in the human mind.

As the nation’s midsection braces itself for possible tornadoes Tuesday, researchers have yet to determine when to raise a general alarm. With too much notice, people might try to flee in their cars, putting them at greater risk.

For now, the Storm Prediction Center is reminding people in general that it’s late April and tornado season is upon us. Forecasters suggest cleaning out the storm shelter and buying a weather radio — but get some gas for the chain saw just in case.

The center is telling emergency officials a severe weather outbreak is possible across Oklahoma on Tuesday, with storms also from Dallas to central Kansas.

CRAWFORD COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Crawford County are investigating a suspect in connecting with assisting a prisoner escape from the county jail.

On Saturday, deputies arrested Marlene Louise McAfee, 57, Arma, for the charge of Aiding Escape, according to a media release.

The escapees, Steven Barnes and Shaun Simpson obtained a vehicle, a Red 1999 Chevrolet Trailblazer.

It is registered to McAfee.

Investigators believe that she drove the vehicle to work at Girard Medical Center Clinic on Friday April 22.

After work, McAfee received a ride home and left the Trailblazer parked at the clinic, which is located approximately one-quarter mile from the Crawford County Jail. The vehicle was unlocked with the keys inside of it.

Cameras at Girard Medical Center captured Shaun Simpson and Steven Barnes running around the clinic to the location in
which the Trailblazer was parked.

Further footage shows Simpson and Barnes leaving the scene in the Trailblazer.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two of three federal agents injured during a fiery weekend shootout at a Kansas motel are out of the hospital, and authorities are trying to identify the body found inside the suspect’s charred motel room.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Marshals Service’s headquarters said Monday that two deputy marshals were treated and released after sustaining gunshot wounds during the Saturday night confrontation in Topeka.

The FBI says an FBI agent also received non-life-threatening injuries, though that person’s medical status was not immediately clear Monday.

The FBI says members of a fugitive task force were trying to arrest 28-year-old robbery suspect Orlando J. Collins at the Country Club Motel when they came under fire. A fire then broke out in the room where authorities later found a body.

SALINA – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a weekend shooting death.

Just after 6:30 a.m. on Sunday officers were called to the 1900 block of Dover Drive after a 28-year-old man was shot with a handgun in the driveway of a residence, according to Police Captain Chris Trocheck.

The man, who did not live at the residence, was transported to Salina Regional Health Center, where he died.

Police are not searching for any suspects and the victim has not been identified authorities attempt to contact his next of kin, according to Trocheck.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo says he is not running for U.S. Senate, ending speculation that he would mount a primary challenge to Sen. Jerry Moran.

The Kansas Republican said in a lengthy email Monday to supporters that he is filing for re-election to the House, saying the 85 remaining days before first votes are cast preclude him running the kind of Senate campaign he wants. He cited his commitments in the House.

Moran said in an emailed statement he looks forward with working with Pompeo and the Kansas delegation to improve the state and nation.

Pompeo says he started exploring a potential Senate run over conflicting messages Moran sent out on the Supreme Court nominee. He also criticized the Republican establishment for pushing back once his possible candidacy became public.

 

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled that New England Patriots Tom Brady must serve a four-game “Deflategate” suspension imposed by the NFL, overturning a lower judge and siding with the league in a battle with the players union.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday in New York. The decision by a three-judge panel may end the legal debate over the scandal that led to months of football fans arguing over air pressure and the reputation of one of the league’s top teams.

It is also likely to fuel a fresh round of debate over what role, if any, the quarterback and top NFL star played in using underinflated footballs at the AFC championship game in January 2015.

The appeals ruling follows a September decision by Manhattan Judge Richard Berman that went against the league, letting Brady skip the suspension.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell insisted the suspension was deserved.