TOPEKA – A Kansas man pleaded guilty Wednesday to five bank robberies in four states, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.
Dakota Shareef Walker, 21, Topeka, pleaded guilty to the following robberies:
U.S. Bank, 5730 Southwest 21st, Topeka, Nov. 28, 2016.
U.S. Bank, 221 West Gregory Blvd, Kansas City Missouri, Nov. 23, 2016.
U.S. Bank, 748 Main Street, Evanston, Wyo, Dec. 6, 2016.
U.S. Bank, 25 East 50 South, Malad City, Idaho, Dec. 14, 2016.
Wells Fargo Bank, 5 North State Street, Preston, Idaho, Jan. 9, 2017.
In each case, Walker gave tellers a note warning not them not to activate any alarms or to make any sudden moves.
Fort Hays State University Science Café presents: “Making stars on Earth: using plasma physics to power the future.” Inspired by stars, fusion energy promises a virtually inexhaustible source of clean power.
This talk will discuss how plasma physics is used to create some of the hottest materials ever seen on earth and the progress towards realizing fusion reactors. Presenter is Hays native Benjamin Faber, Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The event is Tue., Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. in Gella’s Diner, 117 E. 11th Street.
John Richard Schrock is a professor at Emporia State University.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” remains the most-watched film of this holiday season. In this 1946 classic, George Bailey jumps up on the counter of his savings and loan company to counter the run on his small bank, triggered by the rich banker, Mr. Potter. Bailey points out that the money is not stored there, but is invested in the modest new houses across the community of Bedford Falls.
But when the deposit money is misplaced, Bailey doubts the value his life and ends up on the bridge over the river, contemplating suicide. That is where the novice angel Clarence intercedes, showing Bailey what the community would be like if he had never existed. Bailey, returns home, the community contributes to cover the lost money, and a bell indicates that Clarence finally earned his wings.
But this year, that plot seems unlikely. Times have turned. And the passage of the new tax bill is just another signal that Mr. Potter’s world will be the theme of future Christmases. Our dark and sooty future is more akin to Potterville, the name given to Bedford Falls when it came under the total influence of the rich Mr. Potter. It is a future where the gap between the one percent fabulously wealthy and the lower working class grows to historical dimensions.
This decline did not begin with last month’s tax restructuring that channels tremendous amounts to the rich corporate elite forever while handing a few coins in tax relief to the lower classes for a few years.
It is the rich corporations that won the battle to kill net neutrality—and the rich who will enjoy higher speed internet.
It is the rich who will send their children to private or charter schools that can hire away the better teachers. And it is the poorer children who will be left with the financially starved public schools with more underqualified and alternative teachers.
It is the rich who can afford the elite universities, while more lower and middle class students become unable to attend good “public” universities without loans. With state schools becoming privatized due to dwindling state support, forcing poorer students to take loans benefits Banker Potter.
The massive tax breaks for the wealthy will generate a tremendous national deficit and almost certainly will generate attempts to cut social security. Before social security, the elderly were by far the largest group of Americans in poverty. “It’s a Wonderful Life” spoke to the heart of a new elderly generation that had just risen out of that poverty. We now enter a dark time when our legislators are likely to return to the “I got mine, you get yours” Depression Era mindset.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” clearly contrasts the consequences of societies that operate for private profit or for public good. The movie may be fiction, but it portrays some stark realities supported by research. Thomas Piketty’s book “Capital in the Twenty-First Century,” a recent award-winning study of several centuries of empirical economic data, clearly shows that rich owners of capital accumulate wealth far more rapidly than the working class.
Frank Capra directed this film after World War II and when the Great Depression was still in mind. It was a time when optimism reigned and everyone knew tomorrow would be better than today, because today was better than yesterday. But for some time now, American parents have seen their children on average get less education and make less money. And while the number of American millionaires has never been greater, the gap between the rich elite and our dwindling middle class and growing lower class has grown.
Will American communities continue to become more politically bitter? Will a new film re-make be titled “It’s a Wonderful Life for the Rich”? Will a new film script see Bailey jump from the bridge? Will Clarence not get his wings? And will the theme for our future be the popular 1920s song “Ain’t We Got Fun” where “…the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer”?
John Richard Schrock is a professor at Emporia State University.
Today Snow likely, mainly before 10am. Widespread blowing snow, mainly before 9am. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 27. Wind chill values as low as -1. Very windy, with a north northwest wind 33 to 38 mph decreasing to 22 to 27 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 7. North wind 13 to 18 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 28. Wind chill values as low as -1. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. Wind chill values as low as zero. East wind 7 to 9 mph becoming north after midnight.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 21. North wind 6 to 9 mph.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12.
Two investigators from the Hays Police Department talked to students at Hays High School on Wednesday about attempted human trafficking in Ellis County.
The speakers were a part of a weeklong awareness project sponsored by the HHS DECA club.
HPD Investigator Jeffery Ridgway told the students about two cases of attempted human trafficking he investigated in 2015.
In April 2015, a 13-year-old girl was contacted through Facebook by a man she did not know. She accepted his friend request. Out of the blue, the man asked her if she wanted to go to Wichita with him.
“I give credit to the 13-year-old. She said, ‘You are a creeper, leave me alone,’ and contacted the police,” Ridgway said.
In June 2015, the police department was contacted by someone who had seen an advertisement on Craig’s List that offered to bring a young girl to Hays for sex. Ridgway said there was a picture with the ad of the alleged girl, who he suspected might be about 13. The person who reported the ad allowed law enforcement to use their account to investigate the case.
Local law enforcement received two more similar complaints by July 2015.
A suspect was identified in Iowa, and another suspect was identified in Ellis County.
On July 2, 2015, law enforcement found the Iowa suspect’s vehicle in the parking lot of a local hotel.
At this point, the investigation learned the suspect thought that two girls — ages 10 and 13 — were being brought from Texas to Hays for the purpose of having sex.
Ultimately, both parties were duped by a third party in another state, and the children never existed.
Ridgway said police could not take a chance there were two children being trafficked into Hays for sex.
Both suspects were charged with crimes — one attempted sex trafficking. Both suspects made plea agreements and will be serving sentences.
“My point is that, yes, we are Hays, America, but we are not immune. It can, and to some degree has, touched our community,” he said. “Are you prepared so that you are not duped into the illusion of what the human traffickers are going to make you think is on the other side? Don’t engage in the risky behavior, please, please.”
Kansas is considered a source state for human trafficking. With its central location and major highways, such as Interstate 70 and I-135, traffickers can use the Internet to target youth, sweep into the state and have a youth out of the state in hours or days.
Ridgway and Investigator Aaron Larson both said they are especially concerned with youth sexting.
Ridgway said he could not give specifics, but knows of two local active sexting cases.
His concern is youth will send pictures to a predator, and they might use those photos as leverage to get the children to do more dangerous or inappropriate things.
“Unfortunately, we have a lot of teenagers who will accept the friendship on the sole basis that it was a friend request,” he said. “It wasn’t someone they actually knew. Yep, click, I agree. It is almost if we are trying to get a tally count and the highest tally wins. But that sets you up for so much risky potential. Do you really know who is on your friend list?”
The person who is requesting the photos might not be the person who he or she says they are. They could be in another state, or they might not be the person in the picture that was sent. Pictures of youth have been used to blackmail victims. Even photos sent to a boyfriend or girlfriend could be used in unintended ways, they warned.
“Those relationships might last for weeks or months, but if you are trading photos, where do those photos go?” Larson said. “They may exchange them with someone else and now they are all over school.”
Ridgway said, “In the child pornography world, these pictures become trading cards — like you would trade Babe Ruth for Eric Hosmer. Don’t stoop yourself to the level that you become trading cards. You are better than that.”
Both officers encouraged the public if they see something suspicious online or in person to report it to police. The case in 2015 was investigated because of the tips.
Principal Martin Straub spoke to online criticism that the high school should focus on other issues, saying that if talking about trafficking keeps students safe, he is all for it. Ridgway noted high school students and even children as young as 12 are the target age for traffickers.
The DECA club is having a fundraiser for ICT SOS, which is an agency in Wichita that assists human trafficking victims. Students can purchase pieces of tape through the end of the week that will be used to tape either Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler or Straub to the gym wall during an assembly Friday. The person with the least money raised will be taped to the wall.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas church is celebrating after a baby Jesus statue stolen from an outdoor nativity scene was returned Wednesday.
The Church of the Blessed Sacrament wrote on social media “Hallelujah! The Baby Jesus is back! It was found in a yard in College Hill and brought to the parish office.”
Authorities believed the baby Jesus was taken the night of Jan. 3, or early morning on Jan. 4. The manger also was destroyed because Baby Jesus had been chained to it. The theft came just a few days before the Epiphany, which is the day Christians observe the visit the Three Kings made to the baby Jesus.
The Church of the Blessed Sacrament
A sign staked outside the nativity read: “Baby Jesus was STOLEN! Please pray for his return.” The church said it “can’t have nice things” in smaller letters. Over the years, other statues have gone missing, including a camel.
Two-bedroom apartment — lower in upper-lower complex. Off-street parking. Rents for $450, plus $450 deposit. Water and trash included. Located at 1717 Volga Drive in Hays.
Air conditioning and washer-dryer hookups. Stove and refrigerator included. No smoking. No pets.
Call (785) 432-1510 today for more information or to schedule a walk-through!
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – A Kansas City man has been charged with fatally shooting the mother of his 2-year-old son after her body was found partly unclothed and bound with duct tape near the apparently unharmed child.
Prosecutors announced Tuesday that 23-three-year-old Joseph Gonsalez is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and child endangerment in the death of 19-year-old Elizabeth Richards.
Richards had dropped off the boy Saturday with Gonsalez, who lived with his parents. They found her body after returning home.
Police say Gonsalez was found about 3 miles away with a gunshot wound in his abdomen and wearing no pants or shoes. He’ll be transferred to jail when he’s released from the hospital. A prosecutor’s spokesman didn’t immediately return an email message about whether Gonsalez has an attorney.
First responders on the scene of the head-on crash Wednesday-photo courtesy WIBW TV
JEFFERSON COUNTY — Three people were injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Wednesday in Jefferson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Pontiac G6 driven by Jessica Lynn Harvey, 41, Topeka, was eastbound on U24 at Kiowa Road. The vehicle crossed the center line crashing head on into a 1991 Jeep Cherokee driven by Caitlyn Marie Midyett, 26, Topeka.
Harvey Midyett were transported to KU Medical Center. A passenger in the Jeep Nathan Bingham, 4, Topeka, was transported to the hospital in Topeka. All there properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) – Barry Brown poured in a career-high 38 points, Cartier Diarra added 17 in his first career start and Kansas State held on late to beat Oklahoma State 86-82 on Wednesday night.
Xavier Sneed added 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Wildcats (12-4, 2-2 Big 12), who had lost back-to-back games and were without Kamau Stokes, their steady guard and third-leading scorer.
Brown and Diarra helped overcome Stokes’ recent injury by playing nearly the whole way.
Brandon Averette scored 22 points and Jeffrey Carroll had 20 for the Cowboys (11-5, 1-3), who led late in the second half before the Wildcats went on a game-changing run to take a 74-62 lead.
The Cowboys kept fighting, and Averette’s 3-point play with 40 seconds left got them within 81-76. But Dean Wade answered with two free throws and, after Carroll scored at the other end, Brown tacked on the second of two more foul shots to put the game away.
The Wildcats played with the lead most of the way, even pushing their advantage to 27-18 late in the first half, before the Cowboys took a spurt of momentum into halftime.
Carroll provided the spark with a 3-point play and a couple more free throws.
Kansas State regained the lead early in the second half, but neither team was able to shake free until the Wildcats strung together five solid possessions beginning with six minutes to go.
Little-used guard Brian Patrick began the run with a 3-pointer to break a 58-all tie. Wade made four quick free throws. Sneed added a pair of his own. And a 3-pointer by Diarra from right in front of his own bench ignited a sparse but vocal home crowd.
Sneed’s turnaround jumper out of a timeout pushed the Wildcats’ lead to 72-62, their biggest of the game to that point, and coach Bruce Weber’s team held on the rest of the way.
BIG PICTURE
Oklahoma State had won three out of four games decided by two possessions or less. But even though they kept the pressure on the Wildcats by scoring down the stretch, they were unable to make up enough ground for back-to-back wins at Bramlage Coliseum.
Kansas State showed impressive poise whenever the Cowboys made a run, and again in the closing minutes, when they kept making shots to stay alive. Brown and Co. answered with a parade of free throws that kept the Cowboys from ever feeling as if they would make it all the way back.
INJURY UPHEAVEL
The Wildcats could be without Stokes for a while after he hurt his foot in a loss to Texas Tech last weekend. Diarra started in his place, and fellow freshman Mike McGuirl made his college debut in the first half. McGuirl missed the first 12 games this season with an injury.
UP NEXT
Oklahoma State returns home to face Texas on Saturday.
Kansas State hits Interstate 70 to play No. 12 Kansas on Saturday.
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
strong>OFFICE OF REP. MARSHALL
Washington D.C.- Today Congressman Roger Marshall’s bill, H.R. 4675 the Low Dose Radiation Research Act of 2017, passed through the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
The Low Dose Radiation Research Act of 2017 will provide doctors and government agencies with concrete evidence-based research on the effects that low-dose radiation exposure has on our population.
This legislation is long overdue. Currently, there is ample data that demonstrates the harmful effects that high-dose radiation has on the human body. Yet, as it stands today, there are few measurements or studies seeking to understand low-dose radiation’s effects. This absence of evidence does not give the medical community or government regulators the ability to accurately assess and make the very best decisions for their patients.
“Every day our citizens are exposed to low-dose radiation. Throughout history, radiation has provided vital tools to physicians, from x-rays and CT scans to cutting-edge cancer treatments. Yet we have a limited understanding of the health risks associated with this exposure,” Marshall said. As a doctor, I understand the critical value of verified-research that helps physicians ensure the best medical outcomes for patients.
For example, an adult patient who receives a C.T. (computed tomography) scan of their torso is exposed to approximately three years’ worth of background radiation in one scan. While this type of screening is very valuable to countless Americans and often replaces invasive surgical procedures, we physicians are unable to quantify the specific health risks associated with this type of imaging. Advances in radiation therapy have literally changed survival rates for many cancer patients, and saved thousands of lives. It is important as radiation screening increases that our doctors have a clear understanding of the health risks associated with this exposure.
Physicians must know the risks of this exposure and have access to extensive up-to-date data and research. This bill will provide just that, by directing the Department of Energy to start long-term verified low dose radiation research and studies.
I am proud that my colleagues voted with bipartisan support for H.R. 4675. It is no surprise that my friends on both sides of the aisle are supporting a plan that will help doctors and patients across the country give and receive the best medical care possible. I hope we can take swift action to pass this through the House.”
The Low Dose Radiation Research Act of 2017 has received support from the Health Physics Society, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, and leading researchers from Northwestern University and Columbia University.
The Low Dose Radiation Research Act of 2017 will:
Direct the Department of Energy (DOE) to carry out a basic research program on low dose radiation within the Office of Science;
Direct DOE to identify ongoing scientific challenges in low dose radiation research and to develop a long-term basic research plan that addresses these challenges while leveraging the existing body of scientific knowledge and engaging with the international research community;
Direct DOE to ensure that in carrying out this program, the Office of Science consults with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of Homeland Security;
Require DOE to provide Congress with a 4-year research plan that identifies and prioritizes basic research needs relating to low-dose radiation within 180 days of enactment;
Authorize funds for low-dose radiation research from within funding provided to the Biological and Environmental Research Program within the DOE Office of Science.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A former Olathe School teacher and coach has admitted to having a sexual relationship with a student.
Michael Jasiczek pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to two federal charges involving having sex with a student over the age of 16. A third charge was dropped.
Prosecutors determined the relationship was consensual. But under state law, it is a felony for teachers and authority figures to have sexual relationships with students at the same school.
Jasiczek, a social science teacher and assistant football coach, was placed on administrative leave in May and was later fired.
He was a teacher at Olathe South High School for more than a decade. He coached football, ran a weightlifting club and was called “Coach Jazz” by students and staff.
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas woman was indicted Wednesday on charges of producing child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.
Kayla Michelle Simpson, 22, Junction City, is charged with one count of using a child to produce child pornography and one count of violating the conditions imposed on a registered sex offender. The crime is alleged to have occurred in July 2016 in Junction City.
The indictment alleges that Simpson, who was registered sex offender, enticed a 16-year-old victim to engage in sexual activity for the purpose of producing child pornography.
If convicted, Simpson faces a penalty of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years in federal prison on the production charge, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the sex offender charge. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting. Simpson has a previous conviction for indecent solicitation of a child, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
