TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas election officials are reviewing text messages claiming to be from President Donald Trump and telling residents that their early votes hadn’t been recorded, as Democratic leaders worried Thursday that they were part of efforts to “steal” a close governor’s race.

State Elections Director Bryan Caskey said the Kansas secretary of state’s office received 50 or 60 calls about the texts Wednesday, mostly from the northeastern part of the state. Caskey said the office is trying to determine whether the texts broke a law before determining what to do next.

One text says “Your absentee ballot is ready. Remember to vote for Pres. Trump’s allies.” A follow-up text says, “This is President Trump. Your early vote has NOT been RECORDED on Kansas’s roster.” It urges the voter to confirm his or her polling place.

Democrats are on edge because Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, the state’s top elections official, is a Trump ally and the Republican nominee for governor. He’s in a dead heat with Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly after defeating GOP Gov. Jeff Colyer in the August primary by only 343 votes out of more than 317,000 cast.

Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, and Kansas House Minority Leader Jim Ward, a Wichita Democrat, said during a Statehouse news conference that they worry the texts are confusing voters because at least a few Democrats received them. Ward said some new voters may conclude that the voting process is too complicated and give up.

“The whole purpose of sending it out is to sow confusion,” Ward said. “Remember, we’re talking about an election that can be determined by 300 or 400 votes. So, 50 here, 50 there, 50 there, pretty soon, you’ve stolen an election.”

They called on Kobach and his chief deputy, Eric Rucker, to step aside from administering elections so that final decisions in the secretary of state’s office are left to Caskey.

Kobach spokeswoman Danedri Herbert said he does not plan to step aside because he has a responsibility under the state constitution to oversee elections. She noted that most states, including Kansas, give the job to an elected official.

As for the top Democrats, she said, “Their claims are ridiculous.”

County election officials handle the actual counting of votes. The job is overseen by an elected clerk in 101 of 105 counties. Election commissioners appointed by Kobach are in charge in the state’s four most populous counties, which are home to almost half of the state’s more than 1.8 million registered voters.

Ward and Hensley sent an open records request Thursday to Kobach demanding copies of all written and electronic communications between him, his employees and his county election officials since the Aug. 7 primary.

“We’re not trying to cause chaos. We’re trying to make sure they know we’re watching and we’re not going to let them steal an election, OK?” Ward said. “This is an incredibly close election and any mistake or any action that diminishes or suppresses the vote could swing an election.”

The texts to voters link to a website for the Republican National Committee, and Kansas Republican Party Chairman Kelly Arnold said he suspects that’s who sent the messages. He said the texts didn’t come from state party officials.

The RNC didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

But Arnold said the texts appeared to be part of a get-out-the-vote effort. He said party officials pay for regular updates on who has requested and returned advance ballots or voted early in person, though that information can sometimes be slightly outdated.

“We are trying to get out as much information to our voters as possible,” Arnold said.

Caskey said voters should only trust voting information that comes from state or local election officials. He added that this is the first time the state has received a complaint about the content of a text, which campaigns have increasingly used this election cycle.

Lyon County Clerk Tammy Vopat, a Republican, said she spoke to one man who received one of the texts after voting early and assured him that his vote would be tabulated on election night. She said the texts, which she described as “bogus” were discussed Wednesday during a routine weekly phone call with state and county election officials.

“It worries me that information like this is being sent out that puts doubt in our voters’ minds,” Vopat said.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 22-year-old man has pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a Kansas police captain in July 2016.

Jamaal Lewis was scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 5, but he pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree felony murder in the killing of 46-year-old Capt. Robert Melton in Kansas City, Kansas.

Melton was searching for suspects in a drive-by shooting when he saw Lewis walking and tried to block him with his patrol car. Prosecutors say Lewis pulled a handgun and fired several shots through the passenger-side window of Melton’s vehicle. Lewis was originally charged with capital murder.

Lewis could be sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 25 years. He will be sentenced Nov. 30.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — A woman critically injured in a Wednesday apartment fire has died of her injuries.

Just before 2a.m., fire crews responded to the structure fire at 3400 SW 29^th Terrace Apartment #2 in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Michael Martin. 

Crews forced entry into the apartment to perform a primary search and located 70-year-old Katherine J Bushey. She was treated at the scene and transported a local hospital in critical condition and died on Thursday, according to Martin.  

The fire was located in the bedroom of the apartment and quickly extinguished keeping the fire contained within the apartment of fire origin.  One pet was removed from the apartment and transferred to the animal shelter.

 Investigators believe the cause of the fire to be Accidental; more likely than not associated with improper disposal of smoking materials, according to Martin. 

No smoke detectors were sounding within the apartment, according to Martin.

 

——–

SHAWNEE COUNTY — One person was critically injured in an apartment fire Wednesday in Topeka.

Just before 2a.m., fire crews responded to the structure fire at 3400 SW 29^th Terrace Apartment #2 in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Michael Martin. Upon arrival, fire crews reported light smoke showing from the two story apartment building.    

Crews forced entry into the apartment to perform a primary search and located one adult female victim. She was treated at the scene for injuries and transported to a local hospital in critical condition.  

The fire was located in the bedroom of the apartment and quickly extinguished keeping the fire contained within the apartment of fire origin.  One pet was removed from the apartment and transferred to the animal shelter.

Preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire to be Accidental. The estimated structural dollar loss to apartment #2 is $25,000 and the estimated content dollar loss is $ 5,000, according to Martin. 

The name of the victim has not been released. No smoke detectors were sounding within the apartment, according to Martin.

Kansas Department of Revenue

TOPEKA — Kansans who need a photo ID before the Nov. 6 election can visit any driver’s license office, jump to the front of the line, and get one for free.

To ensure the ID is free, Kansans should specifically state they need it for voting. The cost for ID cards normally is $22.

“This service is always available and it’s important for us to remind voters that it’s an option ahead of the November 6th general election,” Director of Vehicles David Harper said.

For a list of driver’s license office locations and hours, click HERE.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats and CNN (all times local):

Investigators probing crude pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats are trying to determine whether the devices were intended to detonate or whether they were simply sent to sow fear.

If you have info that could assist the #FBI‘s investigation of suspicious packages, call 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324) or use https://t.co/iL7sD5efWD. If you observe suspicious activity that requires an immediate response, call 911 or contact local law enforcement immediately. pic.twitter.com/ZsFLKvXrKy

— FBI (@FBI) October 25, 2018

That’s according to two law enforcement officials who said the devices were not rigged like a traditional booby trap package bomb that would explode upon opening.

The officials said they didn’t appear to have a trip wire or ignition.

The officials weren’t authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The four-day mail-bomb scare widened Thursday as law enforcement officials recovered three more devices.

The packages addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden and one to actor Robert De Niro were similar to crude pipe bombs sent to former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and CNN.

___

11:45 a.m.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is hailing the “quick-witted work” of a security guard who alerted authorities to a suspicious device at Robert De Niro’s Manhattan office.

Two officials told The Associated Press on Thursday that a person working at the building with a law-enforcement background called police after seeing images of a package bomb sent to CNN and recalling a similar package addressed to De Niro.

De Blasio said: “Thank God there were no injuries.”

De Blasio said the device removed from De Niro’s office “was very similar to the devices that have located within the last 48 hours” at CNN and locations connected to prominent Democrats.

He said all of them appear to be from the same sender and it’s “clearly an effort to terrorize people politically, to choose people for political purposes and attack them because of their beliefs.”

De Blasio said the device is being examined at an NYPD facility in the Bronx.

___

11:10 a.m.

The FBI is confirming packages addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden and actor Robert De Niro are similar in appearance to those used to send bombs to prominent Democrats.

The FBI provided the update in a tweet Thursday morning.

New York City police early Thursday recovered a package addressed to De Niro with the same return address used on the other packages.

A law enforcement official said two packages addressed to Biden were intercepted at Delaware mail facilities in New Castle and Wilmington.

The official wasn’t authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Pipe bombs addressed to Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama, former CIA director John Brennan and former Attorney General Eric Holder have also been intercepted in recent days.

— By Eric Tucker and Michael Balsamo in Washington.

___

10:30 a.m.

Law enforcement officials say the suspected explosive device sent to Robert De Niro may have been sitting in the mailroom of his building for a day or more before it was discovered.

Two officials told The Associated Press on Thursday that a person affiliated with the Tribeca Film Center was off work when he saw an image on the Internet and elsewhere of the package containing a crude pipe bomb sent to CNN.

That person, who has a background in law enforcement, recalled seeing a similar package at the film center mailroom earlier and reported it to police.

Emergency service officers were dispatched early Thursday to retrieve it. It had the same return address used on the other packages. An official said it was suspected to have been delivered earlier this week.

The two officials weren’t authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

— By Colleen Long in Washington and Tom Hays in New York.

___

9:55 a.m.

A law enforcement official says a second package addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden has been intercepted at a mail facility in Wilmington, Delaware.

The official says it has similar markings and characteristics as the packages containing bombs sent to other prominent Democrats.

The official said another package addressed to Biden was also found Thursday morning, that one at a postal center in New Castle, Delaware.

The official wasn’t authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Several packages containing pipe bombs packed with shards of glass have been intercepted in the last few days. They targeted Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama, CNN and others.

A New York City police bomb squad has recovered a suspicious package addressed to Robert De Niro.

— By Eric Tucker and Michael Balsamo

___

9:45 a.m.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the notion that President Donald Trump is responsible for the packages sent to his opponents is “disgraceful.”

She told reporters Thursday there’s a big difference between “comments made and actions taken.”

Suspicious packages addressed to actor Robert De Niro and former Vice President Joe Biden were intercepted Thursday, and investigators said they were similar to crude pipe bombs sent to former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and CNN.

Sanders says the president is not responsible for sending suspicious packages any more than Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, was responsible for one of his supporters shooting up a GOP baseball practice last year in Virginia. The gunman, James Hodgkinson, had posted social media messages suggesting he targeted the team because of his political views.

___

9:10 a.m.

One of the targets in a string of mail bombs is telling President Donald Trump to stop blaming others for the anger in society.

The tweet Thursday by former CIA head John Brennan came shortly after Trump tweeted that much of the anger in society is caused by the “purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media.”

Brennan, a frequent critic of Trump, said: “Look in the mirror. Your inflammatory rhetoric, insults, lies, & encouragement of physical violence are disgraceful. Clean up your act….try to act Presidential.”

He said “your critics will not be intimidated into silence.”

A package containing a pipe bomb was sent to Brennan but addressed to CNN’s New York office. No one was hurt in that attempted attack or other mail bombs aimed at critics of Trump.

___

By DEWEY TERRILL
JC Post

JUNCTION CITY — Sheriff Anthony “Tony” Wolf made a first appearance in Geary County District Court on Thursday morning following his recent arrest.

Wolf was arrested Oct. 18 for felony theft for allegedly giving a county-owned firearm as a gift to a third party and for the misdemeanor allegation misuse of public funds, which asserted Wolf used public dollars in a manner not authorized by law.

Wolf was accompanied during his first appearance by defense attorney Michael Hinkin of the Manhattan law firm Clark and Platt. The prosecutor for the hearing was Assistant Dickinson County Attorney Daryl Hawkins.

A Nov. 29 status check hearing at 9 a.m. has been been scheduled for Wolf in district court. It was explained in court that the hearing will allow time for review of significant video and discovery in the case.

As a bond requirement, Wolf will continue on administrative leave from the sheriff’s position and cannot have physical or voluntary contact with law enforcement, sheriff’s department personnel, or witnesses in the case, with the exception of his ex-wife concerning their children.

Wolf waived the formal reading of the charges in the case.

Geary County Undersheriff Brad Clark, former sheriff of Greeley County in western Kansas, is overseeing the department in Wolf’s absence.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and asking for help to locate suspects.

Just after 6:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a residence in the 2900 Block of North Holyoke, according to officer Paul Cruz.

A 73-year-old male victim told police an unknown suspect approached him in the Dillons Parking lot in the 3700 Block of North Woodlawn.  The suspect asked the victim for a ride to the 21^st and Rock area.  At that location, a second unknown suspect got in the victim’s vehicle and pointed a gun at him and demanded money, according to Cruz.

The first suspect exited the vehicle and the suspect with the gun forced the victim to drive the Merit Trust Credit Union at 22^nd and Rock.  The victim was forced to withdraw cash and give it to the suspect who fled on foot.

The first suspect is described as a black male in his 50s, 5-foot-5, 150 pounds. The second suspect is described as a light-skinned black male in his 40s, bald, 5-foot-5, 160 pounds and wearing a dress coat slacks and carrying a briefcase. Anyone with information is asked to call Wichita Police.

KANSAS CITY (AP) – A 22-year-old Kansas City man involved in a road rage incident that killed a woman has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Juan Sanchez was sentenced Tuesday for involuntary manslaughter in the January 2017 death of 35-year-old Shaymaa Saudi.

Court records indicate Sanchez was involved in a confrontation with Saudi’s husband. Prosecutors say Sanchez bumped Saudi’s vehicle, causing Saudi’s car to leave the road and hit a utility pole.

Saudi’s 4-year-old daughter was injured in the crash.

Sanchez fled, parked his truck at a relative’s house, removed the license plate and covered the truck with a tarp.

He was also sentenced to a concurrent sentence of four years for tampering with evidence.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Kansas man who prosecutors say tried to purchase a child online for $500 and some meth has been sentenced to five years in prison.

News outlets report 49-year-old Ernest Anziana was sentenced Friday.

Franklin Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Zach Becker previously said Anziana was snared during an undercover investigation by the Kentucky Attorney General’s Cyber Crimes Branch, and there was no actual girl for sale. He said Anziana intended to have sex with the 11-year-old girl, impregnate her and keep that child.

Attorney General Andy Beshear’s office said Anziana offered $500; previous reports said he offered $250.

Kansas Department of Corrections records indicate Anziana was previously convicted of incest. He’ll be required to complete a sex offender treatment program upon release.

Northern Marianas slammed by typhoon

By CALEB JONES and JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER
Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — Residents of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands braced Thursday for months without electricity or running water after the islands were slammed with the strongest storm to hit any part of the U.S. this year.

Even after Super Typhoon Yutu had moved away from the U.S. territory in the Pacific, residents were warned by emergency management officials to stay indoors because downed power lines blocked roadways and winds were still strong enough to make driving dangerous.

Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, the commonwealth’s delegate to U.S. Congress, said the territory will need significant help to recover from the storm, which he said injured several people.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press from Saipan, Sablan said he has heard reports of injuries and that people are waiting at the island’s hospital to be treated. He could not provide further details or official estimates of casualties.

“There’s a lot of damage and destruction,” Sablan said. “It’s like a small war just passed through.”

The commonwealth’s emergency management agency was “deploying resources to clear our roadways so first responders can begin assisting residents who have lost their homes and for those who need transport to seek medical attention or transportation to the nearest shelter,” spokeswoman Nadine Deleon Guerrero said in a statement.

Sablan said the entire island sustained damage, but there are areas that are worse than others. He has not been able to reach officials on the territory’s neighbor islands of Tinian and Rota because phones and electricity are out.

“It’s going to take weeks probably to get electricity back to everybody,” he said.

Sablan says colleagues in Congress have reached out to offer help. He expects there will be a presidential disaster declaration put in place.

As the storm continues to move away from the Mariana Islands, Sablan said in a tweet Thursday evening that the typhoon warning for Saipan and Tinian was canceled.

The electricity on Saipan, the largest island in the commonwealth about 3,800 miles (6,115 kilometers) west of Hawaii, went out at 4 p.m. Wednesday, resident Glen Hunter said.

“We probably won’t have power for months,” he said, recalling how it took four months to restore electricity after Typhoon Soudelor in 2015.

Maximum sustained winds of 180 mph were recorded around the eye of the storm, which passed over Tinian and Saipan early Thursday local time, said Brandon Aydlett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

“At its peak, it felt like many trains running constant,” Hunter wrote in a Facebook message to The Associated Press. Hunter lives on Saipan, the largest island in the commonwealth, which is a U.S. territory about 3,800 miles west of Hawaii.

“At its peak, the wind was constant and the sound horrifying,” he wrote.

Tinian suffered a direct hit. Saipan and Tinian will be unrecognizable, Aydlett said, adding that the weather service received reports that Yutu’s catastrophic winds ripped roofs from homes and blew out windows.

“Any debris becomes shrapnel and deadly,” he said.

Fallen trees could isolate residents, and power and water outages could last weeks, the weather service warned.

It was still dark when Hunter peeked outside and saw his neighbor’s house, made of wood and tin, completely gone. A palm tree was uprooted.

Hunter, 45, has lived on Saipan since childhood and is accustomed to strong storms. “We are in typhoon alley,” he wrote, but added this is the worst he has experienced.

The roof flew off the second floor of Del Benson’s Saipan home.

“We didn’t sleep much,” he wrote to the AP in a Facebook message. “I went upstairs and the skylight blew out. Then the roof started to go. We got the kids downstairs.”

Recovery efforts on Saipan and Tinian will be slow, Aydlett said.

“This is the worst-case scenario. This is why the building codes in the Marianas are so tough,” he said. “This is going to be the storm which sets the scale for which future storms are compared to.”

Dean Sensui, vice chair for Hawaii on the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, was in Saipan for a council meeting. He hunkered down in his hotel room, where guests were told to remain indoors because winds were still strong Thursday morning.

“From around midnight the wind could be heard whipping by,” he said in a Facebook message. “Down at the restaurant it sounded like a Hollywood soundtrack with the intense rain and howling wind.”

Because he was in a solid hotel, it wasn’t as scary as living through Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which left the Hawaiian island of Kauai badly damaged, he said.

“The fact that we still have internet access proves how solid their infrastructure is,” he said. “Hawaii and others should study the Marianas to understand how to design and build communication grids that can withstand a storm.”