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Police: KC man driving 130 mph was heading to White House with gun

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A Kansas City man who threatened President Donald Trump and sped to the White House with a gun had driven 13 hours without stopping before he was pulled over along a West Virginia highway Wednesday, a trooper said.

Eric Charron -photo courtesy Tygart Valley Regional Jail

Eric Leonardo Charron of Kansas City was arraigned in Preston County Magistrate Court on Thursday in Kingwood on charges of reckless driving and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

State police said Charron was going 130 mph — nearly twice the speed limit — on Interstate 68 when he was pulled over near Bruceton Mills. The incident prompted the interstate to be closed for nearly four hours.

Trooper D.W. Satterfield said in a criminal complaint that Charron, 42, indicated he was traveling to the White House and that he was running late to a dinner he was invited to by Trump. The suspect also said he had to travel to the Pentagon “to meet with the leader of the Army to return a phone,” according to the complaint.

Charron later said he had “special hearing” that “would tell him to do bad things once he arrived at the White House or The Pentagon,” Satterfield said, adding the “special hearing” also told Charron to remove Satterfield’s gun from its holster while being transported from the traffic stop.

Satterfield said a vehicle search turned up a handgun, 300 rounds of ammunition and gunpowder. In addition, manuscripts written by Charron contained “subjects ranging from time travel, levitating watercraft, and mythical creatures such as the ‘Chupacubra.’”

The trooper said Charron admitted using methamphetamine recently and his pupils were dilated despite bright conditions outside. Charron had driven through the night from his hometown, authorities said. The trooper didn’t notice any luggage in the vehicle.

Satterfield asked Charron why the vehicle’s remote key would not open the trunk, and Charron stated he had tampered with the fuses in an effort to “keep the CIA from listening to him through the radio.”

According to the court, Charron was ordered held either on $10,000 cash bond or upon Trump’s signature. Charron was remanded to the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.

It wasn’t immediately known whether Charron has an attorney who could comment on the charges.

2 top Kansas Highway Patrol leaders resign

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two top leaders of the Kansas Highway Patrol are leaving the agency.

Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday in a news release that Col. Mark Bruce, the patrol’s superintendent, and Lt. Col. Randy Moon, an assistant superintendent, have resigned.

Kelly said Shawnee County Sheriff Herman Jones will take over the agency on Wednesday. Maj. Jason De Vore will be acting superintendent until Wednesday.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the governor’s spokeswoman, Ashley All, said she couldn’t comment on the departures because they were personnel matters.

Kelly said in December that she would retain Bruce because he was an effective leader and a strong advocate for law enforcement officers.

Jones led the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Department since 2012 and was a highway patrol employee for more than 20 years.

Kansas school district to apologize to settle free speech lawsuit

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A suburban Kansas City school district has agreed to apologize to three students who alleged their free speech rights were violated during a national classroom walkout for gun control.

Shawnee Mission North junior Grace Altenhofen said she saw an associate principal take a camera from a student’s hand at their walkout. Altenhofen and others were at the center of an ACLU lawsuit against the district.
photo by ANDREA TUDHOPE

The apologies are part of a settlement that the Shawnee Mission School District reached earlier this month with the American Civil Liberties Union. Training also is part of the settlement, whose terms became public Tuesday.

Issue arose last April when students across the country gathered to protest on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting in Colorado.

In the Shawnee Mission district, administrators confiscated a high school journalist’s camera. The lawsuit said they also forced an eighth-grader from a speaking platform and sent her home after she said that “The real issue is gun violence.”

Kansas mom sentenced in death of son found in concrete

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the abuse and murder of her 3-year-old son, whose body was found encased in concrete in the family’s Wichita home.Miranda Miller was sentenced Thursday in the 2017 death of Evan Brewer. She pleaded guilty in late 2018 to second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, child abuse and aggravated endangering a child.

Miller-photo Sedgwick Co.
Evan Brewer- courtesy photo

Prosecutors allege Miller and her boyfriend, Stephen Bodine, abused Evan for months, including forcing him to stand naked in chains for hours with a belt around his neck.

As part of her plea, Miller testified against Bodine, who was sentenced in December to more than 100 years in prison for Evan’s death.

Police believe Evan died in May 2017. His body was found that September after Miller and Bodine moved out.

Former Salina superintendent, FHSU interim named WSU interim

Andy Tompkins. Photo courtesy KBOR

TOPEKA, Kan.  The Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) announced today the appointment of Dr. Andy Tompkins as interim president at Wichita State University (WSU).

Tompkins served as superintendent of USD 305 in Salina from 1987-1994, according to information from USD 305.

This will be  Tompkins’ second time serving a KBOR university in this capacity, having previously been interim president of Fort Hays State University from December 2016 to November 2017.

“The Regents are pleased that Dr. Tompkins will bring his expertise and wealth of experience to Wichita State University,” said Dennis Mullin, Chair of the Kansas Board of Regents. “We are confident that he will continue the good work being done at WSU and successfully oversee the University. I would like to thank Provost Rick Muma for his leadership as Acting President these past several months. He has done an outstanding job shouldering the responsibilities of two very important positions, and I’m happy he’ll be able to focus on the extensive duties of the Provost moving forward.”

Tompkins became president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents on June 1, 2010, and retired from the position on June 30, 2015.

Throughout his career, Tompkins served at all levels of public education, beginning as a high school English teacher in 1969 and continuing on to work as a high school principal and district superintendent. In 1994, he was hired by Pittsburg State University as chair and associate professor in the Department of Special Services and Leadership Studies. He then went on to serve as interim dean for the College of Education at Pittsburg State (1995-1996), a position he returned to as dean from 2007-2010.

In 1996, Tompkins was asked to serve as the commissioner of education for the Kansas Department of Education, a role he continued in through 2005. Afterward, he served as an associate professor at the University of Kansas, teaching in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, before returning to Pittsburg State.

Tompkins was selected as Kansas Superintendent of the Year in 1992, was inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame in 2001, and received the Governor’s Award presented by the Kansas State High School Activities Association in 2002. He was the recipient of the Leadership Kansas Alumnus of the Year Award (2002), received the University of Kansas College of Education Distinguished Service Award in 2004, and was given the Emporia State University Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005. He earned his undergraduate degree in English at East Central State University in Ada, Oklahoma. He earned his master’s degree from Emporia State University and his doctorate from the University of Kansas in Educational Administration.

TMP-Marian response to release of names of accused priests, brothers

Thomas More Prep-Marian

The Diocese of Salina and the Midwest Province of Capuchin Franciscans, headquartered in Denver, Colo., have or will release the names of priests and brothers who have had credible complaints of sexual misconduct of minors in past decades.

Some of these priests and brothers served on staff at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School when the school was under the sponsorship of the Capuchin Religious Order.  The offending priests that were identified by the Capuchins and who served at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School are listed on the Capuchin website, https://capuchins.org/ and the Diocese website, https://salinadiocese.org/the-register.  Our prayers and support are offered for the victims of sexual abuse and for those whose faith is shaken based upon these actions.  This transparency is a significant indicator of our desire for healing and unity for all those affected.

Our mission states: Thomas More Prep-Marian, a Christian community in the Catholic tradition, challenges its students to spiritual growth, academic excellence, and leadership formation.  The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is paramount as we educate the leaders of our faith and humanity.  TMP-Marian is compliant with the United Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People which includes training for all teachers and adult volunteers in a Diocesan Safe Environment Curriculum and Diocesan Code of Professional Conduct as well as required criminal background checks.

In Kansas many professionals, including teachers, doctors, and counselors are mandated reporters.  These individuals are required by law to make a report immediately to the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is being neglected or abused in any way.  The DCF maintains a 24-hour statewide reporting hotline at 1-800-922-5330.

Furthermore, The Catholic Diocese of Salina encourages individuals who suspect abuse of a minor by clergy to report the allegation – past or present – to the Diocesan Victim’s Assistance Coordinator, 103 N. Ninth St., Salina, KS 67401; (785) 825-0865; [email protected].

The Diocese of Salina and Thomas More Prep–Marian Jr./Sr. High School express their genuine regret and profound sympathy to all victims and survivors of sexual abuse by clergy in the Diocese of Salina and elsewhere.  We are committed to promoting the healing and reconciliation of survivors.  Please direct questions to the following:

  • Midwest Province of Capuchin Franciscans, 3613 Wyandot St., Denver, CO 80211, (303) 477-5436
  • Catholic Diocese of Salina, Victim’s Assistance Coordinator, 103 N. Ninth St., Salina, KS 67401 (785) 825-0865, [email protected]
  • Thomas More Prep-Marian Jr./Sr. High School, Chad Meitner, Principal, 1701 Hall St., Hays, KS 67601 (785) 625-6577

Sheriff: Kan. man was standing outside disabled truck at time of fatal crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident that occurred just before 7p.m. Wednesday in Sedgwick County.

Wednesday night fatal accident investigation -photo courtesy KWCH

According to Lt. Tim Myers of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department, Herbert Lawrence, 69, Derby, was standing outside of a disabled red Chevy truck at 63rd Street South and Grove in Wichita.

An eastbound white Chevy Silverado driven by John Fanning, 35, Derby, rear-ended the red truck forcing it over the curb and through a fence line.

EMS transported Lawrence, a passenger in the red Chevy Virginia Lawrence, 72, Derby, and Fanning to Wesley Medical Center. Herbert Lawrence was pronounced dead at 7:31 p.m., according to Myers.

 

 

 

School funding unresolved in Kansas as court deadline looms

By JOHN HANNA

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers have blown several informal deadlines for boosting funding for public schools to satisfy a court mandate because Republicans who control the Legislature are at odds over how to allocate the new dollars and what policy strings should be attached.

The state’s attorneys must file a written report with the Kansas Supreme Court by April 15, telling the justices how legislators responded to the high court’s ruling last yearthat spending on public schools is insufficient. The Legislature is set to start its annual spring break April 6 and not return to the Statehouse until May 1.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly urged legislators to pass her plan for an education funding increase of roughly $90 million a year by the end of February. Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, told lawmakers they should finish their work by March 15.

The Senate approved Kelly’s plan March 14. Top House Republicans back a plan to target new dollars to programs for at-risk students but wouldn’t bring it up for a debate this week because it did not have enough votes to pass. The House and Senate plan to begin negotiations next week on the final version of a school funding bill anyway — without a clear sense of their path forward.

“We’ve got to have an answer to the court by the time we go home next week,” Senate Vice President Jeff Longbine, a moderate Emporia Republican, said Wednesday. “Time is of the essence.”

Four local school districts sued the state over education funding in 2010, and the Supreme Court has issued six rulings directing legislators to increase education funding, now more than $4 billion a year. The high court said a 2018 law promising to phase in a $548 million increase by the 2022-23 school year wasn’t sufficient because it did not account for inflation in recent years.

Educators have argued that legislators should just increase the state’s total aid to its 286 school districts, and Kelly’s plan does that.

Top Republicans in the House have argued that new funds should target helping struggling students, including children with behavioral and mental health problems. Their proposal actually would spend $14 million more than Kelly proposes during the budget year that begins in July — but it includes grants for school safety upgrades and other specific programs.

“Why wouldn’t we target it?” said House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, a conservative Wichita Republican. “What’s the purpose of doing this? It’s to move the needle. It’s to make education better.”

Many Republicans, particularly conservatives, also want to tie the money to education policy changes. The strategy worked well for them in 2014, when they successfully repealed a state law guaranteeing tenure to teachers who’d been in the classroom at least three years.

House conservatives initially pushed an education bill that included a proposal to give parents of children in public schools state-funded scholarships so that their children could move to other schools, including private ones. But they backed off that proposal and others, and the House passed a narrower policy bill this week on a 63-61 vote.

Democrats and many moderate Republicans contend that a straightforward funding bill is the best approach and that lawmakers ought to leave decisions about how new dollars are spent to local school boards.

“I think the best way to do it is to stick with what I proposed initially and what the Senate passed, with a clean, simple deal-with-inflation factor and move on,” Kelly told reporters Wednesday.

🎥 Trooper Ben: Check vehicles for airbag recall today

Trooper Ben Gardner of the Kansas Highway Patrol today issued a plea for car owners to check their vehicles for recalled Takata airbags. The recall affects between 65 million to 70 million airbags that need to be recalled, he said. For more information on the recall or to check your vehicle’s VIN number, click HERE.

ROSS: Message to Kansas Legislature — Fund KDOT!

Courtesy photo

By KIRBY ROSS
Phillips County Review

Kansas Legislature: You are going to get us killed. Literally.

After years of failing to properly fund Kansas highways in general — and northwest Kansas highways in particular — the Kansas Legislature has had the opportunity for a re-do this session, but seems to be taking a pass on it. In the process, the very dangerous U.S. 383 in Phillips County was specifically investigated by a legislative task force but fixes to it have been punted off into the future — dangerous, but not dangerous enough it seems.

As a result, life-saving improvements to U.S. 383 in Phillips County are still years away.

Those hazards came home to roost twice in three days this week, when on Monday an oversize overweight windmill tower load traveling U.S. Hwy 383 slipped off the [nonexistent] shoulder and wrecked. Luckily, no one was injured. But the entire 25-mile stretch of highway running through the county had to be shut down, a significant number of law enforcement officers from at least three different agencies had to be utilized, massive cranes had to be brought in, and thousands upon thousands of dollars had to be expended — all just to clean up the accident scene.

Can we send the bill for all this to Topeka because they won’t properly invest in our highways?

But it gets worse.

As this editorial was being written and just 18 hours after they cleared Monday’s wreckage off the 383 right-of-way a different semi hauling another windmill tower side-swiped a grain truck on U.S. 383 less than 2 miles from the previous accident site. Nonexistent shoulders + narrow roadway. That one shut the highway down the better part of Thursday morning and on into the afternoon.

Courtesy photo

All of which raises another question: Why are these wind tower loads even traveling down U.S. 383? Two years ago, oversize overweight windmill loads were banned by KDOT from passing through Phillipsburg because they were destroying the road infrastructure, and pilot car drivers couldn’t mind their manners on Phillipsburg streets. So, having been taken to the woodshed for bad behavior they ended up detouring off U.S. 183 and around Phillipsburg by traveling down U.S. 383. Which is even more ridiculous, given the nature of that road.

How about those who transport these gigantic loads through Phillips County try this instead? Find another route! In 2016, an elderly man was killed on U.S. 183 near Alma, Neb., north of Phillipsburg trying to get around these things that back traffic up a mile behind them. Let’s not have it happen here.

The way things are going, a death will eventually occur on U.S. 383.

Are you listening, Legislature? That one will be on you.

Charles R. Easton

Charles R. Easton of Quinter, passed away Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at his home in Quinter.

Services are pending with Schmitt Funeral Home.

Chief engineer approves Hays/Russell R9 Ranch water change applications

R9 proposed municipal wells (Click to enlarge)

MANHATTAN, Kan. — On Wednesday, David Barfield, chief engineer at the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources, approved change applications by the cities of Hays and Russell to convert the irrigation rights of the R9 Ranch in Edwards County to municipal use for the cities.

The city of Hays purchased the 7,000-acre ranch in 1995, and in 2015 Hays and Russell submitted applications to KDA–DWR to change the use made of water from irrigation to municipal use for the water rights on the property.

The approval documents signed this week include a 53-page master order as well as 32 individual change approvals, a review of the significant public input received, and other attachments and exhibits. Due to the magnitude of the project, it has been subject to an expanded public review process.

See local story: 🎥 R9 Ranch Final Master Order off desk of DWR Chief Engineer

The irrigation rights of the R9 Ranch include 32 water rights covering 56 points of diversion, which have a total authorized quantity of 7,647 acre-feet per year for irrigation. As a result of the changes in use made of water, the total authorized quantity is being reduced to a maximum of 6,756.8 AF/year for municipal use. In addition, the chief engineer is imposing a 10-year rolling aggregate limitation of 48,000 AF (an average of 4,800 AF/year), based on the reasonable long-term yield of the R9 Ranch.

Former Rep. Eber Phelps, Hays city commissioner Henry Schwaller, Russell mayor Curt Mader, Hays city commissioner Shaun Musil and Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty talk to state officials at the R9 Ranch Sept. 15, 2017. File photo

Due to the quantity of water and the distance it will be transported for its new use, the project also requires approval under the state’s Water Transfer Act. Now that the changes have been approved, the water transfer proceeding will be initiated to determine whether it is in the state’s overall best interest to allow the transfer of the water.

 The KDA–DWR website dedicated to the project — agriculture.ks.gov/HaysR9 — has been updated with the approval documents and summary of the approvals’ terms and conditions. The website will continue to be maintained with public information related to the upcoming water transfer proceedings.

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