TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday vetoed an extra $51 million payment to Kansas’ public pension system while signing the bulk of a state budget approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Kelly said in a message to legislators that she used the governor’s power to veto individual items in the budget to excise “non-essential” spending in several provisions and bolster the state’s cash reserves. The rest of the spending blueprint includes more than $18.3 billion for state government for the budget year beginning in July, a record amount.

Legislators included the extra $51 million for the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System to help make up for shorting the state’s annual contributions in recent years, when the state repeatedly faced budget problems. But Kelly called it “imprudent” when other parts of state government still need extra dollars, despite extra spending in the budget.

“When I built my state budget proposal, it was tempting to approve every spending request made by agencies and organizations because all had endured severe budget cuts in recent years,” Kelly said. “But I felt that fiscal restraint was absolutely critical to sustaining Kansas’ recovery.”

Republican legislators were expected to try to override Kelly’s veto of the pension payment and perhaps several other items on May 29, the last and only remaining day they’re scheduled to be in session this year. It was not clear they could muster the necessary two-thirds majorities in both chambers.

Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, said Kelly had “turned her back” on teachers and state employees.

“Instead of protecting the retirement of hardworking Kansans, Laura Kelly would rather pocket the money to fund her big spending agenda,” Wagle said in a statement.

The budget includes pay raises for state workers, as well as extra spending on prisons, social services and higher education. Lawmakers also increased spending on public schools, and the budget would boost overall state spending by 6.6 percent, or nearly $1.14 billion.

Kelly has clashed with Republicans over how best to deal with a shortfall in the longer-term funding for the state’s public pension system. A 2012 law set an aggressive schedule of increasing state contributions to eliminate the gap by 2035, and Kelly argues that it’s unrealistic. But legislators in both parties rejected a proposal from her to restructure the annual payments.

The governor also vetoed an extra $1.9 million in funding for community mental health centers. And she rejected earmarking $1.5 million for specific programs in the Department of Education budget, saying local school districts should use new state dollars for programs that they “deem appropriate.”

“There is a lot to celebrate in this state budget,” Kelly said. She added later, “I am confident we are headed in the right direction.”

TOPEKA —A disturbance by 10 teens Sunday evening at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex (KJCC) in Topeka resulted in property damage in three living units, according to to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

An investigation, being led by the Kansas Department of Correction’s Enforcement’s Apprehension and Investigation Unit, has yet to identify the amount of property damage caused by the 10 juvenile males ranging in age from 17-19 or the reason for the incident.

“This isn’t normal for our facility, the fact that no injuries occurred is a credit to the professionalism and response of our staff,” said Randy Bowman, Deputy Secretary of Juvenile Services.

Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex, the state’s only juvenile correctional facility, has a population of 167.

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a disturbance that sent a man to a local hospital.

Just before 8:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 900 Block of North Market in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

At the scene police located a 37-year-old man who had been shot in the face with a BB gun. EMS transported him to a local hospital for treatment and he was released.

Investigators learned the victim and a known 43-year-old man were involved in a disturbance outside an apartment complex on North Market. The suspect shot multiple times with a bb gun that struck the victim.  The suspect then fled on foot. Police continue to work to locate the suspect.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities  are investigating two robbery cases that occurred Saturday morning and looking for a suspect who is considered armed and dangerous.

Just before 1:30a.m.  Saturday,  deputies were called to the Shady Lady Gentlemen’s Club, 1540 W. Old 40 at approximately 1:17 a.m. Saturday for the report of a stolen wallet. Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander said Monday that Melvin Suchy, 57, of Tryon, Neb., had been in the Shady Lady, but had gone outside to get some additional cash when someone grabbed his wallet out of his back pocket and jumped into a nearby dark-colored vehicle.

Suchy reached into the car and grabbed onto the steering wheel in an attempt to keep the thieves from leaving when one of the occupants of the vehicle pulled out a handgun and threatened to kill him if he didn’t let go of the steering wheel, Melander said. The thieves, who Suchy reported might be two Hispanic males, fled with his wallet, which included $20 in cash, Melander added.

At approximately 6 a.m. on Saturday, Salina Police were called to the Pilot Travel Center, 1944 N. Ninth, for the report of a truck driver being robbed. Michael Schwartz, 48, of Missouri, was walking from the Pilot store out to his tractor-trailer rig when he felt someone grab near his left rear pocket where he kept his wallet, said Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. Schwartz turned around and confronted a white male, who he described as approximately 6-foot- tall and weighing 160 pounds.

The man had a handgun and demanded money from Schwartz, who gave him $900 from his wallet. At some point a female exited a nearby vehicle and also asked Schwartz about money, he added. She and the male got into a blue 2002 Ford Taurus and left northbound on Ninth Street, according to Forrester.

The car was later found burned up in the county, Forrester said. Police contacted the registered owner in Ford County, who said he had loaned it to someone.

From that report, police were able to develop a person of interest: Dustin Bilbrey, a 36-year-old white male who is 6’3″ and 180 pounds, Forrester said. Bilbrey was last seen wearing jeans, a gray shirt, and a red ball cap, and is considered armed and dangerous, according to Forrester.

Salina Police believe the two robberies are related.

Persons with information about Bilbrey’s whereabouts are encouraged to call the Salina Police Department at 785-826-7210 or call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit www.pd.salina.org and follow the Crimestoppers link to submit a web tip.

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim.

Just before 4:30p.m. Friday, police responded to report of a shooting at a residence in the 1500 Block of South Parkwood in Wichita, according to Captain Brent Allred. Upon arrival officers located 20-year-old Dieuvent Mpirwa of Wichita with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation revealed the victim and the suspect identified as 24-year-old Noah Kanyizere had a disagreement. The suspect pulled out a handgun and shot the victim. Police believe both the suspect and the victim knew each other.

On Saturday, police arrested Kanyizere in the 400 Block of Main in Wichita, according to Allred. He is being held on a $100,000 Bond, according to online booking records.
Police don’t know the nature of their dispute. It was not gang related and police don’t believe drugs were involved. Police ask that anyone who may have been at the residence or who may have details to contact CrimeStoppers.

Police will present their findings to the district attorney’s office.

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SEDGWICK — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.. 

Just before 4:30 p.m. Friday police responded to the report of the shooting and found one person dead.

On On Saturday, police arrested 24-year-old Noah Kanyizere in the 400 Block of Main in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County arrest report.

He is being held on a requested charge of first- degree murder with a bond of $100,000, according to online jail records.

Police have not named the victim or additional details in the case.