SEDGWICK COUNTY Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 2a.m. Sunday police responded to a shooting at the Bourbon Street bar in the 3800 Block of South Seneca in Wichita, according to Lt. Chad Beard.

Investigators learned that there was a disturbance between multiple people in the parking lot when shots were fired. Police located a 40-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to the foot and another 30-year-old victim a short distance from the club. The second victim remains hospitalized in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the upper torso, according to Beard.

A Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by the suspect identified as 52-year-old Felipe Barrientos.

They arrested him and he is being held on a $75,000 bond for aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County online jail records

 

TOPEKA —As state and federal authorities work to understand and address the recent public health crisis regarding e-cigarettes, Governor Kelly wants Kansans to know the state is committed to combating this health issue.

In a media release from the governor’s office, Kelly said, “Today, I am saddened to announce the death of a second Kansan in association with this outbreak,” Governor Kelly said. “Dr. Lee Norman and his team with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are working tirelessly with other states and organizations to gather facts on e-cigarettes and its effects. We are coordinating a response to combat this epidemic, so that families can avoid such tragic outcomes.”

As of today, September 23, Kansas has had two confirmed deaths related to vaping. The first Kansas death related to vaping or using e-cigarettes was a female resident over the age of 50 with underlying health conditions. The second death is a male over the age of 50 who also had underlying health conditions.

Kansas currently has nine probable/confirmed vaping related cases, including the two deaths. Of the cases, five are male and four are female and range in age from 17-67 years old. All were hospitalized, five have been released from the hospital and two remain hospitalized. Regarding the types of vaping products used, there was a combination of those reporting using only nicotine, only THC, only CBD and a combination of THC and nicotine. Due to the small numbers of those affected, KDHE is not releasing locations of those affected or information about specific cases.

According to the CDC, the number of vaping-related illnesses nationally has climbed to 530, with several deaths nationwide as federal and state health officials continue to search for the cause of the outbreak. These new numbers indicate a dramatic 40 percent increase from last week, when the agency reported 380 cases in 36 states and the Virgin Islands. Half of the patients are under 25 years old. In response to the rapid pace of the outbreak, the CDC has opened its Emergency Operations Center.

The state of Kansas is working swiftly to address this epidemic and is actively reviewing policy options.

Dr. Norman has been chosen to testify before Congress concerning the effects of e-cigarettes, and will offer his testimony in front of the United States House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

“E-cigarettes are unregulated, which means that we don’t know what’s in them,” Dr. Norman, KDHE secretary, said. “And, of great concern to me, is that in the midst of all these illnesses being reported, the amount of young people using them is significant.”

E-cigarettes are the most commonly-used tobacco product among youth. Some 96 percent of youth who initiated e-cigarette use between 2016 and 2017 did so with a flavored e-cigarette product. According to preliminary findings from the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), over one quarter of U.S. high school students report using an e-cigarette product in the past 30 days, an increase from 2018 when the rate of past 30-day use was 20.8 percent.

“Most teens who vape have never smoked cigarettes,” Norman said. “Vaping is how they are initiating inhaling things into their lungs. We must work diligently and swiftly in addressing this public health crisis.”

In line with concerns on marketing, the Food and Drug Administration on Friday, September 20, issued a proposed rule that would allow e-cigarette products to be sold only after they’ve shown they may be marketed in a way that best protects public health. A federal judge ordered the FDA this summer to require all e-cigarettes to submit to federal review by May 2020.

“Until these rules and regulations go into effect, education is our best defense,” Secretary Norman said. “Talk to your kids. Talk to your grandkids. Keep talking about these issues.”

To increase education regarding e-cigarettes and what the tobacco industry has termed as “vaping,” KDHE and the Kansas Department of Education partnered to develop a Vape-Free Schools kit. Schools are urged to adopt the kit and parents and caretakers are encouraged to have conversations with their children. Tips are available from the Surgeon General here.

Governor Kelly also urges Kansans to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advice regarding vaping: While this investigation is ongoing, people should consider not using e-cigarette products. People who do use e-cigarette products should monitor themselves for symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever) and promptly seek medical attention for any health concerns. Regardless of the ongoing investigation, people who use e-cigarette products should not buy these products off the street and should not modify e-cigarette products or add any substances that are not intended by the manufacturer. E-cigarette products should never be used by youth, young adults, pregnant women or adults who do not currently use tobacco products.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 8:30a.m. Monday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy van driven by Dustin Adam Lloyd, 36, Pretty Prairie, was eastbound on U.S. 400 just west of 343rd Street.

The driver swerved left to avoid stopped traffic, traveled through the median and struck a 2012 Ford Escape driven by Mendi Kathleen Cotter, 30, Wichita, head-on.
Cotter was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Lloyd to Wesley Medical Center.

A passenger in the van Blake Kinyon, 17, Pretty Prairie, was not wearing a seat belt and refused treatment.

DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — A capuchin monkey at a western Kansas zoo is recovering after it was injured while apparently trying to stop an intruder from taking a younger monkey.

Officials at the Wright Park Zoo in Dodge City say the older monkey, named Vern, was hurt and his son, Pickett, was found on the outskirts of Dodge City Sept. 3. The younger monkey was not injured.

Officials initially thought Vern’s injuries were minor but a veterinarian found injuries apparently caused by blunt force trauma. The monkey underwent surgery at Kansas State University Sept. 10 to repair broken bones.

Zoo spokeswoman Abbey Martin said Monday Pickett is doing well and is back on display. Vern remains in quarantine while he recovers.

Dodge City police are investigating the incident. Martin says there are no developments in the investigation.

RILEY COUNTY — Fire investigators  have determined the cause of the fire at 930 Thurston Street, which occurred on Friday, September 20, to be accidental, according to a Ryan Almes, Deputy Chief.

The power was restored to the unoccupied dwelling unit and the stove had inadvertently been left on with combustibles on top.

Loss is estimated at $30,000 to the structure and $1,000 to the contents.
There were no injuries reported.

RICE COUNTY— A second person has  died from injuries suffered in a two vehicle accident just after 2:30p.m. Friday in Rice County.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Avenue V & 22nd Road, about five miles north of Nickerson, according to the Rice County Sheriff’s office,

Three patients were treated, one with critical injuries and two patients with non-life-threatening injuries and all were transported to local hospitals.

A fourth patient, the driver of the northbound vehicle, 84-year-old Dale Hoover died from his injuries at the scene. Both vehicles came to rest in the northeast ditch.

The passenger of the northbound vehicle, 80-year-old Delores Hoover, died over the weekend.