Former Lt. Governor and fifth-generation Kansan, Tracey Mann, has announced his candidacy for Kansas’ First Congressional District.

“America faces urgent threats to our freedom. While President Trump is doing his best to right the ship, too many Washington politicians want to redefine our founding values and ideals. Socialism is on the rise. Efforts to impose government-run health care, increase taxes, restrict religious freedom and erode the Second Amendment are part of the same agenda. America needs leaders who will stand up to meet this challenge and fight to protect our founding beliefs,” Mann said.

“I was raised by wonderful parents on our family farm where I learned the values of hard work, perseverance, and service. I recognize that to whom much is given much is required. When I served as Jerry Moran’s first intern I never imagined I would be the 50th Lt. Governor of Kansas. I believe that every generation of Americans has a responsibility to leave our country better off and stronger than how we found it. This is our moment to step up and serve,” Mann said.

Mann plans to run on a platform of bringing Kansas values and a voice for Kansas agriculture to Washington. The father of four beautiful children, Mann is strongly pro-life and pro-Second Amendment. Raised on a family farm in Quinter, Kan., Mann learned first-hand the value of hard work and how important it is that Washington stays out of the way of Kansas producers. Mann supports President Trump’s efforts to build the wall and curb illegal immigration.

“I will fight to restore fiscal discipline in Congress and will support sound agricultural policy. My experience in agriculture and business has taught me that politicians don’t create jobs; risk-takers and entrepreneurs create jobs. In Congress, I will do everything in my power to help job creators succeed. But above all, I will put Kansans and our Kansas values first.”

Mann attended Kansas State University where he studied agricultural economics and was elected student body president. After college, Mann started a career in commercial real estate.

Mann has served on the Board of Directors of many Kansas organizations including Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL), Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and The City Teen Center in Salina.

Mann and his wife, Audrey, live in Salina with their four children (Quincy, Austin, Whitney, and Elise).

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman has pleaded not guilty in the death of her toddler son.

Brandi Marchant, 23, Wichita, appeared in court Monday. A trial date was set for Nov. 12.

Marchant and Patrick Javonovich are both charged with first-degree murder and child abuse in the April death of 2-year-old Zaiden Javonovich.

Police say Zaiden had been dead for days when his body was found in a crib in the family’s mobile home. An autopsy report ruled that the child found bound in pajamas died of dehydration and starvation, and his brain tested positive for methamphetamine.

Patrick Javonovich is scheduled to be in court Tuesday.

Zaiden’s 4-month-old brother was initially hospitalized. That child has been removed from the home.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A U.S. judge on Monday reinstated a nationwide halt on the Trump administration’s plan to prevent most migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar ruled in Oakland that an injunction blocking the administration’s policy from taking effect should apply nationwide.

Tigar blocked the policy in July after a lawsuit by groups that help asylum seekers. But the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals limited the impact of Tigar’s injunction to states within the area overseen by the appeals court.

That meant the policy was blocked in the border states of California and Arizona but not in New Mexico or Texas.

In his ruling, Tigar stressed a “need to maintain uniform immigration policy” and found that nonprofit organizations such as Al Otro Lado don’t know where asylum seekers who enter the U.S. will end up living and making their case to remain in the country.

“The court recognized there is grave danger facing asylum-seekers along the entire stretch of the southern border,” Lee Gelernt, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement.

A message was left seeking comment with the Department of Justice.

The new rules by the Trump administration apply to migrants who pass through another country before reaching the U.S.

The policy targets tens of thousands of Central Americans who cross Mexico every month to try to enter the U.S. and also would affect asylum-seekers from Africa, Asia and South America who arrive regularly at the southern border.

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a an alleged hit and run crash and have arrested a Kansas felon.

Just before 11:30p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to the 1400 block of Brittany Street in Salina after  report of a motor vehicle accident, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

A 2018 Nissan Kicks driven by Matthew Levin, 33, of Salina, rolled and came to rest on the driver’s side after it hit a 2009 Ford Taurus parked in the 1400 block of Brittany Street.

A witness helped Levin out of the vehicle and Levin then fled on foot.

Police located him walking in the 1400 block of East Schilling Road with injuries consistent with being in a vehicle accident and  wearing the same clothing described by the witness, according to Forrester.

Police arrested Levin on requested charges of Felony driving under the influence, Driving while suspended, Duty upon striking an unattended vehicle, Driving on roadways laned for traffic.  He has previous convictions for domestic battery, battery and falsely reporting a crime and had been on community corrections since January, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 7-year-old boy is expected to make a full recovery after being shot in the head while riding with his mother in Kansas City, Missouri.

The shooting happened just before 10 p.m. Sunday. The mother told officer that she and her son were on their way home when she saw two men shooting at another person.

One of the bullets struck the child. Doctors at Research Medical Center removed a bullet fragment from the boy’s head that had penetrated his skin. Police say the injury is not considered life-threatening.

No arrests have been made.