TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Democrats have pulled their support from a deaf legislative candidate who is accused by three women of being emotionally abusive.

The state party and the Kansas House Democrats said in a joint statement that the allegations against Chris Haulmark are “deeply troubling.”

The party says it won’t invest any resources in Haulmark’s effort to unseat Republican John Toplikar. The National Association of the Deaf says Haulmark would be the first deaf legislator — at the state or national level — if he wins the House seat is in a GOP-leaning Olathe district.

Haulmark told The Star the Democrat’s decision was “reached prematurely and without merit.” Days earlier, Haulmark said in a Facebook post that he is “far from perfect.”

DODGE CITY  – A Kansas man was sentenced Tuesday to more than eight years in prison after being found guilty of drug crimes, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Rogelio Medina-Campos, 35, Dodge City, was found guilty in July by a Ford County jury of two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of receiving/acquiring proceeds from drug offenses and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judge Van Z. Hampton sentenced Medina-Campos to 100 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. The crimes occurred between September and November of 2016.

The case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Finney County Sheriff’s Office, Dodge City Police Department and the Ford County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant Attorneys General Jason Oxford, Melissa Johnson and the late Steven W. Wilhoft of Schmidt’s office prosecuted the case.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The 26-year-old Missouri woman charged with intentionally driving her children into the Kansas River waived her right to a preliminary hearing and did not enter a plea at a brief court hearing.

Scharron Dingledine, of Columbia, Missouri, on Tuesday waived her right to a preliminary hearing. Her attorney, Carol Cline, said she and her client need more time to prepare before Dingledine’s arraignment, which is scheduled for Dec. 3. No trial date is scheduled.

Dingledine is charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Police allege she drove her car into the Kansas River near Lawrence on Aug. 3 in an attempt to kill her children and herself. Her 5-year-old daughter died and a 1-year-old son was critically injured. The boy remains hospitalized in fair condition.

KANSAS CITY – A Kansas man pleaded guilty Wednesday to unlawfully importing endangered leopard cats, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

The leopard cat is a small wild cat native to Asia. It is considered as an endangered species under federal law.

Lawrence E. Payne, 34, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Endangered Species Act. The investigation began when Payne applied to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a breeding license for Asian leopard cats. When investigators served a search warrant at Payne’s home, they found three Asian leopard cats. Payne admitted importing the animals.

Sentencing will be set for a later date. He faces a penalty of up to a year in jail and a fine up to $50,000. McAllister commended the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.

TOPEKA —President Donald Trump is bringing his MAGA tour to Topeka’s ExpoCenter on Saturday, October 6.

Law enforcement authorities are working diligently with area agencies and in partnership with the Secret Service to make sure this visit is safe for all involved, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel with Topeka Police.

As procedures dictate, police will not be disclosing route information or road closures for security and safety reasons.

Police in Topeka have received questions about where people with contradicting views of President Trump can exercise their 1st amendment right, according to Beightel.

The Public sidewalks are available on either side of SW Topeka Blvd, from 17th to 21st street.

In addition, the grass areas at the Expocentre will be open to the public.

Saturday’s rally is a month before the November election. The President will stump for gubernatorial candidate Sec. of State Kris Kobach, 2nd district congressional nominee Steve Watkins and other GOP candidates.  Tickets for Trump’s MAGA Rally are available here.