JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted Kansas woman believed to have been on the run from authorities for several months, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.
Finch-photo Jackson County
After serving a search warrant at a home in the 100 Block of W. 14th Street in the City of Horton, Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies found Chelsea JeanFinch, 25, of Hiawatha, hiding in the attic of the home, according to Morse.
Finch was placed into custody, and transported to the Jackson County Jail. She has a previous felony conviction for Aggravated Battery – Bodily Harm with a deadly weapon, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Horton police also arrested Dylan Lynard Thomas, 23, of Horton, at the home for felony interference with law enforcement.
While at the Jail, it was discovered that Finch allegedly trafficked methamphetamine into the facility.
Finch is currently being held on two no bond Jackson County warrants and for trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to sell, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond on the drug charges was set at $50,000.00. The
The accident scene in Topeka-photo courtesy WIBW TV
TOPEKA— A Kansas man was injured in an accident Wednesday in Shawnee County,
Just before 9:30p.m., first responders were dispatched to the 5300 Block of S. Topeka Boulevard in reference to a vehicle, pedestrian accident, according to Sheriff Herman Jones.
Investigators determined that 33-year-old Nathan P. Hughes from Manhattan, Kansas was hit by two southbound vehicles while he was in the southbound lanes.
Hughes sustained life threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
The initial investigation leads sheriff’s deputies to believe Hughes was attempting to cross Topeka Boulevard. He was struck by the driver’s side mirror of a southbound UHaul moving van. They believe this caused him to fall to the ground and the he was subsequently run over by a southbound Buick passenger vehicle.
There were no signs of impairment of the drivers of either vehicle, nor is there any suspicion that the drivers were in any way culpable of creating this accident. Deputies believe the motorists were lawfully driving on the roadway.
Authorities did not release an update on Hughes condition.
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TOPEKA— One person was injured in an accident Wednesday in Shawnee County,
Just before 9:30p.m., first responders were dispatched to the 5300 Block of S. Topeka Boulevard in reference to a vehicle, pedestrian accident, according to Sheriff Herman Jones.
Investigators determined that a 33-year-old man from Manhattan, Kansas was hit by two southbound vehicles while he was in the southbound lanes.
The man sustained life threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
The initial investigation leads sheriff’s deputies to believe the pedestrian was attempting to cross Topeka Boulevard. He was struck by the driver’s side mirror of a southbound UHaul moving van. We believe this caused him to fall to the ground and the he was subsequently run over by a southbound Buick passenger vehicle.
There were no signs of impairment of the drivers of either vehicle, nor is there any suspicion that the drivers were in any way culpable of creating this accident. We believe the motorists were lawfully driving on the roadway.
Deputies did not release the identity of the pedestrian due to the severity of his injuries and the lack of family notification, according to the sheriff’s department.
The Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development will host the annual Hays Area Job Fair at Big Creek Crossing on April 11 from 3 to 6 p.m. The job fair has been in place since 2011.
“It is a good time of the year to host this event because there will be college students graduating looking for jobs and even some possible summer employment,” said Ernee Sly, office manager for the Ellis County Coalition of Economic Development.
There will be a wide variety of job opportunities from several business sectors. Employers are hoping for a pool of applicants, while prospects are hoping to find something they are interested in or haven’t even thought of before.
The sponsors of the job fair are Hess Services, Rebel Staffing, Wilken’s Manufacturing, KANSASWORKS and Big Creek Crossing.
PRATT – White-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that affects hibernating bats, has recently been confirmed in Kansas – the 32nd state to confirm the presence of the disease.
Several dead bats, collected during cave surveys in Cherokee County in southeast Kansas and Barber County in southcentral Kansas, tested positive for the disease. Surveys were conducted between February 14 and March 1, and samples were tested by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis.
WNS is not known to pose a threat to humans, pets, livestock, or other wildlife and fish. The fungus that causes WNS is spread through bat-to-bat contact, but not all bat species are affected equally.
WNS is named for the white fungal growth often observed around the nose of infected bats. The fungus can invade the skin of hibernating bats and cause damage to the wings. It also induces unusual behaviors, such as bats prematurely leaving hibernation, using up fat reserves necessary to survive winter – when conditions are harsh and food (insects) scarce – resulting in death.
WNS was first detected in New York in 2007 and has since killed millions of bats in states and Canadian provinces where it has been found. States surrounding Kansas, including Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, have also detected either the fungus that causes WNS or the disease itself.
“Detection of white-nose syndrome in a new state underscores the critical importance of work to develop tools for early detection and rapid response to this devastating wildlife disease,” said USGS scientist Anne Ballmann. “The USGS will continue working with resource managers to help conserve imperiled bat species.”
In 2014, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) began working with private landowners to enter caves, survey bats and check for the fungus. No positive test results were found until this year. Biologists with KDWPT’s Ecological Services Section, alongside other scientific groups, will continue survey efforts, but they’ll need the help of willing landowners to locate and enter bat caves.
Of the more than 1,000 species of bats around the world, 15 have been found in Kansas. Big brown bats are the most common and widespread species in the state and live here year-round. WNS has not been documented in big brown bats in Kansas. Big brown bats can eat about one-third of their weight each night while feeding on insects. Collectively, bats play a vital role in the Kansas ecosystem by consuming millions of insects each year, including agricultural pests and mosquitoes. Studies indicate bats have saved U.S. farmers billions of dollars in pest control services.
Today A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 28 by 5pm. Breezy, with a northeast wind 17 to 21 mph.
A winter weather advisory for 1 to 2 inches of snow is in effect. Very light ice accumulations may be possible as well. #kswxpic.twitter.com/FXEBxFd8Ns
Tonight A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before 10pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 11. North northeast wind 12 to 17 mph decreasing to 6 to 11 mph after midnight.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Wind chill values as low as zero. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night A chance of sleet after 1am, mixing with freezing rain after 5am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 28. South southeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Sunday A chance of freezing rain and sleet before 9am, then a slight chance of rain between 9am and 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. South southeast wind 10 to 14 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
LIBERAL, Kan.-100 minutes of soccer was not enough to decide a winner on Thursday evening in Liberal as Hays High and Liberal squared off in a physical Western Athletic Conference match-up. The Lady Indians controlled the ball for most of the match on enemy turf but it wasn’t sufficient to pick up the victory. Hays out shot Liberal 10-1 but could not find the back of the net in the 0-0 tie.
Both teams would not back down from each other. Liberal had one player ejected after receiving her second yellow card for what was a second extremely hard foul. Hays moves to 3-2-1 after the tie. The Lady Indians will travel to Junction City on Monday to face the Lady Jays.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A man who shot and killed three people inside a Kansas City, Kansas, home was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Tucker-photo Wyandotte Co.
Jason Tucker pleaded was sentenced Thursday for capital murder in the May 2017 deaths of Vincent Rocha; his wife, Bernadette Gosserand, and his adult son, Jeremy Rocha.
Wyandotte County authorities agreed not to seek the death penalty in exchange for Tucker’s guilty plea.
The shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Tucker and Gosserand’s son, Bryan Balza, who had sought an order of protection from Tucker.
Prosecutors say Tucker confronted and shot Balza on the front porch of the family’s home, then went inside and killed the three victims. Balza survived.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Valley Center police sergeant awaiting trial on sex-crime charges was returned to jail after reportedly contacting his ex-wife, who is a witness in his case.
Delgado- photo Sedgwick Co.
Jail records show 50-year-old Thomas Delgado was booked into the Sedgwick County Wednesday after his bond was revoked for failing to comply.
According to a court document, a judge ordered that Delgado be held without bond.
Prosecutors say Delgado’s ex-wife reported receiving unwanted emails from an address belonging to Delgado. The 10 emails received March 29 each linked to the same YouTube music video.
Delgado faces trial April 23 on seven charges including sexual exploitation of a child. Prosecutors say he was arrested after his then-wife reported concerns about his contact with teenage girls.
The Kansas Department of Children and Families announced a new Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator April 5.
DCF
TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel is pleased to announce the creation of a new position within the agency to specifically address the human trafficking of children in Kansas. The position was announced Thursday, during a news conference in Topeka, at which city of Topeka and Shawnee County leaders unveiled a joint resolution to combat human trafficking in northeast Kansas.
“We know there is a great need for collaboration on this important issue,” Secretary Meier-Hummel said. “This modern-day form of slavery is a reality in every corner of our state, and as we work to address the safety needs of child victims, we need a united effort to prevent human trafficking and develop a comprehensive response to the problem.”
The Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator position will be within DCF’s Prevention and Protection Services division, in Topeka. The individual hired will be responsible for leading the agency’s initiative to strengthen the comprehensive response and service system for youth in DCF care who are victims of human trafficking or are at risk. The position involves direct coordination with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and law enforcement. Data will be collected and analyzed to ensure effective response.
“Human trafficking is a problem that goes unseen for most of us, yet it affects so many,” Governor Jeff Colyer said. “I appreciate Secretary Meier-Hummel’s commitment to tackling this problem, and I look forward to the positive impact it will have on our state.”
From March 2014 to December 2017, DCF helped 285 suspected child victims of human trafficking.
Secretary Meier-Hummel is focused on working with government entities, communities and others to combat human trafficking. As part of the news conference, details about a grassroots-level initiative were announced. Freedom Now is an anti-human trafficking effort led by Topeka Rescue Mission Executive Director Barry Feaker.
“We appreciate the participation from DCF on this monumental initiative,” Feaker said. “At the Topeka Rescue Mission, we have seen first-hand the tremendous impact this evil has on the lives of innocent children, and we will no longer stand for it. We expect our local effort to expand statewide and beyond as residents begin to realize that this is an issue that affects all of us, and we all have a role to play in stopping it.”
In addition to the new position, DCF also has staff members who sit on the State’s Human Trafficking Advisory Board. DCF also has staff on the Freedom Now board. Learn more about the Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator position at the Kansas Department of Administration website, State Employment Center. Those who suspect human trafficking involving a minor should call 1-800-922-5330.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers narrowly passed an education funding plan Thursday in the Kansas Senate, overcoming bipartisan skepticism that it would increase spending enough on public schools to satisfy a court mandate.
The vote was 21-18 on a bill that would phase in a $274 million increase in school funding over five years, targeting some of the dollars to early childhood education to ensure that fewer children fall behind early.
Republicans hold a 30-seat majority in the 40-member Senate but were split. Some conservatives were upset with the Kansas Supreme Court’s ruling in October that the state’s current education funding of more than $4 billion a year isn’t sufficient under the state constitution, even with increases approved last year. Some GOP moderates questioned whether the plan was big enough, and the chamber’s nine Democrats and one independent member opposed it.
“This bill doesn’t get us where we need to be,” said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat. “This bill is woefully inadequate in terms of the funding it’s providing.”
Senate GOP leaders sold some fellow Republicans on voting for the bill to keep lawmakers moving toward meeting the court’s mandate. The justices gave the attorney general until April 30 to report on how legislators fixed the problems the court identified.
“We’re going to haggle over the dollars,” Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Molly Baumgardner, a conservative Louisburg Republican, told fellow GOP senators during a caucus.
The House has approved a plan to phase in a roughly $520 million increase in education funding over five years, and Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer publicly endorsed it Wednesday. The final version of a plan would be drafted by negotiators for the two chambers.
Colyer has called on the Republican-controlled Legislature to pass a bill before taking an annual 2½-week spring break that is scheduled to start Saturday. Lawmakers return from that break April 26 — only four days before the court’s deadline.
Supporters of the House plan contend the state can cover the additional spending with the annual growth in the state’s tax collections, which have been stronger than expected for 10 consecutive months. But top Republican senators contend the state could not afford it without increasing taxes within the next two years. Colyer has said legislators should not raise taxes, and most lawmakers do not want to do that.
Many Democrats question whether the House plan is enough, too. The Supreme Court did not set a specific figure in its October ruling but hinted that it could be $650 million more a year. The four school districts that sued the state in 2010 argue that the figure is even higher.
But some Republicans supporting the Senate plan predicted that the Supreme Court would accept it because of how it targets its new funding for specific programs to help ensure that young children don’t fall behind in school early. Others said the new money also builds on past increases.
“It’s more than enough,” said Sen. Ty Masterson, a conservative Andover Republican.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two Hutchinson women were jailed early Thursday for making a false call to police. The women claimed a man battered two family members in the 1200 block of East 7th. According to the women, the man said he did not want to go back to prison. They said he had a gun and was waiting for officers to arrive.
WatkinsNicholson
Chassity Nicholson, 22 (pictured left), and Tatumn Watkins (right), 20, face a potential charge of making a false call for emergency services for violence of a threat.
Nicholson called police earlier in the day and said Michael Kirk had taken their child. She wanted the child back.
When police arrived, they were told Kirk was hiding in the garage. Officers, along with sheriff’s deputies, had guns drawn when they ordered him from the garage. He came out with the 3-month-old child in his arms. He was almost shot during the incident. Kirk was not armed and was merely taking care of the child.
In court, Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen — visibly annoyed this infant was put in danger — denied any bond reduction.
Watkins recently entered a plea for a charge of aggravated battery when she stabbed her ex-boyfriend in the back on Jan. 22. The victim was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment where he spent five days.
Nicholson has now posted bond, but Watkins remains jailed on a $5,000 bond. Both should be back in court next week for the reading of any formal charges.
DICKINSON COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported bomb threat.
Just after 12:30p.m.Thursday, members of the Abilene Police Department responded to the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home located at 200 Southeast Fourth Street in Abilene for the report of a phone-in bomb threat, according to a media release.
Approximately 200 visitors and staff members were evacuated from the campus, and the campus was secured.
A thorough search of the campus was conducted by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Abilene Police Department, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office and security staff from the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home. No suspicious items were located during the search.
The investigation into this incident is on-going. The Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home plans to resume normal business tomorrow, April 6th.
The vote was 21-18 on a bill that would phase in a $274 million increase in school funding over five years, targeting some of the dollars to early childhood education to ensure that fewer children fall behind early.
Just after 12:30p.m.Thursday, members of the Abilene Police Department responded to the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home located at 200 Southeast Fourth Street in Abilene for the report of a phone-in bomb threat, according to a media release.