By BRIAN GRIMMETT

Zack Pistora of the Kansas Sierra Club was worried about the number of earthquakes in the state and wanted to do something about it.

“Those earthquakes can cause damage to people’s homes, businesses, public buildings,” he said. “Right now there’s no recourse for those Kansans who get affected.”

So Pistora and a few others brought the issue to legislators. The result is several bills aimed at putting stricter regulations on the wells oil and gas producers use to inject wastewater back into the ground. The slate of bills makes changes to the public notice requirements for new wells and would create a fund to help pay for damage caused by the earthquakes tied to drilling.

“If we still have earthquakes caused by the industry,” Pistora said, “ the industry should be accountable for that.”

One of the bills would also put a statewide cap on the amount of wastewater that can be injected into the ground each day. On Thursday, that bill, HB2641, received a hearing before the House Water and Environment Committee.

Kansas regulators told legislators that a statewide cap isn’t necessary. They say the only injection wells linked directly to earthquakes are in Harper and Sumner counties, which already have caps in place.

Ryan Hoffman, director of the Kansas Corporation Commission Conservation Division, said scores of wells that would be impacted scattered across the state show no connection to increased earthquakes.

That’s why, the industry says, a statewide cap would hurt oil production without reducing earthquakes.

“All these bills are based on misleading and inaccurate data,” Ed Cross, the president of the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association, “that provide very little benefit but are an attempt to advance a political agenda.”

Meanwhile, Pistora says he hopes the bills will start a productive conversation, even if they don’t all get hearings this year.

Brian Grimmett is a reporter focusing on the environment and energy for the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett.

SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have released security camera images.

Just after 1a.m. Friday, police responded Dimple Donuts, 4201 SW 21 Street in Topeka in reference a robbery to the business, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.

A clerk told police that 4 unknown age, race men wearing all dark clothing entered the business. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun and ordered the clerk to the ground. The four suspects took money from the business and fled south out of the business, possibly to a awaiting vehicle. There were no injuries reported.

There have been no arrests made. Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to call Topeka Police.

PARSONS, Kan. (AP) — A former Montgomery County man was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the death of a southeast Kansas woman and her three children.

The Kansas Attorney General says 26-year-old David Cornell Bennett Jr., formerly of Cherryvale, was sentenced Friday for capital murder and three counts of first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty in December 2017 to killing 29-year-old Cami Umbarger and her three minor children in Parsons in November 2013.

The state dropped its intention to seek the death penalty as part of the plea deal.

Testimony at a preliminary hearing in October 2014 indicated the victims were strangled. Witnesses testified Bennett repeatedly tried to contact Umbarger after they met at a club in Independence. Family members said the two had dated briefly but Umbarger tried to end the relationship.

FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are asking for the the public’s assistance in locating Juan Montalvo.

He is wanted for Non Appearance for his sentencing for a Rape conviction, according to the Finney County Sheriff’s Department.

Montalvo, is 38 years old, 6-foo-3 and weighs 180 pounds.  His last known address was 2917 N. Fleming, apartment #608 in Garden City.

If you have information about Montalvo’s location, please contact the Finney County Sheriff’s Office.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Police Department (WPD) is investigating two alleged threats made Friday on social media at local high schools and in one case a 17-year-old has been arrested.

According to officer Charlie Davidson, a Bishop Carroll school official notified police of a social media post involving a student threatening physical violence at a school.

The investigation led to the identification and arrest of a 17-year-old male suspect, according to Davidson. The suspect will be booked into jail for criminal threat

Also, a Southeast High student notified school administrators of a social media post that threatened violence on Snapchat, a popular youth communications platform. Southeast officials notified police and are currently investigating the case to determine the source and severity of the threat, according to Davidson.

Wichita Police will continue to work with school officials to ensure the safety of students.

FORD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a potential threat at USD 443 Dodge City High School.

Just after 6a.m. Friday, police received an anonymous tip of a possible threat to the Dodge City High School by a 17-year old student, according to media release.

“The investigation involved general threatening comments allegedly made from one student to others on a day prior, not specific threats toward the school or any person or a specific date,” according to Dodge City Police.

Officers immediately reacted to the tip and worked with school officials to locate the alleged suspect at home prior to the school day starting.

After a thorough investigation the subject has been arrested for the alleged crime of criminal threat. The case is being filed with the Ford County Attorney’s office.

Police indicated they have no reason to believe there is any further threat to any of the schools in USD 443.