KANSAS CITY (AP) — More than 100 students who took the ACT this fall at a Kansas City high school will likely have to retake the college entrance exam because the results are missing.

ACT officials said that 111 exams that were taken Sept. 14 at Park Hill High School weren’t in the testing package when it arrived at their offices.

ACT spokesperson Ed Colby says searches have been conducted of the school and FedEx facilities on the route of the package. He says that ACT staff will continue to work with the test center and FedEx to search for the missing documents.

Colby says ACT officials will keep looking for the answers, and then they’ll grade them if they find them. In the meantime, they’re offering students a free makeup test on Nov. 9 or any other future date.

MANHATTAN — The Manhattan City Commission will consider an amendment to Manhattan’s public nudity ordinance at Monday’s legislative meeting, according to a media release from the city.

First adopted in 2003, the existing ordinance makes it unlawful to publicly display female breasts or male or female buttocks or genitals.  The ordinance contains exceptions from prosecution, including for breastfeeding mothers. 
 
The proposed amendment removes the female breast from the definition of public nudity, in reaction to a court case that applies in Kansas.  If the amendment is adopted, Manhattan’s public nudity ordinance will continue to prohibit the display of male or female buttocks or genitals in public. Even as amended, Manhattan’s public nudity ordinance will still be stricter than many areas of Kansas. 
 
“The State of Kansas does not have a state law that prohibits general public nudity,” said City Attorney Katie Jackson.  “To prohibit general public nudity within a city’s limits, the city must adopt an ordinance similar to Manhattan’s.” 
 
Even with the amended ordinance, the City of Manhattan’s public nudity law will still be stricter than many smaller cities and unincorporated areas of Kansas, because Manhattan would still prohibit public display of female or male genitals or buttocks.  However, it is still critical to understand that these communities are also subject to the same state and federal laws as Manhattan, and public nudity in these communities could be prosecuted if the facts violate state or federal law.  
 
“Federal and state criminal laws apply throughout Kansas,” said Jackson.  The facts may violate the “lewd and lascivious” state law, or if a minor is involved, child pornography or other sex offense laws.  “If the facts surrounding a display of female toplessness violate a federal or state law, the offender can be prosecuted in federal or state court regardless of what a city ordinance says.” 
 
Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson agreed.  “Manhattan’s proposed change to its public nudity ordinance will not impair our ability to prosecute displays of public nudity or female toplessness that result in violations of state law.”  The County Attorney’s Office also prosecutes offenses related to public nudity that occur in the unincorporated areas of Riley County.  Unlike Manhattan, these areas have no local regulations prohibiting general public nudity.

The ordinance “decriminalizes” female toplessness, but only from the City’s ordinance.  If the definition is changed, the City will not be able to prosecute a public display of female toplessness in the Manhattan Municipal Court.  But this is not the same as “legalizing” female toplessness, which implies that a public display of female toplessness does not violate any law.  Depending upon the facts, state or federal laws may be violated.
 
“A city ordinance amendment does not change state or federal law.  Manhattan cannot legalize conduct that the federal or state laws make illegal,” said Jackson.
 
If the City Commission amends the ordinance on November 5, it retains the ability to amend it again in the future if the law changes or as issues arise.  At first reading of the ordinance, the Commission noted that the ordinance can be revisited before the City’s swimming pools open.  “This is an evolving area of the law, and we may have more guidance from federal or state courts in the next several months,” said Jackson.
 
A private business owner or organization may require a patron to wear a shirt or other clothing upon their private property.  If a topless male or female enters the location, they can be asked to adhere to the dress code or leave, and be cited for criminal trespass if they refuse.

ATCHISON COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just after 5a.m. Sunday in Atchinson County.

A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop a 2004 Saturn Ion driven by Robert Neal Kirk, Jr. 56, Topeka, in the area of 254th Road. and US Highway 75  for traffic infractions, according to Shawnee County Sheriff Tim Morse.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Jackson County Kansas deputy was eastbound on Kansas 9 Highway three miles north of Muscotah in pursuit of a 2004 Saturn Ion driven by Robert Neal Kirk, Jr., 56, Topeka.

The vehicle continued north on W Road to K-9 Highway then east through the city of Whiting and east into Atchison County. The driver failed to negotiate the curves at 159 Highway and continued east off the road and rolled and came to rest on its top. 

EMS transported Kirk to the hospital in Hiawatha. EMS transported a passenger Ronald E. Snowberger, 49, St. George to the Atchison Hospital.

Both were properly restrained at the time of the accident.  The incident remains under investigation, according to Morse.

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LEXINGTON, Mo. (AP) — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drug trafficking operation — and possible human trafficking ring — after troopers conducting a traffic stop found a 15-year-old girl with several pounds of methamphetamine strapped to her abdomen.

The traffic stop occurred Tuesday on Interstate 70 in western Missouri. Troopers say a 22-year-old California woman was driving, and the girl was a passenger. When an officer called the girl’s mother, she told him she thought her daughter was at school and had no idea who the California woman was.

When questioned, the girl told officers she had 5.5 pounds of meth strapped to her.

The woman was charged Wednesday with drug trafficking, endangering the welfare of child and other counts. The teen was returned to her mother, and police say no charges against her are expected.The patrol is working with federal law enforcement on the case.

HARVEY COUNTY — Authorities are investigating the cause of a Sunday afternoon grass fire in Harvey County.

The fire in the 3800 block of North Sand Hill Road northeast of Burrton burned about 300 to 400 acres of land, according to a media release.

The spread of the fire was stopped, and there are no injuries or damage to homes reported at this time.

Responders will be on site throughout the night to monitor for potential hot spots.

WICHITA, KAN. – The second of two men charged with the murder of an innocent bystander has been sentenced to prison.

On Friday, District Chief Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced KeAndre Summers, 24, Wichita to 179 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney. On August 9, Summers pled guilty to second degree murder and aggravated assault.

In June of 2017, Erick Vazquez, 25 of Wichita, was found dead in his pickup truck in the 3900 block of East 13th in Wichita.

An autopsy showed Vazquez died of three gunshot wounds. His pickup had several 9mm bullet holes in it. Just before the shooting, Jeremy Levy, 20 of Wichita, told a third party that he saw KeAndre Summers in the parking lot. Levy and Summers began shooting at each other in the parking lot of the strip mall.

At the time of the shooting, Vazquez was waiting in his pickup in the parking lot while his friend was buying cigarettes at a nearby store.

Levy is serving a sentence of life in prison after a jury found him guilty of first degree felony murder. He will be eligible for parole after 25 years.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Abortion opponents who support a constitutional amendment to ban abortions in Kansas are meeting resistance from other anti-abortion groups that are pushing a different approach.

Two legislative committees have recommended lawmakers consider the issue during the 2020 legislative session. The recommendations come as lawmakers consider how to respond to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling last year that the state’s constitution guarantees a right to abortion, Kansas News Service reported . The ruling blocked enforcement of a first-in-the-nation ban on a common second-trimester procedure.

At a legislative hearing this week, some advocates pushed for a “personhood amendment” that would ban all abortions in Kansas.

“What the personhood amendment says is that we recognize the humanity of the unborn child from their earliest biological beginning,” said Bruce Garren, the chairman of Personhood Kansas.

Garren and other supporters say any other response to the state Supreme Court’s ruling would bring lengthy legal fights over abortion restrictions.

Some of the state’s largest anti-abortion groups instead want lawmakers to change the Kansas Constitution to clarify it does not include a right to abortion.

It’s not clear how much the differences in opinion will slow the push for a constitutional amendment next year. Anti-abortion legislators have generally deferred to Kansans for Life on policy issues for more than two decades, and the group is an important player in GOP politics. The group has long argued that an incremental approach helps build public support for greater abortion restrictions.

Even if a personhood amendment passed, it likely wouldn’t survive a court challenge, said Jeanne Gawdun, director of government relations with Kansans for Life. She said an amendment stating there is not right to abortion would preserve restrictions already in place and allow lawmakers to approve more of them.

“We’re interested in making a difference, and not just a statement,” Gawdun said.

A constitutional amendment would require approval from two-thirds of both the Kansas House and Senate and would then go to a statewide vote.

Former state lawmaker Chuck Weber is now executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference. He likes the idea of a personhood amendment but said it’s not a practical response.

“A personhood amendment just simply has no chance,” Weber said. “We live in a real world, and it’s not going to happen.”

Democrats on the committee objected to lawmakers taking up the issue.

Democratic Rep. Stephanie Clayton, an abortion-rights supporter, said voters who don’t like court ruling can vote judges off the bench during retention elections.

And Rachel Sweet, a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which provides abortion and other health services, said any abortion amendment would discriminate against women.

“The fundamental right to personal and bodily autonomy is too critical to be stripped from our state constitution,” she said, “or put to a popular vote.”

WICHITA, KAN. – Autism Concepts, Inc., an Overland Park-based provider of therapy services for children with autism, has agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it submitted false claims to the TRICARE program, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

TRICARE is a federal health insurance program for active and retired military service members and their families.

The United States alleged that Autism Concepts, Inc. and its director Nancy Champlin represented in claims to TRICARE that the company provided individual applied behavioral analysis services to children with autism spectrum disorders when the company actually provided the services to groups of children at the same time. TRICARE does not cover the services in a group setting.

Autism Concepts and Champlin agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve the allegations.

“TRICARE providers must comply with program requirements that are designed for effective treatment for children with special and particular needs,” McAllister said. “This office is committed to making sure federal funds are spent as intended, while protecting federally funded programs that make it possible for military families to receive vital services.”

“I applaud the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney for their continued efforts to hold health care providers accountable to the American taxpayer,” said Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, director of the Defense Health Agency. “The efforts of the Department of Justice safeguard the health care benefit for our service members, veterans and their families. The Defense Health Agency continues to work closely with the Justice Department, and other state and federal agencies to investigate all those who participated in fraudulent practices.”

“As the investigative arm of the Department of Defense – Office of Inspector General (DoDIG), one of the primary missions of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is the detection of fraud, particularly fraud that targets critical DoD health care funding,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Mentavlos of the DCIS Southwest Field Office. “Today’s resolution demonstrates our commitment to working with DoDIG’s Deputy Inspector General for Audit as well as the FBI, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the Employee Benefits Security Administration to ensure federal health care programs, such as TRICARE, are protected from companies and/or individuals who attempt to take advantage of them.”