LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 22-year-old woman who was killed by a stray bullet in Lawrence will be honored in the Rose Bowl Parade.
Leah Brown, of Shawnee, will be one of about 40 organ, eye and tissue donors from across the country who will be remembered on a Donate Life Rose Parade Float on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California.
The donors will be seen in “floragraphs,” which are artistic portraits often designed by their family members. Organ recipients and other advocates will ride and walk alongside the float.
The Donate Life float website says Brown donated her corneas and tissues, which are helping at least 50 recipients.
Brown and two men from Topeka were fatally shot on Oct. 1, 2017 when gunfire erupted in a crowd of people.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a suspect in custody.
Miller -photo Shawnee Co.
Just before 7:30p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the 300 block of SE Chandler in Topeka on a report of a shooting, according to Lt. Manual Munoz.
Witnesses provided a vehicle description to the officers on the scene. Police stopped the vehicle in the area and arrested Blake Sequoyah Miller, 21 for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Criminal Discharge of a firearm.
No victims were located and detectives are following up on leads, according to Munoz.
Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact police.
MANHATTAN — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit and run accident and have identified the driver who left the scene.
Hassan Rueda -photo RCPD
Just after 5:15 p.m. November 30. the Riley County Police Department responded to a vehicle vs. pedestrian accident near the intersection of Hunting and Denison, according to a media release.
The pedestrian, Susan Keller, 61, of Manhattan, was seriously injured. The vehicle involved left the scene.
Investigators have located the vehicle involved in the accident and would like to speak to the registered owner, Hassan Rueda, 23, of Manhattan.
Anyone with information on Rueda’s whereabouts, please contact the Riley County Police Department at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 539-7777. Using the Crime Stoppers service allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00
BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on burglary charges.
Roth -photo Barton Co.
On Monday, Rush County authorities received a report of a burglary and theft involving several stolen firearms, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir.
The information was shared with various law enforcement agencies in Central Kansas. Based on the vehicle descriptions Barton County detectives were able to develop suspect information.
One of the suspect vehicles was located in the city of Great Bend. It was placed under surveillance. A search warrant was later executed at that location but was not fruitful.
On Tuesday afternoon, sheriff’s detectives stopped a suspicious vehicle west of the City of Great Bend on SW. 20th Road. After contacting the driver of the vehicle officers discovered one of the stolen firearms. Another five firearms were located in southern Russell County from the same burglary.
Arrested at the scene was Alex Roth, age 26 of Great Bend. Roth was placed under arrest on the Rush County burglary and theft charges and released to Rush County.
The city of Victoria will receive nearly $4.5 million in federal grants and loans for a massive upgrade to its water system.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that Victoria is eligible for a $1,441,000 grant and a $2,966,000 loan to build a new 150,000-gallon water tower, replace waterlines and complete improvements to the city’s wells. The money also would be used to help fund a connection to Trego County Rural Water District to alleviate water supply issues, the USDA reported.
Approximately 14,000 feet of water distribution lines will be replaced.
Victoria’s contribution to the project would be only $100,000, the USDA said, and the low-interest loan portion of the funding has a 40-year payback.
“A multi-year drought has diminished the city’s aquifer,” the USDA said in the announcement. “The supply of groundwater in the city’s shallow aquifer is to a point where the city no longer has a dependable and sustainable supply of water.”
The grants were part of a $1.2 billion effort unveiled to help rebuild and improve rural water infrastructure. The 234 projects would effect the water supply of 936,000 residents in 46 states. The Victoria project was one of 16 funded in Kansas and the only in northwest Kansas, according to USDA documents.
Only rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or fewer are eligible for the program.
“Access to water is a key driver for economic opportunity and quality of life in rural communities,” said Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett. “Under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities in building prosperity through modern water infrastructure.”
Like Bush, Dole is a World War II veteran. He arrived in the Capitol rotunda in a wheelchair pushed by an aide. At the casket’s side, the aide lifted Dole, 95, into a standing position. Once steadied, Dole saluted.
Bush achieved the office that Dole sought in 1996 as the Republican presidential nominee.
Bush died on Friday at age 94. An invitation-only funeral service is set for Wednesday at Washington National Cathedral.
Cloud County Community College President Adrian Douglas, left, and Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason, right, signed articulation agreements between the two schools to ensure a seamless transition for Cloud students transferring to Fort Hays. Photo courtesy CCCC
CONCORDIA — Cloud County Community College and Fort Hays State University signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday morning to update transfer agreement.
The agreement will facilitate the seamless transfer of students from Cloud County to Fort Hays. The agreement supports 19 academic articulation agreements, meaning Fort Hays will honor course credit earned under the approved programs for graduates with a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
“Updating our transfer agreement with FHSU signifies the strong relationship that we have with the University, and ensures CCCC students will continue to have successful transfer experiences,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs Nancy Zenger-Beneda.
Cloud County has had a long-standing relationship with Fort Hays, the second most popular destination for Cloud County transferring students.
“Kansas Board of Regents data reveals that CCCC students perform better at FSHU than students transferring in from other community colleges,” Zenger-Beneda said. I’m very proud of our faculty and their focus on students’ performance and preparation.”
At Tuesday’s signing, FHSU President Tisa Mason said she was excited for the opportunity to continue the strong relationship with Cloud County.
“For the last six years, Cloud has been one of our top five schools for transfer students,” Mason said. “You share with us a strong commitment to academic quality and student success.”
HILL CITY — Paul D. Knox, 79, of Hill City, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018. He was born Aug. 28, 1939, in Ford to James and Nellie (Trotter) Knox.
Paul is survived by his wife, Pat (DeWeese), of Lenora; daughter, Julie Scott (Jay), of Olmitz; sisters, Margaret Cramer, of Colorado, Martha Landis (Bud), of Ulysses, Mary Thomas, of Pittsburg, and Becky Watt (Jim), of Osceola, Iowa; and one grandchild. Preceded in death by his parents and brother.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on a shooting outside a Kansas hospital (all times local):
Police on the scene outside the University of Kansas Hospital early Tuesday –photo courtesy KCTV
Authorities say the victim of a deadly shooting outside a Kansas hospital was a 28-year-old man.
Police identified the man Tuesday as Dominic Garcia, of Kansas City, Kansas. Police say he and a woman apparently were wounded when gunfire erupted around 11:30 p.m. Monday in Kansas City, Kansas. Garcia then drove the woman about 2 ½ miles to the hospital for help with the gunman in pursuit.
Upon arriving, Garcia ran to the secured main entrance, where he was shot again before the gunman turned the gun on himself. The gunman’s name wasn’t immediately released.
The hospital says the woman’s injuries aren’t life-threatening. No hospital employees were hurt.
___
1 p.m.
Authorities say a gunman pursued two shooting victims as they drove to a Kansas hospital, where he fatally shot one of them at the entrance before killing himself.
Police say the initial shooting happened around 11:30 p.m. Monday in Kansas City, Kansas, and stemmed from an apparent domestic dispute. Police say 28-year-old Dominic Garcia and woman who apparently were wounded then drove about 2 ½ miles (about 4 kilometers) to the University of Kansas Hospital for help.
Upon arriving, Garcia ran to the secured main entrance, where he was shot again before the gunman turned the gun on himself. Police announce Tuesday that Garcia also had died. The gunman’s name wasn’t immediately released.
The hospital says the woman’s injuries aren’t life-threatening. No hospital employees were hurt.
___
KANSAS CITY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Just before midnight, police responded to what police indicated was a homicide, domestic incident at 39th and Rainbow at the entrance to the hospital emergency room, according to Police Chief Terry Ziegler.
Just after 11:30 p.m. Monday, police initially responded to shots fired call near 7th Street and Osage Avenue, according to a media release. The victims drove to the hospital and the suspect followed.
Officers working a homicide at the ER entrance of KU Hospital.
The hospital says the shooter died, but the male victim survived with life-threatening injuries. The woman’s injuries aren’t believed to be life-threatening.
No hospital employees were hurt.
Authorities are expected to release additional details and identify the victims later Tuesday.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal 3-vehicle accident.
One of the vehicles involved in Monday night crash -photo courtesy KAKE
Just before 5p.m. Tuesday police responded to a traffic crash at Pawnee and Maize Road in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
First responders found a woman trapped in a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. Fire department crews were able to remove the woman from the vehicle but she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Davidson.
Investigators determined a 2016 Dodge Truck driven by a 55-year-old man was northbound at a high rate of speed on Maize Road when it clipped a northbound 2011 GMC Sierra Truck.
The Dodge then rear-ended the Hyundai that was stopped at the red light at Pawnee, according to Davidson. The collision pushed the Hyundai approximately 50-yards to the north and Dodge truck flipped onto its roof.
The 55-year-old Dodge pickup truck driver remains hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Authorities believe a medical condition may have contributed to the accident, according to Davidson.
A 56-year-old GMC pickup driver was not injured. Davidson did not release the name of the drivers. It was the 28th fatality accident in Wichita in 2018.
Hays native and current Kansas State quarterback Alex Delton is leaving the Wildcat program.
In a post on Twitter Tuesday, Delton announced that he will use his graduate transfer option and leave Kansas State at the end of the semester.
Delton said in part, “I’ve prayed countless times and spoke with those close to me, and I have decided to utilize my graduate transfer option from Kansas State University. I graduate this semester and will be at a new university in January.”
Delton played in seven game this past season and completed 44-of-80 pass attempts for 554 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for 234 yards and two touchdowns this past season.
MAIZE, Kan. (AP) — A 45-year-old former Maize teacher and law enforcement officer pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.
Yelverton -photo courtesy Maize High
Prosecutors said Johnny Yelverton pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of unlawful sexual relations.
An affidavit released earlier this year says Yelverton had sex with the female student in his classroom at Maize Career Academy and off campus between March and May 6, when the girl’s mother and stepfather discovered their relationship.
Yelverton was arrested May 7 and resigned from his teaching position four days later. He taught fire science and law and public safety courses to Maize High School and Maize South High School students at the academy.
Before teaching, Yelverton worked for the Augusta twice as a police officer.
