OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — The trial is underway for a man charged with killing a rapper from suburban Olathe.

The Kansas City Star reports that 33-year-old Dale “Poppa Willo” Willis is on trial this week in Johnson County District Court. He’s charged with first-degree murder in the September shooting death of Jurl Carter outside a bar in northern Overland Park. Carter performed as Yunglyfe Carter or Bo Boogy.

Witnesses testified at an earlier hearing that they saw Willis punch Carter in the face after Carter nearly hit someone while pulling into a parking space. Prosecutors said that Willis’ brother, James Willis, then shot Carter as he attempted to drive away.

James Willis also is charged with first-degree murder and will be tried separately.

The Kansas City Star reports that 33-year-old Dale “Poppa Willo” Willis is on trial this week in Johnson County District Court. He’s charged with first-degree murder in the September shooting death of Jurl Carter outside a bar in northern Overland Park. Carter performed as Yunglyfe Carter or Bo Boogy.

Witnesses testified at an earlier hearing that they saw Willis punch Carter in the face after Carter nearly hit someone while pulling into a parking space. Prosecutors said that Willis’ brother, James Willis, then shot Carter as he attempted to drive away.

James Willis also is charged with first-degree murder and will be tried separately.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A federal appeals court says law enforcement officials in Kansas cannot stop and search motorists for having nothing more than out-of-state license plates from states that have legalized marijuana.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday says the officer’s reasoning would justify the search of citizens from more than half of the states in the country.

The court reinstated the lawsuit filed by a Colorado motorist against two Kansas Highway Patrol officers who stopped and searched his vehicle while he was driving alone at night on I-70 in Kansas.

It found the officers violated Peter Vasquez’s Fourth Amendment rights in searching his car.

Twenty-five states permit marijuana use for medicinal purposes, with Colorado, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Washington, D.C. permitting some recreational use under state law.

MULVANE, Kan. (AP) — Southern Kansas flooding victims are cleaning up the mess torrential rains left behind.

The Wichita Eagle reports that Mulvane city administrator Kent Hixson says 44 homes and five businesses inside the city limits saw some sort of flooding damage from Friday’s deluge. The National Weather Service says between 6 and 7 inches of rain fell in about two hours.

As of Monday, damage estimates in Mulvane had already reached about $1 million. And they could rise as homeowners, insurance companies and inspectors get a closer look at the losses.

Hixson says the heavy rains “just overwhelmed our drainage systems” and sewer system.

Nadine Sanchez says she “wouldn’t wish this on anybody.” Her losses included letters she exchanged with her husband while he was away on military duty in Germany.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — University of Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little says she’s planning additional diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on campus.

The Lawrence Journal-World  reports that Gray-Little announced the plans in an email to faculty and staff at the university marking the start of a new academic year.  Read the Chancellor’s opening convocation address here.

Last fall, student protests broke out on campus over what some have called a pattern of racial bias and discrimination at the university. In response, the university established an advisory group, which issued a report calling for a number of reforms. Gray-Little says that later this semester, the campus will learn about the next steps related to the group’s report.

Gray-Little also said a $10.7 million budget cut, which Gov. Sam Brownback ordered, has forced “difficult choices.” But Gray-Little offered no details in her message.

DENVER (AP) — The Latest on the legal fight over whether Kansas can block people who haven’t proven they’re citizens from voting (all times local):

2:10 p.m.

A federal appeals court in Denver will decide whether Kansas can keep thousands of people who haven’t presented documents proving they’re citizens from voting in November’s election.

Three judges from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in the case Tuesday from Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (Co-bach) and the American Civil Liberties Union but didn’t indicate how soon they could rule.

Kansas wants the court to overturn a ruling by a federal judge in May that temporarily blocked the state from disenfranchising people who registered at motor vehicle offices but didn’t provide documents such as birth certificates or naturalization papers. That was about 18,000 people at the time. If the order is allowed to stand, Kobach says up to an estimated 50,000 people who haven’t proven they’re citizens could be able to cast ballots in the fall.

The ACLU says the federal motor voter law intended to increase registration doesn’t allow states to ask applicants for extra documents.

____

11:45 p.m.

Kansas is asking the federal appeals court in Denver to keep thousands of people who haven’t yet provided documents showing they are U.S. citizens from voting in November.

Judges are set to hear arguments Tuesday over how the state enforces proof-of-citizenship requirements for voters who register at motor vehicle offices.

A federal judge in May temporarily blocked Kansas from disenfranchising about 18,000 people who registered at motor vehicle offices without paperwork such as birth certificates or naturalization papers. The state wants the court to overturn that order, which it says could affect as many as 50,000 potential voters by this fall.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach says it doesn’t make sense to hold people registering at motor vehicle offices to a different standard than those registering elsewhere.

RENO COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Reno County are investigating two suspects on drug charges.

Kelby Becker, 29, Hutchinson, was arrested over the weekend at a Hutchinson motel on an outstanding warrant.

Officers found a pill bottle in plain sight that contained small bags that allegedly contained methamphetamine or meth residue.

A search warrant was obtained by police and they also allegedly found some syringes on Becker, one that contained suspected meth.

Police also reported they found a scale, pipes used to smoke meth and marijuana, more small baggies and brass knuckles.

Also arrested was Bobbi MacGirvin, 28,  Shawnee Mission, for failing to appear for another case, as well as a warrant out of Rice County.

Both are facing possible charges for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of meth for personal use, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia for distribution, as well as personal use.

Both were denied a bond reduction when they appeared in court for a first appearance on Monday. Becker is jailed on a bond of $18,500, while the bond for MacGirvin is set at $13,500.

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Police say no criminal charges are expected in a Topeka shooting death.

Police said in a news release that 36-year-old Michael Gene Wilson, of Topeka, was pronounced dead after he was found Monday suffering from gunshot wounds.

Police spokeswoman Amy McCarter says detectives conducted interviews with “all involved parties.” She added that the shooting involves “persons known to one another.” No other details were released.

Prosecutors also will review the case before a final decision on charges is made. The homicide is the city’s 15th for the year.

———–

SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Shawnee County are investigating a fatal shooting.

Just after 11p.m. on Monday, officers with Topeka Police were dispatched to 854 SE Eastgate Drive for report of a shooting, according to a media release.

Officers found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Medical staff pronounced him dead at the scene.

Name of the victim was not released early Tuesday as the murder investigation continues.

WICHITA – Olympic bronze medal winning boxer Nico Hernandez arrived back in Wichita on Tuesday morning, according to a social media report.

A large crowd of family, friends and city of Wichita dignitaries was on hand to greet the first American to win a boxing medal since 2008.

 

Welcome back, @NicoTheBoxer! You’ve made your city proud! pic.twitter.com/WO7yE6GIGN

— Wichita Airport ICT (@FlyICT) August 23, 2016

 

He’s home! @NicoTheBoxer pic.twitter.com/B2e6qhb09O — Wichita Airport ICT (@FlyICT) August 23, 2016

Waiting for @NicoTheBoxer‘s arrival to @FlyICT! pic.twitter.com/6hGpyv94BW — Wichita Airport ICT (@FlyICT) August 23, 2016

   

He has arrived! @NicoTheBoxer pic.twitter.com/58xrv5PekC — Wichita Airport ICT (@FlyICT) August 23, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) — McDonald’s is recalling millions fitness bands that had been given away in Happy Meals because they might cause skin irritation or burns to children.

The fast-food chain said last week that it would stop distributing the bands in Happy Meals. Now it’s recalling 29 million of them in the U.S., and 3.6 million in Canada.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the company, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, received more than 70 reports of incidents after children wore the bands, including seven reports of blisters. The Step-It Fitness bands look like watches and are supposed to track physical activity.

The promotion had turned heads even before the recall, given the reputation of McDonald’s Corp. as a seller of junk food.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a street crew has found a man’s body while mowing in Kansas City, Kansas.

Police said in a news release that officers were summoned Monday after the body of 38-year-old Joshua Bush, of Kansas City, Missouri, was found about 14 feet off a road. The release said he died from a gunshot wound and that the case is being investigated as a homicide.

Police are urging any with information to come forward. No other information was immediately available.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Hearings have been scheduled to determine whether there’s sufficient evidence for three men to stand trial in a Topeka shooting death.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the preliminary hearing for 24-year-old Shane Edward Sibert, of Topeka, is scheduled for Sept. 1. The preliminary hearing for 35-year-old Use David Laeli Jr., of Topeka, and 20-year-old Joseph G. Cooney, of Rock Port, Texas, will be on Dec. 5.

The three men are jailed in Shawnee County and charged with premeditated first-degree murder in the death of 28-year-old Xavier Patrick McCollough, of Topeka. He was fatally wounded when he was found last month inside a car that had crashed into a Topeka apartment building.

Topeka police said McCollough and Sibert knew each other and had a dispute before the shooting.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the cause of a Topeka apartment fire that killed three women and injured a man.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the fire was reported around 8:20 a.m. Monday at the 12 unit, three-story apartment building in the central part of the city.

The survivor was taken in an ambulance to a Topeka hospital, where his condition wasn’t immediately known.

Topeka police Maj. Darin Scott said he smelled smoke while driving near the burning apartment and called in the fire. First-arriving fire crews found heavy smoke and flames pouring out of the back portion of the apartment building.

It took about an hour to bring the blaze under control. Topeka Fire Marshal Mike Martin provided few details about the fire, saying more information would be released later.

HUTCHINSON– Jury selection was completed late Monday afternoon for the case against a Kansas teen accused of setting the September 2013 fatal fire that killed his mother and sister.

Samuel Vonachen,17, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and aggravated arson after he allegedly spread gas through the downstairs of the home, and set it on fire.

The 12 jurors and three alternates include eight men and seven women.

The state’s case will begin following opening statements on Tuesday.

The state will argue that what he did was premeditated and that he knew exactly what he was doing, while the defense will argue he shouldn’t be held responsible because of mental disease or defect.

The trial in front of District Judge Trish Rose could last as long as 10-days.