SALINE COUNTY – A Kansas man died in an accident just after 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday in Saline County.
A car driven by Aaron Finch, 29, Riley County, was westbound on Interstate 70 at Niles Road. The vehicle traveled through the median and hit an eastbound vehicle driven by David Widner, 45, Salina, head-on, according to Saline County Undersheriff Roger Soldan.
Widner was pronounced dead at the scene.
Finch, who was trapped in the wreckage for a time, was transported to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment of injuries.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the fatal shooting of an officer from Kansas City, Kansas (all times local):
11 a.m.
The police chief in Kansas City, Kansas, says the department hopes to present the findings of its investigation into a captain’s killing to prosecutors soon.
Chief Terry Zeigler said during a news conference that all suspects are thought to be in custody and that the investigation will go to prosecutors later Wednesday.
Capt. Robert Melton was shot multiple times Tuesday afternoon while searching for a drive-by shooting suspect, and died at a hospital shortly after.
Zeigler described the 46-year-old as a “big personality” and “gregarious.” He said it wasn’t unusual that Melton, as a captain, was responding because Melton’s philosophy was to “lead from the front.”
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10:45 a.m.
The police chief in Kansas City, Kansas, says the officer who died was shot several times through his window.
Chief Terry Zeigler said during a news conference Wednesday that authorities believe they have all suspects in custody, but no charges have been announced.
He also said the attack isn’t part of the recent string of shootings in the U.S., but that “hate against police has got to stop.”
Capt. Robert Melton was shot multiple times Tuesday afternoon while searching for a drive-by shooting suspect, and died at a hospital shortly after.
Zeigler choked up at the podium as he thanked the community for their support.
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10:40 a.m.
The mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, says authorities don’t believe the fatal shooting of an officer was part of a planned ambush, but someone trying to evade arrest.
Mayor Mark Holland of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County also said during a Wednesday news conference that the community is still “healing and reeling” from the fatal shooting of a Kansas City, Kansas, officer in May, which was the first in the department in 19 years.
Capt. Robert Melton was fatally shot Tuesday while searching for a drive-by shooting suspect.
Wyandotte County Commissioner Harold Johnson said a short prayer before the news conference began.
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10:10 a.m.
Police in Kansas City, Kansas, have set up a table draped in blue cloth inside its headquarters where people can place cards and flowers honoring a slain officer.
Thirty-one-year-old Kathryn Courtney described Capt. Robert Melton as “born to protect and serve” as she left a bouquet of yellow daisies Wednesday. Courtney said she had known Melton for nearly 20 years and that he was “a wonderful man with a heart of gold.”
Melton was killed Tuesday while searching for a drive-by shooting suspect. Police have scheduled a 10:30 a.m. news conference to provide more details.
Police employees were taking the items left outside the headquarters and bringing them to the lobby’s memorial.
Police said in a news release that Melton’s relatives are asking for privacy.
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Authorities are expected to release further details about the fatal shooting of a Kansas City, Kansas, police captain who was searching for a drive-by shooting suspect.
Police are holding a Wednesday morning news conference in the shooting death of Capt. Robert Melton. A suspect is in custody, but the person’s name hadn’t been released because no charges had been filed by Tuesday night, hours after the shooting.
The 46-year-old Melton was a 17-year veteran of the department.
Police spokesman Tom Tomasic said Melton was searching for a suspect in a drive-by shooting when he drove up to someone matching the description. Tomasic said that before Melton could get out of his vehicle, the person opened fire and hit the officer multiple times.
SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Shawnee County are investigating a armed robbery and searching for a suspect.
Cornelius Allen Hartz, 34, Topeka, is wanted for questioning in relation to an Aggravated Robbery that occurred at Academy Sports on Monday, according to a media release from Topeka police.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts or information related to the incident contact Detective Lance Green at 785-368-9569 or [email protected].
Caution should be used as Hartz was armed with a semi-automatic handgun at the time of the incident.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Healing Arts has revoked the license of a Hutchinson chiropractor after he was convicted last year of attempted insurance fraud.
The Hutchinson News reports that the final revocation order for Jacob Gill was issued earlier this month.
The state accused Gill of filing false insurance claims with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas in 2012. Gill was charged in 2014 and sentenced to a year’s probation last year after pleading no contest to a reduced charge of attempted fraud.
In seeking the revocation, the board said he violated the Healing Arts Act by being convicted of a felony. The board issued its default order revoking Gill’s license after he didn’t show up last month for a hearing that he had unsuccessfully sought to delay.
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 372,000 pounds of hot dogs and corn dogs made earlier this month are being recalled over concerns of listeria contamination.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Alstus, Oklahoma-based Bar-S Foods is recalling five chicken and pork products that could potentially be contaminated with listeria. The USDA says Bar-S hasn’t received test results, but is recalling the items due to recurring listeria issues at the company. See more on the recall here.
The recalled items include Bar-S bun-length and classic franks made with chicken and pork, Bar-S classic corn dogs and Signature Pick 5 corn dogs. They were made between July 10 and 13.
Listeria primarily affects older adults, pregnant women newborns and adults with weakened immune systems.
The government says no reports of illness have been linked to the products.
WICHITA– Already under indictment on a bank robbery charge, a Kansas man was charged Tuesday with four more robberies, including a Hutchinson Dillon’s store.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging 25-year-old Austan Kinnaird, Goddard, with four new robbery counts.
Kinnaird is now accused of robbing the North Main Dillon’s store in Hutchinson on March 11.
He walked in to the store shortly before the noon hour, and told the clerk he had a weapon and wanted money.
He then made off on foot with an undetermined amount of cash. The robbery forced Hutchinson USD 308 to place HMS-8 into lock down while police searched for a suspect.
Kinnaird also is charged with an April 29, robbery at the Intrust Bank in the Dillon’s store at 9450 E. Harry in Wichita, two more Wichita Dillon’s store and the Golf Shop in Wichita.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
The Wichita Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.
TOPEKA. – A former office manager for a Lawrence property management company pleaded guilty Monday to embezzlement, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Candy A. Gunderson, 44, Lawrence, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen funds. In her plea, Gunderson admitted the crime took place from 2007 to 2015 while she was office manager for Garber Enterprises in Lawrence. She used various means to steal money from the company including:
Depositing into her personal account checks made payable to Garber Enterprises.
Issuing forged Garber Enterprises checks.
Using company funds to pay bills for work performed on rental properties she owned.
Using the company VISA card for personal expenses.
Depositing cash belonging to the company into her personal accounts.
Forging checks on Garber’s account to pay for personal phone bill.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 7. She faces a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. At the sentencing hearing, the judge will determine the amount of the loss and the restitution.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is set to miss out on about $800,000 in arts funding this year because state spending doesn’t meet a minimum set by the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Wichita Eagle reports that the state is about $250,000 short of the minimum needed to receive federal matching funds for the NEA. Kansas allocated $191,000 in arts funding for this fiscal year.
The executive director of the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission says losing more than $400,000 in federal matching funds will limit the amount of grants the commission can award this year. The loss of NEA funding has resulted in the loss of other arts funding, bringing the total to $800,000.
The Mid-America Arts Alliance announced it would suspend Kansas’ memberships earlier this month. One of its requirements is that states must meet the NEA minimum.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Federal court records indicate a woman accused of giving her former boyfriend guns that he used in a shooting at a Kansas lawn equipment factory is planning to change her plea.
The Hutchinson News reports that a Monday court filing shows a jury trial for 28-year-old Sarah Jo Hopkins has been canceled and a plea change hearing set for Aug. 19. Hopkins pleaded not guilty in March to one count of transferring weapons to a prohibited person.
She is accused of giving Cedric Ford a semi-automatic rifle and a .40-caliber handgun that he used in the Feb. 25 attack at Excel Industries in Hesston. Four people were killed, including Ford, and 14 others were injured.
Court records say she gave Ford the guns after he threatened her.
DERBY, Kan. (AP) — A company is hoping to open a dinosaur adventure park in Derby.
The Wichita Eagle reports that Field Station: Dinosaurs wants to replicate its park on the East Coast on the north side of the city.
The $39 million park would include life-size animatronic dinosaurs, a three-dimensional theater, dig site and interactive paleontology lab among other features.
The Derby City Council is scheduled to vote on the project later this month. Derby city manager Kathy Sexton says she plans to recommend that the council approve the project.
Mayor Randy White says he values the concerns of some residents who do not like the idea of a dinosaur park and will keep an open mind about the idea.
SALINE COUNTY – Five Kansas teens were injured in an accident just before 8a.m. on Tuesday in Saline County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 GMC Sierra driven by Ryan Andrew Keyser, 14, Salina, was westbound on Magnolia Road just east of Kipp Road.
The driver lost control of the vehicle. It began to spin and then rolled.
Keyser and passenger Sadie Vanriper, 13; Daniel Leondo, 13; Jacob Blair, 13; and Carlos Rodriguez, 16, all of Salina were transported to Salina Regional Medical Center.
The KHP report did not indicate if they were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some Kansas delegates to the Republican National Convention are dismissive of questions about whether passages from Melania Trump’s speech were plagiarized.
But delegate and State Treasurer Ron Estes said Tuesday that the issue is an unfortunate distraction from the positive message Mrs. Trump was trying to present.
Several delegates said in telephone interviews from the convention city of Cleveland that Mrs. Trump gave a strong speech that showed she would make a good first lady.
Estes agreed but said Mrs. Trump’s remarks are being overshadowed by questions about whether two passages were lifted from a speech by Michelle Obama to the 2008 Democratic convention.
But delegate and former State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger called the issue “somewhat bizarre.” He said Mrs. Trump was expressing common ideas with common language.
REPUBLIC COUNTY – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 11:30a.m. on Tuesday in Republic County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Dodge Charger driven by Wade M. Van Meter, 38, Concordia, was southbound on U.S. 81 just south of Xavier Road.
The vehicle veered off the west side of the road into the ditch where it struck a grove of trees.
Van Meter was transported to Cloud County Community Hospital.
He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
