By BRIAN GRIMMETT
Kansas News Service

WICHITA — Toxic blue-green algal blooms have been causing major problems on Kansas’ lakes since about 2010.

Because the pond scum can make people sick, the lakes became out of bounds for swimmers and the like.

The algae, also known as cyanobacteria, can cause rashes, stomachaches, and diarrhea if touched or swallowed. Blooms have even killed small animals unlucky enough to drink the toxic water.

Typically, it’s mostly a problem for recreational use of the lakes.

But many of those lakes also feed into municipal water systems. The blooms have recently begun fouling water treatment plants. Their operators, in turn, have had to change the way they process and treat it.

Toxic algae has bloomed on Keith Sebelius Lake in Norton County, Kansas, since 2014. While a nuisance, it hadn’t really impacted the city of Norton’s water — until last year when the bloom drifted toward, and into, the plant’s intake pipes.

To protect the drinking water supply, the whole plant had to be shut down. Most of the tanks had to be drained and cleaned.

“Oh, you can’t print that,” plant supervisor Jamie Amlong joked when asked what his first thoughts were when he found the bloom had made it into the plant.

He said the blooms have made his job horribly stressful. Any time there’s a bloom, he’s constantly worried about the potential for toxins to make it through the plant and into the town’s faucets and sinks.

This year, water quality tests sent to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment detected very low levels of toxins in water coming out of the treatment plant.

Four other municipal water plants — Hillsboro, Marion, Carbondale and Yates Center — have also discovered toxins in their finished water after blue-green algae blooms.

The levels detected are so small that they aren’t even close to exceeding the safe level determined by the Environmental Protection Agency. Still, the news has caused additional stress and costs for several small municipal water agencies.

It’s the first time KDHE has ever detected the toxins in treated water. But the detection of it’s likely because tests are getting better and because KDHE is helping small utilities test more frequently.

Starting this year, KDHE offered to highly subsidize water quality tests aimed at looking for toxins created by cyanobacteria. The tests, which usually cost $100 to $130 each, will now cost program participants $25 each.

Of the 72 systems that get their water from rivers and lakes in the state, 23 signed up for the program.

Robert Gavin, KDHE Public Water Supply section professional geologist, said the program allows local water systems to prevent tainted water rather than try to reverse a problem.

Previously, state park officials would detect a bloom on a lake. Then they’d notify the state public water division, which would scramble to get tests out to those locations.

But now, bottles for raw water samples are sent out weekly in the mail. If there’s ever a positive test result, more bottles are sent to test the treated water.

“After a couple of years, this will probably be old hat. They’ll kind of just know what to do,” Gavin said. “But they’re all kind of learning right now.”

There is a safe and effective method to remove those toxins.

Officials at KDHE recommend the plants add activated carbon to their water treatment process. The activated carbon is able to latch on to the algae, making it heavier. It then falls to the bottom of settling ponds allowing the clean water to move on through the rest of the process.

It’s a relatively simple addition, but something that most smaller plants didn’t do until now.

It also costs more money — a relatively modest expense that smaller water systems struggle with.

“Any time there’s an algae bloom out at the lake there’s potential for that to get into the plant and through town,” said Amlong, the Norton County water plant supervisor. “We’re on pins and needles from the beginning of the bloom until two or three weeks after the bloom.”

Brian Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett or email him at grimmett (at) kmuw (dot) org. 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 26-year-old Wichita man has been sentenced in the stabbing death of his girlfriend after a judge denied his motion to withdraw an earlier guilty plea.

Dylan Barber was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole for 50 years for the June 2018 death of 22-year-old MacKenzie Payne, an Emporia native.

Barber pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in February as part of plea deal but filed a motion in April to withdraw the plea.

Sedgwick County District Court Judge Jeffrey Goering on Monday denied that motion before sentencing Barber.

Police say officers went to a Wichita apartment after Barber called to say he had harmed his girlfriend. Payne was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering several stab wounds.

HUTCHINSON — A 19-year-old man reported to police just after 3 p.m. Sunday that he had been battered while in the 1300 block of North Main in Hutchinson. During the struggle with at least two individuals, he was robbed of his cellphone.

According to police, the man was confronted by a juvenile male in a dispute over money. That led to an argument and violence. The victim was struck in the back of the head, fell and was then kicked numerous times. He was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment of a broken nose and other bruising to his body.

Police arrested Diana Dominguez for aggravated robbery, aggravated battery and theft. It’s believed she drove the juvenile to and from the altercation.

Dominguez is jailed on a $55,500 bond and will be back in court next week once the state has filed any formal charges.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation released an update on the progress of their task force investigating allegations of sexual misconduct by members of the Catholic clergy in Kansas.

The KBI initiated the investigation in February 2019, at the request of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt. When announcing the start of the investigation, they asked Kansans to report to them any victimization by members of the clergy, church employees, church volunteers, or any others in positions of authority within the church.

Since the launch of the investigation, the KBI has received 119 reports from victims who have contacted them related to recent or past sexual abuse committed by clergy members. Following these reports, task force agents have initiated 74 investigations in 33 different Kansas counties.

The KBI continues to take reports of sexual abuse via phone at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or by email at [email protected]. Victims are asked to report all incidents of sexual abuse that involve a member of the clergy, no matter how long ago the incident occurred, and even if it was previously reported to law enforcement or the church.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend shooting and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 11:55 p.m. Saturday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a call about a possible shooting in the 1200 block of SW Polk in Topeka, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.

At the scene, officers located a man with a gunshot wound to the head, and a second man with a head injury.

Initial information suggests there was a dispute between the two injured men just prior to the physical conflict. Both men were transported to a local hospital for treatment, and their injuries are considered non-life threatening.

On Monday, police reported 41-year-old John Douglas Logan, 41, of Topeka, was booked into Shawnee County Department of Corrections on charges of aggravated battery and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon. The victim remains at a local hospital in stable condition.

Logan has previous convictions for aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Trump administration is expanding the authority of immigration officers to deport migrants without requiring them to appear before judges ahead of deportation.

The Homeland Security Department said Monday that fast-track deportations will apply to anyone in the country illegally less than two years.

Until now those deportations applied only to people caught crossing the U.S. border by land and not entering by boat or plane.

The department says the expansion “expedited removal” authority will allow it to more efficiently pursue large numbers of people in the country illegally and promptly remove them.

Omar Jawdat of the American Civil Liberties says his group and the American Immigration Council will challenge the measure in court.

The announcement came a week after the administration adopted a major policy shift to limit asylum.

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Police are investigating a shooting early Monday.

Just before 12:30a.m. Monday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 5800 Block of East Pine Street in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.

Upon arrival, police located a 43-year-old man who had been shot multiple times. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to Cruz.

The victim told police he was sitting out on his porch when unknown suspects approached on foot and shot him. There were three teenagers and a 36-year-old woman at the home at the time of the shooting.

Cruz did not release the victim’s name. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

GREENWOOD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend boating accident in Greenwood County.

On Saturday evening, Kansas Game Wardens and a Park Ranger responded to a report of a boat striking a submerged bridge on Fall River Reservoir, according to a social media report from game wardens.

The boat was traveling at a high-rate of speed at the time of the crash, according to the Greenwood County Sheriff.

After using a drone to locate the accident scene, a warden rushed a paramedic and a COE Ranger by boat to the crash site. They provided aid to the operator and two other passengers and retrieved a female victim from the water.  She sustained hip, ankle and possibly a head injury, according to the sheriff’s department. The boat driver suffered a head laceration.

The woman was shuttled back across the reservoir for an airlift to the hospital and is recovering, according to wardens. Two others were ejected from the boat and uninjured, according to the Sheriff’s department. Authorities did not release names of those involved in the accident.

Kansas Game Wardens reminded everyone to be vigilant while using the still flooded but receding waters in Kansas. 

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say two police officers have been hurt in a hit-and-run crash in Kansas City, Kansas.

THe wreck happened shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday near the Kansas Speedway. Police say the driver of a truck struck the officers’ police cruiser as they sat inside completing reports from a previous crash. The driver didn’t stop.

Police described the officers’ injuries as minor.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and robbery and asking the public for help with information.

Just before 10:30p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting in the 2100 Block of West Columbine in Wichita, according to Captain Brent Allred. At the residence, police found 55-year-old Charles Giles of Wichita, with multiple gunshot wounds. He died at the scene, according to Allred.
Investigators determined Mr. Giles left his place of business, Neighbors Bar and Grill, arrived at the residence when the suspect or suspects approached him, fired several rounds from a handgun and took money from him, according to Allred.

Police do not believe the shooting was random. They believe that robbery was the motive, according to Allred.

Anyone with information on the crime that could help investigators is asked to contact police.

GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) — The zoo in Garden City says two of four red panda cubs born last week have died.

Officials with the Lee Richardson Zoo say one of the male cubs died of injuries “of an unknown origin” shortly after he was born. Another female cub died while being cared for by her mother.

The two cubs were among quadruplets born last Wednesday to Ember, a 9-year-old red panda.

The zoo said only 1% of red panda litters are quadruplets.

Ember and the cubs are expected to be on public display in late September or early October. Until then, footage of mom and cubs will be available on the zoo’s social media accounts.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating a shooting that left one juvenile dead and two others wounded in Kansas City, Kansas.

Police Officer Jonathon Westbrook says two of the victims were found at the scene of the shooting early Sunday, including the one who died. The Kansas City Star reports that the third victim was dropped off at a hospital.

The injuries of the two surviving victims aren’t believed to be life-threatening.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Equifax will pay up to $700 million to settle with the U.S. and states over a 2017 data breach that exposed Social Security numbers and other private information of nearly 150 million people.

The settlement with the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as 48 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, would provide up to $425 million in monetary relief to consumers, a $100 million civil money penalty, and other relief.

The breach was one of the largest ever to threaten the private information. The consumer reporting agency, based in Atlanta, did not detect the attack for more than six weeks. The compromised data included Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, driver license numbers, credit card numbers and in some cases, data from passports.

Affected consumers may be eligible to receive money by filing one or more claims for conditions including money spent purchasing credit monitoring or identity theft protection after the breach and the cost of freezing or unfreezing credit reports at any consumer reporting agency.

All impacted consumers would be eligible to receive at least 10 years of free credit-monitoring, at least seven years of free identity-restoration services, and, starting on Dec. 31 and extending seven years, all U.S. consumers may request up to six free copies of their Equifax credit report during any 12-month period.

If consumers choose not to enroll in the free credit monitoring product available through the settlement, they may seek up to $125 as a reimbursement for the cost of a credit-monitoring product of their choice. Consumers must submit a claim in order to receive free credit monitoring or cash reimbursements.

“Companies that profit from personal information have an extra responsibility to protect and secure that data,” said FTC Chairman Joe Simons. “Equifax failed to take basic steps that may have prevented the breach that affected approximately 147 million consumers. This settlement requires that the company take steps to improve its data security going forward, and will ensure that consumers harmed by this breach can receive help protecting themselves from identity theft and fraud.”

The announcement Monday confirms a report by The Wall Street Journal that the credit reporting agency had reached a deal with the U.S.

The company said earlier this year that it had set aside around $700 million to cover anticipated settlements and fines.

The settlement must still be approved by the federal district court in the Northern District of Georgia.

Shares of Equifax Inc. dipped slightly before the opening bell.