OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A suburban Kansas City woman has admitted in court that she stole tens of thousands of dollars of stolen clothing and merchandise she was peddling out of her nearly $1 million home.
Forty-six-year-old Kelli Bauer of Overland Park, Kansas, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Johnson County to a felony theft charge. It alleged she stole between $25,000 and $100,000.
Bauer also pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor theft counts.
Bauer was charged last year after police found stolen merchandise in her home during a search prompted her Facebook posting for the private sale of more than 1,000 pieces of “high-end” women’s clothing.
As part of the investigation, detectives also followed Bauer and said they saw her stealing items from several stores.
NEW YORK (AP) — General Mills is recalling about 10 million pounds of its flour over a possible link to an E. coli outbreak in 20 states.
Courtesy image
The recall is for several varieties of Gold Medal and Signature Kitchens flour that were sold at Safeway, Albertsons and other supermarkets. General Mills says E. coli hasn’t been found in any of its flour products, but is still recalling them out of “an abundance of caution.”
The company said Tuesday 38 people were sickened from the December to May. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that half of the people used flour before getting sick, some of which was a General Mills brand. Some may have also eaten raw dough or batter, the Minneapolis food company said.
Tuesday morning accident in Clay county -photo KHP
CLAY COUNTY – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday in Clay County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 International Semi driven by Gary C. Leister, 63, Abilene, was southbound on Kansas 15 six miles south of Clay Center
The vehicle traveled onto the right shoulder. The driver over corrected and the truck overturned in the east ditch.
Leister was transported to the hospital in Clay Center.
He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
BARTON COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Barton County are investigating a suspect
Just before 11 p.m. on May 27, Barton County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the south side of the Arkansas River after they had received reports of an alleged intoxicated person operating a front end loader and destroying property, according to a media release.
Evidently the suspect had run over several fences and posts belonging to the city of Great Bend along the flood control project.
Upon arrival, Sheriff’s officers located the front end loader but the operator fled.
The deputies determined the suspect took the loader from a local concrete company where he was employed.
The suspect was identified by several witnesses at the scene. He was later apprehended at his residence in Great Bend.
Jeremy W. Northcutt, 26, was arrested and charged with burglary, felony criminal damage to property and attempting to flee and elude a law enforcement officer. He is currently being held in the Barton County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bond.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle says lawmakers won’t attempt this week to address the state Supreme Court’s most recent ruling on education funding.
The Wichita Republican issued a statement Tuesday saying the state’s attorneys have not had enough time to analyze the decision.
Lawmakers reconvene Wednesday to formally adjourn their annual session.
Wagle said she’s consulted with Republican House Speaker Ray Merrick and GOP Gov. Sam Brownback about Friday’s court decision and they’ve agreed on taking no action yet.
Their stance means the Legislature could have a special session in June.
The court rejected changes made by legislators earlier this year and said the school finance system remains unfair to poor districts. The justices gave lawmakers until June 30 to fix the remaining problems or face having schools remain closed.
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — A 16-year-old Kansas girl has been ordered to spend nearly 16 years in prison in connection with the stabbing death of her younger sister.
Sierra Neihaus was sentenced Tuesday in Saline County. That’s where she pleaded no contest in March to amended charges of second-degree murder, felony theft, and two counts of interference with law enforcement.
Prosecutors allege Niehaus fatally stabbed her 13-year-old sister, Galazia, at the family’s rural home on Aug. 1, 2014.
BUTLER COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Butler County are investigating a report of fake money in the area.
Last week the fake money was passed twice in El Dorado, according to El Dorado Crime Stoppers.
The money used is “prop money,” typically used in movies.
Authorities urged residents to check your bills. The bill shown is prop money, and it says “Motion Picture Use Only” in place of “United States of America” on the front and backs of the bills.
Also, on a real bill, the blue line is reflective and is not on the prop money.
If you have any information about this crime call crime stoppers at 316-321-1080 or make a report online at eldoradocrimestoppers.com.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Great Plains Energy plans to buy Westar Energy, the largest utility company in Kansas. Great Plains in the parent company of KCP&L.
The two companies announced Tuesday that the transaction has an estimated value of $12.2 billion. Westar Energy will be sold for $51 per share in cash and $9 per share in stock. The purchase price includes Great Plains assuming $3.6 billion in debt.
The transaction is expected to be completed by next spring.
The companies said in a news release that when the transaction is complete, Great Plains will have more than 1.5 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. It also will have the capacity to generate nearly 13,000 megawatts of electricity.
ABILENE, Kan. (AP) — The only professional theater between Kansas City and Denver is ready for a summer season in its new home.
The Great Plains Theatre in Abilene has put on shows at various sites since a fire destroyed its building in July 2014. The Salina Journal reports the theater is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association, as are most of the actors, who are paid to perform.
The new theater is in the former headquarters of ALCO Stores. It seats 150 and provides much more space for the former theater.
Besides finding a new home, Great Plains Theatre’s finances also are improving, thanks to a $25,000 donation from Astra Bank. And a new artistic director, Randy West, was hired.
The summer season starts June 10 with “Annie Get Your Gun.”
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The search for a Kansas boy who fell into a rain-swollen creek is continuing into its fifth day.
Fire and rescue teams returned to the Gypsum Creek in south Wichita Tuesday to search for 11-year-old Devon Dean Cooley.
Officials say witnesses told them Cooley was walking with three friends near the creek Friday when he tried to walk a path that normally crosses the creek but was swept away by high waters.
Devon’s family hosted a cookout Monday evening for the recovery and rescue teams. That was followed by a candlelight vigil.
The boy would have celebrated his 12th birthday on Thursday.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The search for an 11-year-old Wichita boy who is missing after falling into a swollen creek has been suspended for the night.
Wichita Fire Department battalion chief Jim Wilson tells the Wichita Eagle crews will resume their search for the boy identified by relatives as Devon Dean Cooley at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Wilson says a couple of firefighters will rotate shifts walking along the creek’s banks late Monday night, “just in case.”
Devon disappeared Friday night in Gypsum Creek. Fire officials say he tried to cross but was swept away.
Devon’s family, in a statement Monday, thanked firefighters for their tireless efforts. The family planned a cookout Monday evening to feed the rescue crews, with a candlelight vigil scheduled later in the night.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The family of an 11-year-old Wichita, Kansas, boy who went missing after falling into a swollen creek is thanking searchers for their efforts.
Wichita Fire Department battalion chief Jim Wilson says a broadened search continued Monday for the boy identified by relatives as Devon Dean Cooley, who disappeared Friday night in Gypsum Creek.
Fire officials say Devon was walking with friends near the creek when boy tried to cross but was swept away with the current as his friends tried to grab him.
Devon’s family, in a statement Monday, thanked firefighters for their tireless efforts to find the boy. The family planned to hold a cookout Monday evening to feed the rescue crews, with a candlelight vigil scheduled for later that night.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The search has resumed in Wichita, Kansas, for an 11-year-old boy who went missing after falling into a swollen creek.
Wichita Fire Department battalion chief Scott Brown says the search continued at sunrise Monday for the boy who disappeared Friday night in Gypsum Creek.
Brown said Saturday night that searchers were more in a body-recovery mode than a rescue effort.
Fire officials now say the fire at a mobile home on Monday in Hutchinson started by improperly disposed BBQ coals. Damage to the home is estimated at $9,000.
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HUTCHINSON– Investigators are working to determine the cause of a Memorial Day fire at a home in Hutchinson.
Just before 4 p.m., fire crews responded to a structure fire at 2214 East 4th, the Applewood mobile home park.
When they arrived, fire crews found heavy smoke and visible fire on the outside of the mobile home, according to a media release.
Crews were able to quickly extinguish the majority of the fire from the outside. They entered the structure and were met with moderate smoke.
The home was only occupied by one dog, which was removed safely.
The fire was controlled in 10 minutes and no injuries were reported.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City, Kansas, investigators say they believe they have identified a potential suspect in the 26-year-old unsolved murder of a 19-year-old woman and an unresolved slaying five years later.
The Kansas City Star reports that detectives perhaps have a link between the 1989 killing of Sarah Jo DeLeon, the unsolved 1994 slaying of Diana Marie Ault in Independence, Missouri, and an abduction in 1987.
Investigators aren’t saying why they believe the deaths of DeLeon and Ault are connected.
Detective Scott Howard says the investigation has revealed that the suspect and an accomplice have been involved in other incidents involving the harassment and intimidation of romantic rivals.
Another detective, Mike Warczakoski, says he hopes to present the case in coming weeks to Wyandotte County prosecutors.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A suburban Kansas City woman has admitted in court that she stole tens of thousands of dollars of stolen clothing and merchandise she was peddling out of her nearly $1 million home.
