BROWN COUNTY –Two adults and three children were injured in an accident just before 10:30 a.m. on Friday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Subaru Tribeca driven by Janel S. Carpenter, 40, Iowa City, IA, was westbound on U.S. 36 just east of 12th Street in the eastbound lane.

The Subaru hit an eastbound 2006 Dodge Dakota driven by Dustin Williams, 24, St. Joseph, MO., head-on.

Carpenter and an 9-year-old boy were transported to Hiawatha Hospital. A 6-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy in the Subaru were transported to Children’s Mercy.

Williams was transported to KU Medical Center.

The 9-year-old boy was not properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 20-year-old caregiver faces state charges accusing her of hitting and confining two mentally challenged men in her care.

The Lawrence Journal-World reported Friday that Brooke Tiara Shinn of Topeka was arrested last month and faces felony charges of mistreatment of a dependent adult and aggravated battery, as well as a misdemeanor criminal restraint charge.

Shinn’s been released on $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court May 24.

A lawyer listed online as representing Shinn didn’t immediately return a phone message Friday seeking comment.

A recently released arrest affidavit says Shinn’s accused of hitting the two men and locking them in their rooms for the weekend without food or medication. The affidavit alleges the abuse occurred in January and February of 2015.

MATTHEW DALY, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is finalizing a rule to cut methane emissions from U.S. oil and gas production by nearly half over the next decade. It’s part of an ongoing push by the president to curb climate change.

A rule issued Thursday by the Environmental Protection Agency would cut methane from drilling by 40 to 45 percent by 2025, compared to 2012 levels.

The rule would make energy producers find and repair leaks at oil and gas wells and capture gas that escapes from wells that use hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Methane is a component of natural gas. It’s far more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, making it a top target for environmentalists worried about global warming.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Tinder says “people with bad intentions exist everywhere” and the online dating app is reminding users to be vigilant about safety amid allegations that a Kansas man held a woman he met on Tinder against her will and beat her.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that court documents allege 30-year-old Shane Allen picked up the woman at her Lawrence, Kansas, sorority house last month after meeting her on the app. An affidavit said Allen brought her back to the sorority after he held her for six days and beat her.

In a statement, Tinder said it’s “shocked and saddened” by the case. It said Allen has been removed from the platform.

Allen was jailed pending a preliminary hearing. His lawyer didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

DALLAS (AP) — Two U.S. senators say the way to reduce long airport security lines this summer is for airlines to drop their fees on checking luggage.

It’s the latest suggestion for dealing what is shaping as a hellish summer at the nation’s airports. Airlines are already warning passengers to arrive at least two hours early to get through security and catch their flight.

Massachusetts Democrat Edward Markey and Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal said Tuesday they asked executives at 12 airlines to drop checked-bag fees this summer.

The senators say suspending the fees won’t eliminate lines but it’s a start.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Public defenders have withdrawn from representing a Topeka man who pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges and admitted to plotting to bomb a northeast Kansas military installation.

Defense attorney Melody Brannon said Friday during a brief federal court hearing that a potential conflict of interest had developed with 21-year-old John T. Booker Jr.

U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia granted a request from Brannon and fellow public defender Kirk Redmond to withdraw and plans to appoint a private attorney.

Booker was arrested last year outside Fort Riley trying to arm what he thought was a 1,000-pound bomb and later acknowledged attempting to help the Islamic State group. His February plea agreement with prosecutors calls for a 30-year prison sentence.

Murguia has yet to schedule a sentencing hearing for Booker.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 21-year-old Topeka man is due in federal court more than three months after admitting to plotting to bomb a northeast Kansas military installation.

U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia was holding a hearing Friday on the status of John T. Booker Jr.’s case.

Booker pleaded guilty in February to two charges arising from his arrest in April 2015 outside Fort Riley as he tried to arm what he thought was a 1,000-pound bomb.

Booker acknowledged in court that he was trying to help the Islamic State group. He signed a plea agreement with prosecutors that would have him serve 30 years in prison.

But Murguia has yet to schedule a sentencing hearing for Booker.

Booker initially faced three felony charges and a sentence of life in prison.

SALINE – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a suspect in connection with a fatal stabbing.

Just after 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Loan Nguyen-Lovelace, 43, was stabbed after a disturbance at her residence in the 700 Block of Max Avenue, according to Salina Police Captain Mike Sweeney.

The disturbance involved 46-year-old Thuy Duong.

While they were arguing, Doung stabbed Nguyen in the chest, according to Sweeney.

Police say Tommy Ly, 45, was downstairs at the residence, heard the argument, came upstairs during the struggle and suffered lacerations to his hands.

Nguyen-Lovelace immediately went to a neighbor’s house and asked the person for help, while Doung fled the scene.

Nguyen-Lovelace was transported by ambulance to Salina Regional Health Center, where she died shortly after 12 p.m.

Sweeney said investigators quickly identified Doung as the suspect and her information was sent to law enforcement agencies statewide.

She was located in her parked vehicle at the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane and arrested.

Doung could face charges including 2nd-degree murder and aggravated battery, according to Sweeney.

ALLEN COUNTY – A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just before 7a.m. on Friday in Allen County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Ford Focus driven by Michaela Victoria Swindell, 19, Savonburg, was southbound on U59 two miles south of Elsmore.

The driver fell asleep. The vehicle crossed the centerline and into east ditch.

Swindell was transported to the hospital in Iola,

She was wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

GEARY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating a suspect for alleged sexual exploitation of a child.

On Friday, following a three-week investigation, the Geary County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mark Snider, 26, Abilene on suspicion of Electronic Solicitation and five counts of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child Under 16, according to Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf.

Snider was a basketball and track coach for USD 473, Chapman School District, prior to his resignation at the April 2016 USD 473 School Board meeting.

Snider was taken into custody at the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office in Abilene and was transported to the Geary County Detention Center in Junction City where he is being held without bond, pending his first appearance.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate this matter to determine if there are any other victims involved.

Anyone with information regarding this case, is asked to contact the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, Investigations Division at 785-238-6621.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Newly released court documents allege that a Manhattan homicide suspect killed his 3-month-old daughter.

The Manhattan Mercury reports that 25-year-old Andrew Gibson is jailed on first-degree murder and child abuse charges in last week’s death of Serenity Nichole Reich. Bond is set at $500,000.

The affidavit says that a series of bruises and abrasions led a doctor to conclude that she was killed. The child’s name and relationship to Gibson wasn’t released previously. The affidavit says a doctor also found older injuries, such as partially healed broken bones.

She was rushed to a hospital May 5 after officers responded to a call about an infant who wasn’t breathing. Efforts to revive the infant weren’t successful, and the child was pronounced dead at the hospital.

ABILENE — The Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “Lunch and Learn” session on Digital and Social Media Marketing.

Jeremy Coulter of Eagle Communications will be the presenter. He will discuss the value and process of digital marketing on platforms including from Google, Facebook and other social media outlets.

Eagle Communications is the only Google Partner in western Kansas and the only Google Partner All Star in a four-state region. Eagle’s Google marketing campaigns perform in the top 3 percent of all Google Partners in North America.

The Lunch and Learn is scheduled for noon Tuesday at the Abilene Civic Center, 201 NW Second.

The session if free of charge, and beverages will be provided. Bring your own lunch.

For more information, call (785) 263-1770.

For more information on Eagle’s array of digital marketing tools, call (785) 628-0467 or click HERE.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is telling public schools that they must allow transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.

The directive is in formal guidance being sent to school districts Friday by the departments of Education and Justice.

The letter does not impose any new legal requirements, but federal officials say the guidance is meant to clarify school districts’ obligations to provide students with nondiscriminatory environments.

It comes amid a legal fight between the Justice Department and North Carolina over that state’s law on bathroom use by transgender people. The state and the federal government sued each other on Monday.

DETROIT (AP) — Subaru is telling owners of some newer Legacy and Outback vehicles not to drive them because the steering can fail.

The company is recalling about 52,000 of the cars and SUVs from the 2016 and 2017 model years. It also has told dealers to stop selling them until they’re repaired.

Subaru says in government documents that steering columns may have been manufactured improperly by a parts supplier. The columns may not engage, meaning the steering wheel could rotate freely and the driver could lose control.

The problem was discovered May 3 when the owner of a 2016 Outback reported trouble. It was unclear if there have been any crashes or injuries.

Subaru says dealers will check the steering columns. If they weren’t built properly, they’ll be replaced. That starts in mid-May.