KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas couple faces upgraded murder charges in the death of the man’s missing 7-year-old son.

Online court records show Wyandotte County prosecutors have charged Michael A. Jones and Heather Jones with premeditated first-degree murder and felony child abuse. They were previously charged with first-degree murder and felony child abuse.

The premeditated first-degree murder charge carries a possible life sentence without parole for 50 years.

Police found juvenile remains at the couple’s Kansas City, Kansas, home in November while investigating a domestic disturbance. Authorities haven’t said if the remains were those of Jones’ missing son.

A preliminary hearing for Michael Jones is scheduled for April 8. Records show Heather Jones’ preliminary hearing has been canceled while she undergoes a mental evaluation.

Their lawyers didn’t immediately return calls seeking comment Thursday.

GEARY COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating a suspect connection alleged possession and distribution of child pornography.

On Thursday morning, the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Junction City and Wichita Police Departments served a search warrant at 1412 West 11th Street in Junction City, according to Detective Lieutenant Jeff Childs.

Dale Alan Holvorson, 49, Junction City was arrested on suspicion of 14 counts of Distribution of Child Pornography and 20 counts of Possession of Child Pornography.

“During the police department investigation Mr. Holvorson was found to be in possession of child pornography and believed to have distributed child pornography in about 20 accounts,” said Childs.

Childs said the JCPD had investigated the case for approximately two weeks, but how long the illegal acts had been occurring authorities are unsure of at this time.

He noted that Holvorson does have a previous conviction on similar charges in Sedgwick County, and is currently on probation in that case.
No more arrests are expected in the Junction City case.

Holvorson is expected to have a first appearance in Geary County District Court on Friday.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Senate committee has approved a bill to redistribute some of the state’s education funding dollars in response to a court order to help poor school districts.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee’s voice vote Thursday sent a plan from Chairman Ty Masterson to the full chamber for debate.

The measure redistributes $38 million of the more than $4 billion in annual aid to public schools to benefit poor districts.

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled last month that the state has been shorting poor districts on aid. Masterson’s plan would increase state aid for 100 districts and reduce it for 186.

The Senate panel’s vote came after criticism from House Appropriations Committee members forced Chairman Ron Ryckman Jr. to abandon a milder version of the same plan.

SALINA- Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investing a suspect in connection with a stolen car.

Salina Police have arrested a woman in connection with a vehicle theft that occurred in February.

Jessica Smith, 29, Salina, was arrested Wednesday, according to Salina Police Captain Mike Sweeney.

On February 28, police were sent to the Airliner Motel, 781 Broadway, after a pizza delivery driver reported the orange Chevy Cobalt, left running and unattended, was stolen.

The responding officer saw the vehicle in the 900 Block of West Grand Avenue.

Smith was also seen in the area near the vehicle, and when officers questioned her, she provided a false name, according to police.

They found Smith at the Airliner Motel on Wednesday morning and also discovered marijuana and methamphetamine in her motel room.

She was booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of felony theft, felony interference with a law enforcement officer, possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to sell, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has set a May trial date for the woman accused of giving her former boyfriend the guns used in last month’s mass shooting at a Kansas lawn equipment factory.

U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren issued on Thursday a scheduling order in the case of 28-year-old Sarah Jo Hopkins, setting May 3 for her trial. The Newton woman has pleaded not guilty to transferring weapons to a prohibited person.

Prosecutors say she gave Cedric Ford an AK-47-type semi-automatic rifle and a .40-caliber handgun that he used in the Feb. 25 attack at Excel Industries in Hesston. Four people, including Ford, were killed and 14 others were injured.

Hopkins has told investigators that she gave him the guns because he had threatened her. They had two children together.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The Merrick County Sheriff’s Department says that it is seeking information about 150 to 200 dead geese illegally dumped in a ditch.

A deputy was alerted by a citizen about the geese Monday afternoon. Sheriff John Westman said the geese were found about 2 miles east of Gunbarrel Road and had not been cleaned.

Westman says the animals were disposed of sometime between 6:30 p.m. Sunday and 1 p.m. Monday.

Authorities say there are no suspects in the case at this time and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has been contacted.

OTTAWA, Kan. (AP) — Expert witnesses in the capital murder trial of an eastern Kansan man are testifying about how three adults and a toddler died.

A forensic pathologist who performed the autopsies and a forensic entomology expert who examined maggots were among the witnesses called this week to testify in the trial of Kyle Flack.

The 30-year-old Ottawa man is charged with capital murder in the deaths of 21-year-old Kaylie Bailey and her 18-month-old daughter, Lana, in spring 2013. He also is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the shotgun deaths of 30-year-old Andrew Stout and 31-year-old Steven White.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the adults suffered shotgun wounds and were left under either a tarp or mound of clothes. Lana’s body was found in a rural Osage County creek.

BROWN COUNTY – One person died in an accident just before 3p.m. on Wednesday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Harley Davidson Motorcycle driven by Arnold Lee Sherrell, 77, Dripping Springs, TX., was northbound on U.S.75 two miles south of Sabetha.

The motorcycle began to pass a northbound semi and moved into the southbound lane.

The motorcycle was passing with insufficient room to complete the maneuver, was unable to safely move back into the northbound lane and collided head on with a southbound semi.

The semi driver lost the ability to steer. It travelled off of the roadway and caught fire.

Sherrell was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Popkess Mortuary in Sabetha

The semi driver Tonya M. Vogt, 45, Columbus, OH., was transported to the hospital in Sabetha.

Sherrell was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

PRATT–Our disabled veterans made enormous sacrifices ensuring our freedom and way of life and as a small token of our appreciation, the Kansas Legislature annually appropriates funding to provide them free hunting and fishing licenses. Any Kansas resident who is a military veteran with at least 30 percent disability qualifies, and they must apply each year for the licenses. However, as interest in the program has grown, the number of applications has increased annually and appropriated funds have been exhausted the last two years. Funding appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016 ran out in February.

To supplement funding for the veterans’ licenses, The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) established a donation fund, allowing anyone purchasing a hunting or fishing license online to check a box and donate. And the department has a WildTrust account that accepts donations for these licenses, as well. Unfortunately, both of those sources have been spent, and there are still more than 200 applications waiting to be filled.

But you can help by checking the box when you buy a license online at www.ksoutdoors.com or calling 620-672-5911 and asking for the WildTrust coordinator to learn more. Donations, designated for the Disabled Veterans License Account can be sent to KDWPT, c/o WildTrust, 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124. Learn more about WildTrust at ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Donate/WildTrust.

KEARNEY COUNTY – A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just after 8 p.m. on Wednesday in Kearney County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Explorer driven by Evelia O. Chavez-Garcia, 51, Garden City, was stopped on AA Rd at U.S.50 highway.

The driver failed to yield the right-of-way while making a left turn.

A westbound 2006 Kawasaki Ninja driven by Yordi P. Siersema, 19, Lakin, collided with the SUV

Siersema was transported to St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. Chavez-Garcia was not injured.

Siersema was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The House Appropriations Committee’s leader has abandoned his own school funding plans after hearing a chorus of criticism from fellow Republicans.

Chairman Ron Ryckman Jr. of Olathe decided against having the committee vote on his plan Thursday after an hour of discussion.

Ryckman said his plan was aimed at preventing the Kansas Supreme Court from shutting down the state’s public schools.

The court ruled last month that the state has been shorting poor school districts on state aid and gave lawmakers until June 30 to fix the problems.

Ryckman’s plan boosted overall spending on schools by about $21 million but redistributed other dollars to help poor districts. Seventy-nine of 286 school districts would have lost money.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee planned to debate a rival plan Thursday.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The House Appropriations Committee’s chairman is pushing a school funding plan even though he acknowledges that he doesn’t much like it.

Rep. Ron Ryckman Jr. of Olathe told fellow House Republicans during a caucus Thursday that his goal is to prevent the Kansas Supreme Court from shutting down the state’s public schools.

The court ruled last month that the state has been shorting poor school districts on their fair share of state aid that now totals more than $4 billion annually. It gave lawmakers until June 30 to fix the problems.

Ryckman’s plan boosts overall spending on schools by about $21 million but redistributes other dollars to help poor districts. Seventy-nine of 286 school districts lose money.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee planned Thursday to debate its own plan.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Senate committee and Republicans in the state House are preparing to discuss proposals for reallocating state education dollars to help poor school districts.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee was meeting Thursday to debate a plan from Chairman Ty Masterson. The Andover Republican’s bill would redistribute $39 million in aid for the 2016-17 school year.

House Republicans were caucusing to discuss a rival plan from Appropriations Committee Chairman Ron Ryckman Jr. The Olathe Republican’s bill boosts state spending to help poor school districts but still redistributes some dollars.

Both plans are responses to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling last month. The court said the state has been shorting poor school districts on their fair share state aid that now totals more than $4 billion annually.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Three Democratic lawmakers are demanding the resignation of the head of a state agency that deals with Hispanic affairs in the wake of her endorsement of Donald Trump for president.

State Rep. Louis Ruiz on Wednesday called Adrienne Foster’s endorsement of Trump “irresponsible, unthinkable, and entirely unacceptable.”

Foster is the executive director of the Kansas Hispanic Latino American Affairs Commission. She referred any comment to Gov. Sam Brownback’s spokeswoman.

The governor’s spokeswoman, Eileen Hawley, says there is freedom of speech in America. She noted Foster made personal comments in support of Trump when responding to a Kansas City Star reporter’s Facebook posting.

But the lawmakers say in a news release she is out of touch with the community, and is disregarding the interests of the people she claims to represent.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Two men have been resentenced in a shooting that left two other men dead in 2009 in Kansas City, Kansas.

Wyandotte County prosecutors announced Tuesday that 25-year-old Cedric Warrant and 29-year-old Dominic Moore, of Kansas City, Kansas, were sentenced this month to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. They also must serve another 25 years.

They were convicted in 2010 of killing 21-year-old Charles Ford, of Olathe, and 26-year-old Larry Ledoux, of Kansas City, Kansas, and wounding a third man who survived.

The Kansas Supreme Court overturned their original life prison sentence with no chance of parole for 50 years. The punishment was imposed under an older version of the state’s “Hard 50” law deemed unconstitutional under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2013.