TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Lawyers, a prison rehabilitation organization and faith communities are creating a coalition to push for changes to the Kansas criminal justice system.

Kansans for Smart Justice announced a series of measures that include reducing sentences for nonviolent drug offenders at a Statehouse news conference Monday.

The American Civil Liberties Union is among 13 organizations seeking to educate the community about the prison system.

Micah Kubic from the ACLU says the coalition will highlight trends including a rise in the state’s prison population despite the falling crime rate.

Benet Magnuson, a representative from the civil rights organization Kansas Appleseed, championed the full Senate’s recent vote to overhaul the juvenile justice system. He says the adult system also would benefit from placing low-risk offenders in community-based programs instead of jails.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — County treasurers are complaining about a bill that would help the Kansas Turnpike Authority collect fines.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the KTA would like the authority to place holds on vehicle registrations as a way to ensure revenue. Shawnee County Treasurer Larry Mah is among the treasurers who have said the plan would bog down local motor vehicle offices.

Turnpike spokeswoman Rachel Bell says the bill is part of a larger turnpike modernization plan. At some stations, the state is transitioning to an open-tolling system, where cameras scan license plates as cars pass. Bills are sent to drivers who don’t have an electronic toll collection device known as a K-TAG.

Mah says he likes the open-toll plan, but revoking vehicle registration shifts the responsibility to motor vehicle offices.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic elected officials and party establishment figures like former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius are working to see that Hillary Clinton wins Kansas’ presidential caucuses.

But they acknowledge that Clinton is in a tough race against Bernie Sanders.

Party activists who gathered in Topeka for a recent two-day state convention described the support for Sanders as “organic.” The Vermont senator’s supporters say the nation needs a progressive political overhaul.

Clinton’s allies argue that the former U.S. secretary of state’s experience and pragmatism are more likely to advance progressive goals on issues such as wages and health care.

Both Democrats and Republicans in Kansas have presidential caucuses Saturday.

In the GOP race, supporters of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz don’t know whether they can prevent a Donald Trump victory.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal magistrate judge has set a $10,000 bond for the woman accused of buying the guns used in last week’s mass shooting at the Excel Industries factory in Hesston.

More than a dozen family members and friends of Sarah Hopkins came to her hearing Monday in U.S. District Court in Wichita, but refused to talk to the media. Her attorney, Douglas Adams, declined comment. Prosecutors did not seek her detention.

The 28-year-old Newton woman is charged with knowingly transferring a firearm to a convicted felon. Prosecutors say she gave shooter Cedric Ford an AK-47 type semi-automatic rifle and a 40-caliber handgun. Four people, including Ford, were killed and 14 others were injured.

Adams told the court he expected Hopkins would be indicted Tuesday. Her next hearing is March 9.

SEWARD COUNTY – A semi driver was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. on Monday in Seward County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Stephen Craig Boeding, Kansas City, was westbound on U.S. 54 two miles west of Plains.

The truck traveled left of center, entered the south ditch, rolled and caught fire.

Boeding was transported to Southwest Medical Center. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

GEARY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Geary County have made an arrest following a 2-month drug investigation.

The Junction City – Geary County Drug Operations Group assisted by the Riley County Police Department Special Investigations Unit executed search warrants on Friday at two Junction City locations, 1310 South Jackson Street and 621 South Jefferson Street, Apartment #111, according to a media release.

Michael Anthony Washington “Trouble,” 29, Junction City, was arrested on suspicion of one count Sale of Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a school, six counts Sale of Methamphetamine, plus one count each of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, No Kansas Drug Tax Stamp, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $250,000.

Latasha Nicole Clayton, 29, Junction City, was arrested on suspicion of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $50,000.

The Drug Operations Group seized approximately 2.5 ounces of methamphetamine, one ounce of cocaine, one ounce of marijuana, U.S. currency, and drug paraphernalia.

The Drug Operations Group is a joint task force composed of members of the Junction City Police Department, Geary County Sheriff’s Department, and Grandview Plaza Police Department.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating two deaths in a central Topeka apartment as “suspicious” in nature.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that police were notified Monday morning. Topeka police Lt. Colleen Stuart says foul play hasn’t been ruled out as a cause of the deaths.

The name of the victims weren’t immediately released. It wasn’t known how long the individuals had been dead.

An animal control officer was seen carrying a small pet crate out of the building shortly after detectives and officers had arrived at the scene. A representative of the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office also came to the apartment complex.

SALINE COUNTY – Target practice on Saturday afternoon is being blamed for a fire which consumed 160 acres of grass and trees in Saline County, according to report from the sheriff’s department.

Individuals were target shooting at tannerite in the 3000 block of South Simpson Road, according to Saline County Sheriff’s Captain Roger Soldan.

The fire quickly moved north to nearby Magnolia Road at around 4 p.m.

Saline County Rural Fire Districts 5 and 7 responded to the fire that damaged some fence posts.

Fire District 5 reported some damage to three fire trucks while fighting the fire. Some homes in the area were also threatened by the fire but not damaged.

Fire crews finished up at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday night.
There were no injuries.

RENO COUNTY – Two Kansas woman were injured in an accident just before 8a.m. on Monday in Reno County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Toyota Avalon driven by Jordon N. Williams, 22, Arlington, was stopped at a stop sign facing southbound on Haven Road at Kansas 96.

The vehicle pulled out in front of a 2012 Nissan Altima driven by Rebecca L. Winter, 29, Goddard. The Nissan collided with the Toyota.

Williams and Winter were transported to St. Francis Medical Center.

Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

SALINA – Law enforcement authorities in Salina have arrested a suspect in connection with Monday morning incident in which two officers were nearly struck by a vehicle.

Just before 7:30 a.m. on Monday, two uniformed Salina Police officers were investigating a stabbing case and walking across the 200 block of West Harsh Avenue , according to a media release.

A white 1992 Honda Accord turned eastbound onto Harsh from 8th Street. The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and kept accelerating as it approached the officers. The officers quickly moved out of the way and shouted and motioned for the driver to stop.
The vehicle passed by at about 40 miles per hour and the officers observed a man driving and a woman passenger.

The vehicle proceeded across 7th Street and through the intersection of Santa Fe and Harsh at approximately 60 miles per hour.

As the vehicle reached the 1400 block of North 3rd Street, the driver stopped and fled the area on foot and the passenger, Kimberly French, 36, of Salina, remained.

Jesse Rick, 36, of Salina was apprehended in a field east of the 1600 block of North 5th Street. A silver colored set of digital scales and personal use methamphetamine were found in the immediate area.

Upon searching the vehicle, officers located personal use marijuana. Officers also located a black case containing a smoking pipe with residue.

Charges of two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, kidnapping, felony obstruction, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended driver’s license are being requested against Rick.

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SALINA- Law enforcement authorities in Saline County were at the scene of a Monday morning stabbing and nearly struck by a another vehicle.

Just after 7 a.m. on Monday as an officer arriving at the scene of a stabbing in a north Salina neighborhood turned his vehicle to park, another driver in the area apparently thought the officer was attempting to pull him over.

The driver fled the area at a high rate of speed. Two officers on nearby on foot motioned for the vehicle to stop and were nearly hit.

A short pursuit ensued and ended at dead end on North 3rd Street.

The vehicle drove behind a nearby farmhouse and crashed.

The driver fled on foot and left a female passenger behind.

Police a short time arrested the driver later.

Paramedics responded to the scene to check on the passenger, who was 8 months pregnant. She was not hurt.

Officers found drug paraphernalia in the suspect’s vehicle, according to police The driver could face multiple drug charges and from the pursuit as well as aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.

The chase was not related to the earlier stabbing, according to police. Details on that have not been released.