LARNED, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Department of Corrections says an autopsy shows that an inmate convicted of killing two children in 1986 died of unspecified natural causes.

The Topeka Capital-Journal says Nolan Prewett was 66 when he died Jan. 10 at the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.

Prewett was serving time for crimes linked to the July 1986 suffocation deaths in Topeka of 3-year-old Shavon Mahomes and her half-sister, 6-year-old Shannon Mahomes. Their bodies were found in a home’s basement.

Prewett was convicted of two counts each of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated criminal sodomy, rape and enticement of a child.

He received two life sentences to be served simultaneously.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 27-year-old woman has been arrested after police say she stole items from a west Wichita Wal-Mart and led officers on a chase.

Wichita police Lt. Randy Reynolds says an officer pulled over a car for driving erratically and not using headlights around 11:20 p.m. Wednesday. The officer learned that the vehicle matched the description of one used by a shoplifter at an area Wal-Mart.

When the officer asked the woman to step out, she drove away. Reynolds says a short chase ensued before the woman turned into a cul-de-sac and crashed.

The Wichita Eagle reports  that the officer found her 2-year-old daughter unrestrained in the back seat, along with evidence linking her to the shoplifting incident and drug paraphernalia.

The child is in the care of protective custody.

HUTCHINSON – Law enforcement authorities in Reno County are investigating an attack on a convenience store clerk and robbery.

Hutchinson Police are asking the public’s help in identifying those who may have robbed the Kwik Shop located at 43rd and Plum Wednesday morning, according to a media release.

Three white males at gunpoint robbed the convenience store.

The clerk was compliant, however she was still severely beaten.

The suspects took an undetermined amount of money and tobacco products then fled the store on foot.

Police are asking for your help capturing these extremely dangerous suspects.

If you have any information about this crime, please call Crime Stoppers of Reno County at 1-800-222-TIPS, the Hutchinson
Police Department at 620-694-2832 or Detective Loepp at 620-694-2829. Please associate any information about this crime with #2016-2127.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers say that legislative sessions need to be curtailed to expedite decisions and save taxpayer money.

The House Committee on Appropriations held a hearing Thursday to discuss a bill that would shorten the session in odd numbered years to 60 days. Even-numbered years would remain at 90 days as required by the Kansas Constitution.

Republican Rep. Marvin Kleeb from Overland Park was one of many members who testified that the shorter session would allow them to spend more time with their families and return to their businesses. They also said it would push lawmakers to discuss bills in a more efficient manner.

Kleeb added that a shorter session could save taxpayers more than $1.9 million a year.

By DAN MARGOILES

Kansas health authorities now say that more than 390 people have reported getting ill after attending the New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says it’s expanding its investigation of norovirus infection after receiving the reports.

The new number is about quadruple the number the agency reported on Wednesday, when it said more than 100 people who attended performances at the popular dinner theater restaurant had become ill. Four people were confirmed to have come down with the virus, which is highly contagious.

KDHE is asking anyone who attended the theater since Friday, Jan. 15, irrespective of whether they became ill, to fill out a confidential online survey at https://tinyurl.com/newtheatre2016.

Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It causes 19 million to 21 million illnesses annually and is the most common cause of foodborne-disease outbreaks.

Dan Margolies, editor of the Heartland Health Monitor team, is based at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 17-year-old who was shot and wounded by Wichita police has been charged with a misdemeanor weapons violation.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the charge was filed Thursday in juvenile court. It carries penalties ranging from probation to 28 days in juvenile detention.

Police said the black teen was armed and running toward the white police officer who fired at him. The shooting happened on the night of Dec. 4 outside a high school where a girls’ basketball game was underway.

Police say the teen began running with a handgun when officers stopped a pickup truck that police thought contained a suspect in a double homicide. The teen is accusing of ignoring multiple commands to drop the handgun.

Prosecutors haven’t yet ruled on whether the shooting was justified.

Submitted by the office of Rep. Tim Huelskamp

WASHINGTON – Today Congressman Tim Huelskamp released an official email communication from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) which revealed that the agency will not enforce their ‘threatened’ listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) anywhere in the U.S. This declaration followed an order from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas vacating the listing and ruling that the FWS “arbitrarily” and “capriciously” listed the LPC. The judge called the FWS analysis of the situation “neither rigorous nor valid.” Until this time, it was unclear whether the FWS would still enforce their listing outside of Texas.

Huelskamp released the following statement:

“For years, I have been leading the fight against the FWS and this nonsensical listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken. The original decision to list the bird was not based on sound science or the proven success of voluntary conservation, but that didn’t stop the FWS bureaucrats from imposing their decision on our farmers, ranchers, energy producers and other small businesses. I call on the FWS to abandon any appeal of this Court ruling and instead to recognize the continued LPC recovery as the historic drought has hopefully ended and voluntary efforts are working.

“The original listing tactic for the LPC was initiated through a secretive legal action – a method known as ‘sue and settle’ – one in which the government encourages a lawsuit and then secretly settles without public input. Two weeks ago, the House passed a bill I sponsored, H.R. 712, to prevent agencies from undermining current law with this approach.”

The email is below:

[redacted],

It was good talking with you earlier this morning. Below is some background to respond to your question about the lesser prairie-chicken.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas has vacated the listing decision for the lesser prairie-chicken. The United States requested the court to modify the judgment, to leave the listing in place on remand for the Service to complete a new rule making. The court has ordered the parties to engage in mediation. As a result of the court’s order, the Service is not treating the lesser prairie-chicken as a species protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We continue to support voluntary conservation efforts that benefit the lesser prairie-chicken and will continue to work with the states, private landowners, other federal agencies, and other partners on these efforts. Interested landowners and industry may enroll in the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Range-wide Plan, NRCS’ Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative or a Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAAs). CCAAs are available in New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. In addition, an Oil and Gas CCAA is available for companies across the five-state range of the lesser prairie-chicken.

Please let me know if you need anything else.

[redacted]

[redacted]
Deputy Chief
Division of Congressional and Legislative Affairs
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators have given final approval to a bill to keep the state’s courts open following a legal dispute involving their budget.

The Senate passed the measure Thursday on a 39-1 vote. The House approved it last week, 119-0, so the bill goes next to Gov. Sam Brownback

The measure repeals a 2015 law threatening the court system’s budget.

That law said the judiciary’s entire budget would be nullified if the courts struck down another law enacted in 2014.

The 2014 law stripped the Kansas Supreme Court of its power to appoint chief judges in the state’s 31 judicial districts and gave it to local judges instead. The high court invalidated the 2014 law last month.

Supporters of the 2014 law said they didn’t intend to

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control says three more people — in Connecticut, Missouri and New York — have been added to the list of those sickened from a listeria outbreak linked to packaged salads made at a Dole processing facility in Ohio.

One person died and at least 15 people in eight states were hospitalized in the outbreak since July after eating salads sold under the names Dole, Fresh Selections, Simple Truth, Marketside, The Little Salad Bar and President’s Choice.

The Dole facility in Springfield, Ohio, ceased production last week and voluntarily recalled all salad mixes Wednesday.

The most recent illness was diagnosed Jan. 3.

The Springfield News-Sun newspaper reported Thursday that inspection records showed the plant had proper procedures in place in recent years to prevent illness.

PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — A post office in a southeast Kansas city has removed a “God Bless America” banner after an organization complained the banner violated the principle of separation church and state.

The Joplin Globe reports the Pittsburg post office removed the banner Wednesday after hearing complaints about it from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. The foundation has also been trying to get Missouri sheriffs to remove “In God We Trust” bumper stickers from department vehicles and “In God We Trust” from U.S. coins and currency.

Pittsburg postal workers paid for the 12-foot-long vinyl banner after the 2001 terrorist attacks.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Post Office says the postal service took the banner down because postal policy prohibits the placement of notices on postal property unless they’re official government notices.

Kansas congresswoman Lynn Jenkins said,  “I find it sad that our local post office would be forced to bend to the whims of an outside organization, such as the Freedom from Religion Foundation. Seeking the removal of this patriotic banner is a classic solution in search of a problem and I urge the United States Postal Service to rethink their decision, as this banner means more than just words to our veterans and community members.”

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has dropped all charges against a former Bel Aire police officer accused in a scheme to buy and sell discounted firearms by falsely claiming they would be used for law enforcement purposes.

U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren dismissed on Thursday at the government’s request mail and wire fraud charges against Nathan Mavia just weeks before his trial.

Mavia had been employed at the department from February 2012 until June 2014.

Court filings do not indicate why prosecutors asked the court to throw out his charges. Neither the U.S. attorney’s office nor his defense attorney immediately returned messages seeking comment.

Former Bel Aire Police Chief John Daily and two of his ex-officers, Robert McCaslin and Ricky Swanson, face trial on Feb. 16 in U.S. District Court in Wichita.

ABILENE- Law enforcement authorities in Dickinson County are investigating five suspects for the alleged distribution of marijuana to local residents, including high school students, according to Dickinson County Sheriff Gareth Hoffman.

Agents of the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department Drug Enforcement Unit and officers with the Abilene Police Department began the investigation in January.

On Monday, a controlled purchase of marijuana was conducted from a residence at 812 Northwest Third Street in Abilene.

On Tuesday, agents of the Sheriff’s Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Deputies, and Abilene police officers executed a search warrant for the residence at 812 Northwest Third Street in Abilene.

Those arrested included:
–Tristen Jacob Howard, 20, on felony counts including suspicion of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Acquiring Drug Proceeds, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, Failure to Obtain a Kansas Drug Tax Stamp, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, Distribution of Marijuana, Acquiring Drug Proceeds, and Unlawful Use of a Telecommunication Device to Arrange a Drug Sale plus a misdemeanor allegation of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

–Matthew John Dinkel, 25, on felony counts including suspicion of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Acquiring Drug Proceeds, Unlawful Use of a Telecommunication Device to Arrange a Drug Sale, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, and a misdemeanor count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

–Devon Michael Hallock, on felony counts including suspicion of Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, Distribution of Marijuana, Acquiring Drug Proceeds, Unlawful Use of a Telecommunication Device, and additionally on two counts of suspicion of Assault On Law Enforcement Officer for an alleged altercation in the Dickinson County Jail after his arrest.
–Michael Wayne Wright, 31, on a felony count of Possession of Methamphetamine plus two misdemeanor counts of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

–Zachary Taylor Swarts, 18, on a felony allegation of Conspiracy to Possess Marijuana.
Hoffman reported that during the search of the residence law enforcement officers seized more than two ounces of marijuana that were ready for sale, and over 50 pieces of evidence related to the distribution of marijuana. During the course of the investigation it was learned that persons arrested were allegedly selling marijuana to people from the ages of 14 to 21.

Also noted as a result of the investigation, law enforcement officers in Great Bend were able to execute a search warrant there. Law enforcement seized several pounds of marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia, and are expecting to make several arrests of people suspected in dealing marijuana to local residents.

SALINA- Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a Kansas woman for alleged theft and forgery.

Police arrested Candice M. Pell, 34, Salina, on Wednesday for making six false merchandise returns while working at Marices in the Central Mall and pocketing the money.

Pell is alleged to have made the returns between January 10th and January 25th, totaling $1,106.73. Two transactions were made in someone else’s name, according to police.

The store’s loss prevention department made the discovery.
Pell was booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of felony theft, false writing, and forgery.