WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge has ruled that Secretary of State Kris Kobach has no legal right to bar people who register to vote using a federal form from voting in local and state elections.
Shawnee County District Judge Franklin Theis (Tice) ruled Friday in favor of two Kansas voters who challenged how Kobach is enforcing a state proof-of-citizenship requirement for registering to vote.
The judge said Kobach had no authority to “encumber the voting process” by declaring that voters who use a federal form to register can cast ballots only in federal races. The federal form does not require proof of citizenship.
The court found the right to vote under current Kansas law is not tied to the method of registration.
SALINE COUNTY- A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 1p.m. on Friday in Saline County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Chevy Silverado driven by Lathan M. Griffith, 18, Middletown, was northbound on Niles Road two miles east of New Cambria.
The driver failed to yield to a 2001 Chevy Malibu driven by Jayna Kay Mikesell, 33, Abilene, that was westbound on Old US-40
The Malibu collided with the Silverado.
Mikesell was transported to Salina Regional Medical Center.
Griffith was not injured.
Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A southern Missouri man has been sentenced to five years of probation for purchasing one of the shotguns that a white supremacist used in a deadly attack at two Jewish sites in suburban Kansas City.
Forty-nine-year-old John Mark Reidle, of Aurora, was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Springfield. He previously admitted to falsely claiming he was buying the gun for himself on a federal form on April 9, 2014.
Four days later, convicted killer Frazier Glenn Miller killed three people in Overland Park, Kansas. Miller said he was targeting Jews but none of the victims were Jewish.
The Joplin Globe reports that Judge Beth Phillips said Miller took advantage of Reidle’s limited intellectual ability.
Reidle will be confined at home during the first six months of his sentence.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislation that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s anti-discrimination statute is drawing opposition.
The Wichita Eagle reports that the measure would make it illegal to fire or evict someone for being gay or transgender, and ensure equal access to public accommodation.
Supporters of the bill consider it necessary because the LGBT community in Kansas routinely faces discrimination.
Opponents counter that the measure would make Kansans who oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds vulnerable to lawsuits, and that transgender women would be allowed to enter women’s bathrooms.
Current law shields Kansans from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on race, religion, color, sex, disability, family status, national origin or ancestry.
SALINE COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man involved in high-speed chase for the second time in less than a month.
Just after 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, a Sheriff’s deputy tried to pulled over a 2006 Buick Lucerne driven by Vernon L. Howard, 39, Salina, on Interstate 135 at Water Well for speeding, according to Saline County Sheriff’s Captain Roger Soldan.
The vehicle left the interstate at the Water Well Road exit and did not stop.
Howard drove eastbound at a speed over 100 miles per hour.
Three passengers jumped out of the car in the area of Simpson Road while the car was going 40-50 miles per hour.
The pursuit ended when the car went into a field near Cunningham Road. Howard ran from the car.
Photo- Saline County Sheriff’s Office.
With the use of night vision equipment, he was apprehended. Saline County Reserve deputies and the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted in the brief search.
Howard was booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges that include flee and elude, obstruction, and kidnapping.
The kidnapping charges are requested because two passengers, 19-year-old Halie McPherson, and 29-year-old Kyle Young, both of Wichita, had asked Howard to stop so they could get out of the car.
They, along with 32-year-old Robert Scott Jr., were treated for minor scrapes after jumping out of the car.
The three were getting a ride from Wichita to Junction City. Scott was booked into the jail on an outstanding warrant from Geary County.
On December 17, Howard was involved in a high speed chase with Salina Police that ended after the car he was in, hit a curb on East Crawford near Bill Burke Park. In that chase speeds were reached 75 miles per hour, according to police.
TOPEKA— The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of the former Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center instructor who was convicted of killing his estranged wife, then setting their Kingman home on fire.
The Courts ruled that Brett Seacat’s claims his wife tried to commit suicide in the past was not enough to overcome the overwhelming evidence against him.
Seacat wanted the issue brought up in his trial , but the request was denied. Seacat was found guilty of shooting Vashti Seacat in her bedroom then setting the home ablaze in April of 2011.
He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for 25 years.
All of Seacat’s issues before the court of appeals went to the evidence that the district court allowed the jury to hear—the admission of certain testimony by witnesses for the State and the exclusion of certain evidence proffered by Seacat, namely the mental state of his ex wife.
Seacat challenged the trial court’s exclusion of evidence relating to Vashti’s putative depression, which he contends would have bolstered his theory that she took her own life.
The stores being shuttered account for a fraction of the company’s 11,000 stores worldwide and less than 1 percent of its global revenue.
The closures will affect 16,000 workers, 10,000 of them in the U.S.
The announcement comes three months after its CEO Doug McMillon told investors the world’s largest retailer would review its store fleet in amid increasing competition from all fronts, including from online rival Amazon.com.
In the U.S., 154 locations will be closed, most of them small format stores called Walmart Express, which were launched as a test program in 2011. The remaining 115 locations to close are spread over Latin America, mostly in Brazil.
In a media release, Mcmillon reported, “We said in October at our analyst meeting that it’s more important now than ever to review our portfolio and close the stores and clubs that should be closed.
Managing our portfolio is essential to maintaining a healthy business. This allows us to create an even stronger Walmart by winning with our proven store formats and deepening our relationships with customers. Ultimately, this is in the best interest of our company and reflects the priorities of our growth plan. That plan is focused on winning with stores, deepening our digital relationships with customers and enhancing critical capabilities through technology and data, a next generation supply chain and talent.
We conducted a thorough review of our stores and clubs worldwide that took into account a number of factors, including financial performance as well as strategic alignment with long-term plans. In total, the impacted stores represent less than 1% of both global square footage and revenue.
The large majority of U.S. stores closing are Walmart Express stores. While we have learned a lot from this pilot, including a deeper understanding of the everyday needs of our customers, we have decided not to proceed with this offering. We feel we can better serve our customers by focusing on Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets and by investing in e-commerce and services like Pickup.”
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Nature enthusiasts in Kansas say they they’re seeing a revival of bald eagles across the state, and events are planned to give the public a good look at the once-endangered birds.
The Wichita Eagle says that this spring and summer, Kansas is expected to have at least 100 pairs of bald eagles nesting atop the state’s cottonwoods and sycamores.
Over the next few weekends, Kansas conservation groups and nature centers are inviting the public to free viewings of the eagles.
Those events will be on Saturday at Milford Reservoir near Junction City, Jan. 23 at the Clinton Reservoir near Lawrence, and Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 at the Chaplin Nature Center south of Wichita.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man has been ordered to stand trial in connection with last year’s shooting death of 17-year-old Wichita boy during a private birthday party.
The Wichita Eagle reports that 41-year-old Grover James was bound over this week for trial on Sedgwick County charges of first-degree premeditated murder and criminal possession of a weapon. James has pleaded not guilty.
Authorities say Leon McClennon was fatally shot in the head in May of last year in rental space in the basement of a boutique.
During a preliminary hearing Wednesday, prosecutors presented evidence alleging James intentionally shot McClennon.
Police have said an argument involving two men escalated and one of them pulled out a gun and fired shots, striking McClennon.
MANHATTAN -Ticketed as Manhattan’s biggest party, Kicker Country Stampede has just announced it’s complete lineup for 2016.
This year will feature an all-star lineup including Tim McGraw, Dierks Bently, Jake Owen, Sam Hunt, Chase Rice, Chris Janson, Cassadee Pop, Josh Abbott Band, and the Casey Donahew Band. Other acts include Ryan Hurd, High Valley, David Ray, Tucker Beathard, Courtney Cole, Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys and Sasha McVeigh.
This year’s show will be slightly different, with a Thursday show added and the Sunday show cut, running from June 23-25.
NEW YORK (AP) — Hyatt says it found malicious software in about 250 of its hotels that may have taken customers’ credit- and debit-card numbers and other information.
It’s the first time the hotel operator listed the hotels affected since it first announced it found malware at its hotels in December.
A Hyatt spokeswoman says the hotel chain does not know at this time how many customers were affected.
Hyatt Hotels Corp. says the malware was present between July and December at payment-processing systems at its restaurants, spas, front desks and other areas.
The malware was found at many of its brands, including the Park Hyatt, Hyatt Regency and Andaz. About 100 of the hotels affected were in the U.S., the rest were abroad in cities including London, Paris and Shanghai.
HUTCHINSON – A Kansas man with an extensive criminal history is back in jail after his arrest Wednesday for being in possession of drugs, a rifle and brass knuckles.
Richard Lorenzon Warren, 40, Hutchinson, was spotted by a Reno County Sheriff deputy at a local convenience store and knew there was a warrant for his arrest.
When the deputy made contact, he noticed a rifle between the passenger seat and the console of Warren’s truck.
The deputy ordered Warren to shut off the truck he was driving.
Warren allegedly continued reaching into his pocket, was eventually removed from the truck and placed in handcuffs.
When deputies searched his pocket, they found the brass knuckles and a small bag of methamphetamine.
Deputies also allegedly found two syringes in the center console of the truck.
The rifle was a loaded Ruger 10-22.
In court, Warren tried to tell Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen that it wasn’t his rifle but the report from the deputy indicated otherwise.
Warren has two warrants, one in Reno County, but also indicated to the judge that he has an outstanding warrant in Sedgwick County.
Warren is being held on a $54,000 bond and will be back in court next week.
He also faces a probation violation hearing for a possession of methamphetamine case from August of 2013.
Warren has prior felony convictions for unlawful manufacturing, possession of drugs, theft by deception and aggravated battery.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge has ruled that Secretary of State Kris Kobach has no legal right to bar people who register to vote using a federal form from voting in local and state elections.
