WASHINGTON (AP) — One Senate Republican who’s also a presidential candidate is urging Congress to allow a partial government shutdown, as a way to gain leverage over President Barack Obama.

The Senate is on track to pass a spending bill that would keep the government from shutting down tomorrow night. But hardline conservative Republicans are denouncing their party’s leaders in the House and Senate for backing away from the removal of federal funding from Planned Parenthood, in order to make sure that a shutdown doesn’t take place.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky took to the floor Tuesday and urged leaders to “start out with the negotiating position that we defund everything that’s objectionable.” He added that “it would take courage because you have to let spending expire.”

Monday night’s 77-19 vote on the spending bill easily beat a token filibuster threat and sets up the final vote.

Senator Moran and 18 others voted against the measure. Senator Roberts, who has spoken against funding Planned Parenthood, voted in favor of of the funding bill to avoid the government shutdown.

 

I am a cosponsor of legislation introduced by @RandPaul to #DefundPlannedParenthood. Our tax dollars should not fund such gruesome practices

— Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) July 28, 2015

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell says the stopgap measure isn’t his “preferred method for funding the government,” but he said it’s “the most viable way forward.” He accused Democrats of forcing the country “into this situation.

The bill has been stripped of a tea party-backed measure to take taxpayer funding away from Planned Parenthood as the price for keeping the government open.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal appeals court will not reconsider its decision that an abortion opponent must stand trial over a letter she sent to a Wichita doctor saying someone might place an explosive under her car.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected on Tuesday a move seeking either a rehearing by the three-judge panel or by the full court.

A three-judge appeals panel ruled in July that the decision about whether anti-abortion activist Angel Dillard’s letter constituted a “true threat” should be left to a jury.

The Justice Department sued Dillard in 2011 for sending the letter to Dr. Mila Means, who had been training to offer abortions. At the time, no doctor was performing abortions in Wichita in the wake of Dr. George Tiller’s murder by an anti-abortion zealot.

SALINA – Law enforcement authorities in Salina are investigating a report of child endangerment.

Angelia M. Napoleone, 25, was arrested on four counts of aggravated child endangerment after her 3-year-old son was found without adult supervision on four occasions in the last month, according to Salina Police Captain Chris Trocheck.

On August 27, the child was found on east Iron Street in just a diaper.

On September 1, the child was found running down the street near Sunset Elementary School.

On September 4, the boy got into the family vehicle, put it into neutral and it backed into the street striking a car.

Napoleone said on the 1st and 4th, she was asleep and was not aware the boy was outside the home.

The boy has been placed into protective custody.

WICHITA- Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating a reported theft from the Quivira Council Scout office in Wichita.

The Scout office reported the eagle from the front of their location at 3247 North Oliver was taken. Police are checking security cameras for more details on a suspect or a vehicle that may be involved.  The statue is reportedly worth over $8000.

The scouts ask the public to contact Rodney Cousin via email [email protected] or phone 316-491-2221 if you have additional information in the theft.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials say the state may have to start looking outside its borders to find attorneys who will take the cases of indigent defendants.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that not enough experienced, qualified people in some counties are willing to work for the state rate.

Kansas Board of Indigents’ Defense Services executive director Patricia Scalia told a legislative committee Monday that the problem is especially severe in some of the state’s smaller counties.

Kansas statutes authorize the board to pay up to $80 per hour for private attorneys who agree to take appointed cases. But in 2010, budget problems led the board to cut the actual rate it pays to $62 per hour.

Now, the board is seeking to raise the rate by $3 to $65 per hour.

Little Apple Post

MANHATTAN- Law enforcement authorities at Kansas State University have identified three persons of interest in connection with graffiti at buildings on campus.

The KSU Police Department had asked for assistance in identifying three individual in the criminal damage to property over the weekend at Seaton Hall and in the Quad areas of Campus.

Names of the suspects have not been released.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on Monday night reported House passage of H.R. 2051, the Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 2015.

The bipartisan legislation, which reauthorizes Mandatory Price Reporting (MPR), the National Forest Foundation Act and the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA), passed the Senate Sept. 21. For more information on the bill, click here.

“We cleared the final hurdle today,” said Chairman Roberts. “Reauthorizing three programs in one bipartisan bill is no small feat, but when our agriculture producers ask for certainty and transparency, that’s what they’ll get.”

“I’d like to thank my colleagues in Congress for working together to get this legislation across the finish line – Ranking Member Senator Debbie Stabenow and our colleagues across the Capitol, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson.”

H.R. 2051 now heads to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A second person has been charged in the fatal shooting of a 66-year-old woman in Wichita.

The Wichita Eagle reports that 22-year-old Brittany McDay is jailed on $250,000 bond on a charge of first-degree murder and several other crimes in the death of Jacquelyn Harvey. During a court appearance Monday, McDay told a judge she’s unemployed.

Harvey’s son found her dead on Sept. 16, when he was dropping off his son so Harvey could take him to school. Police say her purse and vehicle were stolen. McDay also is accused of trying to use Harvey’s debit card to buy more than $1,000 worth of merchandise from Wal-Mart on or around Sept. 15.

A second person, 21-year-old Jacob Strouse, was charged last week with several charges in Harvey’s death.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after a man was found dead outside a Kansas City, Kansas, home.

The Kansas City Star reports that the body was discovered Monday afternoon. Police said the man was found face down between a house and a fence and had what appeared to be gunshot wounds.

Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 29-year-old man has been arrested after police say he tried to place a camera in a women’s restroom at a Wichita hospital.

According to Wichita police Lt. James Espinoza, the camera was discovered at Wesley Medical Center shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday. Authorities say the suspect was identified by the video on his own camera, which was recording as he placed the camera in the restroom.

Espinoza said the man was arrested at the hospital on suspicion of breach of privacy.

He was booked into Sedgwick County Jail and is being held on a $25,000.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 58-year-old man has been arrested after police say he attached jumper cables to the ears of a 15-year-old boy in Wichita to get information about who had robbed him.

According to Wichita police Lt. James Espinoza, the boy was walking early Sunday when he said someone placed a gun at his back. Police say the suspect led the teen to a garage, where he tied him to a trailer hitch attached to a van.

Espinoza said the suspect then attached jumper cables to the boy’s ears and shocked him repeatedly while questioning him about a recent robbery. According to police, the man’s wallet had been stolen and he believed the teen knew who was responsible.

The suspect eventually released the boy, who walked home and told his father what happened. He was taken to a hospital.

The man faces charges of aggravated battery and kidnapping.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback is preparing to sign a proclamation designating October as “Zombie Preparedness Month” in Kansas.

The governor has scheduled a signing ceremony for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in his Statehouse office and workers from the state Division of Emergency Management are expected to join him.

The event has the serious purpose of encouraging Kansas residents to prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies. Brownback said in a statement that people should have disaster kits, make plans for handling such emergencies and practice their responses.

Brownback also said, “If you’re prepared for zombies, you’re prepared for anything.”

The division said it and other public safety agencies plan to have zombie preparedness challenges on social media throughout the month.