WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is urging “humility and restraint” to ease tensions between the state’s legislative and judicial branches.

Schmidt made the plea Friday in a statement over two pending lawsuits filed against the state by district court judges.

A state judge earlier this month struck down a 2014 law stripping the Kansas Supreme Court of its ability to appoint chief judges. The judge ruled the law violated the state constitution by infringing on the Supreme Court’s power to administer the courts. That order is on hold while the state appeals.

Legislators this year passed another law nullifying the judicial branch’s entire budget if the policy change was struck down.

Schmidt plans to ask the justices to remove themselves from the case because it directly involves their own power.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is nominating longtime Pentagon official Eric Fanning to be the Army’s new secretary. If confirmed, Fanning would be the nation’s first openly gay leader of a military service.

Obama says Fanning brings years of experience and leadership to the role. He says in a statement that he’s confident Fanning will lead U.S. soldiers with distinction.

Fanning is currently the Army’s acting under secretary and has served as the Air Force’s acting secretary and chief of staff to the Defense secretary.

The nomination comes as the Obama administration works to eliminate barriers to military service based on sexuality or gender.

Fanning’s nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. He would replace John McHugh, who has said he plans to step down no later than November 1.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents is asking state lawmakers for more than $10 million in funding to build new science facilities at the University of Kansas.

The board approved its budget request for the next legislative session on Thursday. The Lawrence Journal-World  reports that the board plans to forward the request to Gov. Sam Brownback by the Oct. 1 deadline.

To construct the integrated science buildings, the university is requesting $3.5 million in fiscal year 2017 and $7 million in fiscal year 2018.

Tentative plans call for two facilities as part of a broader initiative to enhance and link science facilities across the campus.

MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A California company has recalled several brands of soft cheeses after they were linked to 24 illnesses around the country and a death in Ohio. The cheese was distributed nationwide.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that Karoun Dairies, Inc. has voluntarily recalled and stopped production of several cheeses, including those sold under the brand names Karoun, Arz, Gopi, Queso Del Valle, Central Valley Creamery and Yanni.

The CDC said that five of the illnesses were in pregnant women, and one resulted in a fetal loss. Fourteen of the listeria illnesses were in California. The other illnesses were in Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Tennessee and Washington.

Listeria generally only affects the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborn infants.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years for the shooting death of a Kansas woman just hours after her wedding.

Awnterio Dwan Lowery, 31, was sentenced Thursday for the death of 42-year-old Tiffany Davenport-Ray.

Prosecutors say in May 2014 Lowery and two other men shot at the Topeka woman and her husband, Melvin Ray, as they were driving to a post-reception gathering. Prosecutors say Melvin Ray, who was driving, returned fire and his wife was hit by in the crossfire.

Lowery was convicted in July of premeditated first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

A second man, 38-year-old Thomas Earl Brown Jr., is charged with premeditated first-degree murder in Davenport-Ray’s killing. His case is pending.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge says applications for two county commission openings filled late last year by Gov. Sam Brownback are not exempt from the state’s open records law.

Shawnee County District Judge Rebecca Crotty on Friday denied a motion by Brownback’s attorneys to dismiss a lawsuit filed in January by The Salina Journal and The Associated Press seeking information on applicants for the newly created Saline County Commission seats.

The governor’s attorneys also requested a summary judgment declaring the requested records were exempt under state statute, but Crotty denied that motion, too.

Saline County residents voted in November to expand the commission from three to five members. The AP and the newspaper argued that applicants’ names and other details are public information, but Brownback’s office insisted they were a personnel matter.

HUTCHINSON -The inmate who died last week after an altercation with another inmate and facility staff at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility has been identified, according to a media release.

He is Vincent E. Scott, age 49. He had been incarcerated due to several convictions from both Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was notified of the inmate’s death in accordance with state law and is conducting an investigation.

Due to the ongoing investigation no further information is available at this time.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A panel of Kansas lawmakers is seeking a consulting firm that can identify significant saving opportunities in the state budget.

The Legislative Budget Committee started interviewing firms on Thursday and is expected to make a selection on Friday. The committee is considering pitches from four consultants and is holding each session behind closed doors.

Republican state Rep. Ron Ryckman Jr. of Olathe says the committee wants to be “as open as possible,” but the closed sessions are necessary in order to protect “trade secrets.”

Budget director Shawn Sullivan says it’ll be difficult for the firms to come up with new budget cut ideas, but he’s hopeful that the process will be productive.

Lawmakers earmarked $3 million for a contract with a firm that will perform a study and recommend efficiencies.

ATCHISON, Kan. (AP) — A Missouri man is charged with second-degree murder after a fatal shooting outside an Atchison, Kansas, convenience store.
Nineteen-year-old Terell Dixon of Clinton, Missouri, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder. Prosecutors say he shot 24-year-old Winston Dowling of Atchison, Kansas, Wednesday at the convenience store.

Dixon is being held in Henry County, Missouri, where he was arrested after the shooting. He refused to waive extradition earlier this week.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Jurors in the first-degree murder trial of a Kansas health care attendant have watched a video of the man telling police why he killed a client.

The Lawrence Journal-World  reports that 49-year-old Ronald Eugene Heskett, of Eudora, is on trial for the 2014 death of 65-year-old Vance Moulton.

In a recording shown Thursday, Heskett says Moulton wanted to die so he could “see his mom and be able to walk again.” Moulton had cerebral palsy.

The interrogation video also shows Heskett cutting himself with a pocketknife when detectives left the room. Upon returning, detectives disarmed Heskett. He’s heard saying he cut himself because he felt “so guilty.”

Prosecutors say Heskett had money problems and some of Moulton’s money is missing. The trial is expected to continue through next week.

WICHITA- Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating the death of a woman in her 60s as a homicide.

Wichita police say 66-year-old Jacquelyn Harvey was found dead in her home from a gunshot wound Wednesday morning by her son.

According to Lt. Todd Ojile, the victim’s body had at least one gunshot wound and her purse and SUV were missing.

Police have made one arrest in the case.

On Thursday morning, police reported they needed the public’s help in locating Brittany R. McDay, 22, in reference to the murder.

She is a biracial, 5 foot tall and weighs 145 pounds, according to police.

Anyone with information about her is to call 911.

-the Associated Press contributed to this story

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas residents whose voter registrations have been suspended because they haven’t provided a passport or birth certificate have 90 days to provide the documents before their registrations are canceled.

The Kansas City Star reports Secretary of State Kris Kobach issued the 90-day rule on Thursday, saying it was matter of efficiency and cost-savings. Voting rights groups vigorously objected to the time limit, which goes into effect early next month.

More than 35,000 voter registration applications are currently “in suspense,” of which about 30,000 are incomplete because registrants haven’t provided the required identification.

Proof-of-citizenship documents have been required since January 2013 but there was no limit on how long county election officials had to keep incomplete registrations.

WICHITA-Volunteers on Friday morning successfully fired up the engines of a B-29 Superfortress bomber that was last used during the Korean War.

All four engines are a go! Success #B29 #EngineStart pic.twitter.com/RpVRWJD0hT

— Doc’s Friends (@DocsFriends) September 18, 2015

 

 

Restoring the historic airplane has been a 15-year effort. Friday’s engine test is a step that volunteers hope will put it one step closer to its first flight.

Built in Wichita 70 years ago, the plane was dubbed “Doc” after being assigned to a squadron of eight bombers named for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was finished too late to fly bombing missions during World War II, though it eventually served as a radar trainer during the Korean War. -The Associated Press contributed to this story