CALDWELL, Kan. (AP) — Another small earthquake has shaken south-central Kansas.

The Kansas Geological Survey says the latest quake struck Saturday night near the small Sumner County town of Caldwell. It had a preliminary magnitude of 2.5. At least one earthquake a day has rattled the area since Tuesday, with magnitudes ranging from 2.2 to 3.1.

More than 200 earthquakes have been recorded in Kansas since Jan. 1, 2013. Only five were detected in the previous 10 years. Many have been centered in Sumner and Harper Counties. The Kansas Geological Survey said last month that the increase in the two counties was linked to saltwater injection after oil and natural gas drilling.

KISMET- A Kansas man died in an accident just after 6:30a.m. on Sunday in Seward County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Ford SUV driven by Jon Steven Wiggins, 27, Dodge City, was westbound on U.S. 54 one mile west of Kismet.

The SUV drifted across the centerline and struck an eastbound 2015 Volvo semi driven by James Ray Lemley, 60, Laredo, Texas.
Wiggins was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Miller’s Mortuary.

A passenger in the SUV Christopher Borges, 29, Magnolia, TX., was transported to Wesley Medical Center.

Lemley and a passenger in the semi were not injured.

The passenger in the semi was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Shawnee County officials have been working to make sure that state and federal officials are aware of efforts to replace a decaying bridge.

The latest effort was from Shawnee County Commissioner Bob Archer, who spoke with U.S. House Speaker John Boehner about the $24.7 million project to replace Willard Bridge while Boehner was attending a recent fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports said the bridge, built in 1955, has structural issues, including decay. The county has lowered the weight limit to deal with the decay.

The commission also approved a letter requesting the Kansas Department of Transportation float up to $10 million to help replace the bridge and has written to Jenkins and Sens. Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts requesting their help get federal assistance.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man has been ordered to spend 89 years in prison for trying to kill his wife and two sons.

The Wichita Eagle reports that 40-year-old Pettix McMillan was sentenced Friday for three counts of attempted first-degree murder. The sentence is more than double what McMillan was expected to receive under Kansas sentencing guidelines.

McMillan was accused of shooting his wife during an argument in the garage of their west Wichita home, then of shooting his 5- and 13-year-old sons in the head. All survived the March 14, 2014, attack.

McMillan’s attorney asked in a court document for a shorter sentence, saying his client was “remorseful” and “not a danger to society.” The document said McMillan had “momentarily lost his bearings” when he shot his family.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY – A Kansas man died in an accident just after 4a.m. on Sunday in Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Chevy 1500 driven by Colby Scott Mathies, 27, Manhattan, was southbound on Carnahan from Wildflower Road.

The vehicle left the roadway toward the east and rolled. The driver was ejected.

Mathies was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Yorgensen Meloan funeral home.

He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new state audit says Kansas’ complex for juvenile offenders in Topeka still does not adequately supervise young offenders three years after a report found problems there.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports auditors found that video shows that officers at the Kansas Juvenile Corrections did not complete required checks for young offenders considered suicide risks multiple times despite recording in a log that they had.

The report from the Legislature’s auditing division said the complex addressed most problems disclosed in an earlier 2012 audit but not all of them. The maximum-security complex houses about 140 juveniles.

Auditors recommended that the complex establish a more formal and documented process to verify that officers perform required checks on offenders.

Corrections Secretary Ray Roberts promised to focus on improvements.

LA CYGNE – A woman and two children were injured in an accident following a police pursuit just after before 11 p.m. on Saturday in Miami County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the La Cygne Police Department was in pursuit of a Honda Accord.

The vehicle came around the curve at 407th and Somerset.

The driver could not navigate the curve and rolled the vehicle. The driver fled the scene of the accident on foot.

Passengers Samantha Kay Davis, 26, Hunter Spears, 4, Hayleigh Spears, 5, all of Harrisonville, MO., were transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

The children were not in car seats, according to the KHP.

The accident remains under investigation.  The La Cygne police department has not responded to a request for additional details and whether the driver was located overnight Saturday.

HUTCHINSON — After the Kansas Court appeals upheld the suppression of evidence ruling of Judge Trish Rose concerning the confession of a suspect in a child sex case; Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder says he will now seek a review by the Kansas Supreme Court.

Brandon Cousins, 21, Hutchinson, is currently charged with five off-grid felonies that could see him get life sentences on each count with no chance of parole for 25 years.

He’s charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy and three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

The alleged crimes involved a then 6-year-old girl and occurred between January 7 and July 23 of 2012. The investigation led to Cousins was arrested in December of 2012.

The defense was granted a suppression of the defendant’s statements to law enforcement with Attorney Sam Kepfield arguing that they were not given voluntarily.

District Judge Trish Rose agreed with the defense contention after taking it under advisement. She listened to the taped interview for herself and made her decision.

The trial was scheduled to begin in late September.

 

CHETOPA – A Kansas man died in an accident just after 7 p.m. on Friday in Labette County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Dixon lawn mower driven by Jason Simpson, 42, Chetopa, exited a yard at 2434 County Road 4000, into the path of a westbound 1995 Ford F 150 driven by Dustin Fraker, 23, Oswego.

The vehicles collided and ultimately came to rest on 4000 Road.

Simpson was transported to Mercy Hospital in Joplin where he died.

Fraker and two children in the Ford were not injured.

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CHETOPA – A Kansas man died in an accident just after 7 p.m. on Friday in Labette County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating an accident involving a Dixon 54 inch zero-turn lawnmower driven by Jason Simpson, 42, Chetopa, and a 1995 Ford F 150 driven by Dustin Fraker, 23, Oswego, on 4000 Road just East of U.S. 59, north of Chetopa.

Simpson was transported to Mercy Hospital in Joplin where he died.

Fraker and two children in the Ford were not injured.

Details of the crash have not been released.

MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — A new government report says the smoking rate for U.S. adults continues to fall.

The smoking rate dropped to 17 percent last year, down from about 18 percent in 2013.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the findings Tuesday, based on a large national survey.

The smoking rate has been falling for decades. Experts attribute recent declines decline to anti-smoking advertising campaigns, cigarette taxes, smoking bans, and the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes and other alternatives to traditional cigarettes.

Smoking is the nation’s leading cause of preventable illness.

The smoking rate was about 15 percent for the first three months of this year. However, beginning-of-the-year survey data tends to be skewed by the temporary impact of New Year’s resolutions.

TOPEKA –A Kansas man died in an accident just before 4 p.m. on Saturday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy passenger vehicle driven by Vickye S. Still, 71, was eastbound on U.S. 24 just west of Goodyear Road north of Topeka.

The vehicle struck a 2003 Honda motorcycle driven by Ryan T. Scott, 36, Wamego.

The motorcycle then struck a 2010 Mazda passenger vehicle driven by Leslie R. E. Gordon, 37, Topeka.

Scott was pronounced dead at the scene.
Still was transported to Stormont Vail. Gordon were not injured.

Scott was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

BREE FOWLER, AP Technology Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Several of the top Internet-connected baby monitors lack basic security features, making them vulnerable to hackers, according to new report from a cybersecurity firm.

The research released Wednesday by Boston-based Rapid7 Inc. looks at nine baby monitors made by eight different companies.

The researchers found security problems and design flaws in all of the cameras they tested. Some had hidden, unchangeable passwords that could be used to gain access. And some didn’t encrypt their data streams, or some of their web or mobile features.

Video baby monitors are very popular with many parents and the idea of someone else watching is frightening.

In addition, a hacked camera could provide access to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices in a person’s home, such as a personal computer or security system.