ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department says federal law enforcement must now generally obtain search warrants before using secretive and intrusive cellphone technology.

The warrant requirement is part of a new policy unveiled this week regarding cell-site simulators, which can sweep up basic cellphone data from a neighborhood and help identify a suspect’s location. There are some exemptions to getting a warrant, such as during an emergency.

The policy also requires deleting cellphone data that’s been collected once law enforcement officials have the information that they need.

Still, it’s unclear how broad an impact the policy will have, since it does not directly affect local law enforcement except when they’re working alongside federal authorities.

Local police departments, including in Baltimore, have faced scrutiny over how they employ the technology.

ROXANA HEGEMAN, Associated Press
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Mexican man who was deported while on bail awaiting trial in Wichita for unlawful re-entry is not getting another chance for freedom during his latest legal troubles.

The defense attorney for Juan Lopez-Morales waived his rights Friday to a detention hearing, saying his client is now serving an 18-month sentence in a Texas illegal re-entry case. His attorney says even without that, it would have been difficult to get him bond again.

Prosecutors contend their case against Lopez-Morales highlights problems that arise when immigrants who are illegally living in the U.S. are granted bail in criminal cases.

After posting bond, Lopez-Morales was transferred into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and removed because of an outstanding deportation order.

The 41-year-old was indicted in Kansas on illegal re-entry.

——

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Mexican man who was deported while awaiting trial here will return to court Friday. And this time, prosecutors hope to prevent him from being deported too soon.

Prosecutors say their case against Lopez-Morales highlights problems that arise when immigrants who are illegally living in the U.S. are granted bail in criminal cases.

The 41-year-old was indicted on a felony charge of illegal re-entry last year. His attorney convinced the court to release him on bond despite vehement objections by prosecutors, who warned the move would lead to deportation.

After posting bond, Lopez-Morales was transferred into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and removed because of an outstanding deportation order.

He was arrested on a similar charge in July. A detention hearing in the case is scheduled Friday.

ENSIGN- A Kansas man died from injuries in an accident just after 4p.m. on Friday in Grey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Dodge pickup driven by Cornelius Loewen, 65, Sublette, was westbound on U.S. 56, two miles east of Ensign.

A westbound 2007 Kenworth semi driven by Josue Robles, 45, Dodge City, moved to the eastbound lane to make a right turn on to 21 Road.

The pickup struck the semi on the right hand side between the steer axle and axle two.

Both vehicles came to rest in the north ditch.
Loewen was transported to Western Plains Medical Center.  The Kansas Highway Patrol reported he died Friday night.
Robles was not injured.

Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — An expert says the Missouri man convicted of killing three people at separate Jewish sites in Kansas will live only five to six more years.

Jurors are deciding whether Frazier Glenn Miller should be sentenced to death or life in prison for the April 2014 shootings.

The 74-year-old Miller, an avowed white supremacist, has represented himself at trial. On Friday, he called Dr. James Lineback to the stand. The pulmonologist testified that research suggests Miller, who suffers from emphysema, will live another five to six years.

Miller killed 69-year-old William Corporon and Corporon’s 14-year-old grandson, Reat Griffin Underwood, at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, then 53-year-old Terri LaManno at the nearby Village Shalom retirement center. None of the victims was Jewish.

Jurors will resume their sentencing deliberations Tuesday.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 20-year-old Lawrence woman convicted of killing her roommate has been sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Sarah Gonzales McLinn was found guilty in March of the premeditated, first-degree murder of 52-year-old pizza shop owner Harold “Hal” Sasko in January 2014. Sasko was McLinn’s roommate and former employer. Authorities said he was nearly decapitated.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports Douglas County District Court judge Paula Martin on Friday gave McLinn the 50-year prison sentence recommended by the jury. Under the sentence, McLinn would be first eligible for parole after serving 50 years.

During her trial, McLinn’s attorneys acknowledged McLinn killed Sasko, but they sought acquittal by claiming she had mental disease or defect at the time of the slaying. Defense witnesses also testified that McLinn had multiple personalities.

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The bond has been lowered for a woman charged in the death of her 16-month-old child.

The Arkansas City Traveler reports that 29-year-old Lindsey Abegg and 27-year-old Jacob Brickey, both of Arkansas City, are each charged with first-degree murder during the commission of child abuse, and an alternative count of first-degree murder in the commission of aggravated endangerment of a child.

Police say 16-month-old Astra Abegg was found dead last month at an Arkansas City apartment. The cause of death has not been announced.

Abegg has been in custody since Aug. 19 on $250,000 bond. She’s now being held in lieu of $75,000 bond.

Her next appearance in court is set for Sept. 28.

FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) — No injuries were reported after a Black Hawk helicopter made an emergency landing south of Fort Riley.

The Manhattan Mercury reports the crew of a UH-60 Black Hawk made the landing in a field about 5 miles south of Fort Riley on Wednesday night.

Fort Riley says in a release the four crew members from the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade were uninjured.

The cause of the emergency landing is under investigation.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge gave final approval to a $90 million settlement in the lawsuit by former Boeing workers over retirement plan benefits after the sale of the company’s Wichita operations.

U.S. District Judge Monti Belot found on Thursday that the settlement agreement is “fair, reasonable, and adequate,” and was entered into in good faith.

The settlement in class-action lawsuit covers former Boeing workers who were participants in the company’s retirement plan in June 2005. The settlement covers Boeing workers who had at least 10 years of vesting service and were between the ages of 49 and 55 at the time they went to work at Spirit AeroSystems or its predecessor Mid-Western Aircraft systems.

Belot preliminarily approved it in May, and this final ruling comes after a fairness hearing last month.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The headquarters of Kansas City-based Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar is moving to California.

The company also says Steven R. Layt, president of Applebee’s, will not move and has resigned.

The Kansas City Star reports that a statement from DineEquity Inc., the California company that owns the Applebee’s and IHOP chains, said the move to Glendale, California, is aimed at spurring brand growth and developing traditional and non-traditional locations.

Applebee’s headquarters moved to Kansas City from Lenexa, Kanas, in 2011, after receiving a $12.9 million incentive package.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback says the public pension system in Kansas is on a solid financial footing, though he’s still open to changes such as moving toward a 401(k)-style plan for new teachers and government workers.

The Republican governor had a news conference Friday to discuss the financial health of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. The event was less than a month after the state sold $1 billion in bonds to bolster the system’s finances.

Brownback and KPERS officials argue issuing the bonds makes it easier to close a $9.5 billion gap in funding for retirees’ benefits over the next 18 years. Even without the bonds, the state expected to eliminate the shortfall.

The governor said his administration is always looking at additional changes, including a 401(k)-style plan.

———————

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is preparing to tout the state’s sale of $1 billion in bonds as a boost to the financial health of the pension system for teachers and government workers.

Brownback scheduled a Friday morning news conference at the Statehouse with Executive Director Alan Conroy of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.

The state sold the bonds last month. State officials expect the pension system to earn more from investing the proceeds than it will pay in interest to investors.

The move is aimed at making it easier to close a long-term funding gap facing the system. Supporters compare it to paying off high-interest credit card debt with a lower-interest loan.

But some financial analysts have said the state is increasing its financial risks.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Preliminary data of wheat samples from 47 counties in Kansas shows test weights and protein were both down for this year’s crop.

The report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service and Kansas Grain Inspection Service released Thursday is the only wheat quality report the agencies plan to release for the 2015 wheat harvest.

It shows an average test weight of 59.9 pounds per bushel, down from the 60.5 pounds per bushel a year ago.

Protein content averaged 12.7 percent, down from last year’s 13.4.

Just 53 percent of the samples graded as No. 1 wheat — well below the 73 percent that got the top rating a year ago.

About 38 percent of the samples graded as No. 2 wheat and 9 percent graded as No. 3 or below.

The Associated Press

Nissan is recalling nearly 300,000 of its Versa and Versa Note vehicles to adjust a console panel that could catch the driver’s shoe and slow braking speed.

The carmaker says it received a report of an accident involving injury, but no deaths have been tied to the issue.

It says in rare cases, the right edge of a driver’s shoe might catch on the center console’s lower trim panel.

Nissan North America Inc. says it will notify owners and dealers and modify the console trim panel for free.

The company expects to start the recall by mid-October.

It involves Versa sedans made between June 9, 2011, and March 11, 2015, and Versa Note vehicles made between April 23, 2013 and March 11, 2015.