TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge has put on hold his order striking down a policy imposed on the courts in a move that protects the judicial branch’s budget.

Shawnee County District Judge Larry Hendricks issued a stay Thursday at Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s request.

Hendricks on Wednesday struck down a 2014 law having district court judges instead of the Kansas Supreme Court pick chief judges in each of the state’s 31 judicial districts. Hendricks said the law violated the state constitution by infringing on the Supreme Court’s power to administer the courts.

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

Schmidt has promised to appeal Hendricks’ decision Wednesday, and the stay will remain in effect in the meantime.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is asking a state judge to put on hold his order striking down a policy imposed on the courts to protect the judicial branch’s budget.

Schmidt filed the request Thursday with Shawnee County District Judge Larry Hendricks.

Hendricks on Wednesday struck down a 2014 law having district court judges instead of the Kansas Supreme Court pick chief judges in each of the state’s 31 judicial districts. Hendricks said the law violated the state constitution by infringing on the Supreme Court’s power to administer the courts.

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

Schmidt noted that any court ruling doesn’t take effect for two weeks and promised in his filing to appeal Hendricks’ ruling.

ST. GEORGE – Law enforcement authorities in Pottawatomie County are investigating two suspects who are in custody following a Thursday morning chase.

Just before 5 a.m. on Thursday, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a resident in the Oak View area of St. George, reporting that they saw the dome light come on in their 2012 Chevy Camaro, according to Sheriff Greg Riat.

The caller went to investigate what was going on when the Camaro was driven away from his residence.

A Sheriff’s deputy saw the suspects driving the Camaro driving east on Highway 24 at a high rate of speed

The vehicle left Highway 24 and went east on Vineyard Road.

Two suspects, a driver and passenger, abandoned the vehicle in the area of Vineyard Road and White Tale Lane.

One suspect was taken into custody a short time later, and the second suspect was taken into custody just before 8:00 a.m.

Names of the suspects have not been released.

The Kansas Highway Patrol, a helicopter from the Kansas Highway Patrol Aircraft division and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, assisted the Pottawatomie Count Sheriff’s Office.

MAIZE- A modified lock down that was put in place at Maize High School on Thursday morning has been lifted, according to a statement from USD 266.

A social media post led administrators and police to work together on what was believed to be a threat against specific students at Maize High School, according to the school district.

Maize Police are working on an ongoing investigation, and the threat has been addressed and an arrest has been made.  Authorities have not released names or additional details.

Student safety will remain a priority. The potential risk has been resolved, the district reported.

Employees followed protocol during the modified lock down, which means that students continued their lessons in classrooms with their teachers. All students were kept in their classrooms during that time.

Safety of our students and staff remains a top priority.

During the modified lock down, our other schools followed normal protocols regarding safety.

Our staff members did a great job keeping our students safe.

Additional administrators and additional police officers were on site at Maize High School, according to the school district.

By MICHELLE KEYES
K-State Research and Extension

MANHATTAN – Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, improved bacon could soon be on its way. Bacon is one of the most popular cuts of pork, and finding a way to deliver restaurants and consumers an even better product is the focus of research at Kansas State University.

Terry Houser, an associate professor in the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, is exploring what level of pork belly fat saturation will result in longer shelf life and better flavor. Currently, bacon used in the food service sector, which includes restaurants, is stored frozen but is not vacuum packaged, he said. This method can lead to off-flavors in meat with higher levels of unsaturated fat.

Houser and his team are studying the influence a pig’s iodine level—a measure of fat saturation—has on shelf life value of bacon. He said if bacon fat is too unsaturated, it could cause the fat to be soft and undesirable to the consumer. Also, unsaturated fat causes problems with slicing the bellies once they are cooked and smoked.

The theory behind this research, Houser said, is that pigs with relatively high iodine levels result in problems with bacon quality from those pigs’ bellies.

“Pigs with relatively high iodine levels have a more unsaturated fat in the belly, which means those bellies will be softer and more prone to increased rates of lipid oxidation,” Houser said.

Increased rates of lipid oxidation have been linked to greater occurrence of rancid flavors in meat products, he explained. Additionally, soft bellies are challenging to slice with commercial meat processing equipment and may result in lower slicing yields for the bacon manufacturer.

“We wanted to see what the effects freezing has on lipid oxidation, or off-flavor development in those bacon products,” Houser said. “The results showed us that bacon is very unstable once it is in a frozen storage, in a HRI (hotel, restaurant and institutional) type of packaging system.”

Houser and his team’s ongoing research to create better bacon will explore ways to identify bacon that is higher in unsaturated fat and how to make the fat more stable in frozen storage.

More references related to meat quality and safety can be found at your local extension office or online on the K-State Research and Extension website.

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on a federal judge’s decision to overturn the NFL’s four-game suspension of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the “Deflategate” scandal.

 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league will appeal a federal judge’s ruling striking down Tom Brady’s four-game suspension in “Deflategate.”

Goodell said in a statement Thursday that it’s paramount to protect the integrity of the game and his office’s responsibilities under the collective bargaining agreement with players.

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The executive director of the NFL Players Association says a judge overturning Tom Brady’s four-game “Deflategate” suspension shows that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell needs to act fairly.

DeMaurice Smith said in a statement Thursday that the players contract does not allow Goodell to be arbitrary and misleading when he uses his power to discipline players.

Smith says the decision by U.S. District Judge Richard Berman should signal to all NFL team owners that collective bargaining is better than legal losses, leading to “far better results.”

 

 

LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press
TOM HAYS, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady can suit up for his team’s season opener after a judge erased his four-game suspension for “Deflategate.”

The surprise ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Berman came Thursday after more than one month of failed settlement talks between the NFL and its players’ union. Many legal experts believed the judge was merely pressuring the sides to settle when he criticized the NFL’s handling of the case at two hearings in August.

But the judge wasn’t posturing.

He came out forcefully in Brady’s favor, maligning the NFL for its handling of the scandal that erupted after the AFC championship game in January, when officials discovered during the first half that Brady used underinflated footballs. New England beat the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 then won the Super Bowl two weeks later.

An NFL investigation led to Brady’s suspension, which Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The president of Shell Oil Co. says exploratory drilling off Alaska’s northwest coast is going well despite stormy weather last week that caused the company to halt operations for a few days.

Marvin Odum told The Associated Press safety will be the overriding determinant of whether Shell completes exploratory wells this year in the Chukchi Sea.

Federal regulators have given Shell permission to drill up to six exploratory wells in the Chukchi over two years.

Drilling is strongly opposed by environmental groups.

Shell in 2008 spent $2.1 billion on Chukchi leases and is attempting to confirm a massive oil field that could provide a 50-year supply of petroleum.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates Arctic waters in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas hold up to 26 billion barrels of recoverable oil.

WICHITA — Two people living in Liberal were indicted Wednesday on charges of trafficking more than 4 pounds of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Thursday in a news release.

Jose Alaniz-Hernandez, 37, and Anna Noreiga-Perez, 20, both of whom have been living in Liberal, were charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In court records, prosecutors allege that on Aug. 26, 2015, investigators served a search warrant at Space Station Secure Storage, 1120 E. Second Street in Liberal. In the unit, which was being used by the defendants, investigators found three Tupperware containers and 17 clear plastic bags containing approximately 4 pounds of methamphetamine.

“Methamphetamine is a principal drug threat in Kansas,” said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom. “Whether it comes from laboratories in Mexico or it is locally produced, it is readily available in our communities, along with the violence and related crimes it supports.”

If convicted, the defendants face a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $4 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind is prosecuting.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — An anchor for Fox News is suing Hasbro for more than $5 million over a toy hamster that shares her name — and possibly even her resemblance.

Harris Faulkner sued the Rhode Island-based toy company this week, saying it has wrongfully appropriated her name and persona with its plastic Harris Faulkner hamster in the “Littlest Pet Shop” line.

Faulkner has been at Fox News for a decade. She hosts the daytime show “Outnumbered” and anchors a Sunday evening newscast.

A Hasbro spokeswoman says it doesn’t comment on litigation.

Faulkner’s lawsuit says in addition to sharing her name, the toy bears a physical resemblance to Faulkner, including its complexion, eye shape and eye makeup.

The suit says the company’s portrayal of her as a rodent is demeaning and insulting.

The Kansas Missing and Unsolved Facebook page is reporting Fort Riley woman Jessica Echevarria as “missing.”

According to the flyer, Echevarria went missing from Fort Riley on Aug. 16.

It is believed she may be going to either southern California or Houston, and she was last known to be driving a 2000 or 2001 red Honda Civic two-door coupe with black rims.

She is 29 years old, brown eyes, 5’5″ tall and weights around 180 pounds. Last time Jessica was seen, she had dark brown hair.

If you have any information regarding Echevarria’s disappearance or you know of her whereabouts, call Ft. Riley CID Agenet Andrew Johnson at (248) 807-1336 or (785) 239-2681.

Click the image for the flyer from the Kansas Missing & Unsolved Facebook page.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers have created a committee to review school standards and funding.

The K-12 Student Success Interim Study Committee created Wednesday will have 15 members from the House and Senate. The Kansas City Star reports the committee will study education goals and “the best funding mechanism” for Kansas schools.

House Speaker Ray Merrick, a Stilwell Republican, proposed the committee. It comes after the state replaced a per-pupil funding formula with block grants for the next two years while the state devises a new school financing formula.

Lawmakers also approved an interim committee to study sales tax exemptions. During last session’s budget debate, lawmakers disagreed over whether some current exemptions should be repealed.

MOUNDRIDGE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a home was destroyed in an explosion in McPherson County.

According to McPherson County Sheriff’s Capt. Doug Anderson, the explosion happened about 6 p.m. Wednesday in Moundridge. He said the home, which a preliminary report says is vacant, is a total loss. No injuries were reported.

The sheriff’s department and firefighters responded to the scene.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

CIMARRON – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 11p.m. on Wednesday in Gray County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Freightliner semi driven by Rollie Dean McRoberts, 46, Dodge City, was westbound on U.S. 50 six miles east of Cimarron.

The truck went left of center and sideswiped an eastbound 2004 Kenworth semi driven Bernardo Lopez-Carrasco, 63, Dodge City.

McRoberts was transported to Western Plains Medical Center.

Lopez-Carrasco was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police have arrested four women in a prostitution sting in downtown Wichita.

Police records show the women were arrested on several charges including prostitution and solicitation for immoral purposes. They range in age from 30 to 55.

According to Wichita police Lt. James Espinoza, the sting was conducted Tuesday over a six-hour period due to several complaints from neighbors in the area.