RENO COUNTY —An earthquake shook south central Kansas Saturday evening.

The quake just after 9p.m. measured a magnitude 3.2 and was centered approximately 2 miles west, northwest of south Hutchinson, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Saturday’s quake follows There were 8 quakes over the past week in Kansas, according to the Kansas Geological Survey.

There are no reports of damage or injury from Saturday’s quake.

HUTCHINSON —One of two men convicted in the death a Hutchinson man during a drug sale was sentenced to four year in prison Friday.

Similar to his co-defendant Curtis Garcia, Tristan Delaney entered a plea to a second-degree murder charge after originally being charged with felony murder for the killing of Norman Cushinberry.

The crime involves Delaney, 18 at the time of the crime and Cushinberry purchasing drugs. According to court testimony, Delaney and Garcia had been texting the day of the shooting about the purchase of around a quarter pound of marijuana.

There is also some indication over phony money being involved. Garcia, who had his children in his pickup during the transaction, claims he was there to sell an Xbox and not drugs. The victim tried to pay for the marijuana with counterfeit money, so Garcia left.

Delaney then texted Garcia to come back because they would have real money. Once Garcia arrived a second time, the victim allegedly got into Garcia’s pickup. He then asked him to turn the truck off. Once Garcia complied, Cushinberry pulled a 9 mm Ruger semi-automatic handgun.

Delaney came from the porch with a 12-gauge shotgun. Garcia grabbed a handgun he had in the pickup and fired at Delaney, striking him. An altercation then occurred in the pickup and Cushinberry was shot. Garcia then went to the passenger side of the truck, pulled the victim out and left him in the street where he died.

During the sentencing Friday, the victims sister noted that they still love Delaney.  Delaney apologized to the family and asked for forgiveness.

Delaney who has been incarcerated for 15 months will get credit for time served as well as any good time in prison meaning he could be out much sooner than four years. Garcia who actually fired the fatal shots, was sentenced in October just over 11 years in prison.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas bar that was the site of a shooting that killed four men and left five others injured has added more security.

The Tequila KC Bar in Kansas City, Kansas, reopened late last month. The shooting at about 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 6 was believed to have been carried out by a man who had been kicked out earlier that night and an accomplice.

The suspected shooters, 29-year-old Hugo Villanueva-Morales and 23-year-old Javier Alatorre, both face four counts of first-degree murder. Alatorre is in custody; Villanueva-Morales is still being sought.

Bar owner Erik Gomez says he used to keep one security guard at the bar on Saturday and Sunday nights, but now has three on Fridays, two on Saturdays and one on Sundays.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a gas leak and the death of a woman.

Just after 8p.m, Friday the Topeka Fire Department was dispatched to possible gas leak at a residence in the 900 block of SW Warren in Topeka, according to Lt. Shane Hilton.

Topeka Police were requested to assist with forcing entry into the home. Once inside, first responders found an adult female and she was pronounced deceased by medical personnel.

A second person was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Due to suspicious circumstances witnessed by the responding officers, the residence was secured and Crime Scene Officers and Detectives were investigating the scene, according to Hilton. Police did not release names of the victims.

FORD COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities in southwest Kansas were busy on Halloween during a sweep to make arrests for those with outstanding warrants.

The Ford County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Highway Patrol, Dodge City Police Department and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks arrested 13 individuals within Ford County, according to Sheriff  Bill Carr.

Nine of those arrested were on drug related charges including for Distribution of Methamphetamines, Distribution of Cocaine or Distribution of Fentanyl.  Four others were arrested on unrelated warrants, according to Carr.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Kansas City Council has rejected a measure to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Councilman Brandon Ellington initially proposed decriminalized possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana. An amendment instead allowed offenders to plead guilty, face a fine and have their record expunged after 180 days.

The proposals would have applied only to municipal marijuana offenses. County prosecutors can also bring marijuana charges, though Jackson County no longer takes up those cases.

Ellington didn’t support the new version, which failed Thursday on a 5-6 vote. Ellington said he was told that a municipal marijuana arrest record is forwarded onto the state, meaning expunging it on the local level would still leave a state record. He plans to reintroduce his original plan.

RILEY COUNTY —Police in Manhattan need help finding 33-year-old Cory Calkins, who escaped from custody Saturday morning.

Police arrested him on probable cause offenses of aggravated burglary, possession of meth, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, according to a media release.

Calkins has previous convictions for theft, burglary, “unlawful vol sex relations intercourse,” obstruction and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of corrections

Police reminded “If you see Calkins do not approach him and call 911.

 

GEARY COUNTY —A man and a woman were taken into custody following the alleged kidnapping of a one-year old infant boy in the 1000 block of West 6th Street in Junction City and a pursuit that ended west of Lawrence Friday, according to Junction City Police. The one-year old infant was rescued safely.

The incident began just before 2 p.m. Friday with the Kansas Highway Patrol joining Junction City police in tracking the Chevrolet Silverado pickup as it traveled down Interstate 70. It was located west of Topeka but was eventually stopped farther east.

No injuries were reported. Police did not release names of the suspects.

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on a number of new charges after an arrest in Riley County.

Just after 6p.m. Thursday, police arrested Mark Anthony Koch, Sr. 51, Manhattan, on a Riley County District Court Warrant for alleged crimes that include “aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary; dwelling for felony, theft, sex; aggravated battery; knowingly cause great bodily harm or disfigurement, burglary; dwelling to commit felony, theft or sexually motivated crime, theft of property or services; value $1,500 to $25,000; theft from building, theft of property or services; Value $1,500 to $25,000 and theft of motor vehicle parts or accessories, according to the RCPD booking report.

The crimes allegedly occurred October 10 and 11, according the RCPD. He is being held on a $250,000.00 bond.

Koch has previous convictions for theft, criminal damage to property, battery and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 7:30a.m. Friday in Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 GMC Sierra driven by Joseph F. McIntyre, 19, St. Marys, was westbound on U.S. 24 one mile northwest of Darling Road in the eastbound lane. 

The pickup struck a 1996 Ford Explorer driven by K Kathleen Cummings, 54, Belvue, head-on.

Cummings was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics. EMS transported McIntyre to a hospital in Topeka. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Local Republican leaders have called on a GOP legislator from Wichita to resign after a newspaper investigation linked him to an ad making false claims against a Democratic colleague running for mayor.

Sedgwick County GOP’s leaders demanded that Rep. Michael Capps step down over the attack on Rep. Brandon Whipple.

Whipple hopes to unseat Mayor Jeff Longwell in Tuesday’s election.

A Capps-owned company was the original owner of a website domain name mirroring the name of a company that paid for the ad. The firm also listed the same address as Capps’ business.

The YouTube and Facebook ad falsely suggests Whipple has been accused of sexual harassment at the Statehouse.

Capps didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

TOPEKA – For the month of October, the state saw an increase in its total tax collections at $552.9 million; 7.1% or $36.8 million ahead of estimates. These collections amount to $41.5 million more than October of Fiscal Year 2019, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Revenue.

Individual and corporate income tax collections continued to be more than estimated. Individual income tax collections were $15.0 million ahead of the estimate at $260.0 million; $17.8 million ahead of the same month last fiscal year. Corporate income tax collections were at $26.2 million; $6.2 million more than the estimate and $6.7 million more than collected in October of FY2019.

Retail and compensating use tax collections were also ahead of the estimate. Retail sales tax collections were at $200.8 million; $8.8 million or 4.6% ahead of the estimate. These collections were $10.4 million more than the same month of Fiscal Year 2019. Compensating use tax collections came in $7.7 million or 22.6% ahead of estimates at $41.7 million; a $7.2 million increase from October of FY2019.

“The increase the state is seeing in compensating use tax collections could be, in part, due to the recent increase in the number of registrations by out-of-state retailers,” Secretary Mark Burghart said.

“As we saw in September, the latest report is a positive sign as we slowly recover from the failed Brownback-Colyer tax experiment,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Still, we’re mindful of the need to remain cautious and show fiscal restraint as we continue to rebuild the state and strengthen the economy.” 

KIOWA COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a high-speed chase and crash that sent a Kansas deputy to the hospital.

Just after 6:30 p.m. Thursday, law enforcement authorities informed officials in Greensburg of a chase  with a motorcycle was heading to Kiowa County from Pratt County, according to Sheriff Chris Tedder.

A Kiowa County Sheriff deputy located the red 2001 Honda motorcycle on U.S. 54 at about the 111 milepost and traveling at a high rate of speed.

As officers turned to stop the vehicle,  the motorcycle accelerated gaining about a half mile on the deputies and traveled into Greensburg. As deputies caught up with the motorcycle, the driver of lead patrol unit lost control and the vehicle crashed into a drainage ditch, according to Tedder.

The suspect on the motorcycle identified as 18-year-old Isaac Mason of Wisconsin was located at the Ford-Kiowa County line and taken into custody without further incident.

The deputy was transported to Kiowa County Memorial Hospital and he was later transported by ambulance to Wichita, in stable but critical condition. The sheriff did not release the name of the deputy.

Mason is being held in Pratt County on requested charges that include “flee or attempt to elude, five or more moving violations and vehicles; Unlawful Acts; e.g. registration: STAT,” according to online booking records.