HAMILTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Friday in Hamilton County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Chevy Silverado driven by Garland Gould Smith, 57, Syracuse, was southbound on County Road Y three miles south of Kendall. The pickup crossed the center line and collided with a northbound 2012 Chevy Silverado driven by Payton Cole Chambless, 40, Kendall.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Don Fellers Funeral Home.

Eagle Med transported Chad Ryan Vanatta, 47, Lakin, from the 2019 Silverado to a hospital.

Chambless, one passenger in the 2012 Silverado Huston Hays, 15, and a passenger in the 2019 Silverado Michael C. William, 48, Kendall, were transported to the Hamilton County Hospital.

A third passenger in the 2012 vehicle Chance Weston Hobrok, 29, St. Francis, was transported to the hospital in Garden City.

None of the occupants in the collision were wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

HASTINGS, Neb — Crews have contained a large fire at a Hastings, Nebraska fertilizer plant and are investigating the cause.

Just after 11:45 p.m. on Thursday, fire crews responded to a reported structure fire at CPI Elevator in the area of Showboat and 6 Hwy near Hastings, according to media release from police.

Crews arrived in less than five minutes to find the facility was fully engulfed in fire.

The blaze forced authorities to close U.S. Highway 6, but the road was reopened early Friday.

Due to building collapse and other structural hazards, the fire has not been able to be fully extinguished. This will cause smoke in the area possibly through the weekend.

Authorities urged residents to keep their windows closed and turn off air conditioners if they have health conditions that could be exasperated by smoke.

The smoke should be considered no more hazardous than smoke from an outside burn, however residents should be prepared to take certain precautions should wind cause smoke in your neighborhood.

Precautions would include washing any exposed surfaces with soap and water, and keeping doors and windows shut until the smoke subsides. Individuals with a predisposition to respiratory and breathing problems may find the smoke to be irritating, and should be prepared to wear a dust mask or relocate until the smoke subsides. If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, do not hesitate to call 911 for assistance.

No injuries were reported and the extent of damages to the plant weren’t clear. Hastings is located approximately 150 miles north of Salina.

By JIM MCLEAN
Kansas News Service

Overflowing rivers and reservoirs across Kansas are already producing significant flooding, particularly in the southeast corner of the state.

But, forecasters say, things could get much worse over the next several days as slow-moving thunderstorms develop over central and northeast Kansas.

The storms, he said, could produce flooding in northeast Kansas similar to that generated by up to 20 inches of rain that fell over portions of southeast Kansas in recent days, sending the Neosho, Verdigris and Marmaton rivers over their banks.

That’s well above the region’s average rainfall for the entire month of May of about five inches.

“Many of these areas are seeing an entire month’s worth of rain in one night,” Omitt said.

Omitt joined Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and the heads of several state agencies Thursday to brief reporters on disaster relief efforts already underway and warn that more creeks, rivers and reservoirs could soon be spilling over their banks.

“We’ve got to be vigilant, we’ve got to make safety a priority,” Kelly said, noting that she has issued disaster declarations for 42 of the state’s 105 counties since the end of April.

Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the commander of the Kansas National Guard and the state’s emergency management director, said Kansans should prepare for what he calls “a multi-hazard event” – meaning more heavy rain and the increased possibility of tornadoes and other types of severe weather.

“It really creates a very dangerous situation,” Tafanelli said.

At a minimum, Tafanelli said, Kansans should factor the warnings into their plans for the Memorial Day weekend. That starts, he said, with checking to see whether rains have forced the closure of roads or state parks.

• Thes Kansas Department of Transportation website has latest information on road closures.
• The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism has the latest on flood alerts in state parks.

The recent death of a motorist who drove into water rushing over a roadway near Emporia should serve as a warning to all travelers, said Larry Thompson of the Kansas Department of Transportation.

“We’re urging drivers to pay attention when they’re out there,” Thompson said. “Don’t drive into flowing water, don’t drive around the barricades.”
Drivers who spot water overtopping a roadway, Thompson said, should call 911 to report it.

The Kansas Department of Children and Families is overseeing shelters for Kansans forced out of their homes by flooding, The Department of Health and Environment is preparing for possible weather-related health threats. In particular, heavy rain and flooding could sharply increase the number of disease-carrying insects.

“With water everywhere and warm temperatures, we will see ticks and mosquitos flourish,” said KDHE Secretary Lee Norman.

“So, once the water starts receding, it will be really important for people to drain out any standing water,” he said.

The forecast for continued heavy rain and severe weather runs through early next week, Omitt said.

“Probably through about Tuesday before the pattern breaks down,” he said, “we get this stuff to start moving and get we get some drier weather.”

Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks or email jim (at) kcur (dot) org.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Friday signed a bill that bans abortions on or beyond the eighth week of pregnancy without exceptions for cases of rape or incest, making it among the most restrictive abortion policies in the nation.

Under the law that comes into force Aug. 28, doctors who violate the eight-week cutoff could face five to 15 years in prison. A legal challenge is expected, although it’s unclear when that might occur.

The measure includes exceptions for medical emergencies, such as when there is a risk of death or permanent physical injuries to “a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.” But women who find themselves pregnant after being raped or subjected to incest will not be allowed to abort after eight weeks. Women who terminate their pregnancies cannot be prosecuted under the law.

Parson defended the lack of exceptions for rape and incest to a group of abortion opponents gathered Friday in his Capitol office.

“Is it a terrible thing that happens in those situations? Yes it is. … But the reality of it is bad things do happen sometimes. But you have two months to decide what you’re going to do with that issue, and I believe in two months you can make a decision,” he said.

Missouri businessman David Humphreys, a wealthy Republican donor, had urged Parson to veto the bill, calling it “bad public policy” to not have exceptions for rape or incest.

Missouri state House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade said in a written statement the law treats women “as little more than fetal incubators with no rights or role in the decision, even in cases of rape and incest.”

Alabama’s governor signed a bill on May 15 making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases. Supporters have said they hope to provoke a legal challenge that will eventually force the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationally.

Unlike Alabama’s near-total abortion ban, lawmakers who helped draft the Missouri bill say it’s meant to withstand court challenges instead of spark them. If the eight-week ban is struck down, the bill includes a ladder of less-restrictive time limits at 14, 18 or 20 weeks.

Missouri’s bill also includes an outright ban on abortions except in cases of medical emergencies, but that would kick in only if Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion is overturned.

Kentucky , Mississippi , Ohio and Georgia also have approved bans on abortions once fetal cardiac activity can be detected, which can occur in about the sixth week of pregnancy. Some of those laws already have been challenged in court, and similar restrictions in North Dakota and Iowa have been struck down by judges.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Missouri Director M’Evie Mead said the organization “will do everything we can to protect access to abortion in Missouri — and hold these extreme politicians accountable for their attacks on our health care.”

Missouri already has some of the nation’s most restrictive abortion regulations, including a requirement that doctors performing abortions have partnerships with nearby hospitals. Missouri is down to one clinic performing abortions, which is in St. Louis.

A total of 3,903 abortions occurred in Missouri in 2017, the last full year for which the state Department of Health and Senior Services has statistics online. Of those, 1,673 occurred at under nine weeks and 119 occurred at 20 weeks or later in a pregnancy.

A total of 2,910 abortions occurred in 2018 in Missouri, according to the agency.

The bill also bans abortions based solely on race, sex or a diagnosis indicating the potential for Down syndrome.

It also requires a parent or guardian giving written consent for a minor to get an abortion to first notify the other parent, except if the other parent has been convicted of a violent or sexual crime, is subject to a protection order, is “habitually in an intoxicated or drugged condition,” or lacks legal or physical custody.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Police Department (WPD) has identified the suspect in Thursday’s officer involved shooting as 56-year-old Fred Burton of Wichita.

Just before 2a.m. Thursday, police responded to a report of an explosion at the apartment complex in the 700 block of west MacArthur, according to Police Chief Gordon Ramsay. Upon arrival, officers observed gunshot holes in the wall of an apartment and heard additional gunshots.

The officers began immediately evacuating the apartments around the source of gunfire and notified other officers of the situation. The WPD Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and SWAT negotiator team was activated to assist in the investigation.

The SWAT team assisted in evacuating the remaining residences in the affected complex building and the negotiator team attempted multiple times to communicate with Burton. The communication attempts were unsuccessful.

During the four-hour standoff, officers continued to receive gunfire from Burton that struck area complex buildings and two WPD SWAT armored vehicles. Officers learned Burton was in a mental health crisis and had multiple previous contacts with Burton around mental health issues.

At approximately 5:55 a.m., Burton pointed a rifle at officers and fired more shots towards them. Two WPD SWAT officers returned fire with multiple shots and struck Burton, killing him.

One WPD officer involved is a sergeant and a 15-year-veteran of the department. The second WPD officer involved is a detective and a 13-year-veteran of the department. Both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol of officer-involved shootings.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and WPD are investigating the incident. The KBI assisted in the investigation to provide transparency and avoid conflicts of interest.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new Trump administration rule would roll back sex discrimination protection for transgender people in health services.

In the proposed rule issued Friday, the Health and Human Services Department says laws banning sex discrimination in health care don’t apply to people’s “gender identity.” LGBT groups have long warned such a move could lead to denial of needed medical care.

That rule reverses the policy of the Obama administration, which had found that sex discrimination laws do protect transgender people. It faces a 60-day comment period and court challenges are expected.

Under the Obama-era rule, a hospital could be required to perform gender-transition procedures such as hysterectomies if the facility provided that kind of treatment for other medical conditions. The rule was meant to carry out the anti-discrimination section of the Affordable Care Act, which bars sex discrimination in health care but does not use the term “gender identity.”

In the Texas case, a Catholic hospital system, several states and a Christian medical association argued that the rule went beyond the law as written and would coerce providers to act against their medical judgment and religious beliefs.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man who was released from prison and awarded $1 million for his wrongful conviction has been indicted on weapons and drug charges.

Federal prosecutors say Richard Jones is charged in a five-count indictment returned Wednesday by a grand jury. He is charged with possessing cocaine and methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of weapons.

Jones’ original conviction became known as the “doppleganger” case after he was wrongfully convicted of a robbery that he said was committed by someone who looks like him.

Eyewitnesses said Jones committed the robbery in 1999 in Roeland Park, Kansas. But the witnesses recanted their identification and evidence pointed to a man who looks like Jones.

He was released from prison in 2017 after serving 17 years in prison.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City is offering a range of events for this Memorial Day weekend.

The memorial also is offering free admission for veterans and active duty military and half-price general admission for the public Friday through Monday.

The events will include installation of 140 U.S. flags to draw attention to the 140 veterans lost to suicide every week. Visitors also will be able to use research stations to find any possible family connection to WWI, or to write letters of support to military or first responders.

On Memorial Day, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and Kansas City Mayor Sly James are scheduled to attend a ceremony that will feature music and a keynote address from U.S. World War I Centennial Commissioner Dr. Monique Seefried.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — High water in central Kansas is forcing the Hutchinson Zoo to close for the first time in more than a decade.

Zoo Director Ryan VanZant says the closing earlier this week was mostly for safety.

Some sidewalks, exhibits and playing areas were underwater.

VanZant says bison were moved to higher ground and employees are using a boat to get their food to them.

He says all the animals still in their habitats are safe. Each habitat has a connected indoor facility that animals use to avoid severe weather.

With more storms coming, VanZant says the zoo will remain closed during the weekend.

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