KANSAS CITY (AP) — A University of Missouri-Kansas City professor has resigned after being accused of coercing foreign graduate students to perform work and personal tasks for him.

University officials announced Wednesday that Ashim Mitra resigned from the School of Pharmacy one day before a hearing was scheduled to determine his future at the university.

Mitra was put on paid suspension in November after The Kansas City Star reported former students accused him of forcing students from India to do his lawn work, care for his dog and other tasks. One student likened the work to “slave labor.”

The students said they feared losing their visas if they refused Mitra’s demands.

Mitra has denied any wrongdoing.

Mitra joined the university’s faculty in 1994 and was chairman of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Division until last year.

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ANDOVER, Kan. (AP) — Members of the Andover Public Library board are considering a request to move books that include transgender characters out of the children’s section.

Andover resident Marci Laffen said in a written request that the books “George,” ”Lily and Dunkin,” and “I am Jazz” should be moved to the library’s adult section, or at least to the young adult section. She cited the “sexual content” of the books, along with issues such as bullying, rebelling against police and refusing to take medications.

Library board member Blake Cooper said that Laffen’s written request referred to the books as part of a “sexual revolution agenda, indoctrination of children.”

“I am Jazz,” a picture book biography of a transgender child, is classified as juvenile nonfiction at the library. It had been shelved with other picture books in the children’s section, but is now in the nonfiction books section on “institutions pertaining to relations of the sexes.”

“George” and “Lily and Dunkin” are both classified as juvenile fiction at the library. The books are about transgender children, one in fourth grade and one in eighth grade.

Library board members will decide where each of the books will be shelved on Feb. 13.

About 55 people attended a board meeting last week to discuss the issue.

Brenda Way, a transgender woman, said a child who wants to check out of one of the books “has something that makes them want to connect with that book.”

“That child has a question,” Way said. “Why are we saying that a child who is 7, 8 or 9 years old and has questions and wants to pick up that book should be denied finding that book in their section?”

Donna Lippoldt, executive director of the Culture Shield Network, said she supported moving the books to a higher level because she doesn’t believe libraries should teach sex education. She said just one experience being exposed to a confusing child can scar a child for life.

“(The books) will still be accessible, but maybe not just haphazardly found by children that would be confused,” she said.

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TOPEKA —New Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is expected to make a pitch to the Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature for boosting spending on public schools and expanding Medicaid.

Watch her deliver her first State of the State address to to a joint session of the Legislature here.

SEWARD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teacher for an alleged sex crime.

On Sunday at the request of school administration, police initiated an investigation into allegations that 25-year-old Rachel Wrobel, a teacher the Liberal High School had sexual relations with an 18-year-old student, according to Police Captain Robert Rogers.

The investigation concluded that the incident had occurred Saturday at an address in the 1200 block of W. 10th Street in Liberal.

Police arrested Wrobel and she resigned from USD 480.

On Tuesday, the Seward County Attorney charged Wrobel with one count of unlawful sexual relations. She was issued a bond of $50,000, according to Rogers and is no longer in custody.

UPDATE: 7:45p.m. Police reported they have located 37-year-old Russell Allen. They released no additional details.

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RILEY COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and asking the public for information on the whereabouts of Russell Allen Jr., 37, of Manhattan, according to a media release.

Police want to speak to Allen about an aggravated robbery that occurred in the 200 block of Leavenworth in Manhattan on January 15, 2019 at approximately 10:50 PM.

If you know where Allen may be or if located do not approach, please contact the Riley County Police Department at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 539-7777. Using the Crime Stoppers service allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the second robbery of a Sonic car hop in 8 days.

Just before 8:30p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a robbery to a car hop at the Sonic Drive-in, 3820 SW 29th Street in Topeka, according to Lt. John Trimble.

The victim reported that while he was delivering a drink to a woman in a black passenger car, another subject in the car, described as a white, male with several tattoos who was sitting in the passenger seat, ordered the car hop to give them his wallet.

The victim gave his wallet to the suspects and they fled the parking lot and were last seen northbound on SW Gage Blvd.

Police continue to search for the suspects. On January 8, police reported the armed robbery of a Sonic car hop at 3721 SW Topeka Boulevard.

 

Washington, D.C.– U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue  announced Wednesday that many Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices will reopen temporarily in the coming days to perform certain limited services for farmers and ranchers.

According to a media release, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recalled about 2,500 FSA employees to open offices on Thursday, January 17 and Friday, January 18, in addition to Tuesday, January 22, during normal business hours. The offices will be closed for the federal Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, January 21.

In almost half of FSA locations, FSA staff will be available to assist agricultural producers with existing farm loans and to ensure the agency provides 1099 tax documents to borrowers by the Internal Revenue Service’s deadline.

“Until Congress sends President Trump an appropriations bill in the form that he will sign, we are doing our best to minimize the impact of the partial federal funding lapse on America’s agricultural producers,” Perdue said.  “We are bringing back part of our FSA team to help producers with existing farm loans.  Meanwhile, we continue to examine our legal authorities to ensure we are providing services to our customers to the greatest extent possible during the shutdown.”

Staff members will be available at certain FSA offices to help producers with specific services, including:

• Processing payments made on or before December 31, 2018.

• Continuing expiring financing statements.

• Opening mail to identify priority items.

Additionally, as an intermittent incidental duty, staff may release proceeds from the sale of loan security by signing checks jointly payable to FSA that are brought to the county office by producers.

Information on the locations of FSA offices to be open during this three-day window will be posted:

• On the USDA website.

• On Twitter at @SecretarySonny and @USDA.

• On USDA’s Facebook page.

While staff are available in person during this three-day window, most available services can be handled over the phone. Producers can begin contacting staff on January 17 here.

Additionally, farmers who have loan deadlines during the lapse in funding do not need to make payments until the government shutdown ends.

Other FSA Programs and Services

Reopened FSA offices will only be able to provide the specifically identified services while open during this limited time. Services that will not be available include, but are not limited to:

• New direct or facility loans.

• New Farm loan guarantees.

• New marketing assistance loans.

• New applications for Market Facilitation Program (MFP).

• Certification of 2018 production for MFP payments.

• Dairy Margin Protection Program.

• Disaster assistance programs, such as:

o Livestock Indemnity Program.

o Emergency Conservation Program.

o Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program.

o Livestock Forage Disaster Program.

o Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish.

While January 15, 2019 had been the original deadline for producers to apply for MFP, farmers have been unable to apply since December 28, 2018, when FSA offices closed because of the lapse in federal funding.  Secretary Perdue has extended the MFP application deadline for a period of time equal to the number of business days FSA offices end up being closed, once the government shutdown ends. These announced days of limited staff availability during the shutdown will not constitute days open in calculating the extension. Producers who already applied for MFP and certified their 2018 production by December 28, 2018 should have already received their payments.

More information on MFP is available at www.farmers.gov/manage/mfp.

SALINE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Tuesday in Saline County.

A 2017 Hyundai Sonata driven by Patricia Grove, 66, Ellsworth was eastbound on Kansas 140 and attempted to turn eastbound onto Crawford, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

The driver missed the turn and struck a 2011 GMC Acadia driven by Careasa Griffith, 39, of Ellsworth, who was westbound on Crawford and had just pulled up to the stop sign at K-140.   The stop sign was also broken, according to Soldan.

EMS transported Grove to the hospital in Salina. Griffith was not injured.

Fog may have also played a factor in the accident, according to Soldan.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a crash involving a police vehicle.

Just before 8p.m. Tuesday, police responded to report of a suspicious character call involving a 2018 Mercedes Benz at a private residence in the 2000 Block of North Greenwich in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

As officers made their way to the scene, they learned that the call also involved a disturbance with weapons after private security at the residence had alerted Sedgwick County 911 that the Mercedes had struck a private security vehicle.

Upon arrival, police contacted 40-year-old Aron White who was driving of the Mercedes. White placed the vehicle in drive and rammed through the metal security gates of the residence and traveled eastbound on the lawn destroying property.

The Mercedes then turned back to police and security vehicle that were on the private drive of the residence. The Mercedes rammed the front of passenger side of the police vehicle, continued west across the property, struck a tree and became disabled.

Officers arrested White and 58-year-old front seat passenger Daniel Moore into custody.

The officer received a minor injury to his hand and arm, according to Davidson. There were no other injuries.

White is being held on requested charges of Aggravated Battery of a law enforcement officer, criminal trespass, criminal restraint, criminal damage to property and a drug paraphernalia possession charge.

Moore was jailed on a probation violation. He has nine previous convictions that include burglary, theft, forgery and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney, according to Davidson.

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a crash involving a police vehicle.

Just before 8p.m. Tuesday, a police officer’s car was intentionally rammed near Greenwich and 21 Street in Wichita, according to Chief Gordon Ramsay.

The officer sustained minor injuries from the crash. Police took two suspects into custody.

Authorities are expected to release additional details on Wednesday including requested charges against those arrested.

“This could have been much worse and am thankful our officer only had minor injuries.” Ramsay said on twitter.

PRATT – There is still time for quality hunting before the winter seasons come to an end. The pheasant, quail, and greater prairie chicken seasons remain open through Jan. 31, 2019. And while not everyone enjoys a winter storm, cold weather and some snow on the ground can definitely boost bird hunters’ success. Make it a point to get out before these seasons close.

Perhaps the best late-season hunting will be for waterfowl. In the High Plains Duck Zone (west of Hwy 283) and Low Plains Southeast (southeastern corner), the final segment opened on Jan. 12 and closes Jan. 27, 2019. In the Low Plains Late Zone, the final duck season segment is Jan. 19-27, 2019. (See the 2018 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summaryor go to www.ksoutdoors.com to see a map of duck zones.) These January segments often provide some of the best mallard hunting of the year, and hunting can be especially good on rivers, streams and reservoirs when the marshes and flooded fields freeze.

The Canada goose season remains open through Feb. 17, 2019 and the final segment of white-fronted goose season is Jan. 26-Feb. 17, 2019. The light goose (snow and Ross’ geese) season is open through Feb. 17, 2019, and the Conservation Order for light goose hunting will open on Feb. 18, 2019 and close April 30, 2019. Late-season goose hunting is normally very good in Kansas because of the abundant harvested grain fields where the geese feed. Successful hunters scout afternoons and evenings, following flocks of geese as they fly between water roosting areas and feed fields. Once a preferred field is located, hunters contact the landowner for permission to hunt and set up with blinds and decoys the next morning.

The Conservation Order for light geese was established to reduce light goose numbers because the overpopulation is damaging the fragile tundra nesting grounds. During the Conservation Order, light geese may be hunted one-half-hour before sunrise to one-half-hour after sunrise, plugs are not required in shotguns and electronic calls may be used. There is no bag or possession limit.

Waterfowl hunters need an annual hunting license, federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, a Kanas State Waterfowl Habitat Permit, and a Kansas Harvest Information Program (HIP) Permit. Stamps and permits purchased after July 1, 2018 are valid through the late seasons. And KDWPT reminds hunters that hunting licenses purchased in 2018 are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. The expiration date is marked on the license or hunters can log into their account at www.kshuntfishcamp.com to view licenses and permits they have purchased and when they expire. Non-toxic shot is required for duck and goose hunting.

Don’t let the seasons close without getting out this winter. Late-season hunts are often marked with low competition and high success.

— KDWPT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — New Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is expected to make a pitch to the Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature for boosting spending on public schools and expanding Medicaid.

Kelly was scheduled to deliver her first State of the State address Wednesday evening to a joint session of the Legislature. She took office Monday.

The governor and fellow Democrats want to move quickly to boost education funding.

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled last year that a new law increasing aid to public schools wasn’t enough because it didn’t account for years of inflation. The state school board has proposed phasing in a $364 million increase over four years.

Kelly also wants to expand the state’s Medicaid health coverage for the needy.

Republican leaders have been skeptical that the state can afford the two initiatives.