TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Bureau of Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics has published the 2017 Natality Report by Racial and Ethnic Population Groups on its website.
The purpose of this report is to present statistics for 2017 for Kansas resident live births by maternal population group based on race/Hispanic origin.
Birth outcome indicators include maternal age, education level, marital status, adequacy of prenatal care, primary pay source, WIC service utilization, gestational age and weight of infant at birth. These indicators are examined among population groups by normal birth outcomes and by a summary measure of poor birth outcomes.
A poor birth outcome is defined as one or more of the following indicators: Low birth weight (less than 2500 grams), prematurity (less than 37 weeks gestation), congenital anomalies and abnormal conditions of the newborn.
SEDGWICK COUNTY— Authorities are investigating a report that a white man kicked a 1-year-old black child in the back at a Wichita grocery store and yelled racial slurs.
Riff-photo Sedgwick Co.
Lashantai Whitaker, 29, said in an interview Thursday that her son, Jhavii Fry, was walking through the store Sunday, holding his 11-year-old sister’s hand, when a man kicked the toddler from behind with his cowboy boot. Her son fell facedown. Whitaker says bystanders tackled the man as he yelled racial slurs.
A 31-year-old man identified as Trace Riff, according to the Sedgwick County, Christmas Eve booking report was released on $3,500 bond hours after he was booked into jail on suspicion of ethnic intimidation, battery and resisting police.
Court records show Riff has spent time in a Kansas mental hospital and has a criminal history that includes drug crimes.
FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation of a burglary and alleged rape and are asking for the public’s help in identifying the truck and suspect believed involved, according to Garden City Police.
photo courtesy Garden City Police
Just after 11:30 a.m. December 18, police were called to the southeast area of Garden City for a reported residential burglary in progress. Upon arrival, officers went inside the residence and located an adult woman.
She told police an unknown man entered her residence armed with a weapon. Once inside, the man sexually assaulted the woman and caused significant injury to her. The suspect then fled the area. The woman was transported to St. Catherine Hospital by Finney County EMS with non-life-threatening injuries.
The man was described as being approximately six-feet tall, brown eyes, dark eyebrows, and approximately 40 years old, according to police. He was clean-shaven, and of slim build, wearing a brown Carhartt style coat and a stocking hat. The man was wearing a light gray hooded sweatshirt with unknown wording printed on the front and had a light gray t-shirt underneath. He was wearing a brown watch on his left wrist and had a large tattoo on the front of his chest. He also had three tattoos on his right ribcage where each of the three appeared to be similar to each other.
The truck is missing a rear passenger-side center hubcap. If you have any information on who the driver of this vehicle is or where this truck is located, please notify the Garden City Police Department immediately. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,500.00 for information leading to an arrest in this investigation.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a bank robbery and asking for help to identify a suspect.
photos courtesy Wichita Police
Just before noon December 21, police responded to an aggravated robbery at the Southwest National Bank, in the 3100 block of South Seneca in Wichita, according to Officer Paul Cruz.
Bank employees reported an unknown suspect entered the business pointing a handgun at them and demanding money. Money was given to the suspect who also peppered sprayed the employees prior to fleeing.
The suspect is described as a black male, 5-foot-9, medium to heavy set, wearing a skull mask, black hoodie, gray sweat pants and black shoes.
The suspect is believed to be driving a Ford Explorer with Kansas tag number 297KYP. The tag is reported stolen.
Anyone with information is asked to please call Crime Stoppers at 316 267-2111 or 911.
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation of a suspicious death and have identified the victim.
Investigators on the scene in Pottawatomie County -photo courtesy WIBW TV
The body of 19-year-old Jacob D. Bouck was located approximately one mile west of Wamego on the Kansas River on Christmas Eve, according to Pottawatomie County Sheriff Greg Rait.
Sheriff’s Detectives believe that foul play may be involved in Bouck’s death.
He was last seen in the Wamego area in the early morning hours of Friday December 21st.
Thee Kansas Bureau of Investigation is assisting with this investigation, according to Riat.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking that anyone with information in the case is urged to contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office at 785-457-3353, online at ptsheriff.com or the Kansas Bureau of Investigations at 1-800-KS-CRIME.
NEW YORK (AP) — Sears is closing 80 more stores as it teeters on the brink of liquidation. The 130-year old retailer set a deadline of Friday for bids for its remaining stores to avert closing down completely.
This Sears 7700 E Kellogg Drive in Wichita’s Town East Mall is on the list to close-google map
The retailer that began out as a mail order catalog in the 1880s has been in a slow death spiral, hobbled by the Great Recession and then overwhelmed by rivals both down the street and across the internet.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a Topeka house fire has left a man dead and a woman critically injured.
Fatal Friday house fire -photo by Deneysha Richard-courtesy WIBW TV
The fire started Friday morning in a neighborhood in the northeast part of the city. Fire Department Christ Commander Chris Herrera says crews responded after someone knocked on the door of the nearby fire station to report the blaze.
He says the woman was rescued and rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
No other details were immediately released, including the man’s name and the cause of the fire.
DESOTO, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas businessman is opening a new academy to train farmers to grow industrial hemp now that its production is legal.
photo courtesy office of Gov. Colyer
Joe Bisogno’s belief in the crop’s potential inspired him to open America’s Hemp Academy in DeSoto, about 20 miles southwest of Kansas City. It plans to offer four-day courses led by agronomists and botanists starting in January.
“Industrial hemp is not pot, but it is a pot of gold for Kansas farmers,” Bisogno said during the academy’s recent ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Industrial hemp and marijuana come from the same species of plant, but hemp is cultivated to produce small amounts of THC, the main component in the cannabis plant that produces a high.
Legislators approved legislation nearly unanimously this year to allow for the production of industrial hemp for research purposes. Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer signed it in April and said the goal is encourage the resurgence of hemp as a production crop and promote economic development in rural Kansas.
President Donald Trump recently signed a massive federal farm bill that legalized hemp farming. U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican who serves as Senate Agriculture Committee chairman, helped negotiate the measure’s final version.
Colyer said farmers have expressed an interest, but that “there is a lot of work to do it right. It’s not going to be for everyone.”
Industrial hemp stalks can be converted to clothing, rope, carpeting, caulking, insulation, cardboard and newsprint. Seeds can be processed into coatings, solvents, varnishes, inks and fuel. Lotions, soaps and shampoos can be produced from stems, and CBD oil can be extracted from its flowers, an option for pain relief without the marijuana high.
Bisogno started the Mr. Goodcents sandwich-shop chain in 1988 and said his interest in hemp started five years ago when he asked the Kansas attorney general’s office whether hemp cookies could be produced at a DeSoto plant. The answer was no, but Bisogno didn’t drop the idea, studied the hemp business and formed a company, KMC, for Kansas Miracle Crop.
The state’s climate and soil are right for hemp because “Kansas can grow two crops a year. One in the spring and one in late summer or early fall,” Bisogno said.
TOPEKA – On New Year’s Day, Kansas state park staff want to help you get some exercise and experience some of Kansas’ finest hiking trails. First Day Hike events will be held at 19 Kansas state parks, and all hikers get a free “Hike Local” long-sleeved t-shirt.
“It’s just an amazing way to get things started for a New Year,” said Linda Lanterman, Parks Division director for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. “It’s great for people to get out into nature on the first day of the year. We’ve found people who go on these First Day Hikes are very likely to come back and do more hiking throughout the year. For many, that First Day Hike has been the first time they’ve hiked in a state park. It’s a fantastic introduction.”
Kansas’ 28 state parks offer access to more than 1,000 miles of Kansas hiking, cycling and horseback trails – ranging from short, paved paths to the 117-mile Flint Hills Trail.
First Day Hike outings are generally a mile or two of family-friendly terrain. Park staff lead the treks to help educate hikers along the way. Many hikes will be along the shores of large lakes, pass through tall, rugged woodlands and across native prairie. Odds of seeing bald eagles and other wildlife are high, so bring your binoculars.
First Day Hikes began in Massachusetts about 25 years ago. All states, including Kansas, came on board in 2012. Many are held in Canada, too. At many First Day Hike events, participants are invited to the park office for refreshments and snacks at the end of the hike, but hikers are encouraged to bring their own water and snacks to enjoy during the outing. Leashed pets are also welcome. Children must have adult supervision.
The guided hikes are free but participants need a vehicle permit to drive into the park. Daily passes are $5 and sold at self-serve stations in the park. Some park offices will be open to sell daily passes or $25 annual passes. Parkgoers can also purchase a 12-month Kansas State Parks Passport (annual pass) when registering a vehicle.
Consider attending a First Day Hike near you. More information, including news if hikes are cancelled due to weather, may be found on select state park Facebook pages.
Cheney State Park – Meet at the park office at 2 p.m. for the three-quarter-mile West Side Nature Trail hike; easy to moderate terrain. All ages welcome.
Clinton State Park – Meet at the park office at 1 p.m. to hike on the North Shore Trail. The two-mile route is moderate terrain ideal for hikers age five and older.
Crawford State Park – Meet at the beach shelter house at 10 a.m. to hike the two-mile Spider Leg Bridge Trail, which includes moderate terrain suited for all ages.
Cross Timbers State Park – Meet at the Chautauqua Hills Trail trailhead at 2 p.m. to hike 1.5 miles over moderate terrain. Hikers of all ages are welcome.
El Dorado State Park – Meet at the Walnut River Cabins at 1 p.m. for a two-mile Walnut River Trail hike. The easy to moderate terrain is perfect for hikers of all ages.
Elk City State Park – Meet at 8 a.m. at the Green Thumb Trail trailhead for a 3-mile hike over moderate terrain open to hikers of all ages.
Fall River State Park – Meet at the Quarry Bay maintenance shop at 2 p.m. to hike the three-quarter-mile Post Oak Trail. The moderate terrain is ideal for all ages of hikers.
Flint Hills State Park – Meet at the old depot in Ottawa at 2 p.m. to hike 2 miles of easy terrain perfect for all ages.
Glen Elder State Park – Meet at the historic church at 9 a.m. to hike the 4-mile Waconda Trail. Hikers of all ages will enjoy this easy trail.
Hillsdale State Park – Meet at the park office at 10:30 a.m. to hike on the Hidden Springs Nature Trail. The 1.5 miles of easy terrain is recommended for hikers age six and up.
Kanopolis State Park – Meet at the park office at 10 a.m. to hike the Split Boulder Trail. The 1.6-mile trail can be negotiated by all ages of hikers.
Meade State Park – Meet at the park office at 2 p.m. for the Eagle Trail hike. All ages are welcome for the 1.25-mile trail of easy terrain.
Milford State Park – Meet at the group shelter parking at 1 p.m. to hike on the Eagle Ridge Trail. The 2.75-mile trail includes easy to moderate terrain and is open to hikers of all ages.
Perry State Park – Meet at the Lake View parking lot at10 a.m. to hike the 2.5-mile Nature Trail. The easy to moderate terrain is recommended for hikers age eight and older.
Pomona State Park – Meet at the park office at 2 p.m. for a 1.5-mile hike around several campgrounds. All ages of hikers are welcome to enjoy the easy to moderate terrain.
Prairie Dog (Norton) State Park – Meet at the Nature Trail parking lot at 9 a.m. for a 1.25-mile hike over easy terrain open to all ages.
Sand Hills State Park – Meet at the park office/cabin at 10 a.m. to hike the 1-mile Dune and Prairie trails, which include easy to moderate terrain.
Tuttle Creek State Park – Meet at the park office at 10:30 a.m. to hike the Western Heritage Trail. This hike is open to hikers of all ages and includes easy terrain over 1 to 1.5 miles.
Wilson State Park – Meet at the Cedar Trail parking lot at 1 p.m. to hike over easy terrain.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have a suspect in custody.
Salvador Parga Rodriguez -photo Shawnee Co.
Just after 11 p.m. Thursday, police responded to the 2018 SE California Avenue in Topeka on a report of an aggravated robbery to an individual, according to Lt. John Trimble.
The victims stated that a subject described as a Hispanic male in a green Honda Civic aimed a rifle at the victims and demanded their wallets.
One victim gave the suspect a wallet and the suspect drove away eastbound on SE 21st from California Avenue.
Police officers were in the area as the call came in and were able to stop the suspect vehicle in the 1100 block of SE Golden.
The suspect, 22 year old Salvador Parga Rodriguez was taken into custody without incident. He was brought to the Law Enforcement Center and later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the charge of Aggravated Robbery.
TOPEKA – Governor-elect Laura Kelly has announced that Ashley All will serve as Director of Communications and Strategy beginning in January, Michelle Needham has been hired as the Director of Operations and Scheduling, and Shelbie Konkel will serve as Chief of Staff to Lieutenant Governor-elect Lynn Rogers.
Ashley All will be the governor’s Director of Communications and Strategy. She will oversee all external communications, including the Office of Constituent Services, as well as short and long-term strategic planning. Previously, All served as Director of Communications for the Laura Kelly for Kansas campaign, coordinating statewide strategy and messaging for all external campaign communication. All previously served as Director of Communications for the Kansas Office of Attorney General and also worked with the non-profit coalition Open Kansas to expand government transparency in 2016.
“Ashley has over ten years of professional experience working on behalf of state agencies, nonprofits and elected officials. She has been by my side for the last year, and she will be an integral part of my team moving forward,” said Kelly.
Michelle Needham will serve as the Director of Operations and Scheduling for Governor-elect Laura Kelly. She will oversee all scheduling and internal office operations. Previously, she was campaign scheduler for Kansas Secretary of State candidate Brian McClendon. Needham graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Welfare. She went on to work in various family and behavioral welfare positions focused on improving the lives of families and adults with disabilities.
“Michelle has a broad range of skills that will be an asset to our office,” said Kelly. “I’m pleased to have her on board and I know she will work well with the many constituents contacting our office on a daily basis.”
Shelbie Konkel will serve as the Chief of Staff for Lieutenant Governor-elect Lynn Rogers. She will coordinate his schedule, appearances and his work on the Rural Prosperity Plan. Konkel has four years of experience working with legislative leaders and statewide campaigns. Previously, Konkel was finance director for Paul Davis’s congressional campaign and earlier served as Legislative Director for the Senate Minority Leaders Office and the Communication Coordinator for the House Minority Leader’s Office. She graduated from Washburn University where she served as President of the Washburn Student Government Association.
“Shelbie will be an excellent addition to our team as we focus on implementing our Rural Prosperity Plan in the coming years,” said Lt. Governor-elect Lynn Rogers. “We are building a strong, motivated group of leaders to help stabilize our state and grow our unique communities.”
“We’re pleased to welcome Michelle and Shelbie to the team,” said Kelly. “I’m glad to have strong, talented women helping Lynn and me rebuild Kansas.”
JOHNSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating gunfire at a Kansas mall and asking the public to help identify two persons of interest in the case.
photos courtesy Overland Park Police
Just after 8:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a report of shots fired outside the Oak Park Mall, 1121 West 95th Street.
According to a media release, an unoccupied vehicle in the parking lot was struck by gunfire. Police released security camera images of persons of interest in the case.
The shooting prompted the mall to close. Some shoppers and employees were locked in stores. Police released them just after 9:30p.m.
The mall reopened on Thursday.
The gunfire comes two months after a scuffle led to shots being fired outside the mall’s food court entrance. One man is charged with attempted first-degree murder.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A suburban Kansas City shopping mall filled with after-Christmas bargain hunters had to shut as police investigated a report of gunfire in the parking lot.
Police tape at the Mall on Wednesday night photo courtesy KCTV
Shoppers poured out of Oak Park Mall on Wednesday night upon hearing the shots, but some were forced to stay inside as police put stores on lockdown. Police in Overland Park, Kansas, found several shell casings outside but no blood.
We’d like to thank @OverlandPark_PD, @OlathePolice and @LenexaPolice for their quick response. We will work with Overland Park Police as they continue their investigation.
Police say an unoccupied vehicle in the parking lot was struck by gunfire. Police are seeking a suspect and any possible victims. The gunfire comes two months after a scuffle led to shots being fired outside the mall’s food court entrance. One man is charged with attempted first-degree murder.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A man charged more than a decade ago with child rape in Kansas has been arrested.
Vera-Santos-photo Johnson Co.
48-year-old Javier Vera-Santos made his first court appearance Wednesday in Johnson County. He was arrested in California this month and returned to Kansas.
He was charged with one count of child rape in July 2006 in Johnson County. A warrant was issued for his arrest, but county authorities say they had information that Vera-Santos, who was born in Mexico City, left the country.
Charges allege Vera-Santos raped a child younger than 14 from July 2003 to January 2006. An Associated Press message seeking comment from his public defender was not immediately returned Thursday.
Vera-Santos’ bond is set at $100,000. He’s due in court Jan. 3.
KDHE
