WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former agent with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement who sent a Wichita television news anchor sensitive law enforcement material is back in jail after allegedly violating his parole.

A prosecutor said Wednesday Andrew J. Pleviak is a danger to his former colleagues and the community. The magistrate granted the government’s request for detention.

Pleviak was sentenced in May to time served and a year of supervised release for exceeding authorized access to a government computer.

He was later ordered not to contact current or former employees of the Department of Homeland Security.

The government says Pleviak went to the home of his former supervisor on Sept. 9 and banged on the door, but left before a sheriff’s deputy arrived.

His defense attorney says he has mental health issues.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Great weather and a solid start to the 2018 Kansas State Fair, coupled with new programming, activities and strong concert sales, helped boost overall revenue and attendance over last year’s numbers according to fair officials.

According to a media release, this year’s preliminary attendance was 327,965, a 1.76 percent increase over last year. Preliminary reports also show substantial growth in revenue. Those figures are still being tabulated, but several vendors indicated this year’s fair was one of the best in several years.

“The Kansas State Fair is at a pivotal turning point,” Interim General Manager Bob Moeder said. “This year’s numbers reflect a change in direction. We have a really solid team who stayed focused, helping us grow and expand the fair during this transitional year.”

Moeder added it is the second year for the fair to use Etix, an electronic ticketing system that helps the fair obtain a more-accurate count of the number of fairgoers entering each gate.

“We had great crowds, great weather and, based on all of the positive feedback from fairgoers and vendors, a great fair experience,” he said.

Janene Starks, the fair’s commercial exhibits coordinator, said commercial exhibitors reported higher sales and some said their sales doubled from last year.

Enhanced revenue also means more sales tax generated during the 2018 Fair, which will help with building maintenance across the fairgrounds. Kansas lawmakers, during the past session, passed legislation enabling the fair to retain a large portion of the state sales tax revenue generated annually.

The law, which went into effect July 1, is estimated to bring in nearly $400,000 a year, Moeder said.

“The increase in revenue will help us get a jump-start on capital improvements, which will make the fair even better going forward,” Moeder said.

The 2018 Fair saw other increases as well. Competitive Exhibits Director Jenn Galloway said livestock entries were up for the 4-H and FFA Grand Drive, plus all open livestock shows.

“This year’s Grand Drive was a great event and another success,” Galloway said. “We had a lot of good competition this year.”

Grand Drive sponsorships were also up from 2017, she said. Fair officials announced during the Grand Drive Gala Sept. 8 a new youth scholarship program that will begin in 2019. The Grand Drive Committee will award 10 $1,000 scholarships to secondary and post-secondary students who have demonstrated excellence, commitment and integrity as ambassadors of the Kansas State Fair junior livestock program.

Overall sponsorship dollars from supporting partners were also up this year, reaching a new record, Moeder said.

Moeder mentioned this year’s popular grandstand lineup helped boost the number of tickets sold to the fair’s eight concerts. Fairgoers purchased nearly 24,000 concert tickets this year, up from 15,000 the previous year. The popular grandstand lineup included Country Music Association nominees Dan + Shay the first weekend, which sold nearly 5,000 tickets. The Beach Boys were the fair’s top seller, with about 5,600 tickets purchased.

“We established a number of new events and activities at this year’s fair,” Moeder said. “These events are the building blocks that will help make next year’s Kansas State Fair even stronger and grow the fair in the future.”

The 2019 Kansas State Fair is Sept. 6-15. Robin Jennison, the outgoing secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, will take the helm as general manager starting Sept. 24.

PRATT COUNTY —A Kansas man injured in an accident just before 9:30a.m. Wednesday in Pratt County has died.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Silverado driven by Darrell L. Brant, 74, Isabel, was northbound on northeast 100th Avenue just south of Cairo. The driver failed to yield at U.S. 54. The Silverado drove into the driver’s side of a westbound 2015 Ford pickup driven by Dan Charles Hoepner, 72, Livingston, Texas.

Brant was transported to Pratt Health Center where he died. Hoepner and a passenger were not injured. Brant was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

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PRATT COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 9:30a.m. Wednesday in Pratt County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Silverado driven by Darrell L. Brant, 74, Isabel, was northbound on northeast 100th Avenue just south of Cairo. The driver failed to yield at U.S. 54. The Silverado drove into the driver’s side of a westbound 2015 Ford pickup driven by Dan Charles Hoepner, 72, Livingston, Texas.

Brant was transported to Pratt Health Center. Hoepner and a passenger were not injured. Brant was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug and weapons charges.

Just before 4p.m. Tuesday, officers on patrol in Wichita stopped a 2011 Chevy Malibu driven by 18-year-olf Izayah Smith for a traffic violation, according to officer Charley Davidson.

During the stop, officers discovers Smith was sitting on a handgun with an extended magazine.  Additionally, Officers recovered 10 grams of marijuana, four grams of cocaine, 16 Xanax pills, drug paraphernalia and approximately $1000 cash

Officers arrested Smith on charges of possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of hallucinogenic with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and traffic charges, according to Davidson.

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas contractor was indicted Wednesday on charges of selling more than $7,000 worth of methamphetamine to undercover investigators, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Gerald W. Etherton, 59, Junction City, is charged with six counts of distributing methamphetamine. According to court records, in April 2018 the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies began investigating Etherton, who owned Jerry’s Construction at 305 E. 8th in Junction City. Undercover agents made a series of buys from Etherton ranging in amount from an ounce of meth for $600 to a quarter of a pound for $2,000.

If convicted, Etherton faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million on five of the six counts, and up to 20 years and a fine up to $1 million on one of the counts. The KBI investigated with the assistance of the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, the Junction City Police Department and the Geary County Attorney’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Skip Jacobs is prosecuting.

WELLINGTON, Kan. (AP) — A 29-year-old Kansas woman who was arrested after her boyfriend was stabbed to death has been released from jail after she claimed the killing was self-defense.

Sumner County Attorney Kerwin Spencer says Ashley Pearson was arrested on suspicion of murder after her boyfriend, 25-year-old Kyle Hill, died Saturday morning at a home the two shared.

Spencer says Pearson gave a statement two days later saying she acted in self-defense. He said Wednesday the investigation is continuing but her story fits the definition of self-defense under Kansas law.

No further information was released.

Kansas corrections records show Hill had convictions in 2013 of criminal threat, aggravated battery and aggravated assault.

DICKINSON COUNTY — A small plane made an unexpected landing just before 1:30p.m. Wednesday in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Fixed-wing Piper piloted by John Albert Wilesky, 77, Solomon, was made an emergency landing in the 1000 Block of north Van Buren in Abilene due to running out of fuel.

Wolesky was not injured. The KHP released no additional details.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A driver has been charged with running into a Kansas sheriff’s deputy while intoxicated and breaking the deputy’s leg.

The driver was charged Tuesday with two counts of aggravated battery while driving under the influence in the crash in east Wichita, according to Sedgwick County sheriff’s Lt. Tim Myers.

Just before midnight on April 28, the driver struck Deputy Nick Wohler’s patrol car before striking the deputy as he was outside the vehicle conducting a traffic stop, according to Myers.

A civilian with the Citizens Police Academy was a passenger in the patrol car and sustained a concussion from the impact. The suspect had minor injuries. The suspect’s name will be released after he makes a first appearance. An arrest warrant is pending.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on breach of privacy allegations.

Tracy Driscoll, 35,  entered pleas of no contest to the six counts of breach of privacy Wednesday morning in Barton County District Court, according to Barton County Attorney Amy Mellor.

Driscoll waived his right to a preliminary hearing and then entered his please to the charges. Two other counts of breach of privacy were dismissed by the prosecution.

Driscoll remains free on bond pending sentencing, now set for November 9. The judge ordered that a pre-sentence investigation take place with information from that investigation presented to the court and to the parties prior to the sentencing date.

The entry of pleas and the resulting convictions resulted from an investigation that began when officers were called to the E-Z Tanning salon in Great Bend following complaints that the defendant had been photographing or taking videos of customers while they were undressed. An officer contacted Driscoll and seized his cell phone when it became apparent that the device contained evidence of crimes.

A later examination of the phone’s contents revealed photographs of other individuals who were undressed while tanning. A list of customers showed that while they were in one room, Driscoll was in the next room over and used his phone camera to take the photographs or videos.

The Great Bend Police Department investigated the case while the Kansas Bureau of Investigation provided technical assistance.

JEWELL COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and asking for help to locate suspects.

According to a social media report, on September 15, the Jewell County Sheriff’s Office took a report of around 200 pumpkins stolen from a pumpkin patch located 3 miles east of Randall.

If anyone has any information please call the Sheriff’s Office at 378-3194.

There is a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former prosecutor and chairman of Missouri’s Democratic Party has been sentence to two years and three months in federal prison for misusing campaign funds for personal expenses and vacations.

Mike Sanders also was ordered Wednesday to forfeit $40,000. He pleaded guilty earlier this year conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Sanders had been on a trajectory to run for statewide or congressional office before resigning two years ago as head of Jackson County government. In his guilty plea, Sanders acknowledged converting $62,000 in political campaign funds into cash in a check-cashing scheme involving a disabled friend from high school.

While some of that cash went for political purposes, Sanders admitted using $15,000 to $40,000 of the cashed checks for personal use. Sanders will begin serving his sentence Nov. 5.

By JANET McCONNAUGHEY
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The outlook for American-grown roses is becoming a bit less rosy, with the spread of an incurable virus that’s causing major damage to the nation’s $250-million-a-year rose business.

U.S. rose bush producers account for the bulk of that business and face a growing challenge from rose rosette disease, which can kill roses within three years. Its many symptoms include super-thorny stems and clusters of stems called rosettes or witches’ brooms.

One producer spent $1 million getting rid of rose rosette disease and some smaller nurseries have had to destroy 10,000 plants, said Dr. David Byrne of Texas A&M University, leader of a $4.6 million multistate project to study the virus and the mite that spreads it, and to find resistant rose varieties.

“It moves real easily and it’s hard to detect initially. … That’s really scary for someone in production,” Byrne said. “If it gets in their pots in their production areas, they’ve got to eliminate thousands of plants. Even then they don’t know if they’ve got rid of it.”

He also said, “I think we’re seeing it in more areas now than 10 years ago.”

The virus, spread by wind-blown mites about half the length of a grain of salt, has been found in at least 30 states, including eastern and south-central Kansas.

In Texas, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden had to replace its entire rose collection. The virus recently was found to have spread in northwest Louisiana, including the home city of the American Rose Society and its gardens — the largest U.S. park devoted to the national flower.

Rose rosette has been known since the early 1940s — and was once hailed as a possible way to eradicate an invasive plant.

The disease was first identified on wild multiflora roses in California, the Rocky Mountains and Manitoba, Canada. In the 1990s and even the early 2000s, scientists considered it a possible way to control those invasive plants.
It became recognized as a problem for cultivated roses only in the last decade or so, Byrne said.

It’s the latest blow to the business. South American competition forced most U.S. growers out of the cut flower market over the past several decades. That market has withered from $200 million in 1990 to $22 million in 2015.

This virus threatens the rose bush business, valued at more than $200 million in 2015. It appears to be a growing issue as more and more cultivated roses are used in landscapes, according to a website created by a coalition of rose producers and scientists.

In Louisiana, where rose rosette disease was first detected in 2015, it’s spreading at an alarming rate in commercial and residential plantings in Bossier City and in Shreveport, where the rose society’s American Rose Center is located, said Dr. Raj Singh, an LSU AgCenter plant pathologist.

The center’s 40 acres with rose gardens are free of the disease so far, said the society’s executive director, Laura Seabaugh.

Unless an infected bush is removed, experts say, mites will spread the virus throughout a garden and beyond.
That can mean hard choices, said Dr. Mark T. Windham, who’s testing plants at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville to find resistant varieties.

“I’ve had people tell me, ‘The bush that has it, it’s the only surviving clone of my great-grandmother’s rose.’ I hate to say it, but are you going to try to save that rose and put your 500-bush rose garden in jeopardy?” he said.

The Fort Worth Botanic Garden uprooted about 2,000 bushes in 2015, rosarian Jeffrey Myers said. He said their close-set rows let mites “crawl through like a highway from rose to rose.” The botanic garden now has about 350 rose bushes, set at least 3 to 4 feet apart, with other plants in between as mite roadblocks.

Byrne says some large landscapers are not using roses because it’s too expensive to maintain them.

Customers still want them but won’t pay to replace infected plants, said Joe Ketterer, with Ruppert Landscape of Laytonsville, Maryland, which works in six states and the District of Columbia. He said his company uses roses but prunes out affected branches, using hormones to stimulate growth in parts of the same plant without symptoms.

At Tennessee-Knoxville, the University of Delaware and Oklahoma State, researchers lodge infected, mite-infested twigs in the foliage of healthy plants to see which stay well.

“So far we have 20 roses that look good. This is their fourth year,” Windham said. But their test won’t be over until they’ve lasted a full four years without infection, he said.