KANSAS CITY (AP) — Eight family members who survived a duck boat sinking in Missouri have filed a federal lawsuit against the owner and operators of the tourist attraction.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri, on behalf of Ronita McKinley and her daughter, Tiffany Collins, both of Carlsbad, New Mexico; another daughter, Tomlyn McDonald, of Midland, Texas; and their families. Their attorneys say that although they survived the boat’s sinking July 19 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, the family will be “forever scarred” by the experience and by witnessing the deaths of 17 fellow passengers.

The lawsuit mirrors claims made in previously filed lawsuits that Ripley Entertainment and five other businesses disregarded weather warnings the day the boat sank and ignored long-standing warnings about flaws in the boats’ designs.

Ripley and the other defendants have declined to comment on pending litigation.

KDHE

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is providing assistance to Sept. 3 flood victims and their immediate family members who may need to replace birth and marriage certificates damaged or destroyed by this event.

Fees will be waived for residents of Jewell, Kingman, Marshall, Pratt and Riley counties who qualify as flood victims. This service will be offered through Oct. 5.

“Picking up the pieces after a natural disaster can be a challenge,” said KDHE Secretary Jeff Andersen. “We hope by offering this service for free, we can assist residents with their recovery efforts.”

Individuals may mail applications to the KDHE Office of Vital Statistics, or they can visit the KDHE Office of Vital Statistics in Topeka to qualify for their fee to be waived.

Birth Certificate applications may be found at: https://www.kdheks.gov/vital/birth.html

Marriage Certificate applications may be found at: https://www.kdheks.gov/vital/marriage.html

For additional questions, please call Vital Statistics at 785-296-1400, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or visit www.kdheks.gov/vital.

 

BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug and theft charges.

Just after 9 p.m. Tuesday, officers executed a search warrant in the 500 block of East Fourth Street in the city of Ellinwood, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

Upon gaining entry into the residence a quantity of methamphetamine, digital scales and packaging materials were found as well as a firearm.

Further investigation at the scene revealed a stolen vehicle parked behind the residence. The 2000 Pontiac Grand Am was stolen from Reno County.

Deputies arrested at the scene Eric Torres, 33, and Becky Muckenthaler, 35 both of Ellinwood.

They were transported to the Barton County jail and booked on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal in possession of a firearm and felony possession of stolen property, according to Bellendir.

Both are being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.  The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by members of the Ellinwood Police Department.

DICKINSON COUNTY — A group of Kansas students avoided injury Thursday during an accident just after 8:30p.m. in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Yellow Bird School Bus driven by Angelika S. Johnson, 58, Wakefield, was northbound on Kansas 15 three miles north of Kansas 18 when it hit a deer.

Johnson, 19 USD 379 students and 4 coaches on the bus were not injured, according to the KHP.

WASHINGTON – A Kansas man made his initial appearance Thursday on an indictment charging him with murdering a woman on board a cruise ship in January 2018, according to the United State’s Attorney and FBI.

Eric Newman, 53, Topeka, was charged with murder in the second degree.  The initial appearance was held before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ross A. Walters.

The indictment alleges that on or about Jan. 19, Newman was travelling on board the Carnival Elation, a foreign vessel registered in Panama, on a voyage with both a scheduled departure from and arrival in Jacksonville, Florida.  During the voyage, Newman is alleged to have killed Tamara Tucker, 50, of Lawson, Missouri.

A detention hearing is scheduled for Sept. 12.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A 35-year-old Olathe man running for a seat in the Kansas House of Representatives has been charged with election perjury.

Adam Thomas, a Republican candidate in the 26th District House race, was charged Thursday. Charging documents allege that Thomas submitted a falsified document to state or county election officials on May 31.

This summer, Democratic lawmakers called for an investigation into Thomas. They alleged he provided false information about where he lived when he filed to run in the election.

Thomas was arrested Thursday booked into the Johnson County jail. His bond was set at $2,500.

No attorney for Thomas is listed yet in court records.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A rookie Kansas police officer charged in a shooting that wounded a man told investigators that she intended to fire her Taser but instead used her firearm.

An affidavit released Thursday in the case against Lawrence Officer Brindley Blood says she didn’t realize she had shot Akira Lewis until she looked for the Taser wires to see if they had hit their mark and realized there weren’t any.

Blood was charged last month with aggravated battery in the May 29 shooting. The affidavit says it happened after a fellow officer pulled Lewis over for a suspected seat-belt violation, and Lewis refused to cooperate. Lewis is accused of hitting another officer before he was shot. He was treated at a hospital and charged with several misdemeanors.

GEARY COUNTY —A small earthquake shook north east Kansas on Thursday.

The quake at 10:30a.m. measured a magnitude 2.7 and was centered a mile north of Junction City, according to the Kansas Geological Survey.

It is the first quake recorded in the state since a series of small quakes in Harper County last week.

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

MANHATTAN— The Riley County Police Department reports that the suspect vehicle and a subject in connection with the alleged sexual battery on and near the KSU campus have been located. The investigation is ongoing. Authorities thanked the public for their assistance.

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MANHATTAN— Law enforcement authorities are investigating reports of alleged sexual battery on or near the KSU campus.

According to a  media release. the K-State Police Department received a report of lewd and lascivious conduct on Wednesday, Sept. 5, from the D-1 parking lot on the west side of the Manhattan campus. Riley County Police received two reports of sexual battery on Thursday, Sept. 6, near campus in the 1100 block of Vattier Street.

NEW YORK (AP) — Burt Reynolds, whose credits included acclaimed films such as “Deliverance” and commercial hits like “Smokey and the Bandit,” has died.

The handsome film and television star died at age 82, according to his agent Todd Eisner. No other details were immediately available Thursday.

During a long, erratic career, Reynolds starred in the Oscar-winning film “Deliverance” in 1972 and the Oscar-nominated “Boogie Nights” in 1997. He also fronted such commercial favorites as “Smokey and the Bandit.” And he had a hit TV show in the 1990s with “Evening Shade.”

But he also had more than his share of flops and tabloid moments, including an acrimonious divorce from former TV star Loni Anderson and a nearly nude centerfold in Cosmopolitan magazine.

BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating stolen property found after several arrests in Barton County, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

Sheriff’s office detectives executed six search warrants in the course of three days as the result of several arrests over the last few weeks.

Warrants were executed on vehicles, sheds and garages.  Detectives recovered in excess of $12,000 in stolen property.  Several burglary cases in Barton County were cleared because of these warrants.  Detectives also discovered evidence in cases from Rush County and Stafford County.

Bellendir released no additional details.