TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Only 18% of Kansas economic development funds were spent as intended in the last fiscal year, in part because there is little oversight of how money for a state economic development fund is spent, according to state auditors.

In a report released Wednesday, auditors said that during fiscal year 2018, nearly half of all spending — $20.1 million — from the Economic Development Initiatives Fund didn’t go toward programs that met requirements for receiving the funds.

In response to the audit, some lawmakers called for an overhaul of regulations and oversight of the fund.

“Of course, I was appalled by what I saw … This is just a perfect example of why we need to be looking at these things,” said Sen. Julia Lynn, an Olathe Republican who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee.

The fund, which was created in 1986, is replenished every year by lottery and gaming revenue.

It has often been used to supplement state spending, rather than directly for economic development. The Legislature is supposed to direct money into three accounts that focus on innovative products, research and development or community infrastructure.

Instead, during the last fiscal year, $20.1 million of the $42.3 million in the fund went to the state’s general fund, with the rest going to state agencies. Only 18 percent, or $7.8 million, went to eight programs that met requirements for the funds, such as an agriculture marketing program, the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, several research and development programs administered by the Kansas Board of Regents and a housing trust fund that helps residents rent or buy homes.

Auditors said Kansas doesn’t track the performance of fund recipients or evaluate whether the fund is effective. And the auditors found state officials it approached ““were unaware of what (state law) says about these accounts.”

Rep. Tom Burroughs, a Kansas City Democrat, said the audit showed lawmakers need to fund agency programs properly.

“We’re the ones that have failed on not following our own statutes,” Burroughs said.

Department of Commerce Secretary David Toland said the current law requiring that all EDIF funding is obsolete and doesn’t match current economic development needs. In a letter in response to the audit, he asked the lawmakers to eliminate the current language.

The auditors said lawmakers should consider creating an oversight body for the fund and to consider whether state law should continue to require EDIF dollars go into the three accounts.

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities and USD 260 officials are investigating a student in connection with a weapon at school.

A Derby High School student was taken into custody Thursday morning by Derby Police Department for possession of a weapon on school property, according to USD 260.

A tip was given to administration about a student possibly in possession of drugs. This student was immediately brought in, questioned, and searched.

An unloaded handgun was found during the search of his backpack and was secured by the School Resource Officer (SRO) and building administration without incident.

No threat was made towards students or staff at any time. Because no threat was made and the student was immediately secured, a lockdown was not necessitated.

The school district reminded the public, “we take all threats seriously. As always, if you hear something or see something, please let law enforcement or administration know immediately. We appreciate this tip being reported. Individuals can also submit a tip through See Something Say Something by calling (316) 267-2111 to anonymously report any potential school violence 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.”

By RANDALL CHASE
AP Business Writer

DOVER, Del. — Gannett Co. is facing a shareholder challenge to its $1.4 billion acquisition by publishing rival GateHouse Media.

A complaint filed Wednesday in federal court in Delaware says documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission contain misleading and incomplete information about the deal.

The lawsuit says shareholders need complete information regarding Gannett’s financial projections to determine the fairness of the buyout by GateHouse owner New Media. The lawsuit asks the court to block a planned Nov. 14 shareholder vote until more information is provided.

The merger proposal calls for Gannett shareholders to receive $12.06 in cash and New Media stock for each share of Gannett.

New Media plans to borrow $1.8 billion to complete the acquisition.

Gatehouse owns Kansas newspapers in Hays, Hutchinson, Salina, Topeka, Garden City, Dodge City, McPherson, Newton and El Dorado, among others.

A Gannett spokeswoman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug and weapons charges.

On Tuesday, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Task Force (DETF)  with the assistance of DEA agents served a narcotic search warrant in the 600 Block of SE 35^th Street, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

Deputies seized Methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, prescription drugs and a firearm.

Lisa M. Kisner, 38, of Topeka, who was armed with a firearm, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for Possession of Methamphetamine, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Child Endangerment, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Her school age child was at home during the investigation and was placed into police protective custody along with another child who was at school at the time of the search warrant.

Robert Lininger, 49, of Topeka, was also at the residence and was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Marijuana.

Marquan O. Byrd, 19, of Topeka, was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for Distribution of Marijuana.

By JOHN HANNA

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ two Republican senators argued Wednesday that the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump arises from partisan opposition to the president and said it is preventing Congress from taking up important legislative business.

Sen. Jerry Moran said he can’t yet draw conclusions from a whistleblower’s complaint that disclosed a call by Trump in July to Ukraine’s president. A rough transcript of the call released by the White House before the complaint’s text became public showed Trump pressed for an investigation of Democratic rival and ex-Vice President Joe Biden and Biden’s son Hunter.

Moran suggested the 2020 presidential election is the proper vehicle for deciding whether Trump remains in office and said some Democrats in the House have favored impeaching Trump “almost since the day he was elected.

“It seems to me that the wolf has been cried so many times,” he said.

Moran hosted U.S. Attorney General William Barr for tours of law enforcement laboratories and training centers in Topeka and Wichita, and Barr participated in a closed discussion with law enforcement officials at Wichita State University about fighting crime. Barr ignored a shouted question about whether he had spoken with Trump or personal attorney Rudy Giuliani about Ukraine.

“It’s troublesome to me that we can’t elect a president, allow that president _ work with that president for the next four years and try to move the country forward and advance an agenda,” Moran told reporters after the round table. “We need a country in which we’re working together and not pulled apart.”

Roberts said in a statement that “the left” doesn’t want Trump to be president and, “That is their sole focus.” He said he wants to work on issues such as trade and health care.

“The rest of this is political theater,” he said.

Before Barr’s and Moran’s talk with law enforcement officials, about 20 people protested outside the law enforcement training center at Wichita State, where it was held.

They held signs with slogans such as “Barr should be disbarred,” and one with a cartoon portraying Barr as Trump’s emotional support dog. Donna Wirth, a retired small business owner and community activist, said she “absolutely” supports the impeachment inquiry.

“We want our country back,” she said. “I’m tired of seeing each of these instances of corruption coming up and nobody being held accountable.”

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities investigating a mother and boyfriend in the death of a child and have filed murder charges.

The case was presented Wednesday to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Bernardo Gonzalez-Mejia, 31, Wichita is now being held on charges of felony murder and child abuse and the boy’s mother Stephanie Aviles, 24, Wichita on charges of felony murder and aggravated child endangerment in the death of 2-year-old Jacob Aviles.

An autopsy completed on Jacob by the Regional Forensic Science Center led to the new charges, according to Davidson.

At approximately 11 a.m. on Sunday, officers responded to an assist fire call at a residence in the 1100 block of west Munnell, regarding Jacob not breathing.

Upon arrival, officers, firefighters and Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services staff contacted Jacob and medical treatment was performed. Jacob was pronounced dead on the scene.

Through the investigation, Jacob was found to have extensive bruising on his body. 

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a child and have made two arrests.

Just after 11a.m. Sunday, police responded to a residence in the 1100 Block of Munnell in Wichita where a two-year-old boy was not breathing, according to Captain Brent Allred. Despite efforts by police, fire and EMS crews, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators found the child had extensive bruising all over his body. This led to the arrest of the boy’s mother Stephanie Avilas, 24, for alleged aggravated child endangerment and her boyfriend Bernardo Gonzalez-Mejia, 31, Wichita for alleged child abuse, according to Allred.

The mother had called 911. She was on an errand and not home at the time and the boyfriend had contacted her about the child not breathing. Gonzalez-Mejia and the 2-year-old were home alone at the time of the incident.

An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death. That will determine if additional charges will be filed, according to Allred. He did not release the boys’s name.
Two other children in the home a 6-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl are in police protective custody, according to Allred.

There was one report from the Department of Children’s Familes in 2015 on the family. It did not involve abuse, according to Allred.

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting in Riley County that sent one man to the hospital.

Just before 5p.m. Wednesday, the Riley County Police Department Emergency Dispatch Center received a call stating a man had been shot in the 2500 block of Farm Bureau Road.

When officers arrived on scene, they found a 20-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound not believed to be life threatening. He was transported to Via Christi for treatment.

No arrests have been made at this time. Investigation suggests this is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public.

 

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drive-by shooting and have made two arrests.

Just after 8:30p.m. Monday, police responded to a drive-by shooting call in the 300 Block of West 27th Street in Wichita, according to office Kevin Wheeler. Police located a residence that had been struck by gunfire multiple times. There were five people home at the time of the shooting including an adult and four children. An 11-year-old received minor injuries from broken glass as a result of the shooting.

On Tuesday night, police acting on a tip from a community member about the suspect vehicle made a traffic stop and arrested a 16-year-old and 17-year-old.

They are being held in juvenile detention on requested charges that include possession of firearm by a juvenile, carrying a concealed weapon, aggravated assault, aggravated battery and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to Allred. Police also recovered two guns from the vehicle. They were stolen, according to Allred.

One was stolen from a vehicle in Topeka and the other from a vehicle in 2015 in Wichita.
The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County Attorney’s office.

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — A former suburban Kansas City day care owner has been charged with abusing a 6-month-old baby.

53-year-old Katherine Konon, of Shawnee, was arrested last week on the felony charge. Court documents say she caused bodily harm June 20.

The child’s father, Brett Braun, says Konon told his wife that the baby had been vomiting when she went to pick him up that day. He says his son also had red marks on his head. Doctors told the parents their baby suffered a brain bleed.

Konon’s attorney, Thomas Bath, says Konon denies the allegations and plans to plead not guilty. Bath says Konon has been in the day-care business for at least a decade and has “scores of parents” who will attest to her abilities.

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have arrested two suspects.

Just after 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to an audible alarm at Best Buy in the 2100 block of North Rock Road in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers observed evidence of a burglary that occurred and multiple Apple Macbooks being stolen.

Approximately an hour later, officers were checking the area of the burglary and observed a vehicle with a passenger whose description matched the description of a suspect involved in the burglary.

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle when the driver refused to stop, accelerated and fled from police. A vehicle pursuit ensued and ended in the 4400 block of South Rock Road. with the assistance of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.

Police arrested 19-year-old Davon Crumity of Houston, TX on charges of burglary and theft and a 17-year-old boy from Houston, TX on charges of burglary, flee and elude and other traffic charges.

Inside the vehicle, officers located 19 Apple Macbook Air laptops.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 10a.m. Tuesday,  the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division was attempting to make contact with a suspect in a recent burglary in the 6200 block of SE Stanley Road, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer. The suspect, Tyson J. Smith, 19, of Topeka, fled as detectives approached the residence.

After a brief search, detectives were able to locate Smith in a tree line and negotiate with him to turn himself in.  He was arrested for Felony Theft, Burglary, and Criminal Damage to Property.  A 2004Triumph motorcycle that was previously reported stolen was recovered at the scene.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that left a man dead and asking the public for help in locating 42-year-old David Pressley.

Pressley currently has a Kansas Department of Corrections Arrest and Detain order and investigators are wanting to speak to him in reference to Sunday’s criminal homicide in the parking lot of Magoos Bar and Grill in the 2300 block of South Oliver, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting call outside the bar, according to officer Kevin Wheeler. Upon arrival, officers located the scene of a shooting, but no victim was located.

Shortly after, the victim identified as 29-year-old Demario Cooks of Wichita arrived by private vehicle at an area hospital with critical injuries and later died, according to Police Captain Brent Allred.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the Cooks was inside the bar attending a birthday party, and a disturbance occurred between several other men. They moved into the parking lot, and multiple shots were fired, striking the victim.

If you know the whereabouts of Pressley, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide that left a man dead.

Just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at Magoos Bar and Grill located in the 2300 block of S. Oliver in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler. Upon arrival, officers located the scene of a shooting, but no victim was located.

Shortly after, the victim identified as 29-year-old Demario Cooks of Wichita arrived by private vehicle at an area hospital with critical injuries and later died, according to Police Captain Brent Allred.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the Cooks was inside the bar attending a birthday party, and a disturbance occurred between several other men. They moved into the parking lot, and multiple shots were fired, striking the victim.

Investigators have identified one individual who was at the scene. Police located him at a residence in the 1100 Block of North Pershing in Wichita, according to Allred. He had a gunshot wound to his arm and was taken to the hospital for medical treatment.  Police investigators are working to contact others who were at the scene.

This was not a random incident. It the 22nd criminal homicide in Wichita in 2019, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to contact police.

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SEDGWICK COUNTY— Senator Jerry Moran hosted US Attorney General William Barr in Kansas Wednesday to meet with state and local law enforcement and see firsthand the collaboration taking place to support our law enforcement and keep communities safe.

According to the Senator, their first stop was at the Kansas Intelligence Fusion Center in Topeka, “a joint endeavor to generate intelligence analysis critical for homeland security policy and relevant threat warning in order to protect life, liberty and property in Kansas and the Great Plains region.”

Moran and Barr  also met with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Wichita to discuss federal resources to fight and prosecute crime, toured the KBI’s Forensic Science Center and participated in a roundtable discuss with law enforcement officials from across the state.