JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on numerous charges after an incident at a home in Jackson County.

Just after 5p.m. Sunday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call in reference to a domestic situation in the 17000 block of 190th Road west of the City of Denison, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Jackson County Deputies responded to the area.  The suspect in the incident allegedly fled from the scene on foot.

The sheriff’s office deployed a drone to assist in the search for the suspect identified as Ronald Bruce Dover, 42, of Denison. He was located just southeast of the scene and arrested.

Bruce was transported to the Jackson County Jail where he faces charges of criminal threat, domestic battery, endangering a child and criminal restraint. He remains in custody on a $20,000 bond, according to online jail records.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on an Army soldier from Fort Riley accused of sharing bomb-making instructions online and targeting left-leaning activists (all times local):

The presidential campaign of former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke says it is in direct contact with the FBI regarding the case of an Army soldier accused of sharing bomb-making instructions online and targeting left-leaning activists.

When an FBI undercover agent asked Jarrett William Smith if there was anyone in Texas who would be a good fit for “fire, destruction and death,” Smith reportedly replied, “Outside of Beto? I don’t know enough people that would be relevant enough to cause a change if they died.”

O’Rourke spokeswoman Aleigha Cavalier said in an emailed statement that they take any threat like this very seriously. The campaign says this isn’t about any one person or one campaign, and they “won’t let this scare us or cause us to back down in fighting for what’s right.”

The 24-year-old soldier was stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas.

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has issued a rule that will make overtime pay available to 1.3 million additional workers, though the proposal replaces a more generous one advanced by former President Barack Obama.

The Labor Department said Tuesday that it is raising the salary level that companies will have to pay to exempt workers from overtime to $35,568 a year, up from $23,660. Americans earning less than that amount will typically be paid time and a half for any work over 40 hours a week.

The new rule will benefit retail, fast-food restaurant, and home health care workers, as well as other lower-paid workers. Many employees in those industries have been paid just above the $23,660 threshold, which has been in place since 2004, and then required to work overtime without extra pay.

Many worker rights’ group and left-of-center economists criticized the move, however, for covering far fewer workers than an earlier proposal issued by the Obama administration in 2015.

Under Obama, the Labor Department proposed raising the threshold to more than $47,000, which would have made nearly 5 million more workers eligible for overtime. That rule, however, was struck down in court after being challenged by states and business groups.

Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project, also criticized the new rule for not including a provision to regularly increase the threshold. Obama’s proposal would have indexed the level to wage growth and adjusted it every three years.

“The Trump Labor Department’s rule says that if you make more than $35,568 a year, you’re a highly paid executive, administrator, or professional who doesn’t need overtime pay,” Owens said.

In the 1970s, more than 60% of workers were eligible for overtime pay, said Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. That figure fell to just 7% in 2016. The threshold hasn’t been increased since 2004.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce praised the rule, arguing that it provides more flexibility for employers in managing their staffs.

“The new overtime salary threshold is a balanced and responsible update to the standard that has been in place for 15 years,” said Marc Freedman, vice president of workplace policy at the Chamber.

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for robberies at four Wichita stores, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Kenneth W. Cade, 29, Wichita, pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and one count of carrying a firearm during a robbery.

In his plea, he admitted committing the following robberies including the Dollar General Store, 915 S. Glendale in Wichita, Nov. 22, 2017. Cade admitted pointing a gun at an employee and demanding money; C-Store, 837 S. Oliver in Wichita, Feb. 7, 2018.

Cade admitted serving as a lookout while a co-defendant pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money; Arby’s, 4308 E. Harry in Wichita, Feb. 14, 2018. Cade admitted pointing a firearm at an employee and demanding money and Circle K Store, 515 N. Seneca in Wichita, Feb. 14, 2018. Cade admitted grabbing cash from a register after a co-defendant pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money.

His Co-defendant Savannah Cole, 22, Wichita, Kan., is set for sentencing Oct. 4, 2019.

FULTON, Mo. (AP) — A woman has been charged with first-degree murder after telling investigators that she fatally shot her boyfriend as they acted out a movie scene.

Kalesha Peterson was originally charged with second-degree murder in the March 7 killing of her 36-year-old boyfriend, David Dalton, in Fulton.

A grand jury returned an indictment of first-degree murder and armed criminal action on Friday.

A court document says the 37-year-old Peterson told Fulton police that she and Dalton were drinking and watching a movie when he suggested they act out a scene involving a firearm. She said she accidentally shot him during that scene. According to the document, she told police she was intoxicated and on several medications at the time.

Her arraignment is scheduled for Oct 15.

SEDGWICK COUNTY Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 2a.m. Sunday police responded to a shooting at the Bourbon Street bar in the 3800 Block of South Seneca in Wichita, according to Lt. Chad Beard.

Investigators learned that there was a disturbance between multiple people in the parking lot when shots were fired. Police located a 40-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to the foot and another 30-year-old victim a short distance from the club. The second victim remains hospitalized in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the upper torso, according to Beard.

A Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by the suspect identified as 52-year-old Felipe Barrientos.

They arrested him and he is being held on a $75,000 bond for aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County online jail records

 

TOPEKA —As state and federal authorities work to understand and address the recent public health crisis regarding e-cigarettes, Governor Kelly wants Kansans to know the state is committed to combating this health issue.

In a media release from the governor’s office, Kelly said, “Today, I am saddened to announce the death of a second Kansan in association with this outbreak,” Governor Kelly said. “Dr. Lee Norman and his team with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are working tirelessly with other states and organizations to gather facts on e-cigarettes and its effects. We are coordinating a response to combat this epidemic, so that families can avoid such tragic outcomes.”

As of today, September 23, Kansas has had two confirmed deaths related to vaping. The first Kansas death related to vaping or using e-cigarettes was a female resident over the age of 50 with underlying health conditions. The second death is a male over the age of 50 who also had underlying health conditions.

Kansas currently has nine probable/confirmed vaping related cases, including the two deaths. Of the cases, five are male and four are female and range in age from 17-67 years old. All were hospitalized, five have been released from the hospital and two remain hospitalized. Regarding the types of vaping products used, there was a combination of those reporting using only nicotine, only THC, only CBD and a combination of THC and nicotine. Due to the small numbers of those affected, KDHE is not releasing locations of those affected or information about specific cases.

According to the CDC, the number of vaping-related illnesses nationally has climbed to 530, with several deaths nationwide as federal and state health officials continue to search for the cause of the outbreak. These new numbers indicate a dramatic 40 percent increase from last week, when the agency reported 380 cases in 36 states and the Virgin Islands. Half of the patients are under 25 years old. In response to the rapid pace of the outbreak, the CDC has opened its Emergency Operations Center.

The state of Kansas is working swiftly to address this epidemic and is actively reviewing policy options.

Dr. Norman has been chosen to testify before Congress concerning the effects of e-cigarettes, and will offer his testimony in front of the United States House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

“E-cigarettes are unregulated, which means that we don’t know what’s in them,” Dr. Norman, KDHE secretary, said. “And, of great concern to me, is that in the midst of all these illnesses being reported, the amount of young people using them is significant.”

E-cigarettes are the most commonly-used tobacco product among youth. Some 96 percent of youth who initiated e-cigarette use between 2016 and 2017 did so with a flavored e-cigarette product. According to preliminary findings from the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), over one quarter of U.S. high school students report using an e-cigarette product in the past 30 days, an increase from 2018 when the rate of past 30-day use was 20.8 percent.

“Most teens who vape have never smoked cigarettes,” Norman said. “Vaping is how they are initiating inhaling things into their lungs. We must work diligently and swiftly in addressing this public health crisis.”

In line with concerns on marketing, the Food and Drug Administration on Friday, September 20, issued a proposed rule that would allow e-cigarette products to be sold only after they’ve shown they may be marketed in a way that best protects public health. A federal judge ordered the FDA this summer to require all e-cigarettes to submit to federal review by May 2020.

“Until these rules and regulations go into effect, education is our best defense,” Secretary Norman said. “Talk to your kids. Talk to your grandkids. Keep talking about these issues.”

To increase education regarding e-cigarettes and what the tobacco industry has termed as “vaping,” KDHE and the Kansas Department of Education partnered to develop a Vape-Free Schools kit. Schools are urged to adopt the kit and parents and caretakers are encouraged to have conversations with their children. Tips are available from the Surgeon General here.

Governor Kelly also urges Kansans to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advice regarding vaping: While this investigation is ongoing, people should consider not using e-cigarette products. People who do use e-cigarette products should monitor themselves for symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever) and promptly seek medical attention for any health concerns. Regardless of the ongoing investigation, people who use e-cigarette products should not buy these products off the street and should not modify e-cigarette products or add any substances that are not intended by the manufacturer. E-cigarette products should never be used by youth, young adults, pregnant women or adults who do not currently use tobacco products.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 8:30a.m. Monday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy van driven by Dustin Adam Lloyd, 36, Pretty Prairie, was eastbound on U.S. 400 just west of 343rd Street.

The driver swerved left to avoid stopped traffic, traveled through the median and struck a 2012 Ford Escape driven by Mendi Kathleen Cotter, 30, Wichita, head-on.
Cotter was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Lloyd to Wesley Medical Center.

A passenger in the van Blake Kinyon, 17, Pretty Prairie, was not wearing a seat belt and refused treatment.

DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — A capuchin monkey at a western Kansas zoo is recovering after it was injured while apparently trying to stop an intruder from taking a younger monkey.

Officials at the Wright Park Zoo in Dodge City say the older monkey, named Vern, was hurt and his son, Pickett, was found on the outskirts of Dodge City Sept. 3. The younger monkey was not injured.

Officials initially thought Vern’s injuries were minor but a veterinarian found injuries apparently caused by blunt force trauma. The monkey underwent surgery at Kansas State University Sept. 10 to repair broken bones.

Zoo spokeswoman Abbey Martin said Monday Pickett is doing well and is back on display. Vern remains in quarantine while he recovers.

Dodge City police are investigating the incident. Martin says there are no developments in the investigation.

RILEY COUNTY — Fire investigators  have determined the cause of the fire at 930 Thurston Street, which occurred on Friday, September 20, to be accidental, according to a Ryan Almes, Deputy Chief.

The power was restored to the unoccupied dwelling unit and the stove had inadvertently been left on with combustibles on top.

Loss is estimated at $30,000 to the structure and $1,000 to the contents.
There were no injuries reported.

RICE COUNTY— A second person has  died from injuries suffered in a two vehicle accident just after 2:30p.m. Friday in Rice County.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Avenue V & 22nd Road, about five miles north of Nickerson, according to the Rice County Sheriff’s office,

Three patients were treated, one with critical injuries and two patients with non-life-threatening injuries and all were transported to local hospitals.

A fourth patient, the driver of the northbound vehicle, 84-year-old Dale Hoover died from his injuries at the scene. Both vehicles came to rest in the northeast ditch.

The passenger of the northbound vehicle, 80-year-old Delores Hoover, died over the weekend.

 

TOPEKA, KAN – A soldier stationed at Fort Riley was charged in federal court Monday in Topeka with sending over social media instructions for making bombs, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Jarrett William Smith, 24, Fort Riley, Kan., was charged with one count of distributing information related to explosives and weapons of mass destruction.

Smith, a private first class infantry soldier, joined the Army June 12, 2017, and was transferred to Fort Riley on July 8, 2019. According to an FBI investigator’s affidavit, Smith said on Facebook he was interested in traveling to the Ukraine to fight with a paramilitary group called the Azov Batallion.

During a Facebook chat, Smith offered to teach other Facebook users to make cell phone explosive devices “in the style of the Afghans.” On Aug. 19 Smith told an undercover investigator he was looking for “radicals” like himself. Smith talked about killing members of Antifa and destroying nearby cell towers or a local news station. On Aug. 21, Smith told an undercover investigator about how to make a vehicle bomb. When the investigator commented that most of the components were household items, Smith said: “Making AK47s out of expensive parts is cool, but imagine if you will if you were going to WalMart instead of a gun store to buy weapons.”

Smith also described in detail to the undercover investigator how to build a bomb that could be triggered by calling a cell phone.

“Be very careful with the fully armed device,” Smith warned the investigator.

If convicted, Smith could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000

SEDGWICK —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of gang-related shootings in Wichita over the weekend and have made an arrest in one case.

Early Saturday, suspects fired shots at a 28-year-old man  in front of his residence in the 700 Block of East Bailey in Wichita, according to Lt. Chad Beard with the Wichita Police gang, felony assault division.

The gunfire struck the residence. A woman and newborn child were inside the residence at the time of the shooting, according to Beard. They were not injured. EMS treated the 28-year-old man at the scene.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting in the 1500 Block of North Roberta in Wichita, according to Beard.
Investigators determined that unknown suspects fired multiple shots into a residence. The gunfire struck a 4-year-old girl and two men in their 20s.

An officer rushed the child to the hospital in a patrol vehicle before emergency crews arrived. She was initially in critical condition but now is listed as stable, according to Beard. Police say the men’s injuries weren’t life-threatening.

The suspects in the shooting on East Bailey street were identified as 24-year-old Ricky Elsen and 20-year-old Hunter Peach are in custody.

Elsen and Peach are being held on a $100,000 bond on requested charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to online jail records.

Police have not reported an arrest in the shooting on North Roberta.