WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman has pleaded not guilty in the death of her toddler son.

Brandi Marchant, 23, Wichita, appeared in court Monday. A trial date was set for Nov. 12.

Marchant and Patrick Javonovich are both charged with first-degree murder and child abuse in the April death of 2-year-old Zaiden Javonovich.

Police say Zaiden had been dead for days when his body was found in a crib in the family’s mobile home. An autopsy report ruled that the child found bound in pajamas died of dehydration and starvation, and his brain tested positive for methamphetamine.

Patrick Javonovich is scheduled to be in court Tuesday.

Zaiden’s 4-month-old brother was initially hospitalized. That child has been removed from the home.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A U.S. judge on Monday reinstated a nationwide halt on the Trump administration’s plan to prevent most migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar ruled in Oakland that an injunction blocking the administration’s policy from taking effect should apply nationwide.

Tigar blocked the policy in July after a lawsuit by groups that help asylum seekers. But the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals limited the impact of Tigar’s injunction to states within the area overseen by the appeals court.

That meant the policy was blocked in the border states of California and Arizona but not in New Mexico or Texas.

In his ruling, Tigar stressed a “need to maintain uniform immigration policy” and found that nonprofit organizations such as Al Otro Lado don’t know where asylum seekers who enter the U.S. will end up living and making their case to remain in the country.

“The court recognized there is grave danger facing asylum-seekers along the entire stretch of the southern border,” Lee Gelernt, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement.

A message was left seeking comment with the Department of Justice.

The new rules by the Trump administration apply to migrants who pass through another country before reaching the U.S.

The policy targets tens of thousands of Central Americans who cross Mexico every month to try to enter the U.S. and also would affect asylum-seekers from Africa, Asia and South America who arrive regularly at the southern border.

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a an alleged hit and run crash and have arrested a Kansas felon.

Just before 11:30p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to the 1400 block of Brittany Street in Salina after  report of a motor vehicle accident, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

A 2018 Nissan Kicks driven by Matthew Levin, 33, of Salina, rolled and came to rest on the driver’s side after it hit a 2009 Ford Taurus parked in the 1400 block of Brittany Street.

A witness helped Levin out of the vehicle and Levin then fled on foot.

Police located him walking in the 1400 block of East Schilling Road with injuries consistent with being in a vehicle accident and  wearing the same clothing described by the witness, according to Forrester.

Police arrested Levin on requested charges of Felony driving under the influence, Driving while suspended, Duty upon striking an unattended vehicle, Driving on roadways laned for traffic.  He has previous convictions for domestic battery, battery and falsely reporting a crime and had been on community corrections since January, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 7-year-old boy is expected to make a full recovery after being shot in the head while riding with his mother in Kansas City, Missouri.

The shooting happened just before 10 p.m. Sunday. The mother told officer that she and her son were on their way home when she saw two men shooting at another person.

One of the bullets struck the child. Doctors at Research Medical Center removed a bullet fragment from the boy’s head that had penetrated his skin. Police say the injury is not considered life-threatening.

No arrests have been made.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating  a wanted Kansas man after a chase and injury crash.

Just after 5:10 p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to the 100 block of North. Ash to assist the Kansas Department of Corrections in apprehending a 26-year-old man later identified as Brian Scovel with a felony warrant for absconding, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.  

Scovel got into a Ford Fusion and the officers attempted to stop the vehicle.  Scovel failed to stop initially, but soon after pulled over.  He then drove off again leading officers on a brief pursuit.

The pursuit came to an end after Scovel ran a stop sign at Douglas and Green and struck a red Ford Explorer causing it to overturn. 

The driver of the Explorer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.  Scovel and a female passenger were taken into custody and transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 

Scovel is being held without bond on request charges that include a parole violation, driving while license canceled, suspect or revoked, Flee or attempt to elude law enforcement,  Aggravated Battery; intentional bodily harm with a deadly weapon and additional traffic violations, according to the Sedgwick County booking jail records.

He has previous convictions for theft, aggravated assault, forgery and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He absconded on August 22.

 

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Panic broke out at a north east Kansas festival that celebrates pioneer history after festival goers falsely believed shots had been fired.

It was unclear what led some attendees to begin running and taking cover Saturday night at the Johnson County Old Settlers event in Olathe, Kansas. Police said Sunday that reports of gunfire weren’t substantiated. Amid the chaos, one woman fell and was hurt.

Sixteen-year-old Mel Hipsher says she was with her friends getting tokens for games when she saw a group push through the crowd, running. The teen says she and her friends also started running. She says she heard someone yell about a shooter.

Word was quickly spread on social media about a purported shooting at the event that includes music and rides.

BELTON, Mo. (AP) — A fifth person has been charged in a deadly shooting in the Kansas City suburb of Belton, Missouri.

Police said Sunday that prosecutors charged 18-year-old Andre Alonzo McKinney III with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and forgery in the death of 25-year-old Timothy Hunter.

The same charges previously were filed against 19-year-old Crishon Willis, 18-year-old Makayla Davis, 20-year-old Shane Pierce and 18-year-old Alea Campbell. Willis’ bond was set at $250,000. The other four suspects all have $150,000 bond amounts.

Police say Hunter was found wounded at an apartment building around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday. He died at the scene.

Charging documents weren’t immediately available over the weekend, so it wasn’t clear what led up to the shooting.

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BELTON, Mo. (AP) — Prosecutors have charged four people in connection with last week’s fatal shooting of a 25-year-old man in the Kansas City suburb of Belton, Missouri.

Belton Police said four suspects were in custody in connection with Wednesday’s shooting at an apartment complex in Belton. All four are charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, forgery and weapons charges.

Police say Timothy Hunter was found wounded at the apartments around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday. He died at the scene.

The suspects are: 19-year-old Crishon Willis of Grandview, Missouri; 18-year-old Makayla Davis of Grandview, Missouri; 20-year-old Shane Pierce of Kansas City, Missouri; and 18-year-old Alea Campbell of Belton, Missouri.

Willis’ bond was set at $250,000. The other three suspects all have $150,000 bond amounts.

FHSU University Relations

Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to offer a “World Shorebirds Day” program to area seventh- and eighth-grade students.

Mandy Kern, program specialist at the KWEC, began visiting schools at the end of August and will continue through the end of next week. Visits were scheduled to Ellinwood Middle School and St. Joseph Catholic School in Ellinwood, Central Kansas Christian Academy and Great Bend Middle School in Great Bend, Smoky Valley Middle School in Lindsborg and Stafford Middle School in Stafford.

“World Shorebirds Day,” celebrated annually on Sept. 6, was created to raise public awareness about the need to protect shorebirds and their habitat for ongoing shorebird research, monitoring and conservation.

“I want youth to realize what an amazing gem and natural resource we have in Cheyenne Bottoms,” Kern said. “Thousands of shorebirds pass through each year and I’m thankful The Nature Conservancy in Kansas, and especially Rob Penner, Cheyenne Bottoms and Avian Programs Manager, provided me with the opportunity to impact over 520 area students.”

The program covers shorebirds’ migration and the importance of resting areas like the Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Students are introduced to a variety of shorebirds who migrate through the Cheyenne Bottoms, study mounts and sculpt various habitats shorebirds use during their migration.

“Cheyenne Bottoms is the largest interior marsh in the United States and it has been designated as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention. As many as 500,000 shorebirds pass through Cheyenne Bottoms in years with favorable habitat conditions,” Kern said.

Teachers participating in the program received a tub of supplies including books, lesson plans, posters, field guides, a bird feeder, games and student hand-outs courtesy of The Nature Conservancy.

About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit that works to conserve the lands and waters across the world. In Kansas, the nonprofit has permanently protected 139,470 acres including five preserves open to the public. They manage about 8,000 of the 41,000 acre Cheyenne Bottoms basin.

About KWEC
The KWEC partners with many agencies including, Fort Hays State, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and The Nature Conservancy. The KWEC educates the public about wetland communities, their importance, conservation and restoration needs through interactive exhibits and interpretation, programs, outreach, and partnerships with cooperating stakeholders.

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced last week to 77 months in federal prison for robbing a bank and a pharmacy and attempting to rob a retail store, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Ralph McGinnis, 63, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery.

In his plea, McGinnis admitted he robbed the Bank of Labor at 756 Minnesota in Kansas City, Kan. According to documents filed in the case, McGinnis told a teller, “Don’t say anything,” as he handed her a note. The note said: “This is a robbery. Give me 100’s and 50’s.” After the robbery, a security guard followed the robber to a nearby apartment building where McGinnis was living.

The day before the bank robbery, McGinnis was carrying what appeared to be a rifle when he attempted to rob a Family Dollar at 1200 N. 7th Street. After the clerk ducked behind the counter, McGinnis left with no money.

On the same day as the attempted robbery, McGinnis robbed the CVS Pharmacy at 950 Minnesota. He told a clerk he had a gun and would use it if he didn’t get what he wanted. He fled with cash.

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday upheld the conviction and sentence for a 32-year-old Pratt County man convicted of aggravated criminal sodomy.

Dashaun Howling challenged his conviction by attacking the district court’s admission of videotaped testimony of the child, testimony about that interview and the sufficiency of the evidence. But, the state high court ruled in favor of the district court’s decision to admit the evidence. The court rejected Howling’s argument that the evidence presented was insufficient to support the conviction.

He was originally charged with rape and aggravated criminal sodomy based on allegations made by his then 4-year-old daughter. It happened when the child spent the night with Howling on June 20, 2015.

A jury found him guilty of the sodomy count, but not guilty of the rape charge.

He’s serving the life sentence out of state, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections website.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor has charged a man with premeditated first-degree murder in the stabbing death of another man in Topeka.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay announced the charge Friday against 40-year-old Andrew Timothy Evans. Evans is being held in the Shawnee County Jail on a $1 million bond in the Sept. 1 death of 41-year-old Raymond Lee Smith.

Police say Smith was found suffering from life-threatening injuries in a Topeka house. He was pronounced dead by medical personnel.

Topeka, KS. – The Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team comprised of members from multiple Kansas agencies was released from its deployment in North Carolina Saturday morning and is now traveling home after assisting in Hurricane Dorian response efforts. The team was expected back in Kansas Sunday afternoon, according to a media release from the State Fire Marshal.

Initially, Kansas Task Force 1 (KS-TF1) rostered a team of 42 first responders from across the Kansas to assist with operations in Florida as catastrophic Hurricane Dorian made its way toward the east coast of the US. However, after the storm turned north, and continued to barrel toward the Carolinas, they were requested for deployment in North Carolina. The team left Kansas last Monday for Florida, arrived in Florida on Tuesday, and by Thursday, they were headed to North Carolina.

“I am so proud of the quick, selfless response of our Kansas task force,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “It is reassuring to know that when disaster strikes, we have individuals who are ready, at a moment’s notice, to give their valuable time and expertise, not only in our own state, but wherever the call is needed. Multiple agencies gave up time and resources to assist our fellow states of Florida and North Carolina. It was a successful effort, and I am relieved that everyone has returned home safely.”

Agencies who deployed individuals/equipment included: Chanute Fire Department, City of Winfield, Coffeyville Fire Department, Derby Fire Department, Johnson County MED-ACT, Junction City Fire Department, Kansas City Kansas Fire Department, Kansas Task Force K9, Lawrence Fire Department, Manhattan Fire Department, Mission Township Fire Department, Olathe Fire Department, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Pittsburg Fire Department, Salina Fire Department, Shawnee County Fire District 4, Shawnee Fire Department, and Wichita Fire Department.

TOPEKA – – Despite the Legislature’s temporary reduction of the application fee for new concealed carry licenses, the number of Kansans applying continued to decline in 2019 fiscal year,  according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, the attorney general’s Concealed Carry Licensing Unit received 3,841 new applications. The figures represent a more than 21 percent decrease from the prior fiscal year and the lowest number of applications received in a fiscal year since the licensing program began in 2006.

Last year, the application fee for new licenses was reduced for one fiscal year from $132.50 to $112. Effective July 1, 2019, that new-license fee returned to $132.50. The cost for license renewals remains unchanged at $25. Renewal applications submitted after expiration do increase to $40. Licenses six months or more past expiration without submitting a renewal application are considered permanently expired and must reapply in order to regain their license.

While the number of new applications has waned, most Kansans who already have licenses are choosing to keep their licenses active. The Concealed Carry Licensing Unit received more than 16,400 renewal applications during the 2019 fiscal year.

Licenses are still required in most states, and Kansas licenses are currently recognized in 40 states. Currently, more than 82,300 Kansans have active concealed carry licenses.

“Many Kansans continue to recognize the benefits of obtaining a license, including our reciprocity agreements with other states,” Schmidt said. “We continue to work with other states to ensure Kansas licenses are recognized.”

A legislative change in 2015 allows eligible Kansans to carry concealed without a license. Schmidt also encouraged all Kansans who intend to carry firearms to pursue training opportunities whether or not required by law. He reminded all Kansans who choose to carry firearms to comply with properly posted signage and all applicable laws.

More information on the concealed carry licensing program is available on the attorney general’s website at www.ag.ks.gov/concealed-carry.