TOPEKA– In accordance with Executive Order 10-12, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff from sun-up to sun-down on October 2 through October 6 following the terrorist shooting at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas that killed at least 58 people and injured more than 515 others.
“The purposeful act of terror inflicted upon concert-goers in Las Vegas is an unspeakable demonstration of evil. Mary and I and the people of Kansas are shocked, horrified, and grieving for everyone who is affected. We send our love and prayers to those suffering, and we will continue to pray because the healing process is only beginning,” Brownback said in a statement late Monday morning.
Immediately following the mass shooting in Las Vegas, hoaxes and fake news began to flood the internet and social media networks. BuzzFeed News is compiling a growing list of false information being spread in the wake of the tragedy.
Click HERE to view the list, which is being updated as new hoaxes are uncovered.
KEARNY COUNTY— A Kansas man died and two others were injured in an accident at 8:30p.m. Sunday in Kearny County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Ford Explorer driven by Jesus Manuel Acuna, 25, Ordway, CO., was traveling on U.S. 50 four miles west of Kansas 25 Highway.
The vehicle blew a tire and rolled. A passenger in the SUV Nick Gonzalez, 54, Dodge City, was ejected. He was transported to the hospital in Garden City where he died.
Acuna and another passenger Flora Virginia Agnes Gonzales, 54, Ordway, CO., were flown to Via Christi in Wichita. All three were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.
Law enforcement on the scene in Ellsworth County Sept. 26-photo courtesy KBI
ELLSWORTH COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating an altercation in Ellsworth County.
On Saturday, Kevin L. Wagner, 55, of Bushton, died in a Wichita hospital after receiving a head injury during a Thursday, Sept. 28 altercation in Lorraine, Kan.
The preliminary autopsy report indicated he died from blunt force trauma.
At this time no arrests have been made connected to this incident. They reported no additional information.
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ELLSWORTH COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are investigating an altercation in Ellsworth County.
Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 8:55 p.m., Thursday, the Ellsworth County Sheriff’s Office responded to 242 Harry St., Lorraine, Kan. after neighbors called law enforcement reporting a disturbance and gunshots fired.
When sheriff’s deputies arrived, they found an injured 55-year-old white male of Lorraine, Kan., and a 49-year-old white female who resided at the home. It appeared that the two had been involved in a confrontation that became violent. EMS was immediately called and the man was flown to a Wichita hospital due to a life-threatening head injury. He is currently in critical condition.
At this time no arrests have been made. The identities of both subjects are currently being withheld pending family notifications and in order for the initial stages of the investigation to conclude.
Law enforcement on the scene of the weekend fatal shooting in Lawrence-photo courtesy WIBW
DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and searching for suspects.
Just after 1:39 a.m. Sunday, Lawrence Police were near the area of 11th and Massachusetts Street when they heard multiple gunshots, according to a media release.
At the scene, officers encounter a large crowd and several victims suffering from gunshot wounds. In total five victims have been identified from the shooting.
Police say there are conflicting reports on social media regarding the shooting at 11th and Massachusetts. Lawrence Police believe the shooting stemmed from a physical altercation that occurred near the northwest corner of 11th and Massachusetts Street.
Investigators are requesting anyone who may have witnessed any fights in the area prior to the shooting or captured any video relating to the incident, which occurred around 1:39am, to contact the police department.
Three of the victims sustained fatal injuries: Leah Elizabeth Brown, a 22-year-old female Shawnee, Kansas resident, Colwin Lynn Henderson, a 20-year-old male Topeka resident, and Tremel Dupree Dean, a 24-year-old male Topeka resident. Two victims were treated at area hospitals for non-life threatening injuries.
Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any information relating to it to contact the Lawrence Police at (785) 832-7509 or Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County at (785)843-TIPS. Tips made to Crime Stoppers may remain anonymous.
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DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and searching for suspects.
Just after 1:39 a.m. Sunday, Lawrence Police were near the area of 11th and Massachusetts Street when they heard multiple gunshots, according to a media release.
At the scene, officers encounter a large crowd and several victims suffering from gunshot wounds. In total five victims have been identified from the shooting.
Three of the victims have sustained fatal injuries: Leah Elizabeth Brown, a 22-year-old female Shawnee, Kansas resident, Colwin Lynn Henderson, a 20-year-old male Topeka resident, and Tremel Dupree Dean, a 24-year-old male Topeka resident. Two victims are being treated at area hospitals for non-life threatening injuries.
Officers are seeking assistance in identifying the suspect(s) involved. Officers are requesting anyone who may have information on this incident to contact the Lawrence Police at (785) 832-7509 or Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County at (785)843-TIPS. Tips made to Crime Stoppers may remain anonymous
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Witnesses have testified that three people were killed in a Kansas drug home over a rape allegation and that one of the suspects was forced to participate to save his life.
The details about the case were revealed during a preliminary hearing that ended Wednesday with a judge finding sufficient evidence for 19-year-old Shane Mays, 33-year-old Brian Flowers and 31-year-old Joseph Lowry to be tried on charges that include first-degree murder. Two other people also are charged in the killings.
Mays -photo Shawnee Co.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that witness Richard Folsom testified that Mays was told he had to take part in the killings in March in Topeka to “dirty his hands.”
A detective testified that the violence stemmed from an unproven rape allegation against Leavitt.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors allege that three men accused of conspiring to bomb a Kansas mosque and an apartment complex housing Somali refugees also discussed killing the refugees’ white landlord because he rented to Muslims.
The allegations are included in new court filings ahead of a Wednesday hearing to determine if one of the men, Gavin Wright, should be freed pending his trial.
Wright’s attorney says Wright wasn’t aware that his co-defendants intended to actually carry out the attack and portrays him as a lonely man desperate to find friends after moving to Liberal in southwestern Kansas.
But prosecutors submitted transcripts of profanity-laden recordings of the men discussing their plans that paint a more damning picture of Wright.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Most Wichita students will not find an award-winning children’s book about a transgender fourth-grader in their school libraries.
Gail Becker, supervisor of library media for the Wichita district, said the novel, called “George,” contains language and references that are not appropriate for young children. She says she decided the book would not be included in a set of master list titles provided to Wichita elementary schools.
The book’s author, Alex Gino, said Thursday he had raised enough money to buy a copy of the book for every Wichita elementary and K-8 school library.
The Wichita Eagle reports Wichita school librarians can choose to carry the book if they buy copies from their building funds or borrow one from the district’s library department.
Becker says four of Wichita’s 57 elementary or K-8 schools have the novel in their libraries. Two Wichita middle schools and one high school also have it.
TOPEKA – A Kansas man was ordered today to repay more than $13,000 to the Kansas Medicaid program after being found guilty of Medicaid fraud, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Jasmon Watson, 33, was found guilty in March of one count of Medicaid fraud by a Wyandotte County jury. Judge Bill L. Klapper today ordered Watson to repay $13,077.22 to the Kansas Medicaid Program. Judge Klapper also sentenced Watson to 12 months of probation with an underlying sentence of five months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. Convictions such as this one may also result in a period during which the defendant is prohibited from being paid wages through a government health care program.
An investigation revealed that Watson billed Medicaid for providing home care based services to individuals with traumatic brain injuries during the same hours he was working at another job. The crimes occurred between February 2013 and August 2014.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged DUI accident that sent a woman to the hospital.
Just after 11:45 p.m. Saturday officers were dispatched to an injury accident at Shot Time 2 in the 3200 block of south Exposition in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson in a media release.
Through the investigation officers learned a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 41-year-old man, struck a 53-year-old woman while she was walking in the parking lot.
The driver of the vehicle showed indicators of being under the influence. Police arrested the driver and booked him into jail for 3 counts of DUI, transport open container and aggravated battery – DUI.
First responders transported the woman to an area hospital for medical treatment. Police did not release details on her condition Sunday.
TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has scheduled a series of conference calls to update consumers and providers on the development of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2019 KanCare Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) contract.
Previous public meetings were held in May 2016 and June 2017, as well as meetings with provider associations and advocacy organizations, to collect ideas and input for the development of the RFP for the new contract. Prior to posting the RFP, KDHE will provide an update about new requirements that will be part of the RFP and how public input has been used to create the RFP.
KDHE will enter into new contracts with MCOs in June 2018 for implementation of the new KanCare program effective January, 2019. This will coincide with implementation of the renewed KanCare 1115 demonstration waiver.
Conference calls will be held for both members and their families, and providers as detailed below. Conference lines are limited to 200, so both members and providers are encouraged to gather in rooms where a conference line can be shared via speakerphones.
The two calls each day will be the same. The presentation for each audience can be found here: https://kancare.ks.gov/about-kancare/kancare-renewal. The calls will include a brief presentation and then allow participants to ask questions about the KanCare RFP. The RFP is the only topic that will be addressed in these calls.
In addition, in November 2017, KDHE will conduct public hearings around about the KanCare 1115 demonstration waiver renewal around the state. Details and schedules will be announced at a later date.
KDHE requests that providers help make members aware of this opportunity to hear about the KanCare RFP and, if possible, support them in accessing the member presentation and attending a member call.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Latest on the release from prison of former football legend O.J. Simpson (all times local):
photo of Simpson moments before his release Sunday-courtesy Nevada Dept. of Corrections
4:50 a.m.
Footage released by a Nevada prisons official shows O.J. Simpson sporting a ball cap, blue denim jacket, jeans and white tennis shoes as he regained his freedom.
Simpson was released at 12:08 a.m. PDT from Lovelock Correctional Center in northern Nevada, state prisons spokeswoman Brooke Keast told The Associated Press. He had served nine years for a botched hotel room heist in Las Vegas.
“I don’t have any information on where he’s going,” said Keast, who watched Simpson sign paperwork shortly before being freed. Photographs released by Keast showed Simpson, seated at a table, signing the documents as others watched.
The brief video released on social media shows Simpson being told to “come on out” by a prison staffer. He could be seen responding “OK” as he left through an open door, wearing a ball cap, denim jacket, jeans and white tennis shoes. The footage then showed a nighttime scene of a darkened street apparently outside the prison.
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3 a.m.
Simpson-photo courtesy Nevada Dept. of Corrections
O.J. Simpson’s friend from Naples, Florida, Tom Scotto, says he was with the former football great after he was freed from a remote Nevada prison.
Scotto said in brief text messages early Sunday to The Associated Press that he was there but couldn’t talk.
Scotto didn’t say where they were going or whether Simpson’s sister, Shirley Baker of Sacramento, California, or his daughter, Arnelle Simpson of Fresno, California, were with him.
The three attended Simpson’s parole hearing in July at Lovelock Correctional Center in northern Nevada.
That’s the same prison where Keast says Simpson was released at 12:08 a.m. PDT Sunday.
Simpson’s living arrangements outside prison have not been made public.
He has said he wanted to move back to Florida, where he lived before his armed robbery conviction in Las Vegas in a September 2007 confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers.
But Florida prison officials said documents weren’t filed, and the state attorney general says she doesn’t want Simpson to live in the state.
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2 a.m.
Nevada state prisons spokeswoman Brooke Keast says she witnessed former football great O.J. Simpson being freed in a dead-of-night prison release, adding the hour was chosen to avoid media attention.
Keast told The Associated Press early Sunday that she witnessed Simpson signing documents shortly before he gained freedom, adding the release was conducted minutes after midnight in Nevada. She says a driver met Simpson at the prison but she doesn’t know who it was and had no information where he was headed.
Neither Simpson’s attorney, Malcolm LaVergne in Las Vegas, nor state Parole and Probation Capt. Shawn Arruti — who has been handling Simpson’s case — immediately responded to messages for comment early Sunday.
Lavergne said recently that Simpson was looking forward to reuniting with his family.
The 70-year-old Simpson gains his freedom after being granted parole at a hearing in July. Unlike the last time he went free, 22 years ago, he will face restrictions — up to five years of parole supervision.
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1 a.m.
Former football legend O.J. Simpson became a free man again Sunday after serving nine years for a botched hotel-room heist in Las Vegas that brought the conviction and prison time he avoided in the killings of his wife and her friend after his 1995 acquittal.
Nevada state prisons spokeswoman Brooke Keast told The Associated Press that Simpson was released at 12:08 a.m. PDT from Lovelock Correctional Center in northern Nevada. She says she didn’t know who met Simpson and didn’t have any information on where Simpson was headed.
“I don’t have any information on where he’s going,” Keast told AP by phone.
Keast says the dead-of-night release from the prison about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Reno, Nevada, was conducted to avoid media attention. “We needed to do this to ensure public safety and to avoid any possible incident,” Keast said by phone.
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12:40 a.m.
A Nevada prison official says O.J. Simpson, the former football legend and Hollywood star, has been released from a Nevada prison in Lovelock after serving nine years for armed robbery.
Unlike when he walked free after his murder trial in 1995, Simpson faces parole supervision for another five years.
Nevada state prisons spokeswoman Brooke Keast told The Associated Press Simpson was released early Sunday.
The 70-year-old Simpson told the parole board that he wanted to live in Florida. The Florida Department of Corrections said officials had not received a transfer request or required documents.
Simpson was sent to prison in Nevada for a botched hotel-room heist of sports memorabilia 12 years after he was acquitted of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman in Los Angeles.
