By SAM ZEFF

The Olathe School District says students who used anti-LGBT language at a homecoming parade last Thursday will be punished. However, the district suggests the incident at Olathe Northwest High School may not have been as bad as first reported.

The most egregious reported chant was “Make Olathe Northwest straight again.” But Assistant Superintendent Erin Dugan says the district has “no credible evidence” confirming the chant was uttered.

“There’s lots of stories and rumors about different things that were said, whether or not mobs of kids were chanting,” Dugan told Steve Kraske on KCUR’s “Up to Date” program on Monday.

Still, she said, the offenders will be punished.

“They’ll face consequences for certain,” Dugan said.

At least one veteran teacher at the school suggested the parade may have lacked supervision. Dugan, however, said the same number of teachers supervised the parade as in the past.

While the parade occurred on Thursday, it continues to generate buzz on social media. A new Twitter account popped up over the weekend called Onw_slanders (Onw stands for Olathe Northwest.) One tweet Monday afternoon blamed the Gender Sexuality Alliance student organization for the tension.

 

We do not have a hatred for the GSA, we have a hatred for them pushing a personal agenda that we don’t practice ourselves.

— Onw_slanders (@onw_slanders) September 23, 2017

 

“The self entitled bigots are the gsa, they believe they should be treated special, when I believe everyone should be treated the same,” the tweet stated.

The district immediately addressed the parade incident. Principal Chris Zuck emailed parents on Friday, saying, “I want to reassure you that we are taking this situation very seriously and that derogatory language and action is absolutely not acceptable … While we continue the investigation, our focus will be to make sure all of our students feel safe.”

Teachers at Olathe Northwest and in other schools in the district say the bitter divide in national politics has made it more challenging this year in the classroom, which might have played a role in the homecoming incident.

“I think we would be remiss if we thought the climate nationally hasn’t had an impact down to the school level,” Dugan said.

Sam Zeff  covers education for KCUR and is co-host of the political podcast Statehouse Blend. Follow him on Twitter @SamZeff.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—  Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing and have identified the two victims.

Just after 6p.m. Sunday, police responded to an apartment building at 800 SW Polk in Topeka in reference a stabbing and a fire at from the same address, according to a media release.

Upon arrival officers located a man with life threatening injuries who was transported to local a hospital where he died. Officers located a second victim inside the building who was dead.

On Tuesday, police identified the victims Thomas P. O’Conner, 61 and Chance C. Crank, 22 both of Topeka.

Police found suspect Maximo Campillo-Echevarria, 62, on foot in the area. He was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections where he was booked for two counts of First-Degree Murder

SMITH COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just before 7a.m. Tuesday in Smith County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford pickup driven by Kendall Nichols, 76, Smith Center was westbound on U.S. 36 four miles west of Smith Center.

The pickup rear-ended a John Deere Tractor driven by Michael J. Hrabe, 72, Kensington. The pickup then traveled into the north ditch.

Nichols and Hrabe were transported to the Smith County Hospital. Nichols was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have made an arrest.

Just after 9p.m. Monday, Police Officers responded to the area of SW 10th and SW Gage in Topeka in reference an armed robbery.

Upon arrival Officers made contact with a man who advised he had answered an ad on Craigslist to buy merchandise and was meeting the seller from the ad.

The victim stated he was approached by 4 subjects; one of the suspects brandished a pistol and demanded the victim’s money. After the robbery the suspects fled the area in a dark SUV.

While responding to the robbery an Officer spotted the suspect vehicle and initiated a stop of the SUV. 4 adult suspects were apprehended without further incident and brought to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning.

After speaking with Detectives and further investigation into this incident, all 4 suspects were arrested for aggravated robbery. There were no injuries reported.

GEARY COUNTY — A Former USD 473 Chapman assistant girls basketball and track coach Mark Snider, 27, Abilene, has been sentenced to 5-years in prison for convictions on two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, according to the Geary County Attorney’s office.

Snider had entered into a plea agreement in Geary County District Court.

In April 2016, Snider resigned his coaching position. He was later arrested in Abilene following a three-week investigation on 5 counts of Electronic Solicitation and 5 counts of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child Under 16.

SALINA — A Kansas school district has issued an apology after a controversial article in the school newspaper.

Following a column in the Salina Central High School newspaper that discussed racism as “not a big deal and that “people should get over it,” USD 305 issued an apology and promised an investigation.

“The investigation referred to involves the District’s role in maintaining an educational environment that supports all students in the classroom, school activities and projects. Many questions have surfaced over the past few days and present all of us with an opportunity for growth and reflection,” according a statement on the school web site.

First Pylons of the year are out today! pic.twitter.com/IJJDO7f2DZ

— The Pylon (@chspylon) September 22, 2017

 

“As a District we recognize the student publication rights established by our laws and hold the work of our student journalists in high regard. The Pylon has a long tradition at Central High School that will continue to be supported by Salina USD 305.

Central High School is moving forward to engage and unify students, staff and community in healthy discussion about important, sensitive subjects. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work through this together.”

WABAUNSEE COUNTY — A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Monday in Wabaunsee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 GMC Suburban 1500 driven by Richard A. Nance Jr., 65, Eskridge, was west bound at 13201 K4 Highway.

The vehicle left the roadway to the right, struck a legally parked vehicle, went airborne, overturned and landed on its roof.

Nance was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

RENO COUNTY—A Kansas teen arrested for last week’s hit-and-run accident in Hutchinson made his first court appearance Monday.

Taylor Lukone, 19, is jailed on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder.

Just after 1a.m. September 21,  police reported they learned that a man was unconscious on the side of the roadway in the 1200 Block of E 4th Avenue in Hutchinson.

According to statements made in court Monday, Lukone was driving to get cigarettes and spotted 51-year-old Jose L. Lopez riding his bicycle. Lukone got angry over the way Lopez had supposedly treated others and intentionally struck him. He then left the scene. His car was found by police at a residence on East 6^th Street in Hutchinson. Lukone claimed it had been stolen but later changed his story.

The victim remains in critical condition at a Wichita hospital.

Lukone is jailed on a $100,000 bond and will be back in court next week for the formal reading of charges.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman for battery and other charges.

According to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester, a domestic dispute started between Roxy Lawson and her husband at the Salina Speedway late Friday night. The fight continued at their residence in the 1400 block of Pawnee in Salina.

Police were notified after Lawson threw two bricks at her husband and bit him when he attempted to restrain her. When police attempted to place her in custody, she allegedly bit and kicked them, according to Forrester.

She was brought to the Saline County Jail and booked for domestic battery, domestic assault, battery on a law enforcement office and interference with law enforcement.

Lawson was said to be intoxicated during the incident, according to Forrester.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A suburban Kansas City man has been charged with driving while intoxicated in a deadly crash.

Twenty-eight-year-old Steven Ontiveros was arrested after the crash happened around 2:10 a.m. Sunday in Lee’s Summit and later charged. Ontiveros, who is from Lee’s Summit, is being held on $100,000 bond. A police spokesman said it wasn’t known whether Ontiveros has an attorney.

Police said in a news release that the preliminary investigation indicates that Ontiveros ran a red light on Missouri 291 and crashed into the passenger side of a car that was crossing the highway. The car’s driver, 41-year-old Christopher Coffelt, of Lee’s Summit, was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

WICHITAS, Kan. (AP) — Business, civic and state leaders says Kansas needs to quickly address a severe shortage of employees with the skills needed to fill jobs in technical industries.

The latest available data from the Kansas Department of Labor says the state had 45,000 job vacancies in 2016 — more than the entire population of Hutchinson.

Companies such as Spirit AeroSystems or Textron Aviation might have to consider moving jobs elsewhere if more skilled workers can’t be found.

Spirit AeroSystems vice president Justin Welner says 40 percent of the more than 10,000 workers in Wichita will be eligible to retire in five years.

The officials are pushing the state to consider several steps, including more technical education and better-targeted tax incentives.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on numerous charges after a stand-off that ended Monday morning.

Just after 10:30 p.m. in the police responded to report of domestic violence at a home in the 1600 Block of North Brunswick in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.  An investigation revealed a 22-year-old resident of the home who suffers from mental illness made a verbal threat against a 26-year-old woman who also resides in the home along with other family including a 3-year-old.

Officers talked to the man through a bedroom door when he reveled he was armed with a handgun. Family members confirmed the man did have a gun and left the residence.  A negotiator and police talked to the man for over two hours in an attempt to end the situation peacefully.

A decision was made to use the Wichita Police Swat team to assist in the situation. They spent several more hours communicating with the man by phone and on social media. They ultimately used chemical munitions into the home and the man surrendered.  He was booked into the Sedgwick County jail for criminal threat and resisting arrest.

Police reported there were no injuries. They did recover the handgun and other weapons from the bedroom where the man was located.

Name of the suspect was not released.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Former state lawmaker Mark Hutton has officially entered the race for the Republican nomination for Kansas governor.

Hutton, who founded Hutton Construction in Wichita, said during an announcement Monday that state government under Gov. Sam Brownback is “broken.”

He was expected to enter the race and has been raising money since August.

Hutton was elected to the Kansas House in 2012 and 2014 but didn’t seek a third term. Hutton was one of the first Republicans to publicly oppose Brownback’s zero tax rate for owners of limited liability companies.

Other GOP candidates include Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer, Secretary of State Kris Kobach, Wichita businessman Wink Hartman, former state Sen. Jim Barnett, former state Rep. Ed O’Malley and Prairie Village high school student Tyler Ruzich.