SEDGWICK COUNTY —  Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation of a fatal, Sunday ATV accident.

Just after 9:30p.m. police responded to the bike path east of Interstate 135 and north of 17^th Street in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

An ATV driven by 44-year-old Milo Bell of Wichita, was southbound on the bike path. The vehicle left the path and crash into a tree row, according to Davidson. Bell had left a group of friends approximately 15 minutes before the accident occurred and was headed home.

First responders pronounced Bell dead at the scene.  This is the 25^th fatal motor vehicle accident in Wichita in 2017, according to Davidson.

City ordinance does prohibit riding an ATV on a bike path in Wichita.

 

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say one person has been killed in an all-terrain vehicle accident along a Wichita bike path.

KAKE-TV reports that the ATV apparently flipped Sunday night after hitting a tree branch. Wichita Police Sgt. Dan Harty says a bicyclist spotted the ATV in a tree row, with a 44-year-old man trapped underneath it. Emergency crews tried to save him, but he was declared dead at the scene.

Harty said the branch had been down for about three days, but it is not clear if anyone notified city crews to remove it. Harty says it is illegal to ride ATVs along bike paths in Wichita, but some people

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN

Kansas Revenue Secretary Sam Williams assured lawmakers Friday that the state’s new driver’s license system is on course for a smooth rollout at the start of 2018, despite auditor concerns to the contrary.

At issue is a critical Department of Revenue information technology project — known as KanDrive or KanLicense — to migrate records for about 2 million people from an aged mainframe to a new system. Access to those records is critical for motor vehicle offices and law enforcement agencies.

Williams told a joint panel of senators and representatives that if problems arise that would result in a rollout marred by glitches, he will push back the launch date. He does not, however, anticipate any such issues.

He was seeking to ease lawmaker worries that KanDrive’s January unveiling will play out like the troubled 2012 rollout of a new system for vehicle registration records.

That phase of the Department of Revenue’s IT modernization efforts occurred under a previous secretary and led to hours-long lines for Kansans trying to update their tags in some counties.

“There’s a new sheriff in town,” Williams said. “I can simply tell you that this product, if it’s not ready to go, it will not be put out in the marketplace.”

Williams said his department has begun training staff from motor vehicle offices on using the new system, which will continue to undergo testing this fall.

The American Association for Motor Vehicle Administrators, which allows for data communication among states, also has access to the product now. Association officials are testing it to make sure it meets the organization’s regulations and has not found any major problems, Williams said.

The 2018 launch is six years behind schedule, but the project ran into troubles over the years, prompting a series of legislative audits.

Lawmakers expressed concern earlier this month and last month after the latest audit of the project found ongoing problems.

Legislative auditors, who have been reviewing the initiative quarterly, concluded the project continued to be plagued by problems that put it at risk for compromising quality and missing the go-live date.

Williams said he hopes the next audit will show that the situation has now improved.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen is a reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can reach her on Twitter @Celia_LJ.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — A Kansas man died in an accident just after Monday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Jack W. Streeter, 85, Grantville, was parked westbound on U.S. 24 on the right shoulder at Meridan Road.

Streeter got out of a vehicle, walked south across both lanes of traffic to pick up aluminum cans from the center median.

A 2016 Subaru Outback driven by Christopher W Huffman, 48, Meridan, hit Streeter as he walked in the left lane.

Streeter was transported to Stormont Vail where he died.    Huffman was properly restrained at the time of the accident and not injured, according to the KHP.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man has died after he was hit by a car while crossing a four-lane highway in north Topeka.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says the man was struck Monday morning on U.S. 24. His identity has not been released.

Trooper Jory Custar says it’s not clear why the man was crossing the highway’s westbound lanes toward a median when he was hit.

The man was taken to Stormont-Vail Hospital, where he was declared dead.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — North Korea’s top diplomat says President Donald Trump’s tweet that leader Kim Jong Un “won’t be around much longer” was a declaration of war against his country by the United States.

Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told reporters Monday that what he called Trump’s “declaration of war” gives North Korea “every right” under the U.N. Charter to take countermeasures, “including the right to shoot down the United States strategic bombers even they’re not yet inside the airspace border of our country.”

Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won’t be around much longer!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

Ri referred to Trump’s tweet Saturday that said: “Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won’t be around much longer!”

Ri said: “The question of who won’t be around much longer will be answered then.”

CAMDENTON, Mo. (AP) — Authorities say kayakers have found a drowning victim in the Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the victim as 50-year-old Amy Miller, of Prairie Village, Kansas. The patrol says the kayakers found her body floating Sunday morning in a cove around the 26-mile marker of the lake’s main channel in Camden County.

No other details were provided in the patrol’s online report, including whether Miller had been reported missing.

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

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.

Later officers 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 1^st Degree Murder (x2).  Police did not release the names of the victims.

Topeka Fire Department, State Fire Marshall and Topeka Police were are conducting the investigation.

RENO COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a hit and run accident and have made an arrest.

Just after 1a.m. Thursday, the 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 a social media report.

A vehicle hit the man identified as 51-year-old Jose L. Lopez who was riding a bicycle. Lopez remains hospitalized in critical condition, according to police.

The driver of the vehicle then left the scene.  Parts of the suspect vehicle were found at the scene of the collision. Hutchinson Police reported late Thursday located the blue Nissan Altima believed involved in the accident.

On Sunday authorities arrested the alleged driver Taylor Lukone, 19, for attempted 2^nd-degree murder.

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Hutchinson Police reported late Thursday they did locate the vehicle believed involved in the hit-and-run accident. They have not located the driver.

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RENO COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit and run accident.

Just after 1a.m. Thursday, the Reno County Sheriff’s Department 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 a social media report.

A vehicle hit the man who was riding a bicycle and then left the scene. It is believed that the suspect was driving a blue or possible teal green 2002 to 2006 Nissan Altima.

The Altima should have considerable damage to the right front corner, according to the sheriff’s department.

Anyone with information should contact the Hutchinson Police Department

The accident was reported by an anonymous person. If the identity of this person is known please contact the traffic bureau at 620-694-2854 or the Police Department main number at 620- 694-2816

Authorities did not release name of the victim or any additional details.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump’s travel ban (all times local):

7 p.m.

Travelers from eight countries will face restrictions on entry to the U.S, ranging from a total ban to more targeted restrictions, under a new proclamation signed by President Donald Trump Sunday.

The new rules, which will impact the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, will go into effect on October 18. Officials stressed that valid visas would not be revoked as a result of the proclamation.

Some countries will face full bans. Others are more tailored, such as restrictions impacting Venezuela, which will only apply to certain government officials and their families

Trump’s controversial ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries expires Sundays, 90 days after it went into effect.

SHAWNEE COUNTY–Fire crews responded to a fire at a home at 1550 SW Belle Avenue in Topeka Kansas at noon Sunday, according to a media release.

An alert neighbor discovered the fire and reported it.  Upon arrival, fire crews found the two story wood frame residential structure with smoke showing from the rear. Firefighters began an offensive fire attack keeping it confined to the structure of fire origin. One adult male occupant was home at the time of the fire incident. He was able self-evacuate prior to the arrival of fire crews.

A Topeka Fire Department Investigation’s Unit responded to this incident and a preliminary investigation indicates the fire cause to be accidental, associated with careless smoking.

Estimated dollar loss – $15,500.00 (Fifteen Thousand Five Hundred Dollars); $15,000.00 (Fifteen Thousand Five Dollars) structural loss and $500.00 (Five Hundred Dollars) contents loss.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Democrats are locked in a heated battle over a top party official in a fight that is expected to come to a head when they gather in Wichita next week for an annual convention.

The rift is exposing divisions among Democrats ahead of elections next year.

The conflict centers on party secretary Casey Yingling. She is part of the political consulting firm working for Democratic congressional candidate James Thompson. He lost a special election earlier this year to Republican Ron Estes to fill a vacant Wichita-area congressional seat.

Democratic State Committee members may vote on Yingling’s recall during the convention.

A petition alleges she had a conflict when as a member of the party’s executive committee she voted on a $20,000 request for Thompson’s campaign.

RENO COUNTY — One of three people arrested on drug charges n November of 2015 entered a plea in the case against him Friday.

Benjamin Cullum, 42, entered a guilty plea to a number of charges, the most serious being conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Law enforcement served a search warrant on the home in the 400 block of North Plum in Hutchinson where they found a black zip-up nylon case with prescription pills and 50 grams of marijuana in a bedroom.

They also found a scale, safe, vacuum sealer, two empty Ziploc bags and owe sheets. Officers found $120 in control buy money in the safe. $10 more were allegedly found in a wallet and $180 in twenty dollar bills were in Cullum’s pocket. He also allegedly had $1,903 in another pocket, which he claimed he won at a casino. However, some of the bills had serial numbers that matched money from the control buys made by the drug unit. They also found a bag with residue and a scale in Cullum’s truck.

In the garage of the home was a Ruger LCP 380 gun in a metal case, a baggie of methamphetamine and a scale. More marijuana and smoking pipes with residue were also found.

Sentencing is scheduled on Oct. 28. Cullum has 14 previous drug and traffic convictions from 2010.

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN

Kansas energy regulators have given the green light for an oil company to dispose of production-related wastewater in the Flint Hills — a plan that had met with resistance from residents.

The Kansas Corporation Commission order issued Thursday says opponents didn’t show any “immediate danger to public health, safety or welfare” resulting from the well, which will inject saltwater about 2,700 feet into the earth at a site near Strong City and the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Flint Hills residents who oppose the well fear a risk of earthquakes if saltwater injection wells proliferate in their area. Oklahoma and south-central Kansas have seen a spike in temblors in recent years that the U.S. Geological Survey and other experts say resulted from the rise of saltwater injection there.

Experts also say, however, that most saltwater injection wells are not linked to earthquakes. Whether wells cause temblors depends on a wide range of factors, including proximity to faults and other geological characteristics.

During a hearing last month, it appeared a compromise might occur in which energy regulators would give the southwest Kansas company, Quail Oil & Gas, permission to dump less fluid per day than it had requested. The compromise also would have reduced the amount of pressure the company could use to inject the wastewater down its well.

The Kansas Corporation Commission ultimately rejected that option in addition to rejecting the Flint Hills residents’ call for blocking Quail Oil completely. The commissioners granted the company the right to dispose of up to 5,000 barrels per day at up to 500 pounds per square inch.

Bob Eye, an attorney representing Flint Hills residents opposed to the well, signaled Friday that they may press the matter further.

“We’re reviewing and determining whether an appeal is advisable,” Eye wrote in an email.

The petitioners have 15 days to appeal.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen is a reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can reach her on Twitter @Celia_LJ.