KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph on Friday released a list of 19 clerics who Bishop James Johnston Jr. said had substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of children against them.

Of the 19 clerics named, 13 have died, two have been removed from ministry, and four have been laicized, or removed from the clerical state. One of the laicized clerics, Shawn Ratigan, is serving 50 years in federal prison after being convicted in 2013 of producing or attempting to produce child pornography.

Johnston said in a statement that he hoped releasing the names would help the victims heal.

“The dreadful scourge of sexual abuse of minors has wounded our entire family of faith,” Johnston said. “As shepherd of our local church, I must do all in my power to eradicate this sin, heal those who have been harmed, and bring to justice those who have offended.”

The diocese also released the names of 11 clerics in other categories. Three had substantiated allegations while in the diocese but are now under the control of other dioceses; two religious-order priests have been removed from ministry; three former diocesan priests were found “unsuitable for ministry out of concern for the safety of our youth;” and three clergy are part of legal settlements but their cases have not been substantiated in court or by the church.

Johnston said the findings came after independent investigators with Fidelity Consultants reviewed the diocese’s records. With the exception of Ratigan, all of the allegations occurred before 1990 and the firm found no clerics currently serving in the diocese with substantiated allegations against them, he said.

The list has been turned over to the Missouri attorney general’s office, which is investigating clergy sex abuse in the state’s four dioceses.

David Clohessy, former director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said in a statement the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese had no excuse of hiding abusers’ names for any length of time.

“So while this may seem like a step forward, it is at best a partial disclosure forced on the Bishop by pressure from parents, parishioners and the public,” the statement said. “It is a way of feigning ‘openness’ trying to diffuse legitimate anger, and turn attention back on the perpetrator priests and away from complicit church officials who have minimized and hidden these cases.”

Johnston said any new information of clergy sexual abuse of minors will be updated if the allegations are substantiated.

“I renew my apology to any person who has been afflicted by acts of clergy sexual abuse, including family members,” the bishop wrote.

The Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese is the last of four dioceses in Missouri to release lists of accused clerics. The St. Louis Diocese named 61 clergy facing substantiated allegations in July. The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau identified three priests and the Diocese of Jefferson City listed 35 credibly accused priests or religious brothers.

Dioceses across the country began publicizing names of accused priests in the aftermath of a report issued in 2018 in Pennsylvania, which identified nearly 300 “predator priests” dating back seven decades and accused church leaders of covering up for the abusers.

TOPEKA, Kan. — In a decision published Friday, the Kansas Supreme Court affirmed Larry Laverne Toothman’s seven convictions in Saline County for committing sex crimes against his teenage niece.

According to court documents, Toothman was charged with 11 sex crimes committed between 2010 and 2012, however, a Saline County jury found him guilty of only seven counts.

Court documents noted that “Shortly after his conviction, Toothman moved for a new trial. He argued the district court erred when it failed to instruct the jury that criminal sodomy is a lesser included offense of aggravated criminal sodomy. He also claimed his convictions were multiplicitous because, on each count, the jury convicted him of both the primary charge and the alternative charge for the same sexual act.

“At a hearing on the motion, the district court and parties agreed that Toothman should only be sentenced for the primary offense on each count. So the court ruled that Toothman would be sentenced for the crimes of aggravated criminal sodomy and rape, and it set aside his convictions for criminal sodomy, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and aggravated incest. The court also ruled that any failure to give a lesser included offense instruction on criminal sodomy did not impact the outcome of trial.”

Court documents show that on the day he was sentenced, Toothman gave a letter to his attorney telling her that he wanted to fire her “because she did not subpoena unspecified letters in his property at jail that would have helped his case.” According to court documents, this letter was not sent to the court, however at the sentencing hearing, the defense attorney showed the letter to the court and told the court of Toothman’s request for a new attorney. Additionally, the defense attorney told the court she was not aware of the letters Toothman referred to in his letter.

According to court documents, the Saline County District Court “denied Toothman’s request for new counsel and sentenced him to 653
months’ imprisonment and lifetime postrelease supervision.”

Toothman appealed his convictions. According to information from Friday’s Kansas Supreme Court ruling, “The Court of Appeals reversed one conviction for rape and one for aggravated criminal sodomy and remanded the case with directions to resentence Toothman for aggravated incest, a less severe offense, in their place. The Court of Appeals believed Toothman should be sentenced for aggravated incest because it was a more specific crime than rape or aggravated criminal sodomy, due to his familial relationship with the victim.

“In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Caleb Stegall, the Supreme Court held the Court of Appeals erred when it reversed Toothman’s convictions for rape and aggravated criminal sodomy. The Supreme Court explained that aggravated incest criminalized ‘otherwise lawful sexual intercourse or sodomy’ with a specified relative, but aggravated criminal sodomy and rape could never be ‘otherwise lawful.’ Thus, the Supreme Court held that aggravated incest is not a more specific crime than aggravated criminal sodomy or rape and affirmed Toothman’s seven convictions.”

FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities and USD 457 officials are investigating a student involved in alleged knife attack.

On Tuesday, the staff at Charles Stones Intermediate Center 401 N Jennie Barker Road in Garden City asked police to investigate rumors of a knife being brought to the school, according to Senior Master Patrol Officer Robert Scrivner.

Through the course of the investigation, police learned two students were involved in a physical altercation  with one of the parties later making threats toward the other student.

Police also  learned one of the students had posted on social media a threat involving a knife made towards the other student.

The Garden City Police Department will file an affidavit with the Finney County Attorney’s Office requesting charges of Criminal Threat on one of the students involved in the altercation.

Fifth and sixth grade students attend Stone Intermediate Center.

Police encouraged parents to remind children to report any information about any school safety-related incidents to administrators, staff at school and or the Garden City Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A federal lawsuit filed Friday accuses the University of Kansas Medical Center of discharging an employee who reported a department head’s age discrimination practices.

The lawsuit against the Kansas City, Kansas-based medical center was filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

It alleges that in 2014, the medical center’s associate vice chancellor for information resources advised managers within that department to focus on hiring younger people over older applicants.

The lawsuit says information technology help desk supervisor Jeffrey Thomas reported his concerns. The EEOC says the vice chancellor then reorganized the department to eliminate Thomas’ position.

Medical Center spokeswoman Kay Hawes declined comment on the case but says the university seeks to foster an environment where employees “feel comfortable and protected when speaking up and reporting complaints of discrimination.”

McPHERSON— Law enforcement authorities and USD 418 officals are investigating alleged threats to students at McPherson High School.

On Thursday evening, McPherson Police received a report from McPherson USD 418 staff concerning a 15-year-old former student possibly threatening to commit violence at McPherson High School, according to a media release.

On Friday morning, McPherson High School administration reported to police that a 15-year-old student had threatened to commit violence at the school. Police have taken the student into custody for criminal threat.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted suspect after an inquiry about a stolen grocery store cart.

On Thursday, a police officer  driving on Iron Avenue near Third Street in Salina noticed a Save A Lot grocery store cart at a nearby residence, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

When the officer stopped to ask the resident about it, he observed Anthony Bowman-Brooks, Jr., 29, of Salina.

The officer ran a check on Bowman-Brooks and learned that he had an active felony warrant from Jackson County, Mo., for failure to appear on a drug charge, Forrester said.

Bowman-Brooks left the residence in a vehicle, but the officer was able to stop the vehicle in the 1000 block of South Santa Fe Avenue.

Bowman-Brooks ran from the traffic stop, but was apprehended behind a residence in the 900 block of South Santa Fe Avenue and he had in his possession a metal business card holder that had what appeared to be methamphetamine in it, according to Forrester.

Bowman-Brooks was arrested on requested charges of Interference with a law enforcement officer, Possession of a stimulant and Possession of drug paraphernalia and the felony warrant out of Jackson County, Missouri.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s Friday lecture in Manhattan, Kansas (all times local):

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo didn’t address speculation that he will run for an open Senate seat next year during a college lecture he gave in his home state of Kansas.

Pompeo’s speech Friday at Kansas State University came with three Democrats and four Republicans already actively running. Republican Sen. Pat Roberts is not seeking reelection.

Weeks after Pompeo said a run is “off the table,” though, he is still looming over the race, as only he has enough name recognition and support among Kansas conservatives to afford to wait until next June’s filing deadline to decide.

If he does run, Pompeo would enter the race as the favorite.

Pompeo’s speech didn’t touch on his political ambitions but instead focused on a pet project: refocusing American diplomacy on the promotion of core human rights.

_____

Three Democrats and four Republicans are already actively running for the seat held by Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, who isn’t seeking a fifth term, and several others are expected to join them. Weeks after Pompeo said a run is “off the table,” though, he is still creating a buzz and looming over the race, as only he has enough name recognition and support among Kansas conservatives to afford to wait until next June’s filing deadline to decide.

If he does run, Pompeo would enter the race as the favorite.

“It’s the Pompeo decision, and then everything else trickles down,” said Joe Kildea, a vice president for the conservative interest group Club for Growth.

Other candidates don’t have the luxury of waiting and the field is likely to grow even bigger, with GOP Rep. Roger Marshall of western Kansas expected to announce his candidacy Saturday at the state fair.

Pompeo isn’t expected to directly address the speculation about his interest in running during his speech Friday at Kansas State University, but that hasn’t stopped others from suggesting he’s the person for the job. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell identified Pompeo as his preferred candidate shortly after Roberts announced in January that he wasn’t seeking re-election.

The GOP hasn’t lost a Senate race in Kansas since 1932, but many Republicans worry about a repeat of the governor’s race last year. Kris Kobach, a nationally known advocate of tough immigration policies, narrowly won a crowded primary, alienated moderates and lost to Democrat Laura Kelly. He launched his Senate campaign in July.

For Kobach’s GOP detractors, Pompeo would solve their perceived problems. His entry would likely clear most of the Republican field, and GOP leaders believe Pompeo would have no trouble winning in November 2020, making it easier for Republicans to retain their Senate majority.

And WDAF-TV reports that Kansas’ other senator, Republican Jerry Moran, told reporters Wednesday at a Kansas City-area event that he doesn’t know Pompeo’s current thinking, “but I wouldn’t be surprised if he entered that race.”

Fellow Republicans concede that Pompeo, a former congressman and CIA director, has reasons not to run, including the prestige that comes with being the nation’s top diplomat. He’s currently dealing with weighty issues such as new sanctions on Iran from the Trump administration, a tariff war with China and questions about whether hopes for nuclear talks with North Korea are fading.

“I think he can’t say that he’s wanting to run for Senate now,” said Tim Shallenburger, a former two-term state treasurer and Kansas Republican Party chairman. “He’s got to wait, and I think he can afford to wait.”

Kobach, who served as Kansas’ secretary of state but first built his national profile on immigration issues, has argued that as a Senate nominee, he’d benefit from the higher turnout that normally comes with a presidential election year and a greater focus on issues such as immigration. Some local Republican leaders agree and feel less anxious about Kobach possibly winning the nomination.

Other GOP candidates include Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, Dave Lindstrom, a Kansas City-area businessman and former Kansas City Chiefs player, and Bryan Pruitt, a conservative gay commentator. Also, Marshall has been flirting with running for months, and other potential Republican candidates include Alan Cobb, president and CEO of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and Matt Schlapp, the American Conservative Union’s president.

The Democratic candidates with active campaigns are former federal prosecutor Barry Grissom, and former Rep. Nancy Boyda and Usha Reddi, a city commissioner in the northeast Kansas city of Manhattan.

Don Alexander, a manufacturing firm owner who is the GOP chairman in Neosho County in southeastern Kansas, said it’s early to be trying to size up the race, almost 11 months before the August 2020 primary. He said he and other Republicans trust Pompeo to “know where he’s needed most.”

“I’m sure the president doesn’t want him to leave,” said Helen Van Etten, a Republican National Committee member from Topeka.

But Van Etten said comments from Pompeo that he’ll stay on as secretary of state as long as Trump will have him leave an “open door” for a Senate bid.

Some Republicans, such as Alexander, take Pompeo at his word that he won’t run. Others, including Shallenburger, read Pompeo’s statements as meaning he isn’t interested right now but that he may reconsider if he doesn’t like how the race develops.

“He can announce on the filing deadline and cause most of the people in there to get out,” Shallenburger said

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and searching for a suspect.

Just after 1:3 a.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a convenience store at 102 SE 37th Street in Topeka on a panic alarm, according to Police Lt. Manuel Munoz.

Officers arrived to find that the panic alarm was activated by the clerk due to an Aggravated Robbery to the business.

The clerk advised a black male wearing a ski mask, gray sweatpants, and dark hoodie came into the business, brandished a silver semi-auto handgun and demanded money.

The suspect left southbound from the business and then east through the houses with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police are asking for the community’s assistance in identifying the robbery suspect and released security camera images.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — “Modern Family” star Eric Stonestreet plays the part of the bumbling younger brother of Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid in a new spoof video that was released in advance of the first game of the regular season.

The video features Stonestreet as Randy, the owner of a California Jet Ski business who suffered a career-ending football injury as a 10-year-old. While getting his ankles taped alongside disinterested players, he explains, “Pop Warner. It’s no joke.”

Throughout the video, he offers players advice and discounts on personal watercraft. General Manager Brett Veach says, “He’s almost like having another coach out there, one that we don’t want or need.”

Tomorrow you will meet Randy Reid, younger brother of @chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Randy is kinda like a Kansas tornado. You know he’s coming but there is not a lot you can do to stop it. In the meantime, here’s a little taste.🍦#GiveRandyaRing pic.twitter.com/vrSGHX2BFG

— Eric Stonestreet (@ericstonestreet) September 4, 2019

Stonestreet, a Kansas City, Kansas, native plays the character Cameron Tucker, on the ABC sitcom that is in its final season.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Court records say a Kansas City teen told detectives he killed another man because he believed the victim was responsible for shooting his brother and wanted him to feel the same pain.

Eighteen-year-old Taylor Mackey is jailed on $25,000 bond after he was charged Thursday with second-degree murder and three other felonies in the death of Isaac Louis Brown. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.

Court records say Mackey and his younger brother were questioned after surveillance video linked them to last week’s shooting.

The records say Mackey told detectives that he and his brother approached Brown and talked to him before they both pulled out their guns and shot him once. He says he was thinking, “this was his time to ‘Get him.”

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man was charged Thursday with bank robbery, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

James E. Freeman, 55, Topeka, is charged with one count of bank robbery. A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Topeka alleges he robbed U.S. Bank at 719 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka. An affidavit alleges Freeman entered the bank at about 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 4. He began striking the counter with his right hand and screaming, “Just give me money,” and “This is a robbery.” He left the bank with cash.

A Topeka police officer responding to the bank robbery call found Freeman walking on 6th Street about a block from the bank. Freeman was holding cash in his hands when he was arrested.

If convicted, Freeman faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Topeka Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.

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

Just after 2:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the US Bank at 719 SW Kansas Avenue in Topeka on a report of a robbery that had just occurred to the business, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.

Upon arrival Officers learned a subject entered the business demanded money and then fled the area on foot.  A description of the subject was broadcast to other officers in the area.

A short time later a subject matching suspect’s description was located near 6th and Harrison Street and was taken into custody without incident, according to Beightel.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation responded and is the lead investigating agency on this robbery. Police have not released the suspect’s name and requested charges in the case.

BARTON COUNTY —Voters in USD 428 Great Bend voted against a $44.87 million bond to help with renovations to its entire district. The mail-in ballots were sent to registered voters August 20, and were due back to the Barton County Clerk’s Office Thursday, Sept. 5.

The first question of $41,750,000 failed with 2,538 voting against the bond, and 1,993 votes in favor of the bond.

The second question of $3,120,000 required the first question to pass, but there were 2,886 ‘no’ votes and 1,624 ‘yes’ votes.

The total number of ballots counted was 4,547, for a 43.4% voter turnout. There were 10,469 ballots mailed out to registered USD 428 voters. Barton County Election Officer Donna Zimmerman was hoping for closer to 80%, a number that previous mail-in ballots usually have.

Proposed renovations included new entrances to elementary schools, new sixth-grade classroom wing at the middle school, turf field at the middle school, storm shelters at the high school, remodeling the Washington Education Center, and building a new Transportation, Maintenance, and Grounds building at the District Education Center site.

Earlier this week, voters in USD 373 Newton rejected  an $85M bond issue .

Find out more details on USD 428 school bond issue here.

SALINE COUNTY —A Salina man’s turtle escaped three years ago. On Thursday, a concerned citizen spotted it crossing Markley Road by the baseball fields and stopped to make sure it didn’t get hit, according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

KHP Master Trooper Davis and Lieutenant Riedel stopped to assist.

Lucky enough the owner placed an ID tag on the shell just for this occasion.

The owner was amazed and delighted to find out that his turtle had been found and was still alive. The missing turtle and owner now re-united.