ATLANTA (AP) — Credit monitoring company Equifax says a breach exposed social security numbers and other data from about 143 million Americans.
The Atlanta-based company said Thursday that “criminals” exploited a U.S. website application to access files between mid-May and July of this year.
It said consumers’ names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some cases, driver’s license numbers were exposed. Credit card numbers for about 209,000 U.S. consumers were also accessed.
The company said hackers also accessed some “limited personal information” from British and Canadian residents.
Equifax said it doesn’t believe that any consumers from other countries were affected.
Jensen Walcott and Jake Reed spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention -image YouTube
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing the former operator of a Kansas pizza restaurant that offered a higher wage to a 17-year-old boy than to a female applicant of the same age.
The Kansas City Star reports that the commission filed suit Tuesday against PS Holding LLC, the former owner of a Pizza Studio restaurant in Kansas City.
Jensen Walcott raised questions after learning in 2016 that her friend, Jake Reed, was told he would be paid 25 cents an hour more. The Pizza Studio manager then withdrew both job offers, telling the friends it was against company policy to discuss wages.
The pizza chain later said the manager was wrong and had been dismissed.
The teens told their story of pay inequality at the Democratic National Convention.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A report shows Kansas farmers harvested a winter wheat crop this year that had lower than usual protein levels.
The report issued Thursday by the National Agricultural Statistics Service and Kansas Grain Inspection Service showed protein content averaged 11.6 percent. That is down from 11.7 percent last year as well as the 10-year average of 12.5 percent.
Wheat crops with protein levels of 12 percent or more fetch premium prices for farmers because that higher quality wheat is used to make bread. The protein in flour is what gives it strength when mixed with water and yeast, allowing the bread to rise better for fluffier loaves.
The average test weight in Kansas was 60.5 pounds per bushel.
About 67 percent of the crop was graded No. 1, the highest rating.
The Latest on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ speech on campus sexual assault and enforcement of Title IX, the federal law that bars discrimination in education on the basis of gender.
1:30p.m.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos plans to end the Obama administration’s rules for investigating allegations of sexual violence on campus.
DeVos said Thursday, “The era of ‘rule by letter’ is over,” as she announced plans to review and replace the way colleges and university handle investigations.
The Obama administration guidance was originally delivered in a letter to schools. She says it has failed many students and done a “disservice to everyone involved.”
The letter details what schools must do to investigate allegations of sexual violence.
DeVos makes clear that “acts of sexual misconduct are reprehensible, disgusting, and unacceptable.”
But she says, “Instead of working with schools on behalf of students, the prior administration weaponized the Office for Civil Rights to work against schools and against students.”
She says the department will seek public comment and university expertise to develop rules to replace the current policy.
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11:35 a.m.
About two dozen protesters have gathered outside the auditorium where Education Secretary Betsy DeVos will speak about enforcement of rules governing how colleges investigate sexual assault on campus.
The protesters include women who said they were assaulted on campus and victims’ advocates.
They’re carrying signs, and one says: “Donald Trump supports Betsy DeVos supports perpetrators.”
DeVos has said Obama-era rules on investigating campus sexual assault aren’t working and suggested that revisions were necessary.
The Education Department has described DeVos’ address as a major policy speech on Title IX enforcement. Title IX bars discrimination on the basis of sex in education.
She’s speaking at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia.
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10:50 a.m.
Some victim advocates and legal experts say they expect colleges to stay the course even if Education Secretary Betsy DeVos loosens Obama-era rules on investigating campus sexual assault.
DeVos is giving a policy address on Title IX enforcement later Thursday.
Central to the debate is a 2011 memo from the Education Department that laid out rules colleges must follow when responding to complaints of sexual assault from their students.
DeVos has said the rules aren’t working.
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3 a.m.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is expected to detail her plans for revising Obama administration guidance that governs how colleges handle sexual assault complaints.
The Education Department says DeVos will address Title IX enforcement in a speech at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia.
Title IX is a federal law that forbids discrimination in education based on sex. In recent years, it’s been associated with efforts to address sexual assault and harassment at college campuses.
DeVos has said the Obama administration guidance isn’t working.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged attempted abduction.
Just after 6:30p.m. police responded to report of an abduction, kidnapping at a mobile home park in the 2200 Block of West MacArthur in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
A 31-year-old mother told police her 11-year old daughter was a few blocks from their residence when a man wearing a ski mask and black clothing grabbed her from behind. The child kicked the suspect and ran home.
The suspect, who fled the area on foot, is described as an unknown Hispanic man and 5-foot 11-inches tall. In addition to the black clothing, the suspect had a ring tattoo on his left hand and tattoos around his eyebrows, according to officer Davidson.
Anyone in the area or with information is asked to call police.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Wichita mayor and gubernatorial candidate says unsuccessful efforts were made to confirm the safety of his grandson before a body that is believed to be the boy’s was found encased in concrete.
Carl Brewer says “something went wrong,” although it’s too early to know whether the system failed 3-year-old Evan Brewer. Police say the body found Saturday in a rental home is likely that of Evan, though final confirmation is awaiting DNA results.
Brewer says Evan’s father, Carlo Brewer, worked through the court system, the state child protective agency and police, raising concerns about Evan. Evan’s mother and her boyfriend have been arrested but not charged in the death.
Brewer says Gov. Sam Brownback told him he would look into welfare officials’ involvement.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The father of a boy whose dead body was found encased in concrete says officials received at least four reports of abuse against the child while he was in his mother’s custody.
Authorities said Tuesday that the body found in the rental home Saturday is believed to be 3-year-old Evan Brewer. The boy had been living with his mother, Miranda Miller, and her boyfriend, Stephen Bodine. No charges have been filed in connection to the boy’s death.
Miller
A petition filed in May by the boy’s father Carlo Brewer says four abuse reports were made dating as far back as July 2016 and as recently as April 2017. One allegation references an injury to his nose with filthy and inappropriate clothing.
One witness statement cited in the PFA alleges the boy had been beaten “to the point of death” while in the mother’s care.
TOPEKA —Soldiers of the Kansas National Guard’s 35th Military Police Company posted a message on their Facebook page to let family and friends know they are safe and well, despite being in the path of Hurricane Irma as it approaches Cuba, where the unit is deployed, according to a media release from the Kansas Adjutant General’s Office.
“Right now, the current trajectory of Hurricane Irma has her passing to our north. This trajectory will keep the worst of the storm surge away from our island, but still keep us in the outer rings,” said Capt. Nicky Inskeep, company commander. “We are expecting tropical storm level winds that should not exceed 50 mph. Of course, we will be monitoring for flooding and associated power outages.”
In preparation for the storm, soldiers were told to move all items away from windows, secure all loose items around buildings, back up computer files, cover computer workstations with plastic bags or wrap, and unplug all unnecessary equipment.
Inskeep said the hurricane may affect communications for a while.
“However, we have solid plans and we will all be sheltered for the duration of the storm,” said Inskeep.
Major Hurricane Irma expected to impact much of east central Florida late this weekend. pic.twitter.com/tYeVpRFmkm
“The safety and well-being of your soldier is my number one priority.”
The Topeka-based company was deployed to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in support of Joint Task Force Guantanamo in March. Members are expected to be deployed for approximately nine months.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Court records say the girlfriend of former Kansas Jayhawk football Maciah Long claims she was threatened with a loaded handgun during an argument.
The Kansas City Star reports that the arrest affidavit filed in Douglas County District Court says Long told the girlfriend, “I’ll shoot your kneecaps out.” The 20-year-old woman told police that just before the threat, Long pulled the slide back on the gun to rack a bullet into the chamber.
Long was arrested Aug. 20 and dismissed from the team the next day. He is charged with a felony count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two misdemeanors.
The 19-year-old from Houston played linebacker and tight end last season. He has been released from jail on $5,000 bond and doesn’t have a listed phone nu
LUFKIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas woman is being held on several charges after she slipped her handcuffs, stole a police SUV and then led officers on a pursuit that reached speeds of nearly 100 mph (160 kph).
Thirty-three-year-old Toscha Sponsler was being held Thursday in the Angelina County jail on charges that include evading arrest.
Authorities say Sponsler had been detained Saturday on suspicion of shoplifting and was in the back of the SUV when she managed to slip her hand through one of the cuffs.
Video released Tuesday by Lufkin police show her then squeezing through a partition to reach the front seat.
A chase went on for about 20 miles (30 kilometers) before a state trooper managed to spin her out.
Online jail records don’t indicate whether she has an attorney.
Gov. Sam Brownback participated in the official announcement of a new $300 million Tyson Foods chicken plant near Tonganoxie, hailing the project’s role in the state’s agricultural economy. CREDIT STEPHEN KORANDA / KPR
Tyson Foods Inc. and Kansas officials unveiled plans Tuesday for a $300 million chicken facility outside Tonganoxie, a town about 15 miles northeast of Lawrence. The project will include a hatchery, feed mill and plant capable of processing more than 1 million birds per week.
Doug Ramsey, Tyson’s group president for poultry, said the complex will employ about 1,600 people and will produce trays of chicken sold at grocery stores.
“So why Tonganoxie? It’s the perfect place if you look at the grain, the plenty of farmland and the great pool of talent that is ready to work,” Ramsey said.
Gov. Sam Brownback hailed the economic investment and job growth that the project will bring to the area.
“This is a step in the right direction to further diversify and grow our state’s economy,” Brownback said. “I think this is a great project and a great day for Kansas.”
Local governments have promised infrastructure improvements and bonds for the facility. The state also will offer tax incentives for the project.
Some Tonganoxie area residents were not happy with the announcement for the plant, which Tyson plans to build on about 300 acres south of town. A presentation about the project was stopped briefly when some members of the audience said, “We don’t want it.”
After the announcement, some residents said news of the plant came as a surprise and they had no chance to weigh in on the project. Tana Walker said she contacted some local elected officials before the announcement who told her they couldn’t talk about the project because they signed non-disclosure agreements.
“NDAs should not have a place in public policy when public funds are involved,” Walker said.
Ramsey said that comes with the territory when developing this type of project.
“Part of the process in searching for a location is you do have to keep things under wraps … to make sure everything is lined up and appropriate before we move,” he said.
Walker recently moved to Tonganoxie, a town of 5,300 in Leavenworth County, and said she’s concerned that the massive plant will lead to pollution, odor and a lower quality of life.
“We really wanted to raise our kids in a small town that would give them a good upbringing and afford them the type of life that we both had,” she said. “We moved here in April to give them that, and now we regret moving here.”
Mary Gergick said she’s concerned the project will affect the “country living” that attracted some residents to the area.
“What is this poultry plant going to bring us?” Gergick asked. “Jobs are great, but at what cost? At what cost to the environment?”
Tyson officials said they will schedule town hall meetings so they can meet with residents to concerns about the project and how to address them.
Brownback said he understands why some residents are upset and he’s encouraged by the response from Tyson, which operates facilities in six Kansas communities that employ about 5,700 people.
“They’re going to comply with every state law and regulation we have. They are a corporate citizen here and have been for 50 years. We’re very familiar with Tyson,” the governor said.
The Tonganoxie plant is scheduled to open in 2019 with starting wages of $13 to $15 per hour.
Location of Thursday’s armed robbery -google image
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery.
Just before 4:30 a.m. police responded to a convenience store in the 5700 Block of SE 21st Street in Topeka after report of an armed robbery, according to a media release.
The store employee told police a black male described as 5-foot 6-inches tall and weighing approximately 150-pounds, wearing black clothing, a mask and carrying a knife entered the business and demanded money.
The suspect then fled the business on foot. There were no injuries. A police K9 team responded to the scene to assist with a search for the suspect.
Jim Barnett, M.D., Topeka, is a Republican candidate for governor of Kansas.
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TOPEKA – Jim Barnett, candidate for the 2018 Republican nomination for Kansas governor, held a Tuesday news conference to detail his plans for improving economic development and bringing jobs to Kansas as governor.
Calling the plan a “full court press” for more and better paying jobs and an adequately trained workforce, Barnett outlined a multi-pronged program designed to break the current jobs stalemate in Kansas.
“Kansas lost over 12,000 private sector jobs in the last year, and we have 60,000 jobs across the state going unfilled,” Barnett stated.
“The bottom line is we have a state with a stagnant economy, where too many jobs are leaving, and others go unfilled because workers don’t have the required skills or training. No wonder our young people don’t stay and others of all ages get discouraged.
“My plan recognizes that job growth comes from the ground up, not the top down. Yes, the state has a role, but that role needs to be tailored to the needs of individual communities and businesses. A one-size-fits-all approach just won’t work.”
Barnett said his framework for more skilled workers and better paying jobs is built on four key pillars.
“First, we need to get the basics right. State government is finally on track to get its fiscal house in order. Now we need to build on that progress in a variety of areas, including work force, infrastructure, education, health care, and overall quality of life,” he said.
“Second, we need a regional approach to economic development, one that recognizes local control and input. Southwest is different than southeast Kansas, which is different from central and northern Kansas, which is different than Johnson County. We need to recognize the assets of each region.
“Third, within each region we need to identify high performing and high potential industries and convene industry leaders to identify areas for further economic growth. I think the most important appointment I make will be the Secretary of Commerce, who along with me will put this plan into action.
“Fourth, is what I call “Enterprising Academics. What I mean by that is an education system and a business system that work in partnership to provide the knowledge and skills that our workers need to succeed and our businesses need to compete, ” Barnett said.
(Click to enlarge)
Barnett’s economic development news conference will be followed by the first phase of a statewide tour to discuss his jobs plan with business and community leaders.
Jim Barnett is a practicing physician in Topeka, past president of the Emporia School Board, and former state senator for Emporia and neighboring areas. In 2006, Barnett won a seven-way primary and was the Republican candidate for governor.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A former Shawnee County Sheriff’s detective will spend four days in jail and be on two years’ probation for interfering with law enforcement.
Erin Thompson, who was a sheriff’s deputy for more than 15 years, pleaded guilty and was sentenced Wednesday on two counts of misdemeanor interference with law enforcement. She also was ordered to pay $5,000.
Prosecutors say Thompson lied in 2014 about two interviews she conducted, claiming she talked to or tried to talk to people involved in cases she was investigating. At a preliminary hearing in January, witnesses testified they never talked to Thompson.
Thompson’s last day with the sheriff’s office was Aug. 30, after she served nearly two years of paid administrative leave.
Thompson was originally charged in May 2016 with three counts of felony perjury.
