SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hit and run crash and have made an arrest.
Just after 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, a 61-year-old man reported driving south in the 1400 Block of North Perry in Wichita, according to Sgt. Nikki Woodrow during Thursday’s police briefing.
The driver told police he came upon a woman in the street, unresponsive.
She has been identified as 39-year-old Elena Martinez. She was transported to a local hospital where she died.
During an investigation of the accident, police learned that a Chevy pickup driven by a 27-year-old man was southbound on Perry and hit Martinez.
WAMEGO, Kan. (AP) — Another Kansas school district has announced plans to randomly drug test students who participate in athletics and activities such as debate.
The policy takes effect this fall at Wamego Public Schools. The school board voted 6-1 Monday to approve an amended random drug testing policy.
The policy will affect students involved in Kansas State High School Activities Association events.
The amended policy lowered penalties for first-time violations from a 90-day suspension for KSHSAA participants to 45 days, second- time violation penalties from a 180-day suspension to a 90-day suspension, and a third-time violation from a 365-day ban to a 180-day ban.
Suspended students can still practice, but they aren’t allowed to participate in games or competitions. Banned students won’t be allowed to practice.
Funnel cloud near Goodland on Wednesday evening-photo Sherman Co. Sheriff
SHERMAN COUNTY – Thursday’s spring storm brought tornado warnings high winds, hail and flooding rain to many areas of Kansas.
A small tornado south of Goodland prompted the National Weather service to issue a tornado warning and the sirens were used in Goodland, according to the Sherman County Sheriff’s Department.
Funnel Cloud spotted south of Goodland. Take shelter now if you are in the path of this storm! #KSwxhttps://t.co/hrINQeDvxJ
Approximately 6 inches of rain in Gove County prompted flash flood warnings and a flash flood emergency for the city of Grinnell. Officials worked most of the night, according to the Gove County Sheriff’s Department. There were no reports injuries.
FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY in and around Grinell, KS until 1:45PM MDT. DO NOT DRIVE IN THIS AREA. Reports of severe flooding occurring. #KSwxhttps://t.co/jxRu39wzqa
TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), the agency that regulates motor carriers in the state, has launched a web based system designed to help motor carriers meet regulatory requirements and successfully manage their businesses.
KTRAN, which stands for the Kansas Trucking Regulatory Assistance Network, is a one-stop shop where users can apply and pay for authorities, waivers, renewals and Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) fees as well as receive important alerts and messages from the KCC.
This week letters are being sent to all Kansas motor carriers with a USDOT number instructing them to register with KTRAN using their USDOT number and newly assigned KCC personal identification number (PIN). Step-by-step instructions are provided in the mailing. Users must register online in order to receive messages, alerts, and both intrastate renewal and UCR renewal notices.
KTRAN features include:
· An online database providing greater ease and efficiency in motor carrier operations and regulation.
· Web-based tools to determine requirements for motor carriers who plan to operate point-to-point in Kansas. This includes:
Application
Payment and delivery
An interactive site to communicate updates and receive compliance information
· Kansas based interstate carriers can now pay their Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) through KTRAN.
The KTRAN network is funded by a grant from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating illegal gambling and have seized machines.
On Wednesday, police executed two search warrants were in the 1100 block of W. 31st Street South and the 3100 block of South Seneca in Wichita. Officers seized over 80 machines, according to Wichita Police Sgt. Nikki Woodrow during Wednesday media briefing.
If businesses or business owners have any question about the type of machines that are not allowed, or if community members want to check to see if the machines they see at area businesses are illegal, they can contact the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.
Their website is www.krgc.ks.gov . Also on that website, you will find a lot of information about what is considered illegal when it comes to Gambling.
Also, if anyone in our community would like to report that a business is in possession of illegal gaming machines, please contact Crime Stoppers at 267-2111.
“If a machine looks like it would belong in a casino and it takes money with a chance of winning money it is safe to say that it is probably illegal,” according to Woodrow.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the Kansas Legislature’s debate on increasing income taxes to fix the state budget and provide additional funds for public schools (all times local):
Kansas legislators disagree about their next step after the Senate rejected a plan for fixing the state budget with a big income tax increase.
The Senate voted 22-18 on Wednesday against a bill that would have rolled back past income tax cuts championed by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. It would have raised more than $1 billion over two years.
Senate Vice President and Emporia Republican Jeff Longbine said lawmakers must consider smaller proposals and work toward a plan that Brownback would sign rather than toward a bigger tax hike with veto-proof support.
Several Democrats rejected the idea and said a plan must provide additional funds for public schools.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling $887 million through June 2017 and the state Supreme Court has said education funding is inadequate.
Diana Marie and Ty Bohlander-photo Crawford County
BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — A southeast Kansas mother and son still being sought for questioning in the killing of a 64-year-old man now are charged in the death.
The Joplin Globe reports that Cherokee County prosecutors have charged 55-year-old Diana Bohlander and 21-year-old Ty Bohlander with first-degree murder in the April death of James McFarland.
Investigators have said McFarland’s body was found April 30 along a road near Baxter Springs, and that Diana Bohlander is believed to have had a romantic relationship with him.
Authorities say they believe McFarland and the Bohlanders were homeless, and the three of them were last seen in mid-April at a campground in Pawnee, Oklahoma.
A cause of McFarland’s death has not been released.
Nicole Harper is the mother of two and has an overactive bladder. She says she was heading home from Houston with her family when she really had to use the restroom. photo courtesy KCTV
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — United Airlines is denying that its staff told a woman to urinate in a cup rather than leave her seat to use the restroom on a flight from Houston.
Nichole Harper told KCTV she had a sudden urge to urinate because of her overactive bladder on the flight last month to Kansas City.
She says a flight attendant told her she wasn’t allowed to stand up because the pilot was expecting turbulence. Harper responded by saying she was going to need a cup.
She says flight crew reprimanded her after she filled two cups.
Harper says it happened less than 30 minutes into the flight. United says it was during descent.
United said in a statement it has reached out to Harper to “better understand what occurred.”
TOPEKA- Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Tuesday night murder and have arrested a suspect.
Police said in a news release that the 40-year-old Michael Stephen Murphy of Topeka was booked into jail on suspicion of second-degree murder and a weapons violation.
The release says the 39-year -old victim was suffering from head trauma when officers responded just after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to a disturbance call in the 2700 Block of South Indiana Street.
The victim was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. The victim’s name wasn’t immediately released.
BARTON COUNTY -The Barton County Health Department (BCHD) along with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are investigating the death of a Central Kansas adult due to meningitis.
According to a media release, the health department reported laboratory results are not yet final and the death is suspected to be caused by Neisseria meningitidis, which can cause severe and fatal cases of meningococcal meningitis, an infection of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
Signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include a sudden onset of fever, headache, stiff neck, chills, and feeling unusually weak or tired. Nausea, vomiting, altered mental state, and a dark purple rash may also be present.
BCHD is working to identify all persons at high risk of exposure to the individual and are actively providing recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis. Currently, there is no evidence to suggest the general public is at an increased risk of developing meningitis.
Neisseria meningitidis is only spread from person-to-person by sharing throat or respiratory secretions (saliva or spit). You must be in close contact with a sick person’s saliva or respiratory secretions in order for the bacteria to spread. Close contact can include being directly sneezed or coughed upon, kissing, sharing a water bottle, or sharing eating/drinking utensils. It is not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends post-exposure antibiotics for household, close, or intimate contacts during the 7 days prior to illness onset. Healthcare professionals who had unprotected contact with the respiratory secretions will also receive post- exposure antibiotics.
If you are experiencing symptoms of meningococcal meningitis, immediately visit your primary care physician, an urgent care medical clinic or emergency room. If you have any questions, please contact the Barton County Health Department at (620) 793-1902.
RENO COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities in Reno County are investigating a shooting and searching for a suspect.
Just before 1:30a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to the 700 block E 7th Street in Hutchinson after report of a shooting, according to a media release.
When officers arrived they contacted the victim, Jesus Faudoa, who had multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a Wichita hospital with critical injuries.
Trump met on Nov. 20 with Kobach at Trump’s New Jersey golf course. photo courtesy Fox
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has told Kansas’ top elections official to disclose proposed changes to federal voting laws that he took to a meeting with President Donald Trump.
U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson says she reviewed the materials and found no error in the magistrate’s earlier ruling that required Secretary of State Kris Kobach to turn over the documents.
Robinson ordered Kobach to produce them by Friday to the American Civil Liberties Union in a lawsuit challenging a state law requiring voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when voting.
An Associated Press photo of that November meeting showed Kobach holding a paper outlining homeland security issues. The order also requires him to produce a related internal document about proposed changes to the National Voter Registration Act.
ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) A linebacker in the NFL who starred at Rutgers University has been charged in connection with a shooting in New Jersey.
A grand jury indicted Khaseem Greene for weapon possession on Tuesday in a December shooting in Elizabeth, where Greene is from.
The Kansas City Chiefs released the linebacker on Tuesday. Greene signed with the team in January. His lawyer wasn’t immediately available for comment.
NJ.com reports a criminal complaint says Greene was seen on camera handing a gun to another man who fired into a crowd. His co-defendant was charged with aggravated assault, but the extent of the victim’s injuries wasn’t immediately known.
Greene last played a game in 2014 for the Chicago Bears, who drafted him in 2013.
