NOBLE COUNTY – Two Kansas women died in an accident just before 2a.m. Wednesday in Noble County, Oklahoma.
A 2014 Dodge Caravan driven by Ryan James Fulcher, 22, South Hutchinson, was westbound on U.S. 412 Cimarron Turnpike one mile west of Red Rock, according to Deputy Dwight Durant with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The van left the road and hit the trailer of a Volvo semi that was parked on the westbound shoulder four feet from the lane of traffic.
A passenger Rebecca Nicole Fulcher, 21, McPherson, was pronounced dead at the scene from a head injury.
Another passenger Beth Ratley, 20, South Hutchinson also died at the scene from internal injuries
The women were transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Oklahoma City.
A third passenger Leah Marie Ratley, 24, South Hutchinson, was transported to Stillwater Medical Center in serious condition with head, leg and external injuries.
Ryan Fulcher was also transported to Stillwater Medical Center in serious condition with external and leg injuries.
The driver of the semi Dhafer M. Awad, 26, Scottsdale, AZ., was not injured.
The main concern stemmed from her receiving her masters and doctoral degrees from Corlinns University, an unaccredited, online school. Robertson said she received her degree before the university lost accreditation.
Superintendent Destry Brown says the district will probably be making changes to its vetting process. He also praised reporters with the student newspaper, “The Booster Redux,” saying “our kids ask questions and don’t just accept something because somebody told them.”
An anonymously circulated letter also raised questions about Robertson’s qualifications. Robertson is currently working in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Protesters gathered Tuesday outside Wescoe Hall at the University of Kansas to oppose concealed firearms on Kansas campuses. Kansas House members declined to discuss the issue Tuesday. COURTNEY BIERMAI / KPR
Members of the Kansas House on Tuesday shot down a proposal to debate whether to allow concealed firearms on college campuses.
A motion by the chamber’s top Democrat would have forced the House to consider a bill regarding out-of-state concealed carry licenses. However, the real motivation was for critics of the state’s concealed carry law to propose changes during the debate.
House members rejected the idea of even bringing up the bill for debate with a 44-81 vote.
A 2013 state law says concealed firearms must be allowed in most public buildings, unless there are security measures in place to make sure no one brings guns into the facility. Universities, public hospitals and some other buildings have a temporary exemption that expires at the end of June.
Republican Majority Leader Don Hineman said Tuesday that lawmakers have been working on a compromise and most want to continue those negotiations.
“We’re still hopeful we can get to a resolution in that way,” he said. “That would be preferable to a wide-open debate with endless possibilities and a very indeterminate outcome.”
Hineman wouldn’t say if the compromise could include universities, hospitals or other facilities like mental health centers.
Most moderate-leaning Republicans, including Hineman, joined with conservatives in the vote to deny the debate.
“It’s a reflection of their desire to see the process of negotiations play out and see if we can come to an agreement that pretty much everyone is on board with,” Hineman said.
The top Democrat in the House, Jim Ward, introduced the motion to bring up the firearms bill and allow debate on concealed carry laws.
“There are a lot of people in the state of Kansas that are concerned about gun safety,” Ward said. “We had a perfect opportunity to have a full and vigorous debate, and it was rejected.”
The argument that there could be a compromise in the works wasn’t enough to satisfy Ward. He said the best way to forge a compromise would start with the House taking a stand on the issue.
“So when you have a compromise you know what you’re giving up,” Ward said.
Critics of the current law say concealed firearms shouldn’t be allowed at places like universities and public hospitals. They say it is unfeasible or very expensive to provide security so guns can continue to be barred.
Supporters of the current law say people have constitutional rights to carry guns and defend themselves. They say those rights should extend to places like college campuses, unless there are security measures in place to make sure no one is carrying a firearm.
JOHNSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Johnson County are investigating a suspect for the death of a 2-year-old.
On Tuesday, police arrested Lindsey Nicole Thomasson in connection with the February 7, 2017 death of 2-year-old Presley Porting, according to a social media report from Gardner Police.
Thomasson lived with the girl and the child’s biological father at the time of the death, according to police.
Thomasson is charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held at the Johnson County Jail with a $2 million-dollar bond.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a 12-year-old boy has died in an apparently accidental shooting at a Wichita home.
The shooting was reported around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Wichita police Sgt. Nikki Woodrow says it appears that the boy died after accidentally shooting himself.
PAWNEE COUNTY – Deputies in Pawnee County made an unusual arrest on Tuesday that “added humor to their rainy, dreary day.”
An individual came to the sheriff’s department for help with a vehicle title and with a substantial amount of marijuana in a pocket, according to the sheriff’s department’s social media account.
A deputy smelled the marijuana in the lobby and asked the individual about it. The individual denied having marijuana but agreed to a search.
The deputy found the marijuana and booked the individual into jail for drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. The sheriff set a bond and the individual posted bond.
The sheriff’s department reminded residents to avoid coming to the sheriff’s department for help while carrying marijuana. However, “if you want to come and let us arrest you, we are open 24/7.”
Just before 8 p.m., a 2016 Kenworth semi driven by Sheila Kay Alvey, 56, Mounds, OK., was eastbound on U.S. 400 at U.S. 75 in a thunderstorm. The semi was blown over by high winds.
Hail in Allen County Kansas on Tuesday- photo Allen Co. Sheriff
Alvey was transported to the Wilson County Hospital.
Authorities in the southwest Missouri community of Goodwin believe a tornado is responsible for severe damage to several buildings, including a fire station and elementary school. Goodman is approximately 60 miles south of Pittsburg, Kansas.
RENO COUNTY— A Kansas man made an initial court appearance after an arrest Monday on a warrant. Charles David Ford, 46, Hutchinson, is charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
According to the criminal complaint, he is accused of taking or confining the victim by force, threat or deception to possibly inflict bodily harm or terrorize the victim. This alleged crime occurred on January 7.
The charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon occurred on Feb. 4 and involved the same victim. He apparently put her in fear of her safety when he attempted to hit her with his pickup.
With the charges filed, his case moves to a waiver status on May 3. He remains jailed on a $45,000 bond.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Revenue is dedicating additional staff to answer phones and keeping the lines open later on Thursday April 6 to help Kansans with questions about their 2016 individual income tax returns.
As in prior years, the department will also have phone lines for its Electronic Services Unit open late on tax day, April 18, to help people with questions about KS WebFile, the state’s free online income tax filing program, or other electronic return questions.
Phone lines will be open until 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 6. For assistance people should call:
· For tax-related questions, contact the customer service line at 785-368-8222, option 4 then option 1
· For technical questions, contact Electronic Services Help at 785-296-6993
If customers simply need to check on the status of their refund, they can do so online any time at www.ksrevenue.org/RefundStatus or by calling 1-800-894-0318 to connect to the department’s automated refund status line.
To ensure taxpayer confidentiality and accuracy, people should have their most current tax information available when they call.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republican legislators are negotiating with Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback over raising taxes as they consider proposals for a flat personal income tax.
The Republican governor met Tuesday evening with GOP leaders. House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. said they didn’t settle on any tax proposals.
The meeting came after a Senate committee approved a bill for moving the state to a single personal income tax rate of 4.6 percent while raising new revenue to fix budget problems.
The House has its own bill to abandon separate tax rates for higher and lower-income earners in favor of a single, 5 percent rate.
Supporters see a flat tax as fairer. Critics contend middle-class families would be hit the hardest.
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Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling more than $1 billion through June 2019.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Senate committee has approved a bill for moving the state to a single personal income tax rate while raising new revenue to fix budget problems.
It wasn’t clear whether a flat tax proposal can pass as the Assessment and Taxation Committee voted Tuesday to send its bill to the Senate.
The House has its own bill to abandon separate tax rates for higher and lower-income earners. But GOP leaders could drop the idea for lack of support.
Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling more than $1 billion through June 2019.
Many Republican see a flat income tax as fairer. Critics said middle-class families would be hit the hardest.
The Senate committee’s plan adopts the current top rate of 4.6 percent for all. The House plan is 5 percent.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A man in the United States illegally has been sentenced after bringing a shipment of methamphetamine into Kansas inside a car’s spare tire.
Prosecutors say 33-year-old Juan Antonio Herrera-Zamora was sentenced Monday to 35 years in prison for drug trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm.
The Kansas City Star reports that Herrera-Zamora is a citizen of Mexico. He was found guilty last year.
Prosecutors say Herrera-Zamora brought 26 pounds of the drug into the Kansas City area by using the tire.
He was arrested at a Kansas City, Kansas, tire shop where the drugs were unloaded.
Law enforcement officers found a gun hidden in a baby’s diaper bag when he was arrested.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — One potential bidder on President Donald Trump’s border wall with Mexico wanted to know if authorities would rush to help if workers came under “hostile attack.”
Another asked if employees can carry firearms in states with strict gun control laws and if the government would indemnify them for using deadly force.
With bids due Tuesday on the first design contracts, interested companies are preparing for the worst if they get the potentially lucrative job.
A U.S. official with knowledge of the plans who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the details haven’t been made public said four to 10 bidders are expected to be chosen to build prototypes.
They will be constructed on a roughly quarter-mile (400-meter) strip of federally-owned land in San Diego
GEARY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating two suspects on drug charges after an arrest on Interstate 70.
On Monday evening, officers made a traffic stop for speeding and an unsafe lane change on a vehicle driven by William Robert Leach, 37, Illinois, on Interstate 70 just east of McDowell Creek Road, according to the Junction City Police Department.
Officers arrested Leach on suspicion of Drug Possession With Intent to Distribute, No Tax Stamp, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Speeding, Unsafe Lane Change and an Obstructed Tag.
Police also arrested a passenger Ivan James Kochopolous, 41, Illinois
Kochopolous-photo Geary Co.
on suspicion of Possession With Intent to Distribute, No Tax Stamp and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
