ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A 10-year run has come to an end and whether the Kansas City Chiefs continue to hold their training camp in St. Joseph is up in the air.
Chiefs President Mark Donovan tells reporters other communities are interested in hosting the training camp.
“We’ve had a great relationship,” Donovan says of Missouri Western State University and St. Joseph. “We expect a great relationship going forward. Just to manage expectations, as we have grown there has been more and more interest from other venues. Some of them are not realistic, but know that we really enjoy St. Joe. There is a lot of efficiency here. There is a lot of comfort here.”
The Chiefs wrapped up training camp at Missouri Western Thursday.
The state of Missouri gave the Chiefs $10 million in tax credits 10 years ago to lure them from Wisconsin back to Missouri. The money went to constructing the training camp complex behind Spratt Stadium and the indoor training complex beside the stadium.
Missouri Western reached a five-year agreement with the Chiefs to host the camp in St. Joseph. The two extended the deal in a second, three-year agreement, followed by another extension, this time, two years.
“So, now we’re kind of in that new era,” Missouri Western Athletic Director Josh Looney tells St. Joseph Post. “That 10-year clock has expired and we knew on the two-year piece that it lined up with year 10 and that was purposeful I think for the Chiefs and for Missouri Western in knowing that, hey, 10 years, let’s evaluate what the last decade has looked like for both parties and go from there.”
Donovan says no decision has been made, yet. He says the Chiefs will review offers from other communities to move camp away from St. Joseph, yet.
“Our relationship with St. Joe and with Missouri Western specifically is really good,” Donovan says. “And, we’ve had our stumbles, we’ve had our obstacles we’ve had to overcome and we just find ways. So, that’s how we’ll do this. We’ll just take a step back after the camp. We’ll sit down. We’ll talk about what’s out there. We’ll talk about what they want to do and then we’ll make a decision.”
The Chiefs wrapped up training camp on Thursday. As the players left the field and the fans made their way to the parking lot and on their way home, workers began the task of disassembling the camp.
Looney says an NFL training camp breaks down into two areas: the public side which the fans see and the football side which the Chiefs value. Looney says he’s proud of the product the university provides the Chiefs.
“Our goal is to give them a competitive training environment that prepares them to win a championship, because at the end of the day they wouldn’t keep coming back to Missouri Western if they felt it didn’t offer them a competitive advantage,” Looney says. “I tell you, this year, our 10th camp, it was obviously record setting on the fan side, but was as smooth of an operation that we’ve had on the football operation side.”
Huge crowds turned out for the training camp this year, record breaking crowds with one weekend setting a record only to be surpassed by the next week. A record weekday crowd of 6,500 attended a Wednesday morning practice, in the rain. But, of course, that was the day quarterbacks, including NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, was scheduled to sign autographs.
Looney says the 10-year run at Missouri Western ended strong and he feels good about the chances the Chiefs will return.
“From a Missouri Western perspective, we feel we’re in a great, strong position and obviously the Chiefs are going to do their due diligence in seeing what’s out there, but will other communities bid, well, sure. Why wouldn’t they? This is a franchise that is in a Super Bowl window right now.”
WABAUNSEE COUNTY— Thursday’s summer storm brought heavy rain, hail strong winds and a couple of tornadoes.
Strong winds sent these trees down on a home photo by Russel Lierz courtesy Nemaha County Emergency Management
The tornadoes were reported in rural western Wabaunsee County and near Lake Wabaunsee. A funnel cloud was also north of the interstate, in Riley County and it came into Geary County, stayed aloft and moved on farther to the south toward the Wabaunsee County community of Eskridge, according to Geary County Emergence Management Director Garry Berges.
There are no reports of damage or injury in Wabaunsee County, according to the sheriff’s office. Minor street flooding was reported in Riley County and some areas lost electricity but no damage or injuries, according to the Riley County Police Department. Other than some tree limbs down, there was no damage reported in Pottawatomie County, according to the sheriff’s department.
The storm produced 1.5 inch diameter hail in Leonardville and at one point dime sized hail in Manhattan.
TOPEKA – The Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Lee Norman, MD, MHS, MBA, has been selected to serve on the Defense Health Board.
“Secretary Norman will be an integral addition to this board,” said Gov. Laura Kelly. “As a public health advocate and honored service member, he will represent Kansas and Public Health brilliantly.”
The Defense Board is a federal advisory committee that provides independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Defense about healthcare policy and research as well as injury and disease prevention and treatment. It is the mission of the Board to help the U.S. Defense Secretary maximize the health, safety and effectiveness of the U.S. Armed forces service members.
“I am very honored to be asked to serve in this capacity,” Secretary Norman said. “I have spent most of my career working in public health and this appointment is an honor.”
In addition to his role with KDHE, Norman is a lieutenant colonel in the Kansas Army National Guard and the State Surgeon of Kansas. He has served as a U.S. Air Force senior medical officer, flight surgeon and combat medicine instructor. Norman was appointed as KDHE Secretary by Gov.Kelly on January 7 and unanimously confirmed by the Kansas legislature on March 14, 2019.
Bradley Aue had been charged with second-degree murder in the May 2018 death of 26-year-old Sierra Craft-McGee in Wellington.
A Sumner County jury on Wednesday found Aue guilty of the lesser charge.
Prosecutors allege Aue hit Craft-McGee several times and pushed her into a window, severing an artery and causing cuts throughout her body. He also didn’t obtain timely medical attention for the victim.
Aue photo Sumner Co.
Emergency responders were unable to revive Craft-McGee, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A former Lawrence police officer has been sentenced to 12 months of probation for threatening another driver with a gun on a suburban Kansas City highway in a case of road rage.
Holtzman photo Johnson Co.
Jeffrey Brian Holtzman, 35, faces up to five months in prison if he violates the terms of the probation under the sentence imposed Thursday in Johnson County District Court.
He initially was charged with aggravated assault but pleaded guilty in June to a reduced charge of criminal threat. The victim told police that he was driving on Interstate 435 near Interstate 35 in October 2018 when Holtzman pulled alongside him and pointed a handgun at him. It wasn’t clear what prompted the incident.
Holtzman resigned from the Lawrence Police Department the following month.
LINCOLN COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 1p.m. Thursday in Lincoln County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Mack semi driven by Gerald W. Lang, 59, Nevada, ID., was southbound on Kansas 14 11 miles north of Lincoln.
The truck left the roadway to the right. The driver overcorrected back on to the roadway and the truck rolled coming to rest facing east across both lanes of traffic.
EMS transported Lang to the Lincoln County Hospital where he died. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
RILEY COUNTY—A Kansas teen was sentenced Monday in Riley County for attempted rape, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery and marijuana possession.
Baggett photo Geary Co.
The judge sentenced Tommie Baggett, 19, Manhattan, to a total of 228 months, according the Riley County Attorney’s office.
In June of 2018, police arrested Baggett at a residence in the 1400 Block of Hartman Place in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police on requested charges that include rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated battery that included a weapon, and aggravated burglary.
In April 2018, police arrested Baggett on requested charges of rape, aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated burglary involving a weapon, according to the Riley County Police Department booking report.
In January 2018, police arrested Baggett for the alleged sale of depressants, contributing to a child’s misconduct and felony possession of paraphernalia with intent to manufacture a controlled substance.
The judge order the time in prison to be served consecutively, according to the Riley County Attorney.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A man who walked into a Missouri Walmart wearing body armor and carrying loaded weapons acknowledges the timing was bad but said he didn’t intend to hurt anyone and doesn’t regret his actions.
Dmitriy Andreychenko photo Greene Co.
Dmitriy Andreychenko, 20, is charged with making a terrorist threat after the Aug. 8 incident at a Walmart in Springfield. He filmed himself walking through the store with the weapons, prompting shoppers and employees to flee.
No shots were fired before off-duty firefighter held Andreychenko at gunpoint until police arrived and arrested him. Andreychenko said in a probable cause statement that he was testing whether Walmart would protect his right to openly carry weapons.
The incident came just days after 22 people were killed during an attack at another Walmart in El Paso, Texas.
Andreychenko, who is free on bond and facing a felony charge of making a terrorist threat, told KYTV he never intended to hurt anyone and was surprised by the reaction.
“It was foolish, I didn’t give it thought. It was so innocent that I didn’t even think this would happen,” he said.
Suspect in the incident at the Springfield Walmart photo courtesy KYTV
Andreychenko said he talked to a Walmart manager before he arrived at the store and was told he was allowed to openly carry a weapon in the store.
Since January 2017, Missouri has not required a permit to openly or conceal carry a firearm for those 19 years or older.
Walmart said in a statement that it allows concealed and open carry in stores if it is legal in the jurisdictions where the stores are located. Customers who are uncomfortable should contact a manager, the statement said.
In an earlier statement, Walmart called the incident “a reckless act designed to scare people, disrupt our business and it put our associates and customers at risk” and said Andreychenko is no longer welcomed in its stores.
Andreychenko said the rifle was holstered and he didn’t touch it after putting it on. He contended shoppers didn’t seemed shocked or panicked until a store employee pulled a fire alarm.
Andreychenko said he always carries a gun, vest and ammunition in his car for protection and because he frequently practices shooting at a range.
“I just want people to know there was no evil to what I did. This was not a hate inspired act. This was purely innocent — the timing was just so off,” he said. “I would never want to hurt anyone. I pray to God that everything works out.”
A spokeswoman for the Springfield police department said police and city officials would not comment because the incident is still being investigated.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a 2-year-old boy and have made an arrest.
Compass photo Sedgwick Co.
Just before 10a.m. May 31, officers responded to an assist EMS call at the Sunset Motel in the 2300 block of south Broadway, regarding 2-year-old Zayden Jaynesahkluah not breathing, according to officer Charley Davidson. First responders pronounced him dead on the scene.
Investigators recently received information from the Regional Forensic Science Center, which led to the arrest of the boy’s mother 23-year-old Kimberly Compass of Wichita, according to Davidson.
Police booked her into the Sedgwick County Jail just before noon Thursday on a requested charge of first-degree murder, according to online jail records.
The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a 2-year-old boy and have made an arrest.
Just before 10a.m. May 31, officers responded to an assist EMS call at the Sunset Motel in the 2300 block of south Broadway, regarding 2-year-old Zayden Jaynesahkluah not breathing, according to officer Charley Davidson. First responders pronounced him dead on the scene.
Investigators recently received information from the Regional Forensic Science Center, which led to the arrest of the boy’s mother 23-year-old Kimberly Compass of Wichita, according to Davidson.
Police booked her into the Sedgwick County Jail just before noon Thursday, according to online jail records. They have not released details on charges or bond amount.
The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
A federal judge is holding the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas in contempt in connection with a burgeoning scandal involving recordings of confidential conversations between criminal defendants and their attorneys at a federal detention center in Leavenworth, Kansas.
The entrance to Leavenworth Detention Center, In Leavenworth, Kansas. The prison has been the center of a raging controversy over video- and audio-taping of attorney-client meetings. photo by DAN MARGOLIES
More than 100 people charged with or convicted of federal crimes could have their cases dropped or prison sentences reduced based on their claims of prosecutorial misconduct and violations of the attorney-client privilege.
In a 188-page ruling issued Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson wrote that the U.S. Attorney’s Office disobeyed her previous orders to preserve documents and recordings as part of an investigation into the recordings.
“The elements necessary for a finding of contempt are clearly met,” Robinson concluded. “The (U.S. Attorney’s Office) had knowledge of the… orders yet disobeyed them.”
The detention center is run by CoreCivic (formerly Corrections Corporation of America), one of the country’s largest private prison companies. Defense attorneys and the Federal Public Defender’s Office have alleged CoreCivic made video and audio recordings — which they say should have been protected by the Sixth Amendment — available to federal prosecutors.
The federal government has tried to pin the blame on two “rogue” prosecutors, Robinson wrote. But she says there’s evidence the U.S. Attorney’s Office had a “systematic practice of purposeful collection, retention and exploitation of calls” made between detainees and their attorneys.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office at first denied it had accessed any of the recordings. Later it said prosecutors had only accessed some. And throughout the proceedings, the office has denied it ever violated the Sixth Amendment.
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not immediately wish to comment on the ruling.
As punishment for the contempt finding, the U.S. Department of Justice will be forced to pay costs incurred by the office of Federal Public Defender Melody Brannon while litigating the case over the past three years. Those costs have yet to be determined. Brannon declined to comment for this story.
Robinson, herself a former prosecutor in the troubled U.S. Attorney’s Office, also agreed to hear petitions for a writ of habeas corpus filed by the 110 — and counting — prisoners who claim their Sixth Amendment rights were violated.
‘Commingled’
Robinson’s ruling was issued in a criminal case that stems from a 2016 indictment as part of an investigation into alleged drug and contraband trafficking at the Leavenworth Detention Center.
Six people were initially indicted, but prosecutors have said they suspect more than 150 people inside and outside the facility were involved.
As part of their investigation, prosecutors issued a grand jury subpoena to obtain voluminous recordings from more than 100 video cameras inside the facility. They also obtained more than 48,000 phone calls made by prisoners.
While a more targeted request may have been legitimate, the judge said, prosecutors knew that they would be given recordings from cameras in five out of the facility’s nine rooms designated for attorney-client meetings.
And while the U.S. Attorney’s Office has said it only received attorney-client phone calls because they were “commingled” with other calls, the judge again said prosecutors should have known some of the calls would involve attorneys, and the government did not take steps to protect them.
Robinson estimated more than 700 attorney-client visits were recorded inside the facility. The videos do not include audio of the meetings, but Robinson wrote that the recordings can still be valuable to prosecutors.
For example, in one specific case, Robinson wrote that prosecutors “valued knowing whether there was a document exchange between” between a client and his attorney.
Other information, such as knowing whether a defendant is angry, talking to their attorney through an interpreter, or talking to their attorney at all, could be valuable clues for prosecutors engaged in plea negotiations or pre-trial strategy, the judge noted.
‘Misled’
The government has also claimed the inmates should have known their calls were being recorded, but Robinson rejected that claim.
The phones, operated by a third party for CoreCivic, included a warning at the start of every phone call that calls may be recorded or monitored.
The company had a “privatization” process whereby attorneys could file paperwork to have phone calls made to them excluded from recordings.
But CoreCivic “misled” detainees about the process, the judge said, and the company sometimes recorded attorney-client phone calls even after attorneys had completed the process to privatize their phone calls.
“Detainees and defense attorneys were provided with incorrect, misleading, and inconsistent information about how to accomplish a confidential phone call at (the facility),” Robinson wrote. “Scores of defense counsel who testified or submitted affidavits in this case stated that they were unaware that their conversations… were being recorded.”
In total, more than 1,000 phone calls between public defenders and their clients were recorded.
‘Triage’
The Federal Public Defender’s Office had asked that more than 100 defendants whose attorney-client communications were breached be dismissed. Alternatively, the office asked for a 50% reduction in sentences for all affected clients.
Robinson, however, wrote that she “reluctantly agrees” with the government’s claim that she shouldn’t make a blanket ruling on Sixth Amendment violations that covers every case.
Instead, the judge plans to “triage” the cases.
She will consolidate them for the purposes of discovery, so the Federal Public Defender’s Office can seek more documents and records from prosecutors. Then Robinson will issue rulings on a case-by-case basis.
At least one person has already been released from prison in connection with recordings at the Leavenworth facility. Michelle Reulet, of Montgomery, Texas, was freed last year after being sentenced in 2017 to five years in prison for mail fraud.
Former Kansas Solicitor General Stephen McAllister, who was appointed to head the office in January 2018, previously indicated he was willing to work out an agreement to reduce the sentences of inmates whose communications with their attorneys were recorded. Two months later, however, McAllister’s boss at the Justice Department, then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, nixed the proposal, saying that blanket reductions of inmates’ sentences were out of the question.
Chris Haxel is a reporter in conjunction with the Kansas News Service. Email him at [email protected], and follow him on Twitter @ChrisHaxel.
