RENO COUNTY — An earthquake shook South Central Kansas just after 5 a.m. on Tuesday.

The quake measured a magnitude 2.9, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and was centered approximately 2 miles west, southwest of Hutchinson.

There were no reports of damage early Tuesday, according to Officials with the Reno County Emergency Management.

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A 50-year-old woman is charged with killing a Leavenworth man in a case involving domestic violence.

Barbara Marie Frantz, of Kansas City, Kansas, was charged Monday in Leavenworth County with first-degree murder in the killing of 54-year-old Gary Frantz.

Leavenworth police say Gary Frantz was shot several times Friday night in Leavenworth. Police said the case involved domestic violence but did not offer further details.

Barbara Frantz was arrested several hours later in Burlingame, Kansas.

Authorities on Monday said they weren’t sure of the Frantzes’ marital status.

The Kansas City Star reports (https://bit.ly/2jPxm62 ) Barbara Frantz referred to Gary Frantz as her ex-husband in a Facebook post in December. He listed his marital status on Facebook as separated.

By Mac Moore
KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA– The Kansas Lottery agency submitted a budget proposal that projects increased revenue for 2017, assuming Kansas newest casino can survive litigation.

The Kansas Crossing Casino near Pittsburg was scheduled to be completed in June 2016, but the project has been delayed as a lawsuit involving the casino is being heard in the Kansas Supreme Court.

Despite the ongoing litigation, Sherriene Jones-Sontag, Kansas Lottery deputy executive director, said she expects the casino to open in February.

Jones-Sontag said she expects the site to generate revenue similar to the Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City, which generates about $40 million annually.

Mark Dapp, Kansas Legislative Research Department fiscal analyst, said the increase in expected gaming revenue is the reason for increased revenue projections for the next three budget years. The Kansas Lottery agency’s revenue estimates were increased to $372 million for FY 2017, up $23 million from the previous year. The FY 2017 budget reflects three months worth of revenue from Kansas Crossing Casino.

Sen. Dan Goddard (R-Parsons) expects the casino to keep his constituents from visiting casinos in Oklahoma.

“I’m tired of seeing the tour buses pull into our local gas station and load people up and give them a free ride to our friendly neighbors down there,” Goddard said.

The budget also calls for the Kansas Lottery agency to eliminate 10 employee positions that are currently vacant. The net salary for these positions are expected to save $800,000. The agency has 84 employees and the cuts will keep this number static.

Jones-Sontag said the loss of potential positions, such as those in marketing, could potentially affect revenue, but indicated the agency would make due with the cuts.

“We’ll have to work a little harder to grow those sales and meet those goals,” she said.

The Lottery budget estimates remain on the conservative side. Jones-Sontag said the revenue estimates are a three-to-four year average and do not reflect events such as last year’s billion dollar jackpot.

Mac Moore is a University of Kansas senior journalism major from Lawrence.

RENO COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Reno County are investigating a suspect for a shooting and have made an arrest.

Just after 11p.m. on Sunday, Deputies with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a rural area in 5300 Block of north Old Kansas 61 Highway north of Hutchinson for the report of a shooting, according to Captain Steve Lutz, with the Reno County Sheriff’s Department.

When deputies arrived a resident at the scene, Patrick Hill, told them
he had noticed a truck out on the road in front of his house revving its engine.

Hill told deputies he recognized the truck and went outside of his residence to investigate.

When he exited his residence, someone from the truck began shooting. Hill returned fire with his own weapon and the truck sped away.

Although there were three other occupants at the residence in addition to Hill there were no injuries.

With the assistance of the Hutchinson Police Department, deputies arrested Michael Sifuentes, 38, Hutchinson, on the charges of Aggravated Assault, Criminal Threat, and Criminal Discharge of a Firearm at an Occupied Dwelling.

Sifuentes is being held at the Reno County Correctional Facility. Bond is set at $21,500..

WICHITA -A Kansas  man with a previous conviction for sexual abuse was sentenced Monday to 22 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.

Jonathan Curtis McClain, 37, Wichita, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography. In his plea, McClain admitted he previously was convicted of sexual abuse in 1998 in Medford, Ore.

This investigation began when agents of the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations in Tennessee identified McClain’s user profile engaged in chats on the Internet telling other users about his interest in watching child pornography. In March 2016 McClain sent child pornography to an investigator.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A judge has set a joint hearing on the fate of two federal lawsuits in Kansas challenging the state’s proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration.

U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson on Monday granted the unopposed request to consolidate oral arguments on motions seeking partial summary judgment. She set March 3 as the hearing date.

At the crux of the lawsuits is a disputed voter registration law that requires Kansans to provide a document such as a birth certificate, naturalization papers or passport proving they are U.S. citizens.

Robinson will hear arguments from all parties over claims that the state’s requirement unconstitutionally burdens the right to vote and violates the right to travel because it allegedly discriminates against U.S. citizens who come to Kansas from other states.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha woman who sold thousands of worthless airline vouchers has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison.

The Omaha World-Herald reports Patricia Urbanovsky was sentenced Monday.

Federal Judge Joseph Bataillon says the sentence was warranted because of the sophisticated scheme Urbanovsky ran, the number of victims and amount of the loss.

Urbanovsky was the owner of Creative Creations in Omaha. Authorities say she ran a scheme to sell discounted airline travel vouchers, most of which turned out to be worthless.

Urbanovsky pleaded guilty last year to 16 counts of wire fraud. In exchange, federal prosecutors dropped nine counts of money laundering.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A woman who sold thousands of worthless airline vouchers is set to learn whether her plea agreement will be accepted by a federal judge.

Patricia Urbanovsky’s sentencing and restitution hearing is set for Monday in Omaha’s federal court.

Last year, Urbanovsky pleaded guilty to 16 counts of wire fraud. In exchange, federal prosecutors dropped nine counts of money laundering. She faces up to six years in prison. She has asked the court for a sentence of three years, with her attorney, Steve Lefler, saying she “had no intention of stealing from anyone.”

Urbanovsky was the owner of Creative Creations in Omaha. Authorities say she ran a scheme to sell discounted airline travel vouchers, most of which turned out to be worthless.

 

GEARY COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities have sent a Kansas man for mental health treatment following a near critical accident on Interstate 70.

Deputies arrested Tommie Lee Hoskins, Topeka, after he drove the wrong way Interstate 70. The incident temporarily closed a portion of the eastbound highway, according to the Geary County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies were able to apprehend Hoskins before any major accidents occurred.

“There was a small accident that occurred, very minimal damage and the injury that happened because of that accident didn’t even really require medical treatment; Mr. Hoskins was taken to the hospital where it was deemed that he needed to speak with Pawnee Mental Health,” said Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf.

Hoskins was booked on requested charges of Flee or attempt to elude LEO by engaging in reckless driving, Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; misdemeanor, Driving wrong direction on one way road and Failure to yield to emergency vehicle.

Officials at Pawnee Mental Health evaluated Hoskins and recommended that he be sent to Osawatomie State Hospital.  He is there to undergoing psychiatric evaluations and treatment.

TOPEKA-Kansas Governor Sam Brownback today issued this statement on President Trump’s executive order regarding refugee resettlement:

“It has always been my desire for America to be a haven for those facing religious persecution and a refuge for those seeking freedom. But, we are also a sovereign nation, and as Governor of the state, the safety and security of Kansans has been my top priority. That is why I previously issued an executive order barring state resources from being utilized to relocate those from countries compromised by terrorism.

“Now, President Trump is taking action to ensure the integrity of the refugee program, calling for the implementation of thorough and comprehensive vetting, seeking to ensure true refugees are coming to America, while blocking those intent on doing us harm. Unlike the previous administration, President Trump is inviting state and local governments to play a broader role in the refugee resettlement process. This step, along with his prioritization of persecuted religions, indicates his commitment to helping those in need, while keeping America safe.”

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The city of Lawrence says in a court filing that a female police officer told investigators that another officer beat her, chained her inside a dog kennel and choked her until she blacked out.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the city released the information in responding this month to former Officer William Burke’s defamation lawsuit. Burke claimed consensual sex led to his February 2015 arrest. He is seeking $525,000 in damages in the lawsuit filed in September in federal court.

No criminal charges were filed against Burke, who resigned. He remains licensed to work as a police officer in Kansas.

Among the evidence the city says investigators collected are text messages from Burke to the female officer in which he said he’d “never hit a girl before.”

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BARTON COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities in Barton and Ford County are investigating a suspect on kidnapping charges.

On Sunday, the Great Bend Police Department received information indicating that the Dodge City Police Department was searching for a 2005 Crown Victoria that had allegedly been used to facilitate a kidnapping, domestic violence earlier in the day, according to a media release.

The driver of the vehicle was thought to be driven by Ricardo Andres Lima, age 30, who was the suspect in the incident.

Just after 9:30 p.m., officers from the Great Bend Police Department located the vehicle and stopped it in the 2400 block of 10th Street.

Officers were able to take Lima into custody without incident. He was held for authorities from Dodge City.

Officers also found the victim of the alleged kidnapping. She was taken to the Police Department, where she was reunited with family members.

Lima has previous drug convictions in Ford County in 2008.

WICHITA -A Kansas man who held a jewelry store owner at gunpoint pleaded guilty Monday in that incident and a separate bank robbery, according to  U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

Terence L. Thomas, 25, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of brandishing a firearm during the jewelry store incident and one count of bank robbery.

In the jewelry store incident, Thomas admitted he had a knife when he approached the owner of Kim Chee Jewelry at 2038 N. Broadway as the owner and his wife arrived for work.

The owner drew a handgun in self-defense. The two men wrestled and shots were fired before Thomas got the gun. He forced the owner to open the door to the business. When Thomas tried to drag the owner’s wife into the business, she fell to the ground, feigning a heart attack. Thomas fled the scene after the owner locked him out of the business. A witness took photos of Thomas’ car as he fled, which helped police to identify Thomas and arrest him.

In a separate incident a month earlier, Thomas robbed the Fidelity Bank at 3525 E. Harry. He told the teller, “This is a robbery,” and counted down from twenty while the teller put cash in his bag. He fled the bank with the money.

He has previous aggravated robbery convictions in Sedgwick County in 2011.