McPHERSON — Police have identified the man found dead early Thursday morning in McPherson as Ernest Charles Miller, 26.

McPherson Police said an autopsy was conducted Friday in Wichita, and the cause of death was determined to be asphyxia and blunt trauma. The manner of death was not specified, and toxicology reports have not been received.

Police also recovered a 2010 Ford Focus being sought in conjunction with the investigation. The vehicle was found in a storage shed in McPherson, although the exact location and how it is connected to the case has yet to be made public.

The case remains under investigation and has not been classified as a homicide.

Anyone with information regarding case is asked to contact the McPherson Police Department at (620) 245-1200 or CrimeStoppers at (620) 241-1122.

Salina Post

SALINA — Few details have been released concerning a shooting in Salina late Thursday night.

Salina Police Department Capt. Sean Morton said officers were sent to the emergency room at Salina Regional Health Center just after 11 p.m. after a man was brought in with a gunshot wound.

He said the man was rushed into surgery, but he did not know the condition of the man.

Morton said police have an idea where the shooting occurred but would not release any further details until investigators have had more time to work the case.

Kansas Corporation Commission

Topeka – The Kansas Cold Weather Rule ends Monday, March 31, and Kansans who are delinquent on electric and natural gas utility bills will be subject to disconnection of service. The rule, in effect November 1 through March 31 each year, provides protection to residential customers who cannot fully pay winter utility bills from companies under the Kansas Corporation Commission’s (KCC) jurisdiction. That protection ends Monday.

The KCC would like to remind Kansas customers there is still time to contact your utility company to set up a payment plan, but cautions that failure to make arrangements or failure to adhere to an already established payment plan could result in service disconnection. Reconnection may require payment in full.

The Cold Weather Rule requires utilities to set up 12-month payment plans for customers who cannot afford to pay their full bill. As part of this arrangement, the customer must make an initial payment of 1/12 of the overdue amount, 1/12 of the bill for current service, the full amount of any disconnection or reconnection fees, plus any applicable deposit owed to the utility. The balance will be billed in equal payments over the next 11 months in addition to the regular monthly bill.

The KCC adopted the Cold Weather Rule to protect customers during cold winter weather by providing a reasonable and organized method of paying past due and current bills. The Cold Weather Rule applies only to residential customers of electric and natural gas utility companies under the KCC’s jurisdiction. For a complete list of utilities regulated by the KCC visit: kcc.ks.gov/pi/jurisdictional_utilities.htm.

More information about the Cold Weather Rule is available at: kcc.ks.gov/pi/cwr_english.htm. Kansans may also contact their local utility company or the KCC’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at (800) 662-0027.

Fred Gough, Hutch Post

8:45 p.m. Police in McPherson have reported the vehicle they were looking for has been located. No other information has been released.  We will post details when they become available.

7:40 p.m. McPHERSON–Police are looking for a car and clues after a man was found dead outside a storage shed in the 400 Block of West Woodside in McPherson.

Police have not said how the man died but consider the death suspicious. The body was found along a busy street just a few blocks from the McPherson Law Enforcement Center.

McPherson police are searching for a 2010 charcoal-gray Ford Focus with the Kansas plate 938-CAN. Investigators did not say why they were looking for the car.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

3 p.m. McPHERSON — McPherson Police are investigating a possible homicide. Shortly before 7:30 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a report of a suspicious item in the 400 block of West Woodside.

Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of an unidentified white male between the ages of 20 and 30.

The death is being treated as suspicious, and the investigation is ongoing. The identity of the individual and cause of death have not been made availabe.

Anyone with information pertaining this incident should contact the McPherson Police Department at (620) 245-1200 or Crime Stoppers of McPherson County at (620) 241-1122.

TOPEKA (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is criticizing the federal government’s decision to place the lesser prairie chicken on a list of threatened species.

Brownback on Thursday called the decision an overreach. He said in a statement that he’s concerned that the decision will hurt the Kansas economy.

Brownback said his administration is looking at possible responses. Spokeswoman Sara Belfry said a lawsuit is among the options under consideration.

The decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could affect oil and gas drilling, wind farms and other activities in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico.

The Kansas Senate last month approved a bill declaring that Kansas has sole control over managing the state’s prairie chicken population and its habitat. The measure is pending in the House.

Kansas Corporation Commission

TOPEKA — The Kansas Cold Weather Rule ends on March 31, and Kansans who are delinquent on electric and natural gas utility bills will be subject to disconnection of service. The rule, in effect November 1 through March 31 each year, provides protection to residential customers who cannot fully pay winter utility bills from companies under the Kansas Corporation Commission’s jurisdiction. That protection ends Monday.

The KCC would like to remind Kansas customers there is still time to contact your utility company to set up a payment plan, but cautions that failure to make arrangements or failure to adhere to an already established payment plan could result in service disconnection. Reconnection may require payment in full.

The Cold Weather Rule requires utilities to set up 12-month payment plans for customers who cannot afford to pay their full bill. As part of this arrangement, the customer must make an initial payment of 1/12 of the overdue amount, 1/12 of the bill for current service, the full amount of any disconnection or reconnection fees, plus any applicable deposit owed to the utility. The balance will be billed in equal payments over the next 11 months in addition to the regular monthly bill.

The KCC adopted the Cold Weather Rule to protect customers during cold winter weather by providing a reasonable and organized method of paying past due and current bills. The Cold Weather Rule applies only to residential customers of electric and natural gas utility companies under the KCC’s jurisdiction. For a complete list of utilities regulated by the KCC visit: kcc.ks.gov/pi/jurisdictional_utilities.htm.

More information about the Cold Weather Rule is available at kcc.ks.gov/pi/cwr_english.htm.

Kansas Department of Transportation

TOPEKA — Kansas Secretary of Transportation Mike King has announced members of the newly-formed Kansas Freight Advisory Committee.

During the Kansas Transportation Summit last fall in Emporia, participants said that to better serve the economy, the Kansas Department of Transportation needed a better understanding of the demands of expanding freight within the state. The department committed at that time to form an in-depth exploratory committee to ensure that multimodal freight needs are addressed in the planning, investment and operation of the Kansas transportation system.

“This committee will provide input to me,” Secretary Mike King said. “As well as advising and assisting with identifying freight transportation issues, the committee will help us prioritize highway and rail freight corridors of significance and identify multimodal freight infrastructure needs.”

Members of the committee include Tom Whitaker, Kansas Motor Carriers Association; French Thompson, BNSF Railway; Ben Jones, Union Pacific Railroad; Rick Webb, WATCO Companies; Mike Kelley, YRC Worldwide; John Prather, Groendyke Transport; Kimberly Bonhart, UPS; Tom Allen, Cargill; Joe Goodwin, Seaboard Farms; Joe Pimple, Sauder Fabrication; Dwight Keen, Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association; Scott Ball, MV Purchasing; Coby Sedlacek, Landoll Corporation; Patrick Robinson, NorthPoint Development; Tom Tunnell, Kansas Grain and Feed Association; Aaron Popelka, Kansas Livestock Association; Jason Hammes, Frito Lay; Jason Ball, Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce; Robert Hoback, Ryan Transportation Services; Ron Achelpohl, Mid-America Regional Council; Gloria Jeff, Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization; Chris Gutierrez, KC SmartPort; Mike Moore, Murphy Tractor; George Eakin, Osborne Industries; Carolyn Dunn, Stafford County Economic Development; Mike Bowen, Federal Highway Administration.

State Representatives Melanie Meier and Bud Estes and State Senators Pat Apple and Garrett Love will have seats on the committee. State agencies participating in the discussion include KDOT, the Kansas Turnpike Authority, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Department of Commerce, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the Kansas Department of Revenue and the Kansas Corporation Commission.

There will be four meetings of the committee, the first April 2 in Topeka at the Ramada Inn and Convention Center. Other meetings are scheduled for May 21 in Salina, July 9 in Wichita and Aug. 20 in Overland Park. The meeting locations are ADA accessible. Persons in need of a sign language interpreter, an assistive listening device, large print or Braille material, or other accommodation to participate in this meeting should notify Tammy Torrez at [email protected] or (785) 296-2153 (Voice)/Hearing Impaired – 711.

TOPEKA – The start of spring is here. But for many families, paying winter heating bills is still a lingering concern. The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is still accepting applications for its Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). The deadline to apply is March 31.

“This was a bitterly cold winter and many families are still feeling the financial burden from heating costs,” DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore said in a news release today. “LIEAP can offer help to families in need.”

LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating bills. Persons with disabilities, older adults and families with children are the primary groups assisted. An average benefit of $454 will benefit the 47,871 households that have applied so far this year.

To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills. Income eligibility requirements are set at 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel, and utility rates.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have made payments on their heating bill two out of the last three months. Those payments must be equal to or exceed $80 or the total balance due on their energy bills, whichever is less.

Applications for the program have been mailed to households that received energy assistance last year. LIEAP applications are also available at local DCF offices and through partnering agencies. They can be requested by calling 1-800-432-0043. To apply online, visit www.dcf.ks.gov.

MANHATTAN — Now that the 2014 Kansas wheat crop is breaking dormancy, achieving top yields is on the minds of wheat farmers. With Mother Nature’s help, your best management practices could be just the ticket to earn you a quick $1,000 in cash, if you enter the Kansas Wheat Yield Contest.

Now in its fifth year, the contest includes three regions: Region 1 (Western Kansas), Region 2 (Central Kansas) and Region 3 (Eastern Kansas). Producers achieving the top yield in each region receive a $1,000 cash prize and plaque from Kansas Wheat and corporate co-sponsor, BASF.

Yield Contest sponsors also offer additional cash awards. Winners who use an AgriPro, WestBred, Plains Gold, LimaGrain or Kansas Wheat Alliance variety will receive an additional $500 cash prize from those companies, respectively.

For the fourth year in a row, contest entrants will be eligible to participate in the Quality Initiative of the Wheat Yield Contest. Each contest participant will be asked to submit a 5-pound sample of wheat from the contest field. The sample will be evaluated for quality components such as test weight, protein content, variety and kernel quality. Top scoring samples will undergo further testing at ADM Milling’s Quality Laboratory in Kansas City. The sample with the top quality score will receive $250 in cash.

Western Region winner Chuck Downey cinched both the region award and the Qualitive Initiative in the 2013 contest. Using the Syngenta variety SY Wolf and with less than five inches of rain during the wheat growing season, Downey yielded 70.05 bushels per acre to win the contest.

The May 1 deadline is approaching quickly, so be sure to enter the contest soon.

Folks who enter the contest will be asked to share management information about their farm, including details about tillage and agronomic practices, crop protection products usage and more. A third party verifier will be employed at harvest to ensure the integrity of the contest.

Wheat farmers who are 18 years or older from throughout Kansas are eligible to participate by enrolling a plot at least five acres in size. The fee is $50 per entry. Producers may enter more than once, but each entry must be submitted on a separate entry form. Kansas Wheat directors, employees and spouses are prohibited from entering the contest. Contestants must use certified seed. The contest is open only to dryland fields planted to certified Hard Winter wheat.

Contest winners will receive their awards at the 2014 Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.

For those who are interested in accepting the challenge, more details about the 2014 Kansas Wheat Yield Contest can be found online at www.kswheat.com, by requesting an information packet via e-mail at [email protected], or by writing to Kansas Wheat, 1990 Kimball Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man wanted in Kansas and Oklahoma is likely wishing he had decided to eat in this weekend.

Virgil Tillman was eating at a restaurant on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City Sunday when a U.S. Marshal who had been looking for him since February decided to go to the same restaurant.

Tillman is wanted in Kansas on firearms, theft and drug charges. Oklahoma officials say he failed to appear in court on drug and illegal weapons charges.

Matt Cahill, acting deputy U.S. Marshal in Kansas, says the deputy was off-duty when he spotted Tillman at the restaurant. He waited outside with Kansas City police and arrested Tillman as he left.

The Kansas City Star reported the deputy then went into the restaurant and had his meal.

Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON — A Reno County jury Wednesday found Henry “Harley” Davidson, 38, Hutchinson, guilty of attempted rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated criminal sodomy. The state originally had charged Davidson with rape, however, the jury opted for the attempted rape count.

The jury got the case after a total of five witnesses for both sides took the stand. They reached a verdict after nearly three hours of deliberations.

The crime involved the 10-year-old daughter of a Hutchinson woman with whom he was living. The sexual abuse occurred between October 2010 and September 2012.

The victim said she was tied up with string when the encounters occurred — as often as once a week. The child, now 11, also said Davidson he took a picture of her with his cellphone. The state presented the photo of the child found on the phone during the trial.

The charges fall under Jessica’s Law, meaning Davidson could be sentenced to multiple counts of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Sentencing has been set for April 11.

By HEATHER NELSON
KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA — The House preliminarily passed the Student Data Privacy Act, which limits what information from a student’s record can be disclosed. The vote passed 119-4.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously earlier this month but the bill will return to the Senate because of a few changes.

“With this bill we’re creating a higher standard than what is currently in place within the federal guidelines, and it’s a good step in the right direction, ” said Amanda Grosserode, R-Lenexa.

During the floor debate, Rep. Allan Rothlisberg, R-Grandview, offered two amendments to the bill: One that requires K-12 students to show proof of citizenship at enrollment; and the removal of longitudinal data reporting.

Rothlisberg said the ultimate goal was to get a head count, especially for funding. Rep. Louis Ruiz, D-Kansas City, disagreed with Rothlisberg’s terms and amendments, which caused a short immigration debate.

“Compiling data is one thing, but making it personal and being vindictive and hateful is another thing,” Ruiz said.

Both amendments failed to pass.

Senate Bill 367 limits access to student data to legal guardians and authorized personnel. Student data is information found on a student’s educational record, which can include date of birth and other demographic data.

The bill allows for student data to be shared with authorized personnel of the school district, state board, and legal guardians. Data can also be shared with state and educational agencies that share an agreement with schools.

Only aggregate data that does not identify students will be disclosed to third parties.  Individual data will only be shared with parents or guardians.

Amendments to the legislation express that no test or survey will include questions about a student’s or parent’s beliefs or practices on various issues including sex, family life and religion. And in the case of a security breach, a parent or legal guardian will be notified immediately and there would be an investigation of the breach.

Final House action on the bill is expected Thursday.

Heather Nelson is a University of Kansas junior from Omaha, Neb., majoring in journalism.