WICHITA (AP) — Federal prosecutors have charged a southeast Kansas woman with defrauding the city of Havana, Kan., and a church in Caney.

A criminal information filed Monday in U.S. District Court charges Havana city clerk Diana Cox with bank fraud and wire fraud.

Calls to Cox’s home were unanswered, and court records showed no attorney.

Prosecutors say that, as city clerk, Cox went to Arvest Bank in Caney with a document purporting to be City Council minutes stating that only one signature was required on the city’s checks.

Acting on the document, the bank allowed nearly $15,000 worth of city checks made out to Cox to be cashed or deposited into her personal account.

Prosecutors also charged Cox with defrauding Cross Point Baptist Church in Caney of more than $44,000.

NEW YORK (AP) — Pizza Hut plans to start offering pizza by the slice for the first time in two test locations this week, as the chain looks to keep pace with trendy competitors offering quick, made-to-order pies.

The chain says the two locations — one in York, Neb. and Pawtucket, R.I. — will open Tuesday.

A slice will cost between $2 and $3 and take 3 to 4 minutes to heat up. They’ll be made with new recipes more in line with the thinner pies sold in the Northeast.

The tests reflect how established restaurant chains are scrambling to reinvent themselves to keep pace with a rapidly changing industry. The challenge: figuring out how to serve food quickly, while also improving perceptions about their food.

TOPEKA — Kansas will host the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Thursday in the rotunda of the Kansas State Capitol building.

This year’s event will begin with a ceremonial march starting at 11:45 a.m. from the Kansas Judicial Center to the capitol. The keynote address will be delivered by Ron Freeman, former Pittsburg State University football player and inspirational speaker.

Gov. Sam Brownback will welcome participants and sign a proclamation. Kansas State Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau also will speak. Kansas African-American Affairs Commission Chair Chiquita Coggs will serve as mistress of ceremonies.

The annual celebration also will feature Topeka Highland Park ROTC; Topeka High School Drumline, Topeka Community Mass Choir; and Dr. Tony Stanley of Harvest Church West Branch. A coffee reception prior to the march will be held in the lobby of the Judicial Center beginning at 11 a.m. A reception sponsored by the Kansas Volunteer Commission will follow.

MANHATTAN – Visitors can extend football season into the winter and spring of 2014 by experiencing “Football,” a traveling exhibit developed by the Museum of Discovery. The exhibit opens Saturday at Flint Hills Discovery Center.

The 3,000-square-foot exhibition introduces visitors to the science, mathematics and technology behind the game and how they relate to everyday life. The interactive exhibition provides hands-on learning, covering a wide array of science topics through football-themed areas such as Forward Pass and Game at the Line of Scrimmage.

“The game of football is a uniquely American sport that millions of Americans have embraced and participated in for more than a century,” said Fred Goss, FHDC director. “The ‘Football’ exhibition at FHDC provides a unique view of the sport with the visitor gaining a greater understanding of the game in a way not seen from the stadium seat or living room.”

Fore more information, visit www.flinthillsdiscovery.org.

LAWRENCE (AP) — A Lawrence man accused of secretly videotaping people in clothing store dressing rooms pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Thirty-five-year-old Orion M. Graf waived his right to a preliminary hearing Monday and entered the plea to 10 counts of felony breach of privacy. His trial date was set for May 14.

Authorities allege that the crimes occurred between November 2012 and February 2013. They have refused to name the stores involved.

The Lawrence Journal-World reported Graf was a 35-year-old University of Kansas graduate student when he was first arrested last February. He was arrested again in July after detectives searched several Lawrence stores.

TOPEKA — The Senate Judiciary Committee this week will have a hearing to discuss the future of capital punishment in Kansas.

The bill, SB 126, would abolish the death penalty for any crimes committed after July 1, 2013. The4 bill also would repeal the capital murder statute and create the new crime of aggravated murder. Offenders convicted of aggravated murder would not be eligible for parole.

The hearing will be at the Capitol, Room 346-S, in Topeka at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. The hearing is open to the public.

Monday 8:30 a.m.  (AP) — A fast-moving grass fire apparently caused by a downed power line burned hundreds of acres and damaged at least two structures but caused no serious injuries.

Galena fire Chief Bill Hall says about 600 acres were damaged by Sunday’s fire, which was fueled by high winds. Firefighters from seven area towns responded to help Galena fight the blaze.

Two garages used for storage were damaged but the fire didn’t hit any homes.

Julie Maus, spokeswoman for Empire District Electric Co., says high winds took down a transmission line north of Galena, causing a brief power outage for about 900 customers. Other utility poles were damaged.

The National Weather Service says fire danger in the region would remain above normal for most of the week.

 

 

 

Sunday4 p.m.  p.m. GALENA (AP) — A swift grass fire in southeast Kansas has burned several acres and damaged structures. No injuries have been reported.

The Joplin Globe said the fire north of Galena was reported Sunday.

Firefighters from Galena, Columbus, Baxter Springs and two towns in southwest Missouri have been assisting.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the region until later Sunday evening because of high winds with gusts up to 50 mph combined with low humidity.

Kansas Department of Agriculture

TOPEKA — Kansas’ reputation for producing a safe, wholesome, affordable food supply is well known not only in the United States but also around the world. With more than 95 percent of all consumers living outside the borders of the United States, chances are a steak processed in Garden City, flour milled in Stafford County, ethanol distilled in Garnett, salsa made in Kansas City or a host of other Kansas agricultural products have made their way to destinations including Canada, Mexico, Germany, Nigeria, Russia and countless others.

Data for 2013 is not yet available, but 2012 was a good year for Kansas agricultural exports. Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses sold more than $4.0 billion worth of agricultural products to foreign customers. Meat, primarily beef, continued to be the category leader generating just over $1.0 billion in annual revenue – a five percent increase from 2011. Cereal grains were next with just over $1.0 billion in annual sales for 2012.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Advocacy, Marketing and Outreach Team serves Kansas companies to develop strong business plans for the future and build relationships for potential customers both domestically and internationally. The department partners with Food Export-Midwest, U.S. Livestock Genetics Export Inc., and other trade and commodity organizations to provide international trade opportunities for Kansas farms, ranches and agribusinesses.

Looking ahead through 2014 are more opportunities for Kansas farms, ranches and agribusinesses to either begin exporting or to expand their current export markets. Participating in KDA-sponsored focused trade missions and buyers’ missions, are just two of the many opportunities available. Several buyers’ missions take place domestically and are often held in conjunction with various food and agricultural trade shows. These venues enable companies to meet one-on-one with prospective buyers from around the world.

Click here, for more information, including the 2014 activity calendar, about the efforts of the KDA Agricultural Advocacy, Marketing and Outreach team to promote Kansas agriculture in overseas markets and learn how you can take part.

TOPEKA (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union says an official email sent by a Kansas Corporation Commission employee discussing his religious beliefs may have opened the KCC to legal liability.

Jared Bowes, a KCC media specialist, tried to put a veiled reference to Jesus into the commission’s December newsletter, but it was edited out. Bowes then used his state-issued email address to send a message to his colleagues saying “King Jesus” is “the reason for the season.”

Doug Bonney, legal director for the ACLU Foundation of Kansas, says while state employees have free speech rights, problems arise when religious statements are made using the state email system.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports KCC spokesman Jesse Borjon declined comment.

WICHITA (AP) — The Kansas Department of Agriculture says it will take over food inspections in Sedgwick County rather than renew its present contract with the City of Wichita as a cost-saving move.

Its present contract with the city expires March 31, and state inspectors will take over the work on April 1.

The Agriculture Department says doing its own food inspections is projected to save $125,000 the first year, and $190,000 the second year and the years beyond that. It plans to hire six state inspectors to handle the work.

Wichita City Manager Robert Layton says the city was recently notified of the decision. He says the state did not cite any deficiency in the city’s program or offer an opportunity to pursue program options.

Sedgwick County has 2,050 food establishments.

WICHITA (AP) — The operator of Wichita Greyhound Park says he plans to try again to get legislation passed to allow slot machines at the park.

Phil Ruffin closed the Wichita Greyhound Park in 2007, but he wants to add slots at the park so he can reopen it.

The Wichita Eagle reported Ruffin shut the park down after voters rejected a ballot measure to allow slot machines at the track. He has since tried without success to lobby the Legislature to allow another election.

Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, a Republican from Grinnell and chairman of the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, said he doesn’t see such a bill succeeding this year.

GARDEN CITY (AP) — Two Garden City residents have been killed in a single-vehicle crash in western Kansas.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says 46-year-old Terry G. Fraker and 48-year-old Vonda Sue Fraker died in the accident Saturday. The patrol says the accident occurred about two miles west of Garden City when the vehicle they were in ran off a roadway and flipped.

Both victims were thrown from the vehicle.

TOPEKA (AP) — Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer loaned $500,000 to Gov. Sam Brownback’s re-election campaign at the end of 2013.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported financial disclosure reports submitted to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission by the Brownback campaign revealed the last-minute loan from Colyer, Brownback’s Republican running-mate and a graduate of Thomas More Prep-Marian High School in Hays. The contribution pushed the governor’s total receipts for the year to $1.6 million.

Brownback’s Democratic challenger Paul Davis had $1 million in total receipts for the year.

Brownback campaign spokesman David Kensinger says the inflow of money to the governor’s campaign is an insurmountable obstacle for any challenger.

Davis campaign treasurer William Kassebaum says the Democrat’s ability to attract money in the four months since declaring his candidacy shows Brownback’s vulnerability.
Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com