Judge Thomas Malone is the new chief judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals.

The Kansas Supreme Court announced Tuesday that Malone will replace Chief Judge Richard Greene, who died on Oct. 7.

Malone has been acting chief judge since Greene became ill during the summer.

Malone served on the Court of Appeals since 2003. He practiced law in private practice in Wichita from 1979 through 1990, when he also taught business law courses at Newman University.

He was elected district judge in Sedgwick County in 1990, serving for 12 years before joining the Court of Appeals.

There are 13 members of the Court of Appeals. Applications are being taken to replace Greene. In addition, Judge Christel Marquardt retires in 2013.

A 23-year-old Salina man, who was shot early Monday morning in a disturbance, is now in jail on charges of aggravated battery and aggravated burglary.

Morgan Allred, 22-year-old Armani Ramos and a third person went to a home at 314 S. Ohio early Monday morning where an argument began inside the home, moved outside and Ramos is then alleged to have fired a shot at a woman who was struck in the arm. The bullet then struck Allred in the left thigh.

He was treated at the hospital and then booked into the Saline County Jail on outstanding charges along with the aggravated battery and aggravated burglary charges.

Lt. Scott Siemsen says that Allred could face additional charges along with a third person who was present when the shooting occurred.

Siemsen says the public has been contacting police with tips trying to help law enforcement locate Ramos.

If you have any information concerning the location of Ramos you are asked to contact Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS or 826-7210.

Monday Siemsen said Ramos should be considered armed and dangerous.

By John P. Tretbar ~ St. Joseph Post

Executive bonuses would take up about one fourth of a new rate hike request filed by the largest natural gas distribution company in Kansas.

Kansas Gas Services’ request to increase rates by $32 million a year would include about $8 million in executive bonuses.

The utility says the bonuses allow it to hire the executives whose expertise in running the company is good for shareholders and ratepayers.

But a consumer watch group argues that the bonuses encourage executives to concentrate on profits, rather than efficiency and customer service.

The Kansas Corporation Commission is scheduled to take technical testimony on the rate increase starting Nov. 7 in Topeka.

The commission staff is recommending that the company get a $3.6 million increase. The Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board is recommending a slight cut in the Kansas Gas rates.

A former cross-country truck driver has been found guilty for the second time in the 2000 kidnapping and rape of a Kansas teenager.

A Franklin County jury on Monday convicted 53-year-old Ralph E. Corey of five charges for kidnapping a 16-year-old Ottawa girl as she left work. She was driven to several locations in Ottawa and sexually assaulted.

After Corey was found guilty of the same charges in July, a juror admitted accessing information about the case from a smartphone during the trial. That violated the judge’s instruction, leading to a mistrial.

For the second time in a month, a Kansas City business owner has shot and wounded people breaking into a warehouse he owns.

The Kansas City Star reports the latest incident occurred Sunday morning when the 74-year-old man responded to an alarm at the vacant warehouse. Police say the owner opened fire on two men who were inside, stealing copper.

One suspect was shot in the shoulder and arm, the other in the back. They’re described as an uncle and nephew from Kansas. The man shot in the back was possibly paralyzed.

Police say burglars have struck the building five times in recent months.

The warehouse owner confronted two burglars on the morning of Sept. 25. He shot one suspect in the leg and a second suspect in the abdomen.

Jackson County prosecutors were sorting out possible charges Monday against the suspects in the latest case. No charges are expected for the warehouse owner.

TransCanada has restarted the Keystone oil pipeline that carries about 590,000 barrels of crude oil each day from Canada to facilities in the Midwest.

Oil began flowing again Monday afternoon. Company spokesman Shawn Howard says the system will be operated at a slightly reduced pressure for about 24 hours. Contractual delivery levels will resume in November.

TransCanada had shut down the pipeline Wednesday after tests showed possible safety issues.

The company had planned to restart the pipeline Saturday. Howard blamed logistical issues for the delay, saying bad weather complicated efforts to move equipment on site and made inspections take longer.

The potential problems were detected in a section of the line between Missouri and Illinois. Howard says there were no leaks and the pipeline system’s integrity is sound.

A northeast Kansas woman is free on bond after a not guilty plea was entered on her behalf for allegedly leaving her 2-month-old son in an alley.

District Judge Gunnar Sundby entered the plea Friday for 28-year-old Elizabeth A. Michaud of Leavenworth. Michaud’s attorney said her client needs treatment and wasn’t able to help with her defense.

The Leavenworth Times reports a pretrial conference is scheduled for Nov. 30.

Michaud is charged with aggravated endangering a child after she allegedly left her son alone May 3 in a Leavenworth alley near her home. Prosecutors believe she was using drugs or alcohol at the time.

Leavenworth police chief Pat Kitchens estimated the baby was in the alley for at least three hours before he was found by a neighbor.

Kansas State University is powering up a new smart grid laboratory, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday for the new facility in Rathbone Hall.

A smart grid seeks to match electric power supply with consumer demand. The lab will be used for research and to train and recruit students.

Kansas State’s project received funding from the Kansas City engineering firm of Burns & McDonnell. The company’s vice president, Randy Pope, is a Kansas State engineering graduate and will be on hand for Tuesday’s event.

Several other companies are donating equipment and furnishing to the lab.

Investigators say a multi-vehicle crash that forced an area high school football game to be delayed appears to have started because of road rage.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Friday on U.S. 24 in Topeka in a construction zone and involved at least six vehicles.

A maroon passenger car cut off a Ford Taurus in the merge lane, then slammed on its brakes after the Taurus driver honked the car’s horn.

The maroon car reversed and struck the Taurus, which was struck from behind and a chain reaction ensued. Troopers say the maroon car left the scene.

A high school football team’s bus was struck in the resulting traffic jam, causing the start of its game to be delayed.