KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — An Overland Park woman pleaded guilty to participating in a national tax fraud scheme that brought conspirators more than $3.5 million.

Seventy-one-year-old Shirley J. Oyer, owner of ABC Seamless Siding in Kansas City, pleaded guilty Thursday to writing false claims for tax refunds.

The government says the scheme started in Kansas City and spread across the country. Fourteen conspirators are accused of seeking more than $96 million in fraudulent returns, and received more than $3.5 million.

Prosecutors say Oyer promoted the scheme and recruited at least a dozen people to participate.

Her plea agreement calls for six months in prison and six months of home detention followed by three years of supervised release.

The Kansas City Star reports six co-defendants have also pleaded guilty.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Hawker Beechcraft has asked the bankruptcy court for permission to sell a strip of highway frontage to the city of Wichita for $2.9 million.

The court set a Sept. 27 hearing date to consider the request.

Court documents filed Thursday state that the city plans to use the land for a highway expansion project. Hawker says the sale will not affect the value of remaining property.

The Wichita-based plane maker fears the city may initiate eminent domain proceedings that might bring in less money than a private sale.

TOPEKA–Eleven projects intended to encourage children to walk or bicycle to school have been selected for funding through the Safe Routes to School program administered by the Kansas Department of Transportation.

A total of $1,340,000 will be allocated for projects including development of a Safe Routes to School plan and infrastructure construction.

The federal program, created in 2005, has several purposes:

• Enable and encourage children, including those who are disabled, to walk or bicycle to school;
• Make walking or biking to school safe and appealing;
• Facilitate projects that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.

The following cities will receive $15,000 each in Phase I funding, which covers the costs of developing a Safe Routes to School plan: Beloit, Erie, Hutchinson, Lyndon, Minneola and Stockton.

Receiving Phase II funding for infrastructure improvement are Chanute, Colby, Hillsboro, Hugoton and Rose Hill. Each city in this phase will receive $250,000 for projects such as sidewalk improvement or construction, pavement markings and signage.

TOPEKA – The state’s youngest grape growers will be among the celebrities at the Seventh Annual Great Kansas Grape Stomp this week at the Kansas State Fair.

FFA members from Mission Valley High School in Eskridge grew 185 pounds of Noiret grapes that will be used in the grape stomp, which will take place at 3 p.m. Friday at the Lake Talbott Stage on the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson.

Kansas producers grow about 350 acres of grapes in vineyards across the state, the majority of which are processed at the state’s 31 licensed wineries. Representatives of these industries will be among those who attend the event.

Public officials, agricultural and economic leaders and other dignitaries have been stomping grapes at the Kansas State Fair since 2004. The 2012 participants are:

• Kansas State Fair President Jeff Deeds, Goodland
• Kansas State Fair Board Member Harmon Bliss, Jetmore
• Kansas Secretary of Wildlife Parks and Tourism Robin Jennison, Topeka
• Associate Director of K-State Research and Extension Dr. Daryl Buchholz, Manhattan
• University of Kansas Student Body President Hannah Bolton, Lawrence
• Kansas State University Student Body Vice-President Grant Hill, Manhattan
• Kansas State Fair Manager Denny Stoecklein, Hutchinson
• Kansas State Fair Community Ambassador Richard Shank, Hutchinson

Longtime Kansas agricultural journalist Larry Steckline will serve as the celebrity announcer for the event.

TOPEKA—The State of Kansas has developed and launched a website for the new Medicaid program, KanCare. The Web address is www.kancare.ks.gov.  

The site contains information and material from KDHE’s former KanCare Web page plus more content to assist Medicaid consumers and service providers during the system transition.

“This website can help Kansas families, doctors, Community Developmental Disability Organizations and individual service providers make informed decisions about their participation in KanCare. In 2013, once KanCare is underway, the site will serve as the launching pad for all Medicaid-related content and applications in Kansas,” said Dr. Robert Moser, KDHE Secretary.

The new integrated system of care coordination will cover the medical, behavioral health, and long-term care services for all Medicaid consumers beginning Jan. 1, 2013, with the exception of long-term services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities, which will launch Jan. 1, 2014.

Just one person made it to the next round of auditions after the American Idol team heard 600 area singers in Dodge City’s Wright Park August 24.

David Fisher of Cimarron has been singing his whole life–high school musicals, Kansas Music Educators Association competitions, classes at Dodge City Community College, appearances with the Dodge City Depot Theater Company and at Boot Hill.

After singing the Vince Gill song, “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” Fisher was asked to sing a second song, which he took to be a good sign. He sang “Your Man,” by Josh Turner as a film crew recorded video and still shots.

Fisher was then called forward and told the good news. “They said they liked my voice and that I should work on my performance,” Fisher said. Then he was sent to sign forms and paperwork.

As he waits to hear more from American Idol, Fisher continues to work on his family’s ranch near Cimarron.