by Randy Picking ~ Salina Post

An arrest warrant has been issued for first-degree murder and child abuse for 25-year-old Troy Love II of Salina.

Love is wanted in the case of 18 month old Bre’elle Jefferson who was found not breathing at her home on April 9th.

The little girl was taken to Salina Regional Health Center and then transferred to a Wichita hospital where she died the evening on April 10th.

While autopsy results have not been returned, the ongoing investigation has determined that Bre’elle died as a result of injuries consistent with child abuse.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information should call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637) or visit www.pd.salina.org and follow the Crimestoppers link to submit a web tip.

A spokesman for the Kansas Department of Corrections says it is discussing supplemental training for staff at county jails that house state inmates.

Department spokesman Jeremy Barclay said Thursday that the informal discussions have been prompted by the escape of four inmates from the Ottawa County Jail in Minneapolis.

Two were apprehended Wednesday. But two others, including a convicted murderer, remained at large Thursday.

The four inmates were sent to the Ottawa County Jail because of overcrowding at the state prison in Ellsworth. Five counties, including Ottawa County, have passed a state inspection and are certified to house state inmates.

Barclay said the state respects the training provided to county jail staff and has considered it when certifying jails to house state inmates.

A Kansas Senate committee hopes to finish work on a proposed state budget exceeding $14 billion.

The Ways and Means Committee met Wednesday to review dozens of budget issues and create a spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The committee is considering an increase in general state aid to public schools and providing funds to cities and counties so they can keep their property taxes in check.

The budget approved by the committee will go to the full Senate for debate after the full Legislature returns next week from spring break.

The House Appropriations Committee will draft its own version of the budget and has scheduled meetings for Thursday and Friday.

Secretary of State Kris Kobach remains optimistic he can persuade Kansas legislators to put a proof-of-citizenship rule for first-time voters in place ahead of this year’s presidential election.

A critic of Kobach’s efforts Wednesday said tactics his allies are using to keep the issue alive are underhanded. But Kobach said they’re trying to make sure both chambers vote.

A law enacted last year will require people registering to vote for the first time in Kansas to give election officials proof that they’re U.S. citizens. But the rule doesn’t take effect until January, and Kobach wants to move its effective date up to June 15.

His proposal passed the House, but a Senate committee hasn’t voted on it. Kobach’s allies are now trying to get around the Senate committee.

Lansing Correctional Facility officials say a 59-year-old child sex offender has escaped.

The prison says Gary Leslie Furthmyer’s escape was discovered early Wednesday. He escaped from his minimum security assignment at a steam plant but further details were not available.

Furthmyer is serving a 6 to 25-year sentence for a 1985 conviction in Sedgwick County for indecent liberties with a child and aggravated failure to appear. He previously escaped in 1988 and returned to prison in 1993.

Rick Santorum has left the Republican presidential race, but the Kansas delegates he won in the state’s GOP caucuses aren’t yet free to declare their support for presumed nominee Mitt Romney.

Kansas Republican Party officials say they’re waiting for official word from Santorum’s now-suspended campaign on whether he’ll release his delegates from their commitment to vote for him at the GOP national convention.

The former Pennsylvania senator won the March 10 caucuses in Kansas and claimed 33 of the state’s 40 convention delegates. The rest went to Romney.

The Kansas GOP will finish picking the delegates April 28. Several who’ve already been selected told The Associated Press that they still feel bound to Santorum until he releases them.

The anonymous Kansas resident who won a share of a $656 million multi-state lottery jackpot last month isn’t the only one whose life got a little brighter.

Kansas Public Radio reports that a state Senate committee was told Tuesday the win will mean a bump of nearly $8 million in state income tax collections.

Legislative staffer J.G. Scott said the tax the anonymous resident will pay has already been added to the revenue estimate that lawmakers are using in writing a new state budget.

The Kansas resident held 1 of 3 winning tickets sold around the country for the March 30 drawing of the Mega Millions game. The individual took a 1-time cash payment of nearly $158 million, worth about $110 million after all taxes are paid.

Some central Kansas safety officials say storm chasers created traffic jams and put others in danger while following severe weather that hit the state during the weekend.

But professional storm chasers are defending the practice, saying they provide valuable information to public officials during stormy weather.

Dickinson County officials compared traffic to a funeral procession along some roads and highways during storms Saturday in northwest portions of the county. They told The Salina Journal  that some storm chasers would not move for emergency vehicles and drove over active power lines.

Lanny Dean, who runs an Oklahoma-based storm chasing company, contends legitimate storm chasers help provide information and educate their customers about weather dangers. He says amateurs who cause the problems are giving professionals a bad name.

The University of Kansas is offering buyouts to 540 of its faculty and staff on its Lawrence and Edwards campus in Overland Park.

Provost Jeff Vittner announced the buyouts Monday in an email to university employees. He says those who accept the buyouts would receive a cash payment equal to one year’s salary, up to a maximum of $100,000.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the 540 staff members represent 11.25 percent of the university’s faculty and staff.

Gavin Young, a spokesman for the provost’s office, says the buyouts were not established with a specific amount of savings in mind.

Employees can apply for the program through May 15, and must leave the university between July 24 and Dec. 31

Kansas State junior Ryan Patterson has a fishing story he’ll be able to brag about for the rest of his life.

Despite fishing by himself, Patterson, of Goddard, defeated 25 teams at the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship last weekend in South Carolina.

He was a one-man team because his brother and teammate transferred from Kansas State before the event. The 14 bass he caught over three days weighed a total of 46 pounds, 1 ounce, giving him the title by 2 pounds, 4 ounces.

Patterson won $50,000, a boat for his school’s bass club and $25,000 for Kansas State University.

KAKE-TV reports Patterson will next compete in August in the Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing.