(AP) – Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has issued a proclamation apologizing to the Indian tribes who previously occupied lands within what are now the state’s borders, saying “a spirit of deception” too often marked dealings with them.

The Republican governor signed the apology Wednesday as part of Kansas’ ongoing commemoration of its 150 years of statehood.

Brownback, a former U.S. senator, was behind a similar federal apology signed in 2010 by President Barack Obama.

Officials of the five tribes represented at Wednesday’s ceremony say they accept the apology and hope it leads to greater cooperation with the state.

One tribe, the Kickapoo, is suing the state in federal court over water rights it says predate those claimed by Kansas.

(AP) – Court documents show a federal agency conducting an undercover firearms investigation set up a bogus Wichita pawn shop called “Bandit Trading” in a yearlong operation that ensnared 67 defendants

Defense attorneys contend the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives paid a “de facto informant” to solicit others to engage in criminal activity and may have helped the agency entrap their clients.

Details of the sting emerged this week as defense lawyers seek to force the U.S. attorney’s office to turn over copies of surveillance videos captured by at least four video cameras at the bogus pawn shop.

The U.S. attorney’s office says prosecutors are preparing a written response and will present arguments in court.

The operation was aimed at taking guns away from convicted felons.

(AP) – A south-central Kansas man has been sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison for the 2009 shooting death of his wife.

Forty-year-old Mark Ralstin, of rural Mullinville, was convicted in July of second-degree intentional murder. KAKE-TV reports that Ralstin was sentenced Wednesday in Kiowa (KEYE’-oh-wuh) County District Court to 13 years and nine months behind bars.

Thirty-5-year-old Bobbie Jo Ralstin was shot six times on Nov. 9, 2009, as she sat in a vehicle in the yard of couple’s home. After the shooting, Mark Ralstin drove to his sister’s home in Sylvia, where he was arrested.

Evidence at Ralstin’s trial included testimony from the couple’s daughter about seeing her father shoot her mother.

(AP) – Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection to a body found in Kansas field.

The Barton county sheriff’s office said hunters found Damon Galyardt’s body in a rural area on Saturday. Investigators believe the 25-year-old was shot to death.

Officials said a third search warrant was executed at a Great Bend residence on Tuesday. One person was arrested at that time, and booked into the Barton County jail on unrelated charges.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the case.

 

~ Earlier Story

Barton County authorities have recovered a vehicle in connection to a weekend shooting death.

The body of Damon Galyardt, 25, was found in a Barton County field Saturday. Investigators said he died of a gunshot wound.

Authorities executed a search warrant at a Great Bend home Monday night. The Barton county sheriff’s department said interviews led to a second warrant. Law enforcement officers recovered a vehicle that may have been involved in the case. Officials said the vehicle is being held for forensic testing.

Investigators have called Galyardt’s death suspicious, but do not have any suspects in custody.

The Barton County sheriff’s office, the Great Bend police department, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are working on the case.

(AP) – Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten says he’s concerned that a proposed domestic partner registry is the first step toward legalizing gay marriage.

The city council had a first reading Tuesday of the proposal to establish a registry for unmarried couples, both gay and straight. The registry would allow the couples to register their relationships to get easier access to benefits such as health insurance and hospital visitation.

Bunten says he’s concerned that traditional marriage is being devalued in society and he disagrees with that direction.

Advocates for the registry say it is about helping businesses attract employees and equality for all committed relationships.

(AP) – A Kansas City man has admitted that he took part in an adoption scam that affected 13 couples across the country.

Twenty-nine-year-old Taj A. Isaiah pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.

He admitted that he pretended be the boyfriend, husband or landlord of 35-year-old Roxanne Janel Jones, of Kansas City.

Prosecutors say Jones claimed to be pregnant with twins and met couples who wanted to adopt. She asked for money for rent and other living expenses.

Jones is charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Prosecutors say the swindled couples were from Olathe, Shawnee and Leavenworth in Kansas, as well as Minnesota, Georgia, California and Tennessee.

Isaiah’s sentencing is March 12.

(AP) – Lawrence-area companies want to take an additional 1 million tons of sand and gravel for the Kansas River each year, but environmentalists are objecting.

Currently, five companies are authorized to dredge 2.2 million tons annually from 10 locations on the river. They are seeking to increase that amount to 3.2 million tons from 13 sites.

Environmental advocates, including Friends of the Kaw, say dredging hurts the water supply and natural habitats along the river.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking public comment on the proposal until Dec. 9.

A two-vehicle collision on I-70 near Oakley  sent one to the hospital with disabling injuries Tuesday evening.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol around 8:55 pm, Thiet Phan, 18, of Wichita, was westbound on I-70 a mile east of Oakley when he entered the median and rolled across into the eastbound lane where he was struck head-on by an semi-truck driven by Wayne Rockenstock, 65, of Fountain, Colorado.

Phan was transported to Logan County Hospital in Oakley with disabling injuries and then transferred by Eagle Med to Via Christi-St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.

Rockenstock and his 43-year-old passenger, Kevin Calvert, who was asleep in the truck’s sleeper, were not injured.

(AP) – Legislators continue to question the policies and changes put forth by Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services Secretary Rob Siedlecki as he transforms the agency.

During a hearing Tuesday on proposed changes to the state’s Medicaid system, legislators asked Siedlecki to explain comments they said he made about some Kansans being more willing to accept state assistance rather than find jobs.

Siedlecki said he doesn’t think that accepting assistance is an addiction. But he said some people refuse to help themselves by finding a job.

He says many of the reforms his agency is considering would put greater emphasis on helping clients find employment and improving their lives.

Legislators say that the difficult economy has made public assistance the only option for some people.

A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper was injured in a shooting a little after 9am Tuesday morning at the Kansas Highway Patrol weapons range on W. Stimmel Road, West of Salina.

Lt. Bruce Hyman of the Kansas Highway Patrol says the trooper whose name or extent of injury will not be released was injured in training that involved firearms.

Hyman says the injuries are non life threatening.

By Matt Unruh ~ The Great Bend Post

A Pratt man was accidentally shot early Tuesday morning in Great Bend. The Great Bend Police Department responded to a report of an accidental shooting just before 1am on Tuesday morning.

It was later discovered that the shooting occurred at 305 2nd Street. Barton County Sheriff’s Deputy Bennet Shumate responded to Great Bend Regional Hospital where 27-year-old Adam Koch from Pratt was being treated from pellet wounds to his wrist and nose.

Koch had been taken to Great Bend Regional Hospital by a private vehicle, where he was treated and released. The investigation concluded that 24-year-old Cole Frimmel from Great Bend accidentally discharged a Remington Wingmaster 12 gauge shotgun striking Koch