Douglas County Sees Spike in COVID Cases

LAWRENCE, Kan. (KNS) - Douglas County has seen an uptick in COVID cases in recent weeks. The Kansas News Service reports that Douglas is one of three Kansas counties with high COVID transmission right now. New cases have jumped tenfold since late March. The local health department urges people with underlying conditions to be cautious, even though hospitalization numbers remain low. It comes weeks after the Jayhawks NCAA championship victory sparked large celebrations. But a county health department official says the increase could be linked to other factors, too, such as spring break and the highly transmissible COVID variants currently circulating.

Kansas Legislature Gives More Money to Public Defenders but Board Says More Help Needed

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Low-income Kansans charged with crimes could have better access to legal defense after the state Legislature gave public defenders more money. But the Kansas News Service reports the request for more staffing in public defender offices was not approved.  State lawmakers approved around $7 million in pay raises for attorneys and public defenders who work with the Board of Indigents Defense Services. That money will boost morale, attract new staff and help retain qualified employees, public defenders say. Executive director of the board, Heather Cessna, welcomes the money but wishes more was done. She wants to hire more public defenders and says past attempts to do so have not been successful enough. “Not having counsel to provide that representation is, you know, is a failing of our constitutional obligation," she said. Cessna says the state is taking a step in the right direction, but it will take years to adequately address shortages in the public defense system. (Read more.)

Some Kansas School Districts Cutting Staff

WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW/KNS) - Some school districts in Kansas are planning to cut jobs because of enrollment losses tied to the coronavirus pandemic. Enrollment is down more than 15,000 students statewide. Federal COVID relief helped districts cover shortfalls during the pandemic. Now, longer-term student losses will mean less state funding. Susan Willis is budget director for Wichita schools. She says the district needs to cut programs and leave some teaching vacancies unfilled. "We will have to start to reduce the budget footprint because the student footprint is down," she said. Similar cuts have been proposed in Olathe, Blue Valley and Lawrence.

Shawnee County Sheriff's Office Raids Shops Selling THC, Seizes Products

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Law enforcement officers have been carrying out raids in Topeka on shops selling cannabis products. The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office won’t answer questions about how many stores it has raided, on what dates or how much it seized. Cannabis advocacy groups in Topeka say officers seized goods from several sellers on April 20 — a date celebrated by cannabis enthusiasts — and April 28, and continued their campaign over the past few days. The move frustrates advocates holding out hope that the Kansas Legislature will take final steps later this month to seal a deal that would legalize medical marijuana. The raids also frustrate advocates because some cannabis products already count as legal under state law. (Read more.)

Friday's Tornado in Andover Less Intense than Deadly Tornado of 1991

ANDOVER, Kan. (KMUW) - Improvements made after Andover’s deadly 1991 tornado are likely a key reason no one died in the tornado last Friday. Butler County formed its first full-time emergency management department after an EF-5 tornado killed 17 people in the ‘90s. Keri Korthals is the director of that department. She says her department’s coordination with authorities on Friday helped to give officials and other residents accurate, up-to-date information. “People were incredibly aware that we had a potentially hazardous situation developing, even before the storms came out. I really have to credit the National Weather Service. Their lead-up information to this storm was incredible," she said. Korthals says advancements in technology and an increased culture of preparedness also helped keep people safe. Friday’s tornado was an EF-3 and caused severe damage, but only a handful of injuries.

Some Rural Areas Near Kansas Tornado Had No Siren Coverage

UNDATED (AP) – Some residents in rural Sedgwick County did not hear sirens going off before an EF-3 tornado struck the Wichita area. While most attention after Friday's tornado centered on the heavily populated Wichita suburb of Andover, rural areas also suffered significant damage. Several homes were damaged and two people were injured in a rural neighborhood called Gypsum Township less than a mile outside Wichita city limits. Sedgwick County officials acknowledge many residents in rural areas might not have heard tornado sirens that are often miles away. They say several factors go into where the sirens are placed and it is not realistic to expect that all rural areas will be covered by tornado sirens.

Volunteers Continue Clean-Up Efforts After Tornado Tore through Andover

ANDOVER, Kan. (KMUW) - Volunteers filled Andover United Methodist Church this week to help clean up after an EF-3 tornado hit the town last Friday. Organizers say hundreds of people had been in line at the church Tuesday, awaiting work orders since early morning. Some came as groups, like churches and McConnell Air Force Base, while others showed up simply as neighbors looking to help. Much of the work was focused at Andover Central Park, where debris from damaged trees and buildings was spread about. Others were sent to help residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed. The Reverend Hollie Tapley is a disaster response coordinator for the Great Plains United Methodist Conference. She’s helping organize efforts in Andover. "You know, we’re working around weather this week, which is not helping at all," she said.

Kansans Will Vote in November on Constitutional Amendment About Abortion

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansans will vote on a constitutional amendment this fall that could protect or limit abortion access in the state. The U.S Supreme Court appears ready to strike down protections at the federal level and send the issue back to voters in individual states.  Many anti-abortion groups are focusing on the upcoming vote in Kansas. A state supreme court ruling currently guarantees access to abortions, which mean the procedure would remain legal even if federal protections are removed. However, abortion protections would likely vanish at the state level if the amendment is approved in November. Such a vote would not immediately make abortions illegal, but the state Legislature could approve stricter laws. Proposed legislation banning abortions has already been introduced. Danielle Underwood, with Kansans for Life, says the state doesn’t do enough to regulate abortion providers. “If Kansans want to stop this, they must vote yes (on the amendment)." Abortion providers maintain the procedure is already regulated in Kansas and is a critical health care service people need. (Read more.)

Ex-Kansas Police Officer to Face New Manslaughter Trial

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas police officer accused of shooting a man to death five years ago while on duty will face a new trial next month after his first trial ended in mistrial. Prosecutors tell the Kansas City Star that Matthew Harrington's new trial on an involuntary manslaughter charge will begin June 6. Last month, a mistrial was declared in his first trial after a jury in Leavenworth could not reach a unanimous verdict. Harrington is charged in the July 2017 shooting of 47-year-old Antonio Garcia Jr. as Garcia sat inside a vehicle in Leavenworth. Prosecutors say Garcia had a knife but didn't threaten Harrington. Harrington was fired from the Leavenworth force after a department investigation found he had violated policies on use of deadly force.

Suspect in High-Speed Chase Fatally Shot by Kansas City Police, Trooper

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Authorities in Kansas City say a man suspected of leading police on a chase over two states has been fatally shot by officers. Police in Kansas City, Missouri, say the shooting happened late Tuesday near Platte City after officers in Kansas City, Kansas, attempted to stop a car driven by a man as part of a homicide investigation. The man was identified Wednesday as 26-year-old Mekiah Harris, of Kansas City, Kansas. He was a suspect in a shooting death on Sunday in Kansas City, Kansas. Police say Harris sped off, leading to a chase into Missouri. He was eventually shot by officers in a wooded area south of Platte City.

Maine Man Sentenced for Hitting Missouri Trooper with Car

LEBANON, Mo. (AP) — A man from Maine has been sentenced to prison after he admitted to intentionally hitting a Missouri state trooper. Galen Sailer, of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, was sentenced Monday to a total of 20 years. Prosecutors said he admitted he hit the trooper in a parking lot after a traffic stop in Lebanon, Missouri, in February 2021. The trooper suffered a fractured bone. The trooper said at the time Sailer said his brother had been killed by a police officer in Arizona. Before his sentencing, Sailer pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree assault, leaving the scene of an accident and property damage.

Kansas City Police ID Victims of Fatal Car Crash ​ KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Police department identified the two victims in the fiery fatal car crash late Sunday night as 33-year-old Delvon Landrum, of Grandview, and 41-year-old Nickie Lewis, of Columbia.  Both were pronounced dead at the scene following the crash.

Two Killed When Corvette Crashes into Storage Container in KC

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Two people were killed in Kansas City when their speeding Chevy Corvette crashed into a storage container Sunday night.  KCTV 5 reports that the fiery crash killed a man and a woman inside the vehicle and caused extensive damage to a nearby community kitchen. Police say they were not chasing the gray Corvette but were following the vehicle around 11 pm Sunday because it had been spotted speeding.  Police say the car had been driving against oncoming traffic to pass vehicles in the vicinity of Linwood Boulevard and Holmes Street. The car ended up crashing into a storage container at 31st and Troost Avenue, catching fire and causing extensive damage to Thelma's Kitchen, a community kitchen business that boxes food for those in need.  

Kansas Man Guilty of Murder in Pregnant Girlfriend's 2018 Death

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been found guilty of capital murder in the 2018 killing of his pregnant girlfriend. Johnson County prosecutors say a jury convicted 31-year-old Devonte Dominique Wash on Monday for the death of 23-year-old Ashley Harlan, of Olathe, and her unborn child. Wash faces life in prison without parole when he's sentenced on June 24. Police said Harlan was found shot to death at her grandfather's home. She was about 20 weeks pregnant with Wash's child when she died. Wash called 911 to report that he had found Harlan shot inside the home, but investigators determined through surveillance video near the home and ballistics evidence that Wash was the shooter.

Kansas Gamer Pleads Guilty for Role in Fatal 'Swatting' Case

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man will be sentenced in July for his role in a hoax call that led to a fatal police shooting in 2017. Shane Gaskill pleaded guilty Tuesday to wire fraud related to a “swatting" call that ended with Wichita police shooting and killing 28-year-old Andrew Finch. In his plea agreement, Gaskill said he taunted another online gamer and gave him an old address in Wichita. Another gamer in Los Angeles called Wichita police and falsely reported a shooting and kidnapping at the address. Finch, who had nothing to do with the online dispute, was shot when he opened the door to his home. The other two gamers are serving prison sentences.

Man Charged in Shooting Deaths of Two Kansas Teenagers

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 24-year-old Kansas City man is jailed on charges of killing two Kansas teenagers. Police said Patrick Howard is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the February 18 deaths of Samuel Guess and Antonio Johnson, who were both 14. Nancy Chartrand, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City, Kansas, police department, said Tuesday that Howard is being held in the Wyandotte County jail on $250,000 bond. Police said the two victims were found dead inside an apartment across from the Argentine Middle School. The investigation into the shootings is continuing.

Possible Overturning of Roe v. Wade Sends Abortion Fight Back to States

UNDATED (AP) – If the U.S. Supreme Court follows through on overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide, it would quickly split the country into states with abortion access and those that outlaw it. Democrats have vowed to fight the possible removal of abortion rights that have been in place for nearly a half-century, while Republicans cheered the draft opinion and condemned the extremely rare leak that allowed it to be reported by Politico on Monday. About half of U.S. states are expected to ban abortion if Roe falls and 13 states have so-called trigger laws that would immediately ban abortion if it is overturned.

Oklahoma Joins Texas in Offering Glimpse of "Post-Roe" World

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma has joined Texas this week with new abortion restrictions. The new law signed Tuesday by Oklahoma's governor offers a preview of what abortion care might look like if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized the procedure nationwide. Abortion providers across the country have been bracing for the possibility that the high court’s new conservative majority might further restrict abortion. That has has especially been the case in Oklahoma, where lawmakers have passed a half-dozen anti-abortion measures this year. The new Oklahoma law prohibits doctors from performing an abortion after fetal activity is detected in the embryo. Experts say that is after about six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant.

Missouri Set to Ban Most Abortions if Roe Ruling Falls

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri is slated to ban most abortions if the U.S. Supreme Court undoes Roe v. Wade. Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt on Tuesday said he will take immediate action to allow an abortion ban to take effect if the landmark ruling is overturned, as a draft opinion leaked late Monday suggests. Missouri's GOP-led Legislature passed the abortion ban in in 2019 in hopes that the 1973 ruling would later be tossed out. Abortions would only be allowed to save the life of the mother. Anyone who performs an unlawful abortion would face 5 to 15 years in prison.

Nebraska Man Pleads Guilty for Part in Kansas Bank Robbery

TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – A man has pleaded guilty to to one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence for his part in an armed bank robbery in Burr Oak, Kansas. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas, 26-year-old Cody Deichen, of Hastings, Nebraska, admitted to aiding and abetting in the brandishing and use of a home-built .223 caliber AR-15 style rifle during a bank robbery at Guaranty State Bank on South Main Street in Burr Oak. KSNT TV reports that a federal district court judge will be responsible for determining any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 27. Both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are looking in to this case which is being prosecuted by Assistance U.S. Attorney Sara Walton.

Execution of Missouri Man Just the 5th in U.S. this Year

BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri man who killed a couple during a robbery at their rural home nearly 26 years ago has been put to death, even as another state has halted executions that have become increasingly uncommon in the U.S.  Carman Deck was executed Tuesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre. So far this year, two people have been executed in Oklahoma and one each in Texas and Alabama. On Monday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee paused executions to enable a review of lethal injection procedures after a testing oversight forced the state to call off an execution last month.

Kansas COVID-19 Infection Rate Exceeds National Average

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) - Most people in Kansas have now had COVID-19.  That's according to a new federal estimate. More than 62% of Kansans had COVID-19 at least once, as of the end of February. That’s according to estimates based on testing for antibodies in blood samples which were collected for lab work. The federal data, which were updated last week, show Kansas is slightly higher than the 58% national average infection rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that the testing did not determine the amount of antibodies in the blood samples, so the data should not be used to estimate how many people currently have immunity to the virus.

Rural Communities Often Miss Out on Federal Help

HAYS, Kan. (KNS) - Rural communities in Kansas and across the Midwest often do not have enough staff and expertise to take advantage of federal funding for infrastructure projects. As a result, more money gets funneled to affluent areas that don’t need it as much. A new Headwaters Economics report says many rural Kansas communities struggle to compete for their share of government grants. Part of the problem is population loss, which over the decades has shrunk small towns and their tax bases. But Headwaters Director Patty Hernandez says many rural Kansas governments are also missing zoning officials and grant writers. It all adds up to a barrier that blocks small towns from getting money that’s intended to help them. “Money is going primarily to larger, wealthier communities. And we should be getting help to the places that need it most," she said. Hernandez says one thing that would help is simplifying the applications communities need to fill out to get government money.

Missouri Senate on Track to Pass Voter Photo ID Requirement

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri senators are slated to pass a bill requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. Republicans and Democrats compromised on the legislation late Tuesday after adding an amendment to allow two weeks of no-excuse absentee voting. Voters could cast ballots up to two weeks prior to the date of an election. Currently, voters need to cite an excuse for why they won't be able to vote in-person on Election Day. The primary bill would require voters to show government-issued photo identification to cast ballots. Voters who don't bring valid IDs could cast provisional ballots.

Mushroom Hunters Find Body in Rural Missouri Water Well

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Police in south-central Missouri are investigating after mushroom hunters discovered a body in a rural, hand-dug water well. The discovery was made Sunday near the unincorporated community of Long Lane, about 35 miles northeast of Springfield. The Dallas County Sheriff's Office says in a Facebook post that the mushroom hunters came upon the well and were using a long branch to determine the well's depth when the body floated to the top. Authorities removed the body Monday, drained the well and searched the bottom for evidence. An autopsy was scheduled Thursday to try to determine a cause of death and the person's identity.

Wichita State Fires Director of Athletics

WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) - Wichita State has fired its athletic director following the departure of several men’s basketball players. KMUW Radio reports that Darron Boatright was head of the university’s athletic department for six years. The university did not give a specific reason for his firing – but President Rick Muma said in a statement that there were significant, ongoing concerns he believed could not be addressed. Several Shocker men’s basketball players have left the program in recent weeks, with some media reports citing lack of name, image and likeness deals. Boatright was also head of the department during coach Gregg Marshall’s departure and the university’s transition into the American Athletic Conference in 2017. Senior Associate Athletic Director Sarah Adams has been appointed interim director while the university hires a firm to conduct a search.

Wichita State University Fires Its Athletic Director 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ Wichita State has fired athletic director Darron Boatright. University President Rick Muma said in a news release that Boatright had several achievements during his tenure but there were ``significant, ongoing concerns'' that had become acute in recent weeks. Sarah Adams, who is currently senior associate athletic director and senior women's administrator, will become interim athletic director. University supporters had recently criticized Boatright for the school's lack of preparation for name, image and likeness funds for Wichita State athletes. Boatright had been with Wichita State athletics for 12 years, the last six as AD.

These area headlines are curated by KPR news staffers, including J. Schafer, Laura Lorson, Kaye McIntyre, and Tom Parkinson. Our headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays, 11 am weekends. This news summary is made possible by KPR listener-members. Become one today!

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Description: Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with games, hands-on activities and demonstrations for all ages! Play the Migration Game; take a birding walk with a local expert; help plant native plants for pollinators and birds! Learn how you can help birds on their migration journey by following simple steps from our "Dim the Lights for Birds at Night" campaign. This event will be held on Saturday May 14 from 10:00 - 1:00 at the Mutt Run Off-Leash Dog Park at Clinton Lake in Lawrence. Sponsored by the Jayhawk Audubon Society in partnership with 15 local organizations. Visit our web site to learn more: www.jayhawkaudubon.org/about-1. Submitted by: Jennifer Delisle Jayhawk Audubon Society

Sat, May 14th - 10:00am

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Description: WORLD CLASS WRESTLING WE GOT THIS Concessions and full bars open! Also featuring local favorites Nancy's A-Maize-N Sandwich Booth. All Ages Coat check is open during events to check your coats, hats, merch and more. Coat check is located next to merch by the front doors. All sales are final. No exchanges or refunds unless a show is cancelled or postponed. COVID-19 Show Policy: There are no restrictions on this show but we encourage face masks when you can not social distance and ask that you stay home if you are feeling sick or have been exposed recently to someone with COVID-19. Submitted by: Box Office The Cotillion

Sun, May 15th - 6:00pm

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Description: Our bar team has created a one of a kind non-alcoholic cocktail menu for Sober Sunday. There will be no alcohol served at this event. 18+ to enter. May 15th, 2022 Tickets are $10 and can be reserved anytime between 6PM and 10PM. Submitted by: Amanda Williams The Monarch Bar

Sun, May 15th - 6:00pm

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