SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities and officials with USD 321 have alerted the community of a reported school threat at Rossville Junior Senior High School.
“In an abundance of caution and transparency, we want to let you know that Tuesday we received a report threatening school safety,” according to Kaw Valley USD 321.
“After a thorough investigation, it was determined there was no increased risk to student safety. Law enforcement is aware of the report and we will continue to work with them in making this school a safe place.”
The district also reminded parents that the district needs the public’s help in stressing the seriousness of actions or comments like this. These actions, verbal or otherwise, will not be tolerated.
Authorities released no specifics on the reported threat or additional details.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A state agency has revoked the license of a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer who flashed his badge and threatened to use his gun when he was being kicked out of a bar last year.
Ward photo Johnson County
The Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training issued the order of revocation last week for 41-year-old Robert Ward. He was accused of threatening a bartender in nearby Johnson County while trying to pursue a woman during an argument.
He was sentenced to one year of probation after pleading guilty in July to three counts of assault and one count of possessing a firearm while under the influence.
His employment with the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department subsequently ended. Police didn’t immediately respond to The Star’s request for comment.
PATTONSBURG, Mo. (AP) — Court documents say a woman who was convicted of a deadly 2002 drunken driving crash in Kansas was high on meth when she was caught driving on the wrong side of a Missouri highway with two children in her vehicle.
Klitzing photo Daviess-Dekalb Co.
Thirty-six-year-old Ginny Klitzing is jailed without bond on four felony and two misdemeanor charges, including driving while intoxicated as a persistent offender and child endangerment. She has pleaded not guilty.
Charging documents say she was under the influence with a 12- and 15-year-old in her car when she was stopped last month in northwest Missouri’ Daviess County. Court records say officers also found drugs in her vehicle.
Klitzing has a previous conviction for involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence in Sedgwick County, Kansas.
BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a traffic stop.
Phillips photo Barton Co.
Just after 11p.m. Monday, a police officer conducted a traffic stop in the 4300 block of 10th Street in Great Bend for an equipment violation.
Officers contacted the driver and only occupant of the vehicle identified as 32-year-old Alan D. Phillips.
While checking Phillips’ driver’s license, Barton County Sheriff’s Office K9 Maxx arrived on scene. After preforming a sniff of the outside of the vehicle, K9 Maxx indicated to the presence of illegal narcotics. A search of the vehicle was conducted and methamphetamine and paraphernalia were located.
Police arrested Phillips and booked at the Barton County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia, driving while suspended and no proof of insurance.
He has two previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrrections.
TOPEKA — A fire at a Kansas home on Tuesday in being blamed on careless smoking.
Tuesday afternoon fire at a duplex in Topeka photo courtesy WIBW TV
Just before 1p.m., fire crews responded to a structure fire at 5409 SW 23rd Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Michael Martin.
Upon arrival, crews found smoke and flames coming from the two story wood frame residential duplex. Firefighters began an offensive fire attack.
The occupant of the residence self-evacuated prior to the fire departments arrival.
The preliminary investigation indicates the fire cause to be accidental, associated with improper disposal of smoking material. The estimated dollar loss is $35,000.00; of which $25,000.00 is associated with structural loss and $10,000.00 associated with contents loss, according to Martin.
Working smoke detectors were located within the residence.
KINGMAN COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 9p.m. Tuesday in Kingman County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Chevy Tahoe driven by Lacey A. Garrison, 40, Kingman, was westbound when it struck two cows in the roadway. The SUV then slid into the north ditch and rolled.
EMS transported Garrison to St. Francis Medical Center in Wichita. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City woman is accused of slashing the tires on eight police vehicles one day after her arrest.
Fisher photo Jackson Co.
46-year-old Eunice A. Fisher is charged with first-degree property damage.
A caller told police at 3 a.m. Sunday that a burglary was in progress at a bank. It turned out to be a hoax, but Raytown officers who responded to the call found out a total of 18 tires were flat on eight police vehicles. Damage is estimated at around $2,500.
Police say surveillance video shows Fisher damaging the tires. The officer reviewing the video recognized Fisher — he had arrested her the day before.
Fisher does not have a listed attorney. She is on probation for drug, motor vehicle tampering and burglary convictions.
GOP news conference to reveal a health care plan they say will protect pre existing conditions, reduce cost of health care overall, and empower patients and doctors with freedom and choice -photo courtesy Rep. Mike Johnson
RSC is the largest caucus in Congress, and today’s proposal is phase one of a two-phase framework to reform and improve our nation’s health care system.
Carefully crafted over a year of research and stakeholder discussions, the RSC’s framework to achieve more personalized, affordable care is designed to empower patients and doctors rather than bureaucrats and insurance companies. Congressman Marshall was selected to lead the RSC’s Health Care Task Force due to his intensive knowledge and experience of the health care industry, having worked as a physician for over 25 years.
The RSC Health Care Plan is presented as an alternative to Democrat proposals to force all Americans off their current insurance plans – including those with employer-sponsored coverage – and into a government-run, one-size-fits-all, health care system, which would cost over $30 trillion.
“With the introduction of our plan today, we are beginning a desperately-needed conversation on how to save our country’s broken health care system. The status quo is not working for hardworking Americans. The one thing in Washington both parties agree on is that our existing health care system does not work. It does not adequately protect those living with pre-existing conditions, all while premiums and deductibles continue to skyrocket for families,” Marshall said. “With the first phase of the framework introduced today, we will work with our colleagues to define legislation that will deliver the choice and control Americans want, the affordability they need, the ease they desire, and the quality everyone deserves.”
You can see more about the framework here. Specifically, this plan will:
PROTECT Americans with pre-existing conditions
Extend HIPAA portability and pre-existing condition protections that have long benefited Americans with employer-sponsored insurance to people moving into the individual marketplace.
Establish federally-funded, state-administered Guaranteed Coverage Pools to ensure individuals with high-cost illnesses have access to quality and affordable coverage.
Repackage existing funding for ACA premium subsidies and Medicaid expansion to fund state-administered flex-grants to subsidize health insurance for low-income individuals.
Reduce regulatory barriers to give Americans access to quality care.
EMPOWER Americans with greater control over their health care decisions and dollars
Reform the tax code to provide equal tax treatment in the employer and individual health insurance markets.
Unleash Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) by empowering Americans to use their money – tax-free – to cover more health-related expenses including insurance premiums, direct primary care service fees, and health sharing ministry dues.
Increase allowable, pre-tax contributions to HSAs from $3,500 to $9,000 for individuals and from $7,000 to $18,000 for families.
PERSONALIZE health care to meet individual needs.
Eliminate ACA mandates forcing Americans to pay more for coverage they do not want or need.
Enhance HSAs in a way that allow for individuals to effectively own their personalized health care plans so they can take their plan from job to job.
Embrace and remove barriers on innovative health care solutions such as telemedicine, direct primary care, association health plans, and health sharing ministries.
SEDGWICK, Kan. (AP) — The remains of Korean War soldier from Kansas have been identified nearly seven decades after his death.
A Defense Department agency that’s tasked with accounting for missing troops announced Tuesday in a news release that the remains are those of Sgt. James Ernest Smith Jr. of Sedgwick.
He was reported missing in November 1950 after enemy forces attacked his unit near Kujang-dong, North Korea. Several returning American POWs said Smith died several months later at a temporary prisoner of war camp. He was just 21.
Last year, North Korea turned over 55 boxes of purported human remains. And in August, scientists identified Smith’s remains, in part through a DNA analysis.
The release says Smith’s remains will be buried at Arlington Cemetery, although the date hasn’t been determined.
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas farmer pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges of crop insurance fraud and bankruptcy fraud, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Kevin Struss from a previous arrest in Trego County
Kevin W. Struss, 63, Wakeeney, pleaded guilty to one count of defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s crop insurance program, which provides government insurance against unavoidable crop losses. He made false statements in which he under-reported his total 2015 corn crop by approximately 23,524 bushels, and his total sorghum/milo crop by 31,208 bushels.
He also pleaded guilty to one count of bankruptcy fraud. He falsely answered “no” to a question in his bankruptcy filing about whether he had transferred property to anyone else recently. In fact he made two transfers of $150,000 and $320,000 to another person in 2018.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 21. He could face a sentence up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on the crop insurance count. He could face a sentence of up to five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the bankruptcy count.
