By STEPHEN KORANDA
Kansas News Service

TOPEKA – Kansas lawmakers spent years imposing ever tougher restrictions on abortion and then saw the state Supreme Court declare that women hold a right to the procedure.

Now Republicans and abortion opponents appear determined to amend the Kansas Constitution to reverse that ruling.

They’re looking to protect years of wins on the contentious issue, efforts that peaked during the term of Republican then-Gov. Sam Brownback. Those anti-abortion victories included blocking most abortions after the 21st week of pregnancy and requiring parental consent for minors to get an abortion.

Groups such as the influential Kansans for Life warn that the high court’s ruling earlier this year puts those laws in danger.

“They’re in jeopardy,” said Jeanne Gawdun, a senior lobbyist for Kansans for Life. “The Legislature’s been able to enact over 25 different pro-life provisions, because it’s the will of the people.”

That risk is a rallying cry for conservative lawmakers. On Wednesday, a special committee made up of members from the Kansas House and Senate recommended an amendment to the state constitution. They want to specify in the document that there is no right to abortion.

Changing the Kansas Constitution is no easy task. Both the Kansas House and Senate would have to approve an amendment with a two-thirds majority. Then the issue would go on a ballot for a statewide vote.

“All Kansans should be concerned about this matter,” Republican Senator Eric Rucker said after the committee vote. “(They) have a right to vote on whether or not to uphold this most unusual decision by the Supreme Court.”

Republicans hold large majorities in both chambers of the Kansas Legislature. The GOP has 84 of the 125 seats in the House, the exact number of votes needed to approve a constitutional amendment. In the Senate, 27 of 40 senators must approve a constitutional amendment and Republicans hold 29 seats.

In both chambers, a few moderate-leaning Republicans will be critical swing votes. Lawmakers narrowly failed to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of an abortion bill last session. An override requires the same two-thirds majority as a constitutional amendment.

As some Republicans rally behind the threat of undoing abortion restrictions, Democrats are preparing to push back.

“It completely opposes our platform,” Kansas Democratic Party Chair Vicki Hiatt said. “We strongly believe in a woman’s right to choose.”

The lawsuit that triggered the Kansas Supreme Court’s landmark decision this year is still pending. The high court clarified that the state constitution promises abortion rights and sent the case back to a lower court.

Because of that uncertainty, Democratic Rep. Pam Curtis said it’s unclear that existing abortion restrictions will be wiped out. She served on the committee that recommended a constitutional change and voted against the proposal.

“We really don’t know that yet,” she said. “We’re already jumping to a conclusion.”

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for the Kansas News Service, Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda or email skoranda (at) ku (dot) edu.

SEDGWICK COUNTY— One person died in an accident just before 11:30p.m. Saturday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Suzuki motorcycle driven by Dalton J. Heard,20, Wichita, was eastbound on Kansas 96 at 21st Street at a high rate of speed. The driver was unable to negotiate the curve, went into median, and struck guardrail.

Heard was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

ENID, Okla. (AP) — A woman was shot in the thigh when a dog inside the vehicle with her jumped onto a back seat console, causing a gun under the console to fire.

Tina Springer was in the passenger seat of the vehicle that had stopped Thursday to wait for a train in Enid in northern Oklahoma. The yellow Labrador retriever, which belongs to the 79-year-old driver Brent Parks, was in the back seat and jumped onto the folding console. That’s when the .22-caliber handgun under the console went off.

Police say cloth from the seat covers could have gotten into the trigger well of the gun, making it discharge.

The 44-year-old Springer, who lives in Nash, Oklahoma, and is Parks’ caretaker, was taken to a hospital for treatment of a serious injury.

Police say Parks told them the gun isn’t usually loaded.

WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita woman was sentenced today to 40 months in federal prison for taking part in four commercial robberies, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Savannah Cole, 22, Wichita,  pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery. In her plea, she admitted committing the following robberies:

The Dollar General Store, 915 S. Glendale in Wichita, Nov. 22, 2017. Cole admitted she and co-defendant Kenneth W. Cade, 29, Wichita, Kan., went into the store together to rob it. Cade pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money a the C-Store, 837 S. Oliver in Wichita, Feb. 7, 2018. Cole admitted she pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money. Cade stayed outside as a lookout.

At the Arby’s, 4308 E. Harry in Wichita, Feb. 14, 2018. Cole and Cade went into the store to rob it. Cade pointed a firearm at an employee and demanded money and at Circle K Store, 515 N. Seneca in Wichita, Feb. 14, 2018. Cole and Cade went into the store to rob it. Cole pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money. Cade grabbed the cash.

Last month, co-defendant Cade was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 10a.m. Saturday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Kenworth Cement truck driven by Gustavo Hernandez, 43, Kansas City, was westbound on Kansas 32 and turned south onto a private drive at 7241 Kaw Drive.

The truck struck the front of a westbound Union Pacific train.

Officers working a fatality accident involving a train, in the area of 73rd and Kaw Drive.

— KCKPD (@KCKPDChief) October 5, 2019

Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities have arrested a mother who is suspected of ramming three juveniles with her vehicle in Kansas City after witnessing a fight involving her daughter.

The mother was taken into custody Wednesday. Police say the daughter told investigators that she was headed home from school Tuesday when a group of juveniles attacked her. The daughter said there is an ongoing issue between her family, and a former classmate.

Police say the mother arrived during the assault and accelerated her vehicle, striking the three juveniles. They were checked out by emergency crews at the scene and refused additional treatment.

TOPEKA, Kan. –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.

Just after 2 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the 500 block of NE Paramore on a report of shooting, according to Lt. Jennifer Cross.

Officers located a man later identified as Teddy Kleiner, 45, Topeka, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died. 

Police released no additional details and have not reported an arrest.

By ANDREA TUDHOPE
Kansas News Service

Underwire bras may still be setting off the metal detectors at the Jackson County, Mo., jail, but the standoff over the issue, nicknamed “bra-gate,” has ended — at least for attorneys.

A new security protocol quietly rolled out in May caused some uproar after female attorneys complained they had to remove their bras to clear screening. At the time, Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forté tweeted, “No one was asked to take off underwire bras.” However, the rules required that everyone clear the detector.

Despite a protest and a 90-minute meeting of the County Legislature in June, Forté doubled down on the new policy, which many considered sexist. He said his priority was to keep contraband out and protect jail staff.

At the time, the Legislature urged a quick fix and a mediated meeting. But the issue remained at a standstill. Attorneys set a meeting with Forté a few weeks later, but they said he didn’t show up.

But, at the start of September, the two sides reached a compromise with little fanfare. Now, if an attorney sets off the metal detector, she is wanded or patted down.

“All we ever wanted was to be able to meet with our clients the same way as men, and now we have been able to accomplish that,” said attorney Tracy Spradlin.

Spradlin commended the County Counselor’s Office and the sheriff for their work in resolving the issue, and she said she was thankful they didn’t have to bring a lawsuit against Jackson County. Spradlin said it was “no secret” that they would have gone that route.

“I’m thankful it didn’t come to that,” she said. “I think that would have been another waste of our time that we could have been meeting with clients and a waste of the county’s time for something that could be so easily resolved.”

Forté declined an interview with KCUR, but in a statement, he said the jail and the sheriff’s office “are forward-focused with no time to dwell on past issues.”

However, the issue remains for jail employees. Attorney Katherine Myers told KCUR the resolution does not apply to jail employees. Myers represents Charlotte Hardin, a jail employee who worked for the county for 20 years. She was placed on indefinite leave after removing her bra and sending it through the X-ray machine. Hardin has yet to return to work.

The new protocol for attorneys is still technically operating on a trial basis, but Spradlin said neither party has indicated any issues with the agreement.

Andrea Tudhope is a reporter at KCUR 89.3. Email her at andreat@kcur.org, and follow her on Twitter @andreatudhope. 

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A judge declared a mistrial after a jury could not reach a verdict in the murder trial of a man accused of killing a Lawrence woman in 2014.

A jury deliberated for three days before the mistrial was declared Friday in the trial of 23-year-old Rontarius Washington Jr. He is charged in the death of 19-year-old Justina Altamirano Mosso, who was found bludgeoned and stabbed to death in a Lawrence apartment in November 2014.

Washington lived in an apartment near Mosso. He is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery, and an alternative of first-degree felony murder. The jury could not reach a verdict on all three charges.

Washington has been in custody since early 2015 while his trial was repeatedly delayed . Washington told detectives he entered Ruiz’s apartment to steal money and Mosso dead.

HAMILTON COUNTY — One person died an accident just after 11 a.m. Friday in Hamilton County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Ford pickup driven by William R. Reed, 62, Coolidge, was southbound on Kansas Highway 27 eleven miles north of U.S. 50.

The pickup left the roadway to the west and entered the west ditch, continued traveling southbound through a field and struck a utility pole.

EMS transported Reed to the hospital in Garden City where he died. KHP did not have details on his seat belt usage.