KANSAS CITY (AP) — A worker has found what’s believed to be a Civil War cannonball lodged in a Kansas City area tree that he was hired to take down.

The small cannonball fell out as the worker was chopping the diseased tree on the grounds of the Overfelt-Johnston house. The house was used as a hospital during the First Battle of Independence, Missouri, which was fought across the street in 1862.

Fourteen people were killed and 18 wounded as nearly 800 mounted Confederates overpowered the 350 men of the town’s federal garrison.

Property owner Randall Pratt says a cannonball also was found when the property was restored in 1980. That cannonball, which had been shot into a wall, is in a county museum. Pratt plans to keep the latest find at the home.

HUTCHINSON— A Kansas man remains jailed on some serious charges after a domestic case in the city.

Jeffery Kennedy, 40, Hutchinson, was taken into custody around 11:40 p.m. Thursday on requested charges of battery, interference with law enforcement, criminal trespass and violation of a protection from abuse order and kidnapping.

According to statements made in court Friday, Kennedy was seen dragging a woman by her hair back into a Hutchinson home. Police were called. When officers arrived, no one would answer the door. At one point, officers saw someone look through the curtains. Officers eventually forced their way into the home and found the victim with a cut under her eye. Kennedy had a bump on his head because the victim threw a lamp at him.

Bond was set at $101,750.

Kennedy has a prior conviction for possession of opiates. He will be back in court on Sept. 19.

By STEPHEN KORANDA

Over the last five years, almost 15,000 workers disappeared from the Kansas workforce.

During the same timeframe, the state is growing economically, with a recent monthly report showing 14,000 jobs created in the last year and unemployment at 3.3%. That’s below the national rate.

Despite the good news, Kansas officials see a long-term challenge: having enough employees to fill the state’s jobs, especially in high-demand careers like nursing and accounting.

The total labor force in Kansas peaked in 2009 at 1.521 million, likely driven by the economic downturn that caused people to enter the labor force who otherwise wouldn’t be working. That tapered off, and by the middle of 2014, Kansas’ workforce was 1.493 million.

By July, the number had fallen to 1.479 million.

There are multiple factors at play, Kansas Department of Labor Senior Labor Economist Tyler Tenbrink said, and it starts with the state population.

“Population growth has been almost zero for a few years now,” he said.

Other factors are delaying people from entering the workforce or causing them to leave it. One thing is age: Many in the baby-boomer generation are retiring or could soon.

There’s also pressure on the younger end of the age scale.

“We also have students who are staying in school longer, so they’re not getting into the labor force as quickly,” Tenbrink said.

Certain industries have greater challenges when it comes to the workforce. In the coming decades, the population of older Kansans is expected to grow faster than the state overall, which will require more workers in health care, a sector that’s already struggling.

The Kansas Hospital Association compiled a report outlining the challenges and noted many jobs with expected shortages, ranging from nurses to nursing assistants and home health aids.

“These are the folks that care for people, that are at the bedside,” KHA Vice President Cindy Samuelson said.

To try to tackle the problem, hospitals are partnering with colleges and universities to find ways to let people know there are good-paying careers in demand. Many positions just require a two-year degree, and people can work in the industry while training for a future higher position.

It’s not always as simple as advertising for good-paying jobs. Some hospitals are working to recruit outside of Kansas, but sometimes those workers don’t stay for the long term. It’s led some to find and train local hires, which is what Samuelson calls “growing your own.”

“There is a lot of cost associated with training and getting that person up to speed, and if they’re only there a short amount of years there is a loss,” she said.

It’s a tough nut to crack, and Kansas Labor Secretary Delía García wants state officials to make it a focus by working more closely with education and business groups to train workers while also having lawmakers and officials craft economic development programs to target the problem by attracting people.

“We are in good shape in Kansas, we are stable,” García said. “But we also want to be looking forward.”

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

RENO COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident during a chase just after 2p.m. Saturday in Reno County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Suzuki motorcycle driven by Skyler J. Rupp, 21, Wichita, was fleeing from Mount Hope Police southbound on Obee Road six miles south of K-96.

The driver lost control of the motorcycle and crashed.
Rupp was transported to a hospital in Wichita. He was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP. Authorities have not released what prompted the chase.

KANSAS CITY. (AP) — A man has been convicted of killing his mother’s fiance after blaming him for burglarizing his home.

Jurors found 28-year-old William Miller-Kirkland, of Independence,  Mo., guilty Thursday of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the December 2017 shooting death of Teddis Burns-El. His sentencing is set for Oct. 25.

Court records say Miller-Kirkland’s mother told police that she was sleeping in her Independence apartment with her fiance when they were awoken by banging and screaming.

She says her son was drunk and believed that her fiance was either involved in the burglary or was covering for a cousin. She says her son shot her fiance once in the arm and several more times after he fell.

Police then arrested Miller-Kirkland after he briefly fled in a sport utility vehicle.

FORD COUNTY — Law enforcement and zoo officials are investigating injuries to a monkey at the zoo in Dodge City.

Wright Park Zoo and City staff previously released information that an older Tufted Capuchin Monkey, Vern, was found with minor injuries the same morning it was reported that another Capuchin from the Zoo’s troop, Pickett, was located just outside City Limits, according to a media release.

After further veterinary treatment, it was found that the injury was more extensive than it initially appeared and would require surgery. When originally reported, it was not yet determined how Pickett came to be outside the enclosure or how Vern was injured.

“Based on DCPD’s investigation as of Friday, we do not believe the little monkey, Pickett, found his way outside the enclosure on his own,” said Dodge City Police Chief Drew Francis. “Nor do we believe he traveled to where he was found on his own. The older monkey’s injury appears to be from blunt force trauma in excess of what would occur from a fall.”

Officer’s conducting the investigation suspect that someone gained access to the enclosure and injured the older monkey as he tried to protect his offspring from being taken.

Hannah Schroeder, Head Zookeeper, said, “Vern is very protective of the younger monkey and would not have let him go without a fight. Unfortunately, this suspected altercation resulted in a broken knee cap.”

After many discussions with the Zoo’s contracted veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Wipf, it was decided that the, “best course of action for recovery was for Vern to be transferred to Kansas State University for surgery,” Schroeder said.

Surgery was performed on September 10, 2019, by veterinary and orthopedic specialists at Kansas State University to repair the broken bones and was deemed successful.

“Vern is recovering well but will have to spend the next 6-8 weeks away from his family while he recovers,” Schroeder said. “He is back at the zoo and will remain behind the scenes until his injuries are healed.”

While Vern recovers, the investigation into the incident continues, Francis said.

“Though I doubt the culprit has the decency to come forward,” Francis said. “I also suspect someone may know who committed this act or have an idea who would do this. If that’s you, we would greatly appreciate talking with you.”

ELLIS COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 1p.m. Saturday in Ellis County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Saturn Ion driven by Monica Miller, 40, Columbia, Mo., was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of the Yocemento exit.

The Saturn crossed the median and struck the front end of a 2015 Volvo semi driven by Daniel Czauz, 44, Thorton, Colorado.

The Saturn then spun down the side of the semi and hit a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Donald R. Ryman, 57, Westmoreland, TN, and was pushed to the north shoulder of the westbound lanes.

Miller was transported to the hospital in Hays where she died.  Czauz and Ryman were not injured. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division has been developing several suspects over the past couple of weeks in connection to the aggravated burglary that occurred in the 7600 block of SW Urish Road on August 26.

On September 10, officers from the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and Fugitive Warrants Unit arrested Matthew J. Kolbek Jr, 24, Topeka, in the 1200 Block of SW Belle Terrace after Kolbek jumped from a 2nd floor window and attempted to elude officers through a nearby park, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

Authorities seized a firearm, ammunition, 8.3 lbs of Marijuana, over 60 THC vape cartridges, and approximately $3000 cash from the residence.

Additionally, Emily M. Kratochvil, 21, Sahayvian J. Griggs, 18, and Joshua M. Long, 23, all from Topeka, were located and arrested over the past couple of days in connection to the incident. The four suspects were booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections with the following requested charges includin gAggravated Battery – Use of a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Assault – Use of a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Burglary, Criminal Threat, Criminal Damage to Property and Criminal Use of a Firearm.

Kolbek has previous conviction for criminal threat, aggravated battery and stalking, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — Fire officials say one person suffered smoke inhalation in a fire at a meatpacking plant in southwestern Kansas.

The fire broke out Friday afternoon at the Cargill plant in Dodge City.

The station says Dodge City Fire Chief Robert Heinz reported the fire was on the roof of the rendering side of the plant, and crews found a fire in the area’s ventilation system. The blaze was extinguished in minutes.

Heinz says a spark from welding work being done at the plant ignited grease. He says one person had to be taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation, but is expected to recover.

DETROIT (AP) — Leaders of the United Auto Workers union have extended contracts with Ford and Fiat Chrysler indefinitely, but the pact with General Motors is still set to expire Saturday night.

The move, plus a widening corruption investigation of union leadership, puts added pressure on bargainers for both sides as they approach the contract deadline and the union starts to make preparations for a strike.

The union has picked GM as the target company, meaning it is the focus of bargaining and would be the first company to face a walkout. GM’s contract with the union is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m. Saturday.

It’s possible that the four-year GM contract also could be extended or a deal could be reached, but it’s more likely that 49,200 UAW members could walk out of GM plants as early as Sunday because union and company demands are so far apart.

Picket line schedules already have been posted near the entrance to one local UAW office in Detroit.

Art Wheaton, an auto industry expert at the Worker Institute at Cornell University, expects the GM contract to be extended for a time, but he says the gulf between both sides is wide.

“GM is looking through the windshield ahead, and it looks like nothing but land mines,” he said, citing a possible recession, trade disputes and the expense of developing electric and autonomous vehicles. “I think there’s really going to be a big problem down the road in matching the expectations of the union and the willingness of General Motors to be able to give the membership what it wants.”

Plant-level union leaders from all over the country will be in Detroit on Sunday to talk about the next steps, and after that, the union likely will make an announcement.

But leaders are likely to face questions about an expanding federal corruption probe that snared a top official on Thursday. Vance Pearson, head of a regional office based near St. Louis, was charged with corruption in an alleged scheme to embezzle union money and spend cash on premium booze, golf clubs, cigars and swanky stays in California. It’s the same region that UAW President Gary Jones led before taking the union’s top office last year.

Jones and other union executives met privately at a hotel at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Friday. After the meeting broke up, Jones’ driver and others physically blocked an Associated Press reporter from trying to approach him to ask questions. Jones has not been charged in the case.

Union spokesman Brian Rothenberg said Friday night that Jones remains in office, as does Pearson. “They didn’t make any changes,” he said.

In a 40-page criminal complaint, the government alleged that over $600,000 in UAW money was spent by union officials at businesses in the Palm Beach, California, area, including at restaurants, a golf resort, cigar shop and rental properties, between 2014 and 2017.

The union said the government has misconstrued facts and said the allegations are not proof of wrongdoing. “Regardless, we will not let this distract us from the critical negotiations under way with GM to gain better wages and benefits,” Rothenberg said.

At UAW Local 22 in Detroit, picket line schedules for three days were posted on the lobby windows. The local represents workers at a plant that straddles the border between Detroit and the hamlet of Hamtramck.

The 24-hour schedules don’t list any date to start but a separate schedule has a group reporting to the union hall at 6 a.m. on Sunday. The factory, which makes the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6, is one of four that GM plans to close.

Here are the main areas of disagreement:

— GM is making big money, $8 billion last year alone, and workers want a bigger slice. The union wants annual pay raises to guard against an economic downturn, but the company wants to pay lump sums tied to earnings. Automakers don’t want higher fixed costs.

— The union also wants new products for four factories GM wants to close. The factory plans have irked some workers, although most those who were laid off will get jobs at other GM factories. GM currently has too much U.S. factory capacity.

— The companies want to close the labor cost gap with workers at plants run by foreign automakers. GM’s gap is the largest at $13 per hour, followed by Ford at $11 and Fiat Chrysler at $5, according to figures from the Center for Automotive Research, an industry think tank. GM pays $63 per hour in wages and benefits compared with $50 at the foreign-owned factories.

— Union members have great health insurance plans but workers pay about 4% of the cost. Employees of large firms nationwide pay about 34%, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The companies would like to cut costs.

If there is a strike, it would be the union’s first since a short one against GM in 2007.

The union may have to strike at least for a while to show workers that it got as much from the company as it could, Wheaton said. Some workers, he said, mistrust union leaders due to the corruption scandal.

Negotiators are usually tight-lipped about the talks, but a week ago, UAW Vice President Terry Dittes wrote in a letter to local union leaders that GM has been slow to respond to union proposals. GM answered in a letter sent to factories that said it is moving as quickly as it can.

“We are working hard to understand and respond to UAW proposals and we have offered to meet as often as needed,” the letter said.