A pair of Kansas shoe store employees were lauded for their actions after one of them found a 2-year-old locked inside a sweltering car in a Kansas City parking lot in July of 2015-photo of the rescue by Karamel Krissty
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas bill would legally protect Good Samaritans who break into vehicles to save overheating children and animals.
Lawmakers heard testimony Monday for the potential legislation.
The bill states it would provide immunity from civil liability when a vehicle is damaged by a person trying to aid a “vulnerable person or domestic animal” in situations where there is “imminent danger of harm” and law enforcement has been notified.
Greg Smith of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department says the bill could cause confusion with its definitions of a vulnerable person and of signs of impairment.
Carla Lewis of the Kansas Animal Control Association says the bill could increase public awareness about the dangers of leaving a child or pet in a car during dangerously hot weather.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a fatal hit and run accident and are asking the public for help.
Just before 10:30 p.m. Friday, police were called to the truck stop at 2140 W. Crawford in Salina for a robbery in progress.
The suspect is Dalton Raulerson, 26, Salina, had been hanging out all day in the lounge, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester.
Raulerson had told some customers that he wanted to steal something. He got a large cup of coffee and did not pay for it. When he was confronted by an employee for not paying for the beverage, Raulerson approached the counter demanding cash and the employee’s car keys. When the employee stated that they were going to call the police, the suspect said, “Only if you are brave enough.”
Raulerson left the store and the police made contact with him. When he was taken into custody, he refused to comply with the officer’s verbal commands and ended up in a physical confrontation, according to Forrester.
One of the officers got backhanded and the suspect was tased, according to Forrester.
Police arrested Raulerson on requested charges of attempted robbery, misdemeanor theft, battery on LEO, physical contact with LEO, and criminal trespass. He has previous convictions for drugs, obstruction of the legal process, and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
TOPEKA — The Tallgrass Artist Residency, a partnership between The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) and the Center for Living Education, a non-profit organization that manages the Bank Art Space in Matfield Green, is now accepting applications. Artists currently living within the ecological boundaries of the North American prairie are eligible to participate in the 2018 residency program.
The Tallgrass Artist Residency will invite eight artists to participate in two-week residency periods between May and September 2018. During individual residency periods, each artist will have a public program at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Artists will also participate in a group exhibition at the Bank Art Space and the Tallgrass Artist Symposium at the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art in Manhattan, Kansas. The opening of the exhibition and the symposium is scheduled to take place on October 13, 2018.
“This residency seeks to create connection and conversation across the Great Plains by requesting that applicants currently live in a place that is ecologically considered prairie,” said Peter Jasso, Director of the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission. “Ideal applicants will have a strong body of work with a voice that reflects the artist’s own community, a dedication to place, and an interest in participating in a contemporary dialogue. Applicants from all backgrounds and career levels, media and practice are welcome.”
The Tallgrass Residency is headquartered at The Bank Art Space in the community of Matfield Green, Kansas. Additional regional partners in the 2018 program include Matfield Station, The Volland Store, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, and The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Strong City.
Applications are due by February 28, with notification by the end of March.
Artists will be selected based on review of applications by a jury:
-Larry Meeker (Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission)
-Matt Regier (The Bank Art Space
-Amy Kleigman (Charlotte Street Foundation)
-Casey Whittier (Kansas City Art Institute, Tallgrass Artist Residency 2016)
Requirements
Residency periods must occur in ten night blocks between May and September 2018
SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and asking for help to locate suspects.
Just before 8pm Friday officers responded to an armed robbery call at the Metro PCS in the 2700 block of east Central, in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Upon arrival officers made contact with a 34-year-old male employee who stated three unknown suspects entered the business armed with handguns and demanded money and cell phones.
The suspects took money and cell phones and fled the store on foot. There were no injuries reported. If anyone has any additional information on this case please call Crime Stoppers at 316-268-4407 or WPD Detectives at 316-267-2111.
MCPHERSON COUNTY — A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Thursday in McPherson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage driven by David L. Chamberlain, Jr., 51, Haven, was southbound on Interstate 135 just south of Navajo Road.
The vehicle rear-ended a 1989 Rockwood Motorhome driven by Kenneth R. Shriver, Wichita. The Mitsubishi then entered west ditch, traveled through a KDOT fence and caught fire.
Chamberlain was pronounced dead at the scene.
Shriver was not injured. Chamberlain was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
WASHINGTON —U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. announced at the White House today a formal agreement aimed at making the oversight of food more efficient and effective by bolstering coordination between the two agencies. The formal agreement outlines efforts to increase interagency collaboration, efficiency and effectiveness on produce safety and biotechnology activities, while providing clarity to manufacturers, according to a media release.
At the @WhiteHouse this morning, greeted by a great crowd of agricultural leaders from across the country – @NASDAnews, state & local leaders. Discussing ways to increase prosperity in rural America. pic.twitter.com/bRcizJUOCy
“Today, Commissioner Gottlieb and I signed a formal agreement to promote coordination and the streamlining of capacities and obligations on shared concerns and jurisdiction,” said Secretary Perdue. “Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act and assigned responsibilities to the USDA and the FDA. The USDA has the knowledge and expertise to support the FDA’s work related to farming. We at the USDA have a motto: Do Right, and Feed Everyone. We believe this joint effort will help us move one step closer to that goal.”
The FDA and the USDA have worked closely over the years to oversee the nation’s food supply. The USDA oversees the safety of most meat, poultry, catfish and certain egg products while the FDA has authority over all other foods such as dairy, seafood, produce and packaged foods. The USDA and the FDA are partnering in many key areas, including the implementation of produce safety measures and biotechnology efforts.
“Secretary Perdue and I share a deep commitment to further strengthening our nation’s food safety system in the most effective and transparent way,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. “Over the last several months, the Secretary and I have worked closely and identified several areas where we can strengthen our collaboration to make our processes more efficient, predictable, and potentially lower cost to industry; while also strengthening our efforts to ensure food safety. This agreement not only formalizes this ongoing coordination, but presents a great opportunity to expand those efforts through better integration and increased clarity to the agriculture and food processing sectors. Our coordination with these sectors plays an integral role in helping to keep our nation’s food supply safe and secure.”
This agreement is the agencies’ newest initiative to expand those efforts and take new steps to streamline regulatory responsibilities and use government resources more efficiently to protect public health. It aims to increase clarity, efficiency and potentially reduce the number of establishments subject to the dual regulatory requirements of the USDA and the FDA. For example, when a facility, such as a canned soup facility, produces both chicken noodle soup and tomato soup, it is currently subject to regulation by both agencies. The agreement tasks both government organizations with identifying ways to streamline regulation and reduce inspection inefficiencies, while steadfastly upholding safety standards for dual-jurisdiction facilities. This can reduce costs on industry and free government resources to better target efforts to areas of risk.
The agreement also commits the USDA and the FDA to identify ways the agencies can better align and enhance their efforts to develop regulatory approaches to biotechnology, as each agency works to fulfill commitments outlined in the September 2016 National Strategy for Modernizing the Regulatory System for Biotechnology Products and the more recent Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Report. These initiatives established a vision for increasing transparency, predictability and efficiency of the regulatory processes for biotechnology products.
The agreement also calls for the FDA and the USDA to enhance their collaboration and cooperation on produce safety activities. The FDA is implementing the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which shifts the food safety paradigm from one of reaction to prevention of foodborne illness. Under FSMA, the FDA coordinates with state and/or territorial government agencies, which will conduct most farm inspections under FSMA’s Produce Safety rule.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the State of Board of Education’s response to criticism of a high-ranking Kansas education official (all times local):
3:40 p.m.
The State Board of Education has expressed its full support for a top Kansas schools official under fire from some lawmakers.
The board voted 9-1 Friday to advise Education Commissioner Randy Watson of its full support for Deputy Commissioner Dale Dennis.
Watson would have the final decision on whether to discipline Dennis over questions about how some school funding dollars were allocated.
The board met after House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. and Senate President Susan Wagle sought to have Dennis and his staff suspended. Their request was a response to an audit last month that questioned how some transportation dollars were being allocated.
1:55 p.m.
The State Board of Education is having a private meeting with a top Kansas education official under fire from top Republican legislators.
The board held its session Friday with Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis after having a closed session to discuss legal issues related to the allocation of transportation funds.
The board convened after House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. and Senate President Susan Wagle sought the suspension of Dennis and members of his staff.
An audit last month questioned the legality of how some transportation funds have been distributed for years. The top Republican lawmakers said they want a thorough audit of school funding.
The audit said state law did not authorize the calculation in distributing transportation dollars. Dennis has said lawmakers knew of the practice for decades.
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1:25 p.m.
Dozens of local school superintendents and Kansas lawmakers have packed the State Board of Education’s meeting room to show their support for a high-ranking education official.
The board had a closed session Friday to discuss legal issues and planned to have another one to discuss personnel matters.
It met after House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. and Senate President Susan Wagle sought the suspension of longtime Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis and members of his staff.
The Republican lawmakers’ request followed an audit questioning the legality of how some transportation funds have been distributed for years. They said they want a thorough audit of school funding.
But dozens of other lawmakers signed a letter supporting Dennis and four former governors sent their own calling for a vote of confidence in him.
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12:30 p.m.
Four former Kansas governors are urging the State Board of Education to give a vote of confidence to a high-ranking education official under fire from legislators.
The four ex-governors sent a letter Friday supporting Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis ahead of a special board meeting. Former Republican Govs. Mike Hayden and Bill Graves and ex-Democratic Govs. John Carlin and Kathleen Sebelius signed it.
The board scheduled its meeting after House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. and Senate President Susan Wagle asked to have Dennis and members of his staff suspended. The Republican lawmakers’ request followed an audit questioning the legality of how some transportation funds have been distributed for years.
The four governors said the data provided by Dennis throughout his decades-long career has been of the highest quality.
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man who lived in base housing at McConnell Air Force Base was sentenced Monday to 30 years in federal prison for sexually abusing two teenage girls, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.
Random Shane Smith, 38, Wichita, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual abuse. In his plea, Smith admitted using force to make the two 16-year-old victims have sex with him. The assaults took place in base housing.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a Wichita police captain has been charged with battery and disorderly conduct after allegedly pushing a teenage referee during a youth basketball game.
The misdemeanor charges identify the captain as Kevin Mears.
Augusta City Prosecutor Benjamin Winters said in a statement Monday that the case was investigated by the Augusta Department of Public Safety. He says the investigation included numerous witness statements and video evidence.
The Jan. 13 confrontation happened in the town of Augusta, which is just east of Wichita. A video of the confrontation has been shared thousands of times since it was posted to Facebook.
Wichita police have said, without identifying the officer, that an off-duty captain accused in the incident has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Law enforcement on the scene of the Sunday standoff in Hutchinson
HUTCHINSON — Law enforcement authorities were involved in a standoff in Hutchinson Sunday.
The incident started around 10:30 Sunday morning when police tried to arrest a 17-year-old on a probation violation, according to Hutchinson Police Chief Dick Heitschmidt.
The teen indicated he was armed and wasn’t going into custody without a fight. Police and members of the Kansas Highway Patrol surrounded the home in the 300 block of East 11th Street.
The subject eventually surrendered to police and was taken into custody around 2 p.m.
Police asked residents to stay inside during the incident. There were no injuries.
