SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three teen in connection with a robbery.

Just after 4:00 p.m. Monday, police responded to a residential robbery in the 3000 block of East Orme in Wichita, according to Officer Kevin Wheeler.

&nbsp; At the home, an 82-year-old woman&nbsp; who had minor injuries from the incident reported that three unknown males came to her residence, and forcibly entered.&nbsp; They then demanded money and searched throughout the residence.&nbsp; The suspects pushed the 82-year-old, causing her to fall and hit her head, according to Wheeler.

They then took her cell phone and other property. One of the suspects took her keys to a gray Volkswagen Passat from her purse, and the three juveniles left the scene in her vehicle.&nbsp;

Officers entered the vehicle information into the FLOCK license plate reader and located the vehicle in the area of East 13th&nbsp;Street and Kansas Avenue in Wichita.

 Officers stopped the vehicle and arrested arrested a 15-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy on requested charges of aggravated robbery and another a 14-year-old boy on requested charges of aggravated robbery and possession of marijuana, according to Wheeler.&nbsp; 

&nbsp;The suspects were also believed to have been involved in a hit and run accident at Morris and Bluff where a parked white Chevrolet Malibu was struck and damaged.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three teen in connection with a robbery.Just after 4:00 p.m. Monday, police responded to a residential robbery in the 3000 block of East Orme in Wichita, according to Officer Kevin Wheeler.&nbsp; At the home, an 82-year-old woman&nbsp; who had minor injuries from the incident reported that three unknown males came to her residence, and forcibly entered.&nbsp; They then demanded money and searched throughout the residence.&nbsp; The suspects pushed the 82-year-old, causing her to fall and hit her head, according to Wheeler.They then took her cell phone and other property. One of the suspects took her keys to a gray Volkswagen Passat from her purse, and the three juveniles left the scene in her vehicle.&nbsp;Officers entered the vehicle information into the FLOCK license plate reader and located the vehicle in the area of East 13th&nbsp;Street and Kansas Avenue in Wichita. Officers stopped the vehicle and arrested arrested a 15-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy on requested charges of aggravated robbery and another a 14-year-old boy on requested charges of aggravated robbery and possession of marijuana, according to Wheeler.&nbsp; &nbsp;The suspects were also believed to have been involved in a hit and run accident at Morris and Bluff where a parked white Chevrolet Malibu was struck and damaged.

Police: Kan. woman injured during home-invasion robbery

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wednesday’s congressional joint session to count electoral votes has taken on added importance this year as congressional Republicans allied with President Donald Trump are pledging to try and undo Democrat Joe Biden’s victory.

The Republicans — a dozen senators and many more House members — are citing Trump’s repeated, charges of widespread fraud. They say they will officially object to the results, forcing votes in the Republican-run Senate and the Democratic-controlled House that will almost certainly fail.

The congressional meeting on Jan. 6 is the final step in reaffirming Biden’s win, after the Electoral College&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-270-electoral-college-vote-d429ef97af2bf574d16463384dc7cc1e">officially elected him</a>&nbsp;in December. The meeting is required by the Constitution and includes several distinct steps.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CONGRESS MEETS WEDNESDAY?

Under federal law, Congress must meet Jan. 6 to open sealed certificates from each state that contain a record of their electoral votes. The votes are brought into the chamber in special mahogany boxes used for the occasion.

Bipartisan representatives of both chambers read the results out loud and do an official count. The president of the Senate, Vice President Mike Pence, presides over the session and declares the winner. The session begins at 1 p.m. EST.

The Constitution requires Congress to meet and count the electoral votes. If there is a tie, then the House decides the presidency, with each congressional delegation having one vote. That hasn’t happened since the 1800s, and Biden’s electoral&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">win over Trump</a>&nbsp;was decisive, 306-232.

The two chambers meet together midday to count the votes . If the vice president cannot preside, there is precedent for the Senate pro-tempore, or the longest-serving senator in the majority party, to lead the session. That’s currently Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

The presiding officer opens and presents the certificates of the electoral votes in alphabetical order of the states. The appointed “tellers” from the House and Senate, members of both parties, then read each certificate out loud and record and count the votes. At the end, the presiding officer announces who has won the majority votes for both president and vice president.

After a teller reads the certificate from a state, any member can stand up and object to that state’s vote on any grounds. But the presiding officer will not hear the objection unless it is in writing and signed by both a member of the House and a member of the Senate.

If there is such a request, then the joint session suspends and the House and Senate go into separate sessions to consider it. For the objection to be sustained, both chambers must agree to it by a simple majority vote. If they do not both agree, the original electoral votes are counted with no changes.

The last time such an objection was considered was 2005, when Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio and Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, both Democrats, objected to Ohio’s electoral votes, claiming there were voting irregularities. Both the House and Senate debated the objection and easily rejected it. It was only the second time such a vote had occurred.

Dozens of House Republicans and a smaller group of GOP senators are expected to object to the count from some swing states where Trump has alleged fraud, despite the consensus of nonpartisan election officials and even Trump’s former attorney general that there was none. None of the members have presented detailed evidence and none of them objected to the swearing-in of congressional lawmakers who won election on the same ballots.

In the Senate, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley was the first to say he would join with the House Republicans. On Saturday, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas announced a coalition of 11 additional senators who vowed to vote against unspecified state electors on Wednesday unless Congress appoints an electoral commission to immediately conduct an audit of the election results. Hawley and Cruz are both among potential 2024 presidential contenders.

The challenges have split the party. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has urged his colleagues not to object, saying last month on a private call that the vote would be “terrible.”

Several other Senate Republicans have criticized the effort as well, including Texas Sen. John Cornyn and South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican. Thune said last month that any objections will go down “like a shot dog” in the Senate.

On Sunday, Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse said the challenge is “’bad for the country and bad for the party.”

Pence’s role is largely ceremonial and he has no power to affect the outcome, despite Trump’s wishes to the contrary.

The role of the vice president as presiding officer is often an awkward one, as it will be for Pence, who will be charged with announcing Biden’s victory — and his own defeat — once the electoral votes are counted.

Pence won’t be the first vice president put in an uncomfortable situation. In 2001, Vice President Al Gore presided over the counting of the 2000 presidential election he narrowly lost to Republican George W. Bush. Gore had to gavel several Democrats’ objections out of order. In 2017, Biden presided over the count that declared Trump the winner. Biden also shot down objections from House Democrats that did not have any Senate support.

ONCE CONGRESS COUNTS THE VOTES, WHAT’S NEXT?

The joint session is the last official chance for objections, beyond court cases that have so far proven ineffective for Trump and his team.

“I think there comes a time when you have to realize that, despite your best efforts you’ve been unsuccessful,” Cornyn said earlier this month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609864889446.png" alt="The president of the Senate, Vice President Mike Pence, presides over Wednesday's session and declares the winner. Photo courtesy office of the Vice President" />
 <figcaption>The president of the Senate, Vice President Mike Pence, presides over Wednesday's session and declares the winner. Photo courtesy office of the Vice President</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Wednesday’s congressional joint session to count electoral votes has taken on added importance this year as congressional Republicans allied with President Donald Trump are pledging to try and undo Democrat Joe Biden’s victory.The Republicans — a dozen senators and many more House members — are citing Trump’s repeated, charges of widespread fraud. They say they will officially object to the results, forcing votes in the Republican-run Senate and the Democratic-controlled House that will almost certainly fail.The congressional meeting on Jan. 6 is the final step in reaffirming Biden’s win, after the Electoral College&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-270-electoral-college-vote-d429ef97af2bf574d16463384dc7cc1e">officially elected him</a>&nbsp;in December. The meeting is required by the Constitution and includes several distinct steps.A look at the joint session:WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CONGRESS MEETS WEDNESDAY?Under federal law, Congress must meet Jan. 6 to open sealed certificates from each state that contain a record of their electoral votes. The votes are brought into the chamber in special mahogany boxes used for the occasion.Bipartisan representatives of both chambers read the results out loud and do an official count. The president of the Senate, Vice President Mike Pence, presides over the session and declares the winner. The session begins at 1 p.m. EST.WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRE?The Constitution requires Congress to meet and count the electoral votes. If there is a tie, then the House decides the presidency, with each congressional delegation having one vote. That hasn’t happened since the 1800s, and Biden’s electoral&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">win over Trump</a>&nbsp;was decisive, 306-232.HOW DOES THE SESSION UNFOLD?The two chambers meet together midday to count the votes . If the vice president cannot preside, there is precedent for the Senate pro-tempore, or the longest-serving senator in the majority party, to lead the session. That’s currently Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.The presiding officer opens and presents the certificates of the electoral votes in alphabetical order of the states. The appointed “tellers” from the House and Senate, members of both parties, then read each certificate out loud and record and count the votes. At the end, the presiding officer announces who has won the majority votes for both president and vice president.WHAT IF THERE’S AN OBJECTION?After a teller reads the certificate from a state, any member can stand up and object to that state’s vote on any grounds. But the presiding officer will not hear the objection unless it is in writing and signed by both a member of the House and a member of the Senate.If there is such a request, then the joint session suspends and the House and Senate go into separate sessions to consider it. For the objection to be sustained, both chambers must agree to it by a simple majority vote. If they do not both agree, the original electoral votes are counted with no changes.The last time such an objection was considered was 2005, when Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio and Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, both Democrats, objected to Ohio’s electoral votes, claiming there were voting irregularities. Both the House and Senate debated the objection and easily rejected it. It was only the second time such a vote had occurred.WHO IS EXPECTED TO OBJECT?Dozens of House Republicans and a smaller group of GOP senators are expected to object to the count from some swing states where Trump has alleged fraud, despite the consensus of nonpartisan election officials and even Trump’s former attorney general that there was none. None of the members have presented detailed evidence and none of them objected to the swearing-in of congressional lawmakers who won election on the same ballots.In the Senate, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley was the first to say he would join with the House Republicans. On Saturday, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas announced a coalition of 11 additional senators who vowed to vote against unspecified state electors on Wednesday unless Congress appoints an electoral commission to immediately conduct an audit of the election results. Hawley and Cruz are both among potential 2024 presidential contenders.The challenges have split the party. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has urged his colleagues not to object, saying last month on a private call that the vote would be “terrible.”Several other Senate Republicans have criticized the effort as well, including Texas Sen. John Cornyn and South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican. Thune said last month that any objections will go down “like a shot dog” in the Senate.On Sunday, Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse said the challenge is “’bad for the country and bad for the party.”WHAT IS PENCE’S ROLE?Pence’s role is largely ceremonial and he has no power to affect the outcome, despite Trump’s wishes to the contrary.The role of the vice president as presiding officer is often an awkward one, as it will be for Pence, who will be charged with announcing Biden’s victory — and his own defeat — once the electoral votes are counted.Pence won’t be the first vice president put in an uncomfortable situation. In 2001, Vice President Al Gore presided over the counting of the 2000 presidential election he narrowly lost to Republican George W. Bush. Gore had to gavel several Democrats’ objections out of order. In 2017, Biden presided over the count that declared Trump the winner. Biden also shot down objections from House Democrats that did not have any Senate support.ONCE CONGRESS COUNTS THE VOTES, WHAT’S NEXT?The joint session is the last official chance for objections, beyond court cases that have so far proven ineffective for Trump and his team.“I think there comes a time when you have to realize that, despite your best efforts you’ve been unsuccessful,” Cornyn said earlier this month.___

How Congress will count Electoral College votes

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities have identified the victim of a manslaughter investigation as&nbsp; 26-year-old Sharrod Rollen of Wichita.

Just before 1 p.m. Saturday, police responded to an assist EMS call at an apartment complex in the 1000 block of South Woodlawn, in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.

Upon arrival, officers learned that Rollen had been found deceased by acquaintances in an apartment.

The investigation revealed that Rollen and three other individuals had gone out to celebrate on New Year’s Eve. When they returned to the apartment, Rollen got into a physical fight.

During the fight, Rollen fell to the ground and lost consciousness. The Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center performed an autopsy on Rollen and he was found to have internal head trauma, according to Wheeler.

The incident was not random remains under investigation, according to Wheeler.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609869673648.png" alt="Rollen had previous convictions for burglary, theft, criminal damage to property, aggravated assault, domestic battery, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, flee or elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Rollen had previous convictions for burglary, theft, criminal damage to property, aggravated assault, domestic battery, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, flee or elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities have identified the victim of a manslaughter investigation as&nbsp; 26-year-old Sharrod Rollen of Wichita.Just before 1 p.m. Saturday, police responded to an assist EMS call at an apartment complex in the 1000 block of South Woodlawn, in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.Upon arrival, officers learned that Rollen had been found deceased by acquaintances in an apartment.The investigation revealed that Rollen and three other individuals had gone out to celebrate on New Year’s Eve. When they returned to the apartment, Rollen got into a physical fight.During the fight, Rollen fell to the ground and lost consciousness. The Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center performed an autopsy on Rollen and he was found to have internal head trauma, according to Wheeler.The incident was not random remains under investigation, according to Wheeler.

Police: Kansas man died after New Year's Eve fight

MANHATTAN—Kansas State University is considering remote learning to begin the spring semester.

According to University President Richard Myers statement Tuesday afternoon "We hope to see progress in our fight against the pandemic that disrupted our operations last year. At this time we remain in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/return/reopening/phase-3/">Phase 3</a>&nbsp;of our reopening plan as we continue to adhere to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/return/reopening/">five guiding principles</a>&nbsp;for continued operations.&nbsp;

As a reminder, in Phase 3 employees are encouraged to work remotely if possible and mass gatherings are limited to 50 or fewer individuals. Face coverings, physical distancing and hand-washing continue to be essential methods to keep each other safe. While there is a temptation for us all to succumb to "pandemic fatigue," now is the time for increased resolve and resiliency.&nbsp;

Projecting to the start of classes on Jan. 25, the indicators we rely on to make decisions are not moving in a positive direction. New case rates continue to increase, as do hospitalizations throughout our host communities and state. Our medical authorities tell us a new variant of the virus is likely to increase the transmission rates of this already widespread pathogen. The rollout of vaccines, while holding great potential, remains slower than anticipated in the country, but especially in our state.&nbsp;

Our administration is working with various planning groups to address contingency plans for the spring semester. This includes the possibility of starting the semester in a completely remote learning posture. Our intention is to assess the data and decide how to approach the coming term for all facets of the university. Please know we are closely monitoring the situation and will keep you apprised.&nbsp;

MANHATTAN—Kansas State University is considering remote learning to begin the spring semester.According to University President Richard Myers statement Tuesday afternoon "We hope to see progress in our fight against the pandemic that disrupted our operations last year. At this time we remain in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/return/reopening/phase-3/">Phase 3</a>&nbsp;of our reopening plan as we continue to adhere to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/covid-19/return/reopening/">five guiding principles</a>&nbsp;for continued operations.&nbsp;As a reminder, in Phase 3 employees are encouraged to work remotely if possible and mass gatherings are limited to 50 or fewer individuals. Face coverings, physical distancing and hand-washing continue to be essential methods to keep each other safe. While there is a temptation for us all to succumb to "pandemic fatigue," now is the time for increased resolve and resiliency.&nbsp;Projecting to the start of classes on Jan. 25, the indicators we rely on to make decisions are not moving in a positive direction. New case rates continue to increase, as do hospitalizations throughout our host communities and state. Our medical authorities tell us a new variant of the virus is likely to increase the transmission rates of this already widespread pathogen. The rollout of vaccines, while holding great potential, remains slower than anticipated in the country, but especially in our state.&nbsp;Our administration is working with various planning groups to address contingency plans for the spring semester. This includes the possibility of starting the semester in a completely remote learning posture. Our intention is to assess the data and decide how to approach the coming term for all facets of the university. Please know we are closely monitoring the situation and will keep you apprised.&nbsp;

K-State considers remote learning in light of surging pandemic

SEDALIA, Mo. (AP) — A 4-year-old Sedalia boy died after he accidentally shot himself at his family's home, police said.

The child, Andre Walker, died after being taken to a hospital Sunday night by his father, police said.

The boy's parents told police he found a loaded handgun inside the home and accidentally shot himself. He was alive when he arrived at the hospital but later died.

Several other people, including two children, were in the home when the shooting occurred, police Commander David Woolery said. Sedalia is approximately 90 minutes east of Kansas City.

The investigation continues but no foul play is suspected, police said.

SEDALIA, Mo. (AP) — A 4-year-old Sedalia boy died after he accidentally shot himself at his family's home, police said.The child, Andre Walker, died after being taken to a hospital Sunday night by his father, police said.The boy's parents told police he found a loaded handgun inside the home and accidentally shot himself. He was alive when he arrived at the hospital but later died.Several other people, including two children, were in the home when the shooting occurred, police Commander David Woolery said. Sedalia is approximately 90 minutes east of Kansas City.The investigation continues but no foul play is suspected, police said.

Police: 4-year-old boy dies after accidental shooting 

By NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com/">Hutch Post</a>

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas U.S. Senator Dr. Roger Marshall has faced some tough decisions as a physician and he drew on that experience in making his first tough decision in his new office about choosing to object to the certification of some slates of electors when the topic comes up on Wednesday.

"A young lady who, I delivered three of her babies, she was in her late twenties and I had to tell her she had metastatic breast cancer," Marshall said. "With that diagnosis, it's not a good prognosis. There's not a black and white treatment plan. But, the first thing I want to do is I want to gather all the facts. I want to get a second and third opinion."

Marshall sought counsel from his now colleagues.

"I'm not a constitutional lawyer," Marshall said. "I did talk to the Mike Lees and the Ted Cruzes of the world up here in constitutional law. I read the Constitution, the relevant parts of it, several times. Much like that patient I was trying to talk to, this is a decision of the heart."

Marshall doesn't know for sure how much wrong there is or isn't, but he wants to find out.

"I feel like our U.S. Constitution was violated," Marshall said. "I took an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Constitution gives the states the right, the requirement that the state legislators write the rules for how to conduct a presidential election."

Marshall says at least four states violated their own law and he'd like to see further investigation into the matter and that's the reason he will be one of the Senators to object.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609694624134.png" alt="Dr. Roger Marshall was sworn in Sunday to serve in the U.S. Senate-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Roger Marshall was sworn in Sunday to serve in the U.S. Senate-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com/">Hutch Post</a>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas U.S. Senator Dr. Roger Marshall has faced some tough decisions as a physician and he drew on that experience in making his first tough decision in his new office about choosing to object to the certification of some slates of electors when the topic comes up on Wednesday."A young lady who, I delivered three of her babies, she was in her late twenties and I had to tell her she had metastatic breast cancer," Marshall said. "With that diagnosis, it's not a good prognosis. There's not a black and white treatment plan. But, the first thing I want to do is I want to gather all the facts. I want to get a second and third opinion."Marshall sought counsel from his now colleagues."I'm not a constitutional lawyer," Marshall said. "I did talk to the Mike Lees and the Ted Cruzes of the world up here in constitutional law. I read the Constitution, the relevant parts of it, several times. Much like that patient I was trying to talk to, this is a decision of the heart."Marshall doesn't know for sure how much wrong there is or isn't, but he wants to find out."I feel like our U.S. Constitution was violated," Marshall said. "I took an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Constitution gives the states the right, the requirement that the state legislators write the rules for how to conduct a presidential election."Marshall says at least four states violated their own law and he'd like to see further investigation into the matter and that's the reason he will be one of the Senators to object.

Marshall: Electoral vote objection for 'second opinion'

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A man fired several shots with an assault-style rifle at a suburban Kansas City headquarters for the Missouri State Highway Patrol before he was shot and wounded by troopers, the patrol said Tuesday.

The man was shot Monday night at Troop A headquarters in Lee's Summit. Investigators are trying to determine his motive, but he was there "to do some harm, no doubt about it,” spokesman Sgt. Bill Lowe said.

The man was in stable condition Tuesday at a hospital. No troopers or civilian employees inside the headquarters were injured.

The patrol said employees inside the building heard gunshots and troopers who went to an exterior door saw a man with the rifle. The man approached the main entrance and filed several shots.

He was shot after he did not comply with several orders from the troopers, Sgt. Andy Bell said.

Earlier Tuesday, Lowe also credited a trooper who was outside the building when the man arrived with helping to alert those inside.

A police bomb squad secured a suspicious package inside the suspect's vehicle, but it did not contain anything that would have harmed anyone, Bell said. Law enforcement officers were at a home in Kansas City on Tuesday processing evidence related to the shooting.

The patrol had not had much, if any, interaction with the man before Monday's confrontation, Lowe said.

Lowe said the shooting “could have been a lot worse” if troopers had not responded so quickly.

“It was fortuitous that the trooper was outside and that the other troopers were inside," Lowe said. “We had civilian dispatchers and others inside the building that were protected. I'm just thankful they were there.”

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers shot and wounded a man who came to a troop headquarters in suburban Kansas City armed with a rifle, authorities said.

The man was shot Monday night at Troop A headquarters in Lee’s Summit, patrol spokesman Bill Lowe said at a news conference. The man “wanted to do some harm,” but investigators were trying to determine his motives, Lowe said.

A trooper who was outside saw the man get out of his vehicle armed with an assault-type weapon, Lowe said. The trooper “gave several commands to the suspect” and radioed personnel inside the building.

Two other troopers came outside and fired at the man, Lowe said. He was taken to a hospital, but Lowe did not know his condition. No patrol personnel were injured.

Lowe said he was thankful the trooper was outside and saw the man and that other troopers were available to help or the situation “could have been a lot worse.”

“There’s nothing that the troopers could have done differently,” Lowe said. “They did what they had to do in order to make sure they were safe, as well as everybody else in the building.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609853537829.png" alt="The suspect was shot Monday night at the MSHP Troop A headquarters -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The suspect was shot Monday night at the MSHP Troop A headquarters -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A man fired several shots with an assault-style rifle at a suburban Kansas City headquarters for the Missouri State Highway Patrol before he was shot and wounded by troopers, the patrol said Tuesday.The man was shot Monday night at Troop A headquarters in Lee's Summit. Investigators are trying to determine his motive, but he was there "to do some harm, no doubt about it,” spokesman Sgt. Bill Lowe said.The man was in stable condition Tuesday at a hospital. No troopers or civilian employees inside the headquarters were injured.The patrol said employees inside the building heard gunshots and troopers who went to an exterior door saw a man with the rifle. The man approached the main entrance and filed several shots.He was shot after he did not comply with several orders from the troopers, Sgt. Andy Bell said.Earlier Tuesday, Lowe also credited a trooper who was outside the building when the man arrived with helping to alert those inside.A police bomb squad secured a suspicious package inside the suspect's vehicle, but it did not contain anything that would have harmed anyone, Bell said. Law enforcement officers were at a home in Kansas City on Tuesday processing evidence related to the shooting.The patrol had not had much, if any, interaction with the man before Monday's confrontation, Lowe said.Lowe said the shooting “could have been a lot worse” if troopers had not responded so quickly.“It was fortuitous that the trooper was outside and that the other troopers were inside," Lowe said. “We had civilian dispatchers and others inside the building that were protected. I'm just thankful they were there.”-------LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers shot and wounded a man who came to a troop headquarters in suburban Kansas City armed with a rifle, authorities said.The man was shot Monday night at Troop A headquarters in Lee’s Summit, patrol spokesman Bill Lowe said at a news conference. The man “wanted to do some harm,” but investigators were trying to determine his motives, Lowe said.A trooper who was outside saw the man get out of his vehicle armed with an assault-type weapon, Lowe said. The trooper “gave several commands to the suspect” and radioed personnel inside the building.Two other troopers came outside and fired at the man, Lowe said. He was taken to a hospital, but Lowe did not know his condition. No patrol personnel were injured.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Lee’s Summit PD Bomb Squad has cleared the the suspect vehicle. Troop A HQ will remain closed for several hours. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MSHP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MSHP</a> <a href="https://t.co/BmShHmEBwE">pic.twitter.com/BmShHmEBwE</a>&mdash; MSHP Troop A (@MSHPTrooperA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSHPTrooperA/status/1346350872385777665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Lowe said he was thankful the trooper was outside and saw the man and that other troopers were available to help or the situation “could have been a lot worse.”“There’s nothing that the troopers could have done differently,” Lowe said. “They did what they had to do in order to make sure they were safe, as well as everybody else in the building.”

Update: Trooper shoots man who had gun outside KC headquarters 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran said Tuesday that he will vote to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the Electoral College, breaking with President Donald Trump and others in the GOP trying to overturn the result.

Moran’s stance ahead of a joint session of Congress on Wednesday that is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-fight-for-presidency-955739443d5ee6e061878ce0b781b78e">expected to confirm the Democratic president-elect’s victory</a>&nbsp;in November also puts Moran at odds with all of the other Republicans in Kansas’ congressional delegation.

Moran plans to seek a third Senate term in 2022.

Trump’s unfounded claims of voter fraud have been rejected roundly by election officials of both parties and judges, including Trump appointees. Moran said Trump had a right to challenge results in court, but “in every instance the judgments were clear” that the evidence wasn’t sufficient to change them.

Moran said that as a conservative, he must “strictly adhere” to the U.S. Constitution and its limited role for Congress.

“To vote to reject these state-certified electoral votes would be to act outside the bounds of the Constitution, ” Moran said.

He also said voting to reject the electoral votes “would risk undermining our democracy.”

“No victory for one’s cause today can be worth what we would lose tomorrow,” Moran concluded.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran said Tuesday that he will vote to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the Electoral College, breaking with President Donald Trump and others in the GOP trying to overturn the result.Moran’s stance ahead of a joint session of Congress on Wednesday that is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-fight-for-presidency-955739443d5ee6e061878ce0b781b78e">expected to confirm the Democratic president-elect’s victory</a>&nbsp;in November also puts Moran at odds with all of the other Republicans in Kansas’ congressional delegation.Moran plans to seek a third Senate term in 2022.Trump’s unfounded claims of voter fraud have been rejected roundly by election officials of both parties and judges, including Trump appointees. Moran said Trump had a right to challenge results in court, but “in every instance the judgments were clear” that the evidence wasn’t sufficient to change them.Moran said that as a conservative, he must “strictly adhere” to the U.S. Constitution and its limited role for Congress.“To vote to reject these state-certified electoral votes would be to act outside the bounds of the Constitution, ” Moran said.He also said voting to reject the electoral votes “would risk undermining our democracy.”“No victory for one’s cause today can be worth what we would lose tomorrow,” Moran concluded.

Sen. Moran says he'll vote to certify Biden's win

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two more victims have been added to the record 2020 homicide count in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Kansas City Police Department said Monday that a 19-year-old man who was wounded in a Dec. 28 shooting died four days later.

Officers found Abdulbasid Yassin unresponsive on the ground when they responded to a shooting call, police said in a news release. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Detectives were told he died of his injuries on Jan. 1. His death is being investigated as a 2020 homicide because that is when the shooting occurred.

Police are also investigating the death of 27-year-old Chayne Pearl as a 2020 homicide. She was found cut about 10 p.m. Dec. 31 and died Jan. 1.

The deaths bring the city's 2020 homicide count to 182, including seven police shootings.

The last time the city had anywhere close to as many homicides was in 2017, when it recorded 155 killings, including four fatal police shootings.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two more victims have been added to the record 2020 homicide count in Kansas City, Missouri.The Kansas City Police Department said Monday that a 19-year-old man who was wounded in a Dec. 28 shooting died four days later.Officers found Abdulbasid Yassin unresponsive on the ground when they responded to a shooting call, police said in a news release. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.Detectives were told he died of his injuries on Jan. 1. His death is being investigated as a 2020 homicide because that is when the shooting occurred.Police are also investigating the death of 27-year-old Chayne Pearl as a 2020 homicide. She was found cut about 10 p.m. Dec. 31 and died Jan. 1.The deaths bring the city's 2020 homicide count to 182, including seven police shootings.The last time the city had anywhere close to as many homicides was in 2017, when it recorded 155 killings, including four fatal police shootings.

More victims added to 2020 homicide count in Kansas City

SEDALIA, Mo. (AP) — A 4-year-old boy died after he accidentally shot himself at his family's home, police said.

The child, Andre Walker of Sedalia died after being taken to a hospital Sunday night by his father, police said.

SEDALIA, Mo. (AP) — A 4-year-old boy died after he accidentally shot himself at his family's home, police said.The child, Andre Walker of Sedalia died after being taken to a hospital Sunday night by his father, police said.The boy's parents told police he found a loaded handgun inside the home and accidentally shot himself. He was alive when he arrived at the hospital but later died.Several other people, including two children, were in the home when the shooting occurred, police Commander David Woolery said. Sedalia is approximately 90 minutes east of Kansas City.The investigation continues but no foul play is suspected, police said.

GEARY COUNTY —A fire at a rural Kansas home caused an estimated $100,000 dollars in damage early Tuesday.

Just after 7:30 a.m., the Geary County Fire Department was dispatched to report of a fire at a home five mile west of Junction City at 2519 N. Dietrich Road, according to a media release.

A shed located to the residence was fully engulfed and was spreading to the home. First arriving units were able to get a good stop on the fire in the residence, containing it to one room. The fires were extinguished and the fire was under control at 8:32a.m. The residents were not injured.&nbsp;The American Red Cross is assisting the family.&nbsp;

The fire was caused by heat lamps in the shed igniting straw&nbsp; there for chickens being raised. The chickens perished in the fire. Damage is estimated at $100,000.00.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609864261568.jpeg" alt="Tuesday morning fire in western Geary County." />
 <figcaption>Tuesday morning fire in western Geary County.</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY —A fire at a rural Kansas home caused an estimated $100,000 dollars in damage early Tuesday.Just after 7:30 a.m., the Geary County Fire Department was dispatched to report of a fire at a home five mile west of Junction City at 2519 N. Dietrich Road, according to a media release.A shed located to the residence was fully engulfed and was spreading to the home. First arriving units were able to get a good stop on the fire in the residence, containing it to one room. The fires were extinguished and the fire was under control at 8:32a.m. The residents were not injured.&nbsp;The American Red Cross is assisting the family.&nbsp;The fire was caused by heat lamps in the shed igniting straw&nbsp; there for chickens being raised. The chickens perished in the fire. Damage is estimated at $100,000.00.

Fire in shed spreads to rural Kansas home

KANSAS CITY (AP) — U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver said he was caught off guard by the negative response after he ended his opening prayer on the first day of the new Congress by saying, “Amen and A-woman.”

Cleaver, a United Methodist minister and former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, is in his ninth term in Congress. He said his “A-woman” reference on Sunday was intended to recognize the record number of women serving in the new Congress.

But it spurred a torrent of criticism from conservatives who accused Cleaver of misunderstanding the meaning of “amen,” a Hebrew word that means “so be it.”

<a href="https://twitter.com/GReschenthaler/status/1345866081815187459">Republican U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania</a>&nbsp;incorrectly stated on Twitter that “Amen” has Latin origins, but added, “It’s not a gendered word. Unfortunately, facts are irrelevant to progressives. Unbelievable.”

Cleaver said it was a pun intended as a tribute to his female colleagues and to Rear Adm. Margaret Grun Kibben, the new House chaplain and first woman to hold the role.

There are 144 women serving in the House and Senate. The previous high was 129.

Cleaver said he was “deeply disappointed that my prayer has been misinterpreted and misconstrued by some to fit a narrative that stokes resentment and greater division among portions of our population.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver said he was caught off guard by the negative response after he ended his opening prayer on the first day of the new Congress by saying, “Amen and A-woman.”Cleaver, a United Methodist minister and former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, is in his ninth term in Congress. He said his “A-woman” reference on Sunday was intended to recognize the record number of women serving in the new Congress.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I was honored to deliver the opening prayer for the 117th Congress. May God bless each and every Representative with the courage and wisdom to defend our democracy and the liberties we all hold so dearly. <a href="https://t.co/z3vkWOk7lc">https://t.co/z3vkWOk7lc</a>&mdash; Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) <a href="https://twitter.com/repcleaver/status/1345803579207127041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But it spurred a torrent of criticism from conservatives who accused Cleaver of misunderstanding the meaning of “amen,” a Hebrew word that means “so be it.”<a href="https://twitter.com/GReschenthaler/status/1345866081815187459">Republican U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania</a>&nbsp;incorrectly stated on Twitter that “Amen” has Latin origins, but added, “It’s not a gendered word. Unfortunately, facts are irrelevant to progressives. Unbelievable.”Cleaver said it was a pun intended as a tribute to his female colleagues and to Rear Adm. Margaret Grun Kibben, the new House chaplain and first woman to hold the role.There are 144 women serving in the House and Senate. The previous high was 129.Cleaver said he was “deeply disappointed that my prayer has been misinterpreted and misconstrued by some to fit a narrative that stokes resentment and greater division among portions of our population.”

🎥  Congressman defends 'A-woman' end to prayer

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted Kansas man after a chase and crash.

Just before 6p.m. on Jan. 2, an officer observed a stolen white 2001 Chevrolet Silverado traveling in the area of East Pawnee Avenue and Interstate 135 in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.&nbsp;

 The officer initiated a traffic stop at West Kellogg and South Seneca, but the driver later identified as 46-year-old Heffelman refused to stop and led the officer on a vehicle pursuit.&nbsp; 

Heffelman lost control of the truck and crashed into a utility pole at Texas Avenue and Handley Street.&nbsp; Heffelman was not injured and was arrested without further incident.&nbsp; A 57-year-old female passenger was not injured and was released.

The stolen truck was reported stolen Friday from the 1400 block of South Main Street, according to Wheeler.

Heffelman is being held on requested charges of flee and elude, criminal deprivation of property, possession of paraphernalia, and a U.S. Marshal’s Service warrant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609777619129.png" alt="HEFFELMAN-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>HEFFELMAN-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted Kansas man after a chase and crash.Just before 6p.m. on Jan. 2, an officer observed a stolen white 2001 Chevrolet Silverado traveling in the area of East Pawnee Avenue and Interstate 135 in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.&nbsp; The officer initiated a traffic stop at West Kellogg and South Seneca, but the driver later identified as 46-year-old Heffelman refused to stop and led the officer on a vehicle pursuit.&nbsp; Heffelman lost control of the truck and crashed into a utility pole at Texas Avenue and Handley Street.&nbsp; Heffelman was not injured and was arrested without further incident.&nbsp; A 57-year-old female passenger was not injured and was released.The stolen truck was reported stolen Friday from the 1400 block of South Main Street, according to Wheeler.Heffelman is being held on requested charges of flee and elude, criminal deprivation of property, possession of paraphernalia, and a U.S. Marshal’s Service warrant.

Wanted Kan. man jailed after crash in stolen pickup

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday that she’s “very comfortable” with how Kansas is distributing COVID-19 vaccines despite U.S. government data showing its inoculation rate is the lowest of any state.

The Democratic governor argued that Kansas likely has a more efficient distribution system than other states and is getting vaccine doses more quickly to more communities. The state Department of Health and Environment has said the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Kansas behind other states because of a reporting lag. Kelly told reporters the state has concentrated on “getting vaccinations in people’s arms.”

The state health department has not published or posted online its own data for the number of shots given, and Kelly has faced criticism from top Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature over the CDC’s vaccination data. House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said Monday that Kansas residents “are tired of hearing excuses.”

Vaccine distribution has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-seniors-florida-coronavirus-pandemic-e106ffb05881cd474be554dac055bff6">slower and messier</a>&nbsp;than public health officials and federal leaders had anticipated. The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations" target="_blank">reported Monday</a>&nbsp;that Kansas had administered 20,110 vaccine shots, or 690 for every 100,000 residents, making it the only state to inoculate fewer than 700 residents out of every 100,000.

“We’re working on the reporting and getting the data into the system, and so those numbers will change,” Kelly told reporters Monday at the Statehouse. “We’ve got people who right now are focused on getting vaccinations in people’s arms and their sidelight is then trying to get that data into the system.”

The health department reported that Kansas averaged 2,179 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases and 50 additional COVID-19 deaths a day for the seven days ending Monday. The state has reported more than 231,000 cases since the pandemic reached the state in early March, or one case for every 13 of its 2.9 million residents, and 2,798 deaths, or one for every 1,042 residents.

“We all know the importance of vaccines,” Ryckman said. “We know that’s the key to getting through this.”

The CDC reported that as of Monday, less than 30% of the vaccine doses distributed across the U.S. had been administered, or less than 4.6 million doses. In Kansas, the figure was about 15%.

The federal agency said Missouri has given 39% of the vaccines it has received, or 91,817 shots. Its inoculation rate is 1,496 per 100,000 people, or more than twice Kansas’ rate.

The state health department said not all providers are fully trained on using the computer system for reporting inoculations.

Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-topeka-coronavirus-pandemic-e53bbe038a6cfab0be1dde53e93d5e42">previously heralded&nbsp;</a>the arrival of vaccines in rural communities and said Monday that “whatever we’re getting” from the federal government is “getting down into our local communities.”

“I think Kansas has probably one of the most efficient systems set up, where we’re really using a hub and spoke, while other states are just using the hub, and distributing from there, rather than getting it down into the local communities,” Kelly said.

Dr. Kevin Dishman, the chief medical officer for the Stormont Vail Health system in northeast Kansas, lauded the vaccination effort, saying about 3,000 of the health system’s 5,300 employees have been vaccinated to date and it has a clinic that can handle up to 1,000 shots a day.

“We have not seen a lot of wasted dosages or heard of mismanagement of the vaccine,” Dishman said. “I think that we’ve seen a monumental effort by a lot people to deliver this as quickly and safely as possible.”

The state health department added 3,572 coronavirus cases to the state’s pandemic tally since Friday, bringing it to 231,317. It also added 18 additional COVID-19 deaths since Monday.

Meanwhile, Ryckman, his aides and the Legislature’s staff were finishing up coronavirus preparations for lawmakers’ annual 90-day session, which is set to convene Jan. 11. Ryckman himself&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-virus-outbreak-health-kansas-topeka-e9197aeed6ae76b393acb96ea31c736b">was briefly hospitalized</a>&nbsp;this summer with COVID-19.

Legislative leaders set aside $3 million for technology upgrades to allow live video and audio streaming of all committee meetings and to allow legislators, lobbyists and the public to participate remotely. Only about half of the House’s members will be seated on the floor, so members can social distance, with the others assigned seats in galleries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608071036687.png" alt="Vaccine arrived in Topeka December 15 - photo courtesy Stormont Vail Health" />
 <figcaption>Vaccine arrived in Topeka December 15 - photo courtesy Stormont Vail Health</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday that she’s “very comfortable” with how Kansas is distributing COVID-19 vaccines despite U.S. government data showing its inoculation rate is the lowest of any state.The Democratic governor argued that Kansas likely has a more efficient distribution system than other states and is getting vaccine doses more quickly to more communities. The state Department of Health and Environment has said the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Kansas behind other states because of a reporting lag. Kelly told reporters the state has concentrated on “getting vaccinations in people’s arms.”The state health department has not published or posted online its own data for the number of shots given, and Kelly has faced criticism from top Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature over the CDC’s vaccination data. House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said Monday that Kansas residents “are tired of hearing excuses.”Vaccine distribution has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-seniors-florida-coronavirus-pandemic-e106ffb05881cd474be554dac055bff6">slower and messier</a>&nbsp;than public health officials and federal leaders had anticipated. The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations" target="_blank">reported Monday</a>&nbsp;that Kansas had administered 20,110 vaccine shots, or 690 for every 100,000 residents, making it the only state to inoculate fewer than 700 residents out of every 100,000.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609851067615.png" alt="Vaccine arrived in Southwest Kansas on Dec. 18- photo courtesy Western Plains Medical Center" />
 <figcaption>Vaccine arrived in Southwest Kansas on Dec. 18- photo courtesy Western Plains Medical Center</figcaption>
 </figure>“We’re working on the reporting and getting the data into the system, and so those numbers will change,” Kelly told reporters Monday at the Statehouse. “We’ve got people who right now are focused on getting vaccinations in people’s arms and their sidelight is then trying to get that data into the system.”The health department reported that Kansas averaged 2,179 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases and 50 additional COVID-19 deaths a day for the seven days ending Monday. The state has reported more than 231,000 cases since the pandemic reached the state in early March, or one case for every 13 of its 2.9 million residents, and 2,798 deaths, or one for every 1,042 residents.“We all know the importance of vaccines,” Ryckman said. “We know that’s the key to getting through this.”The CDC reported that as of Monday, less than 30% of the vaccine doses distributed across the U.S. had been administered, or less than 4.6 million doses. In Kansas, the figure was about 15%.The federal agency said Missouri has given 39% of the vaccines it has received, or 91,817 shots. Its inoculation rate is 1,496 per 100,000 people, or more than twice Kansas’ rate.The state health department said not all providers are fully trained on using the computer system for reporting inoculations.Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-topeka-coronavirus-pandemic-e53bbe038a6cfab0be1dde53e93d5e42">previously heralded&nbsp;</a>the arrival of vaccines in rural communities and said Monday that “whatever we’re getting” from the federal government is “getting down into our local communities.”“I think Kansas has probably one of the most efficient systems set up, where we’re really using a hub and spoke, while other states are just using the hub, and distributing from there, rather than getting it down into the local communities,” Kelly said.Dr. Kevin Dishman, the chief medical officer for the Stormont Vail Health system in northeast Kansas, lauded the vaccination effort, saying about 3,000 of the health system’s 5,300 employees have been vaccinated to date and it has a clinic that can handle up to 1,000 shots a day.“We have not seen a lot of wasted dosages or heard of mismanagement of the vaccine,” Dishman said. “I think that we’ve seen a monumental effort by a lot people to deliver this as quickly and safely as possible.”The state health department added 3,572 coronavirus cases to the state’s pandemic tally since Friday, bringing it to 231,317. It also added 18 additional COVID-19 deaths since Monday.Meanwhile, Ryckman, his aides and the Legislature’s staff were finishing up coronavirus preparations for lawmakers’ annual 90-day session, which is set to convene Jan. 11. Ryckman himself&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-virus-outbreak-health-kansas-topeka-e9197aeed6ae76b393acb96ea31c736b">was briefly hospitalized</a>&nbsp;this summer with COVID-19.Legislative leaders set aside $3 million for technology upgrades to allow live video and audio streaming of all committee meetings and to allow legislators, lobbyists and the public to participate remotely. Only about half of the House’s members will be seated on the floor, so members can social distance, with the others assigned seats in galleries.___

Kan. Gov. 'very comfortable' with vaccine distribution 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a fatal shooting in the 3900 Block of West Fairhaven in Wichita on December 29 have identified the victims as 43-year-old Bradley Michael Reece and 22-year-old Kayla Schmidt both of Wichita, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

Reece died at the scene. EMS transported Schmidt to a local hospital. She died on New Year's Eve, according to Blick.

Police continue to ask the&nbsp; the public for help to locate two suspects.

Deputies are looking for 34-year-old Joshua Dean Halstead and 28-year-old Jacquellyn Michelle Arthur in connection with the incident. If you&nbsp; know where they are or have any additional details on the suspects, call 911.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that left one dead and one wounded in Wichita and asking the public for help to locate two suspects, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

Just after 8p.m. Dec. 29, officers responded to the 3900 Block of W. Fairhaven in Wichita. They found one man dead and another victim injured.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609375270250.png" alt="Halstead has a previous convictions for theft, burglary, aggravated weapons and for drug possession and distribution, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections He was reported as an absconder in August-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Halstead has a previous convictions for theft, burglary, aggravated weapons and for drug possession and distribution, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections He was reported as an absconder in August-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a fatal shooting in the 3900 Block of West Fairhaven in Wichita on December 29 have identified the victims as 43-year-old Bradley Michael Reece and 22-year-old Kayla Schmidt both of Wichita, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.Reece died at the scene. EMS transported Schmidt to a local hospital. She died on New Year's Eve, according to Blick.Police continue to ask the&nbsp; the public for help to locate two suspects.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609375240647.png" alt="Arthur-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Arthur-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies are looking for 34-year-old Joshua Dean Halstead and 28-year-old Jacquellyn Michelle Arthur in connection with the incident. If you&nbsp; know where they are or have any additional details on the suspects, call 911.---------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that left one dead and one wounded in Wichita and asking the public for help to locate two suspects, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609375270250.png" alt="Halstead has a previous convictions for theft, burglary, aggravated weapons and for drug possession and distribution, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections He was reported as an absconder in August-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Halstead has a previous convictions for theft, burglary, aggravated weapons and for drug possession and distribution, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections He was reported as an absconder in August-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609375240647.png" alt="Arthur-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Arthur-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 8p.m. Dec. 29, officers responded to the 3900 Block of W. Fairhaven in Wichita. They found one man dead and another victim injured.Deputies are looking for 34-year-old Joshua Dean Halstead and 28-year-old Jacquellyn Michelle Arthur in connection with the incident. If you&nbsp; know where they are or have any additional details on the suspects, call 911.

Sheriff: Kansas woman in Dec. 29 shooting has died

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement asking the public’s assistance in obtaining any information that would be helpful in the investigation of the Christmas Eve hit-and-run fatality crash.

Just after 6:00 p.m. Dec. 24, police were dispatched to the area of SE 23rd Street and SE Davies Street in Topeka and found 55-year-old Lora Ann Patillo in the roadway, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.

She had severe trauma to her body. EMS transported her to a local hospital with life threatening injuries and she died. The investigation suggests she was possibly struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.

Information can be sent to TPD by emailing&nbsp;<a href="mailto:telltpd@topeka.org" target="_blank">telltpd@topeka.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.

TOPEKA —Law enforcement authorities investigating a hit and run accident say the victim&nbsp;55-year-old Lora Ann Patillo has died of her injuries, according to Lt. John Trimble.

Just after 6:00 p.m. Thursday evening, police were dispatched to the area of SE 23rd Street and SE Davies Street in Topeka in regards to an adult woman laying in the roadway, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.

Officers arrived on scene and discovered the woman had severe trauma to her body. The victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. The initial investigation suggests the victim was possibly struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. 

SE 23rd Street between SE Market and SE Burr Street were closed off to traffic for an extended period of time during the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608902761458.png" alt="The Topeka Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team on scene of the investigation Christmas Eve photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The Topeka Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team on scene of the investigation Christmas Eve photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement asking the public’s assistance in obtaining any information that would be helpful in the investigation of the Christmas Eve hit-and-run fatality crash.Just after 6:00 p.m. Dec. 24, police were dispatched to the area of SE 23rd Street and SE Davies Street in Topeka and found 55-year-old Lora Ann Patillo in the roadway, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.She had severe trauma to her body. EMS transported her to a local hospital with life threatening injuries and she died. The investigation suggests she was possibly struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.Information can be sent to TPD by emailing&nbsp;<a href="mailto:telltpd@topeka.org" target="_blank">telltpd@topeka.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.---------TOPEKA —Law enforcement authorities investigating a hit and run accident say the victim&nbsp;55-year-old Lora Ann Patillo has died of her injuries, according to Lt. John Trimble.Just after 6:00 p.m. Thursday evening, police were dispatched to the area of SE 23rd Street and SE Davies Street in Topeka in regards to an adult woman laying in the roadway, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.Officers arrived on scene and discovered the woman had severe trauma to her body. The victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. The initial investigation suggests the victim was possibly struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. SE 23rd Street between SE Market and SE Burr Street were closed off to traffic for an extended period of time during the investigation.----------

Police ask for info on fatal Christmas Eve hit and run

TOPEKA&nbsp;–Governor Laura Kelly announced Monday that a planning and design firm with extensive statewide experience will lead Kansas’ first comprehensive housing needs assessment in nearly 30 years. RDG Planning &amp; Design, an Omaha-based consultancy, will conduct an in-depth discovery process, assess current housing opportunities and identify goals, and develop strategic initiatives to guide the state’s future housing development efforts, according to a media release.

“A shortage of quality, affordable housing is one of our state’s biggest barriers to growth and development, particularly in our rural communities,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“This statewide housing assessment will provide us with a starting point on how we can positively affect communities’ abilities to grow and provide the quality of life that every Kansan deserves regardless of their zip code.”

RDG has worked in Kansas communities ranging from Scott City to Chanute, De Soto to Dickinson County. 

The firm’s initiatives have included collaborating with Dodge City officials to pioneer developing some of the state’s first Rural Housing Incentive Districts (RHID), working with Salina leaders to encourage greater reinvestment in core neighborhoods, and helping Johnson County navigate tremendous new growth.

“Dodge City has put a major focus on addressing our housing shortage to provide essential homes for our workforce,”&nbsp;said Joann Knight, executive director of the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation.&nbsp;“RDG plays a vital role in our success, and their attention to detail makes understanding housing needs much easier.”

“RDG has had the pleasure to work in every corner of Kansas, from the state's largest cities to its smallest communities,”&nbsp;said Amy Haase, RDG principal.&nbsp;“We have developed a deep understanding of the wide breadth of housing opportunities and challenges facing Kansans, and we are proud that communities continue to seek us out both for the expertise we provide and the passion we bring for creating great places.”

Kansas has not conducted a significant housing study in decades, resulting in a shortage of data on existing housing resources and current and projected needs. 

The Office of Rural Prosperity’s Housing Work Group, an interagency team of state leaders led by KHRC Executive Director Ryan Vincent, identified a needs assessment as a crucial first step in addressing the state’s housing needs and priorities, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

“As I have discussed with Kansans across the state, housing is a barrier for communities to recruiting and retaining skilled workers,”&nbsp;Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers said.&nbsp;“This statewide assessment will allow us to determine what our current housing needs are and how best to address them.”

The state's Office of Rural Prosperity, in conjunction with Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the state's housing finance agency, selected the firm through a competitive RFP process and will manage the project. The assessment process is expected to extend throughout 2021, with the final report's delivery anticipated in December 2021.

TOPEKA&nbsp;–Governor Laura Kelly announced Monday that a planning and design firm with extensive statewide experience will lead Kansas’ first comprehensive housing needs assessment in nearly 30 years. RDG Planning &amp; Design, an Omaha-based consultancy, will conduct an in-depth discovery process, assess current housing opportunities and identify goals, and develop strategic initiatives to guide the state’s future housing development efforts, according to a media release.“A shortage of quality, affordable housing is one of our state’s biggest barriers to growth and development, particularly in our rural communities,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“This statewide housing assessment will provide us with a starting point on how we can positively affect communities’ abilities to grow and provide the quality of life that every Kansan deserves regardless of their zip code.”RDG has worked in Kansas communities ranging from Scott City to Chanute, De Soto to Dickinson County. The firm’s initiatives have included collaborating with Dodge City officials to pioneer developing some of the state’s first Rural Housing Incentive Districts (RHID), working with Salina leaders to encourage greater reinvestment in core neighborhoods, and helping Johnson County navigate tremendous new growth.“Dodge City has put a major focus on addressing our housing shortage to provide essential homes for our workforce,”&nbsp;said Joann Knight, executive director of the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation.&nbsp;“RDG plays a vital role in our success, and their attention to detail makes understanding housing needs much easier.”“RDG has had the pleasure to work in every corner of Kansas, from the state's largest cities to its smallest communities,”&nbsp;said Amy Haase, RDG principal.&nbsp;“We have developed a deep understanding of the wide breadth of housing opportunities and challenges facing Kansans, and we are proud that communities continue to seek us out both for the expertise we provide and the passion we bring for creating great places.”Kansas has not conducted a significant housing study in decades, resulting in a shortage of data on existing housing resources and current and projected needs. The Office of Rural Prosperity’s Housing Work Group, an interagency team of state leaders led by KHRC Executive Director Ryan Vincent, identified a needs assessment as a crucial first step in addressing the state’s housing needs and priorities, particularly in rural and underserved areas.“As I have discussed with Kansans across the state, housing is a barrier for communities to recruiting and retaining skilled workers,”&nbsp;Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers said.&nbsp;“This statewide assessment will allow us to determine what our current housing needs are and how best to address them.”The state's Office of Rural Prosperity, in conjunction with Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the state's housing finance agency, selected the firm through a competitive RFP process and will manage the project. The assessment process is expected to extend throughout 2021, with the final report's delivery anticipated in December 2021.

First statewide housing needs assessment in 27-years for Kansas

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A former school bus driver in southwest Missouri was sentenced Monday to four years in prison for having sexual contact with a female student.

Dennis R. Frakes, 68, was sentenced in Jasper County Circuit Court. He pleaded guilty Nov. 2 in a plea agreement that included dropping another count of second-degree statutory sodomy.

Frakes was a bus driver for the Carl Junction School District when he had sexual contact with the student twice. The girl was not a rider on the bus he drove. The contact happened in Frakes' vehicle and his home, according to a probable cause statement.

Frakes was a bus driver for the school district from January 2012 to Oct. 25, 2019, when the allegation first surfaced and he was fired.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609795229986.png" alt="Frakes photo Jasper Co." />
 <figcaption>Frakes photo Jasper Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A former school bus driver in southwest Missouri was sentenced Monday to four years in prison for having sexual contact with a female student.Dennis R. Frakes, 68, was sentenced in Jasper County Circuit Court. He pleaded guilty Nov. 2 in a plea agreement that included dropping another count of second-degree statutory sodomy.Frakes was a bus driver for the Carl Junction School District when he had sexual contact with the student twice. The girl was not a rider on the bus he drove. The contact happened in Frakes' vehicle and his home, according to a probable cause statement.Frakes was a bus driver for the school district from January 2012 to Oct. 25, 2019, when the allegation first surfaced and he was fired.

School bus driver sentenced for sex contact with student

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two women on drug charges for the second time in just over a month.

Just after 11a.m. Sunday, Deputies stopped a vehicle for an alleged vehicle registration violation&nbsp; near the Prairie  Band Casino, according to sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver identified as Melissa Reser-Young, 49, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and no drug tax stamp. The passenger, Shakeita Tocara Young, 31, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp.

Deputies arrested both of them on similar charges Nov. 30.

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two women in drug charges after a traffic stop.

Just after 4p.m. Nov 30, a sheriff’s deputy stopped a northbound 2007 Dodge Charge for a traffic violation near 262nd and U.S. Highway 75 north of Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

&nbsp;During the investigation of the traffic stop, the deputy located illegal drugs and paraphernalia.  The driver and passenger of the vehicle were subsequently arrested.  A quantity of methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and U.S. currency was seized from the vehicle. 

 The driver, Shakeita Tocara Young, 31, of Topeka was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp and transporting an open container. 

The passenger, Melissa Reser Young, 49, of Topeka was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp and transporting an open container.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607000418103.png" alt="Reser-Young-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Reser-Young-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two women on drug charges for the second time in just over a month.Just after 11a.m. Sunday, Deputies stopped a vehicle for an alleged vehicle registration violation&nbsp; near the Prairie Band Casino, according to sheriff Tim Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607000440621.png" alt="Young-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Young-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver identified as Melissa Reser-Young, 49, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and no drug tax stamp. The passenger, Shakeita Tocara Young, 31, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp.Deputies arrested both of them on similar charges Nov. 30.---------JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two women in drug charges after a traffic stop.Just after 4p.m. Nov 30, a sheriff’s deputy stopped a northbound 2007 Dodge Charge for a traffic violation near 262nd and U.S. Highway 75 north of Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp;During the investigation of the traffic stop, the deputy located illegal drugs and paraphernalia. The driver and passenger of the vehicle were subsequently arrested. A quantity of methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and U.S. currency was seized from the vehicle. The driver, Shakeita Tocara Young, 31, of Topeka was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp and transporting an open container. The passenger, Melissa Reser Young, 49, of Topeka was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp and transporting an open container.

Sheriff: 2 Kan. women accused of drug distribution again 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) —Inmates at the Sedgwick County Jail now have access to tablet computers they can use for education, entertainment and staying in touch with family.

The jail started using the tablets provided by jail communications firm Securus Technologies in November. The devices include a number of free options, such as books and educational materials. The company charges $5 a month for access to premium services like making calls and downloading songs or movies.

“It’s stuff we couldn’t even imagine to offer before. It’s very exciting for us to have,” jail administrator Col. Jared Schechter said.

Securus said the tablets are being used at more than two dozen Kansas jails that it works with. The devices are provided to detention facilities free, and the company makes money off the subscription fees and by selling media to inmates. The detention facilities receive a commission on the purchases.

Officials said the tablets operate on a secure wireless network that Securus installed at the jail that doesn’t offer inmates regular Internet access. The tablets can be checked out for a couple hours at a time.

Schechter said about 500 inmates — or about one-third of the jail’s population — subscribed to the $5 a month premium service within the first week the tablets were available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595499501642.png" alt="Sedgwick County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Sedgwick County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) —Inmates at the Sedgwick County Jail now have access to tablet computers they can use for education, entertainment and staying in touch with family.The jail started using the tablets provided by jail communications firm Securus Technologies in November. The devices include a number of free options, such as books and educational materials. The company charges $5 a month for access to premium services like making calls and downloading songs or movies.“It’s stuff we couldn’t even imagine to offer before. It’s very exciting for us to have,” jail administrator Col. Jared Schechter said.Securus said the tablets are being used at more than two dozen Kansas jails that it works with. The devices are provided to detention facilities free, and the company makes money off the subscription fees and by selling media to inmates. The detention facilities receive a commission on the purchases.Officials said the tablets operate on a secure wireless network that Securus installed at the jail that doesn’t offer inmates regular Internet access. The tablets can be checked out for a couple hours at a time.Schechter said about 500 inmates — or about one-third of the jail’s population — subscribed to the $5 a month premium service within the first week the tablets were available.