LOS ANGELES (AP) — U.S. safety investigators said Tuesday that the pilot of Kobe Bryant’s helicopter flew through clouds last year in an apparent violation of federal standards and likely became disoriented just before the helicopter crashed, killing Bryant and eight others.

Pilot Ara Zobayan was flying under visual flight rules, which meant that he needed to be able to see where he was going, Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said during a hearing to specify the likely cause or causes of the crash.

Zobayan piloted the aircraft to climb sharply and had nearly broken through the clouds when the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter banked abruptly and plunged into the Southern California hills below, killing all aboard.

The helicopter did not have the so-called “black box” recording devices, which were not required.

The revelation during the hearing followed plenty of finger-pointing. Bryant’s widow had blamed the pilot. She and relatives of the other victims also faulted the companies that owned and operated the helicopter.

The brother of the pilot didn’t blame Bryant but said he knew about the risks of flying. The helicopter companies have said that foggy weather before the helicopter hit the ground was an act of God and blamed air traffic controllers.

The federal hearing focused on the long-awaited probable cause or causes of the tragedy that unleashed worldwide grief for the retired basketball star, launched several lawsuits and prompted state and federal legislation.

“I think the whole world is watching because it’s Kobe,” said Ed Coleman, an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor and aircraft safety science expert.

Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and six other passengers were flying from Orange County to a youth basketball tournament at his Mamba Sports Academy in Ventura County on Jan. 26, 2020, when the helicopter encountered thick fog in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.

The Sikorsky S-76 helicopter banked abruptly and plunged into hills below, killing all nine aboard instantly before flames engulfed the wreckage.

There was no sign of mechanical failure and the crash was believed to be an accident, the National Transportation Safety Board has said previously.

The board during its hearing Tuesday is likely to make nonbinding recommendations to prevent future crashes when it meets remotely and announces its findings about the crash.

The NTSB is an independent federal agency that investigates transportation-related crashes but has no enforcement powers.

It submits suggestions to agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration or the Coast Guard, which have repeatedly rejected some board safety recommendations after other disasters.

Over the past year, experts have speculated that the crash could lead to requiring Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems, devices that signal when aircraft are in danger of crashing, on helicopters.

The helicopter that Bryant was flying in did not have the system, which the NTSB has recommended as mandatory for helicopters. The FAA requires it only for air ambulances.

However, NTSB investigator-in-charge Bill English said Tuesday that the system, known as TAWS, would likely not have been helpful in the scenario in which Bryant’s helicopter crashed.

The hilly terrain, combined with the pilot’s spatial disorientation in the clouds, would have been “a confusing factor,” English said.

“The pilot doesn’t know which way is up,” English said.

Federal investigators said Zobayan, an experienced pilot who often flew Bryant, may have “misperceived” the angles at which he was descending and banking, which can occur when pilots become disoriented in low visibility, according to NTSB documents.

Investigators on Tuesday also faulted Zobayan for banking to the left instead of ascending straight up while trying to climb out of the bad weather.

The others killed in the crash were Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa; Christina Mauser, who helped Bryant coach his daughter’s basketball team; and Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton. Alyssa and Payton were Gianna’s teammates.

The crash has generated lawsuits and countersuits.

On the day that a massive memorial service was held at the Staples Center, where Bryant played most of his career, Vanessa Bryant sued Zobayan and the companies that owned and operated the helicopter for alleged negligence and the wrongful deaths of her husband and daughter. Families of other victims sued the helicopter companies but not the pilot.

Vanessa Bryant said Island Express Helicopters Inc., which operated the aircraft, and its owner, Island Express Holding Corp., did not properly train or supervise Zobayan. She said the pilot was careless and negligent to fly in fog and should have aborted the flight.

Zobayan’s brother, Berge Zobayan, has said Kobe Bryant knew the risks of flying in a helicopter and that his survivors aren’t entitled to damages from the pilot’s estate. Island Express Helicopters Inc. denied responsibility and said the crash was “an act of God” that it could not control.

The company also countersued two FAA air traffic controllers, saying the crash was caused by their “series of erroneous acts and/or omissions.”

The countersuit claims one controller improperly denied Zobayan’s request for “flight following,” or radar assistance, as he proceeded in the fog. Officials have said the controller terminated service because radar could not be maintained at the altitude the aircraft was flying.

According to the lawsuit, the controller said he was going to lose radar and communications shortly, but radar contact was not lost.

When a second controller took over, the lawsuit said, the first controller failed to brief him about the helicopter, and because the radar services were not terminated correctly, the pilot believed he was being tracked.

Vanessa Bryant also sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, accusing deputies of sharing unauthorized photos of the crash site. California now has a state law prohibiting such conduct.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1580070681755.png" alt="Scene of the fatal crash photo courtesy LA County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the fatal crash photo courtesy LA County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — U.S. safety investigators said Tuesday that the pilot of Kobe Bryant’s helicopter flew through clouds last year in an apparent violation of federal standards and likely became disoriented just before the helicopter crashed, killing Bryant and eight others.Pilot Ara Zobayan was flying under visual flight rules, which meant that he needed to be able to see where he was going, Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said during a hearing to specify the likely cause or causes of the crash.Zobayan piloted the aircraft to climb sharply and had nearly broken through the clouds when the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter banked abruptly and plunged into the Southern California hills below, killing all aboard.The helicopter did not have the so-called “black box” recording devices, which were not required.The revelation during the hearing followed plenty of finger-pointing. Bryant’s widow had blamed the pilot. She and relatives of the other victims also faulted the companies that owned and operated the helicopter.The brother of the pilot didn’t blame Bryant but said he knew about the risks of flying. The helicopter companies have said that foggy weather before the helicopter hit the ground was an act of God and blamed air traffic controllers.The federal hearing focused on the long-awaited probable cause or causes of the tragedy that unleashed worldwide grief for the retired basketball star, launched several lawsuits and prompted state and federal legislation.“I think the whole world is watching because it’s Kobe,” said Ed Coleman, an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor and aircraft safety science expert.Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and six other passengers were flying from Orange County to a youth basketball tournament at his Mamba Sports Academy in Ventura County on Jan. 26, 2020, when the helicopter encountered thick fog in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.The Sikorsky S-76 helicopter banked abruptly and plunged into hills below, killing all nine aboard instantly before flames engulfed the wreckage.There was no sign of mechanical failure and the crash was believed to be an accident, the National Transportation Safety Board has said previously.The board during its hearing Tuesday is likely to make nonbinding recommendations to prevent future crashes when it meets remotely and announces its findings about the crash.The NTSB is an independent federal agency that investigates transportation-related crashes but has no enforcement powers.It submits suggestions to agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration or the Coast Guard, which have repeatedly rejected some board safety recommendations after other disasters.Over the past year, experts have speculated that the crash could lead to requiring Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems, devices that signal when aircraft are in danger of crashing, on helicopters.The helicopter that Bryant was flying in did not have the system, which the NTSB has recommended as mandatory for helicopters. The FAA requires it only for air ambulances.However, NTSB investigator-in-charge Bill English said Tuesday that the system, known as TAWS, would likely not have been helpful in the scenario in which Bryant’s helicopter crashed.The hilly terrain, combined with the pilot’s spatial disorientation in the clouds, would have been “a confusing factor,” English said.“The pilot doesn’t know which way is up,” English said.Federal investigators said Zobayan, an experienced pilot who often flew Bryant, may have “misperceived” the angles at which he was descending and banking, which can occur when pilots become disoriented in low visibility, according to NTSB documents.Investigators on Tuesday also faulted Zobayan for banking to the left instead of ascending straight up while trying to climb out of the bad weather.The others killed in the crash were Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa; Christina Mauser, who helped Bryant coach his daughter’s basketball team; and Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton. Alyssa and Payton were Gianna’s teammates.The crash has generated lawsuits and countersuits.On the day that a massive memorial service was held at the Staples Center, where Bryant played most of his career, Vanessa Bryant sued Zobayan and the companies that owned and operated the helicopter for alleged negligence and the wrongful deaths of her husband and daughter. Families of other victims sued the helicopter companies but not the pilot.Vanessa Bryant said Island Express Helicopters Inc., which operated the aircraft, and its owner, Island Express Holding Corp., did not properly train or supervise Zobayan. She said the pilot was careless and negligent to fly in fog and should have aborted the flight.Zobayan’s brother, Berge Zobayan, has said Kobe Bryant knew the risks of flying in a helicopter and that his survivors aren’t entitled to damages from the pilot’s estate. Island Express Helicopters Inc. denied responsibility and said the crash was “an act of God” that it could not control.The company also countersued two FAA air traffic controllers, saying the crash was caused by their “series of erroneous acts and/or omissions.”The countersuit claims one controller improperly denied Zobayan’s request for “flight following,” or radar assistance, as he proceeded in the fog. Officials have said the controller terminated service because radar could not be maintained at the altitude the aircraft was flying.According to the lawsuit, the controller said he was going to lose radar and communications shortly, but radar contact was not lost.When a second controller took over, the lawsuit said, the first controller failed to brief him about the helicopter, and because the radar services were not terminated correctly, the pilot believed he was being tracked.Vanessa Bryant also sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, accusing deputies of sharing unauthorized photos of the crash site. California now has a state law prohibiting such conduct.___

NTSB reports cause of Kobe Bryant helicopter crash

Charlotte, NC (AP) — Marty Schottenheimer, who won 200 regular-season games with four NFL teams thanks to his “Martyball” brand of smash-mouth football but regularly fell short in the playoffs, has died. He was 77. Family friend Bob Moore says Schottenheimer died late Monday night at a hospice in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014. He was moved to a hospice on Jan. 30. Schottenheimer was the eighth-winningest coach in NFL history. 

He went 200-126-1 in 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers.

The Chiefs named Schottenheimer head coach on January 24, 1989. He won 101 games and lost 58 during his ten seasons in Kansas City.

His success was rooted in “Martyball,” a conservative approach that featured a strong running game and tough defense.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612881503125.png" alt="Coach Marty Schottenheimer photo courtesy Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Coach Marty Schottenheimer photo courtesy Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>Charlotte, NC (AP) — Marty Schottenheimer, who won 200 regular-season games with four NFL teams thanks to his “Martyball” brand of smash-mouth football but regularly fell short in the playoffs, has died. He was 77. Family friend Bob Moore says Schottenheimer died late Monday night at a hospice in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014. He was moved to a hospice on Jan. 30. Schottenheimer was the eighth-winningest coach in NFL history. He went 200-126-1 in 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers.The Chiefs named Schottenheimer head coach on January 24, 1989. He won 101 games and lost 58 during his ten seasons in Kansas City.His success was rooted in “Martyball,” a conservative approach that featured a strong running game and tough defense.

Marty Schottenheimer, former Chiefs coach, dies at 77

WASHINGTON (AP) —Evidence is mounting that having COVID-19 may not protect against getting infected again with some of the new variants. People also can get second infections with earlier versions of the coronavirus if they mounted a weak defense the first time, new research suggests.

How long immunity lasts from natural infection is one of the big questions in the pandemic. Scientists still think reinfections are fairly rare and usually less serious than initial ones, but recent developments around the world have raised concerns.

In South Africa, a vaccine study found new infections with a variant in 2% of people who previously had an earlier version of the virus.

In Brazil, several similar cases were documented with a new variant there. Researchers are exploring whether reinfections help explain a recent surge in the city of Manaus, where three-fourths of residents were thought to have been previously infected.

In the United States, a study found that 10% of Marine recruits who had evidence of prior infection and repeatedly tested negative before starting basic training were later infected again. That work was done before the new variants began to spread, said one study leader, Dr. Stuart Sealfon of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

“Previous infection does not give you a free pass,” he said. “A substantial risk of reinfection remains.”

Reinfections pose a public health concern, not just a personal one. Even in cases where reinfection causes no symptoms or just mild ones, people might still spread the virus. That’s why health officials are urging vaccination as a longer-term solution and encouraging people to wear masks, keep physical distance and wash their hands frequently.

“It’s an incentive to do what we have been saying all along: to vaccinate as many people as we can and to do so as quickly as we can,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert.

“My looking at the data suggests ... and I want to underline suggests ... the protection induced by a vaccine may even be a little better” than natural infection, Fauci said.

Doctors in South Africa began to worry when they saw a surge of cases late last year in areas where blood tests suggested many people had already had the virus.

Until recently, all indications were “that previous infection confers protection for at least nine months,” so a second wave should have been “relatively subdued,” said Dr. Shabir Madhi of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

Scientists discovered a new version of the virus that’s more contagious and less susceptible to certain treatments. It now causes more than 90% of new cases in South Africa and has spread to 40 countries including the United States.

Madhi led a study testing Novavax’s vaccine and found it less effective against the new variant. The study also revealed that infections with the new variant were just as common among people who had COVID-19 as those who had not.

“What this basically tells us, unfortunately, is that past infection with early variants of the virus in South Africa does not protect” against the new one, he said.

In Brazil, a spike in hospitalizations in Manaus in January caused similar worry and revealed a new variant that’s also more contagious and less vulnerable to some treatments.

“Reinfection could be one of the drivers of these cases,” said Dr. Ester Sabino of the University of Sao Paulo. She wrote&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00183-5/fulltext" target="_blank">an article in the journal Lancet</a>&nbsp;on possible explanations. “We have not yet been able to define how frequently this is happening,” she said.

California scientists also are investigating whether a recently identified variant may be causing reinfections or a surge of cases there.

“We’re looking at that now,” seeking blood samples from past cases, said Jasmine Plummer, a researcher at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Dr. Howard Bauchner, editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Medical Association, said it soon would report on what he called “the Los Angeles variant.”

New variants were not responsible for the reinfections seen in the study of Marines — it was done before the mutated viruses emerged, said Sealfon, who led that work with the Naval Medical Research Center. Other findings from the study were published in the New England Journal of Medicine; the new ones on reinfection are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.26.21250535v1" target="_blank">posted on a research website.</a>

The study involved several thousand Marine recruits who tested negative for the virus three times during a two-week supervised military quarantine before starting basic training.

Among the 189 whose blood tests indicated they had been infected in the past, 19 tested positive again during the six weeks of training. That’s far less than those without previous infection — “almost half of them became infected at the basic training site,” Sealfon said.

The amount and quality of antibodies that previously infected Marines had upon arrival was tied to their risk of getting the virus again. No reinfections caused serious illness, but that does not mean the recruits were not at risk of spreading infection to others, Sealfon said.

“It does look like reinfection is possible. I don’t think we fully understand why that is and why immunity has not developed” in those cases, said an immunology expert with no role in the study, E. John Wherry of the University of Pennsylvania.

“Natural infections can leave you with a range of immunity” while vaccines consistently induce high levels of antibodies, Wherry said.

“I am optimistic that our vaccines are doing a little bit better.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612878873265.png" alt="Map of tracked variant occurrence February 9, 2021 <a href="https://www.gisaid.org/hcov19-variants/">image GISAID</a>." />
 <figcaption>Map of tracked variant occurrence February 9, 2021 <a href="https://www.gisaid.org/hcov19-variants/">image GISAID</a>.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Evidence is mounting that having COVID-19 may not protect against getting infected again with some of the new variants. People also can get second infections with earlier versions of the coronavirus if they mounted a weak defense the first time, new research suggests.How long immunity lasts from natural infection is one of the big questions in the pandemic. Scientists still think reinfections are fairly rare and usually less serious than initial ones, but recent developments around the world have raised concerns.In South Africa, a vaccine study found new infections with a variant in 2% of people who previously had an earlier version of the virus.In Brazil, several similar cases were documented with a new variant there. Researchers are exploring whether reinfections help explain a recent surge in the city of Manaus, where three-fourths of residents were thought to have been previously infected.In the United States, a study found that 10% of Marine recruits who had evidence of prior infection and repeatedly tested negative before starting basic training were later infected again. That work was done before the new variants began to spread, said one study leader, Dr. Stuart Sealfon of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.“Previous infection does not give you a free pass,” he said. “A substantial risk of reinfection remains.”Reinfections pose a public health concern, not just a personal one. Even in cases where reinfection causes no symptoms or just mild ones, people might still spread the virus. That’s why health officials are urging vaccination as a longer-term solution and encouraging people to wear masks, keep physical distance and wash their hands frequently.“It’s an incentive to do what we have been saying all along: to vaccinate as many people as we can and to do so as quickly as we can,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert.“My looking at the data suggests ... and I want to underline suggests ... the protection induced by a vaccine may even be a little better” than natural infection, Fauci said.Doctors in South Africa began to worry when they saw a surge of cases late last year in areas where blood tests suggested many people had already had the virus.Until recently, all indications were “that previous infection confers protection for at least nine months,” so a second wave should have been “relatively subdued,” said Dr. Shabir Madhi of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.Scientists discovered a new version of the virus that’s more contagious and less susceptible to certain treatments. It now causes more than 90% of new cases in South Africa and has spread to 40 countries including the United States.Madhi led a study testing Novavax’s vaccine and found it less effective against the new variant. The study also revealed that infections with the new variant were just as common among people who had COVID-19 as those who had not.“What this basically tells us, unfortunately, is that past infection with early variants of the virus in South Africa does not protect” against the new one, he said.In Brazil, a spike in hospitalizations in Manaus in January caused similar worry and revealed a new variant that’s also more contagious and less vulnerable to some treatments.“Reinfection could be one of the drivers of these cases,” said Dr. Ester Sabino of the University of Sao Paulo. She wrote&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00183-5/fulltext" target="_blank">an article in the journal Lancet</a>&nbsp;on possible explanations. “We have not yet been able to define how frequently this is happening,” she said.California scientists also are investigating whether a recently identified variant may be causing reinfections or a surge of cases there.“We’re looking at that now,” seeking blood samples from past cases, said Jasmine Plummer, a researcher at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.Dr. Howard Bauchner, editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Medical Association, said it soon would report on what he called “the Los Angeles variant.”New variants were not responsible for the reinfections seen in the study of Marines — it was done before the mutated viruses emerged, said Sealfon, who led that work with the Naval Medical Research Center. Other findings from the study were published in the New England Journal of Medicine; the new ones on reinfection are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.26.21250535v1" target="_blank">posted on a research website.</a>The study involved several thousand Marine recruits who tested negative for the virus three times during a two-week supervised military quarantine before starting basic training.Among the 189 whose blood tests indicated they had been infected in the past, 19 tested positive again during the six weeks of training. That’s far less than those without previous infection — “almost half of them became infected at the basic training site,” Sealfon said.The amount and quality of antibodies that previously infected Marines had upon arrival was tied to their risk of getting the virus again. No reinfections caused serious illness, but that does not mean the recruits were not at risk of spreading infection to others, Sealfon said.“It does look like reinfection is possible. I don’t think we fully understand why that is and why immunity has not developed” in those cases, said an immunology expert with no role in the study, E. John Wherry of the University of Pennsylvania.“Natural infections can leave you with a range of immunity” while vaccines consistently induce high levels of antibodies, Wherry said.“I am optimistic that our vaccines are doing a little bit better.”___

New variants raise worry about COVID-19 virus reinfections

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal February 5, shooting have made a second arrest.

On Monday, police reported the arrest of a 16-year-old boy on a requested charge of felony murder, stemming from a shooting that fatally injured 14-year-old Jesus Fernandez of Wichita.&nbsp; Police had previously arrested a 17-year-old in the investigation.

Just after 1p.m. February 5, police responded to a walk-in shooting call at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.&nbsp; The victim, Fernandez, was in critical condition and later died, according to Ramsay. A 15-year-old was also at the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. He was treated and released.

Investigators learned a 17-year-old had set up an illegal drug transaction at Schell Park in Wichita and asked the 15-year-old to drive him there. Fernandez was in the vehicle with the 15-year-old.&nbsp;

When the teens arrived at the park, two suspects approached the vehicle and began to discuss the transaction. At that time one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots at the boys and took the illegal drugs, according to Ramsay. Police have not released the suspect's name.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting have arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the death of 14-year-old Jesus Fernandez, according to Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay.

Just after 1p.m. Friday police responded to a walk-in shooting call at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.&nbsp; The victim, Fernandez, was in critical condition and later died, according to Ramsay. A 15-year-old was also at the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. He was treated and released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612642180279.png" alt="Police on the scene of Friday's shooting investigation." />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of Friday's shooting investigation.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal February 5, shooting have made a second arrest.On Monday, police reported the arrest of a 16-year-old boy on a requested charge of felony murder, stemming from a shooting that fatally injured 14-year-old Jesus Fernandez of Wichita.&nbsp; Police had previously arrested a 17-year-old in the investigation.Just after 1p.m. February 5, police responded to a walk-in shooting call at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.&nbsp; The victim, Fernandez, was in critical condition and later died, according to Ramsay. A 15-year-old was also at the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. He was treated and released.Investigators learned a 17-year-old had set up an illegal drug transaction at Schell Park in Wichita and asked the 15-year-old to drive him there. Fernandez was in the vehicle with the 15-year-old.&nbsp;When the teens arrived at the park, two suspects approached the vehicle and began to discuss the transaction. At that time one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots at the boys and took the illegal drugs, according to Ramsay. Police have not released the suspect's name.--------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting have arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the death of 14-year-old Jesus Fernandez, according to Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay.Just after 1p.m. Friday police responded to a walk-in shooting call at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.&nbsp; The victim, Fernandez, was in critical condition and later died, according to Ramsay. A 15-year-old was also at the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. He was treated and released.Investigators learned a 17-year-old had set up an illegal drug transaction at Schell Park in Wichita and asked the 15-year-old to drive him there. Fernandez was in the vehicle with the 15-year-old.&nbsp;When the teens arrived at the park, two suspects approached the vehicle and began to discuss the transaction. At that time one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots at the boys and took the illegal drugs, according to Ramsay. Police have not released the suspect's name.

2nd Kan. teen in custody for drug deal killing of 14-year-old

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two top Republican lawmakers said Monday that Kansas might not need to keep its state of emergency for COVID-19 in place past the end of March, signaling possible internal GOP divisions about keeping the pandemic restrictions further into the spring.

The comments from Senate President Ty Masterson, of Andover, and Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop, of Wichita, are significant because&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb14_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a law</a>&nbsp;enacted last month keeps the current state of emergency in place only through March 31. Lawmakers plan to revise the emergency management laws that govern the state’s response to the pandemic and haven’t yet discussed how far they want to let Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly extend the current state of emergency.

The GOP leaders’ comments also came as lawmakers were wrestling with an issue arising out of the pandemic. Some prosecutors want to suspend a law that sets deadlines for criminal trials to protect defendants’ right to speedy trials, fearing that a backlog of pandemic-delayed cases could lead many to be dismissed.

Masterson said with COVID-19 vaccines “taking hold” and some immunity among the state’s 2.9 million residents, he could see the state of emergency ending. Suellentrop said Kansas still could see some spikes in cases but added that he believes the state is “reaching the tail end of this.”

“It won’t be over for a while,” Suellentrop said in an interview. “Will we get a handle on it? I think that in the next 45 days we certainly will have a much better handle on it.”

The state’s average number of new daily confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases has dropped in recent weeks to lows not seen since late October.

Kansas saw an average of 899 new cases a day for the seven days that ended Monday, according to state health department data. The department added 1,398 cases since Friday to its pandemic total of 282,960. That’s almost one case for every 10 Kansas residents.

The department also added 96 additional COVID-19 deaths since Friday, pushing its COVID-19 death toll to 4,197. While Kansas averaged a record 55 new deaths a day for the seven days that ended Monday, part of the surge was due to past deaths being recorded when birth certificates were filed weeks after people died.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data" target="_blank">The health department reported</a>&nbsp;that 8% of the state’s population had been vaccinated as of Monday, with more than 233,000 people receiving at least the first of two required doses. Almost 304,000 doses had been administered, or 73% of the 413,000 doses sent to Kansas by the federal government.

“Hopefully, by the end of March, when the time tolls, we’ll have a reason to shut it (the state of emergency) down,” Masterson said.

The law extending the current state of emergency until March 31 also kept in place previous restrictions on Kelly’s authority. It allows the state’s 105 counties to opt out of a mask mandate she issued in November, as well as other health orders from her. And it prevents her from closing businesses statewide again, as she did last spring.

Kelly has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-topeka-laws-11d4ab2aa30ffe24690564e05683ed7b">she wants lawmakers to rethink&nbsp;</a>giving local officials control over pandemic restriction, arguing that a “patchwork approach” doesn’t work. But many Republicans want counties in control, and some of them want the Legislature, including its rank-and-file members, to have more say over the state’s response to a pandemic.

It’s not yet clear how many Republican lawmakers have embraced ending the state of emergency March 31. Kelly’s office did not immediately respond to Masterson’s and Suellentrop’s comments, but she and officials in her administration have said repeatedly that having it in place makes it easier to move resources around the state and tap federal funding to cover the state’s costs.

Also, vaccinating the general population is likely to take months, and public health officials worry that case numbers will rise again with the arrival last week of a more contagious coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom.

“I haven’t even thought that far ahead, to tell you the truth,” said House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican.

During the pandemic, Kansas district courts have not been required to abide by a law that generally requires criminal defendants to be brought to trial within six months of entering a plea or be released. But Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert’s authority to extend speedy trial deadlines would expire with the state of emergency.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is considering&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/sb57_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill&nbsp;</a>proposed by prosecutors to suspend the deadline for cases filed by May 1, 2024, so that courts can catch up on holding trials that have been delayed. During hearings last week, some senators and defense attorneys questioned the measure, and Chair Kellie Warren, a Leawood Republican, said Monday that she’s asked both sides to draft a compromise.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593513419144.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-topeka-laws-11d4ab2aa30ffe24690564e05683ed7b">she wants lawmakers to rethink&nbsp;</a>giving local officials control over pandemic restriction, arguing that a “patchwork approach” doesn’t work.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-topeka-laws-11d4ab2aa30ffe24690564e05683ed7b">she wants lawmakers to rethink&nbsp;</a>giving local officials control over pandemic restriction, arguing that a “patchwork approach” doesn’t work.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two top Republican lawmakers said Monday that Kansas might not need to keep its state of emergency for COVID-19 in place past the end of March, signaling possible internal GOP divisions about keeping the pandemic restrictions further into the spring.The comments from Senate President Ty Masterson, of Andover, and Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop, of Wichita, are significant because&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb14_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a law</a>&nbsp;enacted last month keeps the current state of emergency in place only through March 31. Lawmakers plan to revise the emergency management laws that govern the state’s response to the pandemic and haven’t yet discussed how far they want to let Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly extend the current state of emergency.The GOP leaders’ comments also came as lawmakers were wrestling with an issue arising out of the pandemic. Some prosecutors want to suspend a law that sets deadlines for criminal trials to protect defendants’ right to speedy trials, fearing that a backlog of pandemic-delayed cases could lead many to be dismissed.Masterson said with COVID-19 vaccines “taking hold” and some immunity among the state’s 2.9 million residents, he could see the state of emergency ending. Suellentrop said Kansas still could see some spikes in cases but added that he believes the state is “reaching the tail end of this.”“It won’t be over for a while,” Suellentrop said in an interview. “Will we get a handle on it? I think that in the next 45 days we certainly will have a much better handle on it.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612809873940.png" alt="February 8, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>February 8, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The state’s average number of new daily confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases has dropped in recent weeks to lows not seen since late October.Kansas saw an average of 899 new cases a day for the seven days that ended Monday, according to state health department data. The department added 1,398 cases since Friday to its pandemic total of 282,960. That’s almost one case for every 10 Kansas residents.The department also added 96 additional COVID-19 deaths since Friday, pushing its COVID-19 death toll to 4,197. While Kansas averaged a record 55 new deaths a day for the seven days that ended Monday, part of the surge was due to past deaths being recorded when birth certificates were filed weeks after people died.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data" target="_blank">The health department reported</a>&nbsp;that 8% of the state’s population had been vaccinated as of Monday, with more than 233,000 people receiving at least the first of two required doses. Almost 304,000 doses had been administered, or 73% of the 413,000 doses sent to Kansas by the federal government.“Hopefully, by the end of March, when the time tolls, we’ll have a reason to shut it (the state of emergency) down,” Masterson said.The law extending the current state of emergency until March 31 also kept in place previous restrictions on Kelly’s authority. It allows the state’s 105 counties to opt out of a mask mandate she issued in November, as well as other health orders from her. And it prevents her from closing businesses statewide again, as she did last spring.Kelly has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-topeka-laws-11d4ab2aa30ffe24690564e05683ed7b">she wants lawmakers to rethink&nbsp;</a>giving local officials control over pandemic restriction, arguing that a “patchwork approach” doesn’t work. But many Republicans want counties in control, and some of them want the Legislature, including its rank-and-file members, to have more say over the state’s response to a pandemic.It’s not yet clear how many Republican lawmakers have embraced ending the state of emergency March 31. Kelly’s office did not immediately respond to Masterson’s and Suellentrop’s comments, but she and officials in her administration have said repeatedly that having it in place makes it easier to move resources around the state and tap federal funding to cover the state’s costs.Also, vaccinating the general population is likely to take months, and public health officials worry that case numbers will rise again with the arrival last week of a more contagious coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom.“I haven’t even thought that far ahead, to tell you the truth,” said House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican.During the pandemic, Kansas district courts have not been required to abide by a law that generally requires criminal defendants to be brought to trial within six months of entering a plea or be released. But Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert’s authority to extend speedy trial deadlines would expire with the state of emergency.The Senate Judiciary Committee is considering&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/sb57_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill&nbsp;</a>proposed by prosecutors to suspend the deadline for cases filed by May 1, 2024, so that courts can catch up on holding trials that have been delayed. During hearings last week, some senators and defense attorneys questioned the measure, and Chair Kellie Warren, a Leawood Republican, said Monday that she’s asked both sides to draft a compromise.

GOP leaders: Kan. virus emergency might end next month

WICHITA —The Wichita Board of Education voted Monday night to drop the use of the name Redskin.&nbsp;The board agreed with the North High Mascot Committee that the name is offensive to Native Americans and is racially and culturally insensitive.

The committee will not create a new mascot, but will adhere to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usd259.org/cms/lib/KS01906405/Centricity/domain/622/boe%20policies/1216%20School%20Themes.pdf">BOE policy 1216</a>, which states a school building principal is responsible for the development of school themes, songs, flags, etc. At this time, the North High administration has no plans to create a new mascot, according to the USD 259 web site. The school will be referred to Wichita North High School and the school will continue to use their shield, drum and feather logo.

The North High School mascot committee did not recommend the school create a new mascot and should focus on the school's pride.

The school will have a 2-year phase-in plan starting in the 21-22 school year to remove the mascot name on athletic and fine arts uniforms, school apparel and signs.&nbsp;

The committee said this is not about rewriting history or erasing North’s past and accomplishments of the North community and alumni. All trophy cases and statues will remain as they are, as well as the Native American artwork on the outside of the school.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The committee also recommended the development of a 9th&nbsp;grade Advocacy class curriculum that highlights the history of North High and its Native American influence. The curriculum would be developed in conjunction with the WPS Native American Program and include hands-on experiences with Native American artifacts.

In January a large Kansas City area school district voted to eliminate the Braves and Indians mascots that four of its schools used. The Shawnee Mission district board&nbsp; decided that the mascots at Shawnee Mission North High School and Belinder, Shawanoe, Ruston elementary schools vneed to be replaced.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612832001482.png" alt="Superintendent Alicia Thompson during Monday's board meeting -image courtesy USD 259" />
 <figcaption>Superintendent Alicia Thompson during Monday's board meeting -image courtesy USD 259</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —The Wichita Board of Education voted Monday night to drop the use of the name Redskin.&nbsp;The board agreed with the North High Mascot Committee that the name is offensive to Native Americans and is racially and culturally insensitive.The committee will not create a new mascot, but will adhere to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usd259.org/cms/lib/KS01906405/Centricity/domain/622/boe%20policies/1216%20School%20Themes.pdf">BOE policy 1216</a>, which states a school building principal is responsible for the development of school themes, songs, flags, etc. At this time, the North High administration has no plans to create a new mascot, according to the USD 259 web site. The school will be referred to Wichita North High School and the school will continue to use their shield, drum and feather logo.The North High School mascot committee did not recommend the school create a new mascot and should focus on the school's pride.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The committee came up with four recommendations. <a href="https://t.co/ul6moycxMn">pic.twitter.com/ul6moycxMn</a>&mdash; Wichita Public Schools (@WichitaUSD259) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaUSD259/status/1358957262887297026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The school will have a 2-year phase-in plan starting in the 21-22 school year to remove the mascot name on athletic and fine arts uniforms, school apparel and signs.&nbsp;The committee said this is not about rewriting history or erasing North’s past and accomplishments of the North community and alumni. All trophy cases and statues will remain as they are, as well as the Native American artwork on the outside of the school.&nbsp;&nbsp;The committee also recommended the development of a 9th&nbsp;grade Advocacy class curriculum that highlights the history of North High and its Native American influence. The curriculum would be developed in conjunction with the WPS Native American Program and include hands-on experiences with Native American artifacts.In January a large Kansas City area school district voted to eliminate the Braves and Indians mascots that four of its schools used. The Shawnee Mission district board&nbsp; decided that the mascots at Shawnee Mission North High School and Belinder, Shawanoe, Ruston elementary schools vneed to be replaced.

Kan. largest school district votes to ditch Redskins mascot

TOPEKA – As part of the unemployment extension provisions contained in H.R. 133, the Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020 (Continued Assistance Act), increased the maximum amount of benefits available under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)program from 39 weeks to 50 weeks, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Labor.

The extension of this program is now available. To file for the additional weeks, claimants should log into their unemployment benefits claim portal. PUA expands access to unemployment for those who are unemployed as a direct result of COVID19 and not eligible for or exhausted regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) benefits. This includes those who are self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, employees of religious organizations, and those who lack sufficient work history or have been disqualified for state benefits.

Claimants currently receiving PUA benefits who previously exhausted PEUC benefits may only collect PUA if they have exhausted any entitlement to PEUC. Because the Continued Assistance Act also increased the maximum amount of benefits available under the PEUC program, claimants actively filing for PUA with a previous PEUC claim are no longer eligible to receive PUA. 

For claimants who continue to be unemployed or partially unemployed, KDOL will provide further instruction by the end of February on how to reopen their PEUC claims. If these claimants later exhaust benefits under the PEUC program and continue to be unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work as a direct result of COVID-19, they may be eligible to resume collection of PUA benefits if the PUA program is still in effect.

Claimants filing for PUA with no previous PEUC claim should continue to file their claims each week for the PUA program as directed. Under federal law, these additional PUA benefits may only be collected for weeks ending on or after Dec. 27, 2020.

The PUA program expires on March 14, 2021. This means that the last payable week for PUA is the week ending March 13, 2021. However, if you receive a PUA payment for the week ending March&nbsp; 13, 2021, and have remaining entitlement on your claim, you may be eligible to participate in a phase-out period and you may continue to collect PUA through the week ending April 10, 2021.

Since March 15, 2020, KDOL has paid out over 3.9 million weekly claims totaling over $2.6 billion between regular unemployment and the federal pandemic programs. For more information, or to apply for unemployment benefits, go to www.GetKansasBenefits.gov

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610733397386.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – As part of the unemployment extension provisions contained in H.R. 133, the Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020 (Continued Assistance Act), increased the maximum amount of benefits available under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)program from 39 weeks to 50 weeks, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Labor.The extension of this program is now available. To file for the additional weeks, claimants should log into their unemployment benefits claim portal. PUA expands access to unemployment for those who are unemployed as a direct result of COVID19 and not eligible for or exhausted regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) benefits. This includes those who are self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, employees of religious organizations, and those who lack sufficient work history or have been disqualified for state benefits.Claimants currently receiving PUA benefits who previously exhausted PEUC benefits may only collect PUA if they have exhausted any entitlement to PEUC. Because the Continued Assistance Act also increased the maximum amount of benefits available under the PEUC program, claimants actively filing for PUA with a previous PEUC claim are no longer eligible to receive PUA. For claimants who continue to be unemployed or partially unemployed, KDOL will provide further instruction by the end of February on how to reopen their PEUC claims. If these claimants later exhaust benefits under the PEUC program and continue to be unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work as a direct result of COVID-19, they may be eligible to resume collection of PUA benefits if the PUA program is still in effect.Claimants filing for PUA with no previous PEUC claim should continue to file their claims each week for the PUA program as directed. Under federal law, these additional PUA benefits may only be collected for weeks ending on or after Dec. 27, 2020.The PUA program expires on March 14, 2021. This means that the last payable week for PUA is the week ending March 13, 2021. However, if you receive a PUA payment for the week ending March&nbsp; 13, 2021, and have remaining entitlement on your claim, you may be eligible to participate in a phase-out period and you may continue to collect PUA through the week ending April 10, 2021.Since March 15, 2020, KDOL has paid out over 3.9 million weekly claims totaling over $2.6 billion between regular unemployment and the federal pandemic programs. For more information, or to apply for unemployment benefits, go to www.GetKansasBenefits.gov

Kansas extends your pandemic unemployment assistance

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after a weekend arrest.

Just after 7a.m. February 6, a sheriff's sergeant on patrol observed a blue Chevrolet Suburban parked at a business in the 500 block of SE Croco Road, according to deputy Abigail Christian.

A vehicle matching that description had been stolen about one hour prior. As the sergeant observed that the tag on the vehicle matched that of the one stolen, the driver quickly fled from the parking lot southbound on SE Croco Road. 

The driver initiated a brief pursuit that ended when he struck a pole at SE Jane Way and SE Croco Road.

A citizen observed one suspect hiding under a truck in the 400 block of SE Croco Road. A K9 unit tracked and apprehended another suspect 28-year-old Bradley J. Sutton a shed in the 500 block of SE Baldwin Road. During the investigation, it was discovered that another vehicle burglary occurred that morning in the 900 block of NW Menninger Road. 

Deputies located multiple stolen items from that burglary were located during this investigation.

Sutton was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of, flee and elude, reckless driving, interference with law enforcement, speeding, driving with a suspended license, burglary to a vehicle and fail to stop at an accident. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612732869736.png" alt="Sutton photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Sutton photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after a weekend arrest.Just after 7a.m. February 6, a sheriff's sergeant on patrol observed a blue Chevrolet Suburban parked at a business in the 500 block of SE Croco Road, according to deputy Abigail Christian.A vehicle matching that description had been stolen about one hour prior. As the sergeant observed that the tag on the vehicle matched that of the one stolen, the driver quickly fled from the parking lot southbound on SE Croco Road. The driver initiated a brief pursuit that ended when he struck a pole at SE Jane Way and SE Croco Road.A citizen observed one suspect hiding under a truck in the 400 block of SE Croco Road. A K9 unit tracked and apprehended another suspect 28-year-old Bradley J. Sutton a shed in the 500 block of SE Baldwin Road. During the investigation, it was discovered that another vehicle burglary occurred that morning in the 900 block of NW Menninger Road. Deputies located multiple stolen items from that burglary were located during this investigation.Sutton was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of, flee and elude, reckless driving, interference with law enforcement, speeding, driving with a suspended license, burglary to a vehicle and fail to stop at an accident.

Deputies arrest suspect in stolen SUV after crash

FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged child abuse.

On Saturday, Wesley Medical Center in Wichita contacted Dodge City Police regarding child abuse involving a five-month-old baby from Dodge City, according to a media release.

The child was being treated at the hospital for multiple brain bleeds believed to have been sustained at his Dodge City home. 

A subsequent investigation by detectives resulted in an arrest warrant issued for the baby's father on the alleged charge of abuse of a child and aggravated battery. 

Police have released no additional details.

FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged child abuse.On Saturday, Wesley Medical Center in Wichita contacted Dodge City Police regarding child abuse involving a five-month-old baby from Dodge City, according to a media release.The child was being treated at the hospital for multiple brain bleeds believed to have been sustained at his Dodge City home. A subsequent investigation by detectives resulted in an arrest warrant issued for the baby's father on the alleged charge of abuse of a child and aggravated battery. Police have released no additional details.

Police: Father of 5-month-old SW Kan. baby accused of abuse

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects in connection with a home burglary.

Just before 3a.m. February 4, police responded to a burglary in progress call at a home in the 400 block of North Minnesota Avenue in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler. Upon arrival, officers contacted the 50-year-old homeowner, who reported seeing someone inside the vacant home.

Officers searched the residence and located 31-year-old Andrew Hastings and 35-year-old Brandon Kennedy in the attic.&nbsp; They were arrested without incident.&nbsp; During the investigation, officers recovered some of the owner’s property inside a red Toyota Sienna associated with the suspects.&nbsp; Hastings was also found to be in possession of a prohibited weapon.

&nbsp;Hastings of Wichita is being held on requested charges of burglary, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal damage to property, and three city of Wichita outstanding warrants.&nbsp; Kennedy on is being held on requested charges of burglary and criminal damage to property, according to Wheeler.

Additionally, Hastings and Kennedy have previously been arrested for felony crimes.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612534632425.png" alt="Kennedy-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Kennedy-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects in connection with a home burglary.Just before 3a.m. February 4, police responded to a burglary in progress call at a home in the 400 block of North Minnesota Avenue in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler. Upon arrival, officers contacted the 50-year-old homeowner, who reported seeing someone inside the vacant home.Officers searched the residence and located 31-year-old Andrew Hastings and 35-year-old Brandon Kennedy in the attic.&nbsp; They were arrested without incident.&nbsp; During the investigation, officers recovered some of the owner’s property inside a red Toyota Sienna associated with the suspects.&nbsp; Hastings was also found to be in possession of a prohibited weapon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612534604231.png" alt="Hastings photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Hastings photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Hastings of Wichita is being held on requested charges of burglary, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal damage to property, and three city of Wichita outstanding warrants.&nbsp; Kennedy on is being held on requested charges of burglary and criminal damage to property, according to Wheeler.Additionally, Hastings and Kennedy have previously been arrested for felony crimes.The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Police find 2 Kan. burglary suspects hiding in home's attic

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A freshman Kansas House member who’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-city-kansas-topeka-94b1c3706dc3a2d9b8daf5e8cc50b716">due to get a public warning</a>&nbsp;from colleagues about his behavior before he took office has rejoined the Democratic Party.

Rep. Aaron Coleman of Kansas City, Kansas, confirmed Monday that he returned to the party last week, about three weeks after registering unaffiliated. Coleman had switched to unaffiliated after the House’s top Democrat, Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, refused to give him any committee assignments.

But Coleman said Monday: “I was elected as a Democrat. I ran as a Democrat. I vote with the Democrats.”

The 20-year-old Coleman was accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-kansas-city-kansas-elections-topeka-d6ea4066903abd8ef70d60bebe6c8a3c">abusive behavior</a>&nbsp;toward girls and young women before he took office last month and of telling an aide to Sawyer last year that&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_spc_select_investigating_committee_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_spc_select_investigating_committee_1_20210122_08_testimony.html" target="_blank">he would physically harm</a>&nbsp;the legislative leader.

Those allegations led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-city-kansas-topeka-a8396d22a454fb712cce1bf40193e8c7">a complaint&nbsp;</a>from fellow House Democrats, along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-kansas-topeka-elections-fd91a21ee706c19194c7d302a2315d28">a now-deleted tweet</a>&nbsp;criticizing Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly that said, “People will realize one day when I call a hit out on you it’s real.”

Coleman told a House committee reviewing the complaint that the tweet was inappropriate, and he apologized to Sawyer for “inappropriate conduct.”

The committee is drafting a letter warning Coleman about his past conduct and spelling out its expectations for his future behavior.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612808257648.png" alt="Photo courtesy Rep. Aaron Coleman" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Rep. Aaron Coleman</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A freshman Kansas House member who’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-city-kansas-topeka-94b1c3706dc3a2d9b8daf5e8cc50b716">due to get a public warning</a>&nbsp;from colleagues about his behavior before he took office has rejoined the Democratic Party.Rep. Aaron Coleman of Kansas City, Kansas, confirmed Monday that he returned to the party last week, about three weeks after registering unaffiliated. Coleman had switched to unaffiliated after the House’s top Democrat, Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, refused to give him any committee assignments.But Coleman said Monday: “I was elected as a Democrat. I ran as a Democrat. I vote with the Democrats.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604624233968.png" alt="Photo courtesy Aaron Coleman" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Aaron Coleman</figcaption>
 </figure>The 20-year-old Coleman was accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-kansas-city-kansas-elections-topeka-d6ea4066903abd8ef70d60bebe6c8a3c">abusive behavior</a>&nbsp;toward girls and young women before he took office last month and of telling an aide to Sawyer last year that&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_spc_select_investigating_committee_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_spc_select_investigating_committee_1_20210122_08_testimony.html" target="_blank">he would physically harm</a>&nbsp;the legislative leader.Those allegations led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-city-kansas-topeka-a8396d22a454fb712cce1bf40193e8c7">a complaint&nbsp;</a>from fellow House Democrats, along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-kansas-topeka-elections-fd91a21ee706c19194c7d302a2315d28">a now-deleted tweet</a>&nbsp;criticizing Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly that said, “People will realize one day when I call a hit out on you it’s real.”Coleman told a House committee reviewing the complaint that the tweet was inappropriate, and he apologized to Sawyer for “inappropriate conduct.”The committee is drafting a letter warning Coleman about his past conduct and spelling out its expectations for his future behavior.

Kansas lawmaker facing warning rejoins Democratic Party

BUTLER COUNTY —An El Dorado Correctional Facility resident, Jordan McClintock, 30, died Saturday, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

 The cause of death is pending an autopsy.&nbsp; Preliminary assessment indicates the death was not related to COVID-19.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Correction, the death is under investigation by the department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

McClintock was serving a 130-month sentence for multiple convictions for Criminal Damage to Property in 2010, Possession of opiates in 2011 and 2015, Burglary in 2015, Theft in 2012, and Aggravated Battery in 2013.

El Dorado Correctional Facility is an all-male facility housing all custody levels with a current population of 1561 residents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612806685682.png" alt="McClintock-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>McClintock-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —An El Dorado Correctional Facility resident, Jordan McClintock, 30, died Saturday, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. The cause of death is pending an autopsy.&nbsp; Preliminary assessment indicates the death was not related to COVID-19.Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Correction, the death is under investigation by the department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.McClintock was serving a 130-month sentence for multiple convictions for Criminal Damage to Property in 2010, Possession of opiates in 2011 and 2015, Burglary in 2015, Theft in 2012, and Aggravated Battery in 2013.El Dorado Correctional Facility is an all-male facility housing all custody levels with a current population of 1561 residents.

Death of 30-year-old Kan. inmate under investigation

Barton County —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of drug activities and have located and arrested a wanted suspect.

Just before 10a.m. Sunday, a Sheriff's deputy stopped a white Chevy Malibu in Great Bend for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

During the course of the investigation, deputies became suspicious of illegal drug activity and a canine officer was called to the scene to assist. Deputies found methamphetamine, prescription drugs and paraphernalia. They also arrested Garrett Buckbee, 24, of Ellinwood. 

Buckbee was also being sought in relation to a search warrant that was conducted by the Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 2, 2021 in Great Bend and a Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear.

Buckbee is being held on a $300,000 bond on requested charges of two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of stimulants, distribution of prescription medication, criminal use of a weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia as well as the Barton County District Court warrant, according to Bellendir.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612811815348.jpeg" alt="Buckbee has a previous drug conviction and was listed as an absconder, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Buckbee has a previous drug conviction and was listed as an absconder, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Barton County —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of drug activities and have located and arrested a wanted suspect.Just before 10a.m. Sunday, a Sheriff's deputy stopped a white Chevy Malibu in Great Bend for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.During the course of the investigation, deputies became suspicious of illegal drug activity and a canine officer was called to the scene to assist. Deputies found methamphetamine, prescription drugs and paraphernalia. They also arrested Garrett Buckbee, 24, of Ellinwood. Buckbee was also being sought in relation to a search warrant that was conducted by the Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 2, 2021 in Great Bend and a Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear.Buckbee is being held on a $300,000 bond on requested charges of two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of stimulants, distribution of prescription medication, criminal use of a weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia as well as the Barton County District Court warrant, according to Bellendir.&nbsp;

Sheriff's deputies catch wanted Kansas drug suspect

SALINA – The Diocese of Dodge City announced on February 8th that Bishop John Brungardt has been accused of sexual abuse of a minor, according to a media release from the Diocese of Salina.

 The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation. Bishop Brungardt denies the allegation.

Bishop Brungardt has willingly asked to be placed on a leave of absence during the&nbsp;investigation.

&nbsp;The Congregation for Bishops has appointed Most Reverend Gerald L. Vincke the&nbsp;temporary Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Dodge City, effective immediately.

Bishop&nbsp;Vincke remains as the Bishop of Salina in addition to his role as Apostolic Administrator of the&nbsp;Diocese of Dodge City.

Chancery officials answered the following questions about Bishop Brungardt’s absence:

Q. What kind of authority does an apostolic administrator have? A. An apostolic administrator is equivalent in canon law to the diocesan bishop and has,&nbsp;essentially, the same authority as a diocesan bishop.

Q. How long will Bishop Brungardt be on leave? A. The length of leave will be determined by the results of the investigation, along with the&nbsp;decision of the Holy Father.

Q. Is the see of the Diocese of Dodge City currently vacant? A. Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Vincke apostolic administrator sede plena, meaning that the see is still full. Bishop Brungardt remains the Bishop of Dodge City.

Q. How do I reach Bishop Vincke with any questions or concerns? A. To contact Bishop Vincke regarding matters related to the Diocese of Dodge City, please&nbsp;send correspondence through U.S. Mail to:

Bishop Jerry Vincke Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Dodge City 103 N. Ninth Salina, KS 67401

For daily administrative inquiries, please contact Rev. Ted Stoecklein, vicar general, or Sr.&nbsp;Janice Grochowsky, chancellor. For matters related to the Diocese of Dodge City, please send&nbsp;to the Chancery of the Diocese of Dodge City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612817171854.jpeg" alt="Bishop John Brungardt, Dodge City (Photo by Diocese of Dodge City)" />
 <figcaption>Bishop John Brungardt, Dodge City (Photo by Diocese of Dodge City)</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINA – The Diocese of Dodge City announced on February 8th that Bishop John Brungardt has been accused of sexual abuse of a minor, according to a media release from the Diocese of Salina. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation. Bishop Brungardt denies the allegation.Bishop Brungardt has willingly asked to be placed on a leave of absence during the&nbsp;investigation.&nbsp;The Congregation for Bishops has appointed Most Reverend Gerald L. Vincke the&nbsp;temporary Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Dodge City, effective immediately.Bishop&nbsp;Vincke remains as the Bishop of Salina in addition to his role as Apostolic Administrator of the&nbsp;Diocese of Dodge City.Chancery officials answered the following questions about Bishop Brungardt’s absence:Q. What kind of authority does an apostolic administrator have? A. An apostolic administrator is equivalent in canon law to the diocesan bishop and has,&nbsp;essentially, the same authority as a diocesan bishop.Q. How long will Bishop Brungardt be on leave? A. The length of leave will be determined by the results of the investigation, along with the&nbsp;decision of the Holy Father.Q. Is the see of the Diocese of Dodge City currently vacant? A. Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Vincke apostolic administrator sede plena, meaning that the see is still full. Bishop Brungardt remains the Bishop of Dodge City.Q. How do I reach Bishop Vincke with any questions or concerns? A. To contact Bishop Vincke regarding matters related to the Diocese of Dodge City, please&nbsp;send correspondence through U.S. Mail to:Bishop Jerry Vincke Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Dodge City 103 N. Ninth Salina, KS 67401For daily administrative inquiries, please contact Rev. Ted Stoecklein, vicar general, or Sr.&nbsp;Janice Grochowsky, chancellor. For matters related to the Diocese of Dodge City, please send&nbsp;to the Chancery of the Diocese of Dodge City.

KBI investigates child sex abuse allegation against Kan. bishop 

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — Three men have been injured — one critically — in a house fire in suburban Kansas City, Kansas, officials there said.

The blaze in Shawnee was reported around 3:15 p.m. Sunday, according to the Shawnee Mission Fire Department.

According to a fire department spokesman, the man who was critically injured had lit a cigarette in his room, where the fire started. The man’s son and grandson suffered smoke inhalation while trying to put the fire out, fire officials said.

All three men were taken to the University of Kansas Hospital, where the son and grandson were later listed in stable condition. The older man remained in critical condition late Sunday, officials said.

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — Three men have been injured — one critically — in a house fire in suburban Kansas City, Kansas, officials there said.The blaze in Shawnee was reported around 3:15 p.m. Sunday, according to the Shawnee Mission Fire Department.According to a fire department spokesman, the man who was critically injured had lit a cigarette in his room, where the fire started. The man’s son and grandson suffered smoke inhalation while trying to put the fire out, fire officials said.All three men were taken to the University of Kansas Hospital, where the son and grandson were later listed in stable condition. The older man remained in critical condition late Sunday, officials said.

Firefighters: 3 injured in Kansas house fire 

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man who ran onto the field during the Super Bowl has been charged with trespassing. Authorities say 31-year-old Yuri Andrade scampered onto the field Sunday night in the fourth quarter of the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Andrade was wearing shorts and a pink leotard or swimsuit. He was eventually tackled on about the 3-yard-line by security personnel and escorted out of Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. 

Hillsborough County jail records show Andrade posted $500 bail and was released early Monday. The records did not indicate if Andrade has an attorney to speak for him.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612809471083.png" alt="Andrade photo&nbsp; Hillsborough Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Andrade photo&nbsp; Hillsborough Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man who ran onto the field during the Super Bowl has been charged with trespassing. Authorities say 31-year-old Yuri Andrade scampered onto the field Sunday night in the fourth quarter of the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">OK, this just happened at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuperBowl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SuperBowl</a>. <a href="https://t.co/GrnItnHy4S">pic.twitter.com/GrnItnHy4S</a>&mdash; Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/jwyattsports/status/1358609353285259267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Andrade was wearing shorts and a pink leotard or swimsuit. He was eventually tackled on about the 3-yard-line by security personnel and escorted out of Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. Hillsborough County jail records show Andrade posted $500 bail and was released early Monday. The records did not indicate if Andrade has an attorney to speak for him.

Man charged after run on field during Super Bowl 

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1398 to a total of 282,960, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4197 an increase of 96

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1398 to a total of 282,960, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4197 an increase of 96<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612809873940.png" alt="" />
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KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

SALINA —Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp;asking the public for assistance in locating and checking the welfare of a woman seen walking in the southeast portion of Salina.

The woman is described as in her 20-30 years in age, dark hair, wearing a dark and light long sleeve top, light colored pants and black socks, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

Investigators believe the woman may have been in some type of medical distress. Police have checked area hospitals and shelters but have not learned her identity.

Just after 8:30p.m. January 31, she was seen at the Eaglecrest Assisted Living, 1501 East Magnolia Road in Salina.

On that same date, she was also possibly in the 1600 block of Eaglecrest Avenue; 2300 block of Katie Court; area of Magnolia Road and Shalimar Drive and the 2300 block of Shalimar Drive.

Just after 8:30a.m. February 1, she was seen in the area of area of South Ohio Street/Belmont Boulevard/Wayne Avenue and possibly near the Labor Building, 2055 South Ohio Street.

From the Labor Building, investigators believe she may have proceeded west across South Ohio Street or east into the neighborhood, according to Forrester.

Police asked that citizens in the area check their personal or business surveillance systems to see whether images of the woman show up.

If anyone has any information about this person, please contact the Salina Police Department at 785-826-7210. The point of contact is Salina Investigations, Forrester noted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612803312142.jpeg" alt="The woman as seen from a Ring doorbell camera-image courtesy Salina Police" />
 <figcaption>The woman as seen from a Ring doorbell camera-image courtesy Salina Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINA —Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp;asking the public for assistance in locating and checking the welfare of a woman seen walking in the southeast portion of Salina.The woman is described as in her 20-30 years in age, dark hair, wearing a dark and light long sleeve top, light colored pants and black socks, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.Investigators believe the woman may have been in some type of medical distress. Police have checked area hospitals and shelters but have not learned her identity.Just after 8:30p.m. January 31, she was seen at the Eaglecrest Assisted Living, 1501 East Magnolia Road in Salina.On that same date, she was also possibly in the 1600 block of Eaglecrest Avenue; 2300 block of Katie Court; area of Magnolia Road and Shalimar Drive and the 2300 block of Shalimar Drive.Just after 8:30a.m. February 1, she was seen in the area of area of South Ohio Street/Belmont Boulevard/Wayne Avenue and possibly near the Labor Building, 2055 South Ohio Street.From the Labor Building, investigators believe she may have proceeded west across South Ohio Street or east into the neighborhood, according to Forrester.Police asked that citizens in the area check their personal or business surveillance systems to see whether images of the woman show up.If anyone has any information about this person, please contact the Salina Police Department at 785-826-7210. The point of contact is Salina Investigations, Forrester noted.