SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after alleged altercation in Salina and a subsequent pursuit into Saline County on Saturday.

Just after 4:30p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a residence in the 1000 block of East Iron Avenue in Salina where a 56-year-old Salina man and a 30-year-old Salina woman reported an altercation with Evan Howie, 33, of Solomon, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

The man was struck numerous times with a branch and a brick and the woman was struck with the brick when it was thrown at her, causing her to drop her cellphone. 

The woman told police that Howie then took her cell phone that was valued at $50. The man had a $10 pair of sunglasses broken during the altercation, he added. Howie allegedly also struck the man's 2006 Ford 500 when he was leaving, causing approximately $500 damage, according to Forrester.

Officers were advised the suspect left in a white or gray Buick. An officer located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 200 block of South Kansas Avenue. 

The vehicle continued north on Kansas Avenue and ultimately east on Old Highway 40. At that point, the pursuit was turned over to Saline County Sheriff's deputies and the Kansas Highway Patrol. 

KHP was able to conduct a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI) on the car in the 3000 block of North Whitmore Road, ending the pursuit, according to Forrester.

Howie was arrested on requested charges of aggravated battery, Theft, Damage to property, Flee and elude in the commission of a felony and Multiple traffic offenses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598282715073.jpeg" alt="Howie photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Howie photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after alleged altercation in Salina and a subsequent pursuit into Saline County on Saturday.Just after 4:30p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a residence in the 1000 block of East Iron Avenue in Salina where a 56-year-old Salina man and a 30-year-old Salina woman reported an altercation with Evan Howie, 33, of Solomon, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.The man was struck numerous times with a branch and a brick and the woman was struck with the brick when it was thrown at her, causing her to drop her cellphone. The woman told police that Howie then took her cell phone that was valued at $50. The man had a $10 pair of sunglasses broken during the altercation, he added. Howie allegedly also struck the man's 2006 Ford 500 when he was leaving, causing approximately $500 damage, according to Forrester.Officers were advised the suspect left in a white or gray Buick. An officer located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 200 block of South Kansas Avenue. The vehicle continued north on Kansas Avenue and ultimately east on Old Highway 40. At that point, the pursuit was turned over to Saline County Sheriff's deputies and the Kansas Highway Patrol. KHP was able to conduct a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI) on the car in the 3000 block of North Whitmore Road, ending the pursuit, according to Forrester.Howie was arrested on requested charges of aggravated battery, Theft, Damage to property, Flee and elude in the commission of a felony and Multiple traffic offenses.

State trooper uses TVI to end pursuit of theft, battery suspect 

JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities searching for an inmate who walked away from an exam at Olathe Medical Center Monday reported just after 11a.m. they had him in custody, according to a social media report from&nbsp; the Johnson County Sheriff's Department.

Elijah Naves, 27, was last seen at 4:30 a.m. Monday. He was in custody on aggravated robbery charges.&nbsp;

Deputies released no additional details late Monday morning.

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are attempting to locate an inmate who escaped from Olathe Medical Center.

Elijah Naves, 27, was last seen at 4:30 a.m. Monday and was wearing a green hospital gown with blue and white stripped jail issued pants, according to a media release from the Johnson County Sheriff's department.

Naves was in custody on aggravated robbery charges. His last direction of travel was south of the Medical Center at 20333 West 151st in Olathe.

Authorities reminded the public, if you see him, do not contact Neves but call the sheriff's office at 913-782-0720 or call 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598876667094.png" alt="Naves' facial hair has been trimmed and cleaned up since this photo was taken, according to police." />
 <figcaption>Naves' facial hair has been trimmed and cleaned up since this photo was taken, according to police.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities searching for an inmate who walked away from an exam at Olathe Medical Center Monday reported just after 11a.m. they had him in custody, according to a social media report from&nbsp; the Johnson County Sheriff's Department.Elijah Naves, 27, was last seen at 4:30 a.m. Monday. He was in custody on aggravated robbery charges.&nbsp;Deputies released no additional details late Monday morning.---------JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are attempting to locate an inmate who escaped from Olathe Medical Center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598886555334.png" alt="Suspect is believed to be driving this pickup" />
 <figcaption>Suspect is believed to be driving this pickup</figcaption>
 </figure>Elijah Naves, 27, was last seen at 4:30 a.m. Monday and was wearing a green hospital gown with blue and white stripped jail issued pants, according to a media release from the Johnson County Sheriff's department.Naves was in custody on aggravated robbery charges. His last direction of travel was south of the Medical Center at 20333 West 151st in Olathe.Authorities reminded the public, if you see him, do not contact Neves but call the sheriff's office at 913-782-0720 or call 911.

Update: Suspect in custody after escape from Kan. hospital

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly weekend crash and have identified the man who died as&nbsp;94-year-old Ralph Hunt of Wichita.

At approximately 3:15 p.m. Saturday, police responded to an injury accident at West 17th&nbsp;Street and North West Street in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.&nbsp;

Upon arrival, officers located Hunt, who was unresponsive.&nbsp; Fire and EMS personnel attempted life-saving measures on Hunt, but he was pronounced dead on the scene.&nbsp;

The investigation revealed that a red Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 22-year-old male and a tan Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 17-year-old male were both southbound on North West Street.&nbsp;

 The two trucks collided with a westbound Lincoln Town Car driven by Hunt.&nbsp; The 17-year-old driver received non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; A 15-year-old male passenger in the Town Car received serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Speed is believed to have been a factor on the part of the two pick-up drivers, according to Wheeler.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598886375186.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the fatal weekend crash -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the fatal weekend crash -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly weekend crash and have identified the man who died as&nbsp;94-year-old Ralph Hunt of Wichita.At approximately 3:15 p.m. Saturday, police responded to an injury accident at West 17th&nbsp;Street and North West Street in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.&nbsp;Upon arrival, officers located Hunt, who was unresponsive.&nbsp; Fire and EMS personnel attempted life-saving measures on Hunt, but he was pronounced dead on the scene.&nbsp;The investigation revealed that a red Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 22-year-old male and a tan Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 17-year-old male were both southbound on North West Street.&nbsp; The two trucks collided with a westbound Lincoln Town Car driven by Hunt.&nbsp; The 17-year-old driver received non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; A 15-year-old male passenger in the Town Car received serious but non-life-threatening injuries.Speed is believed to have been a factor on the part of the two pick-up drivers, according to Wheeler.

Police ID 94-year-old Kan. man who died in 3-vehicle crash

By AJ DOME <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/29/kansas-seeing-historically-low-number-of-tornadoes-in-2020/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Tornadoes and their 
warnings have been few and far between in Kansas for the majority of 
2020, and in one corner of the state a record is poised to be broken if 
the trend continues through the end of the year.

The National Weather 
Service office in Dodge City has recorded only six tornadoes across its 
27-county forecast area — well below the annual average of 28. Last year
 saw 29 tornadoes touch down across those counties.

“Going back to 1991, the 
lowest tornado count for our warning area was seven,” said Mike 
Umscheid, storm chaser and meteorologist for the Dodge City office. “If 
we don’t have any more tornadoes this year, we will break that 30-year 
record for lowest number of tornadoes.”

Statewide, the average 
number of tornadoes reported each year is 96, according to the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Umscheid said the most active 
tornado season his office has recorded was in 2008, when 81 twisters 
touched down across its warning area.

“It’s interesting how you can go from one extreme to another in the matter of a decade,” Umscheid said.

The most recent and 
notable tornado event in southwest Kansas occurred on July 1, when a 
twister touched down in northern Seward County. The only reported damage
 was to an irrigation sprinkler, and the tornado was later classified as
 an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale with wind speeds in the 80-90 mph 
range.

The amount of tornado 
warnings issued in Kansas is significantly lower this year, as well. 
Through Aug. 25, the NWS office in Wichita has issued only two tornado 
warnings for the counties it serves, on April 28 and June 21. Chance 
Hayes, the warning coordination meteorologist for NWS Wichita, said his 
office has averaged nearly 25 tornado warnings each year over the past 
decade.

“When you look at the 
seven offices which serve the state of Kansas, all seven average 218 
tornado warnings a year in a period over the last 10 years,” Hayes said.
 “Right now, we are right around 57 for the year across the state, or 
about 25% of average.”

Tornadoes and other severe
 weather events are the products of supercell thunderstorms — huge 
rotating assemblies of cloud that require a clash of warm, moist air 
from the Gulf of Mexico, cool dry air from the Arctic, and plenty of 
low-level wind shear courtesy the jet stream. Bill Bunting, the chief of
 forecast operations for the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., 
said at least one of those key ingredients has been missing this year.

“The combination of 
factors that we look for, for favorable tornado situations, just didn’t 
occur very often,” Bunting said. “We actually had a good chunk of May 
and June with winds aloft from the north and west, which stabilized the 
lower atmosphere.”

Hayes said some 
meteorologists at the NWS Wichita office have been investigating those 
winds as the culprit behind the limited tornado season.

“One of the things they 
pointed to was airflow in middle and upper levels of the atmosphere is 
more from a northerly direction, which can lead to more convection and 
storms in the late night and overnight hours,” Hayes said. “This leads 
to heavy rains and flooding, hailstorms, and straight-line winds. It 
means the possibility for tornadoes is much less.”

Umscheid said the Gulf of Mexico’s sea surface temperature anomalies have been higher, so moisture has not been the problem.

“It’s all in the jet 
stream patterns,” Umscheid said. “It’s just a matter of getting those 
low-level winds to crank that wind shear over a large enough area.”

Umscheid, along with other
 atmospheric scientists, said climate change may partially explain the 
jet stream buckling more frequently.

“Anecdotally, there seems 
to be a subtle shift towards jet stream patterns which tend toward a 
more blocking nature,” Umscheid said. “I think a lot of that shift can 
be contributed to a warming of high arctic latitudes.”

Bunting said there have been studies which have looked at the degree to which a warming world would affect tornadic activity.

“The answer right now is 
inconclusive,” Bunting said. “You have basically a conflicting trend in 
two of the key parameters for tornado occurrence – instability and warm 
moist air. It really makes it difficult to reach a firm conclusion on 
the impact of climate change on tornado occurrence.”

Mary Knapp, state 
climatologist at Kansas State University, said atmospheric scientists 
are watching the development of a La Nina pattern in the Pacific Ocean. 
This phenomenon occurs when strong winds push warm water at the ocean’s 
surface from South America to near Indonesia, helping colder water rise 
from deeper levels to the surface of the Pacific. Knapp said this kind 
of pattern tends to favor hotter and dryer conditions in autumn months.

According to Hayes, there have been 108 tornadoes reported since 1950 over the months of September through December.

“We do have kind of a secondary season for severe weather,” Hayes said. “It’s part of that transition from summer to fall.”

Knapp said she hasn’t heard much complaining about the lack of tornadoes for 2020.

From a storm chasing 
perspective, Umscheid said, there have been fewer weather enthusiasts on
 the roads because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is still a need 
for ground confirmation of severe weather activity.

“If there have not been 
tornadoes for a couple years, you can kind of ‘set it and forget it’ and
 fall into this trap of false safety,” Umscheid said. “I don’t think 
it’ll be a huge problem, because once we have another tornado outbreak 
in Kansas — which will happen — it will snap people back to being 
prepared.”

AJ Dome is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster from southwest Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598881230210.png" alt="On Aug. 14, 2020, a landspout tornado developed along the Kansas-Colorado border near the small town of Towner, Colorado. Unusual weather patterns this year have produced historically low numbers of tornadoes across Kansas. (Mike Umscheid)" />
 <figcaption>On Aug. 14, 2020, a landspout tornado developed along the Kansas-Colorado border near the small town of Towner, Colorado. Unusual weather patterns this year have produced historically low numbers of tornadoes across Kansas. (Mike Umscheid)</figcaption>
 </figure>By AJ DOME <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/29/kansas-seeing-historically-low-number-of-tornadoes-in-2020/">Kansas Reflector</a>Tornadoes and their 
warnings have been few and far between in Kansas for the majority of 
2020, and in one corner of the state a record is poised to be broken if 
the trend continues through the end of the year.The National Weather 
Service office in Dodge City has recorded only six tornadoes across its 
27-county forecast area — well below the annual average of 28. Last year
 saw 29 tornadoes touch down across those counties.“Going back to 1991, the 
lowest tornado count for our warning area was seven,” said Mike 
Umscheid, storm chaser and meteorologist for the Dodge City office. “If 
we don’t have any more tornadoes this year, we will break that 30-year 
record for lowest number of tornadoes.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598881278565.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Statewide, the average 
number of tornadoes reported each year is 96, according to the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Umscheid said the most active 
tornado season his office has recorded was in 2008, when 81 twisters 
touched down across its warning area.“It’s interesting how you can go from one extreme to another in the matter of a decade,” Umscheid said.The most recent and 
notable tornado event in southwest Kansas occurred on July 1, when a 
twister touched down in northern Seward County. The only reported damage
 was to an irrigation sprinkler, and the tornado was later classified as
 an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale with wind speeds in the 80-90 mph 
range.The amount of tornado 
warnings issued in Kansas is significantly lower this year, as well. 
Through Aug. 25, the NWS office in Wichita has issued only two tornado 
warnings for the counties it serves, on April 28 and June 21. Chance 
Hayes, the warning coordination meteorologist for NWS Wichita, said his 
office has averaged nearly 25 tornado warnings each year over the past 
decade.“When you look at the 
seven offices which serve the state of Kansas, all seven average 218 
tornado warnings a year in a period over the last 10 years,” Hayes said.
 “Right now, we are right around 57 for the year across the state, or 
about 25% of average.”Tornadoes and other severe
 weather events are the products of supercell thunderstorms — huge 
rotating assemblies of cloud that require a clash of warm, moist air 
from the Gulf of Mexico, cool dry air from the Arctic, and plenty of 
low-level wind shear courtesy the jet stream. Bill Bunting, the chief of
 forecast operations for the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., 
said at least one of those key ingredients has been missing this year.“The combination of 
factors that we look for, for favorable tornado situations, just didn’t 
occur very often,” Bunting said. “We actually had a good chunk of May 
and June with winds aloft from the north and west, which stabilized the 
lower atmosphere.”Hayes said some 
meteorologists at the NWS Wichita office have been investigating those 
winds as the culprit behind the limited tornado season.“One of the things they 
pointed to was airflow in middle and upper levels of the atmosphere is 
more from a northerly direction, which can lead to more convection and 
storms in the late night and overnight hours,” Hayes said. “This leads 
to heavy rains and flooding, hailstorms, and straight-line winds. It 
means the possibility for tornadoes is much less.”Umscheid said the Gulf of Mexico’s sea surface temperature anomalies have been higher, so moisture has not been the problem.“It’s all in the jet 
stream patterns,” Umscheid said. “It’s just a matter of getting those 
low-level winds to crank that wind shear over a large enough area.”Umscheid, along with other
 atmospheric scientists, said climate change may partially explain the 
jet stream buckling more frequently.“Anecdotally, there seems 
to be a subtle shift towards jet stream patterns which tend toward a 
more blocking nature,” Umscheid said. “I think a lot of that shift can 
be contributed to a warming of high arctic latitudes.”Bunting said there have been studies which have looked at the degree to which a warming world would affect tornadic activity.“The answer right now is 
inconclusive,” Bunting said. “You have basically a conflicting trend in 
two of the key parameters for tornado occurrence – instability and warm 
moist air. It really makes it difficult to reach a firm conclusion on 
the impact of climate change on tornado occurrence.”Mary Knapp, state 
climatologist at Kansas State University, said atmospheric scientists 
are watching the development of a La Nina pattern in the Pacific Ocean. 
This phenomenon occurs when strong winds push warm water at the ocean’s 
surface from South America to near Indonesia, helping colder water rise 
from deeper levels to the surface of the Pacific. Knapp said this kind 
of pattern tends to favor hotter and dryer conditions in autumn months.According to Hayes, there have been 108 tornadoes reported since 1950 over the months of September through December.“We do have kind of a secondary season for severe weather,” Hayes said. “It’s part of that transition from summer to fall.”Knapp said she hasn’t heard much complaining about the lack of tornadoes for 2020.From a storm chasing 
perspective, Umscheid said, there have been fewer weather enthusiasts on
 the roads because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is still a need 
for ground confirmation of severe weather activity.“If there have not been 
tornadoes for a couple years, you can kind of ‘set it and forget it’ and
 fall into this trap of false safety,” Umscheid said. “I don’t think 
it’ll be a huge problem, because once we have another tornado outbreak 
in Kansas — which will happen — it will snap people back to being 
prepared.”AJ Dome is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster from southwest Kansas.&nbsp;

Kan. seeing historically low number of tornadoes in 2020

Child development specialist says kids need to play, interact with peers&nbsp;

MANHATTAN – While many parents may be feeling relieved after months of schooling their children, the re-opening of schools – even if on a limited basis – is likely to be even more uplifting for the kids.&nbsp;

Bradford Wiles, a Kansas State University child development specialist, said it’s particularly important that school-age children spend time interacting with their peers.&nbsp;

“That is a huge element of what you’re learning in those early years,” he said. “We think about what we learn early on and so often it is said that play is the work of early childhood. That’s exactly what children need: they need to be able to play and interact. It makes a huge difference in their development.”&nbsp;

The ongoing health threat of the COVID-19 pandemic may not make it possible for youth to be back to school full time, but every little bit helps, according to Wiles.&nbsp;

“I think that’s really a good reason why the hybrid model (of schooling) has been implemented,” said Wiles, referring to a decision by many schools to provide part-time instruction in person and part-time remote learning. “The hybrid model allows for the things that young children really need.”&nbsp;

For their part, parents can help their children adjust to hybrid or other learning by them understand the new routines.&nbsp;

“Routines are critical for everything that we do,” Wiles said. “Routines are critical for young children because it’s how they reduce anxiety, knowing what to expect. That is gigantic in a young child’s mind.&nbsp;

“Right now,” he adds, “young children don’t know what to expect. They don’t know what learning is going to look like and the don’t know what their days are going to look like. The best thing I can say for parents and primary caregivers is that regardless of whether you are doing a remote learning model, a homeschooling model or a hybrid model, the best thing you can do for your children is to establish and maintain routines. That will help them in all the domains of learning because it gives them an idea of what to expect.”&nbsp;

Wiles said parents are also their child’s best teacher for some important life lessons.&nbsp;

“Nobody who is living through this pandemic will ever forget this period of time,” he said. “The thing that I want parents to understand is that they are also modeling how to handle adversity at this time, and they are modeling what good relationships look like.”&nbsp;

“In my own home, things get tense and things are hard. How do you handle that? How do you work through that? How do you talk to your children, spouse or other people in the household? Those are important elements.”&nbsp;

Wiles noted that parents should not beat themselves up when things don’t go as hoped.&nbsp;

“We are going to make mistakes; everyone does,” he said. “But we should remind ourselves that this is a very difficult time for all of us and our children are looking up to us. Whether you think they are paying attention to you or not, I promise you they are paying attention.&nbsp;

“You, as a parent, are their model for how things go. Recognizing that and doing your very best to model how to handle adversity is the best advice I can give any parent.”&nbsp;

Wiles manages a laboratory in K-State’s College of Health and Human Sciences, called Applied Research in Child Health and Enhancing Resilience (ARCHER). For more information on child development, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.k-state.edu/ahs/extension/child-development">lab’s website</a>.&nbsp;

Parents need to take care of themselves, too&nbsp;

Kansas State University child development specialist Bradford Wiles said that parents need to remember to take care of themselves even while helping their children through changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

“What I really want parents to recognize is that it’s a challenge and they need to be able to take care of themselves and forgive themselves for things they can’t control or stay on top of,” Wiles said.&nbsp;

For the last five months, parents have played varying roles of teacher, in-class support staff and maybe even technical support specialist.&nbsp;

“Essentially, we just pile on these different roles and responsibilities and no one person can handle all those things,” Wiles said. “It’s just not healthy. There’s a reason we sent kids to school before the pandemic and part of that is that it’s really burdensome for adults to be tied to their homes during the day.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579118089206.jpeg" alt="Kansas News Service file photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas News Service file photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Child development specialist says kids need to play, interact with peers&nbsp;</h2>K-State Research &amp; ExtensionMANHATTAN – While many parents may be feeling relieved after months of schooling their children, the re-opening of schools – even if on a limited basis – is likely to be even more uplifting for the kids.&nbsp;Bradford Wiles, a Kansas State University child development specialist, said it’s particularly important that school-age children spend time interacting with their peers.&nbsp;“That is a huge element of what you’re learning in those early years,” he said. “We think about what we learn early on and so often it is said that play is the work of early childhood. That’s exactly what children need: they need to be able to play and interact. It makes a huge difference in their development.”&nbsp;The ongoing health threat of the COVID-19 pandemic may not make it possible for youth to be back to school full time, but every little bit helps, according to Wiles.&nbsp;“I think that’s really a good reason why the hybrid model (of schooling) has been implemented,” said Wiles, referring to a decision by many schools to provide part-time instruction in person and part-time remote learning. “The hybrid model allows for the things that young children really need.”&nbsp;For their part, parents can help their children adjust to hybrid or other learning by them understand the new routines.&nbsp;“Routines are critical for everything that we do,” Wiles said. “Routines are critical for young children because it’s how they reduce anxiety, knowing what to expect. That is gigantic in a young child’s mind.&nbsp;“Right now,” he adds, “young children don’t know what to expect. They don’t know what learning is going to look like and the don’t know what their days are going to look like. The best thing I can say for parents and primary caregivers is that regardless of whether you are doing a remote learning model, a homeschooling model or a hybrid model, the best thing you can do for your children is to establish and maintain routines. That will help them in all the domains of learning because it gives them an idea of what to expect.”&nbsp;Wiles said parents are also their child’s best teacher for some important life lessons.&nbsp;“Nobody who is living through this pandemic will ever forget this period of time,” he said. “The thing that I want parents to understand is that they are also modeling how to handle adversity at this time, and they are modeling what good relationships look like.”&nbsp;“In my own home, things get tense and things are hard. How do you handle that? How do you work through that? How do you talk to your children, spouse or other people in the household? Those are important elements.”&nbsp;Wiles noted that parents should not beat themselves up when things don’t go as hoped.&nbsp;“We are going to make mistakes; everyone does,” he said. “But we should remind ourselves that this is a very difficult time for all of us and our children are looking up to us. Whether you think they are paying attention to you or not, I promise you they are paying attention.&nbsp;“You, as a parent, are their model for how things go. Recognizing that and doing your very best to model how to handle adversity is the best advice I can give any parent.”&nbsp;Wiles manages a laboratory in K-State’s College of Health and Human Sciences, called Applied Research in Child Health and Enhancing Resilience (ARCHER). For more information on child development, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.k-state.edu/ahs/extension/child-development">lab’s website</a>.&nbsp;<h2>Parents need to take care of themselves, too&nbsp;</h2>Kansas State University child development specialist Bradford Wiles said that parents need to remember to take care of themselves even while helping their children through changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;“What I really want parents to recognize is that it’s a challenge and they need to be able to take care of themselves and forgive themselves for things they can’t control or stay on top of,” Wiles said.&nbsp;For the last five months, parents have played varying roles of teacher, in-class support staff and maybe even technical support specialist.&nbsp;“Essentially, we just pile on these different roles and responsibilities and no one person can handle all those things,” Wiles said. “It’s just not healthy. There’s a reason we sent kids to school before the pandemic and part of that is that it’s really burdensome for adults to be tied to their homes during the day.”&nbsp;

Children benefit from returning to school, even if part-time 

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (AP) — A police officer who was a “hero” to his family died Sunday after being shot in the head by a barricaded gunman on the city’s south side, authorities said.

Officer Tamarris L. Bohannon, 29, had been with the St. Louis Police department for 3 1/2 years.

A second officer who was shot in the leg was treated and released after the shooting around 6 p.m. in the South Grand neighborhood near Tower Grove Park, St. Louis Police Department spokeswoman Officer Michelle Woodling said.

Woodling said the second officer is 30 and has been on the force about six months. The 43-year-old suspect was taken into custody Sunday morning, Woodling said.

Mayor Lyda Krewson said in a statement Sunday night that she was “heartbroken” at Bohannon’s death. “I’ve had the privilege of spending some time with his family under these extraordinarily challenging circumstances. They’re wonderful people and immensely proud of the way he selflessly served and protected our community with distinction and honor for more than three years.”

“This is a horrific reminder of the dangers our brave men and women willingly face everyday to keep us safe ... This is a terrible, senseless tragedy.”

A photo of a note police said came from Bohannon’s family was posted on the department’s Twitter page after the announcement of his death. “He is a hero to many, but most importantly to his loving wife and three incredible children,” read the note that referred to Bohannon as “Bo” and asked for “prayers and support in the days ahead.”

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief John Hayden said the gunman ordered a family out of their home at gunpoint and barricaded himself inside for almost 12 hours.

Officers were searching for another reported shooting victim when the gunman shot Bohannon in the head and the other officer in the leg, Hayden said.

The officers were “trying to do their job, that’s all they’re trying to do and they’re suffering under gunfire,” Hayden said, adding that the incidents are part of “a surge in violence” this summer. He asked residents to pray for the officers.

Hayden said eight of his officers have been shot in the line of duty since June 1.

“We’re trying to cope through a very trying summer, and it’s very difficult. It’s very difficult,” he said.

While the man was barricaded inside, officers armed with rifles and a SWAT team assembled outside. Police closed surrounding streets and warned residents to stay inside. Police used a bullhorn to order the suspect out and fired tear gas into the house, but fired no gunshots, the department said.

The man was taken into custody around 5:30 a.m. Police have released no details about how the standoff came to an end.

Homeowners Mimi and Steve Haag said they were trying to call 911 to help another man who had been shot when the gunman just walked into their home.

“I saw then he had a gun,” Steve Haag&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/god-protected-us-couple-escaped-gunman-who-shot-two-st-louis-police-officers-from-their/article_6af86f6a-eadc-11ea-b258-6fba437bfbde.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He was very calm standing there with it in his hand and he just says to Mimi: ‘Ma’am you need to get off the phone.’”

The Haags escaped through the back door and were unhurt in their encounter with the gunman. Police were unable to locate the other man who was apparently shot and wounded.

Krewson&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/LydaKrewson/status/1299852038063501313?s=20" target="_blank">tweeted</a>&nbsp;her condolences following the incident.

“Please keep our injured officers and all the men and women of @SLMPD in your thoughts and prayers as this situation continues to develop. Their friends, family and loved ones, too,” Krewson said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/0395dc8b36b52123678b1f9c29b815b7">Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner</a>, who has a fractious relationship with the city’s police, also issued a statement of support.

“We extend our deepest concern and sadness surrounding today’s unfortunate events,” Gardner&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/officers-shot-south-st-louis/63-36e11278-2b1b-43d7-9656-7cb78dacccb5" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;KDSK-TV. “I want to extend my prayers for the injured SLMPD officers and their families.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598868684937.png" alt="Tamarris L. Bohannon photo courtesy St. Louis Police" />
 <figcaption>Tamarris L. Bohannon photo courtesy St. Louis Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. LOUIS, Mo. (AP) — A police officer who was a “hero” to his family died Sunday after being shot in the head by a barricaded gunman on the city’s south side, authorities said.Officer Tamarris L. Bohannon, 29, had been with the St. Louis Police department for 3 1/2 years.A second officer who was shot in the leg was treated and released after the shooting around 6 p.m. in the South Grand neighborhood near Tower Grove Park, St. Louis Police Department spokeswoman Officer Michelle Woodling said.Woodling said the second officer is 30 and has been on the force about six months. The 43-year-old suspect was taken into custody Sunday morning, Woodling said.Mayor Lyda Krewson said in a statement Sunday night that she was “heartbroken” at Bohannon’s death. “I’ve had the privilege of spending some time with his family under these extraordinarily challenging circumstances. They’re wonderful people and immensely proud of the way he selflessly served and protected our community with distinction and honor for more than three years.”“This is a horrific reminder of the dangers our brave men and women willingly face everyday to keep us safe ... This is a terrible, senseless tragedy.”A photo of a note police said came from Bohannon’s family was posted on the department’s Twitter page after the announcement of his death. “He is a hero to many, but most importantly to his loving wife and three incredible children,” read the note that referred to Bohannon as “Bo” and asked for “prayers and support in the days ahead.”St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief John Hayden said the gunman ordered a family out of their home at gunpoint and barricaded himself inside for almost 12 hours.Officers were searching for another reported shooting victim when the gunman shot Bohannon in the head and the other officer in the leg, Hayden said.The officers were “trying to do their job, that’s all they’re trying to do and they’re suffering under gunfire,” Hayden said, adding that the incidents are part of “a surge in violence” this summer. He asked residents to pray for the officers.Hayden said eight of his officers have been shot in the line of duty since June 1.“We’re trying to cope through a very trying summer, and it’s very difficult. It’s very difficult,” he said.While the man was barricaded inside, officers armed with rifles and a SWAT team assembled outside. Police closed surrounding streets and warned residents to stay inside. Police used a bullhorn to order the suspect out and fired tear gas into the house, but fired no gunshots, the department said.The man was taken into custody around 5:30 a.m. Police have released no details about how the standoff came to an end.Homeowners Mimi and Steve Haag said they were trying to call 911 to help another man who had been shot when the gunman just walked into their home.“I saw then he had a gun,” Steve Haag&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/god-protected-us-couple-escaped-gunman-who-shot-two-st-louis-police-officers-from-their/article_6af86f6a-eadc-11ea-b258-6fba437bfbde.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He was very calm standing there with it in his hand and he just says to Mimi: ‘Ma’am you need to get off the phone.’”The Haags escaped through the back door and were unhurt in their encounter with the gunman. Police were unable to locate the other man who was apparently shot and wounded.Krewson&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/LydaKrewson/status/1299852038063501313?s=20" target="_blank">tweeted</a>&nbsp;her condolences following the incident.“Please keep our injured officers and all the men and women of @SLMPD in your thoughts and prayers as this situation continues to develop. Their friends, family and loved ones, too,” Krewson said.<a href="https://apnews.com/0395dc8b36b52123678b1f9c29b815b7">Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner</a>, who has a fractious relationship with the city’s police, also issued a statement of support.“We extend our deepest concern and sadness surrounding today’s unfortunate events,” Gardner&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/officers-shot-south-st-louis/63-36e11278-2b1b-43d7-9656-7cb78dacccb5" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;KDSK-TV. “I want to extend my prayers for the injured SLMPD officers and their families.”

'Tragedy': Missouri officer dies after being shot by gunman

WASHINGTON (AP) — Threatening fines and funding cut-offs, the Trump administration issued new COVID-19 requirements for nursing homes and hospitals, prompting immediate pushback from beleaguered industries.

To check the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it will require facilities to test staff regularly or face fines.

<a href="https://apnews.com/681479be1d9f1a0fea4d64b1a44d5b9e">The move comes months after the White House</a>&nbsp;first urged governors to test all nursing home residents and staff. With residents, nursing homes are being required to offer them coronavirus tests if there is an outbreak or if any show symptoms.

Officials also reinforced a reporting mandate for hospitals. It included a thinly veiled threat to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funds to facilities that fail to report certain COVID-19 data daily to the federal Health and Human Services department. Hospitals responded with a sharp rebuke, calling the move “heavy-handed” and raising the specter of loss of vital services for local communities in a pandemic, less than three months before Election Day.

Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project.

The plight of frail elders in nursing homes is politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain support from older voters amid disapproval of the government’s pandemic response. His administration is distributing fast-test machines to nursing homes, but there are continued reports that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f">cases have been rising</a>&nbsp;and facilities still face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ff2bbfb4a7431e86cdca5132042d4a0e">shortages of supplies</a>&nbsp;like masks.

“Our recommendations for testing in nursing homes go back as far back as March and April,” said Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. “What’s different about today is that this is now a requirement ... we want to make sure every single nursing home is complying.”

Independent research indicates that the coronavirus most likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unwittingly bring it in from surrounding communities where it has started to spread. Staffers who have yet to develop symptoms may have no clue that they’re infected.

Verma said the testing requirement for staff will be keyed to the level of virus activity in local areas. If the positive rate is below 5%, nursing homes will have to test staff once a month. If the rate is 5% - 10%, testing will be required once a week. If the rate is above 10%, staff will have to be tested twice a week. Florida, Iowa and Nevada are examples of states where the COVID-19 positive rate is now above 10%.

The government will provide $2.5 billion to help nursing homes with testing costs, Verma also announced. The administration’s campaign to distribute fast-test machines and an initial supply of tests is supposed to be done by the end of September.

The nursing home industry said it supports mandatory testing as long as facilities are given what they need to comply with requirements.

Mark Parkinson, head of the industry group American Health Care Association, said nursing homes in many parts of the country still can’t get timely results on COVID-19 tests.

CMS “must factor in the delays that continue to be a reality,” Parkinson said in a statement. “Otherwise facilities could face fines for circumstances beyond their control and be conducting tests that are so delayed that they have little clinical value.”

The hospital reporting requirement that was also announced Tuesday follows confusion and misgivings surrounding a Trump administration directive that facilities send critical COVID-19 data directly to HHS instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as had been the case.

The information includes numbers of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, how many intensive-care beds are occupied, and the availability of essential supplies and equipment such as ventilators and masks and gowns.

The regulation basically says if hospitals want to continue to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, they must report the information as required. The American Hospital Association called for the requirement to be immediately rescinded.

“Hospitals and health systems consistently have put forward a good faith effort to report the data needed to battle COVID-19 under very trying circumstances, despite the ever-changing requests from the government on data reporting,” Rick Pollack, president of the American Hospital Association, said in a statement. “Since February, the government has made at least six changes to how they want hospitals to report data.”

Federal statistics show that 94% of hospitals are reporting the required data, said Pollack. He added his organization has done some investigation of its own and found that in some cases hospitals had sent in their reports, but the information had not gotten through the government system.

“It’s beyond perplexing why CMS would use a regulatory sledgehammer — threatening Medicare participation — to the very organizations that are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.”

CMS chief Verma said the requirement is meant to correct deficiencies in reporting vital data needed to track and contain the pandemic.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Threatening fines and funding cut-offs, the Trump administration issued new COVID-19 requirements for nursing homes and hospitals, prompting immediate pushback from beleaguered industries.To check the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it will require facilities to test staff regularly or face fines.<a href="https://apnews.com/681479be1d9f1a0fea4d64b1a44d5b9e">The move comes months after the White House</a>&nbsp;first urged governors to test all nursing home residents and staff. With residents, nursing homes are being required to offer them coronavirus tests if there is an outbreak or if any show symptoms.Officials also reinforced a reporting mandate for hospitals. It included a thinly veiled threat to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funds to facilities that fail to report certain COVID-19 data daily to the federal Health and Human Services department. Hospitals responded with a sharp rebuke, calling the move “heavy-handed” and raising the specter of loss of vital services for local communities in a pandemic, less than three months before Election Day.Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project.The plight of frail elders in nursing homes is politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain support from older voters amid disapproval of the government’s pandemic response. His administration is distributing fast-test machines to nursing homes, but there are continued reports that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae2b6d71bdc3a9391ae02910d8f0491f">cases have been rising</a>&nbsp;and facilities still face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ff2bbfb4a7431e86cdca5132042d4a0e">shortages of supplies</a>&nbsp;like masks.“Our recommendations for testing in nursing homes go back as far back as March and April,” said Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. “What’s different about today is that this is now a requirement ... we want to make sure every single nursing home is complying.”Independent research indicates that the coronavirus most likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unwittingly bring it in from surrounding communities where it has started to spread. Staffers who have yet to develop symptoms may have no clue that they’re infected.Verma said the testing requirement for staff will be keyed to the level of virus activity in local areas. If the positive rate is below 5%, nursing homes will have to test staff once a month. If the rate is 5% - 10%, testing will be required once a week. If the rate is above 10%, staff will have to be tested twice a week. Florida, Iowa and Nevada are examples of states where the COVID-19 positive rate is now above 10%.The government will provide $2.5 billion to help nursing homes with testing costs, Verma also announced. The administration’s campaign to distribute fast-test machines and an initial supply of tests is supposed to be done by the end of September.The nursing home industry said it supports mandatory testing as long as facilities are given what they need to comply with requirements.Mark Parkinson, head of the industry group American Health Care Association, said nursing homes in many parts of the country still can’t get timely results on COVID-19 tests.CMS “must factor in the delays that continue to be a reality,” Parkinson said in a statement. “Otherwise facilities could face fines for circumstances beyond their control and be conducting tests that are so delayed that they have little clinical value.”The hospital reporting requirement that was also announced Tuesday follows confusion and misgivings surrounding a Trump administration directive that facilities send critical COVID-19 data directly to HHS instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as had been the case.The information includes numbers of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, how many intensive-care beds are occupied, and the availability of essential supplies and equipment such as ventilators and masks and gowns.The regulation basically says if hospitals want to continue to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, they must report the information as required. The American Hospital Association called for the requirement to be immediately rescinded.“Hospitals and health systems consistently have put forward a good faith effort to report the data needed to battle COVID-19 under very trying circumstances, despite the ever-changing requests from the government on data reporting,” Rick Pollack, president of the American Hospital Association, said in a statement. “Since February, the government has made at least six changes to how they want hospitals to report data.”Federal statistics show that 94% of hospitals are reporting the required data, said Pollack. He added his organization has done some investigation of its own and found that in some cases hospitals had sent in their reports, but the information had not gotten through the government system.“It’s beyond perplexing why CMS would use a regulatory sledgehammer — threatening Medicare participation — to the very organizations that are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.”CMS chief Verma said the requirement is meant to correct deficiencies in reporting vital data needed to track and contain the pandemic.

New COVID-19 mandates on health care facilities get pushback

KANSAS CITY– A man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies as part of a $3.2 million romance fraud scheme that had victims in Kansas and six other states.

Henry N. Asomani, 35,  Dumfries, Virginia, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Ghana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Aug. 25, to 10 years in federal prison without parole, according to the United State's Attorney. The court also ordered Asomani to pay $3.2 million in restitution to his victims, and to forfeit to the government the money he profited from the scheme.

On Dec. 13, 2019, Asomani was found guilty at trial of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering.

Asomani was the middle man who received the proceeds of the fraud conspiracy from victims and transferred the proceeds to unknown co-conspirators. Asomani transferred the funds among various accounts; he kept a portion of the proceeds for himself, and funneled the rest of the proceeds to co-conspirators in Ghana. Asomani operated five different companies with 16 different accounts at eight different banks.

Asomani received funds sent by more than a dozen victims across the United States, including three victims in the Kansas City metropolitan area, from Sept. 15, 2015, to Oct. 17, 2017. Although bank investigators and FBI agents warned Asomani that his bank accounts were receiving the proceeds of a fraud scheme, he continued to receive the funds and simply opened new accounts when funds were frozen, or accounts were closed by the banks.

Unknown co-conspirators targeted victims through online dating websites with various romance frauds. The unknown co-conspirators impersonated individuals who were involved in businesses overseas. They convinced the victims that they needed funds to help with moving gold from a foreign country, orphanage expenses, and school and travel expenses. The co-conspirators told the victims they would share the profits when the gold was returned to the United States. In fact, none of the victims received any profit or received any gold from the co-conspirators.

According to court documents, some victims suffered substantial financial hardship as a result of the fraud scheme. Some victims lost their retirement savings and some victims were forced to declare bankruptcy. Some victims borrowed money or took cash advances from credit cards in order to send money.

The trial testimony from 13 victims established a loss of over $3.2 million. For example, one victim who resided in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, set up a profile on ChristianMingle.com following the death of her husband to brain cancer. In October 2015, an individual claiming to be “Larry B. White” initiated contact with her. Following numerous conversations by email and telephone, “White” convinced the victim to invest in a Ghana gold mine. “White” promised a 40 percent return on the investment of money. From November 2015 through January 2016, under the direction of “White,” the victim sent funds to multiple entities by check and wire totaling approximately $3,292,000. Of that amount, $2,292,000 was transferred to accounts controlled by Asomani. Asomani spent $50,000 of those proceeds to make a down payment on a 2019 silver Lexus NX300. The victim never received any money or gold profits from “White.”

Another victim, who resides in Kansas City, Missouri, met “Bradley Fischer” on ChristianMingle.com. “Fischer” convinced the victim to send funds for school expenses, travel expenses, and to start a new life in Kansas City. On July 19, 2017, the victim wired $24,000 to Asomani’s bank account. “Fischer” promised to pay the victim back when he got to Kansas City. &nbsp;The victims received $1,000 back from “Fischer” after she realized she was being defrauded and confronted the individual.

Other victims reside in New Jersey, Alaska, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Kansas, and Iowa.

Asomani wired $1,789,416 from his bank accounts in the United States to bank accounts in Ghana. He spent approximately $342,278 on auto purchases and auto- or shipping-related expenses as part of the money-laundering scheme. Asomani shipped 18 vehicles to Ghana, having a declared value of approximately $284,190.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576340160303.png" alt="Henry N. Asomani -photo Alexandria, Virginia Sheriff " />
 <figcaption>Henry N. Asomani -photo Alexandria, Virginia Sheriff </figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies as part of a $3.2 million romance fraud scheme that had victims in Kansas and six other states.Henry N. Asomani, 35, Dumfries, Virginia, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Ghana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Aug. 25, to 10 years in federal prison without parole, according to the United State's Attorney. The court also ordered Asomani to pay $3.2 million in restitution to his victims, and to forfeit to the government the money he profited from the scheme.On Dec. 13, 2019, Asomani was found guilty at trial of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering.Asomani was the middle man who received the proceeds of the fraud conspiracy from victims and transferred the proceeds to unknown co-conspirators. Asomani transferred the funds among various accounts; he kept a portion of the proceeds for himself, and funneled the rest of the proceeds to co-conspirators in Ghana. Asomani operated five different companies with 16 different accounts at eight different banks.Asomani received funds sent by more than a dozen victims across the United States, including three victims in the Kansas City metropolitan area, from Sept. 15, 2015, to Oct. 17, 2017. Although bank investigators and FBI agents warned Asomani that his bank accounts were receiving the proceeds of a fraud scheme, he continued to receive the funds and simply opened new accounts when funds were frozen, or accounts were closed by the banks.Unknown co-conspirators targeted victims through online dating websites with various romance frauds. The unknown co-conspirators impersonated individuals who were involved in businesses overseas. They convinced the victims that they needed funds to help with moving gold from a foreign country, orphanage expenses, and school and travel expenses. The co-conspirators told the victims they would share the profits when the gold was returned to the United States. In fact, none of the victims received any profit or received any gold from the co-conspirators.According to court documents, some victims suffered substantial financial hardship as a result of the fraud scheme. Some victims lost their retirement savings and some victims were forced to declare bankruptcy. Some victims borrowed money or took cash advances from credit cards in order to send money.The trial testimony from 13 victims established a loss of over $3.2 million. For example, one victim who resided in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, set up a profile on ChristianMingle.com following the death of her husband to brain cancer. In October 2015, an individual claiming to be “Larry B. White” initiated contact with her. Following numerous conversations by email and telephone, “White” convinced the victim to invest in a Ghana gold mine. “White” promised a 40 percent return on the investment of money. From November 2015 through January 2016, under the direction of “White,” the victim sent funds to multiple entities by check and wire totaling approximately $3,292,000. Of that amount, $2,292,000 was transferred to accounts controlled by Asomani. Asomani spent $50,000 of those proceeds to make a down payment on a 2019 silver Lexus NX300. The victim never received any money or gold profits from “White.”Another victim, who resides in Kansas City, Missouri, met “Bradley Fischer” on ChristianMingle.com. “Fischer” convinced the victim to send funds for school expenses, travel expenses, and to start a new life in Kansas City. On July 19, 2017, the victim wired $24,000 to Asomani’s bank account. “Fischer” promised to pay the victim back when he got to Kansas City. &nbsp;The victims received $1,000 back from “Fischer” after she realized she was being defrauded and confronted the individual.Other victims reside in New Jersey, Alaska, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Kansas, and Iowa.Asomani wired $1,789,416 from his bank accounts in the United States to bank accounts in Ghana. He spent approximately $342,278 on auto purchases and auto- or shipping-related expenses as part of the money-laundering scheme. Asomani shipped 18 vehicles to Ghana, having a declared value of approximately $284,190.

Man sentenced for $3.2M romance fraud scheme

KANSAS CITY, KAN.&nbsp;–&nbsp;A Kansas man was indicted Wednesday on federal firearms and drug trafficking charges, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Pablo Martinez, 42, Kansas City, Kan., was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Court documents allege the investigation began when law enforcement received a complaint from Balls Food Inc. that one of its employees was distributing marijuana. Investigators identified Martinez as the employee’s supplier.

When the Kansas Highway patrol stopped Martinez’s car for a traffic violation, a trooper found a .45 caliber handgun and more than a quarter pound of marijuana in the car. Martinez denied selling marijuana. He told investigators he himself smoked about a quarter pound of marijuana every five days.

If convicted, he could face a penalty not less than five years in federal prison on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, up to 10 years and fine up to $250,000 on the other firearm charge and up five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the marijuana charge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598471064361.png" alt="Martinez photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Martinez photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN.&nbsp;–&nbsp;A Kansas man was indicted Wednesday on federal firearms and drug trafficking charges, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Pablo Martinez, 42, Kansas City, Kan., was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.Court documents allege the investigation began when law enforcement received a complaint from Balls Food Inc. that one of its employees was distributing marijuana. Investigators identified Martinez as the employee’s supplier.When the Kansas Highway patrol stopped Martinez’s car for a traffic violation, a trooper found a .45 caliber handgun and more than a quarter pound of marijuana in the car. Martinez denied selling marijuana. He told investigators he himself smoked about a quarter pound of marijuana every five days.If convicted, he could face a penalty not less than five years in federal prison on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, up to 10 years and fine up to $250,000 on the other firearm charge and up five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the marijuana charge.

Grocery store told police employee was selling marijuana

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and have made an arrest.

Just after 3 p.m. Monday, police responded to an armed robbery at the Pe Gas Station in the 700 block of North Ridge Road in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

A 55-year-old male employee and multiple witnesses told police a suspect who was later determined to be 21-year-old Kane Guffey of Wichita entered the business, fired a gun near the cashier, and demanded cash.&nbsp; 

Guffey took the cash and he fled on foot, running northbound on North Ridge Road.&nbsp; No one was injured in the robbery.

On Thursday afternoon, police arrested Guffey&nbsp; at a residence in the 1700 Block of South Saint Francis Avenue in Wichita. He is being<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20056531"> held&nbsp; on a $100,000 bond </a>on a requested charge of aggravated robbery.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and searching for a suspect.

Just after 3p.m. Monday, police responded to a robbery in progress at a gas station-convenience store in the 700 Block of North Ridge in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

A 55-year-old male employee told police an unknown suspect&nbsp; entered the business, pulled out a handgun and fired it toward the employee, according to Davidson.&nbsp; The suspect described as a white male in this 20s with a dark complexion, short braided hair with a pony tail and wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans demanded cash, took it and fled the business on foot.

The employee and customers in the business were not injured. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598622610733.png" alt="Guffey -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Guffey -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and have made an arrest.Just after 3 p.m. Monday, police responded to an armed robbery at the Pe Gas Station in the 700 block of North Ridge Road in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.A 55-year-old male employee and multiple witnesses told police a suspect who was later determined to be 21-year-old Kane Guffey of Wichita entered the business, fired a gun near the cashier, and demanded cash.&nbsp; Guffey took the cash and he fled on foot, running northbound on North Ridge Road.&nbsp; No one was injured in the robbery.On Thursday afternoon, police arrested Guffey&nbsp; at a residence in the 1700 Block of South Saint Francis Avenue in Wichita. He is being<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20056531"> held&nbsp; on a $100,000 bond </a>on a requested charge of aggravated robbery.-------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598457863834.png" alt="Robbery occurred at this gas station convenience store-google image" />
 <figcaption>Robbery occurred at this gas station convenience store-google image</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and searching for a suspect.Just after 3p.m. Monday, police responded to a robbery in progress at a gas station-convenience store in the 700 Block of North Ridge in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.A 55-year-old male employee told police an unknown suspect&nbsp; entered the business, pulled out a handgun and fired it toward the employee, according to Davidson.&nbsp; The suspect described as a white male in this 20s with a dark complexion, short braided hair with a pony tail and wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans demanded cash, took it and fled the business on foot.The employee and customers in the business were not injured. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call police.

Police: Kan. robbery suspect fired gun, took cash

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Four people were shot and injured Sunday at a night club in Kansas City where a mass shooting occurred in January, police said.

Kansas City Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the latest shooting at the 9ine Ultra Lounge was reported around 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

One victim found at the scene with several gunshot wounds was taken to a hospital. Three others arrived separately at hospitals but information about their conditions wasn't immediately available.

<a href="https://apnews.com/d2f19c481503aff9f98b1aba324a894c">On Jan. 19</a>, a man opened fire on a line of people waiting to get inside 9ine, killing a 25-year-old woman and wounding 15 other people before security guards working at the club shot and killed the gunman.

The shooting Sunday was the first reported at the nightclub since the January shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598814744716.png" alt="Scene of the Sunday shooting -photo courtesy KSHB" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the Sunday shooting -photo courtesy KSHB</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Four people were shot and injured Sunday at a night club in Kansas City where a mass shooting occurred in January, police said.Kansas City Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the latest shooting at the 9ine Ultra Lounge was reported around 2:30 a.m. Sunday.One victim found at the scene with several gunshot wounds was taken to a hospital. Three others arrived separately at hospitals but information about their conditions wasn't immediately available.<a href="https://apnews.com/d2f19c481503aff9f98b1aba324a894c">On Jan. 19</a>, a man opened fire on a line of people waiting to get inside 9ine, killing a 25-year-old woman and wounding 15 other people before security guards working at the club shot and killed the gunman.The shooting Sunday was the first reported at the nightclub since the January shooting.

4 shot at Kansas City nightclub where past shooting occurred

SALINE COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred early Sunday morning in Saline County and have two suspects in custody.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., an officer from the Salina Police Department observed a silver 2006 Lincoln Town Car that failed to stop at multiple stop signs. When the officer initiated a traffic stop on North Ninth St. in Thomas Park in Salina, the driver of the vehicle did not stop, and a pursuit began. An occupant of the Town Car fired multiple shots at the officer’s vehicle, and the officer was struck once in his foot.

The officer continued pursuing the Town Car north on Ninth St., then West on Pleasant Hill Rd., and South on Halstead Rd. The Saline County Sheriff’s Office and the Salina Police Department set up stop sticks near Halstead Rd. and I-70 in an effort to deflate the approaching vehicle’s tires. As they attempted to deploy the devices, an occupant of the vehicle fired at them. One police officer and one deputy returned fire. The vehicle’s tires were not deflated, and the chase continued.

The driver lost control of the Town Car near West Crawford St. and Halstead Rd., and it crashed into a ditch. The subjects fled on foot. A 37-year-old male from Wichita was located in a nearby field. He was taken into custody.

A search for the second suspect continued into Sunday afternoon. Based on information that the KBI developed, KHP troopers were able to locate the vehicle the 36-year-old man was traveling after a Capitol police officer spotted the silver vehicle&nbsp; near the I-70 East Topeka Turnpike Interchange, according to office Jose Saucedo.

 KHP troopers made a felony stop on the Turnpike and took the man into custody without incident, according to the KBI.

EMS transported the Salina Police officer to the Salina Regional Hospital for treatment. He is expected to fully recover.

Authorities released no additional details.

SALINA —A Salina police officer was shot Sunday during a chase that began in north Salina and one of two suspects remains at large.

Just after 2:30 a.m. Sunday, a Salina police officer observed a vehicle failing to stop for multiple stops signs in north Salina, according to a media release. When the officer activated his emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle fled.

At the beginning of the pursuit, an occupant of the vehicle fired multiple gun shots at the pursuing police vehicle on North Ninth Street near Thomas Park. One of these rounds fired by the suspect struck the pursuing officer in his foot.

The vehicle pursuit left the Salina city limits on North Ninth Street and West Pleasant Hill Road with two Salina police officers pursuing the vehicle, according to police.

During the pursuit in Saline County, officers and Saline County Sheriff's deputies attempted to set up vehicle tire deflating devices in front of the fleeing vehicle. They, too, were fired upon by occupants of the fleeing vehicle while attempting to place these tire deflating devices on North Halstead Road near Interstate 70. Both the deputy and the officer returned fire.

A 2:40 a.m., the fleeing vehicle left the roadway and crashed in the area of West Crawford and South Halstead Road.

 The occupants of the vehicle fled from the vehicle. One occupant, a 37-year-old man from Wichita, was located hiding in a nearby field and taken into custody and a second suspect is still at large, according to information from SPD.

The SPD, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and the Kansas Highway Patrol have multiple personnel at the scene and are actively looking for the additional suspect who is believed to be armed and extremely dangerous.

The Salina police officer who was shot was transported to the Salina Regional Health Center by a Salina Fire Department EMS unit. He is presently in stable condition and it is anticipated he will make a full recovery, SPD reported.

The KBI has been called in to take over the investigation regarding this officer involved shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598869138130.png" alt="Investigators from the KBI on the scene of Sunday's investigation in Salina -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Investigators from the KBI on the scene of Sunday's investigation in Salina -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred early Sunday morning in Saline County and have two suspects in custody.At approximately 2:30 a.m., an officer from the Salina Police Department observed a silver 2006 Lincoln Town Car that failed to stop at multiple stop signs. When the officer initiated a traffic stop on North Ninth St. in Thomas Park in Salina, the driver of the vehicle did not stop, and a pursuit began. An occupant of the Town Car fired multiple shots at the officer’s vehicle, and the officer was struck once in his foot.The officer continued pursuing the Town Car north on Ninth St., then West on Pleasant Hill Rd., and South on Halstead Rd. The Saline County Sheriff’s Office and the Salina Police Department set up stop sticks near Halstead Rd. and I-70 in an effort to deflate the approaching vehicle’s tires. As they attempted to deploy the devices, an occupant of the vehicle fired at them. One police officer and one deputy returned fire. The vehicle’s tires were not deflated, and the chase continued.The driver lost control of the Town Car near West Crawford St. and Halstead Rd., and it crashed into a ditch. The subjects fled on foot. A 37-year-old male from Wichita was located in a nearby field. He was taken into custody.A search for the second suspect continued into Sunday afternoon. Based on information that the KBI developed, KHP troopers were able to locate the vehicle the 36-year-old man was traveling after a Capitol police officer spotted the silver vehicle&nbsp; near the I-70 East Topeka Turnpike Interchange, according to office Jose Saucedo. KHP troopers made a felony stop on the Turnpike and took the man into custody without incident, according to the KBI.EMS transported the Salina Police officer to the Salina Regional Hospital for treatment. He is expected to fully recover.Authorities released no additional details.---------SALINA —A Salina police officer was shot Sunday during a chase that began in north Salina and one of two suspects remains at large.Just after 2:30 a.m. Sunday, a Salina police officer observed a vehicle failing to stop for multiple stops signs in north Salina, according to a media release. When the officer activated his emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle fled.At the beginning of the pursuit, an occupant of the vehicle fired multiple gun shots at the pursuing police vehicle on North Ninth Street near Thomas Park. One of these rounds fired by the suspect struck the pursuing officer in his foot.The vehicle pursuit left the Salina city limits on North Ninth Street and West Pleasant Hill Road with two Salina police officers pursuing the vehicle, according to police.During the pursuit in Saline County, officers and Saline County Sheriff's deputies attempted to set up vehicle tire deflating devices in front of the fleeing vehicle. They, too, were fired upon by occupants of the fleeing vehicle while attempting to place these tire deflating devices on North Halstead Road near Interstate 70. Both the deputy and the officer returned fire.A 2:40 a.m., the fleeing vehicle left the roadway and crashed in the area of West Crawford and South Halstead Road. The occupants of the vehicle fled from the vehicle. One occupant, a 37-year-old man from Wichita, was located hiding in a nearby field and taken into custody and a second suspect is still at large, according to information from SPD.The SPD, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and the Kansas Highway Patrol have multiple personnel at the scene and are actively looking for the additional suspect who is believed to be armed and extremely dangerous.The Salina police officer who was shot was transported to the Salina Regional Health Center by a Salina Fire Department EMS unit. He is presently in stable condition and it is anticipated he will make a full recovery, SPD reported.The KBI has been called in to take over the investigation regarding this officer involved shooting.

Update: Salina officer wounded, 2 suspects in custody

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A former 17-year-old female Boy Scout member contends in a lawsuit against a Kansas City-area chapter that she faced sexual harassment and discrimination before she was fired from a camp last summer.

The plaintiff and her mother, who are not identified, claim in the lawsuit against the Heart of America Council that she saw Boy Scout members barge in on women while they changed clothes at a camp and that staff also attended drunken parties, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-08-27/female-boy-scout-alleges-rampant-sexual-harassment-by-kansas-city-boy-scout-group" target="_blank">reported</a>.

The lawsuit alleges the girl was punished for actions male Scouts got away while she was a staff member at H. Roe Bartle Scout Camp in Osceola, Missouri, last summer. She said she was sent home from camp after only 12 days for leaving camp with a male, despite having her mother’s permission to do so.

The Heart of America Council also routinely violated its policy requiring an adult to be present when another adult has a conversation with someone younger than 18, the lawsuit claims.

Brick Huffman, Scout Executive for the Heart of America Council, said in a statement Friday that the organization cannot comment on the lawsuit, but officials are looking into the matter “and can assure you that the conduct alleged in the complaint runs counter to everything Scouting represents.”

Huffman said Scouting members and staff are expected to treat everyone with respect, and the organization does not allow bullying or harassment. Scouting values diversity and seeks to provide a safe environment for everyone, he said.

“Prejudice, intolerance, discrimination and harassment are unacceptable in our organization,” Huffman said.

The Heart of America Council oversees scouting in 19 counties in eastern Kansas and western Missouri, including Kansas City.

Girls were allowed to join the Boy Scouts in 2017, and the plaintiff said she was one of the first female staff members at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Camp.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for sex discrimination, sexual harassment, breach of contract and retaliation.

The national Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February in response to hundreds of lawsuits by Scouts alleging they were sexually abused.

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A former 17-year-old female Boy Scout member contends in a lawsuit against a Kansas City-area chapter that she faced sexual harassment and discrimination before she was fired from a camp last summer.The plaintiff and her mother, who are not identified, claim in the lawsuit against the Heart of America Council that she saw Boy Scout members barge in on women while they changed clothes at a camp and that staff also attended drunken parties, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-08-27/female-boy-scout-alleges-rampant-sexual-harassment-by-kansas-city-boy-scout-group" target="_blank">reported</a>.The lawsuit alleges the girl was punished for actions male Scouts got away while she was a staff member at H. Roe Bartle Scout Camp in Osceola, Missouri, last summer. She said she was sent home from camp after only 12 days for leaving camp with a male, despite having her mother’s permission to do so.The Heart of America Council also routinely violated its policy requiring an adult to be present when another adult has a conversation with someone younger than 18, the lawsuit claims.Brick Huffman, Scout Executive for the Heart of America Council, said in a statement Friday that the organization cannot comment on the lawsuit, but officials are looking into the matter “and can assure you that the conduct alleged in the complaint runs counter to everything Scouting represents.”Huffman said Scouting members and staff are expected to treat everyone with respect, and the organization does not allow bullying or harassment. Scouting values diversity and seeks to provide a safe environment for everyone, he said.“Prejudice, intolerance, discrimination and harassment are unacceptable in our organization,” Huffman said.The Heart of America Council oversees scouting in 19 counties in eastern Kansas and western Missouri, including Kansas City.Girls were allowed to join the Boy Scouts in 2017, and the plaintiff said she was one of the first female staff members at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Camp.The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for sex discrimination, sexual harassment, breach of contract and retaliation.The national Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February in response to hundreds of lawsuits by Scouts alleging they were sexually abused.

Suit: Ex-Female Boy Scout faced harassment, discrimination

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent attack that sent a man to the hospital.

Just after 10:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to the 2400 block of SE Colonial drive in Topeka reference a stabbing, according to officer Jeffrey Sloan. Upon arrival, officers located a man with life threatening stab wounds. He was transported to a local hospital. 

This is being investigated as a domestic violence incident. Police believe all parties involved in this incident are accounted for. The victim's name has not been released. Police have not reported an arrest.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent attack that sent a man to the hospital.Just after 10:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to the 2400 block of SE Colonial drive in Topeka reference a stabbing, according to officer Jeffrey Sloan. Upon arrival, officers located a man with life threatening stab wounds. He was transported to a local hospital. This is being investigated as a domestic violence incident. Police believe all parties involved in this incident are accounted for. The victim's name has not been released. Police have not reported an arrest.

Police: Kan. man with life-threatening injuries from stabbing

HUTCHINSON—Authorities are investigating an early morning fire at a residence in Hutchinson.

Just after 4a.m.,fire crews&nbsp; responded to 304 East 3rd Avenue report of a fully involved vacant residential structure on fire, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598786466174.jpeg" alt="Three engines and two ladder trucks were used to contain the fire on Sunday morning- photo Hutchinson Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Three engines and two ladder trucks were used to contain the fire on Sunday morning- photo Hutchinson Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON—Authorities are investigating an early morning fire at a residence in Hutchinson.Just after 4a.m.,fire crews&nbsp; responded to 304 East 3rd Avenue report of a fully involved vacant residential structure on fire, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.Crews reported a fully involved single story structure with exposure concerns on both sides of the fully involved structure. Fire crews went into a defensive strategy to save both exposures and extinguish the home. According to the owner, the home was used as a storage building and slowly being remodeled. No one was living at the home at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported throughout the incident.Crews continued to work late Sunday morning on containing hot spots and removing burnt foam board insulation from a fifth wheel trailer that also caught on fire.Beer did not release any information on damage estimates.