SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 5p.m. Sunday, police responded to the 1100 block of SE Locust in Topeka on a report of a shooting, according to police Lt. John Trimble.&nbsp;

Officers were able to find a victim identified as&nbsp;Khalil I. Austin, 22, Topeka.  at a nearby location suffering from what appeared to be a non-life threatening gunshot wound. EMS transported him to a local hospital for medical treatment.

On Monday morning, police reported the arrest of a suspect identified as 18-year-old Shardell S. Jackson of Topeka on requested charges of&nbsp; Aggravated Battery, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm and Criminal Damage to Property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583780033518.png" alt="Shardell Jackson-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Shardell Jackson-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a suspect in custody.Just before 5p.m. Sunday, police responded to the 1100 block of SE Locust in Topeka on a report of a shooting, according to police Lt. John Trimble.&nbsp;Officers were able to find a victim identified as&nbsp;Khalil I. Austin, 22, Topeka. at a nearby location suffering from what appeared to be a non-life threatening gunshot wound. EMS transported him to a local hospital for medical treatment.On Monday morning, police reported the arrest of a suspect identified as 18-year-old Shardell S. Jackson of Topeka on requested charges of&nbsp; Aggravated Battery, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm and Criminal Damage to Property.

Police: Kansas teen in custody for weekend shooting 

LADEU, Mo. (AP) — Two Catholic schools in Missouri have temporarily closed and some students at a third school have been told to stay home after the father of the first person in Missouri to become ill with the coronavirus attended a dance with another child.

Amtrak also is cleaning a train the ill woman took to Missouri from Chicago.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said at a news conference Sunday that the patient’s family was told on Thursday to self quarantine at their home in Ladue but didn't follow health department instructions, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/coronavirus/family-of-missouri-s-first-coronavirus-patient-broke-self-quarantine/article_94fe6bf6-f679-5b88-870c-18c5f79d019b.html">reports</a>.

Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School in Frontenac, Missouri, said in a message to parents that the father and sister of the infected patient attended the father-daughter dance Saturday night at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton. They also apparently attended a pre-dance gathering at the house of a Villa student.

Page said health officials have told the man that “that he must remain in his home or they will issue a formal quarantine that will require him and the rest of his family to stay in their home by the force of law,”

His daughter, who is in her 20s, tested&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2e97e57301f2a4e57d927f6b87510e0d">positive&nbsp;</a>for coronavirus after returning home from Italy, which has been the epicenter of Europe's outbreak of the virus that causes COVID-19. The woman attends an out-of-state school and had been studying abroad.

The message from Villa, an all-girls school for seventh- to 12th-graders, and Oak Hill, which serves coed preschoolers through sixth-graders, advises students and parents who attended the dance to be attentive to symptoms.

Meanwhile, John Burroughs School head Andy Abbott said in an email that a “handful” of high school seniors who gathered at the house where the pre-dance event had been held were asked not to attend the private school in Ladeu until more information is available. The family who lives at that house that hosted the event includes children who attend Villa and Burroughs.

Abbott, however, stressed that the likelihood of any students from the school contracting the virus was “extraordinarily low."

Before seeking treatment, the Missouri woman with the positive test flew into Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Monday, stayed with a friend, then took an Amtrak train home to St. Louis on Wednesday, according to Doug Moore, spokesman for Page.

Amtrak said in a news release that is notifying passengers and employees who were on Amtrak train 303 with the woman. The release said that as a precaution, the train also has been taken out of service for comprehensive cleaning. The train stations in Chicago and St. Louis also are being cleaned.

The process of determining who needs to be notified, checked for symptoms and tested is unfolding, said Spring Schmidt, acting co-director of the county health department.

LADEU, Mo. (AP) — Two Catholic schools in Missouri have temporarily closed and some students at a third school have been told to stay home after the father of the first person in Missouri to become ill with the coronavirus attended a dance with another child.Amtrak also is cleaning a train the ill woman took to Missouri from Chicago.St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said at a news conference Sunday that the patient’s family was told on Thursday to self quarantine at their home in Ladue but didn't follow health department instructions, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/coronavirus/family-of-missouri-s-first-coronavirus-patient-broke-self-quarantine/article_94fe6bf6-f679-5b88-870c-18c5f79d019b.html">reports</a>.Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School in Frontenac, Missouri, said in a message to parents that the father and sister of the infected patient attended the father-daughter dance Saturday night at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton. They also apparently attended a pre-dance gathering at the house of a Villa student.Page said health officials have told the man that “that he must remain in his home or they will issue a formal quarantine that will require him and the rest of his family to stay in their home by the force of law,”His daughter, who is in her 20s, tested&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2e97e57301f2a4e57d927f6b87510e0d">positive&nbsp;</a>for coronavirus after returning home from Italy, which has been the epicenter of Europe's outbreak of the virus that causes COVID-19. The woman attends an out-of-state school and had been studying abroad.The message from Villa, an all-girls school for seventh- to 12th-graders, and Oak Hill, which serves coed preschoolers through sixth-graders, advises students and parents who attended the dance to be attentive to symptoms.Meanwhile, John Burroughs School head Andy Abbott said in an email that a “handful” of high school seniors who gathered at the house where the pre-dance event had been held were asked not to attend the private school in Ladeu until more information is available. The family who lives at that house that hosted the event includes children who attend Villa and Burroughs.Abbott, however, stressed that the likelihood of any students from the school contracting the virus was “extraordinarily low."Before seeking treatment, the Missouri woman with the positive test flew into Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Monday, stayed with a friend, then took an Amtrak train home to St. Louis on Wednesday, according to Doug Moore, spokesman for Page.Amtrak said in a news release that is notifying passengers and employees who were on Amtrak train 303 with the woman. The release said that as a precaution, the train also has been taken out of service for comprehensive cleaning. The train stations in Chicago and St. Louis also are being cleaned.The process of determining who needs to be notified, checked for symptoms and tested is unfolding, said Spring Schmidt, acting co-director of the county health department.

Family violates coronavirus quarantine to attend school dance

NEW YORK —(AP) The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 7.8% Monday, its steepest drop since the financial crisis of 2008, as mounting fears over the coronavirus combined with a crash in oil prices to send a shudder through world markets.

The drop on Wall Street was so sharp that it triggered the first automatic halt in trading in more than two decades. European markets likewise registered their heaviest losses since the darkest days of the 2008 meltdown and are now in a bear market.

Together, the damage reflecting mounting alarm over the coronavirus epidemic that has closed factories, schools and stores and led to travel bans and unprecedented quarantines.

"The market has had a crisis of confidence," said Willie Delwiche, investment strategist at Baird.

U.S. stocks are now down 19% from the peak they reached last month. Bond yields fell to all-time lows as investors sought safer places to put their money, even if the returns on their investment slid ever close to zero.

The market slide came as Italy, the hardest-hit place in Europe, began enforcing a lockdown against 16 million people in the north, or one-quarter of the country's population, with masked police officers and soldiers checking travelers' documents amid restrictions that affected such daily activities as enjoying a espresso at a cafe or running to the grocery store. The turmoil is expected to push Italy into recession and weigh on the European economy.

Elsewhere around the world, Ireland went so far as to cancel St. Patrick's Day parades, and Israel ordered all visitors quarantined just weeks before Passover and Easter, one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

In the U.S., a cruise ship with a cluster of coronavirus cases that forced it to idle off the California coast for days arrived at the port of Oakland as officials prepared to start bringing passengers to military bases for quarantine or get them back to their home countries. The Grand Princess had more than 3,500 people aboard - 21 of them infected with the virus.

The escalating health crisis combined with another, intertwined development - plummeting oil prices - to drag down the market: The price of oil sank nearly 25% after Russia refused to roll back production in response to virus-depressed demand and Saudi Arabia signaled it will ramp up its own output.

While low oil prices can translate into cheaper gasoline, they wreak havoc on energy companies and countries that count on petroleum revenue, including the No. 1 producer, the U.S.

On Wall Street, the S&amp;P 500 plunged 7.4% in the first few minutes after the opening bell before trading was halted by the market's circuit breakers, first adopted after the crash of October 1987 and modified over the years to give investors a chance to catch their breath. The market-wide circuit breakers have been triggered only once before, in 1997.

After the 15-minute pause, the S&amp;P trimmed its losses, but still closed 7.6% lower on the day. The Dow fell 2,013 points, or 7.8%, to 23,851.02. The Nasdaq gave up 7.3%.

The slide pushed U.S. stocks ever closer to a bear market, defined as a drop of 20% from its peak, while a gauge of fear on Wall Street reached its highest level since the 2008 global financial crisis.

Italy's stock index plunged 11.2%. Britain, France and Germany were down between 7.7% and 8.4%

The interest rate, or yield, on U.S. Treasury bonds sank to all-time lows as investors looking for a safe place kept on sinking money into them, even as the return on their investment sank closer and closer to zero. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note plunged to 0.59%. Up until last week, it had never been below 1%.

The carnage in the energy sector was particularly bad. With benchmark U.S. crude dropping to under $32 a barrel, Marathon Oil, Apache Corp. and Diamondback Energy each sank more than 40%. Exxon Mobil and Chevron were on track for their worst days since 2008.

"We knew it was going to be a hot day," said John Spensieri, head of U.S. equity trading at Stifel. He said that the mood was "organized chaos" in the morning but that the trading halt achieved what it was supposed to by stopping the slide.

The coronavirus has infected more than 110,000 people worldwide and killed around 3,900, leading to factory shutdowns, travel bans, closings of schools and stores, and cancellations of conventions and other gatherings. In the U.S., the number of people infected climbed to around 600, with at least 26 deaths - at least 19 of them associated with a single Seattle-area nursing home.

While the crisis is easing in China, where the virus was first detected, fast-growing clusters have turned up in South Korea, Iran and Italy, and fears are mounting in the United States.

After initially taking an optimistic view on the virus, hoping that it would remain mostly in China and cause just a short-term disruption, investors are realizing they probably underestimated the crisis badly.

Including Monday's drop, the S&amp;P 500 has now lost 18.9% since setting a record last month. If it hits 20%, it would mean the death of what's become the longest-running bull market for U.S. stocks in history, an 11-year run. Monday marks the 11th anniversary of the market hitting bottom after the 2008 financial crisis.

Traders are increasing betting that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates back to zero to do what it can to help the virus-weakened economy, perhaps as soon as next week.

But doubts are rising about how effective lower rates can be this time. They can encourage people and companies to borrow, but they can't restart factories, restaurants or theme parks shut down because people are quarantined.

The Fed has already cut its benchmark short-term rate to a range of 1% to 1.25%, leaving little room to cut more.

"Central banks are a bit player in the current crisis,'' Ethan Harris, global economist at Bank of America, wrote in a research report.

The clamor is growing louder for help from authorities besides central banks.

"Today's market action may bang some heads together and actually start thinking about the constructive measures the government can take,'' said Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institution for International Economics.

Among other things, Kirkegaard said, the government should make sure all Americans get paid sick leave and health care coverage for virus-related ills.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks plunged 7% on Wall Street Monday, triggering a trading halt for 15 minutes. The steep drop followed similar falls in Europe after a fight among major crude-producing countries jolted investors already on edge about the widening fallout from the outbreak of the new coronavirus. 

 Indexes in London and Frankfurt dropped by more than 7%. The benchmark for Italy, where the industrial and financial heartland was put in lockdown, fell 11%. Oil prices are down about 20%, deepening a rout that began when Saudi Arabia, Russia and other producers failed to agree on cutting&nbsp;

BEIJING (AP) — Global stocks and oil prices have plunged after a fight among major crude-producing countries jolted investors who are already on edge about the costs of the virus outbreak. Trading in Wall Street futures has been halted after they fell by more than the daily limit of 5%. 

The stock indexes in London and Frankfurt dropped by almost 7%. The benchmark for Italy, where the industrial and financial heartland was put in lockdown, was down almost 10%. Tokyo closed down 5.1%. Oil prices are down about 20%, deepening a rout that began when Saudi Arabia, Russia and other major producers failed to agree on cutting output.

NEW YORK —(AP) The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 7.8% Monday, its steepest drop since the financial crisis of 2008, as mounting fears over the coronavirus combined with a crash in oil prices to send a shudder through world markets.The drop on Wall Street was so sharp that it triggered the first automatic halt in trading in more than two decades. European markets likewise registered their heaviest losses since the darkest days of the 2008 meltdown and are now in a bear market.Together, the damage reflecting mounting alarm over the coronavirus epidemic that has closed factories, schools and stores and led to travel bans and unprecedented quarantines."The market has had a crisis of confidence," said Willie Delwiche, investment strategist at Baird.U.S. stocks are now down 19% from the peak they reached last month. Bond yields fell to all-time lows as investors sought safer places to put their money, even if the returns on their investment slid ever close to zero.The market slide came as Italy, the hardest-hit place in Europe, began enforcing a lockdown against 16 million people in the north, or one-quarter of the country's population, with masked police officers and soldiers checking travelers' documents amid restrictions that affected such daily activities as enjoying a espresso at a cafe or running to the grocery store. The turmoil is expected to push Italy into recession and weigh on the European economy.Elsewhere around the world, Ireland went so far as to cancel St. Patrick's Day parades, and Israel ordered all visitors quarantined just weeks before Passover and Easter, one of the busiest travel periods of the year.In the U.S., a cruise ship with a cluster of coronavirus cases that forced it to idle off the California coast for days arrived at the port of Oakland as officials prepared to start bringing passengers to military bases for quarantine or get them back to their home countries. The Grand Princess had more than 3,500 people aboard - 21 of them infected with the virus.The escalating health crisis combined with another, intertwined development - plummeting oil prices - to drag down the market: The price of oil sank nearly 25% after Russia refused to roll back production in response to virus-depressed demand and Saudi Arabia signaled it will ramp up its own output.While low oil prices can translate into cheaper gasoline, they wreak havoc on energy companies and countries that count on petroleum revenue, including the No. 1 producer, the U.S.On Wall Street, the S&amp;P 500 plunged 7.4% in the first few minutes after the opening bell before trading was halted by the market's circuit breakers, first adopted after the crash of October 1987 and modified over the years to give investors a chance to catch their breath. The market-wide circuit breakers have been triggered only once before, in 1997.After the 15-minute pause, the S&amp;P trimmed its losses, but still closed 7.6% lower on the day. The Dow fell 2,013 points, or 7.8%, to 23,851.02. The Nasdaq gave up 7.3%.The slide pushed U.S. stocks ever closer to a bear market, defined as a drop of 20% from its peak, while a gauge of fear on Wall Street reached its highest level since the 2008 global financial crisis.Italy's stock index plunged 11.2%. Britain, France and Germany were down between 7.7% and 8.4%The interest rate, or yield, on U.S. Treasury bonds sank to all-time lows as investors looking for a safe place kept on sinking money into them, even as the return on their investment sank closer and closer to zero. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note plunged to 0.59%. Up until last week, it had never been below 1%.The carnage in the energy sector was particularly bad. With benchmark U.S. crude dropping to under $32 a barrel, Marathon Oil, Apache Corp. and Diamondback Energy each sank more than 40%. Exxon Mobil and Chevron were on track for their worst days since 2008."We knew it was going to be a hot day," said John Spensieri, head of U.S. equity trading at Stifel. He said that the mood was "organized chaos" in the morning but that the trading halt achieved what it was supposed to by stopping the slide.The coronavirus has infected more than 110,000 people worldwide and killed around 3,900, leading to factory shutdowns, travel bans, closings of schools and stores, and cancellations of conventions and other gatherings. In the U.S., the number of people infected climbed to around 600, with at least 26 deaths - at least 19 of them associated with a single Seattle-area nursing home.While the crisis is easing in China, where the virus was first detected, fast-growing clusters have turned up in South Korea, Iran and Italy, and fears are mounting in the United States.After initially taking an optimistic view on the virus, hoping that it would remain mostly in China and cause just a short-term disruption, investors are realizing they probably underestimated the crisis badly.Including Monday's drop, the S&amp;P 500 has now lost 18.9% since setting a record last month. If it hits 20%, it would mean the death of what's become the longest-running bull market for U.S. stocks in history, an 11-year run. Monday marks the 11th anniversary of the market hitting bottom after the 2008 financial crisis.Traders are increasing betting that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates back to zero to do what it can to help the virus-weakened economy, perhaps as soon as next week.But doubts are rising about how effective lower rates can be this time. They can encourage people and companies to borrow, but they can't restart factories, restaurants or theme parks shut down because people are quarantined.The Fed has already cut its benchmark short-term rate to a range of 1% to 1.25%, leaving little room to cut more."Central banks are a bit player in the current crisis,'' Ethan Harris, global economist at Bank of America, wrote in a research report.The clamor is growing louder for help from authorities besides central banks."Today's market action may bang some heads together and actually start thinking about the constructive measures the government can take,'' said Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institution for International Economics.Among other things, Kirkegaard said, the government should make sure all Americans get paid sick leave and health care coverage for virus-related ills.--------<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">US equity markets have resumed trading following the Market Wide Circuit Breaker trading halt&mdash; NYSE 🏛 (@NYSE) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYSE/status/1237012584311783424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks plunged 7% on Wall Street Monday, triggering a trading halt for 15 minutes. The steep drop followed similar falls in Europe after a fight among major crude-producing countries jolted investors already on edge about the widening fallout from the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Indexes in London and Frankfurt dropped by more than 7%. The benchmark for Italy, where the industrial and financial heartland was put in lockdown, fell 11%. Oil prices are down about 20%, deepening a rout that began when Saudi Arabia, Russia and other producers failed to agree on cutting&nbsp;-----------BEIJING (AP) — Global stocks and oil prices have plunged after a fight among major crude-producing countries jolted investors who are already on edge about the costs of the virus outbreak. Trading in Wall Street futures has been halted after they fell by more than the daily limit of 5%. The stock indexes in London and Frankfurt dropped by almost 7%. The benchmark for Italy, where the industrial and financial heartland was put in lockdown, was down almost 10%. Tokyo closed down 5.1%. Oil prices are down about 20%, deepening a rout that began when Saudi Arabia, Russia and other major producers failed to agree on cutting output.

Dow drops 7.8% as free-fall in oil, virus fears slam markets

BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on numerous charges after a weekend drug bust.

Just after 5 p.m. Saturday, deputies executed a search warrant at 609 E. Third in the city of Hoisington, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

Detectives developed information that indicated drug trafficking was occurring at that location.

Deputies reported finding methamphetamine, marijuana, large quantities of drug paraphernalia and firearms in the residence. They also arrested Brian Alexander, 38, Hoisington, at the scene on suspicion of distribution of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a firearm. He’s being held in the Barton County jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond, according to Bellendir.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583769115099.jpeg" alt="Brian Alexander-photo Barton County" />
 <figcaption>Brian Alexander-photo Barton County</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on numerous charges after a weekend drug bust.Just after 5 p.m. Saturday, deputies executed a search warrant at 609 E. Third in the city of Hoisington, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.Detectives developed information that indicated drug trafficking was occurring at that location.Deputies reported finding methamphetamine, marijuana, large quantities of drug paraphernalia and firearms in the residence. They also arrested Brian Alexander, 38, Hoisington, at the scene on suspicion of distribution of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a firearm. He’s being held in the Barton County jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond, according to Bellendir.

Kansas man held on $100,000 bond after weekend drug bust

The University of Kansas Hospital says it has admitted a patient with COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.

The patient is in a specially-equipped area to prevent the spread of the virus to other patients, staff, physicians and visitors, according to a news release.

The hospital will hold a news conference at noon Monday to answer questions about the protocols for care but said in a statement it would not provide any details about the patient’s identity.

Over the weekend, Kansas health officials announced that a Johnson County woman was the state’s first case of the new coronavirus. She appears to have contracted her illness while traveling in the northeast United States. More than 80 other people in Kansas are being monitored for the infection because they have traveled to countries where the virus is spreading rapidly.

It is unclear if the patient admitted to KU is the woman confirmed to have the new coronavirus over the weekend.

People who are experiencing symptoms – which include fever, coughing and shortness of breath – should contact their local health department. Most cases of the new coronavirus are mild, and patients can self-isolate at home. More serious cases can require hospitalization.

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">COVID-19 Update <a href="https://t.co/UgRtmYfmNY">https://t.co/UgRtmYfmNY</a>&mdash; KU Hospital News (@KUHospitalNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/KUHospitalNews/status/1237060461977190401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The University of Kansas Hospital says it has admitted a patient with COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.The patient is in a specially-equipped area to prevent the spread of the virus to other patients, staff, physicians and visitors, according to a news release.The hospital will hold a news conference at noon Monday to answer questions about the protocols for care but said in a statement it would not provide any details about the patient’s identity.Over the weekend, Kansas health officials announced that a Johnson County woman was the state’s first case of the new coronavirus. She appears to have contracted her illness while traveling in the northeast United States. More than 80 other people in Kansas are being monitored for the infection because they have traveled to countries where the virus is spreading rapidly.It is unclear if the patient admitted to KU is the woman confirmed to have the new coronavirus over the weekend.People who are experiencing symptoms – which include fever, coughing and shortness of breath – should contact their local health department. Most cases of the new coronavirus are mild, and patients can self-isolate at home. More serious cases can require hospitalization.

🎥 University of Kansas Hospital in KC admits cononavirus patient

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a 2-county chase.

Just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, a patrol officer observed a gray 2015 Honda Civic driving without tail lights in the 200 block of North Broadway Boulevard in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus.

When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver refused to stop and sped southbound and led police on a chase through the south part of Salina before getting on southbound Interstate 135.

&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff's deputies and Kansas Highway Patrol troopers took over the chase. The vehicle eventually stopped because troopers put out spike strips in McPherson County.

The driver, Mason Barnes, 19, Salina, was arrested on requested charges of felony flee and elude, no drivers license and multiple other traffic violations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583673044381.jpeg" alt="Mason Barnes / Saline County Sheriff photo" />
 <figcaption>Mason Barnes / Saline County Sheriff photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a 2-county chase.Just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, a patrol officer observed a gray 2015 Honda Civic driving without tail lights in the 200 block of North Broadway Boulevard in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus.When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver refused to stop and sped southbound and led police on a chase through the south part of Salina before getting on southbound Interstate 135.&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff's deputies and Kansas Highway Patrol troopers took over the chase. The vehicle eventually stopped because troopers put out spike strips in McPherson County.The driver, Mason Barnes, 19, Salina, was arrested on requested charges of felony flee and elude, no drivers license and multiple other traffic violations.

KHP uses stop sticks to help arrest Kansas teen during weekend chase

Sunday plane crash photo courtesy Okaloosa County Sheriff

OKALOOSA COUNTY, FL. — Authorities are working to determine the cause of Sunday plane crash in the panhandle of Florida.

The pilot and passenger aboard a Beech Bonanza aircraft that went down short of the Destin Executive Airport runway Sunday morning in are identified as a father and son from Kansas who were flying into the Destin area for vacation, according to a media release from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's office.

&nbsp;Just after 10a.m., Jason Dougherty, 47, of Garden City and Caleb Dougherty, 22, Salina, as well as a Labrador retriever flying with them, somehow survived without a scratch after just missing a home and landing in a tree in&nbsp;the area of Main Street and Planet Drive&nbsp;

They say the plane began experiencing engine trouble as they were coming into land, according to the sheriff's office.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583765018468.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sunday plane crash photo courtesy Okaloosa County SheriffOKALOOSA COUNTY, FL. — Authorities are working to determine the cause of Sunday plane crash in the panhandle of Florida.The pilot and passenger aboard a Beech Bonanza aircraft that went down short of the Destin Executive Airport runway Sunday morning in are identified as a father and son from Kansas who were flying into the Destin area for vacation, according to a media release from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's office.&nbsp;Just after 10a.m., Jason Dougherty, 47, of Garden City and Caleb Dougherty, 22, Salina, as well as a Labrador retriever flying with them, somehow survived without a scratch after just missing a home and landing in a tree in&nbsp;the area of Main Street and Planet Drive&nbsp;They say the plane began experiencing engine trouble as they were coming into land, according to the sheriff's office.The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident.

Sheriff: Kansas man, son survive small plane crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY — A Sunday afternoon fire at a Kansas home is being blamed on high winds that blew embers from a grill.

Just after 3p.m., fire crews responded to the report of a structure fire at 2208 NW Polk Street in Topeka, according to Deputy Fire Chief Kelly Adams.

Upon arrival, fire crews reported smoke coming from the eaves of the residence.&nbsp; The fire was contained to the structure of fire origin, but not before the structure sustained significant damage throughout.&nbsp; 

All occupants reported to have self-evacuated prior to fire department arrival.

The preliminary investigation determined the&nbsp;cause of the fire as accidental; associated with embers being blown by the high winds, originating from a grill/smoker on the back deck.

The estimated structural damage is listed at $89,500; $60,000 contents loss.

Working smoke detectors were present within the structure of fire origin.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — A Sunday afternoon fire at a Kansas home is being blamed on high winds that blew embers from a grill.Just after 3p.m., fire crews responded to the report of a structure fire at 2208 NW Polk Street in Topeka, according to Deputy Fire Chief Kelly Adams.Upon arrival, fire crews reported smoke coming from the eaves of the residence.&nbsp; The fire was contained to the structure of fire origin, but not before the structure sustained significant damage throughout.&nbsp; All occupants reported to have self-evacuated prior to fire department arrival.The preliminary investigation determined the&nbsp;cause of the fire as accidental; associated with embers being blown by the high winds, originating from a grill/smoker on the back deck.The estimated structural damage is listed at $89,500; $60,000 contents loss.Working smoke detectors were present within the structure of fire origin.

Embers from grill/smoker cause $89K damage at Kan. home

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Jim Denning once symbolized what for Medicaid expansion supporters was wrong with the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature. Now, the Kansas Senate majority leader is an expansion champion who's under fire from some GOP lawmakers he's supposed to be leading for working with the state's Democratic governor.

Denning recently faced criticism from Republicans for appearing at events with Gov. Laura Kelly to promote an expansion plan that she and Denning drafted. Some GOP lawmakers worry that he's undercutting their strategy of holding Medicaid expansion hostage to pressure fellow lawmakers into moving forward with their top priority: an anti-abortion measure. Some also see his efforts as a calculated ploy for voter support in his suburban Kansas City district.

Less than a year ago, Denning's face appeared on protest signs and leaflets, and banners hung briefly in the Statehouse rotunda proclaimed him among the GOP leaders with “blood on their hands.” His opposition to an expansion bill Kelly favored was key to preventing its passage.

Denning's shift shows how efforts to expand Medicaid under the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act can get bipartisan support even in the last red states to consider them. It also demonstrates how President Donald Trump's loss of support in suburban areas can scramble state and local political calculations in ways not related to the president's re-election bid or control of Congress.

“It is something that's a little bit unexpected,” said April Holman, executive director of the pro-expansion Alliance for a Healthy Kansas. “But it's a breath of fresh air after a long, long period of no collaboration across the aisle, or very little.”

Thirty-six states have expanded Medicaid or had voters approve ballot initiatives to do so. In Kansas, Republican governors' staunch opposition thwarted expansion despite bipartisan legislative majorities favoring it before Kelly took office early in 2019.

Last year, Denning and other GOP leaders used their clout to block an expansion bill. One of his concerns was that the private market might collapse if too many people left their insurance plans for Medicaid coverage.

Yet he and other Republican Senate leaders also promised a debate this year, and Denning went to work on a GOP alternative. Then, he and Kelly began talks. Their plan would give her the straight-forward expansion she sought and him a program aimed at holding down private health premiums to keep consumers in the private market.

“He's as invested in expanding Medicaid now as I am,” Kelly said in an interview.

Denning, the 63-year-old retired CEO of an eye care and optical surgery company, is known at the Statehouse for a command of policy details and a tendency toward wonkiness in public remarks. He believes most of the 29 Republicans in the 40-member Senate would back the expansion plan, calling it “a very Republican bill.” He also said he believes passing Medicaid expansion first would help the anti-abortion measure pick up votes.

“The citizens of Kansas want health care” for as many people as possible, he said.

“He's always maintained that we need to get it right,” said Senate Vice President Jeff Longbine, a Republican from eastern Kansas who supports expansion.

Other lawmakers see a political calculation. Denning is from the state's most populous county, Johnson County. Once a solid GOP stronghold, its suburban voters are wary of Trump and helped elect Democrat Sharice Davids to Congress in 2018. Kelly carried the county by almost 17 percentage points.

“I've worked with governors, but as a majority leader, you have a different role in that you're the leader of the Republican caucus,” said Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita conservative. “The caucus expects the majority leader to be carrying Republican values.”

Denning faces a potentially tough re-election challenge from Democratic state Rep. Cindy Holscher.

“Denning is easily the most vulnerable senator running for reelection,” said Patrick Miller, a University of Kansas political scientist. “What could help Denning get reelected is a good story about him helping get Medicaid expansion passed that makes it look like he's doing something moderate and that he's working with a Democratic governor who won the district that he is running in.”

Holscher said she's not surprised that Denning has embraced Medicaid expansion.

“We've dragged him to the table," she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583602484531.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly and Kan. Senate Majority Leader during a roundtable with hospital administrators March 2 to discuss Medicaid expansion." />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly and Kan. Senate Majority Leader during a roundtable with hospital administrators March 2 to discuss Medicaid expansion.</figcaption>
 </figure>BY JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Jim Denning once symbolized what for Medicaid expansion supporters was wrong with the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature. Now, the Kansas Senate majority leader is an expansion champion who's under fire from some GOP lawmakers he's supposed to be leading for working with the state's Democratic governor.Denning recently faced criticism from Republicans for appearing at events with Gov. Laura Kelly to promote an expansion plan that she and Denning drafted. Some GOP lawmakers worry that he's undercutting their strategy of holding Medicaid expansion hostage to pressure fellow lawmakers into moving forward with their top priority: an anti-abortion measure. Some also see his efforts as a calculated ploy for voter support in his suburban Kansas City district.Less than a year ago, Denning's face appeared on protest signs and leaflets, and banners hung briefly in the Statehouse rotunda proclaimed him among the GOP leaders with “blood on their hands.” His opposition to an expansion bill Kelly favored was key to preventing its passage.Denning's shift shows how efforts to expand Medicaid under the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act can get bipartisan support even in the last red states to consider them. It also demonstrates how President Donald Trump's loss of support in suburban areas can scramble state and local political calculations in ways not related to the president's re-election bid or control of Congress.“It is something that's a little bit unexpected,” said April Holman, executive director of the pro-expansion Alliance for a Healthy Kansas. “But it's a breath of fresh air after a long, long period of no collaboration across the aisle, or very little.”Thirty-six states have expanded Medicaid or had voters approve ballot initiatives to do so. In Kansas, Republican governors' staunch opposition thwarted expansion despite bipartisan legislative majorities favoring it before Kelly took office early in 2019.Last year, Denning and other GOP leaders used their clout to block an expansion bill. One of his concerns was that the private market might collapse if too many people left their insurance plans for Medicaid coverage.Yet he and other Republican Senate leaders also promised a debate this year, and Denning went to work on a GOP alternative. Then, he and Kelly began talks. Their plan would give her the straight-forward expansion she sought and him a program aimed at holding down private health premiums to keep consumers in the private market.“He's as invested in expanding Medicaid now as I am,” Kelly said in an interview.Denning, the 63-year-old retired CEO of an eye care and optical surgery company, is known at the Statehouse for a command of policy details and a tendency toward wonkiness in public remarks. He believes most of the 29 Republicans in the 40-member Senate would back the expansion plan, calling it “a very Republican bill.” He also said he believes passing Medicaid expansion first would help the anti-abortion measure pick up votes.“The citizens of Kansas want health care” for as many people as possible, he said.“He's always maintained that we need to get it right,” said Senate Vice President Jeff Longbine, a Republican from eastern Kansas who supports expansion.Other lawmakers see a political calculation. Denning is from the state's most populous county, Johnson County. Once a solid GOP stronghold, its suburban voters are wary of Trump and helped elect Democrat Sharice Davids to Congress in 2018. Kelly carried the county by almost 17 percentage points.“I've worked with governors, but as a majority leader, you have a different role in that you're the leader of the Republican caucus,” said Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita conservative. “The caucus expects the majority leader to be carrying Republican values.”Denning faces a potentially tough re-election challenge from Democratic state Rep. Cindy Holscher.“Denning is easily the most vulnerable senator running for reelection,” said Patrick Miller, a University of Kansas political scientist. “What could help Denning get reelected is a good story about him helping get Medicaid expansion passed that makes it look like he's doing something moderate and that he's working with a Democratic governor who won the district that he is running in.”Holscher said she's not surprised that Denning has embraced Medicaid expansion.“We've dragged him to the table," she said.

Kansas GOP leader's Medicaid expansion move roils Statehouse

HUTCHINSON— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on numerous charges after a weekend drug bust.

Just after 1:30a.m. Saturday, the Hutchinson Police Special Operation Unit served a search warrant in the 800 block of Lincoln in Hutchinson, according to a media release.

Officers seized over two ounces of cocaine, just under a pound of marijuana, sixteen units of ecstasy, hundred and nine units of amphetamine, two counts of marijuana wax, drug paraphernalia, over $2,200 in cash, and four firearms.

Twenty-one year old Joshua L. Smith was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Cocaine w/Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana w/Intent to Distribute, Possession of THC Wax w/Intent to Distribute, Possession of THC Cartridges w/Intent to Distribute, Possession of Ecstasy w/Intent to Distribute, Possession of Amphetamine w/Intent to Distribute and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia w/Intent to Distribute.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583748588641.jpeg" alt="Photo Hutchinson Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Hutchinson Police</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on numerous charges after a weekend drug bust.Just after 1:30a.m. Saturday, the Hutchinson Police Special Operation Unit served a search warrant in the 800 block of Lincoln in Hutchinson, according to a media release.Officers seized over two ounces of cocaine, just under a pound of marijuana, sixteen units of ecstasy, hundred and nine units of amphetamine, two counts of marijuana wax, drug paraphernalia, over $2,200 in cash, and four firearms.Twenty-one year old Joshua L. Smith was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Cocaine w/Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana w/Intent to Distribute, Possession of THC Wax w/Intent to Distribute, Possession of THC Cartridges w/Intent to Distribute, Possession of Ecstasy w/Intent to Distribute, Possession of Amphetamine w/Intent to Distribute and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia w/Intent to Distribute.

Police seize drugs, cash and guns at Kansas home

JOHNSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities asked the public's help in locating a dog that bit five people in a Kansas neighborhood.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening in the area of 138th and Lamar Street in Overland Park, according to a media release from police.&nbsp; The dog ran away and had not been located.

The dog was described as a mid-size yellow lab mix and very aggressive. Anyone who encounters the dog should not to try to catch it but to call police, according to the release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583751434232.png" alt="photo Overland Park Police" />
 <figcaption>photo Overland Park Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities asked the public's help in locating a dog that bit five people in a Kansas neighborhood.The incident occurred on Sunday evening in the area of 138th and Lamar Street in Overland Park, according to a media release from police.&nbsp; The dog ran away and had not been located.The dog was described as a mid-size yellow lab mix and very aggressive. Anyone who encounters the dog should not to try to catch it but to call police, according to the release.

Police search for dog that bit 5 people in Kansas neighborhood 

COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drug store robbery and have made an arrest.

Just after 9:00 a.m. March 5, officers executed a search warrant at at home in the 1300 block of Menor Street in Winfield, according to a media release.

At the scene, police collected evidence&nbsp; to facilitate the arrest of a suspect who is believed to have orchestrated the February 18, robbery at Graves Drug Store, 905 Main Street.&nbsp; The robbery in the early afternoon hours prompted the lockdown of schools. Police described the suspect as wearing a black hoodie and orange mask who was considered armed and dangerous.

Steven Eugene Anstaett, 38, is being held in the Cowley County Jail on requested charges of robbery and is expected to make a court appearance this week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583494011218.png" alt="Steven Eugene Anstaett- photo Cowley Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Steven Eugene Anstaett- photo Cowley Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drug store robbery and have made an arrest.Just after 9:00 a.m. March 5, officers executed a search warrant at at home in the 1300 block of Menor Street in Winfield, according to a media release.At the scene, police collected evidence&nbsp; to facilitate the arrest of a suspect who is believed to have orchestrated the February 18, robbery at Graves Drug Store, 905 Main Street.&nbsp; The robbery in the early afternoon hours prompted the lockdown of schools. Police described the suspect as wearing a black hoodie and orange mask who was considered armed and dangerous.Steven Eugene Anstaett, 38, is being held in the Cowley County Jail on requested charges of robbery and is expected to make a court appearance this week.

Suspect remains jailed for alleged Kansas drug store robbery

PAWNEE COUNTY — Kansas Department of Corrections Agents working with local law enforcement aprerehended Smith just before 7:30p.m. Sunday, according to a media release from the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.&nbsp; They released no additional details.

PAWNEE COUNTY— Minimum-custody inmate Ronald Smith has been placed on escape status after he walked away from Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility at approximately 8:05 a.m., Sunday, according to a media release.

Smith, a 52-year-old Male, was reported missing when the offender could not be located at his work assignment at the Larned State Hospital.

Smith is currently serving a sentence for a 2018 Reno County conviction for Possession of opiates, opium, narcotic drugs; Flee or elude LEO with five or more moving violations; Theft; and Burglary.

Smith is described as 5-feet-10 inches tall, 179 pounds with green eyes and black/grey hair.

Anyone with information on Smith can call the Kansas Department of Corrections at (620) 285-6249, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583686685127.png" alt="Smith-courtesy LCMHF" />
 <figcaption>Smith-courtesy LCMHF</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY — Kansas Department of Corrections Agents working with local law enforcement aprerehended Smith just before 7:30p.m. Sunday, according to a media release from the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.&nbsp; They released no additional details.---------PAWNEE COUNTY— Minimum-custody inmate Ronald Smith has been placed on escape status after he walked away from Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility at approximately 8:05 a.m., Sunday, according to a media release.Smith, a 52-year-old Male, was reported missing when the offender could not be located at his work assignment at the Larned State Hospital.Smith is currently serving a sentence for a 2018 Reno County conviction for Possession of opiates, opium, narcotic drugs; Flee or elude LEO with five or more moving violations; Theft; and Burglary.Smith is described as 5-feet-10 inches tall, 179 pounds with green eyes and black/grey hair.Anyone with information on Smith can call the Kansas Department of Corrections at (620) 285-6249, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.

Inmate who walked away from Larned facility aprehended

WICHITA- A Kansas a man was sentenced Friday to 30 months in federal prison for bank robbery, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Jeremy Vos, 21, Wichita, pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on July 23, 2019, he robbed Intrust Bank at 5500 E. Harry. He gave the teller a handwritten note saying, "This is a robbery. No (dye) bags. I have a gun." Police arrested Vos the same day as the robbery.

Wichita police reported Vos had made a false report to 911 shortly before the robbery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576795774101.png" alt="Vos -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Vos -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA- A Kansas a man was sentenced Friday to 30 months in federal prison for bank robbery, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Jeremy Vos, 21, Wichita, pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on July 23, 2019, he robbed Intrust Bank at 5500 E. Harry. He gave the teller a handwritten note saying, "This is a robbery. No (dye) bags. I have a gun." Police arrested Vos the same day as the robbery.Wichita police reported Vos had made a false report to 911 shortly before the robbery.

21-year-old going to prison for Kansas bank robbery

COWLEY COUNTY — Authorities are investigating additional cases of coronavirus cases in south-central Kansas.

William Newton Hospital in Winfield on Sunday cancelled the grand opening of their new surgery center to limit exposure of coronavirus, according to hospital spokesperson Sarah Johnson.

Cowley County has a suspected case of coronavirus which is currently being tested.

Other cases have been confirmed in Johnson County Kansas,<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/5e64f239afae0f4d5f5c70c2"> Missouri</a> and Oklahoma over the past two days. Hospital staff also has received word of a patient in Wichita meeting&nbsp;the criteria.

Due to these circumstances, the hospital decided to call off the grand opening to protect patients, providers and the public, according to Johnson.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman said the patient in Johnson County is “doing well.” The Kansas announcement came as Florida reported two coronavirus deaths and the U.S. death toll reached 19. The U.S. has had 400 cases.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583198146602.jpeg" alt="coronavirus CDC image" />
 <figcaption>coronavirus CDC image</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY — Authorities are investigating additional cases of coronavirus cases in south-central Kansas.William Newton Hospital in Winfield on Sunday cancelled the grand opening of their new surgery center to limit exposure of coronavirus, according to hospital spokesperson Sarah Johnson.Cowley County has a suspected case of coronavirus which is currently being tested. Other cases have been confirmed in Johnson County Kansas,<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/5e64f239afae0f4d5f5c70c2"> Missouri</a> and Oklahoma over the past two days. Hospital staff also has received word of a patient in Wichita meeting&nbsp;the criteria.Due to these circumstances, the hospital decided to call off the grand opening to protect patients, providers and the public, according to Johnson.Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman said the patient in Johnson County is “doing well.” The Kansas announcement came as Florida reported two coronavirus deaths and the U.S. death toll reached 19. The U.S. has had 400 cases.

More suspected cases of coronavirus in Kansas

TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal grand jury indicted a Kansas man March 5 on charges of drug trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Dustin Schultz-Bergin, 40, Olathe, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to documents filed in federal court, on Jan. 23, 2020, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers attempted to arrest Schultz-Bergin at Matfield Green service area on the Kansas Turnpike. 

He fled in a Nissan Altima and troopers stopped the car about 10 miles north of the service area. Schultz-Bergin was armed and troopers shot at him after he got out of the car and ran into a field. Troopers stopped him with the help of a police dog.

The Drug Enforcement Administration recovered more than 7 pounds of methamphetamine from the car and a .380-caliber handgun.

If convicted, he could face not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million on the methamphetamine charge and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579889711759.png" alt="SCHULTZ-BERGIN photo from an earlier arrest in Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>SCHULTZ-BERGIN photo from an earlier arrest in Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal grand jury indicted a Kansas man March 5 on charges of drug trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Dustin Schultz-Bergin, 40, Olathe, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579823659348.png" alt="Scene of&nbsp; the officer-involved shooting on the Kansas Turnpike photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Scene of&nbsp; the officer-involved shooting on the Kansas Turnpike photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>According to documents filed in federal court, on Jan. 23, 2020, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers attempted to arrest Schultz-Bergin at Matfield Green service area on the Kansas Turnpike. He fled in a Nissan Altima and troopers stopped the car about 10 miles north of the service area. Schultz-Bergin was armed and troopers shot at him after he got out of the car and ran into a field. Troopers stopped him with the help of a police dog.The Drug Enforcement Administration recovered more than 7 pounds of methamphetamine from the car and a .380-caliber handgun.If convicted, he could face not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million on the methamphetamine charge and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge.&nbsp;

Man faces $10M fine, prison after chase on Kansas turnpike

Kansas City (AP) — The Democratic presidential primary is down to two major candidates, and it shows.

A large crowd welcomed Joe Biden to Kansas City Saturday.&nbsp;

The former Vice President and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are spending their first weekend as their party’s last top White House contenders increasingly taking aim at one another. Each wants to show he’s the best choice before six more states — Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington — vote on Tuesday.

It reflects the new contours of a race that once featured 20-plus Democrats. An increasingly bitter matchup could endure for months as Biden and Sanders compete for the right to face President Donald Trump in November.

“We have a two-person race,” Sanders said Saturday in Dearborn, a Detroit suburb with one of the nation’s largest Arab American populations. “And all over this country, people are asking themselves which candidate can best defeat Trump. I have zero doubt in my mind that, together, we are the campaign that can beat Trump.”

Campaigning in St. Louis, Biden took a number of veiled swipes at Sanders, even as he called on Democrats to rise above Trump’s division.

He told the crowd that if they wanted to nominate a “lifelong” and “proud” Democrat, they should pick him. Sanders has run for office as in Independent and identifies himself as a democratic socialist.

“If you want a nominee who’ll bring the party together, who will run on a positive progressive vision for the future, not turn this primary into a campaign of negative attacks — because that will only reelect Donald Trump if we go that route — if you want that, join us,‘’ Biden said.

Winning, he added, “means uniting America, not sowing more division and anger.“

The former vice president also knocked Sanders’ weeks of suggestions that he is the candidate who can prompt record voter turnout in November and defeat Trump, saying that actually “we’re the campaign that’s going to do that.”

Sanders argues that no Democrat will win the presidency “with the same-old, same-old politics of yesteryear.”

And in a sign of how biting the contest may become, Sanders supporters — including his campaign manager — raised questions about Biden’s stamina after he gave a seven minute speech in St. Louis. 

At his second stop, in Kansas City, he again gave a truncated version of his stump speech, speaking for a little over 15 minutes.

Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir issued a tweet noting Biden’s short speaking time and highlighting the fact that Sanders had three campaign events on his schedule, “each speaking engagement extending for close to an hour.”

That prompted swift online push-back from Biden allies. Democratic strategist Guy Cecil, who leads the party’s largest outside spending group, tweeted, “Spreading conspiracy theories online won’t help your candidate” but “it will help Donald Trump win in November.”

But the focus on Biden’s age is somewhat ironic given that the 78-year-old Sanders is actually a year older than Biden. Sanders, who has served in Congress since 1991, says he’s bucked the establishment of both parties with decades with unpopular stands that now give him the credibility to lead a political revolution “from the bottom up.”

Sanders is pledging to increase Democratic turnout by drawing younger voters, minorities and working class people to the polls even though they tend to vote in lower concentrations than many other Americans. Strong support among Hispanics lifted Sanders to victories in Nevada and California, but Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2bf0110ed8081d76c2491cbe65a553ef">trounced him</a>&nbsp;in South Carolina and throughout much of the Deep South that voted during last week’s Super Tuesday. Biden especially ran up the score with African Americans.

Some activists are disappointed that a once diverse field of women and minorities has dwindled to two white men in their late 70s. But in Dearborn, Sanders, who is Jewish, said he was inspired by so many Arab Americans backing him. “I see people coming together from so many different backgrounds. It is beautiful,” he said. He also joked about his age, saying, “Sometimes people say, ‘Bernie, you’re 33 years of age. How do you keep going?’”

Top advisers expect Sanders to finish strong in Washington. Still, he canceled a trip to Mississippi to focus on Michigan, Tuesday’s largest prize. He made a stop in Chicago’s Grant Park on Saturday afternoon, and declared that he has a different vision than Biden, “And the American people are going to hear about it.” Sanders will spend the rest of the weekend in Michigan, while Biden is in Missouri and Mississippi.

Sanders said repeatedly that he and Biden are friends and that, if he’s not the nominee, he will support Biden against Trump. But, he added, “In the remaining months, I intend to make it clear what my views are and what Joe Biden’s are.”

The campaign is being conducted as the country is contending with the coronavirus outbreak. The AFL-CIO said Saturday that it was canceling a scheduled presidential forum set for Thursday in Orlando in the week before the Florida primary.

Sanders has used many of his Michigan events to hammer Biden’s past support for the North American Free Trade Agreement, arguing that it moved high-paying U.S. jobs to Mexico and China while devastating manufacturing in a state dominated by the auto industry. He’s focused on Biden’s years in the Senate, when Biden backed not only trade agreements and the U.S.-led war in Iraq, but also a ban on using federal funds to pay for abortions. Biden announced this summer that he was reversing his position on that, but Sanders said that wasn’t enough.

“I think we need a candidate that can be trusted on this issue. I am proud to tell you that I am 100% pro choice,” Sanders says.

The pair are also circling each other on the airwaves.

Biden saw a surge of donor support after South Carolina and Super Tuesday, and his campaign announced that it was spending $12 million on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/87d78e56dc066a885eafb53f7a228bfb">six-state ad buy</a>&nbsp;in places voting Tuesday and the following week. It was his largest single advertising effort of the 2020 campaign.

He is using two television and digital ads, one promoting his relationship with President Barack Obama, the other a new effort to counter a Sanders attack on Biden’s past record on Social Security. It’s a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/31c432f20acba807a569c7004abaf473">criticism</a>&nbsp;Sanders has used for months. And though he hasn’t mentioned it as frequently while campaigning in Michigan, he has released his own ad airing in states voting Tuesday and the following week dinging Biden on Social Security.

It features a past clip of the former vice president saying, “When I argued if we should freeze federal spending, I meant Social Security.” Biden’s counter spot has a narrator saying, “Biden will increase Social Security benefits and protect it for generations to come.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583675671957.png" alt="Joe Biden gave a 15 minute speech during Saturday's rally in Kansas City&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Joe Biden gave a 15 minute speech during Saturday's rally in Kansas City&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City (AP) — The Democratic presidential primary is down to two major candidates, and it shows.A large crowd welcomed Joe Biden to Kansas City Saturday.&nbsp;The former Vice President and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are spending their first weekend as their party’s last top White House contenders increasingly taking aim at one another. Each wants to show he’s the best choice before six more states — Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington — vote on Tuesday.It reflects the new contours of a race that once featured 20-plus Democrats. An increasingly bitter matchup could endure for months as Biden and Sanders compete for the right to face President Donald Trump in November.“We have a two-person race,” Sanders said Saturday in Dearborn, a Detroit suburb with one of the nation’s largest Arab American populations. “And all over this country, people are asking themselves which candidate can best defeat Trump. I have zero doubt in my mind that, together, we are the campaign that can beat Trump.”Campaigning in St. Louis, Biden took a number of veiled swipes at Sanders, even as he called on Democrats to rise above Trump’s division.He told the crowd that if they wanted to nominate a “lifelong” and “proud” Democrat, they should pick him. Sanders has run for office as in Independent and identifies himself as a democratic socialist.“If you want a nominee who’ll bring the party together, who will run on a positive progressive vision for the future, not turn this primary into a campaign of negative attacks — because that will only reelect Donald Trump if we go that route — if you want that, join us,‘’ Biden said.Winning, he added, “means uniting America, not sowing more division and anger.“The former vice president also knocked Sanders’ weeks of suggestions that he is the candidate who can prompt record voter turnout in November and defeat Trump, saying that actually “we’re the campaign that’s going to do that.”Sanders argues that no Democrat will win the presidency “with the same-old, same-old politics of yesteryear.”And in a sign of how biting the contest may become, Sanders supporters — including his campaign manager — raised questions about Biden’s stamina after he gave a seven minute speech in St. Louis. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583675987267.png" alt="Biden spoke to a crowd of over 2300 at the National World War 1 Museum and Memorial. Photo courtesy Biden for President" />
 <figcaption>Biden spoke to a crowd of over 2300 at the National World War 1 Museum and Memorial. Photo courtesy Biden for President</figcaption>
 </figure>At his second stop, in Kansas City, he again gave a truncated version of his stump speech, speaking for a little over 15 minutes.Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir issued a tweet noting Biden’s short speaking time and highlighting the fact that Sanders had three campaign events on his schedule, “each speaking engagement extending for close to an hour.”That prompted swift online push-back from Biden allies. Democratic strategist Guy Cecil, who leads the party’s largest outside spending group, tweeted, “Spreading conspiracy theories online won’t help your candidate” but “it will help Donald Trump win in November.”But the focus on Biden’s age is somewhat ironic given that the 78-year-old Sanders is actually a year older than Biden. Sanders, who has served in Congress since 1991, says he’s bucked the establishment of both parties with decades with unpopular stands that now give him the credibility to lead a political revolution “from the bottom up.”Sanders is pledging to increase Democratic turnout by drawing younger voters, minorities and working class people to the polls even though they tend to vote in lower concentrations than many other Americans. Strong support among Hispanics lifted Sanders to victories in Nevada and California, but Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2bf0110ed8081d76c2491cbe65a553ef">trounced him</a>&nbsp;in South Carolina and throughout much of the Deep South that voted during last week’s Super Tuesday. Biden especially ran up the score with African Americans.Some activists are disappointed that a once diverse field of women and minorities has dwindled to two white men in their late 70s. But in Dearborn, Sanders, who is Jewish, said he was inspired by so many Arab Americans backing him. “I see people coming together from so many different backgrounds. It is beautiful,” he said. He also joked about his age, saying, “Sometimes people say, ‘Bernie, you’re 33 years of age. How do you keep going?’”Top advisers expect Sanders to finish strong in Washington. Still, he canceled a trip to Mississippi to focus on Michigan, Tuesday’s largest prize. He made a stop in Chicago’s Grant Park on Saturday afternoon, and declared that he has a different vision than Biden, “And the American people are going to hear about it.” Sanders will spend the rest of the weekend in Michigan, while Biden is in Missouri and Mississippi.Sanders said repeatedly that he and Biden are friends and that, if he’s not the nominee, he will support Biden against Trump. But, he added, “In the remaining months, I intend to make it clear what my views are and what Joe Biden’s are.”The campaign is being conducted as the country is contending with the coronavirus outbreak. The AFL-CIO said Saturday that it was canceling a scheduled presidential forum set for Thursday in Orlando in the week before the Florida primary.Sanders has used many of his Michigan events to hammer Biden’s past support for the North American Free Trade Agreement, arguing that it moved high-paying U.S. jobs to Mexico and China while devastating manufacturing in a state dominated by the auto industry. He’s focused on Biden’s years in the Senate, when Biden backed not only trade agreements and the U.S.-led war in Iraq, but also a ban on using federal funds to pay for abortions. Biden announced this summer that he was reversing his position on that, but Sanders said that wasn’t enough.“I think we need a candidate that can be trusted on this issue. I am proud to tell you that I am 100% pro choice,” Sanders says.The pair are also circling each other on the airwaves.Biden saw a surge of donor support after South Carolina and Super Tuesday, and his campaign announced that it was spending $12 million on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/87d78e56dc066a885eafb53f7a228bfb">six-state ad buy</a>&nbsp;in places voting Tuesday and the following week. It was his largest single advertising effort of the 2020 campaign.He is using two television and digital ads, one promoting his relationship with President Barack Obama, the other a new effort to counter a Sanders attack on Biden’s past record on Social Security. It’s a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/31c432f20acba807a569c7004abaf473">criticism</a>&nbsp;Sanders has used for months. And though he hasn’t mentioned it as frequently while campaigning in Michigan, he has released his own ad airing in states voting Tuesday and the following week dinging Biden on Social Security.It features a past clip of the former vice president saying, “When I argued if we should freeze federal spending, I meant Social Security.” Biden’s counter spot has a narrator saying, “Biden will increase Social Security benefits and protect it for generations to come.”___

Large crowd welcomed Biden to KC; race with Sanders heats up

WICHITA (AP) —A driver who dragged a Kansas sheriff's deputy while fleeing after being stopped has been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison.

Melissa Heinzman was sentenced Thursday for aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and for probation violations. She also was ordered to pay more than than $33,000 in restitution.

Prosecutors say Heinzman drove off in June 2019 after a Sedgwick County sheriff's deputy pulled her over, dragging the deputy about 100 feet and running over her leg.

During the hearing, Heinzman said she was “very sorry" and that she never meant to hurt the deputy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583499120759.png" alt="Body camera image of Melissa Heinzman during the traffic stop -photo Sedgwick County Sheriff." />
 <figcaption>Body camera image of Melissa Heinzman during the traffic stop -photo Sedgwick County Sheriff.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA (AP) —A driver who dragged a Kansas sheriff's deputy while fleeing after being stopped has been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison.Melissa Heinzman was sentenced Thursday for aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and for probation violations. She also was ordered to pay more than than $33,000 in restitution.Prosecutors say Heinzman drove off in June 2019 after a Sedgwick County sheriff's deputy pulled her over, dragging the deputy about 100 feet and running over her leg.The deputy wasn't seriously hurt.During the hearing, Heinzman said she was “very sorry" and that she never meant to hurt the deputy.

Despite apology, woman going to prison for dragging Kan. deputy 

TOPEKA —Officials confirmed Saturday that a Kansas City-area woman is the first case of coronavirus in Kansas.&nbsp;

The state is prepared, but knows everyone has questions. If you have questions about coronavirus disease, the state has a phone bank open to help.

Give the KDHE a call at 866-534-3463, email: COVID-19@ks.gov or check the COVID-19 Online Resource<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm"> Center here.</a>

The phone bank is open Sunday March 8, from 9 a.m - 5 p.m. 

You can also find answers in the COVID-19 <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm">Online Resource Center:&nbsp;</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583681783905.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Officials confirmed Saturday that a Kansas City-area woman is the first case of coronavirus in Kansas.&nbsp;The state is prepared, but knows everyone has questions. If you have questions about coronavirus disease, the state has a phone bank open to help. Give the KDHE a call at 866-534-3463, email: COVID-19@ks.gov or check the COVID-19 Online Resource<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm"> Center here.</a>The phone bank is open Sunday March 8, from 9 a.m - 5 p.m. You can also find answers in the COVID-19 <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm">Online Resource Center:&nbsp;</a>

KDHE hotline will answer questions on coronavirus

By CORINNE BOYER <a href="https://www.hppr.org/post/western-kansas-jail-becomes-refuge-teens-crisis">Kansas News Service</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583504471879.png" alt=" The new children's shelter in Finney County has 14 beds for teens. The shleter is inside, but separated from the Southwest Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center. Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> The new children's shelter in Finney County has 14 beds for teens. The shleter is inside, but separated from the Southwest Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center. Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By CORINNE BOYER <a href="https://www.hppr.org/post/western-kansas-jail-becomes-refuge-teens-crisis">Kansas News Service</a>GARDEN CITY, Kansas — All of Western Kansas has just
 one shelter for children who are in protective custody or are victims 
of sex trafficking. The new shelter isn’t taking kids yet, because it’s 
waiting on its license, but local officials say those 14 beds are 
needed.The Southwest Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center 
in Finney County retrofitted jail cells into shelter spaces, using 
$500,000 in state grant funding, after a 2017 <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/two-year-old-kansas-law-kept-kids-out-jail-may-have-pushed-them-foster-care" target="_blank">law</a> kept more kids out of detention centers.“The
 side effect of it was it made our juvenile detention centers not have 
as many kids ’cause it made it very difficult to get into juvenile 
detention,” said Katrina Pollet, the executive director for the Finney 
County Department of Corrections.She said police were having to 
drive kids to Wichita to find shelter space, which kept the kids from 
“spending a lot of time in school or just working on whatever issues 
that they have that got them into the system in the first place.”&nbsp;She added that the new beds will help kids who don’t have safe home environments.&nbsp;“They
 go to court and the judge says, you know, home just is not a viable 
option for you right now,” she said. “So instead of sending them back to
 juvenile detention, the judge can send him right here to the shelter.”But the shelter beds also can help victims of sex trafficking. <a href="https://humantraffickinghotline.org/state/kansas" target="_blank">Kansas</a>
 had 43 reports of cases during the first half of 2019, which was fewer 
than 30 other states. (Nationally during the time period, 4,585 cases 
were reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.)Nearly a
 third of Kansas cases last year involved minors. The juvenile justice 
center hasn’t seen any victims of sex trafficking in a few years, Pollet
 said, but the shelter will have a new social worker who is trained to 
recognize human trafficking.“Maybe we can be looking and finding
 out a little bit more about those youth who’ve been human trafficked, 
so that we identify them earlier on and that we're not putting them back
 out into a placement where they would be human traffic again,” she 
said.Human trafficking statistics are only available at the 
state level, and aren’t broken down by counties or towns. And experts 
say detecting human trafficking cases in rural areas can be much more 
difficult, especially in places like Garden City.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583504532540.png" alt=" William Sanchez, shelter coordinator for the Department of Corrections in Finney County, speaks with people attending the shelter's open house in February. Credit Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> William Sanchez, shelter coordinator for the Department of Corrections in Finney County, speaks with people attending the shelter's open house in February. Credit Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>“Finney County has a lot of abandoned homes, abandoned shops, 
abandoned farm farm ground shops,” said Hailey Knoll, executive director
 of Family Crisis Services. “Any abandoned property is a really easy 
place to hide victims.”Knoll was a detective with the Garden 
City Police Department for four years and said human trafficking in 
Garden City doesn’t look like trafficking in Topeka or Kansas City“I
 learned that human trafficking in our area isn't about the runways and 
the tracks,” Knoll said. “It was about the selling of children from 
overseas.”Megan Cutter, associate director of the National Human Trafficking Hotline, said it’s challenging to find shelters for victims.“Resources
 for shelter are often very scarce,” Cutter said. “The more, the better,
 as long as they’re places where people are receiving victim centered 
trauma-informed care.”Like other crimes, Cutter said human trafficking is underreported, and teens can be particularly vulnerable to traffickers.“We
 see this a lot online where people start chatting on various apps or 
dating sites and the person, this potential trafficker … makes a lot of 
promises,” she said. “And then … the victim is enticed by that and 
thinks that this person is their boyfriend or their girlfriend and they 
feel very in love.”&nbsp;The juvenile shelter is not yet taking kids, as the license was approved early this year but hasn’t yet arrived.If you need help, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888.Corinne Boyer covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Corinne_Boyer" target="_blank">@Corinne_boyer</a> or email cboyer@hppr.org.