SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a registered Kansas sex offender on new charges.

Just before 10:30 a.m. February 20,&nbsp; a citizen contacted police about an employee, who witnessed lewd behavior by a suspect later identified as&nbsp;27-year-old Jordan Richardson of Wichita.&nbsp;

 The investigation revealed that the incident occurred on Sunday, Feb. 16, around 2:50 p.m. in the 400 block of E. 3rd&nbsp;Street in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.

A 32-year-old woman who was working outside of the business, observed Richardson park a white pick-up truck in the street and expose his genitals and fondle himself before he drove away, according to Wheeler.

On Monday, police reported they arrested Richardson for lewd and lascivious behavior. He has since been charged by the city of Wichita Prosecutor’s Office for the crime.

Richardson has prior arrests for lewd and lascivious behavior and other sex-related crimes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582581632424.png" alt="Richardson photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Richardson photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a registered Kansas sex offender on new charges.Just before 10:30 a.m. February 20,&nbsp; a citizen contacted police about an employee, who witnessed lewd behavior by a suspect later identified as&nbsp;27-year-old Jordan Richardson of Wichita.&nbsp; The investigation revealed that the incident occurred on Sunday, Feb. 16, around 2:50 p.m. in the 400 block of E. 3rd&nbsp;Street in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.A 32-year-old woman who was working outside of the business, observed Richardson park a white pick-up truck in the street and expose his genitals and fondle himself before he drove away, according to Wheeler.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582640417058.png" alt="Richardson-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Richardson-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>On Monday, police reported they arrested Richardson for lewd and lascivious behavior. He has since been charged by the city of Wichita Prosecutor’s Office for the crime.Richardson has prior arrests for lewd and lascivious behavior and other sex-related crimes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas sex offender charged with exposing himself in public

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators aren’t ready to declare that marijuana possession never should be a felony, rejecting proposals Monday to lower penalties for third-time offenders and to release others from prison.

The House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee voted 7-4 against&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/hb2686_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill&nbsp;</a>that would make possessing marijuana a misdemeanor, no matter how many times someone was convicted.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/statute/021_000_0000_chapter/021_057_0000_article/021_057_0006_section/021_057_0006_k/" target="_blank">Kansas law</a>&nbsp;currently says a third conviction is a felony that can be punished by up to 14 months in prison, though offenders often receive probation.

The bill also initially said offenders now in prison for marijuana possession would be released, but the committee removed that provision from the measure. Supporters of lessening the penalties for repeated marijuana possession accepted the change to give the bill a better chance of passing.

Yet the measure failed to clear the GOP-controlled committee anyway, and Chairman Russ Jennings, a Lakin Republican, said the debate on the idea is over for the year. It was a blow to advocates of less strict laws on pot.

“I still don’t believe that marijuana should be legalized,” said GOP Rep. Stephen Owens, of Hesston. “I believe this was a step in that direction.”

Jennings supported the bill and said continuing to make some pot possession a felony is “pretty harsh.”

“I thought this was mild enough that it might get through the committee,” said Democratic Rep. Boog Highberger, of Lawrence, home to the liberal University of Kansas main campus. “I can’t explain it.”

Jennings also worried that Monday’s vote is a sign that Kansas lawmakers also aren’t ready to legalize medical marijuana yet, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9f72e49c18c1a2c54c8d4ce42edc30d8">expectations of having a serious debate&nbsp;</a>this year. More than 30 states have legalized medical marijuana, including conservative neighbors Missouri and Oklahoma.

No Kansas legislative committee has taken up a medical marijuana bill. However, another House panel, the Federal and State Affairs Committee, is having one drafted and it could be ready as early as next week, said Chairman John Barker, an Abilene Republican.

Some corrections committee members said they see medical marijuana as a different issue. They said the pot possession bill was problematic partly because some offenders plead guilty to possession when facing more serious charges.

And Ed Klumpp, a former Topeka police chief who lobbies for law enforcement groups, said current state law is “reasonable” because people convicted a third time of marijuana possession typically don’t go to prison unless they’ve committed another felony such as aggravated assault.

As for other states legalizing medical marijuana, Klumpp said, “Well, my mother used to tell me all the time, ‘Just because Johnny jumped off a cliff, it doesn’t mean you should.’”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582582304987.png" alt="Rep. Dennis Boog Highberger,&nbsp;“I thought this was mild enough that it might get through the committee. I can’t explain it.”" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Dennis Boog Highberger,&nbsp;“I thought this was mild enough that it might get through the committee. I can’t explain it.”</figcaption>
 </figure>BY JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators aren’t ready to declare that marijuana possession never should be a felony, rejecting proposals Monday to lower penalties for third-time offenders and to release others from prison.The House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee voted 7-4 against&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/hb2686_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill&nbsp;</a>that would make possessing marijuana a misdemeanor, no matter how many times someone was convicted.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/statute/021_000_0000_chapter/021_057_0000_article/021_057_0006_section/021_057_0006_k/" target="_blank">Kansas law</a>&nbsp;currently says a third conviction is a felony that can be punished by up to 14 months in prison, though offenders often receive probation.The bill also initially said offenders now in prison for marijuana possession would be released, but the committee removed that provision from the measure. Supporters of lessening the penalties for repeated marijuana possession accepted the change to give the bill a better chance of passing.Yet the measure failed to clear the GOP-controlled committee anyway, and Chairman Russ Jennings, a Lakin Republican, said the debate on the idea is over for the year. It was a blow to advocates of less strict laws on pot.“I still don’t believe that marijuana should be legalized,” said GOP Rep. Stephen Owens, of Hesston. “I believe this was a step in that direction.”Jennings supported the bill and said continuing to make some pot possession a felony is “pretty harsh.”“I thought this was mild enough that it might get through the committee,” said Democratic Rep. Boog Highberger, of Lawrence, home to the liberal University of Kansas main campus. “I can’t explain it.”Jennings also worried that Monday’s vote is a sign that Kansas lawmakers also aren’t ready to legalize medical marijuana yet, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9f72e49c18c1a2c54c8d4ce42edc30d8">expectations of having a serious debate&nbsp;</a>this year. More than 30 states have legalized medical marijuana, including conservative neighbors Missouri and Oklahoma.No Kansas legislative committee has taken up a medical marijuana bill. However, another House panel, the Federal and State Affairs Committee, is having one drafted and it could be ready as early as next week, said Chairman John Barker, an Abilene Republican.Some corrections committee members said they see medical marijuana as a different issue. They said the pot possession bill was problematic partly because some offenders plead guilty to possession when facing more serious charges.And Ed Klumpp, a former Topeka police chief who lobbies for law enforcement groups, said current state law is “reasonable” because people convicted a third time of marijuana possession typically don’t go to prison unless they’ve committed another felony such as aggravated assault.As for other states legalizing medical marijuana, Klumpp said, “Well, my mother used to tell me all the time, ‘Just because Johnny jumped off a cliff, it doesn’t mean you should.’”

Kan. lawmakers reject plan to reduce penalties for marijuana possession

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a violent clash with sheriff's deputies.

Just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call&nbsp; from a residence located at 437 Pratt Street in the City of Whiting, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The caller reported a domestic altercation, and indicated the suspect was intoxicated and locked outside of the residence. He had broken the window out of the back door and allegedly broken out many of the windows of the residence south of 437 Pratt Street while shouting at the occupants. The occupants of the second residence were unfamiliar with the suspect.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived on scene and took the suspect identified as Logan Jarrett Brown, 25, of Henderson, Texas into custody. Brown was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct, three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer. Morse did not report the extent of injuries to the deputies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582554320223.png" alt="Logan Brown" />
 <figcaption>Logan Brown</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a violent clash with sheriff's deputies.Just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call&nbsp; from a residence located at 437 Pratt Street in the City of Whiting, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The caller reported a domestic altercation, and indicated the suspect was intoxicated and locked outside of the residence. He had broken the window out of the back door and allegedly broken out many of the windows of the residence south of 437 Pratt Street while shouting at the occupants. The occupants of the second residence were unfamiliar with the suspect.Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived on scene and took the suspect identified as Logan Jarrett Brown, 25, of Henderson, Texas into custody. Brown was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct, three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer. Morse did not report the extent of injuries to the deputies.

Man from Texas jailed after altercation with Kansas deputies

SEATTLE (AP) — In a victory for the Trump administration, a U.S. appeals court on Monday upheld rules that bar taxpayer-funded family-planning clinics from referring women for abortions.

The&nbsp;<a href="http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2020/02/24/19-15974.pdf" target="_blank">7-4 ruling</a>&nbsp;by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned decisions issued by judges in Washington, Oregon and California. The court had already allowed the administration’s changes to start taking effect while the government appealed those rulings.

The changes ban taxpayer-funded clinics in the Title X program for low-income women from making abortion referrals, a restriction opponents characterize as a “gag rule.”

Beginning March 4, the rules will also prohibit clinics that receive federal money from sharing office space with abortion providers, which critics said would force many Title X providers to find new locations, undergo expensive remodels or shut down — further reducing access to the program.

Title X patients receive affordable birth control, reproductive care and other care through the program, including breast and cervical cancer screenings and HIV testing.

Abortion is a legal medical procedure, but federal laws prohibit the use of Title X or other taxpayer funds to pay for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the woman. Under Title X, a 1970 law designed to improve access to family planning services, federal money may not be used in programs “where abortion is a method of family planning.”

Abortion rights supporters and opponents have argued for decades whether counseling a patient about abortion or referring a patient to a different provider for an abortion violates that language. Abortion opponents and religious conservatives say Title X has long been used to indirectly subsidize abortion providers.

“Congress has long prohibited the use of Title X funds in programs where abortion is a method of family planning and (the Department of Health and Human Service’s) recent rule makes that longstanding prohibition a reality,” U.S. Justice Department spokeswoman Mollie Timmons said in a written statement celebrating the 9th Circuit’s ruling. “We look forward to continuing to defend this vital rule against all challenges.”

More than 20 states and several civil rights and health organizations challenged the rules in cases filed in Oregon, Washington and California. Judges in all three states blocked them from taking effect, with Oregon and Washington courts issuing nationwide injunctions. One judge called the new policy “madness” and said it was motivated by “an arrogant assumption that the government is better suited to direct women’s health care than their providers.”

Planned Parenthood, which served 1.6 million of the 4 million patients who received care through Title X, has already left the program in protest, giving up about $60 million a year in federal funding.

Overall, nearly 1,000 clinics have left Title X, according to the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association. Washington and Oregon have abandoned the program entirely. In Vermont, all of the Title X clinics were Planned Parenthood, leaving none there.

In California, the number of patients served by the program has fallen 40 percent under Trump’s rules — and it will fall further once the physical separation requirement takes effect March 4, said Essential Access Health, which administers Title X in California.

The administration’s new rules are a return to the spirit of rules that were adopted in 1988 and subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court in the 1991 case Rust v. Sullivan. Under the Clinton administration, those rules were abandoned in favor of a requirement that the clinics provide neutral abortion counseling and referrals upon request.

The 9th Circuit’s majority opinion, by Judge Sandra Ikuta, stressed the Rust decision.

“In light of Supreme Court approval of the 1988 regulations and our broad deference to agencies’ interpretations of the statutes they are charged with implementing, plaintiffs’ legal challenges to the 2019 rule fail,” she wrote.

Further, she said, the so-called gag rule is no such thing: While providers may not make a referral for an abortion, they may discuss abortion with their patients.

The dissent, by Judge Richard Paez, argued that since the Rust decision, Congress had barred the Department of Health and Human Services from imposing rules “that frustrate patients’ ability to access health care.” He called the ruling a throwback to the “paternalism of the past.”

“The majority would return us to an older world, one in which a government bureaucrat could restrict a medical professional from informing a patient of the full range of health care options available to her,” Paez wrote.

He also said the rule violates the requirement that pregnancy counseling be neutral: “It requires a doctor to refer a pregnant patient for prenatal care, even if she does not want to continue the pregnancy, while gagging her doctor from referring her for abortion, even if she has requested specifically such a referral,” he wrote.

The American Medical Association criticized the ruling as “government overreach and interference” that prohibits frank conversations between physicians and their patients.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List, insisted in a written statement that “abortion is not ‘family planning.’”

“President Trump’s Protect Life Rule honors ... the plain language of the Title X statute by stopping the funneling of Title X taxpayer dollars to the abortion industry, without reducing family planning funding by a dime,” Dannenfelser said.

SEATTLE (AP) — In a victory for the Trump administration, a U.S. appeals court on Monday upheld rules that bar taxpayer-funded family-planning clinics from referring women for abortions.The&nbsp;<a href="http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2020/02/24/19-15974.pdf" target="_blank">7-4 ruling</a>&nbsp;by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned decisions issued by judges in Washington, Oregon and California. The court had already allowed the administration’s changes to start taking effect while the government appealed those rulings.The changes ban taxpayer-funded clinics in the Title X program for low-income women from making abortion referrals, a restriction opponents characterize as a “gag rule.”Beginning March 4, the rules will also prohibit clinics that receive federal money from sharing office space with abortion providers, which critics said would force many Title X providers to find new locations, undergo expensive remodels or shut down — further reducing access to the program.Title X patients receive affordable birth control, reproductive care and other care through the program, including breast and cervical cancer screenings and HIV testing.Abortion is a legal medical procedure, but federal laws prohibit the use of Title X or other taxpayer funds to pay for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the woman. Under Title X, a 1970 law designed to improve access to family planning services, federal money may not be used in programs “where abortion is a method of family planning.”Abortion rights supporters and opponents have argued for decades whether counseling a patient about abortion or referring a patient to a different provider for an abortion violates that language. Abortion opponents and religious conservatives say Title X has long been used to indirectly subsidize abortion providers.“Congress has long prohibited the use of Title X funds in programs where abortion is a method of family planning and (the Department of Health and Human Service’s) recent rule makes that longstanding prohibition a reality,” U.S. Justice Department spokeswoman Mollie Timmons said in a written statement celebrating the 9th Circuit’s ruling. “We look forward to continuing to defend this vital rule against all challenges.”More than 20 states and several civil rights and health organizations challenged the rules in cases filed in Oregon, Washington and California. Judges in all three states blocked them from taking effect, with Oregon and Washington courts issuing nationwide injunctions. One judge called the new policy “madness” and said it was motivated by “an arrogant assumption that the government is better suited to direct women’s health care than their providers.”Planned Parenthood, which served 1.6 million of the 4 million patients who received care through Title X, has already left the program in protest, giving up about $60 million a year in federal funding.Overall, nearly 1,000 clinics have left Title X, according to the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association. Washington and Oregon have abandoned the program entirely. In Vermont, all of the Title X clinics were Planned Parenthood, leaving none there.In California, the number of patients served by the program has fallen 40 percent under Trump’s rules — and it will fall further once the physical separation requirement takes effect March 4, said Essential Access Health, which administers Title X in California.The administration’s new rules are a return to the spirit of rules that were adopted in 1988 and subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court in the 1991 case Rust v. Sullivan. Under the Clinton administration, those rules were abandoned in favor of a requirement that the clinics provide neutral abortion counseling and referrals upon request.The 9th Circuit’s majority opinion, by Judge Sandra Ikuta, stressed the Rust decision.“In light of Supreme Court approval of the 1988 regulations and our broad deference to agencies’ interpretations of the statutes they are charged with implementing, plaintiffs’ legal challenges to the 2019 rule fail,” she wrote.Further, she said, the so-called gag rule is no such thing: While providers may not make a referral for an abortion, they may discuss abortion with their patients.The dissent, by Judge Richard Paez, argued that since the Rust decision, Congress had barred the Department of Health and Human Services from imposing rules “that frustrate patients’ ability to access health care.” He called the ruling a throwback to the “paternalism of the past.”“The majority would return us to an older world, one in which a government bureaucrat could restrict a medical professional from informing a patient of the full range of health care options available to her,” Paez wrote.He also said the rule violates the requirement that pregnancy counseling be neutral: “It requires a doctor to refer a pregnant patient for prenatal care, even if she does not want to continue the pregnancy, while gagging her doctor from referring her for abortion, even if she has requested specifically such a referral,” he wrote.The American Medical Association criticized the ruling as “government overreach and interference” that prohibits frank conversations between physicians and their patients.Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List, insisted in a written statement that “abortion is not ‘family planning.’”“President Trump’s Protect Life Rule honors ... the plain language of the Title X statute by stopping the funneling of Title X taxpayer dollars to the abortion industry, without reducing family planning funding by a dime,” Dannenfelser said.

US appeals court upholds Trump rules involving abortions

NEWKIRK, Okla. (AP) — An Oklahoma high school basketball game announcer called the names of the opposing team’s players “disgusting,” and was later removed from the game by the school’s superintendent.

The announcer at Newkirk High School, whose name has not been released, said during player introductions before the Friday girl’s district tournament finals that the names of the Crooked Oak players “are pretty disgusting, but I’m going to try and call ’em out.”

The man was removed at halftime by Newkirk Superintendent Brady Barnes, who later issued an apology on the school’s Facebook page.

“To the Newkirk and Crooked Oak communities at large, I would like to say that this unfortunate comment does not represent the Newkirk Public Schools or its beliefs. We sincerely apologize for any pain or affront our announcer’s comment has caused Crooked Oak players, parents, patrons, and school employees,” according to the statement.

“I was like, ‘there’s no way he just said that.’ But he did, and it’s nothing we condone or support,” Barnes told The Oklahoman.

“We all looked at each other like, did he just say, is that real? Like did he really just say that?” Iyana Freeman, one of the Crooked Oak players, told KFOR-TV.

Crooked Oak Superintendent Brad Richards told The Associated Press on Monday that his initial reaction to the comment was shock, but that he doesn’t know whether the comment was racially motivated. Crooked Oak is a majority-minority school with 90% of the students Hispanic or black, and about 10% white, Richards said.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “What matters is what my girls feel. They feel like it was intentional. They feel like they have to face this at other schools.”

About 67% of students at Newkirk are white, 27% are American Indian and fewer than 6% are black or Hispanic, district records show.

Barnes identified the announcer only as a Newkirk school employee who had been providing public address announcements for about 20 years and said he can’t discuss any personnel action taken against him.

Crooked Oak won the game to claim the district championship.

NEWKIRK, Okla. (AP) — An Oklahoma high school basketball game announcer called the names of the opposing team’s players “disgusting,” and was later removed from the game by the school’s superintendent.The announcer at Newkirk High School, whose name has not been released, said during player introductions before the Friday girl’s district tournament finals that the names of the Crooked Oak players “are pretty disgusting, but I’m going to try and call ’em out.”The man was removed at halftime by Newkirk Superintendent Brady Barnes, who later issued an apology on the school’s Facebook page.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3D2442990775966499%26id%3D1866672090265040&width=500" width="500" height="293" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>“To the Newkirk and Crooked Oak communities at large, I would like to say that this unfortunate comment does not represent the Newkirk Public Schools or its beliefs. We sincerely apologize for any pain or affront our announcer’s comment has caused Crooked Oak players, parents, patrons, and school employees,” according to the statement.“I was like, ‘there’s no way he just said that.’ But he did, and it’s nothing we condone or support,” Barnes told The Oklahoman.“We all looked at each other like, did he just say, is that real? Like did he really just say that?” Iyana Freeman, one of the Crooked Oak players, told KFOR-TV.Crooked Oak Superintendent Brad Richards told The Associated Press on Monday that his initial reaction to the comment was shock, but that he doesn’t know whether the comment was racially motivated. Crooked Oak is a majority-minority school with 90% of the students Hispanic or black, and about 10% white, Richards said.“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “What matters is what my girls feel. They feel like it was intentional. They feel like they have to face this at other schools.”About 67% of students at Newkirk are white, 27% are American Indian and fewer than 6% are black or Hispanic, district records show.Barnes identified the announcer only as a Newkirk school employee who had been providing public address announcements for about 20 years and said he can’t discuss any personnel action taken against him.Crooked Oak won the game to claim the district championship.

High school game announcer removed for ‘disgusting’ comment

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug charges after an arrest near a Kansas high school.

Just before 8p.m. February 17, police responded to report of a suspicious vehicle in the south parking lot at Arkansas City High School, 1200 W. Radio Lane, according to a media release.

The vehicle reportedly had been parked there with its lights on since 6 p.m. When officers arrived, the vehicle left the parking lot and proceeded eastbound on Radio Lane.

After observing the vehicle weaving and failing to maintain its lane, police conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block of West Radio Lane and contacted the driver, later identified as&nbsp; 44-year-old Amy Renee Wingert of rural Arkansas City.

Further investigation found her to be in possession of a crystal substance that police suspected was meth.

Following an investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Wingert&nbsp; on suspicion of one felony count each of no drug tax stamp and possession of methamphetamine, as well as one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence, driving with a suspended driver’s license, no proof of insurance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She remains in custody and is expected in court this week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582337624898.png" alt="Wingert photo Cowley Co." />
 <figcaption>Wingert photo Cowley Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug charges after an arrest near a Kansas high school.Just before 8p.m. February 17, police responded to report of a suspicious vehicle in the south parking lot at Arkansas City High School, 1200 W. Radio Lane, according to a media release.The vehicle reportedly had been parked there with its lights on since 6 p.m. When officers arrived, the vehicle left the parking lot and proceeded eastbound on Radio Lane.After observing the vehicle weaving and failing to maintain its lane, police conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block of West Radio Lane and contacted the driver, later identified as&nbsp; 44-year-old Amy Renee Wingert of rural Arkansas City.Further investigation found her to be in possession of a crystal substance that police suspected was meth.Following an investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Wingert&nbsp; on suspicion of one felony count each of no drug tax stamp and possession of methamphetamine, as well as one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence, driving with a suspended driver’s license, no proof of insurance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She remains in custody and is expected in court this week.

Kansas woman had meth in high school parking lot

DOUGLAS COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Monday in Douglas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 GMC Sierra driven by&nbsp; Tayler James Livingston, 26, Paola and a 2010 Toyota Prius driven by&nbsp; Deeva Sharma, 25, Overland Park, were involved in a crash&nbsp; on U.S. 56 two miles west of Edgerton.

Sharma was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.&nbsp; Livingston was not injured.&nbsp; &nbsp;Details of the crash are still under investigation.

DOUGLAS COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Monday in Douglas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 GMC Sierra driven by&nbsp; Tayler James Livingston, 26, Paola and a 2010 Toyota Prius driven by&nbsp; Deeva Sharma, 25, Overland Park, were involved in a crash&nbsp; on U.S. 56 two miles west of Edgerton.Sharma was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.&nbsp; Livingston was not injured.&nbsp; &nbsp;Details of the crash are still under investigation.

KHP investigating crash that left Kansas woman dead

EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) —Social media posts claiming to be from an 11-year-old Kansas boy who vanished in 1999 are a hoax perpetrated by an ex-employee of the Butler County Sheriff's office, the sheriff said Monday.

“I’m very comfortable in saying this is a hoax. This is not Adam Herrman,” Sheriff Kelly Herzet told The Wichita Eagle.

Herrman disappeared in 1999 from a home near Towanda where he lived with his adoptive parents but he wasn't reported missing until 2008.

Tweets from a person claiming to be the boy began Saturday night and were tagged to news media. Two videos showed up Sunday on YouTube.

Herzet said Stephen Chadwick Smith, 24, who made the posts, worked for a short time at the Butler County Jail a few years ago. Herzet couldn’t discuss why Smith left the department but “he wasn’t here long enough for me to even hardly remember him.”

The sheriff said he knows Smith's family and "He is not Adam Herrman.”

Smith has refused to be interviewed by authorities. The Butler County Attorney said Smith could not be charged with a crime at this point, Herzet said.

When the boy disappeared, his adoptive mother, Valerie Herrman, claimed he ran away after she spanked him with a belt. But she and her husband, Doug, lied to family members about his whereabouts and collected thousands of dollars in adoption subsidies for Adam’s care until May 2005.

Authorities didn’t learn of Adam’s disappearance until 2008, when his adoptive sister called state welfare officials trying to find information about him.

The last “good tip” authorities received about Adam’s disappearance came in about three years ago, Herzet said without elaborating.

Herzet has previously said he thinks the boy is dead and that his adoptive parents are the main suspects. Although the couple were not charged in Adam’s disappearance, they served prison time for stealing $15,488 in state adoption subsidies before reporting Adam missing.

Doug Herrman died in 2016, and Valerie Herrman now lives near Howard in Elk County, Herzet said.

Herzet said one of Adam's family members called him Sunday hoping that it really was Adam but "after she heard some of the stuff and seen some of the YouTube stuff, she was let down and disappointed.”

The sheriff said he hopes publicity from the hoax will prompt someone to come forward with information "and we could get the little piece of evidence or something that we need to get the Herrmans charged. Or to find his remains.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582579844802.png" alt="Adam Herrman photo courtesy Butler Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Adam Herrman photo courtesy Butler Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) —Social media posts claiming to be from an 11-year-old Kansas boy who vanished in 1999 are a hoax perpetrated by an ex-employee of the Butler County Sheriff's office, the sheriff said Monday.“I’m very comfortable in saying this is a hoax. This is not Adam Herrman,” Sheriff Kelly Herzet told The Wichita Eagle.Herrman disappeared in 1999 from a home near Towanda where he lived with his adoptive parents but he wasn't reported missing until 2008.Tweets from a person claiming to be the boy began Saturday night and were tagged to news media. Two videos showed up Sunday on YouTube.Herzet said Stephen Chadwick Smith, 24, who made the posts, worked for a short time at the Butler County Jail a few years ago. Herzet couldn’t discuss why Smith left the department but “he wasn’t here long enough for me to even hardly remember him.”The sheriff said he knows Smith's family and "He is not Adam Herrman.”Smith has refused to be interviewed by authorities. The Butler County Attorney said Smith could not be charged with a crime at this point, Herzet said.When the boy disappeared, his adoptive mother, Valerie Herrman, claimed he ran away after she spanked him with a belt. But she and her husband, Doug, lied to family members about his whereabouts and collected thousands of dollars in adoption subsidies for Adam’s care until May 2005.Authorities didn’t learn of Adam’s disappearance until 2008, when his adoptive sister called state welfare officials trying to find information about him.The last “good tip” authorities received about Adam’s disappearance came in about three years ago, Herzet said without elaborating.Herzet has previously said he thinks the boy is dead and that his adoptive parents are the main suspects. Although the couple were not charged in Adam’s disappearance, they served prison time for stealing $15,488 in state adoption subsidies before reporting Adam missing.Doug Herrman died in 2016, and Valerie Herrman now lives near Howard in Elk County, Herzet said.Herzet said one of Adam's family members called him Sunday hoping that it really was Adam but "after she heard some of the stuff and seen some of the YouTube stuff, she was let down and disappointed.”The sheriff said he hopes publicity from the hoax will prompt someone to come forward with information "and we could get the little piece of evidence or something that we need to get the Herrmans charged. Or to find his remains.”

Sheriff: Claim to be Kansas boy missing since 1999 is a hoax

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas&nbsp;man awarded more than $1.5 million on Monday after spending 23 years in prison for a double murder he did not commit plans to continue his fight against those responsible for his nightmare, his attorney said.

In addition to the monetary compensation, Lamonte McIntyre of Kansas City, Kansas, also received on Monday a certificate of innocence from Shawnee County District Judge Teresa L. Watson as part of a resolution of a mistaken-conviction lawsuit McIntyre filed last year.

“Today, Lamonte McIntyre has been declared, finally and conclusively, a completely innocent man,” his attorney, Cheryl Pilate said in an emailed statement. “That long-overdue recognition, along with the statutory payment and other benefits, will help lighten a bit the heavy load he has carried. Lamonte is grateful for the benefits of the compensation statute, but he knows his fight for justice is far from over.”

McIntyre was 17 in 1994 when he was arrested for the killings of 21-year-old Doniel Quinn and 34-year-old Donald Ewing, even though no physical evidence or motive tied him to the crimes.

McIntyre received two life sentences in their deaths, but he was freed in 2017 after a local prosecutor asked the court to vacate his convictions and to drop all charges, calling his case an example of "manifest injustice."

Documents made public during an 8-year effort to exonerate Lamonte McIntyre allege the homicide detective on the case used his power to prey for decades on African-American women, including McIntyre's mother. They also accuse the prosecutor of intimidating witnesses who told her McIntyre was not the killer. And they say the presiding judge had a romantic relationship with the prosecutor before the trial that neither disclosed at the time.

McIntyre's attorney said on Monday that the family will continue with their separate federal lawsuit against the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, and the individual officers who they contend are responsible for their 23-year nightmare.

“The individuals involved twisted the justice system to serve their own ends, not the needs of the community or the goal of truth-finding," Pilate said. "No justice was served by their actions, and a full accounting of their wrongful conduct must occur.”

The McIntyre's case was one of several that prompted the law requiring the state to compensate victims of wrongful convictions. Schmidt, a Republican, had received bipartisan criticism for resisting McIntyre's compensation claim while agreeing to two others.

“We are committed to faithfully administering the state's mistaken-conviction law as the legislature wrote it,” Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Monday in a news release. “In this case, our office worked diligently to obtain and review all available evidence, including evidence identified but not provided in the earlier judicial proceedings.”

Schmidt said his office was ultimately able to resolve all issues, satisfy all of the statute's requirements and agree to this outcome so McIntyre can receive the benefits to which he is entitled.

Under the statute, McIntyre will receive $65,000 for each of the 23 years he wrongly spent in prison, among other benefits. The court also ordered that records of his conviction and DNA profile be expunged.

If McIntyre prevails in his separate civil lawsuit against the Unified Government and the others involved in his unjust prosecution, he would have to repay Kansas for the money he was awarded under the wrongful compensation statute, his attorney noted.

This is the third case in Kansas in which compensation has been granted since the 2018 wrongful-conviction law was enacted.

Kansas agreed to pay $1.1 million to Richard Jones, of Kansas City, Kansas, who spent 17 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of a 2000 robbery that he says was committed by someone who looks just like him. The state agreed to pay $1.03 million to Floyd Bledsoe, who spent nearly 16 years behind bars for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl northeast of Topeka, a crime that his brother confessed to in a suicide note.

Three other cases remain pending in various stages of litigation, the attorney general's office said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1566470049106.png" alt="Lamonte McIntyre photo Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Lamonte McIntyre photo Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas&nbsp;man awarded more than $1.5 million on Monday after spending 23 years in prison for a double murder he did not commit plans to continue his fight against those responsible for his nightmare, his attorney said.In addition to the monetary compensation, Lamonte McIntyre of Kansas City, Kansas, also received on Monday a certificate of innocence from Shawnee County District Judge Teresa L. Watson as part of a resolution of a mistaken-conviction lawsuit McIntyre filed last year.“Today, Lamonte McIntyre has been declared, finally and conclusively, a completely innocent man,” his attorney, Cheryl Pilate said in an emailed statement. “That long-overdue recognition, along with the statutory payment and other benefits, will help lighten a bit the heavy load he has carried. Lamonte is grateful for the benefits of the compensation statute, but he knows his fight for justice is far from over.”McIntyre was 17 in 1994 when he was arrested for the killings of 21-year-old Doniel Quinn and 34-year-old Donald Ewing, even though no physical evidence or motive tied him to the crimes.McIntyre received two life sentences in their deaths, but he was freed in 2017 after a local prosecutor asked the court to vacate his convictions and to drop all charges, calling his case an example of "manifest injustice."Documents made public during an 8-year effort to exonerate Lamonte McIntyre allege the homicide detective on the case used his power to prey for decades on African-American women, including McIntyre's mother. They also accuse the prosecutor of intimidating witnesses who told her McIntyre was not the killer. And they say the presiding judge had a romantic relationship with the prosecutor before the trial that neither disclosed at the time.McIntyre's attorney said on Monday that the family will continue with their separate federal lawsuit against the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, and the individual officers who they contend are responsible for their 23-year nightmare.“The individuals involved twisted the justice system to serve their own ends, not the needs of the community or the goal of truth-finding," Pilate said. "No justice was served by their actions, and a full accounting of their wrongful conduct must occur.”The McIntyre's case was one of several that prompted the law requiring the state to compensate victims of wrongful convictions. Schmidt, a Republican, had received bipartisan criticism for resisting McIntyre's compensation claim while agreeing to two others.“We are committed to faithfully administering the state's mistaken-conviction law as the legislature wrote it,” Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Monday in a news release. “In this case, our office worked diligently to obtain and review all available evidence, including evidence identified but not provided in the earlier judicial proceedings.”Schmidt said his office was ultimately able to resolve all issues, satisfy all of the statute's requirements and agree to this outcome so McIntyre can receive the benefits to which he is entitled.Under the statute, McIntyre will receive $65,000 for each of the 23 years he wrongly spent in prison, among other benefits. The court also ordered that records of his conviction and DNA profile be expunged.If McIntyre prevails in his separate civil lawsuit against the Unified Government and the others involved in his unjust prosecution, he would have to repay Kansas for the money he was awarded under the wrongful compensation statute, his attorney noted.This is the third case in Kansas in which compensation has been granted since the 2018 wrongful-conviction law was enacted.Kansas agreed to pay $1.1 million to Richard Jones, of Kansas City, Kansas, who spent 17 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of a 2000 robbery that he says was committed by someone who looks just like him. The state agreed to pay $1.03 million to Floyd Bledsoe, who spent nearly 16 years behind bars for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl northeast of Topeka, a crime that his brother confessed to in a suicide note.Three other cases remain pending in various stages of litigation, the attorney general's office said.

Court awards $1.5M to Kansas man wrongfully convicted

HUTCHINSON —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a dog attack that sent a woman to the hospital and resulted in an officer having to shoot a dog.

Just after 1:30p.m. Monday, police responded to the report of a woman being attacked by a dog in front of 423 E. Avenue A in Hutchinson, according to a media release.

Two citizens observed the attack and were able to stop the attack and keep the dogs at bay till officers arrived. When officers arrived they found the&nbsp; 55-year-old woman had leg injuries that could be life threatening and provided medical assistance, which included applying a tourniquet.&nbsp;

Other officers arrived and attempted to contain the dogs in a backyard, when one of the dogs charged an officer, the officer fired one shot striking the dog, according to the release.

EMS transported the woman identified as&nbsp;Tina Stapleton to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for additional treatment.

Animal Control transported both dogs and are providing medical attention to the injured animal.

Police arrested Ismael Rojas, 21,&nbsp; and booked him into the Reno County Correctional Facility on one count of aggravated battery. He is being held on a $10,000 bond. The two dogs were taken into custody by the Hutchinson Animal Shelter.

HUTCHINSON —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a dog attack that sent a woman to the hospital and resulted in an officer having to shoot a dog.Just after 1:30p.m. Monday, police responded to the report of a woman being attacked by a dog in front of 423 E. Avenue A in Hutchinson, according to a media release.Two citizens observed the attack and were able to stop the attack and keep the dogs at bay till officers arrived. When officers arrived they found the&nbsp; 55-year-old woman had leg injuries that could be life threatening and provided medical assistance, which included applying a tourniquet.&nbsp;Other officers arrived and attempted to contain the dogs in a backyard, when one of the dogs charged an officer, the officer fired one shot striking the dog, according to the release.EMS transported the woman identified as&nbsp;Tina Stapleton to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for additional treatment.Animal Control transported both dogs and are providing medical attention to the injured animal.Police arrested Ismael Rojas, 21,&nbsp; and booked him into the Reno County Correctional Facility on one count of aggravated battery. He is being held on a $10,000 bond. The two dogs were taken into custody by the Hutchinson Animal Shelter.

Police shoot dog after attack that critically injured Kan. woman

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged sexual assault and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 7:30 p.m., February 18, police responded to an unknown call for EMS at a residence in the 1500 block of South Pinecrest, in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz. 

At the scene, police made contact with an 18-year-old girl who reported being raped by&nbsp; 41-year-old Willie L. Green of Wichita.

Through the investigation, officers learned the 18-year-old and 12-year-old were runaways from a foster home and came in contact with Green. 

Green drove the juveniles to his residence where he allegedly raped the 18-year-old, according to Cruz.&nbsp; On Sunday, police reported they arrested Green on requested charges of rape, contributing to a child's misconduct; shelter, conceal a runaway. He is being <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18767239">held on a bond of $200,000,</a> according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582498960497.png" alt="Willie Green photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Willie Green photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged sexual assault and have a suspect in custody.Just after 7:30 p.m., February 18, police responded to an unknown call for EMS at a residence in the 1500 block of South Pinecrest, in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz. At the scene, police made contact with an 18-year-old girl who reported being raped by&nbsp; 41-year-old Willie L. Green of Wichita.Through the investigation, officers learned the 18-year-old and 12-year-old were runaways from a foster home and came in contact with Green. Green drove the juveniles to his residence where he allegedly raped the 18-year-old, according to Cruz.&nbsp; On Sunday, police reported they arrested Green on requested charges of rape, contributing to a child's misconduct; shelter, conceal a runaway. He is being <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18767239">held on a bond of $200,000,</a> according to online jail records.

Man jailed for alleged rape of teen runaway from Kan. foster home

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY (AP) — A fired Kansas City Public Schools secretary who was among seven employees accused of falsifying attendance data in a bid to help the district regain accreditation said she and her co-workers were following orders from top administrators.

Former Central Middle School secretary LaQuyn Collier told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article239953623.html">The Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;that she gave administrators “exactly what they said they needed." She and another fired employee have hired an attorney to try to get their jobs back.

Emails obtained by the newspaper show that administrators asked secretaries to gather at the district's central office to review “several attendance recording issues" in the summer of 2014 during the time in which an investigation found that the tampering happened. Attendance is among the criteria Missouri uses in giving out performance scores that determine whether a district is unaccredited, partially accredited or fully accredited.

Then-Superintendent Stephen Green, who had taken over the then-unaccredited district a year earlier, said in an email to his cabinet at the time that revisions in attendance records should raise the district’s score with the state by 5.5 points. He said: “Failure is not an option.” As an unaccredited district, the Kansas City school system faced the prospect of being subjected to a law that allows students to transfer to an accredited district, with the unaccredited district picking up the tab.

Collier said she and other secretaries were given lists of students whose attendance was “at 85% or higher,” just shy of the 90% mark the state demands. She said they were told to raise the attendance to 90% by changing certain codes in the district’s database.

“This was not about fixing errors,” she said. “If that was the case, why did they only give us students who were almost to 90?”

She said she believed her “job depended on” her doing what she was told.

By the time Green left in 2015, the district had provisional accreditation, which meant extra monitoring but allowed the school system to avoid a state takeover and paying for transfers. In November, the Dekalb County School District outside Atlanta severed ties with Green. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Georgia Department of Education is investigating him for failing to report potential ethics violations by teachers.

Green has said the attendance tampering happened without his knowledge. Al Tunis, who became interim superintendent after Green left, also said he was unaware of the tampering.

Green’s Kansas City contract provided up to $100,000 in bonuses for improved performance scores.

But Collier’s lawyer, Gerald Gray, notes his clients would receive no perks for changing attendance numbers. Gray said he believes that the firings “had nothing to do with what they had done but because they were willing to provide information about their knowledge of the attendance debacle.”

The district stopped the practice of bonus incentives when current Superintendent Mark Bedell was hired in 2016.

District officials stand by the disciplinary actions they took and said they may not be done with the matter. Because attendance also helps determine state funding, the district previously had to repay the state&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/dbb27e601185f44545cb563990316767/Because%20attendance%20also%20helps%20determine%20state%20funding,%20the%20district%20had%20to%20repay%20$192,730%20because%20of%20the%20inflated%20number.">$192,730.</a>

Spokeswoman Kelly Wachel said the district has a new person overseeing attendance and has taken steps to make sure this type of meddling never happens again.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582569915360.png" alt="Current Kansas City Public Schools Superintendent Mark Bedell-photo by Andrea Tudhope Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Current Kansas City Public Schools Superintendent Mark Bedell-photo by Andrea Tudhope Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KANSAS CITY (AP) — A fired Kansas City Public Schools secretary who was among seven employees accused of falsifying attendance data in a bid to help the district regain accreditation said she and her co-workers were following orders from top administrators.Former Central Middle School secretary LaQuyn Collier told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article239953623.html">The Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;that she gave administrators “exactly what they said they needed." She and another fired employee have hired an attorney to try to get their jobs back.Emails obtained by the newspaper show that administrators asked secretaries to gather at the district's central office to review “several attendance recording issues" in the summer of 2014 during the time in which an investigation found that the tampering happened. Attendance is among the criteria Missouri uses in giving out performance scores that determine whether a district is unaccredited, partially accredited or fully accredited.Then-Superintendent Stephen Green, who had taken over the then-unaccredited district a year earlier, said in an email to his cabinet at the time that revisions in attendance records should raise the district’s score with the state by 5.5 points. He said: “Failure is not an option.” As an unaccredited district, the Kansas City school system faced the prospect of being subjected to a law that allows students to transfer to an accredited district, with the unaccredited district picking up the tab.Collier said she and other secretaries were given lists of students whose attendance was “at 85% or higher,” just shy of the 90% mark the state demands. She said they were told to raise the attendance to 90% by changing certain codes in the district’s database.“This was not about fixing errors,” she said. “If that was the case, why did they only give us students who were almost to 90?”She said she believed her “job depended on” her doing what she was told.By the time Green left in 2015, the district had provisional accreditation, which meant extra monitoring but allowed the school system to avoid a state takeover and paying for transfers. In November, the Dekalb County School District outside Atlanta severed ties with Green. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Georgia Department of Education is investigating him for failing to report potential ethics violations by teachers.Green has said the attendance tampering happened without his knowledge. Al Tunis, who became interim superintendent after Green left, also said he was unaware of the tampering.Green’s Kansas City contract provided up to $100,000 in bonuses for improved performance scores.But Collier’s lawyer, Gerald Gray, notes his clients would receive no perks for changing attendance numbers. Gray said he believes that the firings “had nothing to do with what they had done but because they were willing to provide information about their knowledge of the attendance debacle.”The district stopped the practice of bonus incentives when current Superintendent Mark Bedell was hired in 2016.District officials stand by the disciplinary actions they took and said they may not be done with the matter. Because attendance also helps determine state funding, the district previously had to repay the state&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/dbb27e601185f44545cb563990316767/Because%20attendance%20also%20helps%20determine%20state%20funding,%20the%20district%20had%20to%20repay%20$192,730%20because%20of%20the%20inflated%20number.">$192,730.</a>Spokeswoman Kelly Wachel said the district has a new person overseeing attendance and has taken steps to make sure this type of meddling never happens again.

Fired KC school worker blames bosses for faked attendance data

GEARY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have a suspect in custody.

On Sunday evening, police responded to an apartment complex at 110 West 16th Street in Junction City for a subject bleeding, according to a media release. Upon arrival they found&nbsp;John Edward Motton, 25, Junction City, suffering from a stab wound.&nbsp;

Lifeflight transported Motton to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka for treatment of the wound to his chest.

During their investigation police determined that Motton had been assaulted in Unit Number one of the complex where he lives with his girlfriend, 21-year-old Kyrianna Johnson.

Johnson was transported to the Geary County Detention Center where she was held without bonding pending a first court appearance on a requested charge of&nbsp; Domestic Aggravated Battery, according to police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582568541279.jpeg" alt="Kyrianna Johnson-photo Geary Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Kyrianna Johnson-photo Geary Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have a suspect in custody.On Sunday evening, police responded to an apartment complex at 110 West 16th Street in Junction City for a subject bleeding, according to a media release. Upon arrival they found&nbsp;John Edward Motton, 25, Junction City, suffering from a stab wound.&nbsp;Lifeflight transported Motton to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka for treatment of the wound to his chest.During their investigation police determined that Motton had been assaulted in Unit Number one of the complex where he lives with his girlfriend, 21-year-old Kyrianna Johnson.Johnson was transported to the Geary County Detention Center where she was held without bonding pending a first court appearance on a requested charge of&nbsp; Domestic Aggravated Battery, according to police.

21-year-old Kan. woman jailed for allegedly stabbing boyfriend

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teen after a weekend incident at a Salina hotel.

On Saturday, police responded to a report of a shot fired at the Fairfield Inn and Suites, 2455 Virginia in Salina, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester.

A motel guest reported to the front desk that an electrical outlet in his room had exploded. When staff went into the room to investigate, they found what appeared to be a bullet hole in the wall and called police.

As officers were entering the room, they observed three subjects exiting an adjacent room where the shot appeared to have originated. Officers detained the three and while police were clearing the adjacent room, they observed marijuana and a bullet hole, according to Forrester.

The three subjects, Juan Whitaker, Jr., 19, of Salina, an 18-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy were taken to the Salina Police Department for questioning.

After an investigation and questioning, police arrested Whitaker on requested charges of&nbsp; Criminal discharge of a firearm into an occupied dwelling, Possession of marijuana, Possession of paraphernalia and Endangering a child

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582468534497.jpeg" alt="Juan Whitaker -photo Saline County&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Juan Whitaker -photo Saline County&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teen after a weekend incident at a Salina hotel.On Saturday, police responded to a report of a shot fired at the Fairfield Inn and Suites, 2455 Virginia in Salina, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester.A motel guest reported to the front desk that an electrical outlet in his room had exploded. When staff went into the room to investigate, they found what appeared to be a bullet hole in the wall and called police.As officers were entering the room, they observed three subjects exiting an adjacent room where the shot appeared to have originated. Officers detained the three and while police were clearing the adjacent room, they observed marijuana and a bullet hole, according to Forrester.The three subjects, Juan Whitaker, Jr., 19, of Salina, an 18-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy were taken to the Salina Police Department for questioning.After an investigation and questioning, police arrested Whitaker on requested charges of&nbsp; Criminal discharge of a firearm into an occupied dwelling, Possession of marijuana, Possession of paraphernalia and Endangering a child

Police: Salina hotel guest avoids injury after gun fired in adjacent room

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Former GOP Gov. Jeff Colyer on Monday endorsed western Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall for the state’s open Senate seat with some Republicans still fearing a repeat of Colyer’s narrow primary loss in 2018 to polarizing conservative Kris Kobach.

Marshall said ahead of a Monday news conference in Topeka with Colyer that the race for the Republican nomination in the August primary is essentially a contest between him and Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state. Other GOP candidates include Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, of Wichita, and Dave Lindstrom, a Kansas City-area businessman and former Kansas City Chiefs professional football player.

“They’re good people, but I think that they would play the role of spoiler,” Marshall said.

Kobach defeated Colyer by 343 votes in a seven-candidate primary for governor in 2018 and lost the general election to Democrat Laura Kelly. Marshall and other Republicans argue that Colyer would have prevailed in a one-on-one race with Kobach and won the general election.

Some GOP leaders fear a Kobach victory in the Senate primary could put a normally safe seat in play.

Kobach contends he would fare better with President Donald Trump on the ballot. But he has alienated many GOP moderates after two decades of advocating tough immigration policies.

Colyer urged Republicans to unite behind Marshall as a candidate who can “keep Kansas red.” Kansas political icon and 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole also has endorsed the two-term congressman.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582562571808.png" alt="Rep. Marshall and Former GOP Governor Jeff Colyer during Monday's news conference in Topeka." />
 <figcaption>Rep. Marshall and Former GOP Governor Jeff Colyer during Monday's news conference in Topeka.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Former GOP Gov. Jeff Colyer on Monday endorsed western Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall for the state’s open Senate seat with some Republicans still fearing a repeat of Colyer’s narrow primary loss in 2018 to polarizing conservative Kris Kobach.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDrRogerMarshall%2Fvideos%2F1325088331008537%2F&show_text=1&width=560" width="560" height="407" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Marshall said ahead of a Monday news conference in Topeka with Colyer that the race for the Republican nomination in the August primary is essentially a contest between him and Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state. Other GOP candidates include Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, of Wichita, and Dave Lindstrom, a Kansas City-area businessman and former Kansas City Chiefs professional football player.“They’re good people, but I think that they would play the role of spoiler,” Marshall said.Kobach defeated Colyer by 343 votes in a seven-candidate primary for governor in 2018 and lost the general election to Democrat Laura Kelly. Marshall and other Republicans argue that Colyer would have prevailed in a one-on-one race with Kobach and won the general election.Some GOP leaders fear a Kobach victory in the Senate primary could put a normally safe seat in play.Kobach contends he would fare better with President Donald Trump on the ballot. But he has alienated many GOP moderates after two decades of advocating tough immigration policies.Colyer urged Republicans to unite behind Marshall as a candidate who can “keep Kansas red.” Kansas political icon and 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole also has endorsed the two-term congressman.

🎥 Ex-Kansas Gov. Colyer endorses Rep. Marshall in Senate race

NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of rape and sexual assault against two women and could be sent to prison for decades, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement.

He was convicted on charges stemming from a 2006 sexual assault and a 2013 rape. The jury found Weinstein not guilty on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, that could have resulted in a life sentence.

The most damaging conviction, for the sexual assault of production assistant Mimi Haleyi, would carry a maximum sentence of 25 years.

Weinstein, 67, had a look of resignation as the verdict came in, and was seen talking to his lawyers shortly after.

The verdict followed weeks of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/weinstein-accuser-says-he-is-my-rapist-after-returning-to-stand">often harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony&nbsp;</a>from a string of accusers who told of rapes, forced oral sex, groping, masturbation, lewd propositions and that’s-Hollywood excuses from Weinstein about how the casting couch works.

The conviction was seen as a long-overdue reckoning for Weinstein after years of whispers about his behavior turned into a torrent of accusations in 2017 that destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, the global movement to encourage women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.

The jury of seven men and five women took five days to find him guilty.

The case against the once-feared producer was essentially built on three allegations: that he raped an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013, that he forcibly performed oral sex on Haleyi and that he raped and forcibly performed oral sex on “Sopranos” actress Annabella Sciorra in her apartment in the mid-1990s.

Three additional women who said they, too, were attacked by Weinstein also testified as part of an effort by prosecutors to show a pattern of brutish behavior on his part.

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes unless they grant permission, as Haleyi and Sciorra did.

Jurors signaled their struggles with the Sciorra charges four days into deliberations. On Friday, after reviewing sections of her testimony and related evidence, they sent a note to the judge indicating they were deadlocked on the counts but had reached a unanimous verdict on the others. After some debate in the courtroom, the judge ordered jurors to keep deliberating.

While Weinstein did not testify, his lawyers contended that any sexual contact was consensual and that his accusers went to bed with him to advance their careers.

The defense seized on the fact that two of the women central to the case stayed in contact with Weinstein through warm and even flirty emails — and had sex with him — well after he supposedly attacked them.

The hard-charging and phenomenally successful movie executive helped bring to the screen such Oscar winners as “Good Will Hunting,” “Pulp Fiction,” “The King’s Speech” and “Shakespeare in Love” and nurtured the careers of celebrated filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith.

Weinstein now&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=weinstein+los+angeles+pbs+newshour&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS812US812&amp;oq=weinstein+los+angeles+pbs+newshour&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j0l4j69i64l3.3095j1j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">faces charges in Los Angeles.</a>&nbsp;In that case, announced just as the New York trial was getting under way on Jan. 6, authorities allege Weinstein raped one woman and sexually assaulted another on back-to-back nights during Oscars week in 2013. One of those women testified as a supporting witness at the New York trial.

The trial was the first criminal case to arise from a barrage of allegations against Weinstein from more than 90 women, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman. Most of those cases were too old to prosecute.

During the trial, Weinstein regularly trudged into the courthouse stooped and unshaven, using a walker after recently undergoing back surgery — a far cry from the way he was depicted in court as a burly, intimidating figure whose eyes seemed to turn black with menace when his anger flared.

Many of Weinstein’s accusers described him as a “Jekyll and Hyde” character who could be incredibly charming at first, making jokes and showing interest in using his immense power to help their careers.

But that was an act, they said, meant to gain their trust and get them to a place — often a hotel room or an apartment — where he could violate them.

“If he heard the word ‘no,’ it was like a trigger for him,” his rape accuser testified.

Several women testified that Weinstein excused his behavior as the price for getting ahead in Hollywood. One said that when she laughed off his advances, he sneered, “You’ll never make it in this business. This is how this industry works.”

The jury heard lurid testimony that Weinstein injected himself with a needle to get an erection, that his genitals appeared disfigured, that he sent Sciorra a box of chocolate penises and that he once showed up uninvited at her hotel room door in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a video in the other.

The prosecution’s task was made more complicated because two of the women at the very center of the case didn’t just abandon Weinstein after the alleged encounters: Haleyi testified that she had sex with him two weeks later, while the rape accuser whose name was withheld said she had a sexual encounter with him more than three years afterward.

Like Haleyi, she sent Weinstein friendly and sometimes flirtatious emails, such as “Miss you big guy” and “I love you, always do. But I hate feeling like a booty call.”

During a cross-examination from Weinstein’s lawyers so exhaustive that she broke down in tears on the stand, the woman said she sent him flattering emails and kept seeing him because she was afraid of his unpredictable anger and “I wanted him to believe I wasn’t a threat.”

To blunt that line of questioning, prosecutors called to the witness stand a forensic psychiatrist who said that most sexual assault victims continue to have contact with their attackers and that they hope what happened to them “is just an aberration.”

During closing arguments, Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno charged that Weinstein had become “the target of a cause and a movement” — #MeToo — and asked the jury to ignore “outside forces.”

“This is not a popularity contest,” she said.

She said the case against Weinstein amounted to “regret renamed as rape,” arguing that the women exercised their free will to try to further their careers.

Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon told the jury that Weinstein considered himself such a big shot in Hollywood that he thought he could get away with treating women as “complete disposables.”

“The universe is run by me and they don’t get to complain when they get stepped on, spit on, demoralized and, yes, raped and abused by me — the king,” she said, mimicking Weinstein.

Rumors about Weinstein’s behavior swirled in Hollywood circles for a long time, but he managed to silence many accusers with payoffs, nondisclosure agreements and the constant fear that he could crush their careers if they spoke out.

Weinstein was finally arrested and led away in handcuffs in May 2018, seven months after The New York Times and The New Yorker exposed his alleged misconduct in stories that would win the Pulitzer Prize.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582565296060.png" alt="Manhattan, New York District Attorney Cy Vance meeting with reporters following Monday's jury verdicts -photo courtesy Manhattan DA's office." />
 <figcaption>Manhattan, New York District Attorney Cy Vance meeting with reporters following Monday's jury verdicts -photo courtesy Manhattan DA's office.</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of rape and sexual assault against two women and could be sent to prison for decades, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss to archvillain of the #MeToo movement.He was convicted on charges stemming from a 2006 sexual assault and a 2013 rape. The jury found Weinstein not guilty on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, that could have resulted in a life sentence.The most damaging conviction, for the sexual assault of production assistant Mimi Haleyi, would carry a maximum sentence of 25 years.Weinstein, 67, had a look of resignation as the verdict came in, and was seen talking to his lawyers shortly after.The verdict followed weeks of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/weinstein-accuser-says-he-is-my-rapist-after-returning-to-stand">often harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony&nbsp;</a>from a string of accusers who told of rapes, forced oral sex, groping, masturbation, lewd propositions and that’s-Hollywood excuses from Weinstein about how the casting couch works.The conviction was seen as a long-overdue reckoning for Weinstein after years of whispers about his behavior turned into a torrent of accusations in 2017 that destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, the global movement to encourage women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.The jury of seven men and five women took five days to find him guilty.The case against the once-feared producer was essentially built on three allegations: that he raped an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013, that he forcibly performed oral sex on Haleyi and that he raped and forcibly performed oral sex on “Sopranos” actress Annabella Sciorra in her apartment in the mid-1990s.Three additional women who said they, too, were attacked by Weinstein also testified as part of an effort by prosecutors to show a pattern of brutish behavior on his part.The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes unless they grant permission, as Haleyi and Sciorra did.Jurors signaled their struggles with the Sciorra charges four days into deliberations. On Friday, after reviewing sections of her testimony and related evidence, they sent a note to the judge indicating they were deadlocked on the counts but had reached a unanimous verdict on the others. After some debate in the courtroom, the judge ordered jurors to keep deliberating.While Weinstein did not testify, his lawyers contended that any sexual contact was consensual and that his accusers went to bed with him to advance their careers.The defense seized on the fact that two of the women central to the case stayed in contact with Weinstein through warm and even flirty emails — and had sex with him — well after he supposedly attacked them.The hard-charging and phenomenally successful movie executive helped bring to the screen such Oscar winners as “Good Will Hunting,” “Pulp Fiction,” “The King’s Speech” and “Shakespeare in Love” and nurtured the careers of celebrated filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith.Weinstein now&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=weinstein+los+angeles+pbs+newshour&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS812US812&amp;oq=weinstein+los+angeles+pbs+newshour&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j0l4j69i64l3.3095j1j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">faces charges in Los Angeles.</a>&nbsp;In that case, announced just as the New York trial was getting under way on Jan. 6, authorities allege Weinstein raped one woman and sexually assaulted another on back-to-back nights during Oscars week in 2013. One of those women testified as a supporting witness at the New York trial.The trial was the first criminal case to arise from a barrage of allegations against Weinstein from more than 90 women, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman. Most of those cases were too old to prosecute.During the trial, Weinstein regularly trudged into the courthouse stooped and unshaven, using a walker after recently undergoing back surgery — a far cry from the way he was depicted in court as a burly, intimidating figure whose eyes seemed to turn black with menace when his anger flared.Many of Weinstein’s accusers described him as a “Jekyll and Hyde” character who could be incredibly charming at first, making jokes and showing interest in using his immense power to help their careers.But that was an act, they said, meant to gain their trust and get them to a place — often a hotel room or an apartment — where he could violate them.“If he heard the word ‘no,’ it was like a trigger for him,” his rape accuser testified.Several women testified that Weinstein excused his behavior as the price for getting ahead in Hollywood. One said that when she laughed off his advances, he sneered, “You’ll never make it in this business. This is how this industry works.”The jury heard lurid testimony that Weinstein injected himself with a needle to get an erection, that his genitals appeared disfigured, that he sent Sciorra a box of chocolate penises and that he once showed up uninvited at her hotel room door in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a video in the other.The prosecution’s task was made more complicated because two of the women at the very center of the case didn’t just abandon Weinstein after the alleged encounters: Haleyi testified that she had sex with him two weeks later, while the rape accuser whose name was withheld said she had a sexual encounter with him more than three years afterward.Like Haleyi, she sent Weinstein friendly and sometimes flirtatious emails, such as “Miss you big guy” and “I love you, always do. But I hate feeling like a booty call.”During a cross-examination from Weinstein’s lawyers so exhaustive that she broke down in tears on the stand, the woman said she sent him flattering emails and kept seeing him because she was afraid of his unpredictable anger and “I wanted him to believe I wasn’t a threat.”To blunt that line of questioning, prosecutors called to the witness stand a forensic psychiatrist who said that most sexual assault victims continue to have contact with their attackers and that they hope what happened to them “is just an aberration.”During closing arguments, Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno charged that Weinstein had become “the target of a cause and a movement” — #MeToo — and asked the jury to ignore “outside forces.”“This is not a popularity contest,” she said.She said the case against Weinstein amounted to “regret renamed as rape,” arguing that the women exercised their free will to try to further their careers.Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon told the jury that Weinstein considered himself such a big shot in Hollywood that he thought he could get away with treating women as “complete disposables.”“The universe is run by me and they don’t get to complain when they get stepped on, spit on, demoralized and, yes, raped and abused by me — the king,” she said, mimicking Weinstein.Rumors about Weinstein’s behavior swirled in Hollywood circles for a long time, but he managed to silence many accusers with payoffs, nondisclosure agreements and the constant fear that he could crush their careers if they spoke out.Weinstein was finally arrested and led away in handcuffs in May 2018, seven months after The New York Times and The New Yorker exposed his alleged misconduct in stories that would win the Pulitzer Prize.Among other men taken down by the #MeToo movement since the scandal broke: news anchors Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose, actor Kevin Spacey and Sen. Al Franken.Weinstein, the product of a working-class family from Queens, achieved success at two movie studios he created with his brother Bob: Miramax — named for their parents, Miriam and Max — and then the Weinstein Co.The Weinstein Co. went bankrupt after his disgrace. A tentative settlement was reached last year to resolve nearly all lawsuits stemming from the scandal. It would pay Weinstein’s alleged victims about $25 million. Under the proposed deal, Weinstein would not have to admit any wrongdoing or personally pay anything; the studio’s insurance companies would cover the cost.Weinstein’s efforts to silence his accusers and thwart journalists who sought to expose his secrets included hiring Black Cube, an Israeli spy agency staffed by former Mossad agents. Asked one day as he left court why he hired that firm, Weinstein turned to a reporter and said: “For days like this.”