NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has approved T-Mobile's $26.5 billion takeover of Sprint, rejecting objections from a group of states and removing a major obstacle to a shakeup in the wireless industry.

After the deal closes, the number of major U.S. wireless companies would shrink from four to three. T-Mobile says the deal would benefit consumers as it becomes a fiercer competitor to the larger Verizon and AT&amp;T.

But a group of state attorneys general tried to block the deal, arguing that having one fewer phone company would cost Americans billions of dollars in higher cellphone bills.

Judge Victor Marrero ruled Tuesday that while that concern was valid, the possibility of it happening was remote.

Marrero's decision comes after the Justice Department already approved the deal. As part of a settlement with the Justice Department, T-Mobile agreed to help create a new, but smaller wireless competitor in satellite-TV company Dish.

Another judge still needs to approve that settlement, a process that is usually straightforward but has taken longer than expected. A utility board in California also has to approve the deal.

Gigi Sohn, a fellow at the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law &amp; Policy, said that while consumers are often promised benefits from mergers, “what they are left with each time are corporate behemoths who can raise prices at will, use their gatekeeper power to destroy competition and new voices and hijack regulatory and legislative processes.”

T-Mobile launched its bid for Sprint in 2018, after having been rebuffed by Obama-era regulators. T-Mobile CEO John Legere had seen President Donald Trump's election and his appointed regulators as a good opportunity to try again to combine, according to evidence during the trial.

T-Mobile, which promised not to raise prices for three years, defended its deal as good for competition. It repeated previous arguments that the combined T-Mobile and Sprint will be able to build a better 5G network — a priority for the Trump administration — than either company could alone.

The deal got the nod from both the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission, thanks to an unusual commitment to create a new wireless player in Dish.

The Justice Department only allowed the deal after T-Mobile agreed to sell millions of Sprint's prepaid customers to Dish, a satellite TV company with a shrinking customer base. T-Mobile also has to rent its network to the fledgling rival while it built its own. Dish is also required to build a faster, next-generation network, known as 5G, over the next several years.

The states had said that Dish wasn't certain to succeed as a wireless company and was far smaller than Sprint, and the resulting wireless market would still be worse for consumers.

Dish has spent about $21 billion over a decade buying wireless spectrum, the airwaves for transmitting data and calls, although Dish hasn't done much with it. Analysts have long been skeptical of whether Dish intends to build its own network or sell the spectrum to others. Now Dish faces up to $2.2 billion in fines if it fails to create a 5G network that serves 70% of the country by 2023.

Some analysts have said that Dish has potential as a viable competitor, but a big question is when. Even if it meets the 2023 government-imposed deadline, it still won't reach as many potential customers as Sprint's 4G network does today.

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has approved T-Mobile's $26.5 billion takeover of Sprint, rejecting objections from a group of states and removing a major obstacle to a shakeup in the wireless industry.After the deal closes, the number of major U.S. wireless companies would shrink from four to three. T-Mobile says the deal would benefit consumers as it becomes a fiercer competitor to the larger Verizon and AT&amp;T.But a group of state attorneys general tried to block the deal, arguing that having one fewer phone company would cost Americans billions of dollars in higher cellphone bills.Judge Victor Marrero ruled Tuesday that while that concern was valid, the possibility of it happening was remote.Marrero's decision comes after the Justice Department already approved the deal. As part of a settlement with the Justice Department, T-Mobile agreed to help create a new, but smaller wireless competitor in satellite-TV company Dish.Another judge still needs to approve that settlement, a process that is usually straightforward but has taken longer than expected. A utility board in California also has to approve the deal.Gigi Sohn, a fellow at the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law &amp; Policy, said that while consumers are often promised benefits from mergers, “what they are left with each time are corporate behemoths who can raise prices at will, use their gatekeeper power to destroy competition and new voices and hijack regulatory and legislative processes.”T-Mobile launched its bid for Sprint in 2018, after having been rebuffed by Obama-era regulators. T-Mobile CEO John Legere had seen President Donald Trump's election and his appointed regulators as a good opportunity to try again to combine, according to evidence during the trial.T-Mobile, which promised not to raise prices for three years, defended its deal as good for competition. It repeated previous arguments that the combined T-Mobile and Sprint will be able to build a better 5G network — a priority for the Trump administration — than either company could alone.The deal got the nod from both the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission, thanks to an unusual commitment to create a new wireless player in Dish.The Justice Department only allowed the deal after T-Mobile agreed to sell millions of Sprint's prepaid customers to Dish, a satellite TV company with a shrinking customer base. T-Mobile also has to rent its network to the fledgling rival while it built its own. Dish is also required to build a faster, next-generation network, known as 5G, over the next several years.The states had said that Dish wasn't certain to succeed as a wireless company and was far smaller than Sprint, and the resulting wireless market would still be worse for consumers.Dish has spent about $21 billion over a decade buying wireless spectrum, the airwaves for transmitting data and calls, although Dish hasn't done much with it. Analysts have long been skeptical of whether Dish intends to build its own network or sell the spectrum to others. Now Dish faces up to $2.2 billion in fines if it fails to create a 5G network that serves 70% of the country by 2023.Some analysts have said that Dish has potential as a viable competitor, but a big question is when. Even if it meets the 2023 government-imposed deadline, it still won't reach as many potential customers as Sprint's 4G network does today.

Federal judge approves T-Mobile's $26.5B takeover of Sprint

KANSAS CITY (AP) — About 300 small animals were removed from a Kansas City duplex, where they lived in “deplorable” conditions, a city official said Monday.

The lab rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, geckos and other animals that were taken from the home Monday were in cages packed so closely to each other there was little room to move around the house, said John Baccala, a spokesman for the Kansas City Neighborhood and Housing Services.

“It’s really unfortunate,” Baccala said. “When someone is in a position like this, we want to get them some help."

Baccala said he had not seen such an extreme case before. He said conditions were deplorable and the odor was noticeable outside the duplex. Officials did not know why the residents were keeping the animals, or when they began collecting them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581383137925.png" alt="photo courtesy KC Pet Project" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KC Pet Project</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — About 300 small animals were removed from a Kansas City duplex, where they lived in “deplorable” conditions, a city official said Monday.The lab rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, geckos and other animals that were taken from the home Monday were in cages packed so closely to each other there was little room to move around the house, said John Baccala, a spokesman for the Kansas City Neighborhood and Housing Services.Two people lived at the duplex“It’s really unfortunate,” Baccala said. “When someone is in a position like this, we want to get them some help."Baccala said he had not seen such an extreme case before. He said conditions were deplorable and the odor was noticeable outside the duplex. Officials did not know why the residents were keeping the animals, or when they began collecting them.

About 300 animals removed from Kansas City home

McPherson— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged school threat to commit violence at the McPherson Middle School.

On Monday afternoon, the McPherson Police Department received a report concerning a 13-year-old student possibly threatening to commit violence at the school and took the student into custody for disorderly conduct, according to Police Chief Mikel Golden.

"The McPherson Police Department takes reports of incidents like these seriously, since “A Threat of Violence is An Act of Violence.” Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked the contact the McPherson Police Department.

McPherson— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged school threat to commit violence at the McPherson Middle School.On Monday afternoon, the McPherson Police Department received a report concerning a 13-year-old student possibly threatening to commit violence at the school and took the student into custody for disorderly conduct, according to Police Chief Mikel Golden."The McPherson Police Department takes reports of incidents like these seriously, since “A Threat of Violence is An Act of Violence.” Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked the contact the McPherson Police Department.

13-year-old in custody after alleged threat at Kan. middle school

BY STEPHAN BISAHA <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/wichita-states-new-president-we-have-be-more-entrepreneurial">Kansas News Service</a>

Nervous liberal arts professors. Stagnant enrollment. Costs rising faster than state funding.

These
 are the challenges Kansas’ universities must decide how to handle. And 
the man making those decisions for Wichita State University is its new 
president, Jay Golden.

Golden officially took over near the end 
of 2019, leaving his former position as vice chancellor at East Carolina
 University. The Kansas Board of Regents <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/jay-golden-selected-be-wichita-state-universitys-new-president" target="_blank">chose Golden in October</a> after a long search following <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/wichita-state-university-president-and-innovator-john-bardo-dies-70" target="_blank">WSU President John Bardo’s death in March</a>.

Beyond
 his experience in North Carolina, Golden has owned an engineering 
services company in Arizona and served as a police officer.

Golden spoke with KMUW’s Stephan Bisaha about Wichita State’s future.

I'm
 a parent of a daughter who just graduated state college and another 
daughter who's in college. I'm an individual who is paying tuition just 
like the parents of our students here. So I get it.

We have to be
 more entrepreneurial. We have to do things to find ways to ensure that 
we're not just doing student fee increases and tuition increases. So 
we're going to have a big push, as one example, on research. Research, 
and I'm asking all the faculty that before you finish your proposal, you
 ensure that students are on those proposals. They could be on there for
 $2,000 a semester. They can be there for full tuition. That $2,000 
could be a big difference whether you attend college or not.

So 
we have to be entrepreneurial in the way we think and operate as an 
institution. And then we're going to be doing that from trying to reduce
 our operating costs to finding new ways and new revenue streams to help
 college affordability.

The
 traditional models of higher education as we know them are changing. If
 any institution believes that they can stay stagnant and not be 
innovative, those are going to be universities and colleges that aren't 
going to be around in a number of years.

That doesn't diminish 
the need for critical thinking. Though a bachelor of arts and sciences 
provide a lot of critical thinking, which are essential to whether 
you're in technology or not, I don't see necessarily a demotion of the 
arts and sciences.

Rather I think arts and sciences like other 
programs are going to have to retool, rethink to make sure that we're 
providing the best student experience and opportunities for our students
 moving forward.

We're
 going to graduate something like 30,000 or so students in Kansas from 
high school each year for the next few years. But when we talk about 
magnitude, Texas for instance, is going to graduate 350,000 students. 
Big difference. So we're going to be — and I will personally be — 
working towards attracting talent, high school students from places like
 Texas, to Wichita.

But not for the sake of just coming here. I 
want to recruit talent, but I want to retain talent. And to do that, we 
need to have these academic programs. We need to have a community that 
embraces and is vibrant. We need a faculty and staff and administrators 
that are more representative of the diversity that will be coming to our
 university. So those are all the type of programs that we're going to 
do.

We're also going to try to continue to ensure from an 
administrative standpoint that we contain administrative costs so we can
 have an affordable education. And I'm pushing hard. And I, our faculty 
and our leadership are all on board, including our deans, that we 
graduate our students on time.

Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="http://twitter.com/stevebisaha?lang=en">@stevebisaha</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581346426258.jpeg" alt=" WSU President Jay Golden / Stephan Bisaha / KMUW" />
 <figcaption> WSU President Jay Golden / Stephan Bisaha / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>BY STEPHAN BISAHA <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/wichita-states-new-president-we-have-be-more-entrepreneurial">Kansas News Service</a>Nervous liberal arts professors. Stagnant enrollment. Costs rising faster than state funding.These
 are the challenges Kansas’ universities must decide how to handle. And 
the man making those decisions for Wichita State University is its new 
president, Jay Golden.Golden officially took over near the end 
of 2019, leaving his former position as vice chancellor at East Carolina
 University. The Kansas Board of Regents <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/jay-golden-selected-be-wichita-state-universitys-new-president" target="_blank">chose Golden in October</a> after a long search following <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/wichita-state-university-president-and-innovator-john-bardo-dies-70" target="_blank">WSU President John Bardo’s death in March</a>.Beyond
 his experience in North Carolina, Golden has owned an engineering 
services company in Arizona and served as a police officer.Golden spoke with KMUW’s Stephan Bisaha about Wichita State’s future.<h2>Rising Education Costs</h2>I'm
 a parent of a daughter who just graduated state college and another 
daughter who's in college. I'm an individual who is paying tuition just 
like the parents of our students here. So I get it.We have to be
 more entrepreneurial. We have to do things to find ways to ensure that 
we're not just doing student fee increases and tuition increases. So 
we're going to have a big push, as one example, on research. Research, 
and I'm asking all the faculty that before you finish your proposal, you
 ensure that students are on those proposals. They could be on there for
 $2,000 a semester. They can be there for full tuition. That $2,000 
could be a big difference whether you attend college or not.So 
we have to be entrepreneurial in the way we think and operate as an 
institution. And then we're going to be doing that from trying to reduce
 our operating costs to finding new ways and new revenue streams to help
 college affordability.<h2>Uncertain Future Of Liberal Arts</h2>The
 traditional models of higher education as we know them are changing. If
 any institution believes that they can stay stagnant and not be 
innovative, those are going to be universities and colleges that aren't 
going to be around in a number of years.That doesn't diminish 
the need for critical thinking. Though a bachelor of arts and sciences 
provide a lot of critical thinking, which are essential to whether 
you're in technology or not, I don't see necessarily a demotion of the 
arts and sciences.Rather I think arts and sciences like other 
programs are going to have to retool, rethink to make sure that we're 
providing the best student experience and opportunities for our students
 moving forward.<h2>Increasing Enrollment</h2>We're
 going to graduate something like 30,000 or so students in Kansas from 
high school each year for the next few years. But when we talk about 
magnitude, Texas for instance, is going to graduate 350,000 students. 
Big difference. So we're going to be — and I will personally be — 
working towards attracting talent, high school students from places like
 Texas, to Wichita.But not for the sake of just coming here. I 
want to recruit talent, but I want to retain talent. And to do that, we 
need to have these academic programs. We need to have a community that 
embraces and is vibrant. We need a faculty and staff and administrators 
that are more representative of the diversity that will be coming to our
 university. So those are all the type of programs that we're going to 
do.We're also going to try to continue to ensure from an 
administrative standpoint that we contain administrative costs so we can
 have an affordable education. And I'm pushing hard. And I, our faculty 
and our leadership are all on board, including our deans, that we 
graduate our students on time.Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="http://twitter.com/stevebisaha?lang=en">@stevebisaha</a>.

WSU's new president: 'We have to be more entrepreneurial'

SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on car theft charges after a chase and crash.

Just after midnight Monday,&nbsp;a Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted a traffic stop near SE 27th&nbsp;Street and Adams Street for a traffic infraction, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

A 2000 Chevy Silverado, reported stolen out of Topeka, failed to stop and a pursuit ensued.&nbsp; The Silverado drove through the Hi-Crest neighborhood, east on SE 37th&nbsp;Street, and north on SE California Avenue.&nbsp; The driver lost control of the vehicle near SE 30th&nbsp;Street and California Avenue and struck a fire hydrant.&nbsp; Two occupants fled the scene but were located a short time later.&nbsp;

Deputies booked the driver of the stolen vehicle, Shaquan R. Mitchell, 18, of Topeka into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated endangering of a child, Felony flee and elude, Possession of stolen property, Leaving the scene of an accident, No driver’s license and Other traffic infractions.

A 17-year-old passenger was arrested and transported to Juvenile Detention.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581374937454.png" alt="Police at the scene of the crash photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the crash photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on car theft charges after a chase and crash.Just after midnight Monday,&nbsp;a Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted a traffic stop near SE 27th&nbsp;Street and Adams Street for a traffic infraction, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.A 2000 Chevy Silverado, reported stolen out of Topeka, failed to stop and a pursuit ensued.&nbsp; The Silverado drove through the Hi-Crest neighborhood, east on SE 37th&nbsp;Street, and north on SE California Avenue.&nbsp; The driver lost control of the vehicle near SE 30th&nbsp;Street and California Avenue and struck a fire hydrant.&nbsp; Two occupants fled the scene but were located a short time later.&nbsp;Deputies booked the driver of the stolen vehicle, Shaquan R. Mitchell, 18, of Topeka into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated endangering of a child, Felony flee and elude, Possession of stolen property, Leaving the scene of an accident, No driver’s license and Other traffic infractions.A 17-year-old passenger was arrested and transported to Juvenile Detention.

Deputies arrest 2 Kansas teens after crash in stolen pickup

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman has been charged with sex trafficking in federal court.

Prosecutors say Kelly Lee Grounds posted dozens of ads online offering sex acts. The ads were for herself and other people offering to perform sex acts.

Grounds was arrested in September and January on suspicion of similar charges. She was initially charged in state court last fall, but those charges were dropped after she was indicted in federal court in late January.

Local prosecutors had said that Grounds posted ads on behalf of a 17-year-old who was offering to have sex in exchange for compensation.

Grounds is represented by the federal public defender’s office. Her attorney could not be reached Sunday to comment on her behalf.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581333533364.png" alt="Kelly Grounds is being held in Butler County" />
 <figcaption>Kelly Grounds is being held in Butler County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman has been charged with sex trafficking in federal court.Prosecutors say Kelly Lee Grounds posted dozens of ads online offering sex acts. The ads were for herself and other people offering to perform sex acts.Grounds was arrested in September and January on suspicion of similar charges. She was initially charged in state court last fall, but those charges were dropped after she was indicted in federal court in late January.Local prosecutors had said that Grounds posted ads on behalf of a 17-year-old who was offering to have sex in exchange for compensation.Grounds is represented by the federal public defender’s office. Her attorney could not be reached Sunday to comment on her behalf.

Prosecutor: Kansas woman used online ads offering sex acts

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two Kansas men for multiple forgeries.

&nbsp;Just before 10a.m. February 7, officers were called to First Bank Kansas, 235 South Santa Fe Avenue in Salina for the report of Timothy J. Halpain, 29, of Salina, attempting to cash a forged check, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

When officers arrived, a gray 2006 Honda Civic driven by Michael D. Metzger, 32, of Salina, with Halpain in the passenger seat, pulled out of the bank parking lot onto South Santa Fe Avenue, Forrester said.

&nbsp;Halpain and Metzger were known to be suspects in multiple forgeries in which forged checks were cashed at businesses throughout Salina since January 2.

The officers attempted to make a traffic stop, but the car headed west on West Walnut Street at approximately 40 mph. The chase continued through mutliple west-central Salina neighborhoods, sometimes reaching speeds as high as 50 mph,&nbsp; according to Forrester.

The Civic eventually headed west on Crawford, ran a red light at the Broadway Boulevard intersection and continued west out of Salina at speeds up to 100 mph, according to Forrester. As the Salina Police Department ended its pursuit, the car was seen traveling south on South Burma Road.

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said deputies picked up the pursuit at that point. The car, which had a spare "donut" tire on the back, continued at 65-70 mph, he said. The vehicle turned west on West Water Well Road, south on South Powers Road, and west on West Farrelly Road until it attempted to turn north onto South Link Road by the Smoky Hill Weapons Range and turned in front of a Saline County Sheriff's Office SUV, causing a collision, and ending the chase, Soldan said.

The chase ended near the intersection of West Farrelly Road and South Link Road photo Saline Co. Sheriff.

Both suspects and the deputy driving the SUV complained of back pain and were transported to Salina Regional Health Center, where they were treated and released, according to Soldan. Metzger and Halpain were taken to Jail.

Once the Salina Police Department's pursuit ended on West Crawford Street, officers went back to First Bank Kansas and learned that Halpain had been attempting to cash an $865 check on the account of Salina Investments, LLC, Motel 6.&nbsp; The bank had been alerted by Salina Investments after six other fraudulent checks totaling approximately $4,000, had been written and cashed on the company's account.

&nbsp;Metzger and Halpain are suspected in the following other forged check cases including Maggie Mae's Bar &amp; Grill account for $450, Two checks totaling $1,600 forged on the account of Southwest Deed and Title

Five checks totaling approximately $2,600 forged on the account of Team Employment.

Metzger is being. held on requested charges that include Felony flee and elude, Driving while suspended, Numerous traffic violations, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, Seven requested counts of forgery, making or altering, Seven requested counts of forgery, distributing Seven requested counts of making false information and Theft by deception.

&nbsp;Halpain is being held on eight requested counts of forgery, making or altering, Eight requested counts of forgery, distributing, Eight requested counts of making false information and Theft by deception.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581174483687.jpeg" alt="Metzger photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Metzger photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581171457613.jpeg" alt="Halpain photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Halpain photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two Kansas men for multiple forgeries.&nbsp;Just before 10a.m. February 7, officers were called to First Bank Kansas, 235 South Santa Fe Avenue in Salina for the report of Timothy J. Halpain, 29, of Salina, attempting to cash a forged check, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.When officers arrived, a gray 2006 Honda Civic driven by Michael D. Metzger, 32, of Salina, with Halpain in the passenger seat, pulled out of the bank parking lot onto South Santa Fe Avenue, Forrester said.&nbsp;Halpain and Metzger were known to be suspects in multiple forgeries in which forged checks were cashed at businesses throughout Salina since January 2.The officers attempted to make a traffic stop, but the car headed west on West Walnut Street at approximately 40 mph. The chase continued through mutliple west-central Salina neighborhoods, sometimes reaching speeds as high as 50 mph,&nbsp; according to Forrester.The Civic eventually headed west on Crawford, ran a red light at the Broadway Boulevard intersection and continued west out of Salina at speeds up to 100 mph, according to Forrester. As the Salina Police Department ended its pursuit, the car was seen traveling south on South Burma Road.Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said deputies picked up the pursuit at that point. The car, which had a spare "donut" tire on the back, continued at 65-70 mph, he said. The vehicle turned west on West Water Well Road, south on South Powers Road, and west on West Farrelly Road until it attempted to turn north onto South Link Road by the Smoky Hill Weapons Range and turned in front of a Saline County Sheriff's Office SUV, causing a collision, and ending the chase, Soldan said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581357186770.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The chase ended near the intersection of West Farrelly Road and South Link Road photo Saline Co. Sheriff.Both suspects and the deputy driving the SUV complained of back pain and were transported to Salina Regional Health Center, where they were treated and released, according to Soldan. Metzger and Halpain were taken to Jail.Once the Salina Police Department's pursuit ended on West Crawford Street, officers went back to First Bank Kansas and learned that Halpain had been attempting to cash an $865 check on the account of Salina Investments, LLC, Motel 6.&nbsp; The bank had been alerted by Salina Investments after six other fraudulent checks totaling approximately $4,000, had been written and cashed on the company's account.&nbsp;Metzger and Halpain are suspected in the following other forged check cases including Maggie Mae's Bar &amp; Grill account for $450, Two checks totaling $1,600 forged on the account of Southwest Deed and TitleFive checks totaling approximately $2,600 forged on the account of Team Employment.Metzger is being. held on requested charges that include Felony flee and elude, Driving while suspended, Numerous traffic violations, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, Seven requested counts of forgery, making or altering, Seven requested counts of forgery, distributing Seven requested counts of making false information and Theft by deception.&nbsp;Halpain is being held on eight requested counts of forgery, making or altering, Eight requested counts of forgery, distributing, Eight requested counts of making false information and Theft by deception.

2 Kansas forgery suspects jailed after chase at 100 mph

Jarrett William Smith from a 2011 interview&nbsp;<a href="https://wpde.com/news/abc15-investigates/soldier-suspected-of-bomb-plot-once-on-classmates-hit-list-in-high-school">courtesy WPDE TV</a>

TOPEKA, KAN.&nbsp;- &nbsp;Jarrett William Smith, 24, Ft. Riley, Kan., pleaded guilty today to unlawfully distributing instructions for making explosive devices over social media while he was a member of the U.S. Army, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing information related to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction. Smith joined the Army June 12, 2017. He served as an infantry soldier and was trained in combat and tactical operations. He was transferred to Fort Riley in Kansas July 8, 2019.

The FBI received information that Smith gave out guidance to others on how to construct improvised explosive devices. He spoke to others on social media about wanting to travel to Ukraine to fight with a violent, far-right military group.

On September 20, 2019, from Fort Riley Smith sent a person working undercover for the FBI specific instructions for making an explosive device. He also provided a recipe for creating improvised napalm.

Sentencing is set for May 18. Smith could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581371989370.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jarrett William Smith from a 2011 interview&nbsp;<a href="https://wpde.com/news/abc15-investigates/soldier-suspected-of-bomb-plot-once-on-classmates-hit-list-in-high-school">courtesy WPDE TV</a>TOPEKA, KAN.&nbsp;- &nbsp;Jarrett William Smith, 24, Ft. Riley, Kan., pleaded guilty today to unlawfully distributing instructions for making explosive devices over social media while he was a member of the U.S. Army, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing information related to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction. Smith joined the Army June 12, 2017. He served as an infantry soldier and was trained in combat and tactical operations. He was transferred to Fort Riley in Kansas July 8, 2019.The FBI received information that Smith gave out guidance to others on how to construct improvised explosive devices. He spoke to others on social media about wanting to travel to Ukraine to fight with a violent, far-right military group.On September 20, 2019, from Fort Riley Smith sent a person working undercover for the FBI specific instructions for making an explosive device. He also provided a recipe for creating improvised napalm.Sentencing is set for May 18. Smith could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.&nbsp;

Kansas soldier admits distributing instructions for bombs

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teacher for alleged sex crimes.

In January, police in Wichita were notified of possible sexual relations occurring between a teacher at Wichita Collegiate identified as 39-year-old Rodney Wren and a former student at Wichita Collegiate who was a teen at the time of the alleged relationship, according to officer Charley Davidson.

On Feb. 7, following the police investigation, officers arrested Wren&nbsp; for three counts of unlawful sexual relations.&nbsp;

Wichita Collegiate Officials are cooperating with the investigation and had placed Wren on administrative leave.

The case has been presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581367494229.png" alt="Rodney Wren photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Rodney Wren photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teacher for alleged sex crimes.In January, police in Wichita were notified of possible sexual relations occurring between a teacher at Wichita Collegiate identified as 39-year-old Rodney Wren and a former student at Wichita Collegiate who was a teen at the time of the alleged relationship, according to officer Charley Davidson.On Feb. 7, following the police investigation, officers arrested Wren&nbsp; for three counts of unlawful sexual relations.&nbsp;Wichita Collegiate Officials are cooperating with the investigation and had placed Wren on administrative leave.The case has been presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Kan. high school teacher arrested for alleged sex with student

HUTCHINSON, KAN. (AP) —&nbsp;Two men are facing charges after being arrested in South Hutchinson with about 80 homemade explosive devices in their truck, law enforcement authorities said.

South Hutchinson police arrested the two 18-year-old men Saturday night after locating a truck carrying a plastic tote full of completed explosive devices and materials for unmade devices, police chief Dean Harcrow said.

Homes in the area were evacuated for several hours while police waited for federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to process the scene, The Hutchinson News reported.

Harcrow said 72 of the devices were the equivalent of a quarter stick of dynamite and 10 of them equaled a half stick of dynamite.

The suspects apparently were making the devices at a home in Reno County and selling them to individuals, he said. The men allegedly were ordering products to make the devices from the internet.

Tyler Bryce Bontrager and Andrew Hoffman were booked into the county jail on possible charges of criminal use of explosives, Harcrow said. Both men bonded out over the weekend. The Reno County District Attorney's office is awaiting police reports before determining if charges will be filed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581370788533.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, KAN. (AP) —&nbsp;Two men are facing charges after being arrested in South Hutchinson with about 80 homemade explosive devices in their truck, law enforcement authorities said.South Hutchinson police arrested the two 18-year-old men Saturday night after locating a truck carrying a plastic tote full of completed explosive devices and materials for unmade devices, police chief Dean Harcrow said.Homes in the area were evacuated for several hours while police waited for federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to process the scene, The Hutchinson News reported.Harcrow said 72 of the devices were the equivalent of a quarter stick of dynamite and 10 of them equaled a half stick of dynamite.The suspects apparently were making the devices at a home in Reno County and selling them to individuals, he said. The men allegedly were ordering products to make the devices from the internet.Tyler Bryce Bontrager and Andrew Hoffman were booked into the county jail on possible charges of criminal use of explosives, Harcrow said. Both men bonded out over the weekend. The Reno County District Attorney's office is awaiting police reports before determining if charges will be filed.

Two men arrested with 80 homemade explosives in Hutchinson

SHAWNEE COUNTY — One of two people critically injured in a fire Saturday in Topeka has died.

Just after 5:30p.m., fire crews&nbsp;responded to the report of a structure fire with persons trapped at 1200 SW Collins Avenue in Topeka, according to Deputy Fire Chief Kelly Adams.

&nbsp;Upon arrival, fire suppression crews reported light smoke from the home.&nbsp; A primary and secondary search of the dwelling revealed one occupant was able to escape. Fire crews rescued another occupant.

Both victims sustained critical injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

On Monday fire officials reported 53-year-old Kristen L. Edmonston&nbsp; died as a result of her injuries, according to Adams.

James W. Edmonston, 65, remains hospitalized, but is reported in stable condition.&nbsp; The cause of this fire is being classified as accidental, more likely than not associated with improper handling of smoking materials.

Estimated structural damage is listed at $5,000; $500 contents loss.

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

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Two people were injured in a fire Saturday in Topeka.&nbsp;

Both sustained serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.&nbsp; Both were reported in critical condition Sunday morning, according to Adams.

Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire. Estimated structural damage is listed at $5,000; $500 contents loss.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581260098994.png" alt="Fire crews on the scene of the Saturday night fire- photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Fire crews on the scene of the Saturday night fire- photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — One of two people critically injured in a fire Saturday in Topeka has died.Just after 5:30p.m., fire crews&nbsp;responded to the report of a structure fire with persons trapped at 1200 SW Collins Avenue in Topeka, according to Deputy Fire Chief Kelly Adams.&nbsp;Upon arrival, fire suppression crews reported light smoke from the home.&nbsp; A primary and secondary search of the dwelling revealed one occupant was able to escape. Fire crews rescued another occupant.Both victims sustained critical injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.On Monday fire officials reported 53-year-old Kristen L. Edmonston&nbsp; died as a result of her injuries, according to Adams.James W. Edmonston, 65, remains hospitalized, but is reported in stable condition.&nbsp; The cause of this fire is being classified as accidental, more likely than not associated with improper handling of smoking materials.Estimated structural damage is listed at $5,000; $500 contents loss.Working smoke detectors were present within the structure of fire origin.-------SHAWNEE COUNTY — Two people were injured in a fire Saturday in Topeka.&nbsp;Just after 5:30p.m., fire crews&nbsp;responded to the report of a structure fire with persons trapped at 1200 SW Collins Avenue in Topeka, according to Deputy Fire Chief Kelly Adams.&nbsp;Upon arrival, fire suppression crews reported light smoke from the home.&nbsp; A primary and secondary search of the dwelling revealed one occupant was able to escape. Fire crews rescued another occupant.Both sustained serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.&nbsp; Both were reported in critical condition Sunday morning, according to Adams.Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire. Estimated structural damage is listed at $5,000; $500 contents loss.Working smoke detectors were present within the structure of fire origin.

Update: Woman dies from injuries after fire at Kansas home

By STEPHEN KORANDA, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/four-kansas-republicans-stopped-their-partys-anti-abortion-bill-gop-says-its-not-over#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — The Kansas House narrowly rejected a
 constitutional amendment Friday that would have said there’s no right 
to abortion in the state constitution.

After the defeat, Republican leaders promised this “was just the beginning.”

“Don’t
 be surprised when it comes up again because it will come up again this 
session,” House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins said after the vote.

The
 final count was 80-43, just short of the 84 votes needed to put the 
issue on a statewide ballot vote where Kansans could reject it or add it
 to the state constitution.

Four Republicans split from the rest of their party and voted against the amendment.

Republican
 leaders used a procedural move to hold the vote open for about six 
hours in an attempt to gain enough support, but it ultimately didn’t 
garner any additional votes.

Republican Rep. Don Hineman opposed 
putting the issue up to a statewide vote in August and said the 
amendment should be rewritten with the vote held instead during the 
general election in November.

“Throughout my 12-year legislative 
career, I’ve maintained a staunch pro-life record,” he said during the 
vote. “My ‘no vote’ today is not in contradiction to that.”

The fight came in reaction to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-supreme-court-state-constitution-protects-abortion-rights#stream/0">last year</a>
 that said women have a right to abortion protected in the state 
constitution. In response, abortion opponents moved to change the 
constitution to specifically say the state promises no right to abortion
 and it can be regulated by lawmakers.

Both sides agreed the 
stakes were high. Supporters of the amendment said that the right to 
abortion recognized by the Kansas high court could be used to knock down
 abortion restrictions <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/while-kansas-fights-over-abortion-again-heres-what-states-laws-allow-today">already in state law.</a> They include clinic regulations and a ban on most abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy.

Critics
 of the amendment argue it ultimately could have far-reaching 
consequences beyond simply protecting restrictions in state law.

“It strips a subset of Kansans of their constitutional rights,” Democratic Rep. Stephanie Clayton said.

Right
 now, there are protections for abortion rights at the federal level and
 the state level. The constitutional amendment would eliminate any 
state-level protections.

If the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade 
decision is overturned, that would eliminate the protections on the 
federal level and potentially open the door to a state-level ban on 
abortion.

The influential group Kansans for Life announced it 
would oppose Medicaid expansion until the constitutional amendment was 
approved by lawmakers and sent to a statewide ballot vote.

“For 
years, we have taken great pains to stay out of the Medicaid Expansion 
fray,” KFL’s Director of Government Relations Jeanne Gawdun said. 
“However, recent court rulings could force state taxpayers to subsidize 
the abortion industry through Medicaid and other sources.”

That 
adds a new wrinkle to the political dynamics, because expansion is a top
 priority for Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and many lawmakers in both 
parties. It could potentially offer health care coverage for more than 
130,000 low-income Kansans.

Republican Senate President Susan 
Wagle took procedural moves after the House vote to block Medicaid 
expansion. She said the Senate would not take it up until the amendment 
passed.

“This vote,” Wagle said, “just completely changed the course of the 2020 legislative session.”

Stephen
 Koranda is Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas 
News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and 
High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. Follow
 him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda">@kprkoranda</a> or email skoranda@ku.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581346576201.jpeg" alt=" Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption> Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By STEPHEN KORANDA, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/four-kansas-republicans-stopped-their-partys-anti-abortion-bill-gop-says-its-not-over#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — The Kansas House narrowly rejected a
 constitutional amendment Friday that would have said there’s no right 
to abortion in the state constitution.After the defeat, Republican leaders promised this “was just the beginning.”“Don’t
 be surprised when it comes up again because it will come up again this 
session,” House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins said after the vote.The
 final count was 80-43, just short of the 84 votes needed to put the 
issue on a statewide ballot vote where Kansans could reject it or add it
 to the state constitution.Four Republicans split from the rest of their party and voted against the amendment.Republican
 leaders used a procedural move to hold the vote open for about six 
hours in an attempt to gain enough support, but it ultimately didn’t 
garner any additional votes.Republican Rep. Don Hineman opposed 
putting the issue up to a statewide vote in August and said the 
amendment should be rewritten with the vote held instead during the 
general election in November.“Throughout my 12-year legislative 
career, I’ve maintained a staunch pro-life record,” he said during the 
vote. “My ‘no vote’ today is not in contradiction to that.”The fight came in reaction to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-supreme-court-state-constitution-protects-abortion-rights#stream/0">last year</a>
 that said women have a right to abortion protected in the state 
constitution. In response, abortion opponents moved to change the 
constitution to specifically say the state promises no right to abortion
 and it can be regulated by lawmakers.Both sides agreed the 
stakes were high. Supporters of the amendment said that the right to 
abortion recognized by the Kansas high court could be used to knock down
 abortion restrictions <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/while-kansas-fights-over-abortion-again-heres-what-states-laws-allow-today">already in state law.</a> They include clinic regulations and a ban on most abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy.Critics
 of the amendment argue it ultimately could have far-reaching 
consequences beyond simply protecting restrictions in state law.“It strips a subset of Kansans of their constitutional rights,” Democratic Rep. Stephanie Clayton said.Right
 now, there are protections for abortion rights at the federal level and
 the state level. The constitutional amendment would eliminate any 
state-level protections.If the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade 
decision is overturned, that would eliminate the protections on the 
federal level and potentially open the door to a state-level ban on 
abortion.The influential group Kansans for Life announced it 
would oppose Medicaid expansion until the constitutional amendment was 
approved by lawmakers and sent to a statewide ballot vote.“For 
years, we have taken great pains to stay out of the Medicaid Expansion 
fray,” KFL’s Director of Government Relations Jeanne Gawdun said. 
“However, recent court rulings could force state taxpayers to subsidize 
the abortion industry through Medicaid and other sources.”That 
adds a new wrinkle to the political dynamics, because expansion is a top
 priority for Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and many lawmakers in both 
parties. It could potentially offer health care coverage for more than 
130,000 low-income Kansans.Republican Senate President Susan 
Wagle took procedural moves after the House vote to block Medicaid 
expansion. She said the Senate would not take it up until the amendment 
passed.“This vote,” Wagle said, “just completely changed the course of the 2020 legislative session.”Stephen
 Koranda is Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas 
News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and 
High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. Follow
 him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda">@kprkoranda</a> or email skoranda@ku.edu.

 Four Republicans stopped anti-abortion bill, but GOP says it's not over 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Two of the five correctional officers who were hurt during an inmate disturbance last week at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility remain off work, a prison official said Monday.

The Feb. 4 incident at the facility prompted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8450b0cde28cda8fe7291ed8ae5c6ec4">prison lockdown</a>&nbsp;at the time and cancellation of last weekend’s visitation to its central unit.

The investigation remains ongoing as to what sparked the disturbance that occurred during dinnertime as a group of inmates were leaving the chow hall, said Jordan Bell, spokesman for the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. The facility holds more than 1,000 inmates, and meal times involve “a constant movement” that usually lasts a couple of hours to feed them all.

Citing privacy concerns, Bell declined to release any additional details about the officers’ injuries other than to say all five were treated and released that same night from a local hospital. No weapons were involved.

About 20 inmates were placed in restrictive housing after the incident for investigative purposes, with some of those offenders receiving disciplinary reports amid the continuing investigation, Bell said.

There was no damage to the prison facility, he said.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Two of the five correctional officers who were hurt during an inmate disturbance last week at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility remain off work, a prison official said Monday.The Feb. 4 incident at the facility prompted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8450b0cde28cda8fe7291ed8ae5c6ec4">prison lockdown</a>&nbsp;at the time and cancellation of last weekend’s visitation to its central unit.The investigation remains ongoing as to what sparked the disturbance that occurred during dinnertime as a group of inmates were leaving the chow hall, said Jordan Bell, spokesman for the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. The facility holds more than 1,000 inmates, and meal times involve “a constant movement” that usually lasts a couple of hours to feed them all.Citing privacy concerns, Bell declined to release any additional details about the officers’ injuries other than to say all five were treated and released that same night from a local hospital. No weapons were involved.About 20 inmates were placed in restrictive housing after the incident for investigative purposes, with some of those offenders receiving disciplinary reports amid the continuing investigation, Bell said.There was no damage to the prison facility, he said.

2 injured Kansas corrections officers still not back to work

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 5p.m. Sunday November 3, police responded to a death call at a residence in the 1300 block of South Greenwood in Wichita, according to office Charley Davidson.

At the scene, a 52-year-old woman reported arriving at the home to check on 73-year-old Raymond Koob and finding him unresponsive inside.

Koob was pronounced deceased on the scene and had extensive injuries to his body.

The Sedgwick County District attorney recently charged the case and a warrant was issued, according to Davidson.&nbsp; On Friday, police arrested 45-year-old Ricky Price. 

He is being held on <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=229020">requested charges o</a>f first-degree murder, theft of property or services and criminal possession of a firearm, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581354619062.png" alt="Ricky Price photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Ricky Price photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and have a suspect in custody.Just after 5p.m. Sunday November 3, police responded to a death call at a residence in the 1300 block of South Greenwood in Wichita, according to office Charley Davidson.At the scene, a 52-year-old woman reported arriving at the home to check on 73-year-old Raymond Koob and finding him unresponsive inside.Koob was pronounced deceased on the scene and had extensive injuries to his body.The Sedgwick County District attorney recently charged the case and a warrant was issued, according to Davidson.&nbsp; On Friday, police arrested 45-year-old Ricky Price. He is being held on <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=229020">requested charges o</a>f first-degree murder, theft of property or services and criminal possession of a firearm, according to online jail records.

Kan. man wanted for November murder jailed on $250,000 bond

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged child sex crimes.

On Sunday night, deputies were sent to the 100 block of East Main Street in the rural Saline County unincorporated community of Kipp after a family member of one of two girls reported Chad M. Cutbirth, 42, Kipp, fondled one of two girls and sent both obscene photos on social media, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.

Both girls age 15 and 17 are acquainted with each other and with Cutbirth, according Soldan.

Deputies arrested Cutbirth on requested charges that include indecent liberties with a child, 14 to 16 years of age; lewd fondling, Sexual exploitation of a child and Promoting obscenity to minors

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581353278843.jpeg" alt="Chad M Cutbirth photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Chad M Cutbirth photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged child sex crimes.On Sunday night, deputies were sent to the 100 block of East Main Street in the rural Saline County unincorporated community of Kipp after a family member of one of two girls reported Chad M. Cutbirth, 42, Kipp, fondled one of two girls and sent both obscene photos on social media, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.Both girls age 15 and 17 are acquainted with each other and with Cutbirth, according Soldan.Deputies arrested Cutbirth on requested charges that include indecent liberties with a child, 14 to 16 years of age; lewd fondling, Sexual exploitation of a child and Promoting obscenity to minors

Sheriff: Kan. man allegedly sent obscene images to girls on social media

JUNCTION CITY — Supporters of lifting the pit bull dog ban in Junction City pleaded their case to the Junction City Commission this past week.

Kim
 Bradney of Legalize Bully JC said they're asking that the ban be 
repealed. "Singling out residents by the type of dog they own is a 
flawed strategy that hurts the families who live them. Often they are 
forced to choose between keeping their beloved family member or staying 
in their home and community."

Bradney stated in many cases it has 
caused families to decide to live in Manhattan or other surrounding 
communities with a friendlier pit bull policy. She noted that the animal
 shelter is flooded with dogs who not adoptable because of the "city's 
ban on pit bull looking dogs."&nbsp; She added that action to bar pit bulls 
from Junction City was put in place in 1997.

Bradney explained 
other cities are repealing the ban that they put in place in the 90's 
because they are not effective. Nine other speakers also spoke to the 
city commission in support of repealing the ban. Some of the cities that
 have removed pit bull bans range from Prairie Village and Bonner 
Springs to Kansas City and Garden City. Fifteen different cities were 
cited for having taken that action during the commission meeting.

The
 President of Friends of Animals Linnea Alt informed the governing body 
that the animal shelter is inundated, rescues sites are overflowing and a
 lot of families are willing to adopt the dogs.

Other speakers 
spoke in favor of a vicious dog ordinance where dogs could be dealt with
 on an individual basis to repealing the pit bull ban in favor of 
replacing it with breed neutral legislation.

Some members of the 
commission expressed support for revisiting the existing ordinance at a 
future meeting. Commissioner Ronna Larson asked city staff to check into
 difference ordinance options. "I stand by what I spoke about at the 
forums. I'd like to see how we can make that ordinance changed. "

Commissioner
 Nate Butler said he thought it was a good idea to look at the 
ordinance, "and begin to formulate an ordinance to possibly repeal the 
ban." Butler indicated he was initially against lifting it but after 
doing some research and having a conversation with his brother, who is 
the sergeant of the Drug Task Force in Indianapolis, it began to change 
his mind on the issue.&nbsp;

Mayor Jeff Underhill has asked for numbers
 from the animal shelter on the number of dogs housed there and the 
costs. City Manager Allen Dinkel and staff will prepare information for 
the governing body to review.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581349739778.jpeg" alt="Photo by Lucas Ludwig on Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Lucas Ludwig on Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://jcpost.com">JC Post</a>JUNCTION CITY — Supporters of lifting the pit bull dog ban in Junction City pleaded their case to the Junction City Commission this past week.Kim
 Bradney of Legalize Bully JC said they're asking that the ban be 
repealed. "Singling out residents by the type of dog they own is a 
flawed strategy that hurts the families who live them. Often they are 
forced to choose between keeping their beloved family member or staying 
in their home and community."Bradney stated in many cases it has 
caused families to decide to live in Manhattan or other surrounding 
communities with a friendlier pit bull policy. She noted that the animal
 shelter is flooded with dogs who not adoptable because of the "city's 
ban on pit bull looking dogs."&nbsp; She added that action to bar pit bulls 
from Junction City was put in place in 1997.Bradney explained 
other cities are repealing the ban that they put in place in the 90's 
because they are not effective. Nine other speakers also spoke to the 
city commission in support of repealing the ban. Some of the cities that
 have removed pit bull bans range from Prairie Village and Bonner 
Springs to Kansas City and Garden City. Fifteen different cities were 
cited for having taken that action during the commission meeting.The
 President of Friends of Animals Linnea Alt informed the governing body 
that the animal shelter is inundated, rescues sites are overflowing and a
 lot of families are willing to adopt the dogs.Other speakers 
spoke in favor of a vicious dog ordinance where dogs could be dealt with
 on an individual basis to repealing the pit bull ban in favor of 
replacing it with breed neutral legislation.Some members of the 
commission expressed support for revisiting the existing ordinance at a 
future meeting. Commissioner Ronna Larson asked city staff to check into
 difference ordinance options. "I stand by what I spoke about at the 
forums. I'd like to see how we can make that ordinance changed. "Commissioner
 Nate Butler said he thought it was a good idea to look at the 
ordinance, "and begin to formulate an ordinance to possibly repeal the 
ban." Butler indicated he was initially against lifting it but after 
doing some research and having a conversation with his brother, who is 
the sergeant of the Drug Task Force in Indianapolis, it began to change 
his mind on the issue.&nbsp;Mayor Jeff Underhill has asked for numbers
 from the animal shelter on the number of dogs housed there and the 
costs. City Manager Allen Dinkel and staff will prepare information for 
the governing body to review.

Junction City group calls for lifting of pit bull ban

YODER,
 Kan. — The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center and Hutchinson Police
 were host to a group of law enforcement officers from the Republic of 
Armenia. The officers were on hand to train and learn the way of police 
work in the United States. 

“Armenia just had a peaceful 
revolution…in 2018 and they had a very corrupt government,“ Audie 
Holloway Senior Law Enforcement Development Advisor at the US Embassy in
 Armenia said. “Now that new government wants to make a new reformed 
police.” 

Holloway says coming to Kansas came from a connection the state and the country made during the breakup of the Soviet Union.

“For
 16-years the State department has had a state program with countries of
 the former Soviet Union,” Holloway said. “Kansas and Armenia...decided 
to be partners. We started this partnership with the police here last 
year.” 

The head of the police unit was Tigran Yesayan who is a 
Deputy Head Police Colonel in Armenia who says it’s time to build trust 
among the county’s citizens.

“Armenia is going through a very 
serious process which is apparently necessary for Armenia. The process 
of changing the image of police in our country,” Yesayan said. “The 
reform which is going on at this moment is police officers enjoy more 
trust and respect.”

Yesayan says they want the change to happen soon.

“We
 want to make it in a short period of time,” Yesayan said. “But 
naturally we understand that change has to occur in the heads of the 
people not on paper. And in order to make a change in the heads of the 
people, we need time.”

The group also spent significant time with the Hutchinson Police Department during their two-week stay. 

“It
 was a great honor having them here,” Police Chief Jeff Hooper said. “ I
 think it was just as good experience for my officers as it was for 
them.”

Hooper says the department took the officers through most facets of their operations including a tour of the 911 center.

“They
 don’t have what we traditionally call a communication center, a 911 
center, so some of their officers sat in the 911 center,” Hooper said. 
“They were able to see how our computer technology works, how we can 
dispatch by GPS coordinates and things like that.”

Hooper says the officers also got a look at how things are done in the field. 

“Just
 getting them out into the field with our officers and just an exchange 
of different laws they have there for search and seizure versus the laws
 we have here,” Hooper said. “ we put them out in regular patrol and 
then did some warrant searches and some undercover operations. And the 
had the opportunity to see different aspects of law enforcement in 
America.

A reception was held for the group Friday afternoon 
before the officers were presented with some gifts and photos were 
taken. The group is facing a 30-hour flight back home on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581349480541.jpeg" alt="Colonel Tigran Yesayan with the Armenia Police Force speaks through an interpreter during the reception for the officers who went through two weeks of training and observation at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center and the Hutchinson Police Department." />
 <figcaption>Colonel Tigran Yesayan with the Armenia Police Force speaks through an interpreter during the reception for the officers who went through two weeks of training and observation at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center and the Hutchinson Police Department.</figcaption>
 </figure>YODER,
 Kan. — The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center and Hutchinson Police
 were host to a group of law enforcement officers from the Republic of 
Armenia. The officers were on hand to train and learn the way of police 
work in the United States. “Armenia just had a peaceful 
revolution…in 2018 and they had a very corrupt government,“ Audie 
Holloway Senior Law Enforcement Development Advisor at the US Embassy in
 Armenia said. “Now that new government wants to make a new reformed 
police.” Holloway says coming to Kansas came from a connection the state and the country made during the breakup of the Soviet Union.“For
 16-years the State department has had a state program with countries of
 the former Soviet Union,” Holloway said. “Kansas and Armenia...decided 
to be partners. We started this partnership with the police here last 
year.” The head of the police unit was Tigran Yesayan who is a 
Deputy Head Police Colonel in Armenia who says it’s time to build trust 
among the county’s citizens.“Armenia is going through a very 
serious process which is apparently necessary for Armenia. The process 
of changing the image of police in our country,” Yesayan said. “The 
reform which is going on at this moment is police officers enjoy more 
trust and respect.”Yesayan says they want the change to happen soon.“We
 want to make it in a short period of time,” Yesayan said. “But 
naturally we understand that change has to occur in the heads of the 
people not on paper. And in order to make a change in the heads of the 
people, we need time.”The group also spent significant time with the Hutchinson Police Department during their two-week stay. “It
 was a great honor having them here,” Police Chief Jeff Hooper said. “ I
 think it was just as good experience for my officers as it was for 
them.”Hooper says the department took the officers through most facets of their operations including a tour of the 911 center.“They
 don’t have what we traditionally call a communication center, a 911 
center, so some of their officers sat in the 911 center,” Hooper said. 
“They were able to see how our computer technology works, how we can 
dispatch by GPS coordinates and things like that.”Hooper says the officers also got a look at how things are done in the field. “Just
 getting them out into the field with our officers and just an exchange 
of different laws they have there for search and seizure versus the laws
 we have here,” Hooper said. “ we put them out in regular patrol and 
then did some warrant searches and some undercover operations. And the 
had the opportunity to see different aspects of law enforcement in 
America.A reception was held for the group Friday afternoon 
before the officers were presented with some gifts and photos were 
taken. The group is facing a 30-hour flight back home on Saturday.

Armenian police officers finish two-week stay in Kansas

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

HUTCHINSON — As Congress looks for ways to reduce prescription drug prices, it's important for voters in Kansas to ask those running to represent them what they will do to help.

"The problem with government stepping in and sort of arbitrarily imposing lower prices is, it feels good in the near term for products that already exist," said Phil Kerpen with American Commitment. "They become less expensive, but it completely destroys the economics of developing new cures."

It's not the cost of the second pill and beyond, it's the cost of the first pill that is the issue.

"That first pill, the first legally sold pill after you get all the FDA approvals, all the research has been done and all the regulatory compliance and so forth, the first pill costs $2.5 billion," Kerpen said. "The second pill costs $1. You can't say, we're going to set prices to what it costs you to make that second pill or tenth pill or millionth pill, because if you do that, you're not going to get another first pill."

As candidates come through running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pat Roberts, or to replace First District Congressman Roger Marshall, Kerpen believes Kansans should ask them some important questions.

"I think we need to ask them what the strategy is to get something meaningful done to lower drug prices that does not undermine the incentive for research and development in bringing new cures to market," Kerpen said. "If you guys don't deliver something, as Republicans, we're going to end up with the worst possible outcome here, which is the Nancy Pelosi bill, because people are not going to tolerate prices being where they are."

Prescription drug prices have been a big issue in many Congressional races across the country and it's one of the areas where there is consensus between both parties that a solution is needed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581346070421.png" alt="Phil Kerpen is with American Commitment" />
 <figcaption>Phil Kerpen is with American Commitment</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL,&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/">Hutch Post</a>HUTCHINSON — As Congress looks for ways to reduce prescription drug prices, it's important for voters in Kansas to ask those running to represent them what they will do to help."The problem with government stepping in and sort of arbitrarily imposing lower prices is, it feels good in the near term for products that already exist," said Phil Kerpen with American Commitment. "They become less expensive, but it completely destroys the economics of developing new cures."It's not the cost of the second pill and beyond, it's the cost of the first pill that is the issue."That first pill, the first legally sold pill after you get all the FDA approvals, all the research has been done and all the regulatory compliance and so forth, the first pill costs $2.5 billion," Kerpen said. "The second pill costs $1. You can't say, we're going to set prices to what it costs you to make that second pill or tenth pill or millionth pill, because if you do that, you're not going to get another first pill."As candidates come through running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pat Roberts, or to replace First District Congressman Roger Marshall, Kerpen believes Kansans should ask them some important questions."I think we need to ask them what the strategy is to get something meaningful done to lower drug prices that does not undermine the incentive for research and development in bringing new cures to market," Kerpen said. "If you guys don't deliver something, as Republicans, we're going to end up with the worst possible outcome here, which is the Nancy Pelosi bill, because people are not going to tolerate prices being where they are."Prescription drug prices have been a big issue in many Congressional races across the country and it's one of the areas where there is consensus between both parties that a solution is needed.

Kerpen: Prescription drug policy is election issue

VINITA, Okla. (AP) — A March 26 preliminary hearing has been set for a Kansas man charged in the 1999 deaths of an Oklahoma couple and the disappearance and presumed deaths of their teenage daughter and her friend.

Craig County Court records show the hearing was scheduled Friday for Ronnie Dean Busick, 68, who is charged with killing Danny Freeman and Kathy Freeman, 16-year-old Ashley Freeman and 16-year-old Lauria Bible.

Busick was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9e67f5e546c015921da13b34f4b2cc7e">found competent</a>&nbsp;for trial in December. He has denied any involvement in the case or knowledge of where the girls are.

The bodies of Danny and Kathy Freeman were found in the burned rubble of their mobile home in Welch, about 70 miles northeast of Tulsa.

The two girls have never been found despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4b4ba6575e33f67906a01bddd82ec150">numerous searches.</a>

Ronnie Dean Busick, 68, of Wichita was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d4e1e525f4f0452f997c4cc62c3202f9">arrested and charged</a>&nbsp;in 2018 with four counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of arson in the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576360772308.png" alt=" Ronnie Dean Busick photo Butler Co." />
 <figcaption> Ronnie Dean Busick photo Butler Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>VINITA, Okla. (AP) — A March 26 preliminary hearing has been set for a Kansas man charged in the 1999 deaths of an Oklahoma couple and the disappearance and presumed deaths of their teenage daughter and her friend.Craig County Court records show the hearing was scheduled Friday for Ronnie Dean Busick, 68, who is charged with killing Danny Freeman and Kathy Freeman, 16-year-old Ashley Freeman and 16-year-old Lauria Bible.Busick was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9e67f5e546c015921da13b34f4b2cc7e">found competent</a>&nbsp;for trial in December. He has denied any involvement in the case or knowledge of where the girls are.The bodies of Danny and Kathy Freeman were found in the burned rubble of their mobile home in Welch, about 70 miles northeast of Tulsa.The two girls have never been found despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4b4ba6575e33f67906a01bddd82ec150">numerous searches.</a>Ronnie Dean Busick, 68, of Wichita was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d4e1e525f4f0452f997c4cc62c3202f9">arrested and charged</a>&nbsp;in 2018 with four counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of arson in the case.Authorities have said two other suspects in the case are now dead.