MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have two suspects in custody.

Just before 8p.m. Friday, offices filed a report for aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, domestic battery, battery, criminal damage to property, criminal threat, and violation of a protection order in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 38-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man reported two suspects forced entry into the Dairy Queen,&nbsp;1015 N 3rd Street in Manhattan, while holding a "club" then chased one victim outside and battered him and the woman.

Police arrested Cornelius Lee Sisson, 37, and Kenneth Durell Dotson, 38, both of Manhattan.

Sisson was jailed on requested charges that include two counts of battery, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, aggravated burglary, and criminal threat, he remains confined in the Riley County Jail on a $30,000 bond.

Dotson was arrested on a requested charge of domestic battery, battery, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, violation of a protection order, and aggravated burglary, he remains confined in the Riley County Jail on a $24,000 bond, according to the RCPD.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633963639426.png" alt="Sisson from an earlier arrest in Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Sisson from an earlier arrest in Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have two suspects in custody.Just before 8p.m. Friday, offices filed a report for aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, domestic battery, battery, criminal damage to property, criminal threat, and violation of a protection order in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.A 38-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man reported two suspects forced entry into the Dairy Queen,&nbsp;1015 N 3rd Street in Manhattan, while holding a "club" then chased one victim outside and battered him and the woman.Police arrested Cornelius Lee Sisson, 37, and Kenneth Durell Dotson, 38, both of Manhattan.Sisson was jailed on requested charges that include two counts of battery, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, aggravated burglary, and criminal threat, he remains confined in the Riley County Jail on a $30,000 bond.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632060646160.png" alt="Dotson from an earlier arrest in Geary Co." />
 <figcaption>Dotson from an earlier arrest in Geary Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Dotson was arrested on a requested charge of domestic battery, battery, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, violation of a protection order, and aggravated burglary, he remains confined in the Riley County Jail on a $24,000 bond, according to the RCPD.

Suspects battered victims during Kan. Dairy Queen break-in

KANSAS CITY(AP) — A Kansas City-area man has been charged in connection with a shooting that was initially reported as a suicide.

The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office said Saturday that 36-year-old Myles Blesz of Independence, Mo.,&nbsp; has been charged with second-degree murder and several other charges in the death of Waylon Williams on Oct. 5.

A friend told police that Williams had shot himself when his body was found that morning.

But detectives who searched the area found two guns and Williams' cell phone in the woods, and shell casings in the home where Williams was found matched one of the guns.

According to court records, a neighbor reported hearing an argument before hearing gunshots. A witness told police he helped Blesz hide the guns in the woods. And court documents say Blesz later told detectives that he shot Williams but he didn’t mean to do it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633913953139.png" alt="Blesz photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Blesz photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — A Kansas City-area man has been charged in connection with a shooting that was initially reported as a suicide.The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office said Saturday that 36-year-old Myles Blesz of Independence, Mo.,&nbsp; has been charged with second-degree murder and several other charges in the death of Waylon Williams on Oct. 5.A friend told police that Williams had shot himself when his body was found that morning.But detectives who searched the area found two guns and Williams' cell phone in the woods, and shell casings in the home where Williams was found matched one of the guns.According to court records, a neighbor reported hearing an argument before hearing gunshots. A witness told police he helped Blesz hide the guns in the woods. And court documents say Blesz later told detectives that he shot Williams but he didn’t mean to do it.

KC-area man charged in shooting first reported as suicide

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines canceled several hundred more flights Monday following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-travel-8abd4e0541a0a2d6d58f99cc62209a37">weekend of major disruptions</a>&nbsp;that it blamed on bad weather and air traffic control issues. The company and the pilots union said the cancellations were not in response to the airline’s decision to mandate vaccinations.

Southwest canceled more than 360 flights — 10% of its schedule for the day — on Monday, and more than 1,000 others were delayed, according to the FlightAware tracking service.

Shares of Southwest Airlines Co. briefly fell more than 4% before a partial recovery; they were down 3% by afternoon.

The third straight day of large-scale cancellations left thousands of passengers stranded and upset.

“My concern is we had no explanation really that was, I feel, very legitimate or believable,” said Brian Gesch of Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, who was traveling through Reagan Washington National Airport with his wife. He doubted that weather and air traffic controllers were the real issue. “So we are frustrated and missing a day of work.”

Some were less concerned about the cause than just getting home.

“I’m not sure what’s going on,” said Sean Merrell of Frisco, Texas, “but as long as I can get back to Dallas, it’s all that matters to me.”

The widespread disruptions began shortly after the union for Southwest’s 9,000 pilots asked a federal court on Friday to block the airline’s order that all employees get vaccinated against COVID-19. The union said it doesn’t oppose vaccination, but it argued in its filing that Southwest must negotiate before taking such a step.

Pilots are not conducting a sickout or slowdown to protest the vaccine mandate, according to the union, which said it “has not authorized, and will not condone, any job action.”

The pilots association offered another explanation: It said Southwest’s operation “has become brittle and subject to massive failures under the slightest pressure” because of a lack of support from the company. The union complained about the “already strained relationship” between it and the company.

Airlines persuaded thousands of workers to take leaves of absence during the pandemic. Unions at Southwest and American have argued that management was too slow to bring pilots back, leaving them short-handed.

Alan Kasher, Southwest’s executive vice president of daily operations, said the airline was staffed for the weekend but got tripped up by air-traffic control issues and bad weather in Florida and couldn’t recover quickly. Because of cutbacks during the pandemic, he noted the airline has fewer flights to accommodate stranded passengers.

“The weekend challenges were not a result of Southwest employee demonstrations,” said airline spokesman Chris Mainz.

The White House has pushed airlines to adopt vaccine mandates because they are federal contractors — they get paid by the Defense Department to operate flights, including those that carried Afghanistan refugees to the U.S. this summer.

United Airlines was the first major U.S. carrier to announce a vaccination requirement. Southwest had remained silent even after President Joe Biden announced his order for federal contractors and large employers. Finally last week, Southwest told employees they must be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8 to keep their jobs. Workers can ask to skip the shots for medical or religious reasons.

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged delays in part of Florida on Friday but pushed back against Southwest’s air-traffic control explanation. The FAA said Sunday that “some airlines” were experiencing problems because of planes and crews being out of position. Southwest was the only airline to report such a large percentage of canceled and delayed flights over the weekend.

Savanthi Syth, an airlines analyst for Raymond James, said the weekend problems will increase Southwest’ costs and worsen the company’s strained relations with unions.

Southwest has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-9fd5b2b67c316107f9345f3366554335">struggled all summer</a>&nbsp;with high numbers of delayed and canceled flights. In August, it announced it was trimming its September schedule by 27 flights a day, or less than 1%, and 162 flights a day, or 4.5% of the schedule, from early October through Nov. 5.

NEW YORK (AP) —Southwest Airlines canceled hundreds more flights Monday following a weekend of major service disruptions. According to Flightaware, the carrier has cancelled 348 flights Monday and delayed another 271 flights.  

The airline canceled more than 1,000 flights in total, or 29% of its schedule, as of 7 p.m. ET Sunday, according to flight tracker FlightAware. That was the highest rate by far of the major U.S. airlines. Next in line was Allegiant, which canceled 6% of its flights. American Airlines canceled 5% of its flights, while Spirit canceled 4% on Sunday, according to the flight tracker. On Saturday, Southwest Airlines canceled more than 800 flights.

Southwest Airlines said in an emailed statement that it had experienced weather challenges in its Florida airports at the beginning of the weekend, which were compounded by unexpected air traffic control issues in the same region. Those issues triggered delays and prompted significant cancellations for the airlines beginning Friday evening.

“We’ve continued diligent work throughout the weekend to reset our operation with a focus on getting aircraft and crews repositioned to take care of our customers,” said Southwest Airlines. “With fewer frequencies between cities in our current schedule, recovering during operational challenges is more difficult and prolonged.”

The company said that it’s allowing customers to explore self-service rebooking options on Southwest.com, where they can get updates on the status of their travel.

However, Henry H. Harteveldt, president and travel industry analyst at The Atmosphere Research Group, based in San Francisco, points to other causes for the cancellations.

First, he says Southwest has scheduled more flights than it can handle, a problem that started in June. He also noted that Southwest operates what’s known as a point-to-point route network, and when a delay occurs, it “cascades” along the remaining flight segments. That’s because, for example, a Southwest flight departing Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the airline’s home base of Dallas may make multiple stops along the way.

But Harteveldt says the most troubling reason is the likelihood that some pilots who oppose Southwest’s decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations are participating in an illegal job action where they call in sick or are engaging in a “work slowdown.”

In a statement Saturday, the airline’s pilot union, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, said that’s not the case.

“SWAPA is aware of operational difficulties affecting Southwest Airlines today due to a number of issues, but we can say with confidence that our pilots are not participating in any official or unofficial job actions,” it said.

Harteveldt noted Southwest’s woes could linger and affect its fourth quarter financial performance.

“All of this is happening as people are in the midst of booking their Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year holiday travel,” he said. “It’s very possible that some people who might normally book on Southwest may see this news and choose to fly other airlines.”

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines canceled several hundred more flights Monday following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-travel-8abd4e0541a0a2d6d58f99cc62209a37">weekend of major disruptions</a>&nbsp;that it blamed on bad weather and air traffic control issues. The company and the pilots union said the cancellations were not in response to the airline’s decision to mandate vaccinations.Southwest canceled more than 360 flights — 10% of its schedule for the day — on Monday, and more than 1,000 others were delayed, according to the FlightAware tracking service.Shares of Southwest Airlines Co. briefly fell more than 4% before a partial recovery; they were down 3% by afternoon.The third straight day of large-scale cancellations left thousands of passengers stranded and upset.“My concern is we had no explanation really that was, I feel, very legitimate or believable,” said Brian Gesch of Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, who was traveling through Reagan Washington National Airport with his wife. He doubted that weather and air traffic controllers were the real issue. “So we are frustrated and missing a day of work.”Some were less concerned about the cause than just getting home.“I’m not sure what’s going on,” said Sean Merrell of Frisco, Texas, “but as long as I can get back to Dallas, it’s all that matters to me.”The widespread disruptions began shortly after the union for Southwest’s 9,000 pilots asked a federal court on Friday to block the airline’s order that all employees get vaccinated against COVID-19. The union said it doesn’t oppose vaccination, but it argued in its filing that Southwest must negotiate before taking such a step.Pilots are not conducting a sickout or slowdown to protest the vaccine mandate, according to the union, which said it “has not authorized, and will not condone, any job action.”The pilots association offered another explanation: It said Southwest’s operation “has become brittle and subject to massive failures under the slightest pressure” because of a lack of support from the company. The union complained about the “already strained relationship” between it and the company.Airlines persuaded thousands of workers to take leaves of absence during the pandemic. Unions at Southwest and American have argued that management was too slow to bring pilots back, leaving them short-handed.Alan Kasher, Southwest’s executive vice president of daily operations, said the airline was staffed for the weekend but got tripped up by air-traffic control issues and bad weather in Florida and couldn’t recover quickly. Because of cutbacks during the pandemic, he noted the airline has fewer flights to accommodate stranded passengers.“The weekend challenges were not a result of Southwest employee demonstrations,” said airline spokesman Chris Mainz.The White House has pushed airlines to adopt vaccine mandates because they are federal contractors — they get paid by the Defense Department to operate flights, including those that carried Afghanistan refugees to the U.S. this summer.United Airlines was the first major U.S. carrier to announce a vaccination requirement. Southwest had remained silent even after President Joe Biden announced his order for federal contractors and large employers. Finally last week, Southwest told employees they must be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8 to keep their jobs. Workers can ask to skip the shots for medical or religious reasons.Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged delays in part of Florida on Friday but pushed back against Southwest’s air-traffic control explanation. The FAA said Sunday that “some airlines” were experiencing problems because of planes and crews being out of position. Southwest was the only airline to report such a large percentage of canceled and delayed flights over the weekend.Savanthi Syth, an airlines analyst for Raymond James, said the weekend problems will increase Southwest’ costs and worsen the company’s strained relations with unions.Southwest has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-9fd5b2b67c316107f9345f3366554335">struggled all summer</a>&nbsp;with high numbers of delayed and canceled flights. In August, it announced it was trimming its September schedule by 27 flights a day, or less than 1%, and 162 flights a day, or 4.5% of the schedule, from early October through Nov. 5.___NEW YORK (AP) —Southwest Airlines canceled hundreds more flights Monday following a weekend of major service disruptions. According to Flightaware, the carrier has cancelled 348 flights Monday and delayed another 271 flights. The airline canceled more than 1,000 flights in total, or 29% of its schedule, as of 7 p.m. ET Sunday, according to flight tracker FlightAware. That was the highest rate by far of the major U.S. airlines. Next in line was Allegiant, which canceled 6% of its flights. American Airlines canceled 5% of its flights, while Spirit canceled 4% on Sunday, according to the flight tracker. On Saturday, Southwest Airlines canceled more than 800 flights.Southwest Airlines said in an emailed statement that it had experienced weather challenges in its Florida airports at the beginning of the weekend, which were compounded by unexpected air traffic control issues in the same region. Those issues triggered delays and prompted significant cancellations for the airlines beginning Friday evening.“We’ve continued diligent work throughout the weekend to reset our operation with a focus on getting aircraft and crews repositioned to take care of our customers,” said Southwest Airlines. “With fewer frequencies between cities in our current schedule, recovering during operational challenges is more difficult and prolonged.”The company said that it’s allowing customers to explore self-service rebooking options on Southwest.com, where they can get updates on the status of their travel.However, Henry H. Harteveldt, president and travel industry analyst at The Atmosphere Research Group, based in San Francisco, points to other causes for the cancellations.First, he says Southwest has scheduled more flights than it can handle, a problem that started in June. He also noted that Southwest operates what’s known as a point-to-point route network, and when a delay occurs, it “cascades” along the remaining flight segments. That’s because, for example, a Southwest flight departing Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the airline’s home base of Dallas may make multiple stops along the way.But Harteveldt says the most troubling reason is the likelihood that some pilots who oppose Southwest’s decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations are participating in an illegal job action where they call in sick or are engaging in a “work slowdown.”In a statement Saturday, the airline’s pilot union, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, said that’s not the case.“SWAPA is aware of operational difficulties affecting Southwest Airlines today due to a number of issues, but we can say with confidence that our pilots are not participating in any official or unofficial job actions,” it said.Harteveldt noted Southwest’s woes could linger and affect its fourth quarter financial performance.“All of this is happening as people are in the midst of booking their Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year holiday travel,” he said. “It’s very possible that some people who might normally book on Southwest may see this news and choose to fly other airlines.”

Thousands stranded as Southwest cancels more flights amid vaccine mandate

MANHATTAN — Authorities are working to determine the cause of an apartment fire in Manhattan.

Just before 2:30p.m. on Monday, fire crews were dispatched to 1300 Marlatt Avenue Apartment #501 in Manhattan for a report of a fire, according Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes.

Upon arrival, crews found a two-story apartment building with a fire on the first floor. Fire crews quickly entered the apartment, attacked the fire, and searched the building.&nbsp; The fire was extinguished within 5 minutes. The residents were not home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.&nbsp; The building is a two-story, eight-unit apartment building. Loss is estimated at $15,000 to contents and $25,000 to the structure, according to Almes. The two residents of the fire apartment were displaced.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633987108658.png" alt="Photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Dept.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Dept.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — Authorities are working to determine the cause of an apartment fire in Manhattan.Just before 2:30p.m. on Monday, fire crews were dispatched to 1300 Marlatt Avenue Apartment #501 in Manhattan for a report of a fire, according Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Almes. Upon arrival, crews found a two-story apartment building with a fire on the first floor. Fire crews quickly entered the apartment, attacked the fire, and searched the building.&nbsp; The fire was extinguished within 5 minutes. The residents were not home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.&nbsp; The building is a two-story, eight-unit apartment building. Loss is estimated at $15,000 to contents and $25,000 to the structure, according to Almes. The two residents of the fire apartment were displaced.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cause of $25K Kansas apartment fire under investigation

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A pedestrian from Kansas is dead after being struck by two hit-and-run drivers near Arrowhead Stadium as the man was leaving the Kansas City Chiefs game.

Police are searching for the drivers who fled the scene Sunday night. The victim was 66-year-old Steven Hickle of Wichita, Kansas. The accident happened shortly after 10 p.m. near East 43rd Street and Blue Ridge Cutoff as the Chiefs were playing Buffalo in a game won by the Bills 38-20.

Police say Hickle and another person left the game early, so traffic crews were not yet on the scene to assist with exiting. The second person was not struck.

A news release from police said Hickle was struck by a vehicle and while lying in the roadway was run over by a second vehicle. He died at a hospital.

Police are searching for the drivers who fled the scene Sunday night. The victim was a 66-year-old man from Wichita, Kansas. The accident happened shortly after 10 p.m. near East 43rd Street and Blue Ridge Cutoff as the Chiefs were playing Buffalo in a game won by the Bills 38-20.

Police say the man and another person left the game early, so traffic crews were not yet on the scene to assist with exiting. The second person was not struck.

A news release from police said the victim was struck by a vehicle and while lying in the roadway was run over by a second vehicle. The man died at a hospital.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A pedestrian from Kansas is dead after being struck by two hit-and-run drivers near Arrowhead Stadium as the man was leaving the Kansas City Chiefs game.Police are searching for the drivers who fled the scene Sunday night. The victim was 66-year-old Steven Hickle of Wichita, Kansas. The accident happened shortly after 10 p.m. near East 43rd Street and Blue Ridge Cutoff as the Chiefs were playing Buffalo in a game won by the Bills 38-20.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I extend my deepest sympathies to the family of the Wichita man killed after being hit by two separate hit-and-run drivers near Arrowhead Stadium last night. We will find the assailants, but I also hope all remember to look out for others and be responsible when leaving games.&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1447601237852098564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Police say Hickle and another person left the game early, so traffic crews were not yet on the scene to assist with exiting. The second person was not struck.A news release from police said Hickle was struck by a vehicle and while lying in the roadway was run over by a second vehicle. He died at a hospital.----------KANSAS CITY (AP) — A pedestrian from Kansas is dead after being struck by two hit-and-run drivers near Arrowhead Stadium as the man was leaving the Kansas City Chiefs game.Police are searching for the drivers who fled the scene Sunday night. The victim was a 66-year-old man from Wichita, Kansas. The accident happened shortly after 10 p.m. near East 43rd Street and Blue Ridge Cutoff as the Chiefs were playing Buffalo in a game won by the Bills 38-20.Police say the man and another person left the game early, so traffic crews were not yet on the scene to assist with exiting. The second person was not struck.A news release from police said the victim was struck by a vehicle and while lying in the roadway was run over by a second vehicle. The man died at a hospital.

Police ID Kan. man who died after hit-and-run near Arrowhead Stadium 

BARTON COUNTY —Law eneorcement authorities investigating a fatal arson fire in Great Bend have identified the victim as 59-year-old Teresa Dutton, according to a media release from police

Just after 7 a.m. Friday, the Great Bend Fire Department and Great Bend Police Department responded to a residence located in the 2800 block of 29th Street in Great Bend, in reference to a structure fire.

Upon arrival at the residence, members of the Great Bend Fire Department located a Dutton's body inside of the residence and life saving measures were performed. Dutton was pronounced dead at the scene and during a preliminary investigation of the incident, arson was determined to be the cause of the fire. Investigators also determined that the Dutton's death was the result of foul play.

Around 7:19 a.m., the Great Bend Police Department responded to a residence in the 1500 block of Adams Street in reference to an aggravated burglary and battery related to the arson / homicide investigation.

The suspect left that area on foot and at approximately 8:12 a.m. was reported to be at Park Elementary School, 1801 Williams Street.&nbsp; Police officers located the suspect identified as Lyndsay George, in the 2000 Block of 19th Street.

After a physical altercation with police officers, George was arrested. After further investigation and interviews, George was booked into the Barton County jail on requested charges of murder in the 1st degree, aggravated arson, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, aggravated burglary, battery and criminal trespass.

During the course of the investigation, members of the Great Bend Police Department, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Barton County Sheriff's Office, the Kansas Fire Marshal's Office and the A.T.F. obtained and executed search warrants in the 2800 block of 29th Street and at the Traveler's Budget Inn located at 4200 10th Street in Great Bend.

During the execution and thorough search of those locations, items of evidence were located and seized.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633782279715.png" alt="Lyndsay George-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Lyndsay George-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law eneorcement authorities investigating a fatal arson fire in Great Bend have identified the victim as 59-year-old Teresa Dutton, according to a media release from policeJust after 7 a.m. Friday, the Great Bend Fire Department and Great Bend Police Department responded to a residence located in the 2800 block of 29th Street in Great Bend, in reference to a structure fire.Upon arrival at the residence, members of the Great Bend Fire Department located a Dutton's body inside of the residence and life saving measures were performed. Dutton was pronounced dead at the scene and during a preliminary investigation of the incident, arson was determined to be the cause of the fire. Investigators also determined that the Dutton's death was the result of foul play.Around 7:19 a.m., the Great Bend Police Department responded to a residence in the 1500 block of Adams Street in reference to an aggravated burglary and battery related to the arson / homicide investigation.The suspect left that area on foot and at approximately 8:12 a.m. was reported to be at Park Elementary School, 1801 Williams Street.&nbsp; Police officers located the suspect identified as Lyndsay George, in the 2000 Block of 19th Street.After a physical altercation with police officers, George was arrested. After further investigation and interviews, George was booked into the Barton County jail on requested charges of murder in the 1st degree, aggravated arson, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, aggravated burglary, battery and criminal trespass.During the course of the investigation, members of the Great Bend Police Department, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Barton County Sheriff's Office, the Kansas Fire Marshal's Office and the A.T.F. obtained and executed search warrants in the 2800 block of 29th Street and at the Traveler's Budget Inn located at 4200 10th Street in Great Bend.During the execution and thorough search of those locations, items of evidence were located and seized.&nbsp;

Police ID 59-year-old Kan. woman who died in alleged arson fire

NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook, in the aftermath of damning testimony that its platforms harm children, will be introducing several features including prompting teens to take a break using its photo sharing app Instagram, and “nudging” teens if they are repeatedly looking at the same content that’s not conducive to their well-being.

The Menlo Park, California-based Facebook is also planning to introduce new controls for adults of teens on an optional basis so that parents or guardians can supervise what their teens are doing online. These initiatives come after Facebook announced late last month that it was pausing work on its Instagram for Kids project. But critics say the plan lacks details and they are skeptical that the new features would be effective.

The new controls were outlined on Sunday by Nick Clegg, Facebook’s vice president for global affairs, who made the rounds on various Sunday news shows including CNN’s “State of the Union” and ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” where he was grilled about Facebook’s use of algorithms as well as its role in spreading harmful misinformation ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

“We are constantly iterating in order to improve our products,” Clegg told Dana Bash on “State of the Union” Sunday. “We cannot, with a wave of the wand, make everyone’s life perfect. What we can do is improve our products, so that our products are as safe and as enjoyable to use.”

Clegg said that Facebook has invested $13 billion over the past few years in making sure to keep the platform safe and that the company has 40,000 people working on these issues. And while Clegg said that Facebook has done its best to keep harmful content out of its platforms, he says he was open for more regulation and oversight.

“We need greater transparency,” he told CNN’s Bash. He noted that the systems that Facebook has in place should be held to account, if necessary, by regulation so that “people can match what our systems say they’re supposed to do from what actually happens.”

The flurry of interviews came after whistleblower Frances Haugen, a former data scientist with Facebook,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-haugen-congress-testimony-1daac7a76ca7bf0b0802cc46e732b51b">went before Congress last week to accuse the social media platform</a>&nbsp;of failing to make changes to Instagram after internal research showed apparent harm to some teens and of being dishonest in its public fight against hate and misinformation. Haugen’s accusations were supported by tens of thousands of pages of internal research documents she secretly copied before leaving her job in the company’s civic integrity unit.

Josh Golin, executive director of Fairplay, a watchdog for the children and media marketing industry, said that he doesn’t think introducing controls to help parents supervise teens would be effective since many teens set up secret accounts any way. He was also dubious about how effective nudging teens to take a break or move away from harmful content would be. He noted Facebook needs to show exactly how they would implement it and offer research that shows these tools are effective.

“There is tremendous reason to be skeptical,” he said. He added that regulators need to restrict what Facebook does with its algorithms.

He said he also believes that Facebook should cancel its Instagram project for kids.

When Clegg was grilled by both Bash and Stephanopoulos in separate interviews about the use of algorithms in amplifying misinformation ahead of Jan. 6 riots, he responded that if Facebook removed the algorithms people would see more, not less hate speech, and more, not less, misinformation.

Clegg told both hosts that the algorithms serve as “giant spam filters.”

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who chairs the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, told Bash in a separate interview Sunday that it’s time to update children’s privacy laws and offer more transparency in the use of algorithms.

“I appreciate that he is willing to talk about things, but I believe the time for conversation is done,” said Klobuchar, referring to Clegg’s plan. “The time for action is now.”

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578090484280.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook, in the aftermath of damning testimony that its platforms harm children, will be introducing several features including prompting teens to take a break using its photo sharing app Instagram, and “nudging” teens if they are repeatedly looking at the same content that’s not conducive to their well-being.The Menlo Park, California-based Facebook is also planning to introduce new controls for adults of teens on an optional basis so that parents or guardians can supervise what their teens are doing online. These initiatives come after Facebook announced late last month that it was pausing work on its Instagram for Kids project. But critics say the plan lacks details and they are skeptical that the new features would be effective.The new controls were outlined on Sunday by Nick Clegg, Facebook’s vice president for global affairs, who made the rounds on various Sunday news shows including CNN’s “State of the Union” and ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” where he was grilled about Facebook’s use of algorithms as well as its role in spreading harmful misinformation ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.“We are constantly iterating in order to improve our products,” Clegg told Dana Bash on “State of the Union” Sunday. “We cannot, with a wave of the wand, make everyone’s life perfect. What we can do is improve our products, so that our products are as safe and as enjoyable to use.”Clegg said that Facebook has invested $13 billion over the past few years in making sure to keep the platform safe and that the company has 40,000 people working on these issues. And while Clegg said that Facebook has done its best to keep harmful content out of its platforms, he says he was open for more regulation and oversight.“We need greater transparency,” he told CNN’s Bash. He noted that the systems that Facebook has in place should be held to account, if necessary, by regulation so that “people can match what our systems say they’re supposed to do from what actually happens.”The flurry of interviews came after whistleblower Frances Haugen, a former data scientist with Facebook,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-haugen-congress-testimony-1daac7a76ca7bf0b0802cc46e732b51b">went before Congress last week to accuse the social media platform</a>&nbsp;of failing to make changes to Instagram after internal research showed apparent harm to some teens and of being dishonest in its public fight against hate and misinformation. Haugen’s accusations were supported by tens of thousands of pages of internal research documents she secretly copied before leaving her job in the company’s civic integrity unit.Josh Golin, executive director of Fairplay, a watchdog for the children and media marketing industry, said that he doesn’t think introducing controls to help parents supervise teens would be effective since many teens set up secret accounts any way. He was also dubious about how effective nudging teens to take a break or move away from harmful content would be. He noted Facebook needs to show exactly how they would implement it and offer research that shows these tools are effective.“There is tremendous reason to be skeptical,” he said. He added that regulators need to restrict what Facebook does with its algorithms.He said he also believes that Facebook should cancel its Instagram project for kids.When Clegg was grilled by both Bash and Stephanopoulos in separate interviews about the use of algorithms in amplifying misinformation ahead of Jan. 6 riots, he responded that if Facebook removed the algorithms people would see more, not less hate speech, and more, not less, misinformation.Clegg told both hosts that the algorithms serve as “giant spam filters.”Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who chairs the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, told Bash in a separate interview Sunday that it’s time to update children’s privacy laws and offer more transparency in the use of algorithms.“I appreciate that he is willing to talk about things, but I believe the time for conversation is done,” said Klobuchar, referring to Clegg’s plan. “The time for action is now.”_____

Facebook unveils new controls for kids using its platforms

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 1699 to a total of 419,341, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 15 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6142.

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

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

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 1699 to a total of 419,341, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 15 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6142.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633972708449.png" alt="Monday Oct. 11, 2021-KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday Oct. 11, 2021-KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: Latest COVID-19 numbers in Kansas

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.

Just after 8:30 p.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies responded to a location just south of Great Bend to investigate a reported sex offense involving a juvenile, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

On Sunday afternoon, deputies arrested 33-year-old Gary Smith, of Great Bend on requested charges of rape and aggravated criminal sodomy. He is being held on a&nbsp;$1 million bond, according to Bellendir.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633969738177.png" alt="Smith-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.Just after 8:30 p.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies responded to a location just south of Great Bend to investigate a reported sex offense involving a juvenile, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.On Sunday afternoon, deputies arrested 33-year-old Gary Smith, of Great Bend on requested charges of rape and aggravated criminal sodomy. He is being held on a&nbsp;$1 million bond, according to Bellendir.

Sheriff: Kansas man jailed for alleged child sex crimes

WASHINGTON (AP) — Drugmaker Merck asked U.S. regulators Monday to authorize its pill against COVID-19 in what would add an entirely new and easy-to-use weapon to the world’s arsenal against the pandemic.

If cleared by the Food and Drug Administration — a decision that could come in a matter of weeks — it would be the first pill shown to treat COVID-19. All other FDA-backed treatments against the disease require an IV or injection.

An antiviral pill that people could take at home to reduce their symptoms and speed recovery could prove groundbreaking, easing the crushing caseload on U.S. hospitals and helping to curb outbreaks in poorer countries with weak health care systems. It would also bolster the two-pronged approach to the pandemic: treatment, by way of medication, and prevention, primarily through vaccinations.

The FDA will scrutinize company data on the safety and effectiveness of the drug, molnupiravir, before rendering a decision.

Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutic said they specifically asked the agency to grant emergency use for adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at risk for severe disease or hospitalization. That is roughly the way COVID-19 infusion drugs are used.

“The value here is that it’s a pill so you don’t have to deal with the infusion centers and all the factors around that,” said Dr. Nicholas Kartsonis, a senior vice president with Merck’s infectious disease unit. “I think it’s a very powerful tool to add to the toolbox.”

The company reported earlier this month that the pill cut hospitalizations and deaths by half among patients with early symptoms of COVID-19. The results were so strong that independent medical experts monitoring the trial recommended stopping it early.

Side effects were similar between patients who got the drug and those in a testing group who received a dummy pill. But Merck has not publicly detailed the types of problems reported, which will be a key part of the FDA’s review.

Top U.S. health officials continue to push vaccinations as the best way to protect against COVID-19.

“It’s much, much better to prevent yourself from getting infected than to have to treat an infection,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said while discussing Merck’s drug last week.

Still, some 68 million eligible Americans remain unvaccinated, underscoring the need for effective drugs to control future waves of infection.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, health experts have stressed the need for a convenient pill. The goal is for something similar to Tamiflu, the 20-year-old flu medication that shortens the illness by a day or two and blunts the severity of symptoms like fever, cough and stuffy nose.

Three FDA-authorized antibody drugs have proved highly effective at reducing COVID-19 deaths, but they are expensive, hard to produce and require specialty equipment and health professionals to deliver.

Assuming FDA authorization, the U.S. government has agreed to buy enough of the pills to treat 1.7 million people, at a price of roughly $700 for each course of treatment. That’s less than half the price of the antibody drugs purchased by the U.S. government — over $2,000 per infusion — but still more expensive than many antiviral pills for other conditions.

Merck’s Kartsonis said in an interview that the $700 figure does not represent the final price for the medication.

“We set that price before we had any data, so that’s just one contract,” Kartsonis said. “Obviously we’re going to be responsible about this and make this drug as accessible to as many people around the world as we can.”

Kenilworth, New Jersey-based Merck has said it is in purchase talks with governments around the world and will use a sliding price scale based on each country’s economic means. Also, the company has signed licensing deals with several Indian generic drugmakers to produce low-cost versions of the drug for lower-income countries.

Several other companies, including Pfizer and Roche, are studying similar drugs and are expected to report results in the coming weeks and months. AstraZeneca is also seeking FDA authorization for a long-acting antibody drug intended to provide months of protection for patients who have immune-system disorders and do not adequately respond to vaccination.

Eventually some experts predict various COVID-19 therapies will be prescribed in combination to better protect against the worst effects of the virus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633958564035.png" alt="Photo courtesy Merck" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Merck</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Drugmaker Merck asked U.S. regulators Monday to authorize its pill against COVID-19 in what would add an entirely new and easy-to-use weapon to the world’s arsenal against the pandemic.If cleared by the Food and Drug Administration — a decision that could come in a matter of weeks — it would be the first pill shown to treat COVID-19. All other FDA-backed treatments against the disease require an IV or injection.An antiviral pill that people could take at home to reduce their symptoms and speed recovery could prove groundbreaking, easing the crushing caseload on U.S. hospitals and helping to curb outbreaks in poorer countries with weak health care systems. It would also bolster the two-pronged approach to the pandemic: treatment, by way of medication, and prevention, primarily through vaccinations.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, we submitted an Emergency Use Authorization application to the U.S. FDA for our investigational <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/antiviral?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#antiviral</a> treatment. Read about today’s milestone: <a href="https://t.co/BHPzfkSw4K">https://t.co/BHPzfkSw4K</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24MRK&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$MRK</a> <a href="https://t.co/y5WdTQnyHL">pic.twitter.com/y5WdTQnyHL</a>&mdash; Merck (@Merck) <a href="https://twitter.com/Merck/status/1447502809679679489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The FDA will scrutinize company data on the safety and effectiveness of the drug, molnupiravir, before rendering a decision.Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutic said they specifically asked the agency to grant emergency use for adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at risk for severe disease or hospitalization. That is roughly the way COVID-19 infusion drugs are used.“The value here is that it’s a pill so you don’t have to deal with the infusion centers and all the factors around that,” said Dr. Nicholas Kartsonis, a senior vice president with Merck’s infectious disease unit. “I think it’s a very powerful tool to add to the toolbox.”The company reported earlier this month that the pill cut hospitalizations and deaths by half among patients with early symptoms of COVID-19. The results were so strong that independent medical experts monitoring the trial recommended stopping it early.Side effects were similar between patients who got the drug and those in a testing group who received a dummy pill. But Merck has not publicly detailed the types of problems reported, which will be a key part of the FDA’s review.Top U.S. health officials continue to push vaccinations as the best way to protect against COVID-19.“It’s much, much better to prevent yourself from getting infected than to have to treat an infection,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said while discussing Merck’s drug last week.Still, some 68 million eligible Americans remain unvaccinated, underscoring the need for effective drugs to control future waves of infection.Since the beginning of the pandemic, health experts have stressed the need for a convenient pill. The goal is for something similar to Tamiflu, the 20-year-old flu medication that shortens the illness by a day or two and blunts the severity of symptoms like fever, cough and stuffy nose.Three FDA-authorized antibody drugs have proved highly effective at reducing COVID-19 deaths, but they are expensive, hard to produce and require specialty equipment and health professionals to deliver.Assuming FDA authorization, the U.S. government has agreed to buy enough of the pills to treat 1.7 million people, at a price of roughly $700 for each course of treatment. That’s less than half the price of the antibody drugs purchased by the U.S. government — over $2,000 per infusion — but still more expensive than many antiviral pills for other conditions.Merck’s Kartsonis said in an interview that the $700 figure does not represent the final price for the medication.“We set that price before we had any data, so that’s just one contract,” Kartsonis said. “Obviously we’re going to be responsible about this and make this drug as accessible to as many people around the world as we can.”Kenilworth, New Jersey-based Merck has said it is in purchase talks with governments around the world and will use a sliding price scale based on each country’s economic means. Also, the company has signed licensing deals with several Indian generic drugmakers to produce low-cost versions of the drug for lower-income countries.Several other companies, including Pfizer and Roche, are studying similar drugs and are expected to report results in the coming weeks and months. AstraZeneca is also seeking FDA authorization for a long-acting antibody drug intended to provide months of protection for patients who have immune-system disorders and do not adequately respond to vaccination.Eventually some experts predict various COVID-19 therapies will be prescribed in combination to better protect against the worst effects of the virus.___

FDA asked to authorize first pill shown to treat COVID-19

JACKSON COUNTY (AP) — An 8-year-old boy has died in an accidental shooting in suburban Kansas City over the weekend, police said.

Police in Independence said the shooting happened early Saturday morning when officer were called to a home for reports of a shooting. Arriving officers found the boy shot and later reported that the child had died of his injuries.

Police have not released the boy’s name or any details about the shooting, other than to say it appeared to have been accidental.

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that injured a juvenile.

On Saturday morning, police responded to&nbsp;the scene of a shooting in the 1200 Block of N. Liberty in Independence, according to the police department.

Initial reports are there is one juvenile victim and it it is believed to be accidental at this time.

Police released no additional details. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

JACKSON COUNTY (AP) — An 8-year-old boy has died in an accidental shooting in suburban Kansas City over the weekend, police said.Police in Independence said the shooting happened early Saturday morning when officer were called to a home for reports of a shooting. Arriving officers found the boy shot and later reported that the child had died of his injuries.Police have not released the boy’s name or any details about the shooting, other than to say it appeared to have been accidental.---------JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that injured a juvenile.On Saturday morning, police responded to&nbsp;the scene of a shooting in the 1200 Block of N. Liberty in Independence, according to the police department.Initial reports are there is one juvenile victim and it it is believed to be accidental at this time.Police released no additional details. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

Update: Kansas City-area boy dies after accidental shooting 

COWETA, Okla. (AP) — Several reported tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma late Sunday into early Monday morning, causing damage but no immediate word of deaths or injuries.

The severe weather system also brought heavy rain, lightning and wind to parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Texas.

Tornado warnings and reports of damage popped up across Oklahoma beginning Sunday afternoon. An exact number of tornadoes that touched down was not yet available as of early Monday.

A possible tornado struck the Tulsa suburb of Coweta late Sunday causing significant damage to a high school, homes and a gas station, news outlets reported.

A hail storm earlier in the evening shattered windows and dented cars in Norman, according to news outlets. Norman is located about 20 miles&nbsp; south of Oklahoma City.

No deaths or injuries were immediately reported.

Oklahoma Gas &amp; Electric said in a statement that crews were actively working to restore power outages.

Lightning that appeared to be from the same line of storms delayed an NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and the Chiefs in Kansas City, Missouri, for about an hour Sunday night.

COWETA, Okla. (AP) — Several reported tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma late Sunday into early Monday morning, causing damage but no immediate word of deaths or injuries.The severe weather system also brought heavy rain, lightning and wind to parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Texas.Tornado warnings and reports of damage popped up across Oklahoma beginning Sunday afternoon. An exact number of tornadoes that touched down was not yet available as of early Monday.A possible tornado struck the Tulsa suburb of Coweta late Sunday causing significant damage to a high school, homes and a gas station, news outlets reported.A hail storm earlier in the evening shattered windows and dented cars in Norman, according to news outlets. Norman is located about 20 miles&nbsp; south of Oklahoma City.No deaths or injuries were immediately reported.Oklahoma Gas &amp; Electric said in a statement that crews were actively working to restore power outages.Lightning that appeared to be from the same line of storms delayed an NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and the Chiefs in Kansas City, Missouri, for about an hour Sunday night.

Tornadoes cause damage as storms rock central US

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged abuse that led to the death of a child.

Just after 3 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a home in the 800 block of South Mission in Wichita after report o an infant not breathing, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers located 1-year-old Myonna Townley in critical condition. EMS transported her an area hospital for medical treatment where she succumbed to her injuries. Townley was also found to have trauma on her body, according to Davidson.

Interviews and the examination of evidence led to the arrest of the girl's 27-year-old mother Neriah Dilley of Wichita on requested charges of felony murder and child abuse. She is being <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18813826">held on a $250,000 bond,</a> according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633901481923.png" alt="Dilley photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Dilley photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged abuse that led to the death of a child.Just after 3 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a home in the 800 block of South Mission in Wichita after report o an infant not breathing, according to Officer Charley Davidson.Upon arrival, officers located 1-year-old Myonna Townley in critical condition. EMS transported her an area hospital for medical treatment where she succumbed to her injuries. Townley was also found to have trauma on her body, according to Davidson.Interviews and the examination of evidence led to the arrest of the girl's 27-year-old mother Neriah Dilley of Wichita on requested charges of felony murder and child abuse. She is being <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18813826">held on a $250,000 bond,</a> according to online jail records.

Kan. mother accused in the abuse death her 1-year-old

MARION COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just before 5p.m. Sunday on U.S. 50 near Old Mill Road in Marion County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Chevy Silverado driven by Luke Richmeier, 18, Wichita, and a 2018 Ford Escape driven by&nbsp; Latricia A. Phillips, 49, were involved in the crash.

Phillips and a passenger in the Ford identified as Angela M. Daniels, 49, Wichita, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to&nbsp;Yazel-Megli Funeral Home in Marion. 

EMS transported Richmeier to Newton Medical Center and a second passenger in the Ford Korey R. Woods, 36, Wichita, to KU Medical Center.

The KHP&nbsp; released no additional details as they investigate. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

MARION COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just before 5p.m. Sunday on U.S. 50 near Old Mill Road in Marion County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Chevy Silverado driven by Luke Richmeier, 18, Wichita, and a 2018 Ford Escape driven by&nbsp; Latricia A. Phillips, 49, were involved in the crash.Phillips and a passenger in the Ford identified as Angela M. Daniels, 49, Wichita, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to&nbsp;Yazel-Megli Funeral Home in Marion. EMS transported Richmeier to Newton Medical Center and a second passenger in the Ford Korey R. Woods, 36, Wichita, to KU Medical Center.The KHP&nbsp; released no additional details as they investigate. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

2 Kansas women dead, 2 others hospitalized after crash

MANHATTAN— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a domestic-related shooting on Fort Riley Blvd. and have made an arrest.

Just after 10:00 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a 911 call of shots fired from one car to another while both were traveling eastbound on Fort Riley Blvd. near the Geary-Riley County Line, according to police spokesperson Aaron Wintermote.

Officers made contact with the two cars involved near the intersection of Miller Pkwy. and Fort Riley Blvd in Manhattan. They found a 33-year-old female victim, driving one of the cars, suffering from minor glass shrapnel injuries to the face. The victim was transported from the scene to Via Christi and released after treatment.

Torrey Sherard Lindsay, 37, of Manhattan, who had been driving the second car involved, allegedly shot from his car into the victim’s car. Police arrested him on a requested charge of attempted second-degree murder and he is currently being held in the Riley County Jail in lieu of bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633920083288.png" alt="Lindsay has previous convictions for making a false writing and Impairing a security interest, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Lindsay has previous convictions for making a false writing and Impairing a security interest, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a domestic-related shooting on Fort Riley Blvd. and have made an arrest.Just after 10:00 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a 911 call of shots fired from one car to another while both were traveling eastbound on Fort Riley Blvd. near the Geary-Riley County Line, according to police spokesperson Aaron Wintermote.Officers made contact with the two cars involved near the intersection of Miller Pkwy. and Fort Riley Blvd in Manhattan. They found a 33-year-old female victim, driving one of the cars, suffering from minor glass shrapnel injuries to the face. The victim was transported from the scene to Via Christi and released after treatment.Torrey Sherard Lindsay, 37, of Manhattan, who had been driving the second car involved, allegedly shot from his car into the victim’s car. Police arrested him on a requested charge of attempted second-degree murder and he is currently being held in the Riley County Jail in lieu of bond.

Police: Kansas man arrested for drive-by shooting

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to two life prison terms in the beating and stabbing deaths of a Topeka woman and her cousin. 

&nbsp;Richard Showalter, of Greenleaf, won’t be eligible for release for at least 112 years and three months under the sentences imposed Friday in Shawnee County District Court. 

He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated burglary in the July 2018 home invasion killings of 28-year-old Lisa Sportsman and her 17-year-old cousin, Jesse Polinskey. Sportsman’s estranged husband, Bradley Sportsman, and a third man, Matthew Hutto, also have been convicted in the killings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574611652984.png" alt="Richard Showalter photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Richard Showalter photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to two life prison terms in the beating and stabbing deaths of a Topeka woman and her cousin. &nbsp;Richard Showalter, of Greenleaf, won’t be eligible for release for at least 112 years and three months under the sentences imposed Friday in Shawnee County District Court. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated burglary in the July 2018 home invasion killings of 28-year-old Lisa Sportsman and her 17-year-old cousin, Jesse Polinskey. Sportsman’s estranged husband, Bradley Sportsman, and a third man, Matthew Hutto, also have been convicted in the killings.

Judge: 2 life sentences for Kan. home invasion killing

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated robbery and have made an arrest.

Just before 6 p.m., October 5, a suspect , later identified as Tyrelle D. Burk, 36, of Topeka, took items by force from a teenage girl who was walking in the area of SW 6th Avenue and SW Clay Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

 Burk displayed a knife during the robbery The teenage girl was not injured.

On Thursday, police with assistance from community members, identified and located Burk near SW 4th Street and SW Harrison Street in Topeka.

As a result, police arrested Burkand booked him into the Shawnee County Department on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery, Possession of Methamphetamine and&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633724668494.png" alt="Burk photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Burk photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated robbery and have made an arrest.Just before 6 p.m., October 5, a suspect , later identified as Tyrelle D. Burk, 36, of Topeka, took items by force from a teenage girl who was walking in the area of SW 6th Avenue and SW Clay Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith. Burk displayed a knife during the robbery The teenage girl was not injured.On Thursday, police with assistance from community members, identified and located Burk near SW 4th Street and SW Harrison Street in Topeka.As a result, police arrested Burkand booked him into the Shawnee County Department on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery, Possession of Methamphetamine and&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Police: Kansas man robbed teen girl at knifepoint

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Staffing shortages have gotten so bad at a Kansas prison that has been the scene of past unrest that inmates are spending more time confined to their cells, officials say.

Kansas Department of Corrections spokesperson Carol Pitts said in an email that staffing is a problem across the prison system but that the “greatest challenge” is at the El Dorado Correctional Facility.

The result is more cell time and less access to programs and activities at the maximum security prison in Butler County, she said.

The prison population has shrunk during the pandemic, and the agency has closed some housing units to reduce staff needs. The agency also has increased recruiting efforts and started a program where employees can earn extra paid leave through successful job referrals.

Corrections Department Secretary Jeff Zmuda said in a Sept. 15 memo to inmates and their families that staffing shortages “top the list of challenges we face.”

The El Dorado facility faced staffing problems before the coronavirus pandemic.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/68d606d1cb584acfbca096368874a6e3">In 2019,&nbsp;</a>Gov. Laura Kelly declared an emergency at the prison due to staffing shortages inside the facility, which had multiple inmate disturbances over the previous two years. The state declared an emergency at the prison in 2017, also because of staffing shortages.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Staffing shortages have gotten so bad at a Kansas prison that has been the scene of past unrest that inmates are spending more time confined to their cells, officials say.Kansas Department of Corrections spokesperson Carol Pitts said in an email that staffing is a problem across the prison system but that the “greatest challenge” is at the El Dorado Correctional Facility.The result is more cell time and less access to programs and activities at the maximum security prison in Butler County, she said.The prison population has shrunk during the pandemic, and the agency has closed some housing units to reduce staff needs. The agency also has increased recruiting efforts and started a program where employees can earn extra paid leave through successful job referrals.Corrections Department Secretary Jeff Zmuda said in a Sept. 15 memo to inmates and their families that staffing shortages “top the list of challenges we face.”The El Dorado facility faced staffing problems before the coronavirus pandemic.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/68d606d1cb584acfbca096368874a6e3">In 2019,&nbsp;</a>Gov. Laura Kelly declared an emergency at the prison due to staffing shortages inside the facility, which had multiple inmate disturbances over the previous two years. The state declared an emergency at the prison in 2017, also because of staffing shortages.

Inmates spend more time in cells because of staff shortages

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a traffic stop.

On October 6, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 1100 block of SW 10th Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 During the investigation, deputies found illegal narcotics, including methamphetamine, and firearms. They arrested 34-year-old Stefon C. Butler and 48-year-old Beth A. Mikita both of Topeka.

They were arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Butler is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and criminal possession of a firearm. Mikita is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633726681974.png" alt="Butler photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Butler photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a traffic stop.On October 6, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 1100 block of SW 10th Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. During the investigation, deputies found illegal narcotics, including methamphetamine, and firearms. They arrested 34-year-old Stefon C. Butler and 48-year-old Beth A. Mikita both of Topeka.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633726631159.png" alt="Mikita photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Mikita photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>They were arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Butler is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and criminal possession of a firearm. Mikita is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Kan. deputies find illegal drugs, firearms during traffic stop

SHAWNEE COUNTY—One person was injured ina fire Saturday in Topeka.

Just after 7:30p.m., fire crews responded to the fire in a single-story residential duplex at 2000 SE Echo Ridge Circle, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Firefighters located one adult male who was able to escape prior to their arrival. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.&nbsp;

A preliminary investigation indicates the fire cause to be accidental, associated with an electric dryer malfunction in unit 56. The estimated dollar loss – $90,000.00; of which $80,000.00 is associated with structural loss and $10,000.00 associated with contents loss. He unit did not have working smoke detectors, according to Harrison.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—One person was injured ina fire Saturday in Topeka.Just after 7:30p.m., fire crews responded to the fire in a single-story residential duplex at 2000 SE Echo Ridge Circle, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.&nbsp;&nbsp;Firefighters located one adult male who was able to escape prior to their arrival. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.&nbsp;A preliminary investigation indicates the fire cause to be accidental, associated with an electric dryer malfunction in unit 56. The estimated dollar loss – $90,000.00; of which $80,000.00 is associated with structural loss and $10,000.00 associated with contents loss. He unit did not have working smoke detectors, according to Harrison.

Kansas man hospitalized after escape from duplex fire

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office announce the addition of a new tool to support citizens in the community affected by trauma, mental health and crime, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

In conjunction with the Wichita Animal Action League (WAAL) the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is implementing a professional therapy dog program. 

Cherokee is a year old Aussie mix with beautiful brown and red fur and has a unique feature with one brown eye and one blue eye.&nbsp; She enjoys going on walks, playing with her tennis ball, and loves eating treats. 

Cherokee will assist the Sheriff's victim advocate, Brittany Richardson with supporting citizens in the community. Cherokee will also be available to all Sedgwick County Sheriff office employees to help cope with exposure of traumatic events and will support efforts aimed at increasing resiliency, health, and wellness. Cherokee will help regulate a person’s emotional state through her calm presence, regulated breathing, and touch. Cherokee’s presence will help people to feel safe while dealing with and overcoming trauma. Without the assistance of the WAAL this endeavor would not have been possible.

This program is purely funded by the generosity of our community. We are asking for the communities help today for us to cover the initial and continued cost of our new program. Donations will help cover the cost of equipment, supplies, and services necessary for the development of this new program. 

Heartland Animal Hospital in BelAire has donated hundreds of dollars in veterinarian services and helped to coordinate 6 months worth of Hills Science Diet food for Cherokee. Family Dog Training and Behavioral Center has offered a great price to provide the training Cherokee will need. 

The sheriff's office asked for help to support the heroes at the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office and the citizens of Sedgwick County with Cherokee’s love at what might be the hardest time of their lives. 

Donations are being collected by the Sedgwick County FOP Lodge 74. If you would like to make a donation to the therapy dog program please contact Brittany Richardson at 316-660-5305, Jeremy Noel at 316-660-5326, or you can donate through cashapp to Sedgwick County FOP, $SedgwickFOPKS074

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633641044665.png" alt="Cherokee is a year old Aussie mix with beautiful brown and red fur and has a unique feature with one brown eye and one blue eye.-photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Cherokee is a year old Aussie mix with beautiful brown and red fur and has a unique feature with one brown eye and one blue eye.-photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office announce the addition of a new tool to support citizens in the community affected by trauma, mental health and crime, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.In conjunction with the Wichita Animal Action League (WAAL) the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is implementing a professional therapy dog program. Cherokee is a year old Aussie mix with beautiful brown and red fur and has a unique feature with one brown eye and one blue eye.&nbsp; She enjoys going on walks, playing with her tennis ball, and loves eating treats. Cherokee will assist the Sheriff's victim advocate, Brittany Richardson with supporting citizens in the community. Cherokee will also be available to all Sedgwick County Sheriff office employees to help cope with exposure of traumatic events and will support efforts aimed at increasing resiliency, health, and wellness. Cherokee will help regulate a person’s emotional state through her calm presence, regulated breathing, and touch. Cherokee’s presence will help people to feel safe while dealing with and overcoming trauma. Without the assistance of the WAAL this endeavor would not have been possible.This program is purely funded by the generosity of our community. We are asking for the communities help today for us to cover the initial and continued cost of our new program. Donations will help cover the cost of equipment, supplies, and services necessary for the development of this new program. Heartland Animal Hospital in BelAire has donated hundreds of dollars in veterinarian services and helped to coordinate 6 months worth of Hills Science Diet food for Cherokee. Family Dog Training and Behavioral Center has offered a great price to provide the training Cherokee will need. The sheriff's office asked for help to support the heroes at the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office and the citizens of Sedgwick County with Cherokee’s love at what might be the hardest time of their lives. Donations are being collected by the Sedgwick County FOP Lodge 74. If you would like to make a donation to the therapy dog program please contact Brittany Richardson at 316-660-5305, Jeremy Noel at 316-660-5326, or you can donate through cashapp to Sedgwick County FOP, $SedgwickFOPKS074