The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Thompson has three previous convictions for drug distribution and related drug conspiracy, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections

DENAAL LATRESS THOMPSON, 34, Manhattan, VIO OFFENDER REG;1ST CONV-PERSON; Bond $20,000

Wednesday fire in Geary County

GEARY COUNTY —A rural grass fire burned approximately 200 acres and a rural Geary County fire truck Wednesday afternoon.

Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges confirmed the driver, whose name was not released,  was able to get out of the vehicle. He was checked at Geary Community Hospital, but was not injured.

Berges said, “The fire was moving at a very high rate of speed inside that area. In the process of fighting the fire one of our fire trucks lost power. The fire overtook the truck, the fire ended up consuming the truck, the person inside the truck was able to get out without any injuries. We did lose one what we call fast attack truck that carries about 300 gallons of water on it during the course of the fire. ”

Berges reported that the truck was a 1990 model pickup. “We’ve got insurance. We’re self-insured through Kcamp.”

Firefighters responded to battle the blaze about 1:30 p.m. and had it under control later in the afternoon. Berges said back burning was used to help bring the blaze under control. He estimated of the approximate 200 acres that burned 30-50 acres were in Geary County and the rest on the Konza Prairie.

Berges indicated that discarded smoking materials along I-70 was the probable cause of the fire.

Fire units and and about 35 firefighters from Konza Prairie Research personnel, plus Geary and Riley Counties responded to fight the blaze. The truck that burned had been stationed at the rural Barr Road fire station near Interstate 70 exit for Kansas 18 in Geary County.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators rejected more than half a dozen proposed gun-control measures Thursday, including a ban on using bump stocks and a waiting period for buying guns.

Two relatively narrow bills served as the backdrop for a debate in the state Senate, and both passed without amendments. One, approved 40-0, is designed to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. The other , which passed 25-15, makes other states’ licenses to carry concealed guns valid in Kansas. The House passed both earlier this year but must consider changes made by senators.

It was the Republican-controlled Legislature’s first major debate on gun issues since a school shooting last month in Florida that left 17 people dead. Sen. Ty Masterson, a conservative Andover Republican, said all lawmakers agree that such incidents are true tragedies but suggested that gun-control advocates equated the mere presence of guns with “active bodily harm.”

“It’s an irrational, unfounded fear,” Masterson said.

Democrats were behind the majority of proposed amendments to the bills. Democratic Sen. Tom Hawk of Manhattan said it is up to the Legislature to shield children from gun violence, which he said is a goal that the amendments would have helped achieve.

“The adults in this country allowed this situation to develop,” Hawk said. “If we don’t get this right it will be our eternal shame.”

But one after the other, the amendments failed during the four-hour debate.

Legislators narrowly rejected a proposal Thursday from Democratic Sen. Lynn Rogers of Wichita to make it illegal for gun owners to use bump stocks to make semi-automatic rifles mimic fully automatic ones.

Rogers offered the bump-stock proposal as an amendment to the bill that would clarify rules for allowing people who have permits to carry concealed weapons in other states to carry concealed while in Kansas.

He argued that banning the use of bump stocks would reduce deaths from gun violence. His amendment would not have made mere possession of a bump stock illegal.

But Masterson said the ban would be ineffective. He said gun owners can use a belt loop to increase a semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire so that it mimics a fully automatic one. The Senate was evenly split at 20-20.

Sen. Barbara Bollier, a moderate Mission Hills Republican, proposed a second amendment to the concealed carry bill that would allow someone to go to court to get guns removed from a family member’s home if they believe the family member is a danger to himself or others. But it was ruled out of order because the subject strayed too far from the underlying bill.

Democratic Sen. Pat Pettey of Kansas City proposed a three-day waiting period as a way to prevent suicides and gun violence. But Republican Sen. Steve Fitzgerald of Leavenworth suggested it would prevent abuse victims from protecting themselves.

Rogers said it is encouraging that the votes against gun-control measures were closer than they have been in the past, though Thursday is likely to be the only day this year that senators fully debate gun issues.

But Bollier said, “This is a public health crisis, and we continue in Kansas not to address it.”

The bill dealing with domestic abusers would make it a felony under state law for anyone convicted of domestic violence to possess a firearm within five years of conviction. It would also be illegal for fugitives to possess guns. It already is a crime under federal law, but supporters of the bill say federal courts and prosecutors are often too busy to handle such cases.

——–

Kansas legislators have narrowly rejected a proposal to make it illegal to use bump stocks to make semi-automatic rifles mimic fully automatic ones.

The vote Thursday in the state Senate was 20-20. It came on a proposed amendment to a bill sought by the state’s attorney general to clarify rules for allowing people who have permits to carry concealed weapons in other states to carry concealed while in Kansas.

Senators also were debating another amendment to allow someone to go to court to get guns removed from a family member’s home if they believe the family member is a danger to themselves or others.

The Senate’s debate came after it gave first-round approval to a bill designed to keep guns out of the hands of fugitives and domestic abusers.

___

3:25 p.m.

Kansas legislators are debating a bill designed to keep guns out of the hands of fugitives and domestic abusers and could consider other gun issues.

The Senate planned to take a final vote Thursday on the measure. The bill would make it a felony under state law for anyone convicted of domestic violence to possess a firearm within five years of conviction. It would also be illegal for fugitives to possess guns.

But senators expected to take up other gun proposals as well during their debate.

It already is a crime under federal law for domestic abusers to have guns. But supporters of the bill say federal courts and prosecutors are often too busy to handle such cases and a separate state law would allow prosecutions in state courts.

Genson has previous convictions for Voluntary manslaughter and Aggravated Assault, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

OSVELT JOSEPH, 23, Manhattan, DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED; 1ST CONVICTION; Bond $750

DANIEL EARL GENSON III, 23, Manhattan, VIO OFFENDER REG;1ST CONV-PERSON; Bond $2000

Wooten has a previous conviction for Aggravated Burglary, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

DERRICK ROBERT KRATZBERG, 43, Paola, Probation Violation; Bond $10,000

JACOB WAYNE KRATZBERG, 25, Manhattan, AGG DOMESTIC BATTERY; IMPEDE BREATHING/CHOK1EAGGRAVATED ENDANGERING A CHILD;RECKLESS 1DOMESTIC BATTERY;KNOWING/RECKLESS BODILY HA, INTERFERE LEO;OBSTR/RESIST/OPPOSE FEL WAR; Bond $18,000

MARINA MARROQUIN, 27, Manhattan, Probation Violation; Held without bond

ASHLEY NICOLE WRIGHT, 24, Manhattan, MAKING FALSE WRITING; Bond $2500

JALYN MARIE GIRALDO, 43, Manhattan, VIO PROTECTION ORDER; UNK CIRC; Bond $1000

FINA LETICIA BARRIENTOS, 21, Manhattan, VIO PROTECTION ORDER; ABUSE ORDER; Bond $1000

CITATION

MELENA RODRIGUEZ, 18, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 400 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR IMPROPER DRIVING ON LANED ROAD (8-46) ON MARCH 14, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 8 PM.

BINXIANG YU, 19, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 900 BLK N 11TH ST IN MANHATTAN FOR FAILURE TO PERFORM DUTY (5-26) ON MARCH 9, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:03 PM.

LUIS COCA URDANIVIA, 23, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT ANDERSON AVE & N 14TH ST IN MANHATTAN FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON MARCH 14, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY11:07 PM.

GREGORIO CALIXTO, 20, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT CASEMENT RD & HAYES DR IN MANHATTAN FOR NO DRIVERS LICENSE (19-192) ON MARCH 14, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:22 PM.

HEATH ROMINE, 40, LEONARDVILLE, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT MORO ST & N 4TH ST IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY STOP/YIELD (159) ON MARCH 9, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:33 PM.

JON SHAVER, 25, WICHITA, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 600 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR VEHICLE TAGS-EXPIRE/ILLEGBLE (19-198) ON MARCH 10, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY11:32 PM.

ALEXANDER QUAN, 23, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT N 11TH ST & BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR NO DRIVERS LICENSE (19-192) ON MARCH 15, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY12:15 AM.

ALEXANDER QUAN, 23, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT N 11TH ST & BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON MARCH 15, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY12:15 AM.

GARRETT SUTER, 22, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1300 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON MARCH 14, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY10:50 PM.

RACHEL RYAN, 20, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 101 E BLUEMONT AVE; WALMART; CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK; SUBWAY IN MANHATTAN FOR THEFT (PETTY) (22-26) ON MARCH 13, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:50 PM.

JAY PATEL, 20, JUNCTION CITY, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1100 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR CELL PHONE-TEXTING VIOL (14-126.2) ON MARCH 14, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:50 PM.

YANG LI, 22, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1100 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR CELL PHONE-TEXTING VIOL (14-126.2) ON MARCH 14, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:16 PM.

MARCUS VALENCIA, 24, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 400 BLK S 14TH ST IN MANHATTAN FOR FAILURE TO RENDER AID (5-25) ON MARCH 11, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:42 AM.

MARCUS VALENCIA, 24, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 400 BLK S 14TH ST IN MANHATTAN FOR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY (8-47) ON MARCH 11, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:42 AM.

ADRIAN GUM, 22, LIBERAL, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1400 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY (8-47) ON MARCH 10, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY10:09 PM.

ADRIAN GUM, 22, LIBERAL, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1400 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR LEAVE SCENE OF INJURY ACC (5-23) ON MARCH 10, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY10:09 PM.

ADRIAN GUM, 22, LIBERAL, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1400 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR FAILURE TO RENDER AID (5-25) ON MARCH 10, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY10:09 PM.

ADRIAN GUM, 22, LIBERAL, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1400 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR FILING FALSE REPORT (5-28) ON MARCH 10, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY10:09 PM.

GUNNER GUM, 21, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 2500 FARM BUREAU RD #278 IN MANHATTAN FOR FILING FALSE REPORT (5-28) ON MARCH 10, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY10:09 PM.

JOHN LANHAM, 19, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT LOVERS LN & N MANHATTAN AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR CELL PHONE-TALKING/HAND FREE (14-126.3) ON MARCH 14, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY10:20 AM.

 

Scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. from Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the debate in Kansas over increasing funding for public schools (all times local):

4p.m.

A new report from two out-of-state consultants says improving student performance in Kansas public schools could cost the state as much as $2 billion more a year.

The report released Friday stunned some legislators. The Kansas Supreme Court ruled in October that the state’s more than $4 billion in spending a year on aid to public schools isn’t sufficient under the state constitution.

The report outlined multiple spending scenarios, and all assumed that the state would boost its high school graduation rate from 86 percent to 95 percent within four years. That would be the nation’s highest rate.

The consultants’ lowest projected increase in annual spending would be $451 million, or almost 10 percent. The largest figure tops $2 billion. The consultants suggested phasing in any increase over five years.

___

11:45 p.m. Thursday

Kansas legislators are receiving an education funding report that could determine how lawmakers respond to a state Supreme Court mandate to boost spending on public schools.

Legislative attorneys are slated to present the report Friday during a joint meeting of House and Senate committees on school funding. The study comes from two out-of-state consultants hired by Republican leaders.

The GOP-controlled Legislature’s work on a school finance law aimed at satisfying the court has been on hold for several months while lawmakers waited for the study.

The court ruled in October that the state’s aid to its school districts of more than $4 billion a year isn’t sufficient under the Kansas Constitution. The court hinted that funding might have to rise by $650 million a year but allowed for new cost studies.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Three Wildcats scored in double-figures, including a career-high 17 points from freshman Mike McGuirl, as the Wildcats topped Creighton, 69-59, in the first round of the NCAA South Regional at the Spectrum Center on Friday.

The victory advances K-State into the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the winner of the No. 1 seed Virginia (31-2) or No. 16 seed UMBC (24-10) on Sunday. K-State is now 35-33 all-time in NCAA tournament play, including an 11-5 mark in the first round.

McGuirl was joined in double-figures by junior guards Barry Brown Jr., and Kamau Stokes who added 18 and 11 points, respectively. Sophomore forward Xavier Sneedadded valuable minutes, including 9 points, while Brown added a team-high 6 rebounds and redshirt freshman guard Cartier Diarra led the team with 3 assists.

K-State (23-11) played without All-Big 12 First Team selection Dean Wade, who was held out for the second consecutive game as a precaution due to foot soreness. With Wade out, the Wildcats used a four-guard lineup featuring guards Brown, Diarra, Sneed and Stokes and forward Makol Mawien. K-State’s guards filled Wade’s void nicely, combining to score 53 of 69 points for the Wildcats.

As a team, the Wildcats shot 46 percent (23-of-50) from the field and 47.3 percent (9-of-19) from beyond the arc in the game. K-State turned the ball over 11 times in the game, marking the 25th time this season the Wildcats committed 12 or fewer turnovers.

Creighton (21-12) was led by freshman guard Mitch Ballock who scored 16 points on 5-of-14 from the field and 4-of-11 from beyond the arc in the game. The Bluejays shot collectively 33.8 percent (23-of-68) from the field and 26.4 percent (9-of-34) from beyond the arc. K-State forced Creighton into 13 turnovers in the game and outscored the Bluejays’ bench, 19-7.

HOW IT HAPPENED 
After taking the opening tip, the Wildcats searched for an open shot from beyond the arc on their first two possessions, before Stokes stepped within the arc to get the scoring started with a jump from the top of the key. After scoring K-State’s opening basket, Stokes would continue to score for the Wildcats, tallying the first seven points to get K-State out to a 7-0 lead.

Defensively, the Wildcats caused havoc for the Bluejays early on, as Creighton scored on only 1-of-8 of their shots in the first five minutes of play. The defensive pressure caused issues for the Bluejays around the rim, as Mawien and Sneed accounted for two early blocks in the opening minutes.

After missing their first two 3-pointers to start the contest, the Wildcats shot 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, including a 3-pointer from Brown to bring the score to 15-7 with 13:30 remaining in the half.

The defensive pressure continued for K-State throughout the first half, including a span in which the Bluejays were held in check for 3:57 while shooting 0-for-6 from the field, as K-State possessed a 20-12 lead with 7:23 remaining.

After ending the scoring drought, the Bluejays drew to within four, as senior forward Toby Hegner found space under the rim for a layup to bring the score to 20-16. Hegner had 7 points for Creighton in the first half.

On the following K-State possession, Diarra connected on a contested 3-pointer late in the shot clock. While getting back on defense, the Wildcats came up with a blocked shot from Diarra and then pushed the ball into their transition offense, where Stokes found Sneed on a lob for an alley-oop to extend the lead to 25-16 with 4:48 remaining.

With under 10 seconds remaining in the first half, Creighton’s Mitch Ballock hit a 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining. On the K-State possession, Stokes drove the lane before dishing it to McGuirl who hit a deep 3-pointer as the buzzer went off to bring the score to 32-26, K-State.

In the first half, K-State shot 44.4 percent (12-of-27) from the field and 45.4 percent (5-of-11) from 3-point land in the first half. The guard tandem of Stokes and Diarra led the Wildcats with 7 points at the half, while Diarra also led in assists (4) and rebounds (3).

For the Bluejays, the team shot 34.3 percent (11-of-32) and 25 percent (4-of-16) from beyond the arc. Mintz led the Bluejays with 8 points in the first half. K-State recorded 3 blocks on Creighton shots in the half.

After shooting 5-of-11 from beyond the arc in the first half, the Wildcats went back to it in the second. Mawien found Sneed open from deep, to get K-State started with a 35-28 lead in the second half.

However, Creighton would spout off a 7-0 run after a layup from Brown, as the Bluejays narrowed the score to 37-35 with 16:06 remaining in the game.

In the second half, the guard tandem of Brown, Stokes and McGuirl took over for the Wildcats, as Brown scored five-straight points for the Wildcats, including a contested mid-range jumper to put him in double-figures at 11 points, as K-State led 46-39 with 10:47 remaining.

With 7:13 remaining and leading by seven, McGuirl spotted up from the corner, where he connected on a 3-pointer and drew a foul from Creighton’s Marcus Foster. McGuirl went to the line where he connected on the free-throw to convert the four-point play and bring the score to 57-46.

Over the last seven minutes, the Wildcats would maintain their lead behind efficient play on both sides of the ball. The Wildcats grabbed a game-high 16-point lead with 2:25 remaining in the game to help secure their first-round win.

The Wildcats closed out the game by shooting 46 percent (23-of-50) from the field and 47.3 percent (9-of-19) from beyond the arc in the game. The Bluejays shot 34.3 percent (11-of-32) and 25 percent (4-of-16) from beyond the arc. Creighton guardDavion Mintz, playing in front of his hometown crowd, led the Bluejays with 8 points in the first half. K-State recorded 3 blocks on Creighton shots in the half.

PLAYER OF THE GAME
Mike McGuirl – Freshman guard Mike McGuirl scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, to lead him to a career-high in scoring. McGuirl set the tone for the Wildcats, including a buzzer-beater to end the first half to give K-State a 32-26 lead at the break. McGuirl added a tie for a career-high in rebounds (4) and 1 assist to his stat-line.

STAT OF THE GAME
33.8 – The Wildcats held Creighton to 33.8 percent (23-of-68) from the field in the game, marking the 29th time this season K-State has held the opponent to shoot under 50 percent. The Wildcats are 23-6 when holding the opponent to shoot 50 percent or less, and 5-0 this season when holding the opponent 59 points or fewer.

SEASON RECORD UPDATE
·K-State 23-11
·Creighton 21-12

WHAT’S NEXT
K-State advances to the second round of the South Regional where the Wildcats will take on No. 16 seed UMBC (24-10), which became the first 16-seed to ever win against a No. 1 with its victory late Friday night, on Sunday.

Jones has a previous drug conviction, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. photo courtesy JCPD. Jones was arrested in for February for alleged Aggravated robbery, Aggravated burglary, Aggravated kidnapping, Intimidation of a witness or victim, Criminal damage to property, Battery and Criminal Trespass

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child sex allegations.

Samuel Ruggero-Geary Co.

On Thursday, members of the Junction City / Geary County SWAT executed a search warrant at a home in the 8000 Block of Nelson Road, according to Police Captain Trish Giordano.

Police arrested Samuel Ruggero, 43, on suspicion of Aggravated Indecent Liberties of a Child.

He is being held on a bond of $100,000 at the Geary County Detention Center.

The Geary County Sheriff’s Department, Grandview Plaza Police and the KBI High Risk Warrant Team assisted with the warrant and activities leading up to the execution of the warrant.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Alvarez has 2 previous convictions for Theft and one for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

KURT A ERB, 50, Manhattan, DUI; 2ND CONV; COMPETENT EVIDENCE OF BLOOD;DUTY TO REPORT ACC W/ UNATTENDED VEH;1ST; Bond $1500

ELADIO FUENTES ALVAREZ JR, 39, Manhattan,AGG BURGLARY;DWELLING FOR FEL,THEFT,SEX BURGLARY;NON DWELLING FELONY,THEFT,SEX BURGLARY;NON DWELLING FELONY,THEFT,SEX THEFT OF PROP/SERVICES; <$1500; Bond $10,000

SUNNY LYNN SMITH, 28, Manhattan,DUI; 1ST CONVICTIONPOSSESSION MARIJUANA; 1 PRIOR USE/POSS PARA;INTO HUMAN BODY; Bond $2250

MALCOLM COY CUNNINGHAM, 48, (No Address) VIO PROTECTION ORDER; UNK CIRCVIO PROTECTION ORDER; UNK CIRCCRIMINAL TRESPASS;DEFIANCE RESTRAIN ORD; Exceptionally Cleared

COLTON LINNEA HAZLETT, 20, Manhattan, FLEEING & ELUDE; RECKLESS DRIVING; Bond $3000

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Political and industrial trade group leaders in Kansas are urging President Donald Trump not to scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement, fearing that doing so would hurt major Kansas export industries like agriculture and aviation.

Marshall and negotiators met in Mexico City on March 3-photo courtesy Rep. Roger Marshall

The Trump administration has been in talks with Canada and Mexico to renegotiate NAFTA, a deal Trump once called “the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere” during the 2016 campaign.

Republican Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer supports the negotiations, but is among those who wrote to Trump earlier this month in support of maintaining NAFTA, KCURreported this week.

“We want to make sure that Kansas industries continue to thrive and grow,” Colyer said. “We’re a very competitive state.”

Canada and Mexico are key destinations for farm products grown in Kansas, said Josh Roe, deputy secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture. He said that agriculture and aviation in 2016 accounted for more than half the dollar value of Kansas’ exports.

Some lawmakers also are concerned about tariffs on steel and aluminum recently announced by Trump. State Rep. Jim Ward, the top Democrat in the Kansas House, worries about retaliatory tariffs.

“Agriculture would be devastated by tariffs or a trade war,” Ward said.

During a recent visit to Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran pointed to an airplane fuselage as an item that could be impacted by aluminum tariffs.

“The fuselage that we’re celebrating here at Spirit is 100 percent aluminum,” Moran said. “(A tariff) has a consequence in the price.”

Wet highways Monday in Ellis County- KDOT image

ELLIS COUNTY — A Manhattan man was involved in an accident just after 9a.m. Monday in Ellis County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Nissan Sentra driven by Nicholas Donohoue, 23, Manhattan, was westbound on Interstate 70 one mile east of U.S. 183. The vehicle slid off the road due to the weather and struck a sign.

Donohoue was not transported for treatment. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — State officials removed foster children from a Wichita group boarding home last year after a federal agency said it suspected sexual and physical abuse, according to newly released records.

An emergency suspension order said failures at Carla’s Youth Residential Center, which housed up to 10 teenage girls at a time, created a situation that put the residents “at risk of on-going physical and emotional harm,” according to records the Kansas Department of Children of Families released last week in response to a records request. The order also said that federal officials “have reason to believe that the residents … are not in a safe living environment and have been the victims of sexual and physical abuse.”

The media sought records about the girls’ removal after the center asked for a Sedgwick County judge to review the suspension decision. In a petition filed in state court last month, the home said it operates “in a good and proper manner that does not endanger children” and its license suspension was based on “opinion accusation” rather than facts.

The state’s suspension order didn’t give details about the exact nature of the suspected abuse or when it might have occurred. But it does say that DCF’s licensing division started investigating the home on Nov. 17 after receiving a report of “potential inappropriate contact of a sexual nature” between residents that staff may have known about. That same day, all of the girls living there were removed, DCF Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel said. They have since been placed at other group homes, in foster care homes or were reintegrated into their own homes, she said.

Gina Meier-Hummel (at the podium) started her job at DCF on December 1

Meier-Hummel said she could not give additional specifics about the allegations because of the ongoing investigations. But, she said, DCF has been in contact with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General “from the moment they got involved.”

The suspension order says the home’s executive director, Carla Hobbs, and her facilities are the subject of an ongoing federal investigation. Hobbs also ran two housing programs designed to prepare older teenage girls and young women to live on their own. Those homes were not mentioned in the suspension order.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General denied a media request for records, saying it could interfere with an ongoing investigation.

NEW YORK (AP) — Claire’s, the mall chain that has pierced the ears of millions of teens, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The company has a dozen locations across Kansas including the Manhattan Town Center.

The accessories chain said Monday that its stores will remain open as it restructures its debt.

It’s just the latest retailer to seek bankruptcy protection, close stores or go out of business entirely as more people skip the mall and shop online. Toys R Us, for example, announced last week that it would close or sell all its stores after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year.

Claire’s said it is “confident” it will emerge from bankruptcy protection in September, having reduced its debt by nearly $2 billion. It believes it can compete with the shift to online shopping, arguing that its “iconic ear piercing services are unmatched and cannot be replicated online.”

Besides the Claire’s chain, the company also operates Icing stores. Both sell earrings, lip gloss, iPhone cases and other accessories. Last year, it had more than 4,000 stores around the world.

Claire’s, based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, said it has pierced more than 100 million ears since it began offering the service 40 years ago. The company was founded in the 1960s.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The latest government crop report estimates that more than half of the winter wheat crop in Kansas is in poor or very poor condition.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 17 percent of the Kansas wheat is in very poor condition with another 38 percent is rated as poor. About 34 percent is rated as fair with just 10 percent in good and 1 percent in excellent condition.

That assessment comes at the same time that topsoil moisture supplies were rated as short or very short across 81 percent of the state.

Their report covers crop conditions for the week ending on Sunday.

GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a pair of armed robberies and have a suspect in custody.

Carwell- photo Geary Co.

Just before 10p.m. March 12, a person reported being approached by two black men in the alley behind El Tapatio restaurant, 300 West 6th Street, according to a media release.

The victim advised one of the men had a gun and demanded money. The victim ran several blocks to his home after giving the suspects his cell phone.

At approximately the same time, dispatch received a 911 call from a second victim that had been walking in the same area being approached by two black men, one with a gun and both wearing dark clothing. The subjects demanded money and took the second victim’s wallet and cell phone. The suspects ran west through the alley after the incident. It’s believed these incidents happened within several minutes of one another.

On March 14, police arrested James Tyshawn Carwell at a residence in the 500 Block of West 18th Street on suspicion of two counts of Aggravated Robbery stemming from those robberies.

He is being held at the Geary County Detention Center on $100,000 bond.

Detectives continue to work this case to identify the other subject involved. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police department TIPS line at 785-762-8477 or leave a webtip at Gearycrimestoppers.com. You can remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Weaver has previous convictions for possession and distribution, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

LAKOTA RAEDAWN CAREY, 21, PROBATION VIOLATION, FAILURE TO APPEAR; Bond $5420

JUSTIN MICHAEL KOZERO, 23, Ogden, CRIMINAL DAMAGE PROPERTY; <$1000; Bond $1000

LISA MARIE WEAVER, 50, Manhattan, THEFT BY DECEPTION; <$1,500; Bond $1500

JOSEPH IAN BROWN, 34, Manhattan, Probation violation; Bond $3000

SARAI ENGRACIA LOPEZ, 21, Bartlesville, OK., Probation violation; Exceptionally Cleared

CITATION REPORT

JAMES HAUG, 19, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 5000 BLK WILDCAT CREEK RD IN MANHATTAN FOR RACING ON HIGHWAYS AND FOR TOO FAST FOR CONDITIONS (7-32) ON MARCH 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY11:40 PM.

AMBER BROWN, 30, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1400 BLK COLLEGE AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR DRIVE CANC/SUSP/REV LICENSE AND FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON MARCH 15, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:15 PM.

JOSHUA BEESON, 21, DERBY, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 3000 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 9, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:09 PM.

BRYANT TOLLIVER, 29, FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 3000 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:06 PM.

SAMUEL HOEFGEN, 33, AUGUSTA, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 3000 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:07 PM.

LEEZA CHANDLER, 23, EL PASO, TX WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1200 BLK MORO ST IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OF AN OPEN CONTAINER IN PUBLIC (4-2) ON MARCH 17, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY12:15 AM.

STEFAN YATES, 44, OLDSBURG, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 3000 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 17, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:08 PM.

MORGAN FABRE, 19, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1600 BLK COLLEGE AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) AND FOR NO DRIVERS LICENSE (19-192) ON MARCH 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:50 PM.

JUSTIN HESKETT, 21, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1300 BLK PIERRE ST IN MANHATTAN FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON MARCH 17, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:21 PM.

JEREMY GANDON, 21, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 600 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 18, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:57 PM.

JEREMY GANDON, 21, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 600 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR NO DRIVERS LICENSE (19-192) ON MARCH 18, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:57 PM.

TYLER WENDLAND, 24, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1200 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR VEHICLE TAGS-EXPIRE/ILLEGBLE (19-198) ON MARCH 18, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:04 PM.

ABDULRAHMAN HASHIMI, 35, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2100 BLK CLAFLIN RD IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 18, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:56 AM.

NINA HINDSMAN, 33, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 800 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON MARCH 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:59 PM.

KELLI STOCKTON, 21, OGDEN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1100 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR CELL PHONE-TEXTING VIOL (14-126.2) ON MARCH 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY10:15 AM.

SAMUEL ANDRES, 19, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1100 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR CELL PHONE-TEXTING VIOL (14-126.2) ON MARCH 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY11:05 AM.

DUSHAUN CARTER, 25, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT TUTTLE CREEK BLVD & KIMBALL AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR DRIVE CANC/SUSP/REV LICENSE (19-194) AND FOR DRIVE IN VIOLATION OF RESTRICTIONS (19-195) ON MARCH 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:45 PM.

SPENCER SLANE, 21, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 4800 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR FAIL TO YIELD EMERGENCY VEHICLE (08-1530) ON MARCH 17, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:20 PM.

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers suffering sticker shock over a report saying that improving the state’s public schools could cost an additional $2 billion a year began Monday to consider setting less ambitious educational goals than the ones that led to the big price tag.

The out-of-state consultants behind last week’s study provided new, lower estimates tied to more modest goals for improving the state’s high school graduation rate and students’ performance on standardized tests. Some Republican lawmakers who were stunned by last week’s report appeared less anxious after the consultants testified during a committee meeting Monday.

Legislators are facing a Kansas Supreme Court mandate to increase spending on public schools after it ruled in October that the current education funding isn’t sufficient under the state constitution. GOP leaders commissioned the consultants’ report, with some Republicans hoping it would show that the state already was spending close to enough money.

Instead, the report released Friday came with a potentially big price tag: a 44 percent increase in school districts’ more than $4 billion a year in operating funds. But the cost was tied to increasing the statewide graduation rate from 86 percent to 95 percent and vastly improving student scores on standardized tests, and legislative lawyers suggested the goal was to hit both targets by 2022.

The consultants, Texas A&M University professor Lori Taylor and Jason Willis, a director at the San Francisco-based nonprofit education research agency WestEd, said the state could take a decade or longer to hit those goals. Or, they said, the state could set other targets, such as a graduation rate of 90 percent or 92 percent.

“It’s time for that really broad discussion of: ‘What is it that we want to have?'” said state Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a conservative Louisburg Republican and chairwoman of a special Senate school funding committee. “What are realistic outcomes for us?”

For example, the consultants said, setting the target graduation rate at 92 percent could cost the state as little as $228 million more a year, depending on how ambitious it was about improving students’ test scores.

Baumgardner’s committee and a House school funding panel met together for more than two hours Monday to review the consultants’ report and question them. Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, a conservative Kansas City-area Republican, said the big potential costs resulted from “lofty” goals and questioned whether the state should “chase” a 95 percent graduation rate.

Hitting the goal would give Kansas the highest graduation rate in the nation. State officials promised the federal government last year that it would hit the mark — but by 2030.

The state Supreme Court also is concerned with how well students perform. Four local school districts sued the state over education funding in 2010, and the justices have ruled that legislators are failing to finance a suitable education for every child. The court has said one of its biggest concerns is helping underperforming students.

“People will always talk about how much we want to do until we get the bill,” said Kansas Association of School Boards lobbyist Mark Tallman.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, said as he left the meeting that he believes lawmakers could satisfy the court by phasing in a $300 million increase in funding over a few years and committing to future increases to keep up with inflation.

But Senate President Susan Wagle, a conservative Wichita Republican, still predicted after the meeting that the state could need a big tax increase to satisfy the court’s demands. She issued a statement far more pessimistic than comments even from other Republicans.

“The bottom line is that Kansans cannot afford what the court is demanding, and we cannot afford what the new study is recommending,” Wagle said.

Kansas Opportunity Zones

KDC

TOPEKA – Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. and officials from state government agencies have completed a review of Letters of Interest submitted from communities across the state to be considered for designation as Opportunity Zones.

Opportunity Zones are a new economic development tool enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 designed to encourage long-term investments in low-income urban and rural communities. Based upon the number of low-income communities identified by the Federal Census, the Governor may nominate up to 74 census tracts in Kansas for designation as Opportunity Zones.

In February, the Kansas Department of Commerce announced it would begin accepting Letters of Interest from communities to have their eligible low-income census tracts designated as Opportunity Zones. Following the review of submissions, the Governor has determined that each community who submitted an eligible census tract will be nominated for at least one Opportunity Zone designation. The communities with census tracts to be included in Governor Colyer’s nominations for designation as Opportunity Zones include:

Due to overwhelming interest in the program, Governor Colyer will utilize the available 30-day extension from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to work with local leaders to finalize the specific census tracts designated within each community.

About Opportunity Zones

Opportunity Zones will provide tax incentives for investors who re-invest their unrealized capital gains into Opportunity Funds that are dedicated to investing in the Opportunity Zones designated by Governor Colyer. This program provides a tax incentive for investors to re-invest their unrealized capital gains into Opportunity Funds that are dedicated to investing in economically distressed areas designated as Opportunity Zones by the Governor. The program provides deferral and reduction of capital gains taxes when the gain is invested in a Qualified Opportunity Fund and maintained for at least five years. Additional tax incentives are available for investments held for periods of seven and 10 years.

Additional information about the Opportunity Zone program may be found at http://kansascommerce.gov/opportunityzones.