MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Friday in Miami County.

The Miami County Sheriff reported a 2003 Mazda 3 driven by Natalie Dawn Lober O'Learay, 36, Wichita, was northbound on U.S. 169 between Crescent Hill Road and Bethel Church Road in rural Miami County.

The driver attempted to pass a vehicle and a semi and struck a southbound 2016 Chevy Equinox driven by Patty S. Landess, 78, Rantoul, head-on

Lober O'Leary was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported Landess and a passenger in the Chevy Richard C. Landess, 83, Rantoul, to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Friday in Miami County.The Miami County Sheriff reported a 2003 Mazda 3 driven by Natalie Dawn Lober O'Learay, 36, Wichita, was northbound on U.S. 169 between Crescent Hill Road and Bethel Church Road in rural Miami County.The driver attempted to pass a vehicle and a semi and struck a southbound 2016 Chevy Equinox driven by Patty S. Landess, 78, Rantoul, head-onLober O'Leary was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported Landess and a passenger in the Chevy Richard C. Landess, 83, Rantoul, to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Kansas woman dies, 2 injured after head-on crash

LANSING, Kansas. –&nbsp;Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) resident Brian Jones, 47, died Friday, June 21, according to a statement from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

He was admitted to a local hospital on Tuesday. He was pronounced deceased by hospital personnel late Friday afternoon.

Jones was serving a 34-month sentence for conviction of Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Johnson County.

The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719014853902.png" alt="Jones-photo Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Jones-photo Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>LANSING, Kansas. –&nbsp;Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) resident Brian Jones, 47, died Friday, June 21, according to a statement from the Kansas Department of Corrections.He was admitted to a local hospital on Tuesday. He was pronounced deceased by hospital personnel late Friday afternoon.Jones was serving a 34-month sentence for conviction of Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Johnson County.The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Inmate serving time for child sex crimes in Kansas has died  

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police are asking the public for help to find a Kansas man accused in a deadly gunfight on Father's Day.

The Wichita Police Department are working to locate 33-year-old Eric Gonzalez-Gutierrez, who is wanted for violating his pre-trial restrictions.&nbsp;On Friday, he cut his ankle monitor, according to Wichita Police.

On Sunday, Police arrested Gonzalez-Gutierrez on requested charges including first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Aron Lara.

Just after 8:30p.m. on Father's Day, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford.

While working to gather further information, the 911 dispatcher could hear gunfire in the background, prompting an immediate upgraded dispatch of officers to the scene.

First responders discovered Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital where he died.

Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital.

The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the Gonzales-Gutierrez earlier in the evening.&nbsp; Gonzales-Gutierrez allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

It is believed that two men accompanying Lara returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim.

If you have any information on Gonzalez-Gutierrez whereabouts, please call 911 or WPD Detectives at 316-268-4407. To provide anonymous tips call 316-267-2111 or scan the code above.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718711572362.png" alt="GONZALES-GUTIERREZ-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>GONZALES-GUTIERREZ-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police are asking the public for help to find a Kansas man accused in a deadly gunfight on Father's Day.The Wichita Police Department are working to locate 33-year-old Eric Gonzalez-Gutierrez, who is wanted for violating his pre-trial restrictions.&nbsp;On Friday, he cut his ankle monitor, according to Wichita Police.On Sunday, Police arrested Gonzalez-Gutierrez on requested charges including first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Aron Lara.Just after 8:30p.m. on Father's Day, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford.While working to gather further information, the 911 dispatcher could hear gunfire in the background, prompting an immediate upgraded dispatch of officers to the scene.First responders discovered Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital where he died.Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital.The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the Gonzales-Gutierrez earlier in the evening.&nbsp; Gonzales-Gutierrez allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.It is believed that two men accompanying Lara returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719004330105.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>If you have any information on Gonzalez-Gutierrez whereabouts, please call 911 or WPD Detectives at 316-268-4407. To provide anonymous tips call 316-267-2111 or scan the code above.

Kan. suspect in deadly BBQ gunfight cut ankle monitor while out on bond

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Topeka.

Just before 2:30a.m. Friday, police&nbsp;responded to a call for service regarding gunshots in the area of 3100 SW Westover Road, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith. First responders found a man&nbsp;

and a woman with life-threatening gunshot injuries. The victims were transported to a local hospital by ambulance, where the man was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

Police have released not released any suspect information or additional details including the name of the man who died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719001082126.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Topeka.Just before 2:30a.m. Friday, police&nbsp;responded to a call for service regarding gunshots in the area of 3100 SW Westover Road, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith. First responders found a man&nbsp;and a woman with life-threatening gunshot injuries. The victims were transported to a local hospital by ambulance, where the man was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;Police have released not released any suspect information or additional details including the name of the man who died.

Homicide: Man dead, woman hospitalized after Kansas shooting

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/aaron-sanderford/">AARON SANDERFORD</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-ag-wins-case-against-ticket-scam-promising-access-to-former-huskers/">Nebraska Examine</a>r

LINCOLN — Third-party presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose bid has spurred the ire of the current president as well as the previous president, turned in enough signatures this week in Nebraska that his name will likely reach the November ballot.

The Kennedy campaign announced that it had turned in more than 5,000 signatures to the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office. The state’s chief election office now must check the voter registration file to verify at least 2,500 valid ones.

Lane Koch, the Kennedy campaign’s regional director in the Midwest, thanked volunteers for “a historic day.” In addition to Nebraska, the Kennedy campaign said it has turned in signatures in 14 other states, including neighboring Iowa.&nbsp;

Kennedy is already on the ballot in at least nine states: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. His campaign says it is still working to get him on the ballot in all 50.

Most political observers give Kennedy little chance to beat either President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, or former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, in Nebraska or nationally.

However, some consider Kennedy a potential spoiler in swing districts where a percentage point or three could alter a state’s Electoral College votes. Among those is Nebraska’s Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District.

Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that split off electoral votes for president for the winners in each congressional district. Nebraska’s 2nd District backed Biden in 2020 and former President Barack Obama in 2008, sending each a single electoral vote.

Dona-Gene Barton, a political scientist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said third-party candidates in close races can “disrupt the election results.” It’s possible for Kennedy to siphon enough votes away from Biden to make a Trump win “more likely,” she said.&nbsp;

Trump won Nebraska statewide in 2016 and 2020.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711483800371.png" alt="Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.&nbsp; courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.&nbsp; courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/aaron-sanderford/">AARON SANDERFORD</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-ag-wins-case-against-ticket-scam-promising-access-to-former-huskers/">Nebraska Examine</a>rLINCOLN — Third-party presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose bid has spurred the ire of the current president as well as the previous president, turned in enough signatures this week in Nebraska that his name will likely reach the November ballot.The Kennedy campaign announced that it had turned in more than 5,000 signatures to the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office. The state’s chief election office now must check the voter registration file to verify at least 2,500 valid ones.Lane Koch, the Kennedy campaign’s regional director in the Midwest, thanked volunteers for “a historic day.” In addition to Nebraska, the Kennedy campaign said it has turned in signatures in 14 other states, including neighboring Iowa.&nbsp;Kennedy is already on the ballot in at least nine states: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. His campaign says it is still working to get him on the ballot in all 50.Most political observers give Kennedy little chance to beat either President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, or former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, in Nebraska or nationally.However, some consider Kennedy a potential spoiler in swing districts where a percentage point or three could alter a state’s Electoral College votes. Among those is Nebraska’s Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District.Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that split off electoral votes for president for the winners in each congressional district. Nebraska’s 2nd District backed Biden in 2020 and former President Barack Obama in 2008, sending each a single electoral vote.Dona-Gene Barton, a political scientist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said third-party candidates in close races can “disrupt the election results.” It’s possible for Kennedy to siphon enough votes away from Biden to make a Trump win “more likely,” she said.&nbsp;Trump won Nebraska statewide in 2016 and 2020.&nbsp;

RFK Jr. turns in more signatures to qualify for another state ballot

Bill slashes $1.2 billion over three years from income and property taxes

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said Friday she signed a bill reducing state taxes by $1.2 billion over three years that was approved with broad bipartisan support of legislators during a one-day special session.

The Democratic governor put pen to paper to make law of Senate Bill 1, a tax-reduction plan negotiated by Kelly and Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and GOP House Speaker Dan Hawkins. It won approval during Tuesday’s special session on votes of 121-2 in the House and 34-4 in the Senate.

“I am proud to be delivering on my commitment to responsible, meaningful tax relief for all Kansans,” Kelly said.

Kelly said in a statement the legislation reduced tax obligations of Kansans without threatening the state’s financial health. Overall, the bill would cost the state treasury an estimated $1.2 billion over three years or about $2 billion over five years.

The new law emphasized income tax changes by establishing a two-bracket system starting in tax year 2024. For married individuals filing jointly, taxable income from $0 to $46,000 would be taxed at 5.2%, while taxable income above $46,001 would be taxed at 4.58%. The existing three-bracket system had income tax rates of 3.1%, 5.2% and 5.7% depending on income levels.

Under the bill, the personal exemption from state income taxes presently at $2,250 for individuals would be elevated to $9,160, and there would be an additional $2,320 tax break for each dependent listed on the tax return. The standard deduction would grow from $3,500 to $3,605 for single filers and from $8,000 to $8,240 for married filers. In the 2024 tax year, the head of household deduction would expand from $6,000 to $6,180.

It eliminated in tax year 2024 a state tax on Social Security benefits that netted the state more than $100 million annually. More than 30 states don’t tax Social Security.

In addition, the legislation included a $6 million per year child and dependent care tax credit that was incorporated in the bill at Kelly’s request during closed-door negotiations.

The package would increase in the 2024 tax year the amount of residential property exempted from the statewide school finance levy to $75,000 of appraised value. Currently, the exemption from the 20-mill state level for K-12 schools stands at $42,000.

The legislation signed by Kelly dropped a plan to repeal on July 1 the state’s 2% state sales tax on groceries. That state’s sales tax on food will come to an end Jan. 1 under existing law.

The package deleted property tax reductions contained in previous bills vetoed by the governor, which led to calls by Republicans and Democrats to return to the Capitol in 2025 and move quickly on property tax relief.

Hawkins and Masterson, who are heading into a campaign season in which Democrats hope to crack the GOP’s two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate, said in a joint statement tax relief was “now officially on its way to every Kansan.”

“While we firmly believe more relief could have and should have been included in this bill, it is an important first step toward putting Kansas in the best position for economic growth,” the GOP lawmakers said. “When we return in January, we plan to&nbsp; build on this momentum with a focus on providing property tax relief for every Kansan.”&nbsp;

The bill negotiated by Kelly, Masterson and Hawkins reduced by about $50 million tax relief contained in Senate Bill 37, which was the last major tax bill vetoed by Kelly prior to calling the special session.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706447481513.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly signed a $1.2 billion, three-year tax reduction bill approved with large bipartisan majorities during a special session of the Legislature.&nbsp;The deal was negotiated by the Democratic governor and Senate President Ty Masterson, left, with House Speaker Dan Hawkins. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly signed a $1.2 billion, three-year tax reduction bill approved with large bipartisan majorities during a special session of the Legislature.&nbsp;The deal was negotiated by the Democratic governor and Senate President Ty Masterson, left, with House Speaker Dan Hawkins. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Bill slashes $1.2 billion over three years from income and property taxes</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said Friday she signed a bill reducing state taxes by $1.2 billion over three years that was approved with broad bipartisan support of legislators during a one-day special session.The Democratic governor put pen to paper to make law of Senate Bill 1, a tax-reduction plan negotiated by Kelly and Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and GOP House Speaker Dan Hawkins. It won approval during Tuesday’s special session on votes of 121-2 in the House and 34-4 in the Senate.“I am proud to be delivering on my commitment to responsible, meaningful tax relief for all Kansans,” Kelly said.Kelly said in a statement the legislation reduced tax obligations of Kansans without threatening the state’s financial health. Overall, the bill would cost the state treasury an estimated $1.2 billion over three years or about $2 billion over five years.The new law emphasized income tax changes by establishing a two-bracket system starting in tax year 2024. For married individuals filing jointly, taxable income from $0 to $46,000 would be taxed at 5.2%, while taxable income above $46,001 would be taxed at 4.58%. The existing three-bracket system had income tax rates of 3.1%, 5.2% and 5.7% depending on income levels.Under the bill, the personal exemption from state income taxes presently at $2,250 for individuals would be elevated to $9,160, and there would be an additional $2,320 tax break for each dependent listed on the tax return. The standard deduction would grow from $3,500 to $3,605 for single filers and from $8,000 to $8,240 for married filers. In the 2024 tax year, the head of household deduction would expand from $6,000 to $6,180.It eliminated in tax year 2024 a state tax on Social Security benefits that netted the state more than $100 million annually. More than 30 states don’t tax Social Security.In addition, the legislation included a $6 million per year child and dependent care tax credit that was incorporated in the bill at Kelly’s request during closed-door negotiations.The package would increase in the 2024 tax year the amount of residential property exempted from the statewide school finance levy to $75,000 of appraised value. Currently, the exemption from the 20-mill state level for K-12 schools stands at $42,000.The legislation signed by Kelly dropped a plan to repeal on July 1 the state’s 2% state sales tax on groceries. That state’s sales tax on food will come to an end Jan. 1 under existing law.The package deleted property tax reductions contained in previous bills vetoed by the governor, which led to calls by Republicans and Democrats to return to the Capitol in 2025 and move quickly on property tax relief.Hawkins and Masterson, who are heading into a campaign season in which Democrats hope to crack the GOP’s two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate, said in a joint statement tax relief was “now officially on its way to every Kansan.”“While we firmly believe more relief could have and should have been included in this bill, it is an important first step toward putting Kansas in the best position for economic growth,” the GOP lawmakers said. “When we return in January, we plan to&nbsp; build on this momentum with a focus on providing property tax relief for every Kansan.”&nbsp;The bill negotiated by Kelly, Masterson and Hawkins reduced by about $50 million tax relief contained in Senate Bill 37, which was the last major tax bill vetoed by Kelly prior to calling the special session.

Gov. Kelly signs tax reduction bill passed with bipartisan majorities in special session

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen accused in a&nbsp;violent attack on a Kansas teen made her first court appearance Thursday.

Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins, 18, Wichita,&nbsp;is charged with aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

Just after noon May 26, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a physical fight.&nbsp;

Immediately following the incident, investigators with the Wichita Police Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for three suspects. 

On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested two 18-year-old suspects. Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins and Tayronnia Jontashia West were jailed in connection with the crime.

On June 7, West was charged with Aggravated Battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; After her court appearance Thursday, Hollins remains free after meeting the requirement for bond.&nbsp; Her next court hearing is July 1, according to the district attorney's office.

Investigators are still attempting to locate a third suspect, a 16-year-old black female of Topeka.

If you have information related to this case, please call investigators at 316-268-4407 or make an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717690911383.png" alt="Hollins-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Hollins-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen accused in a&nbsp;violent attack on a Kansas teen made her first court appearance Thursday.Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins, 18, Wichita,&nbsp;is charged with aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;Just after noon May 26, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a physical fight.&nbsp;Immediately following the incident, investigators with the Wichita Police Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for three suspects. On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested two 18-year-old suspects. Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins and Tayronnia Jontashia West were jailed in connection with the crime.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717690818288.png" alt="West photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>West photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On June 7, West was charged with Aggravated Battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; After her court appearance Thursday, Hollins remains free after meeting the requirement for bond.&nbsp; Her next court hearing is July 1, according to the district attorney's office.Investigators are still attempting to locate a third suspect, a 16-year-old black female of Topeka.If you have information related to this case, please call investigators at 316-268-4407 or make an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Suspect accused of acid attack on Kan. teen remains free on bond

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 2:30a.m. Friday in Douglas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Kia Optima driven by Nash McKnight, 26, Topeka, was westbound on Interstate 70 approximately&nbsp;2 miles east of the Topeka Turnpike Service Center.

The driver failed to maintain the driving lane and sideswiped a westbound 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Wyatt Vestal, 20, Olathe.

After impact the Mercury traveled to the left and struck the barrier wall. The Kia rolled, traveled off the road, the driver was ejected and the car struck a rock wall.

McKnight was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported Forensic Medical. Vestal was not injured.&nbsp; McKnight was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 2:30a.m. Friday in Douglas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Kia Optima driven by Nash McKnight, 26, Topeka, was westbound on Interstate 70 approximately&nbsp;2 miles east of the Topeka Turnpike Service Center.The driver failed to maintain the driving lane and sideswiped a westbound 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Wyatt Vestal, 20, Olathe.After impact the Mercury traveled to the left and struck the barrier wall. The Kia rolled, traveled off the road, the driver was ejected and the car struck a rock wall.McKnight was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported Forensic Medical. Vestal was not injured.&nbsp; McKnight was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after ejected in 2-vehicle rollover crash 

Missouri House majority leader calls Kansas legislation a ‘wakeup call,’ anticipates lawmakers will craft a response to keep teams

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

State and local officials from Missouri denounced&nbsp; Kansas legislators’ attempt to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals across the state line, saying they would take steps to keep both teams.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, in a statement on Tuesday, said the city and state would continue negotiations with the teams that Missouri and Kansas City have “welcomed, funded and supported … since the 1960s.”&nbsp;

“We remain in the first quarter of the Kansas City stadium discussion,” Lucas said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/18/kansas-legislature-chiefs-royals/">Kansas lawmakers on Tuesday passed legislation</a>&nbsp;meant to help finance new stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in an attempt to relocate one or both teams from Missouri. The legislation, an expansion of the state’s existing&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/community-programs/star-bonds/">Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond</a>&nbsp;program, could yield hundreds of millions of dollars for each stadium.

It comes after Jackson County, Missouri, voters in April rejected the extension of a sales tax to help finance a new downtown Kansas City baseball stadium for the Royals and upgrades to the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas lawmakers who supported the STAR Bond legislation said it was necessary to keep the teams in the Kansas City area.

“We’re in jeopardy of Kansas City losing those franchises,” Kansas Sen. Jeff Pittman, a Leavenworth Democrat, said during debate on the bill Tuesday. “Missouri has dropped the ball. We now have an opportunity to make an offer.”&nbsp;

After Kansas lawmakers’ vote, Missouri legislators said they hoped and expected to see the state put forward a plan.&nbsp;

“It’s a wakeup call to Missouri that there are other states that are willing to do whatever it takes to get the teams,” Missouri House Majority Leader Jonathan Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, said in an interview Thursday.

Patterson, who is in line to become speaker of the House next year, said he expected to see Missouri put together a plan after this summer’s primary elections and before the Missouri General Assembly returns for its legislative session in January. He said it was possible legislators would be called back to Jefferson City for a special session but didn’t think it was necessary.

<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li_2024s/b2023_24/measures/hb2001/">The Kansas legislation</a>&nbsp;would help finance up to 70% of a stadium project — with a minimum $1 billion price tag and 30,000 seats — by issuing bonds to be repaid with the state sales tax collected in the STAR Bond district. Liquor taxes from the district and funds from the state’s legalization of sports betting also could be used to repay the bonds.

The offer remains in place for a year and is limited to National Football League or Major League Baseball teams in states adjacent to Kansas.&nbsp;

Kansas’ attempt to poach the teams was seen by several Missouri lawmakers as a violation of a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://governor.kansas.gov/laura-kelly-reaching-across-the-aisle-to-end-the-kansas-missouri-border-war/">truce the two states reached five years ago</a>&nbsp;to stop offering incentives to move businesses back and forth the state line in the Kansas City area.&nbsp;

But Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, didn’t see it that way.

“The border war was really focused on businesses like AMC Theatres, which went back and forth, back and forth,” Kelly said. “We never discussed teams.”

For years, the two states engaged in an economic development “border war,” offering incentives to companies that jumped the state line, spending taxpayer funds while largely not creating any new jobs.&nbsp;

“Today’s vote regrettably restarts the Missouri-Kansas incentive border war, creating leverage for the teams, but injecting even greater uncertainty into the regional stadium conversation,” Lucas said Tuesday.&nbsp;

In a statement Tuesday, Jackson County, Missouri, Executive Frank White Jr. urged state and local governments to abide by the border war truce “and refrain from engaging in a counterproductive stadium bidding war.”

“We must focus on common sense over politics,” White said. “Our resources should be used wisely to improve the lives of our residents, not wasted on bidding wars that only serve to drain public funds and divide our region.”

White said in order to agree to subsidies for a stadium he expects “a complete and transparent plan that offers tangible benefits to our taxpayers.”

“My office remains open to conversations with the Royals, Chiefs, lawmakers, and other stakeholders, but any proposal must meet this standard and make sense for our community,” he said.

Missouri Sen. Denny Hoskins, a Warrensburg Republican, said the border war “didn’t benefit anyone” and saw Kansas’ push to relocate the teams as a violation.&nbsp;

He said he wanted to see the Missouri Department of Economic Development make an offer to keep the teams, but he didn’t support the idea of lawmakers being called back to Jefferson City for a special session and didn’t want a package that could put taxpayers on the hook.&nbsp;

“We want to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and KC Royals in the state of Missouri, but we can’t saddle taxpayers with billions of dollars in debt to help finance stadiums,” he said.&nbsp;

Hoskins, who is running in the GOP primary for secretary of state, said he thought the Kansas plan was based on lofty revenue expectations and that the stadiums wouldn’t generate enough activity to pay off the bonds without additional assistance from Kansas taxpayers. He didn’t want to see Missouri put forward a similar plan.

“Missouri taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for financing stadiums for billion-dollar corporations and multimillion-dollar athletes,” he said. “It’s hard enough being a Missourian right now just trying to keep your own money in your pocket, let alone financing stadiums for a billion-dollar industry.”&nbsp;

Patterson called the border war talk “somewhat irrelevant.”&nbsp;

“It’s obvious that Kansas is going to act,” he said, “and I think we should focus on acting ourselves and not crying about some sort of truce that may or may not have been agreed to regarding the teams.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718763171046.png" alt="A red-clad crowd packs Arrowhead Stadium to watch the Kansas City Chiefs play (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)." />
 <figcaption>A red-clad crowd packs Arrowhead Stadium to watch the Kansas City Chiefs play (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Missouri House majority leader calls Kansas legislation a ‘wakeup call,’ anticipates lawmakers will craft a response to keep teams</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>State and local officials from Missouri denounced&nbsp; Kansas legislators’ attempt to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals across the state line, saying they would take steps to keep both teams.Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, in a statement on Tuesday, said the city and state would continue negotiations with the teams that Missouri and Kansas City have “welcomed, funded and supported … since the 1960s.”&nbsp;“We remain in the first quarter of the Kansas City stadium discussion,” Lucas said.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/18/kansas-legislature-chiefs-royals/">Kansas lawmakers on Tuesday passed legislation</a>&nbsp;meant to help finance new stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in an attempt to relocate one or both teams from Missouri. The legislation, an expansion of the state’s existing&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/community-programs/star-bonds/">Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond</a>&nbsp;program, could yield hundreds of millions of dollars for each stadium.It comes after Jackson County, Missouri, voters in April rejected the extension of a sales tax to help finance a new downtown Kansas City baseball stadium for the Royals and upgrades to the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium.Kansas lawmakers who supported the STAR Bond legislation said it was necessary to keep the teams in the Kansas City area.“We’re in jeopardy of Kansas City losing those franchises,” Kansas Sen. Jeff Pittman, a Leavenworth Democrat, said during debate on the bill Tuesday. “Missouri has dropped the ball. We now have an opportunity to make an offer.”&nbsp;After Kansas lawmakers’ vote, Missouri legislators said they hoped and expected to see the state put forward a plan.&nbsp;“It’s a wakeup call to Missouri that there are other states that are willing to do whatever it takes to get the teams,” Missouri House Majority Leader Jonathan Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, said in an interview Thursday.Patterson, who is in line to become speaker of the House next year, said he expected to see Missouri put together a plan after this summer’s primary elections and before the Missouri General Assembly returns for its legislative session in January. He said it was possible legislators would be called back to Jefferson City for a special session but didn’t think it was necessary.<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li_2024s/b2023_24/measures/hb2001/">The Kansas legislation</a>&nbsp;would help finance up to 70% of a stadium project — with a minimum $1 billion price tag and 30,000 seats — by issuing bonds to be repaid with the state sales tax collected in the STAR Bond district. Liquor taxes from the district and funds from the state’s legalization of sports betting also could be used to repay the bonds.The offer remains in place for a year and is limited to National Football League or Major League Baseball teams in states adjacent to Kansas.&nbsp;Kansas’ attempt to poach the teams was seen by several Missouri lawmakers as a violation of a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://governor.kansas.gov/laura-kelly-reaching-across-the-aisle-to-end-the-kansas-missouri-border-war/">truce the two states reached five years ago</a>&nbsp;to stop offering incentives to move businesses back and forth the state line in the Kansas City area.&nbsp;But Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, didn’t see it that way.“The border war was really focused on businesses like AMC Theatres, which went back and forth, back and forth,” Kelly said. “We never discussed teams.”For years, the two states engaged in an economic development “border war,” offering incentives to companies that jumped the state line, spending taxpayer funds while largely not creating any new jobs.&nbsp;“Today’s vote regrettably restarts the Missouri-Kansas incentive border war, creating leverage for the teams, but injecting even greater uncertainty into the regional stadium conversation,” Lucas said Tuesday.&nbsp;In a statement Tuesday, Jackson County, Missouri, Executive Frank White Jr. urged state and local governments to abide by the border war truce “and refrain from engaging in a counterproductive stadium bidding war.”“We must focus on common sense over politics,” White said. “Our resources should be used wisely to improve the lives of our residents, not wasted on bidding wars that only serve to drain public funds and divide our region.”White said in order to agree to subsidies for a stadium he expects “a complete and transparent plan that offers tangible benefits to our taxpayers.”“My office remains open to conversations with the Royals, Chiefs, lawmakers, and other stakeholders, but any proposal must meet this standard and make sense for our community,” he said.Missouri Sen. Denny Hoskins, a Warrensburg Republican, said the border war “didn’t benefit anyone” and saw Kansas’ push to relocate the teams as a violation.&nbsp;He said he wanted to see the Missouri Department of Economic Development make an offer to keep the teams, but he didn’t support the idea of lawmakers being called back to Jefferson City for a special session and didn’t want a package that could put taxpayers on the hook.&nbsp;“We want to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and KC Royals in the state of Missouri, but we can’t saddle taxpayers with billions of dollars in debt to help finance stadiums,” he said.&nbsp;Hoskins, who is running in the GOP primary for secretary of state, said he thought the Kansas plan was based on lofty revenue expectations and that the stadiums wouldn’t generate enough activity to pay off the bonds without additional assistance from Kansas taxpayers. He didn’t want to see Missouri put forward a similar plan.“Missouri taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for financing stadiums for billion-dollar corporations and multimillion-dollar athletes,” he said. “It’s hard enough being a Missourian right now just trying to keep your own money in your pocket, let alone financing stadiums for a billion-dollar industry.”&nbsp;Patterson called the border war talk “somewhat irrelevant.”&nbsp;“It’s obvious that Kansas is going to act,” he said, “and I think we should focus on acting ourselves and not crying about some sort of truce that may or may not have been agreed to regarding the teams.”

Missouri lawmakers criticize Kansas attempt to poach Royals, Chiefs

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of a child in Shawnee County and have arrested the child's mother.

Shortly after 11:30 a.m. Thursday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an incident on SW Worwick Town Road, according to Sheriff's Deputy Abigail Christian.

First responders found a 9-year-old child located inside the residence, suffering from multiple wounds to the chest and neck. The child was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Detectives were in the process of executing a search warrant at the&nbsp; home. The mother of the deceased child, Shyla M. Goracke, 29, of Topeka, has been placed into custody in connection with the matter. She is currently at a local hospital. An autopsy examination is scheduled for Friday.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of a child in Shawnee County.

First responders found&nbsp;a deceased child and took an adult into custody.

SW Worwick Town Road was currently closed between SW Gamwell Road and SW 40th Street while the investigation continues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718926405051.png" alt="Photo Courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of a child in Shawnee County and have arrested the child's mother.Shortly after 11:30 a.m. Thursday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an incident on SW Worwick Town Road, according to Sheriff's Deputy Abigail Christian.First responders found a 9-year-old child located inside the residence, suffering from multiple wounds to the chest and neck. The child was pronounced deceased at the scene.Detectives were in the process of executing a search warrant at the&nbsp; home. The mother of the deceased child, Shyla M. Goracke, 29, of Topeka, has been placed into custody in connection with the matter. She is currently at a local hospital. An autopsy examination is scheduled for Friday.----------------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of a child in Shawnee County.Shortly after 11:30 a.m. Thursday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an incident on SW Worwick Town Road, according to Sheriff's Deputy Abigail Christian.First responders found&nbsp;a deceased child and took an adult into custody.SW Worwick Town Road was currently closed between SW Gamwell Road and SW 40th Street while the investigation continues.

Kan. mother in custody after her 9-year-old child found dead

KANSAS CITY —A woman injured in a shooting in Kansas City has died.

Just before 1a.m. June 17, police&nbsp;responded to a shooting at 3200 E. Linwood, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Upon arrival officers located 29-year-old Taylor Thomas&nbsp;lying in the yard just to the east of a nearby building suffering from apparent gunshot injuries.&nbsp; EMS transported her to an area hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries.

On Thursday police learned Thomas had died.&nbsp;This is being investigated as a homicide and detectives are making progress identifying a person of interest, according to Gonzalez.

KANSAS CITY —A woman injured in a shooting in Kansas City has died.Just before 1a.m. June 17, police&nbsp;responded to a shooting at 3200 E. Linwood, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Upon arrival officers located 29-year-old Taylor Thomas&nbsp;lying in the yard just to the east of a nearby building suffering from apparent gunshot injuries.&nbsp; EMS transported her to an area hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries.On Thursday police learned Thomas had died.&nbsp;This is being investigated as a homicide and detectives are making progress identifying a person of interest, according to Gonzalez.

Homicide: KC woman dies four days after injured in shooting

BOONE COUNTY—A Missouri man died in an accident just after 11:30a.m. Thursday in Boone County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Chevy Traverse driven by Mark W. Locke, 50, was northbound on Highway 63 at South Westbrook Drive.

The SUV pulled into the path of a 2018 Buick Envision driven by Nancy J. Beckman, 65, Hollister. The Buck struck the Chevy.

Locke was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the county medical examiner's office. University Ambulance transported Beckman and a passenger in the Buick Mary A. Arnold, 63, Hollister, to University Hospital. The MSHP had incomplete seat belt usage information.

BOONE COUNTY—A Missouri man died in an accident just after 11:30a.m. Thursday in Boone County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Chevy Traverse driven by Mark W. Locke, 50, was northbound on Highway 63 at South Westbrook Drive.The SUV pulled into the path of a 2018 Buick Envision driven by Nancy J. Beckman, 65, Hollister. The Buck struck the Chevy.Locke was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the county medical examiner's office. University Ambulance transported Beckman and a passenger in the Buick Mary A. Arnold, 63, Hollister, to University Hospital. The MSHP had incomplete seat belt usage information.

Missouri man dies, 2 women injured after 2-vehicle crash

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) experienced the busiest May in its history last month, according to a statement from the airport.

The Kansas City Aviation Department reports that 1,107,092 passengers arrived and departed through Kansas City International Airport’s gates in May 2024, an 8.1-percent increase from May 2023 and an all-time high for the month of May.

"Passenger traffic at Kansas City International Airport has been steadily growing, and hitting an all-time high in May is an amazing milestone,” said Director of Aviation Melissa Cooper.

 “We feel this is driven by a strong local economy, competitive air fares, and new and enhanced air service by our airline partners. The new terminal, which opened last year, has created an environment for the airlines to add routes and use larger capacity aircraft, which translates to more passengers. Many thanks to the airlines and the Kansas City region for the continued growth.

”Passenger boardings were up 8.4 percent, with a total of 568,183 boarded. Year-to-date passenger boardings are 2,361,129, up 7.6 percent. For the year to date, total passengers in and out total 4,711,870, up 7.6 percent.

Air cargo tonnages, which consist of both freight and mail transported by air, for all carriers at Kansas City International were up 20.9 percent in May with a total of 23.8 million pounds handled. Year to date, 105.6 million pounds of air cargo has been handled, up 9.1 percent. Air freight handled at Kansas City International during May amounted to 23.3 million pounds, up 23.7 percent year-over-year. 

Year to date, air freight is up 11.7 percent with a total of 104.5 million pounds handled. Air mail for May was down 40.3 percent from May 2023 with 513,118 pounds handled. Air mail year to date for 2024 is down 65.6 percent from 2023 with 1.1 million pounds handled.The number of peak-day scheduled aircraft departures for May 2024 was 162. Service was offered to 49 nonstop markets. There was an average of 44,318 arriving and departing scheduled seats in the market each day. The all-cargo carriers reported 11 daily departures for May.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718925599043.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas City International Airport" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas City International Airport</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City International Airport (MCI) experienced the busiest May in its history last month, according to a statement from the airport.The Kansas City Aviation Department reports that 1,107,092 passengers arrived and departed through Kansas City International Airport’s gates in May 2024, an 8.1-percent increase from May 2023 and an all-time high for the month of May."Passenger traffic at Kansas City International Airport has been steadily growing, and hitting an all-time high in May is an amazing milestone,” said Director of Aviation Melissa Cooper. “We feel this is driven by a strong local economy, competitive air fares, and new and enhanced air service by our airline partners. The new terminal, which opened last year, has created an environment for the airlines to add routes and use larger capacity aircraft, which translates to more passengers. Many thanks to the airlines and the Kansas City region for the continued growth.”Passenger boardings were up 8.4 percent, with a total of 568,183 boarded. Year-to-date passenger boardings are 2,361,129, up 7.6 percent. For the year to date, total passengers in and out total 4,711,870, up 7.6 percent.Air cargo tonnages, which consist of both freight and mail transported by air, for all carriers at Kansas City International were up 20.9 percent in May with a total of 23.8 million pounds handled. Year to date, 105.6 million pounds of air cargo has been handled, up 9.1 percent. Air freight handled at Kansas City International during May amounted to 23.3 million pounds, up 23.7 percent year-over-year. Year to date, air freight is up 11.7 percent with a total of 104.5 million pounds handled. Air mail for May was down 40.3 percent from May 2023 with 513,118 pounds handled. Air mail year to date for 2024 is down 65.6 percent from 2023 with 1.1 million pounds handled.The number of peak-day scheduled aircraft departures for May 2024 was 162. Service was offered to 49 nonstop markets. There was an average of 44,318 arriving and departing scheduled seats in the market each day. The all-cargo carriers reported 11 daily departures for May.

Kansas City International Airport: Busiest May in airport history

LABETTE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 11p.m. Thursday in Labette County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Ford Ranger driven by Jake R. Westhoff, 35, St. Paul, was eastbound on 27000 Road just east of Rooks Road.

The pickup rear-ended a 2001 Honda motorcycle driven by George WM Shaw, 61, Parsons, that was disabled with no lights on.

Shaw was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Medical. Westhoff was not injured. Shaw was not wearding a helmet, according to the KHP.

LABETTE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 11p.m. Thursday in Labette County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Ford Ranger driven by Jake R. Westhoff, 35, St. Paul, was eastbound on 27000 Road just east of Rooks Road.The pickup rear-ended a 2001 Honda motorcycle driven by George WM Shaw, 61, Parsons, that was disabled with no lights on.Shaw was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Medical. Westhoff was not injured. Shaw was not wearding a helmet, according to the KHP.

Kan. man dies after pickup rear-ends broken down motorcycle

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide that occurred Tuesday northeast of Kearney, Missouri, according to a statement from the Clay County Sheriff.

At 10 p.m. June 18, a 911 caller reported a man had been shot at a home in the 16200 block of Kountry Ridge Drive. 

Ricky Allen, 50, died at the scene. Deputies took the suspect into custody at the home. 

Allen's wife, Melissa I. Hoffner-Allen, has now been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in his death. She is being held in our detention center on a $250,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718879912924.png" alt="Hoffner-Allen photo Clay County&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Hoffner-Allen photo Clay County&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide that occurred Tuesday northeast of Kearney, Missouri, according to a statement from the Clay County Sheriff.At 10 p.m. June 18, a 911 caller reported a man had been shot at a home in the 16200 block of Kountry Ridge Drive. Ricky Allen, 50, died at the scene. Deputies took the suspect into custody at the home. Allen's wife, Melissa I. Hoffner-Allen, has now been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in his death. She is being held in our detention center on a $250,000 bond.

Sheriff: Rural KC-area woman charged with killing her husband

HUTCHINSON, Kan —A man who tried to kill a woman and shot at a car with her and their children in it&nbsp;was sentenced to 240 months in prison with a 36 months post release on Thursday morning.

Reno County Senior Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Rodebaugh told Hutch Post on May 3, that the defendant, Kamden Campos, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated kidnapping, no contest to four separate attempts to kill the woman, guilty to knowingly causing great bodily harm to the 22 month old in the car, as a bullet had entered the license plate, traveled through the car seat and entered the back of the toddler.

Campos also plead no contest to attempted murder in the first degree of a baby who was also in the back seat when the car was shot at and plead guilty to two counts of criminal threat.

The pleas of guilty were admission of guilt. The no contest pleas were admissions that the State of Kansas had sufficient evidence to prove his guilt and that evidence was not contested.&nbsp;

The prosecution informed the Court of the factual basis to support the counts and he was then found guilty.&nbsp;

The prosecution for the case was conducted by Assistant Senior District Attorney Kimberly Rodebaugh and Assistant District Attorney Sierra Logan.&nbsp;Kampos was represented by Criminal Defense Attorney Kurt P. Kerns.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669822978225.jpeg" alt="Kamden Campos-photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Kamden Campos-photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>EMMIE BOESE&nbsp;&nbsp;Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan —A man who tried to kill a woman and shot at a car with her and their children in it&nbsp;was sentenced to 240 months in prison with a 36 months post release on Thursday morning.Reno County Senior Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Rodebaugh told Hutch Post on May 3, that the defendant, Kamden Campos, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated kidnapping, no contest to four separate attempts to kill the woman, guilty to knowingly causing great bodily harm to the 22 month old in the car, as a bullet had entered the license plate, traveled through the car seat and entered the back of the toddler.Campos also plead no contest to attempted murder in the first degree of a baby who was also in the back seat when the car was shot at and plead guilty to two counts of criminal threat.The pleas of guilty were admission of guilt. The no contest pleas were admissions that the State of Kansas had sufficient evidence to prove his guilt and that evidence was not contested.&nbsp;The prosecution informed the Court of the factual basis to support the counts and he was then found guilty.&nbsp;The prosecution for the case was conducted by Assistant Senior District Attorney Kimberly Rodebaugh and Assistant District Attorney Sierra Logan.&nbsp;Kampos was represented by Criminal Defense Attorney Kurt P. Kerns.

 Kansas man going to prison for abduction, shooting toddler

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged theft and burglary.

Just after 7p.m. June 19, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an enclosed trailer that had been stolen from a rural property near Delia, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

A Jackson County Deputy located the stolen trailer at a residence in Rossville. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and Silver Lake Police then located the suspect at a different address in the City of Rossville. 

The suspect, Tanner Joseph Allen, 27, of Rossville, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of theft, burglary and criminal damage to property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718727037393.png" alt="Allen-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Allen-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged theft and burglary.Just after 7p.m. June 19, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an enclosed trailer that had been stolen from a rural property near Delia, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.A Jackson County Deputy located the stolen trailer at a residence in Rossville. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and Silver Lake Police then located the suspect at a different address in the City of Rossville. The suspect, Tanner Joseph Allen, 27, of Rossville, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of theft, burglary and criminal damage to property.

Sheriff: Kansas man accused of trailer theft from rural property

Fort Hays State leads surge at 5.2%; followed by a 5% increase at KU

TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents unanimously voted Thursday to raise tuition and fees an average of 3.9% for full-time, in-state undergraduate students at the five state public universities requesting revenue enhancements from that source.

Members of the Board of Regents defended the increases by touting a report showing the result would be that raises to tuition and fees for resident undergraduates in the university system ranged from 4.4% to 22.2% since 2020. The national consumer price index, known as CPI-U, went up 22.5% from 2020 to 2024. The Higher Education Price Index, issued by Commonfund Institute, grew 15.7% over those years.

“We’re all aware of the need to keep higher education affordable, but also understand the pressure that inflationary factors are placing on every enterprise, including higher education,” said Blake Benson, a Board of Regents member from Pittsburg.

The Board of Regents released a document indicating overall state university tuition and fee increases for undergraduate in-state students over a five-year period, including the 2025 adjustments, would average 11.8%. Decisions of the Board of Regents pushed up tuition and fees through those years by 10% at University of Kansas, 7.5% at Kansas State University, 22.2% at Wichita State University, 4.4% at Emporia State University, 14.5% at Pittsburg State University and 12.4% at Fort Hays State University.

Wint Winter, a Lawrence member of the Board of Regents, said his support for the latest tuition and fee changes was influenced by action of the Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly to expand student financial aid from $24 million annually to $97 million annually since 2021.

He said the six state universities also reduced operating costs during the past five years by $219 million and eliminated the equivalent of 675 full-time job positions.

“This is one of the most important and powerful decisions that this board has to make,” Winter said. “If you want to talk about net student financial load, I think the regents institutions, the governor and the Legislature have done a great job in the last five years in holding tuition down much below inflation.”

The average 3.9% adjustment this fall in state university tuition and fees reflected increases at five of the six state universities. Emporia State settled on a 3.4% reduction in tuition and fees attained by diminishing student fees and holding tuition flat.

In May, ESU administrators put forward a plan to raise tuition by 4%. That idea was dropped to zero before the Board of Regents convened for its June meeting. If ESU’s reduction in the combined tuition and fees figure was included in statistics covering all six universities, the average increase in tuition and fees at the universities would be 2.7%.

Enrollment at ESU spiraled the past couple years as administrators dismissed tenured faculty, realigned course offerings and sought to “right-size” the university in exchange for special funding from the Legislature. An extraordinary $9 million earmark that inflated state funding to ESU last year was renewed because the governor declined to veto for a second time during the 2024 legislative session a Republican-driven provision appropriating the $9 million in this year’s state spending bill.

Here are the per semester, full-time undergraduate tuition and fee rates for 2024-2025 and what those changes mean compared last year’s rates: KU, $6,141, up $291 or 5%; KSU, $5,610, up $139 or 2.5%; WSU, $4,841, up $180 or 3.9%; PSU, $4,200, up $122 or 3%; ESU, $3,547, down $125 or 3.4%; FHSU, $2,964, up $147 or 5.2%.

Nonresident undergraduate tuition and fees — there are a variety of programs to waive the out-of-state premium — were increased at the same five universities and reduced at ESU by 1.6% to $7,704.

Undergraduate students from other states attending KU would pay $15,306 per semester this fall, which would be a $600 increase of 4.1%. K-State intends to charge $14,283 for nonresident undergraduate students, an amount $375 or 2.7% greater than last fall. Here are the other figures: WSU, $9,994, up $374 or 3.9%; PSU, $9,872, up $122 or 1.3%; and FHSU, $8,888, up $482 or 5.7%.

The Board of Regents adopted comparable increases for graduate students that was sought by the universities and unanimously approved by the board’s fiscal affairs subcommittee.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718919593168.png" alt=" The Kansas Board of Regents agreed to increase student tuition and fees at Kansas Board of Regents universities. Richard Linton, president at Kansas State University, received permission to hike tuition and fees for in-state undergraduate students by 2.5%, or $139 per semester, to $5,610. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Board of Regents’ YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption> The Kansas Board of Regents agreed to increase student tuition and fees at Kansas Board of Regents universities. Richard Linton, president at Kansas State University, received permission to hike tuition and fees for in-state undergraduate students by 2.5%, or $139 per semester, to $5,610. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Board of Regents’ YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Fort Hays State leads surge at 5.2%; followed by a 5% increase at KU</h2>TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents unanimously voted Thursday to raise tuition and fees an average of 3.9% for full-time, in-state undergraduate students at the five state public universities requesting revenue enhancements from that source.Members of the Board of Regents defended the increases by touting a report showing the result would be that raises to tuition and fees for resident undergraduates in the university system ranged from 4.4% to 22.2% since 2020. The national consumer price index, known as CPI-U, went up 22.5% from 2020 to 2024. The Higher Education Price Index, issued by Commonfund Institute, grew 15.7% over those years.“We’re all aware of the need to keep higher education affordable, but also understand the pressure that inflationary factors are placing on every enterprise, including higher education,” said Blake Benson, a Board of Regents member from Pittsburg.The Board of Regents released a document indicating overall state university tuition and fee increases for undergraduate in-state students over a five-year period, including the 2025 adjustments, would average 11.8%. Decisions of the Board of Regents pushed up tuition and fees through those years by 10% at University of Kansas, 7.5% at Kansas State University, 22.2% at Wichita State University, 4.4% at Emporia State University, 14.5% at Pittsburg State University and 12.4% at Fort Hays State University.Wint Winter, a Lawrence member of the Board of Regents, said his support for the latest tuition and fee changes was influenced by action of the Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly to expand student financial aid from $24 million annually to $97 million annually since 2021.He said the six state universities also reduced operating costs during the past five years by $219 million and eliminated the equivalent of 675 full-time job positions.“This is one of the most important and powerful decisions that this board has to make,” Winter said. “If you want to talk about net student financial load, I think the regents institutions, the governor and the Legislature have done a great job in the last five years in holding tuition down much below inflation.”The average 3.9% adjustment this fall in state university tuition and fees reflected increases at five of the six state universities. Emporia State settled on a 3.4% reduction in tuition and fees attained by diminishing student fees and holding tuition flat.In May, ESU administrators put forward a plan to raise tuition by 4%. That idea was dropped to zero before the Board of Regents convened for its June meeting. If ESU’s reduction in the combined tuition and fees figure was included in statistics covering all six universities, the average increase in tuition and fees at the universities would be 2.7%.Enrollment at ESU spiraled the past couple years as administrators dismissed tenured faculty, realigned course offerings and sought to “right-size” the university in exchange for special funding from the Legislature. An extraordinary $9 million earmark that inflated state funding to ESU last year was renewed because the governor declined to veto for a second time during the 2024 legislative session a Republican-driven provision appropriating the $9 million in this year’s state spending bill.Here are the per semester, full-time undergraduate tuition and fee rates for 2024-2025 and what those changes mean compared last year’s rates: KU, $6,141, up $291 or 5%; KSU, $5,610, up $139 or 2.5%; WSU, $4,841, up $180 or 3.9%; PSU, $4,200, up $122 or 3%; ESU, $3,547, down $125 or 3.4%; FHSU, $2,964, up $147 or 5.2%.Nonresident undergraduate tuition and fees — there are a variety of programs to waive the out-of-state premium — were increased at the same five universities and reduced at ESU by 1.6% to $7,704.Undergraduate students from other states attending KU would pay $15,306 per semester this fall, which would be a $600 increase of 4.1%. K-State intends to charge $14,283 for nonresident undergraduate students, an amount $375 or 2.7% greater than last fall. Here are the other figures: WSU, $9,994, up $374 or 3.9%; PSU, $9,872, up $122 or 1.3%; and FHSU, $8,888, up $482 or 5.7%.The Board of Regents adopted comparable increases for graduate students that was sought by the universities and unanimously approved by the board’s fiscal affairs subcommittee.

Kan. Regents adopt average 3.9% tuition, fee hike for in-state, undergraduates

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement and railroad officials continue investigating a fatal accident in Topeka.

Just after 5p.m. Tuesday, a Union Pacific train struck and killed an individual near N Kansas Ave and NE Norris Street, according to&nbsp;Meg Siffring with Union Pacific.

The train crew was not injured. Union Pacific is working with local authorities to understand what led up to the incident.&nbsp; Train operations resumed about 9:15 p.m. Tuesdayt

 The name of the victim has not been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718757295503.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement and railroad officials continue investigating a fatal accident in Topeka.Just after 5p.m. Tuesday, a Union Pacific train struck and killed an individual near N Kansas Ave and NE Norris Street, according to&nbsp;Meg Siffring with Union Pacific.The train crew was not injured. Union Pacific is working with local authorities to understand what led up to the incident.&nbsp; Train operations resumed about 9:15 p.m. Tuesdayt The name of the victim has not been released.

Fatal Kan. train, pedestrian incident remains under investigation

MARION COUNTY —First responders are on the scene of a double-fatal crash in Marion County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the crash involving two vehicles occurred just after 6:30 a.m. on Highway 50 just west of Florence. Each vehicle had a single occupant.

Authorities released no additional details just before 9 a.m. Thursday.

The roadway continues to experience traffic issues as first responders remain on scene to further investigate this tragic event. Please continue to avoid the area and use alternative routes.

Check the Post for additional details as they are released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718907171392.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>MARION COUNTY —First responders are on the scene of a double-fatal crash in Marion County.According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the crash involving two vehicles occurred just after 6:30 a.m. on Highway 50 just west of Florence. Each vehicle had a single occupant.Authorities released no additional details just before 9 a.m. Thursday.The roadway continues to experience traffic issues as first responders remain on scene to further investigate this tragic event. Please continue to avoid the area and use alternative routes.Check the Post for additional details as they are released.

KHP IDs two Kansas men who died after head-on crash

BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

A lawsuit filed by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey accusing Planned Parenthood of transporting minors out of state for abortions will move forward, a judge ruled Tuesday evening.

The lawsuit is based on conversations between Planned Parenthood staff and a man with Project Veritas who secretly filmed the staff while<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article289159614.html">&nbsp;inquiring about an abortion for his fake 13-year-old niece.&nbsp;</a>

Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which runs the Kansas City area clinic where the video was taken, asked that the judge dismiss the lawsuit shortly after it was filed.&nbsp;

“We’re reviewing all our options and will continue to vigorously defend this case based on hypotheticals and fictitious patients,” Erin Thompson, general counsel with Planned Parenthood Great Plain, said in a statement Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665657486023.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>A lawsuit filed by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey accusing Planned Parenthood of transporting minors out of state for abortions will move forward, a judge ruled Tuesday evening.The lawsuit is based on conversations between Planned Parenthood staff and a man with Project Veritas who secretly filmed the staff while<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article289159614.html">&nbsp;inquiring about an abortion for his fake 13-year-old niece.&nbsp;</a>Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which runs the Kansas City area clinic where the video was taken, asked that the judge dismiss the lawsuit shortly after it was filed.&nbsp;“We’re reviewing all our options and will continue to vigorously defend this case based on hypotheticals and fictitious patients,” Erin Thompson, general counsel with Planned Parenthood Great Plain, said in a statement Wednesday.<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/10/planned-parenthood-andrew-bailey-project-veritas/">At a hearing in early June,</a>&nbsp;John Andrew Hirth, an attorney for Planned Parenthood, said there was no proof the Kansas City area clinic broke the law.“There’s no allegation that any abortion has been performed either in Missouri or outside of Missouri, with or without parental consent here,” Hirth said. “The whole conversation is hypothetical.”But Boone County Judge Brouck Jacobs found merit for moving forward with the case. He did not issue an opinion along with his ruling explaining his reasoning.“This is the beginning of the end for Planned Parenthood in the State of Missouri,” Bailey said in a statement Tuesday following the ruling.The video, captured in December, was posted on social media by Project Veritas, a self-proclaimed right wing news organization that often conducts undercover stings.&nbsp;The man filming in the clinic told staff that the made-up girl’s parents couldn’t know about the abortion. Staff then directed him to their affiliate clinics in Kansas where they said he could “bypass” parental consent.&nbsp; When the man asked how often girls go out of state for abortions, the Planned Parenthood employee said it happens “every day.”Kathryn Monroe, who represented the attorney general’s office at the hearing, said while the man’s questions were hypothetical, the employee at Planned Parenthood thought the situation was real.&nbsp;“There was admitted conduct about what they would do in this actual situation,” she said.The attorney general’s office in its arguments before the court pointed to Missouri law which states: “No one shall intentionally cause aid or assist a minor to obtain an abortion.”&nbsp;That law was written before the state’s trigger law went into place in June 2022, effectively making all abortions — with the exception of life-threatening situations — illegal.Missouri doesn’t have explicit laws requiring parental consent for minors getting abortions in other states, nor does it prohibit minors from going to other states to get abortions.<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/statute/065_000_0000_chapter/065_067_0000_article/065_067_0005_section/065_067_0005_k/">Kansas law</a>&nbsp;requires physicians to either obtain parental consent or to go through the judicial bypass process where a judge can authorize a minor to get an abortion without parental consent.A spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Great Plains said in February that they do not provide any form of transportation directly to any patients, regardless of age or where they live.