JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a deadly shooting that left 15-year-old Brianna Rachelle Higgins of Lawrence dead, according to Olathe Police Sergeant John Moncayo.

A friend established <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/brianna-rachell-higgins">an online fundraiser</a> for the family.

Just before 11 p.m. Jan. 19, police were contacted at Olathe Medical Center about a 15-year-old girl who had been driven to the hospital with an apparent gunshot wound.

Officers on scene assisted with bringing Higgins into the hospital for life-saving measures, but she was pronounced deceased.

Police determined the shooting occurred near the 16900 block of West 127th&nbsp;Street.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Police have not reported an arrest or suspect information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706095295950.png" alt=" Brianna Higgins photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption> Brianna Higgins photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a deadly shooting that left 15-year-old Brianna Rachelle Higgins of Lawrence dead, according to Olathe Police Sergeant John Moncayo.A friend established <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/brianna-rachell-higgins">an online fundraiser</a> for the family.Just before 11 p.m. Jan. 19, police were contacted at Olathe Medical Center about a 15-year-old girl who had been driven to the hospital with an apparent gunshot wound.Officers on scene assisted with bringing Higgins into the hospital for life-saving measures, but she was pronounced deceased.Police determined the shooting occurred near the 16900 block of West 127th&nbsp;Street.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Police have not reported an arrest or suspect information.

Investigation continues in shooting death of 15-year-old Kan. girl 

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities have taken a school district employee into custody in Salina.

On Monday, detectives from the Newton Police Department, assisted by detectives and officers from the Salina Police Department, made contact with an employee at Lakewood Middle School, 1135 Lakewood Circle in Salina, according to a media release Salina Police. 

The employee identified as 35-year-old Ryan Brungardt, according to the Saline County booking report. He is a social studies teacher at Lakewood, <a href="https://www.305lakewood.com/our_school/staff_directory">according to the school web site.</a>

&nbsp;Newton Police detectives were following up on a crime that was allegedly committed in Newton by Brungardt, according to Newton Police Deputy Chief Scott Powell.

Newton Police officers had a search warrant for his phone, however, when officers attempted to execute the warrant, Brungardt tried to destroy his phone, according to Powell.

"The suspect tried to destroy the phone, which punctured the lithium battery, which apparently started a fire," Powell said.&nbsp;

At that point, Brungardt was placed under arrest and later transported to the Salina Police Department. According to the Saline County booking report Brungardt is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated arson; No substantial risk to bodily harm, Aggravated robbery, Battery on Law enforcement officer; Physical contact with county or city officer on duty and Interfere w a Law Enforcement Officer; Conceal/destroy fel evidence

The Salina Police Department believes there is no active threat to any students or facility of USD 305.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706613645295.png" alt="Brungardt-photo Saline CO." />
 <figcaption>Brungardt-photo Saline CO.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities have taken a school district employee into custody in Salina.On Monday, detectives from the Newton Police Department, assisted by detectives and officers from the Salina Police Department, made contact with an employee at Lakewood Middle School, 1135 Lakewood Circle in Salina, according to a media release Salina Police. The employee identified as 35-year-old Ryan Brungardt, according to the Saline County booking report. He is a social studies teacher at Lakewood, <a href="https://www.305lakewood.com/our_school/staff_directory">according to the school web site.</a>&nbsp;Newton Police detectives were following up on a crime that was allegedly committed in Newton by Brungardt, according to Newton Police Deputy Chief Scott Powell.Newton Police officers had a search warrant for his phone, however, when officers attempted to execute the warrant, Brungardt tried to destroy his phone, according to Powell."The suspect tried to destroy the phone, which punctured the lithium battery, which apparently started a fire," Powell said.&nbsp;At that point, Brungardt was placed under arrest and later transported to the Salina Police Department. According to the Saline County booking report Brungardt is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated arson; No substantial risk to bodily harm, Aggravated robbery, Battery on Law enforcement officer; Physical contact with county or city officer on duty and Interfere w a Law Enforcement Officer; Conceal/destroy fel evidenceThe Salina Police Department believes there is no active threat to any students or facility of USD 305.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Police arrest Kansas middle school teacher at school

SHAWNEE COUNTY—One person has died from injuries in an accident that occurred just after 5:30a.m. Monday in Shawnee County.

Topeka. Police reported the crash involved several vehicles on Interstate 470 just south of SW 21st Street in the eastbound lanes. One of the vehicle involved also rolled over.

EMS transported three drivers to local hospitals for treatment.&nbsp; Just before 7:30p.m. Monday, police reported one of the drivers involved identified as&nbsp; 61-year-old Jeffrey H. McCorkle, 61, of Topeka. had died.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706577890654.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—One person has died from injuries in an accident that occurred just after 5:30a.m. Monday in Shawnee County.Topeka. Police reported the crash involved several vehicles on Interstate 470 just south of SW 21st Street in the eastbound lanes. One of the vehicle involved also rolled over.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706578012757.png" alt="photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>EMS transported three drivers to local hospitals for treatment.&nbsp; Just before 7:30p.m. Monday, police reported one of the drivers involved identified as&nbsp; 61-year-old Jeffrey H. McCorkle, 61, of Topeka. had died.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation.

Kansas man dies from injuries in 3-vehicle interstate crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating one of their own after a weekend arrest.

On January 28, Maize Police arrested a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office supervisor for a misdemeanor traffic offenses including driving under the influence, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.

Lieutenant Richard Gerdsen, 42, was operating his personally owned vehicle while off duty when the incident occurred. Lt. Gerdsen has been employed by the Sheriff’s Office for 17 years.

Lt. Gerdsen has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating one of their own after a weekend arrest.On January 28, Maize Police arrested a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office supervisor for a misdemeanor traffic offenses including driving under the influence, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.Lieutenant Richard Gerdsen, 42, was operating his personally owned vehicle while off duty when the incident occurred. Lt. Gerdsen has been employed by the Sheriff’s Office for 17 years.Lt. Gerdsen has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

Kansas sheriff's supervisor accused of DUI

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota and General Motors are telling the owners of about 61,000 older Corolla, Matrix, RAV4 and Pontiac Vibe models to stop driving them because their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-a299627fb48ab780790dfc8d482d89e5">Takata air bag</a>&nbsp;inflators are at risk of exploding and hurling shrapnel.

The urgent warning Monday covers certain Corolla compact cars and Matrix hatchbacks from the 2003 and 2004 model years, as well as the RAV4 small SUV from 2004 and 2005. Also covered are about 11,000 Pontiac Vibes from 2003 and 2004, which are essentially the same as the Matrix and were made at the same California factory. Most of the vehicles are in the U.S.

“If the air bag deploys, a part inside is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments, which could cause serious injury or death to the driver or passengers,” Toyota said in a statement.

The recalled RAV4s have Takata driver's air bags while the Corolla and Matrix models have them on the passenger side. The Corolla and Matrix also are under a separate recall because their air bags can be deployed without a crash, the company said.

Both companies said owners should contact a local dealer instead of driving the cars in for repairs. Dealers will provide options such as mobile repair, towing the car to a dealer, or vehicle pickup and delivery.

Owners can go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAtt2tBhBDEiwALZuhAJtqmpF8gQ3kBbr0NwD14YZaXQGGGUI3ZYseffhmG2m6Ngwt0nlfUxoCuVMQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">nhtsa.gov/recalls</a>&nbsp;and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their cars are affected.

Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical propellant can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.

At least 26 people have been killed in the U.S. by Takata inflators since May 2009, and at least 30 have died worldwide including people in Malaysia and Australia. In addition, about 400 people have been injured. The exploding air bags sent Takata of Japan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/62185be67b03495c9a377a3a271af44b">into bankruptcy</a>.

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota and General Motors are telling the owners of about 61,000 older Corolla, Matrix, RAV4 and Pontiac Vibe models to stop driving them because their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-a299627fb48ab780790dfc8d482d89e5">Takata air bag</a>&nbsp;inflators are at risk of exploding and hurling shrapnel.The urgent warning Monday covers certain Corolla compact cars and Matrix hatchbacks from the 2003 and 2004 model years, as well as the RAV4 small SUV from 2004 and 2005. Also covered are about 11,000 Pontiac Vibes from 2003 and 2004, which are essentially the same as the Matrix and were made at the same California factory. Most of the vehicles are in the U.S.“If the air bag deploys, a part inside is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments, which could cause serious injury or death to the driver or passengers,” Toyota said in a statement.The recalled RAV4s have Takata driver's air bags while the Corolla and Matrix models have them on the passenger side. The Corolla and Matrix also are under a separate recall because their air bags can be deployed without a crash, the company said.Both companies said owners should contact a local dealer instead of driving the cars in for repairs. Dealers will provide options such as mobile repair, towing the car to a dealer, or vehicle pickup and delivery.Owners can go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAtt2tBhBDEiwALZuhAJtqmpF8gQ3kBbr0NwD14YZaXQGGGUI3ZYseffhmG2m6Ngwt0nlfUxoCuVMQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">nhtsa.gov/recalls</a>&nbsp;and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their cars are affected.Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical propellant can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.At least 26 people have been killed in the U.S. by Takata inflators since May 2009, and at least 30 have died worldwide including people in Malaysia and Australia. In addition, about 400 people have been injured. The exploding air bags sent Takata of Japan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/62185be67b03495c9a377a3a271af44b">into bankruptcy</a>.

Toyota urges owners to stop driving these models until air bags are replaced

WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a man for allegedly discharging a firearm while robbing a business, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Clemente Garcia Jr, 35, of Wichita was indicted on one count of interference with commerce by threats or violence, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Garcia is accused of firing a high caliber rifle while robbing a restaurant on South Seneca Street in Wichita, Kansas, in November 2022.

The Wichita Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706218441836.png" alt="Garcia-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Garcia-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a man for allegedly discharging a firearm while robbing a business, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Clemente Garcia Jr, 35, of Wichita was indicted on one count of interference with commerce by threats or violence, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.Garcia is accused of firing a high caliber rifle while robbing a restaurant on South Seneca Street in Wichita, Kansas, in November 2022.The Wichita Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case.

Kan. man accused of firing a rifle during restaurant robbery

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Described by their parents as bubbly and constantly laughing, Spc. Kennedy Sanders and Spc. Breonna Moffett became close friends soon after enlisting in the Army Reserve five years ago. Sgt. William Jerome Rivers served a tour in Iraq before joining the same company of Army engineers.

The three citizen-soldiers from different corners of Georgia all died in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-drone-attack-attack-confusion-f175962e058b9b6f668303faf248d8e6" target="_blank">weekend drone strike</a>&nbsp;on a U.S. base in Jordan near the Syrian border that also wounded more than 40 others. Families of the slain reservists said they were shocked when uniformed military officers came to their doors to deliver the news Sunday.

While President Joe Biden has promised&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489" target="_blank">the U.S. will respond</a>, Moffett’s parents said they hope there’s no escalation in violence that kills more American troops. Their daughter celebrated her 23rd birthday oversees just nine days before she was killed.

“I just hope and pray no other family has to go through this,” Francine Moffett, the young soldier’s mother, said Monday through tears at the dining table of her Savannah home. “It takes your heart and your soul.

Breonna Moffitt joined the Army Reserve in 2019 after graduating from high school. In addition to her military service, she worked for a home care provider cooking, cleaning and running errands for people with disabilities, her parents said. When Moffett left with fellow soldiers from the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion based at Fort Moore in August, it was her first overseas deployment.

She was the oldest of four siblings. Every morning, Francine Moffett said, her 8-year-old daughter would call her big sister to say hello while riding to school.

Whenever the Moffett family called, they typically would hear from Sanders too.

“Every time I’d call Breonna, I’d see Sanders just stick her head in and say, `Hey! How you doing?’” Francine Moffett said.

A native of Waycross, 100 miles southwest of Savannah, 24-year-old Sanders had volunteered for the Middle East deployment, eager to see a new part of the world, her parents said.

At home, she helped coach children’s soccer and basketball teams. She also worked at a pharmacy while taking college courses with the aim of becoming an X-ray technician. Lately, however, she had considered becoming a full-time soldier on active duty once her Army Reserve contract was fulfilled.

“She was loved. She didn’t have any enemies. All the time you saw her smiling,” her father, Shawn Sanders, said in an interview Monday. “This is somebody who was just living life, enjoying life at a young age, working toward a career.”

At age 46, Rivers had far more military experience than the two young women. The Defense Department said he joined the Army Reserve in New Jersey in 2011 and served a nine-month tour in Iraq in 2018. He joined the 718th Engineering Company at Fort Moore last year and lived in Carrollton, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) west of Atlanta.

The Associated Press was unsuccessful in attempts to contact Rivers’ family on Monday.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a statement mourning the “inexcusable loss of life” of the three soldiers, saying they “gave the last full measure of devotion in service to this country.” Army Brig. Gen. Todd Lazaroski, commander of the Army Reserve’s 412th Theater Engineer Command, said in a statement: “They represent the best of America.”

In Sanders’ hometown of Waycross, flags were lowered to half-staff. Her parents said her unit first deployed to Kuwait, then to Jordan where the U.S. operates a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e" target="_blank">logistics support base</a>&nbsp;along the Syrian border.

In her spare time while deployed, Sanders would practice jiu-jitsu and run to keep in shape. She relaxed by knitting and called home almost daily, her parents said. While she occasionally mentioned drones being shot down nearby, there was no sense of imminent danger, said Oneida Oliver-Sanders, the reservist’s mother.

When they last spoke the day before she was killed, Sanders said she was thinking about buying a motorcycle — much to her mother’s disapproval. She had also spoken recently of buying a home.

“All of these different things that she had plans for, you know, were just cut short in the blink of an eye,” Oliver-Sanders said. “I just feel like somebody like her, that’s so full of life, it’s just unfair that she’ll never get to realize those dreams that she had.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706575508905.png" alt="Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders-photo courtesy U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders-photo courtesy U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Described by their parents as bubbly and constantly laughing, Spc. Kennedy Sanders and Spc. Breonna Moffett became close friends soon after enlisting in the Army Reserve five years ago. Sgt. William Jerome Rivers served a tour in Iraq before joining the same company of Army engineers.The three citizen-soldiers from different corners of Georgia all died in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-drone-attack-attack-confusion-f175962e058b9b6f668303faf248d8e6" target="_blank">weekend drone strike</a>&nbsp;on a U.S. base in Jordan near the Syrian border that also wounded more than 40 others. Families of the slain reservists said they were shocked when uniformed military officers came to their doors to deliver the news Sunday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706575435826.png" alt="Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett-photo courtesy U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett-photo courtesy U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>While President Joe Biden has promised&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489" target="_blank">the U.S. will respond</a>, Moffett’s parents said they hope there’s no escalation in violence that kills more American troops. Their daughter celebrated her 23rd birthday oversees just nine days before she was killed.“I just hope and pray no other family has to go through this,” Francine Moffett, the young soldier’s mother, said Monday through tears at the dining table of her Savannah home. “It takes your heart and your soul.Breonna Moffitt joined the Army Reserve in 2019 after graduating from high school. In addition to her military service, she worked for a home care provider cooking, cleaning and running errands for people with disabilities, her parents said. When Moffett left with fellow soldiers from the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion based at Fort Moore in August, it was her first overseas deployment.She was the oldest of four siblings. Every morning, Francine Moffett said, her 8-year-old daughter would call her big sister to say hello while riding to school.Whenever the Moffett family called, they typically would hear from Sanders too.“Every time I’d call Breonna, I’d see Sanders just stick her head in and say, `Hey! How you doing?’” Francine Moffett said.A native of Waycross, 100 miles southwest of Savannah, 24-year-old Sanders had volunteered for the Middle East deployment, eager to see a new part of the world, her parents said.At home, she helped coach children’s soccer and basketball teams. She also worked at a pharmacy while taking college courses with the aim of becoming an X-ray technician. Lately, however, she had considered becoming a full-time soldier on active duty once her Army Reserve contract was fulfilled.“She was loved. She didn’t have any enemies. All the time you saw her smiling,” her father, Shawn Sanders, said in an interview Monday. “This is somebody who was just living life, enjoying life at a young age, working toward a career.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706575477315.png" alt="Sgt. William Jerome Rivers-photo courtesy U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Sgt. William Jerome Rivers-photo courtesy U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>At age 46, Rivers had far more military experience than the two young women. The Defense Department said he joined the Army Reserve in New Jersey in 2011 and served a nine-month tour in Iraq in 2018. He joined the 718th Engineering Company at Fort Moore last year and lived in Carrollton, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) west of Atlanta.The Associated Press was unsuccessful in attempts to contact Rivers’ family on Monday.Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a statement mourning the “inexcusable loss of life” of the three soldiers, saying they “gave the last full measure of devotion in service to this country.” Army Brig. Gen. Todd Lazaroski, commander of the Army Reserve’s 412th Theater Engineer Command, said in a statement: “They represent the best of America.”In Sanders’ hometown of Waycross, flags were lowered to half-staff. Her parents said her unit first deployed to Kuwait, then to Jordan where the U.S. operates a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e" target="_blank">logistics support base</a>&nbsp;along the Syrian border.In her spare time while deployed, Sanders would practice jiu-jitsu and run to keep in shape. She relaxed by knitting and called home almost daily, her parents said. While she occasionally mentioned drones being shot down nearby, there was no sense of imminent danger, said Oneida Oliver-Sanders, the reservist’s mother.When they last spoke the day before she was killed, Sanders said she was thinking about buying a motorcycle — much to her mother’s disapproval. She had also spoken recently of buying a home.“All of these different things that she had plans for, you know, were just cut short in the blink of an eye,” Oliver-Sanders said. “I just feel like somebody like her, that’s so full of life, it’s just unfair that she’ll never get to realize those dreams that she had.”

Shock, grief and mourning for 3 US soldiers killed in drone strike

CHEROKEE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30a.m. January 25, in Cherokee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Chevy Silverado driven by Corey Scott Hunter, 51, Firestone, Colorado, was eastbound on U.S. 400 at the Kansas 7 Junction.

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign intersection struck a USD&nbsp; 493 Columbus, Kansas Chevy Express driven by Leonard Eugene Mosler, 78, Columbus. EMS transported 51-year-old Michelle Robinson of Columbus to Via Christi for treatment of serious injuries. She is a Special Ed Bus Para, according to the USD 493 web site.&nbsp; Hunter and Mosler were not injured.

Six juveniles were present in the vehicle, juvenile records are protected data.

CHEROKEE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30a.m. January 25, in Cherokee County.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Here is another sobering reminder of the dangers and consequences of distracted driving. This time consequences involved the most precious cargo when a school bus with children was struck. Thankfully no life-threatening injuries. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JustDrive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JustDrive</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DistractedDriving?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DistractedDriving</a> <a href="https://t.co/qz1LZOdq4i">pic.twitter.com/qz1LZOdq4i</a>&mdash; KS Highway Patrol (@kshighwaypatrol) <a href="https://twitter.com/kshighwaypatrol/status/1751408450104365117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Chevy Silverado driven by Corey Scott Hunter, 51, Firestone, Colorado, was eastbound on U.S. 400 at the Kansas 7 Junction.The driver failed to stop at the stop sign intersection struck a USD&nbsp; 493 Columbus, Kansas Chevy Express driven by Leonard Eugene Mosler, 78, Columbus. EMS transported 51-year-old Michelle Robinson of Columbus to Via Christi for treatment of serious injuries. She is a Special Ed Bus Para, according to the USD 493 web site.&nbsp; Hunter and Mosler were not injured.Six juveniles were present in the vehicle, juvenile records are protected data.

KHP: Distracted driving led to crash with Kansas school bus

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;should declare that Donald Trump is ineligible to be president again because he spearheaded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;in an effort to overturn his 2020 election loss, lawyers leading the fight to keep him off the ballot told the justices on Friday.

In a filing filled with vivid descriptions of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Jan. 6, 2021, violence at the Capitol</a>, the lawyers urged the justices not to flinch from doing their constitutional duty and to uphold a first-of-its-kind Colorado court decision to kick the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner off the state's primary ballot.

“Nobody, not even a former President, is above the law,” the lawyers wrote.

The court will hear arguments in less than two weeks in a historic case that has the potential to disrupt the 2024 presidential election.

The case presents the high court with its first look at a provision of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-14th-amendment-insurrection-2024-election-ballot-9c5f79203109ba221b35a48e708ad725">the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;barring some people who “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office. The amendment was adopted in 1868, following the Civil War.

In their plea to the court, the lawyers said, "Trump intentionally organized and incited a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol in a desperate effort to prevent the counting of electoral votes cast against him” after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">he lost the election</a>&nbsp;to Democrat Joe Biden.

They called for a decision that makes clear that what happened on Jan. 6 was an insurrection, for which Trump bears responsibility. The president is covered by the constitutional provision at issue, and Congress doesn’t need to take action before states can apply it, the lawyers wrote.

The written filing includes extensive details of Trump's actions leading up to Jan. 6, including his tweet on Dec. 19, 2020, in which he informed his followers of the planned protest on the day Congress would count the electoral votes and wrote, “Be there, will be wild.”

Then in his speech to supporters on Jan. 6, the lawyers wrote, “Trump lit the fuse.” The brief reproduces photographs of the mayhem from that day, including one of Metropolitan Police Department Officer Daniel Hodges pinned in a doorway during the attack.

Trump's lawyers have argued that efforts to keep him off the ballot “threaten to disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans and ... promise to unleash chaos and bedlam” if other states follow Colorado's lead.

The Colorado Supreme Court's 4-3 ruling should be reversed for any of several reasons, Trump's lawyers wrote, including that Trump did not engage in insurrection and that the presidency is not covered by the amendment. They also contend that Congress would have to enact legislation before states could invoke the provision to keep candidates off the ballot.

The justices are hearing arguments Feb. 8. Trump already has won the first two GOP presidential contests: the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is Trump's sole remaining significant GOP opponent.

Still, both sides have said the court needs to act quickly so that voters know whether Trump is eligible to hold the presidency.

The court is dealing with the dispute under a compressed timeframe that could produce a decision before Super Tuesday on March 5, when the largest number of delegates in a day is up for grabs, including in Colorado.

A two-sentence provision in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states that anyone who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and then “engaged in insurrection” against it is no longer eligible for state or federal office. After Congress passed an amnesty for most of the former confederates the measure targeted in 1872, the provision fell into disuse until dozens of suits were filed to keep Trump off the ballot this year. Only the one in Colorado was successful.

Trump is separately appealing to state court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-presidential-ballot-election-insurrection-081fd38ce1f20be9b8423cb2f8c66dee">a ruling by Maine’s Democratic secretary of state</a>, Shenna Bellows, that he is ineligible to appear on that state’s ballot over his role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Capitol attack</a>. Both the Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of state’s rulings are on hold until the appeals play out.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654808700580.png" alt="image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;should declare that Donald Trump is ineligible to be president again because he spearheaded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;in an effort to overturn his 2020 election loss, lawyers leading the fight to keep him off the ballot told the justices on Friday.In a filing filled with vivid descriptions of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Jan. 6, 2021, violence at the Capitol</a>, the lawyers urged the justices not to flinch from doing their constitutional duty and to uphold a first-of-its-kind Colorado court decision to kick the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner off the state's primary ballot.“Nobody, not even a former President, is above the law,” the lawyers wrote.The court will hear arguments in less than two weeks in a historic case that has the potential to disrupt the 2024 presidential election.The case presents the high court with its first look at a provision of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-14th-amendment-insurrection-2024-election-ballot-9c5f79203109ba221b35a48e708ad725">the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;barring some people who “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office. The amendment was adopted in 1868, following the Civil War.In their plea to the court, the lawyers said, "Trump intentionally organized and incited a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol in a desperate effort to prevent the counting of electoral votes cast against him” after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">he lost the election</a>&nbsp;to Democrat Joe Biden.They called for a decision that makes clear that what happened on Jan. 6 was an insurrection, for which Trump bears responsibility. The president is covered by the constitutional provision at issue, and Congress doesn’t need to take action before states can apply it, the lawyers wrote.The written filing includes extensive details of Trump's actions leading up to Jan. 6, including his tweet on Dec. 19, 2020, in which he informed his followers of the planned protest on the day Congress would count the electoral votes and wrote, “Be there, will be wild.”Then in his speech to supporters on Jan. 6, the lawyers wrote, “Trump lit the fuse.” The brief reproduces photographs of the mayhem from that day, including one of Metropolitan Police Department Officer Daniel Hodges pinned in a doorway during the attack.Trump's lawyers have argued that efforts to keep him off the ballot “threaten to disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans and ... promise to unleash chaos and bedlam” if other states follow Colorado's lead.The Colorado Supreme Court's 4-3 ruling should be reversed for any of several reasons, Trump's lawyers wrote, including that Trump did not engage in insurrection and that the presidency is not covered by the amendment. They also contend that Congress would have to enact legislation before states could invoke the provision to keep candidates off the ballot.The justices are hearing arguments Feb. 8. Trump already has won the first two GOP presidential contests: the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is Trump's sole remaining significant GOP opponent.Still, both sides have said the court needs to act quickly so that voters know whether Trump is eligible to hold the presidency.The court is dealing with the dispute under a compressed timeframe that could produce a decision before Super Tuesday on March 5, when the largest number of delegates in a day is up for grabs, including in Colorado.A two-sentence provision in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states that anyone who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and then “engaged in insurrection” against it is no longer eligible for state or federal office. After Congress passed an amnesty for most of the former confederates the measure targeted in 1872, the provision fell into disuse until dozens of suits were filed to keep Trump off the ballot this year. Only the one in Colorado was successful.Trump is separately appealing to state court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-presidential-ballot-election-insurrection-081fd38ce1f20be9b8423cb2f8c66dee">a ruling by Maine’s Democratic secretary of state</a>, Shenna Bellows, that he is ineligible to appear on that state’s ballot over his role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Capitol attack</a>. Both the Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of state’s rulings are on hold until the appeals play out.

Supreme Court urged to rule Trump ineligible to be president again because of Jan. 6 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement continue to investigate the theft of the Jackie Robinson statue that occurred early January 19 from a public park in Wichita.

According to Wichita Police Lt. Aaron Moses, investigators from the Wichita Police Property Crimes Bureau worked all weekend following up on leads and information they have uncovered. 

With the assistance of the police Field Community Response Teams, investigators were able to locate and recover the truck believed to be used in the theft of the statue.

Detectives are continuing to follow promising leads and are confident will result in an arrest of the suspects responsible for this theft.

We are still asking the public for help in bringing the people responsible for this horrible act into custody.

The statue honors the first player to break Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947. Surveillance video was released of two people hauling the sculpture away in the dark. Wichita police said in a Facebook post that it went missing Thursday morning.

The statue was cut at the ankles to be removed. All that remained of the statue Friday were Robinson's feet.

The Wichita Metro Crime Commission offered a reward Friday of up to $2,500 for tips leading to arrests and another $5,000 for tips that lead to the statue's recovery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706562468247.png" alt="photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement continue to investigate the theft of the Jackie Robinson statue that occurred early January 19 from a public park in Wichita.According to Wichita Police Lt. Aaron Moses, investigators from the Wichita Police Property Crimes Bureau worked all weekend following up on leads and information they have uncovered. With the assistance of the police Field Community Response Teams, investigators were able to locate and recover the truck believed to be used in the theft of the statue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706274871424.png" alt="Security camera image of the truck" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image of the truck</figcaption>
 </figure>Detectives are continuing to follow promising leads and are confident will result in an arrest of the suspects responsible for this theft.We are still asking the public for help in bringing the people responsible for this horrible act into custody.The statue honors the first player to break Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947. Surveillance video was released of two people hauling the sculpture away in the dark. Wichita police said in a Facebook post that it went missing Thursday morning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706214143377.png" alt="Photo City of Wichita" />
 <figcaption>Photo City of Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>The statue was cut at the ankles to be removed. All that remained of the statue Friday were Robinson's feet.The Wichita Metro Crime Commission offered a reward Friday of up to $2,500 for tips leading to arrests and another $5,000 for tips that lead to the statue's recovery.

Police recover truck used in theft of statue from Kansas park

WICHITA, Kan.— The Kansas Turnpike’s conversion to cashless tolling is on-schedule for mid-2024, according to a statement on the KTA website.

 In preparation for the change, the KTA Board established a simplified toll structure that keeps the Kansas Turnpike at the bottom of toll rates across the country.

(Click below to watch how new cashless tolling works)

Cashless tolling allows for more consistent fares since elements used for cash collection, such as rounding to the nearest nickel or quarter, are no longer necessary. With the elimination of rounding to the nearest nickel or quarter, many short-distance travelers will see a reduction in the toll they pay.

The new toll structure will be a flat, per-mile rate based upon axle count and whether the vehicle has a transponder or is identified by their license plate. Find&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksturnpike.com/uploads/misc-documents/Cashless-Toll-Rates.pdf">new per-mile rates here</a>.

"This change will be especially beneficial for customers who drive shorter distances, such as Kansans commuting to work or school,” Deb Miller, Chairperson of the Kansas Turnpike Authority Board, said.

These new per-mile toll rates will go into effect when the Kansas Turnpike converts to cashless tolling in mid-2024.

Establishment of these toll rates is one of many tasks necessary for the modernization. In addition to on-roadway work, KTA teams have been developing the account management functions necessary to support customers.

This month, customer service call center hours will increase to 7:30 am – 6:30 pm, Monday through Friday, to better serve customers in advance of the conversion. Walk-in retail hours will remain the same 8 am – 5 pm.

Customers will also see a refreshed K-TAG logo that aligns visually with its parent organization, the Kansas Turnpike Authority. K-TAG is a small in-vehicle device used to facilitate a customer’s toll payment and provides the lowest toll rate on the Kansas Turnpike – now and in the future.

“We are excited about our progress toward cashless tolling and believe our customers will be too,” Steve Hewitt, CEO of the Kansas Turnpike Authority, said. “KTA’s recent satisfaction survey shows that 84 percent of customers support the modernization to cashless tolling.”

Additional information will be provided in the months leading up to the conversion. Learn more about cashless tolling, and watch short informational videos, at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksturnpike.com/cashless-tolling">www.DriveKS.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706545368725.png" alt="Image KTA" />
 <figcaption>Image KTA</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan.— The Kansas Turnpike’s conversion to cashless tolling is on-schedule for mid-2024, according to a statement on the KTA website. In preparation for the change, the KTA Board established a simplified toll structure that keeps the Kansas Turnpike at the bottom of toll rates across the country.(Click below to watch how new cashless tolling works)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kdgGrbsT68A?si=1xl5UKVy3G1j3hKl" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Cashless tolling allows for more consistent fares since elements used for cash collection, such as rounding to the nearest nickel or quarter, are no longer necessary. With the elimination of rounding to the nearest nickel or quarter, many short-distance travelers will see a reduction in the toll they pay.The new toll structure will be a flat, per-mile rate based upon axle count and whether the vehicle has a transponder or is identified by their license plate. Find&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksturnpike.com/uploads/misc-documents/Cashless-Toll-Rates.pdf">new per-mile rates here</a>."This change will be especially beneficial for customers who drive shorter distances, such as Kansans commuting to work or school,” Deb Miller, Chairperson of the Kansas Turnpike Authority Board, said.These new per-mile toll rates will go into effect when the Kansas Turnpike converts to cashless tolling in mid-2024.Establishment of these toll rates is one of many tasks necessary for the modernization. In addition to on-roadway work, KTA teams have been developing the account management functions necessary to support customers.This month, customer service call center hours will increase to 7:30 am – 6:30 pm, Monday through Friday, to better serve customers in advance of the conversion. Walk-in retail hours will remain the same 8 am – 5 pm.Customers will also see a refreshed K-TAG logo that aligns visually with its parent organization, the Kansas Turnpike Authority. K-TAG is a small in-vehicle device used to facilitate a customer’s toll payment and provides the lowest toll rate on the Kansas Turnpike – now and in the future.“We are excited about our progress toward cashless tolling and believe our customers will be too,” Steve Hewitt, CEO of the Kansas Turnpike Authority, said. “KTA’s recent satisfaction survey shows that 84 percent of customers support the modernization to cashless tolling.”Additional information will be provided in the months leading up to the conversion. Learn more about cashless tolling, and watch short informational videos, at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksturnpike.com/cashless-tolling">www.DriveKS.com</a>.

🎥How the new cashless tolling will work on the Kansas Turnpike

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">An enemy drone</a>&nbsp;that killed three American troops and wounded dozens of others in Jordan may have been confused with an American drone returning to the U.S. installation, two U.S. officials said Monday.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment and insisted on anonymity, said the preliminary accounts suggest the enemy drone that struck the installation known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">Tower 22</a>&nbsp;may have been mistaken for an American drone that was in the air at the same time.

The officials said that as the enemy drone was flying in at a low altitude, a U.S. drone was returning to the base. As a result, there was no effort to shoot down the enemy drone.

Explanation for how the enemy drone evaded U.S. air defenses on the installation came as the White House said Monday it’s not looking for war with Iran even as President Joe Biden vows retaliatory action. The Democratic administration believes Tehran was behind the strike.

The brazen attack, which the Biden administration blames on Iranian-based proxies, adds another layer of complexity to an already tense Mideast situation as the Biden administration tries to keep the Israel-Hamas war from expanding into a broader regional conflict.

“The president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday as he met at the Pentagon with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;faces a difficult balancing act as he looks to strike back against Tehran in a forceful way without allowing the Gaza conflict to further metastasize. The drone attack was one of dozens on U.S. troops in the Middle East since Hamas launched attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, spurring the war in Gaza. But it’s the first in which American service members have been killed.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated a day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;promised to “hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing” that the U.S. administration wasn’t seeking to get into another conflict in the Middle East.

But Kirby also made clear that the American patience has worn thin after more than two months of attacks by Iranian proxies on U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria and Jordan and on the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The groups — including Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Iraq based Kataeb Hezbollah — say the attacks are in response to Israel’s ongoing to military operations in Gaza.

“We are not looking for a war with Iran,” Kirby told NBC’s “Today” show. ”We are not looking to escalate the conflict in the region. … Obviously, these attacks keep coming. We’ll keep looking at the options. I can’t speak for the supreme leader or what he wants or he doesn’t want. I can tell you what we want. What we want is a stable, secure, prosperous Middle East, and we want these attacks to stop.”

Iran on Monday denied it was behind the Jordan strike.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">An enemy drone</a>&nbsp;that killed three American troops and wounded dozens of others in Jordan may have been confused with an American drone returning to the U.S. installation, two U.S. officials said Monday.The officials, who were not authorized to comment and insisted on anonymity, said the preliminary accounts suggest the enemy drone that struck the installation known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">Tower 22</a>&nbsp;may have been mistaken for an American drone that was in the air at the same time.The officials said that as the enemy drone was flying in at a low altitude, a U.S. drone was returning to the base. As a result, there was no effort to shoot down the enemy drone.Explanation for how the enemy drone evaded U.S. air defenses on the installation came as the White House said Monday it’s not looking for war with Iran even as President Joe Biden vows retaliatory action. The Democratic administration believes Tehran was behind the strike.The brazen attack, which the Biden administration blames on Iranian-based proxies, adds another layer of complexity to an already tense Mideast situation as the Biden administration tries to keep the Israel-Hamas war from expanding into a broader regional conflict.“The president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday as he met at the Pentagon with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;faces a difficult balancing act as he looks to strike back against Tehran in a forceful way without allowing the Gaza conflict to further metastasize. The drone attack was one of dozens on U.S. troops in the Middle East since Hamas launched attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, spurring the war in Gaza. But it’s the first in which American service members have been killed.National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated a day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;promised to “hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing” that the U.S. administration wasn’t seeking to get into another conflict in the Middle East.But Kirby also made clear that the American patience has worn thin after more than two months of attacks by Iranian proxies on U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria and Jordan and on the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The groups — including Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Iraq based Kataeb Hezbollah — say the attacks are in response to Israel’s ongoing to military operations in Gaza.“We are not looking for a war with Iran,” Kirby told NBC’s “Today” show. ”We are not looking to escalate the conflict in the region. … Obviously, these attacks keep coming. We’ll keep looking at the options. I can’t speak for the supreme leader or what he wants or he doesn’t want. I can tell you what we want. What we want is a stable, secure, prosperous Middle East, and we want these attacks to stop.”Iran on Monday denied it was behind the Jordan strike.

How U.S. failed to stop drone attack that killed, injured American troops

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp;investigating the shooting death of 14-year-old Claude Hodges of Wichita. 

The incident occurred inside an apartment on the 8400 block of W Central Avenue, where it is believed he was shot and killed by his 43-year-old mother, according to a media release from Wichita Police.

Just after 6p.m. Sunday, police received a call from Claude's father expressing concerns about his son's well-being. The father requested a welfare check at the W Central Avenue address after Claude had not arrived at a designated exchange point. 

Multiple attempts to contact Claude were unsuccessful. Upon arriving at the apartment where the victim was staying, patrol officers tried to establish contact by knocking and calling multiple times but received no response. 

Officers observed what appeared to be an exit hole in the apartment's exterior wall and discovered an expended bullet outside the entry door on the ground. 

Concerned about the potential for someone inside to be injured, officers immediately entered the apartment and found the 43-year-old suspect holding a handgun and while near a shotgun. 

Recognizing the potential danger of an armed subject, officers quickly withdrew from the apartment and notified negotiators. Police negotiators spent several hours negotiating with and attempting to negotiate with the her.

The objective was to convince her to disarm herself of the handgun she had and surrender peacefully. Despite the prolonged negotiation attempts, the she continued to refuse to put the handgun down, leading SWAT officers to fire two shots that struck her. 

She was then transported to a local hospital in critical condition by Sedgwick County EMS. Upon re-entering the apartment, officers discovered Claude Hodges in a bedroom, deceased, with an apparent gunshot wound to his upper body.

&nbsp;Both Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan and Sheriff Jeff Easter have formally requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to take charge of the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

Police did not release the names or additional information on the law enforcement personnel involved in officer-involved shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706532733268.png" alt="Police on the scene of the overnight investigation-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the overnight investigation-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp;investigating the shooting death of 14-year-old Claude Hodges of Wichita. The incident occurred inside an apartment on the 8400 block of W Central Avenue, where it is believed he was shot and killed by his 43-year-old mother, according to a media release from Wichita Police.Just after 6p.m. Sunday, police received a call from Claude's father expressing concerns about his son's well-being. The father requested a welfare check at the W Central Avenue address after Claude had not arrived at a designated exchange point. Multiple attempts to contact Claude were unsuccessful. Upon arriving at the apartment where the victim was staying, patrol officers tried to establish contact by knocking and calling multiple times but received no response. Officers observed what appeared to be an exit hole in the apartment's exterior wall and discovered an expended bullet outside the entry door on the ground. Concerned about the potential for someone inside to be injured, officers immediately entered the apartment and found the 43-year-old suspect holding a handgun and while near a shotgun. Recognizing the potential danger of an armed subject, officers quickly withdrew from the apartment and notified negotiators. Police negotiators spent several hours negotiating with and attempting to negotiate with the her.The objective was to convince her to disarm herself of the handgun she had and surrender peacefully. Despite the prolonged negotiation attempts, the she continued to refuse to put the handgun down, leading SWAT officers to fire two shots that struck her. She was then transported to a local hospital in critical condition by Sedgwick County EMS. Upon re-entering the apartment, officers discovered Claude Hodges in a bedroom, deceased, with an apparent gunshot wound to his upper body.&nbsp;Both Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan and Sheriff Jeff Easter have formally requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to take charge of the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.Police did not release the names or additional information on the law enforcement personnel involved in officer-involved shooting.

Police: Kan. woman shot by SWAT officers after she killed teen son

Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said a number of factors will go into deciding which schools to close and consolidate, including enrollment trends, the building’s age and condition, staffing levels and a school’s location within the district.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/people/suzanne-perez">Suzanne Perez</a>, <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/kansasnewsservice">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas —&nbsp;About a half-dozen Wichita public schools will close for good at the end of the school year, as the district deals with declining enrollment and a massive budget shortfall.

Wichita Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said four to seven schools will likely close. Officials plan to present a list to the school board at its next meeting Feb. 12, and board members plan to vote on closings before spring break in March.

Wichita faces a $42 million budget gap, and leaders say closing buildings is the only way to prevent job cuts.

Susan Willis, chief financial officer for Wichita schools, says resources are spread too thinly over the district’s 90-plus schools. Wichita’s enrollment is trending downward. Meanwhile, the district faces about $1.2 billion in needed building repairs and maintenance, and staff shortages continue.

“It’s hard to even say the words, right?” Willis said. “Because it’s emotional to say the answer that solves those three problems is: Reduce the number of school buildings.”

Wichita is the state’s largest district, but enrollment has been declining since 2016.

“We are a district built for 63,000 students. We currently educate 47,000 students and change,” Willis said. “By definition, we are underutilizing square footage in our buildings, specifically elementary and middle.”

Consultants hired by the district told board members last month that the district has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2023-12-13/amid-enrollment-declines-and-aging-buildings-wichita-district-could-shutter-some-schools" target="_blank">too many small elementary schools</a>&nbsp;and can’t afford to maintain them all.

Nearly half of Wichita’s 54 elementary schools have fewer than 350 students, which is inefficient and costly to maintain, consultants said. Twelve elementaries have fewer than 300 students.

Bielefeld said a number of factors will go into deciding which schools to close and consolidate, including enrollment trends, the building’s age and condition, staffing levels and a school’s location within the district.

“There’s not an easy way to do it,” he said. “We have to have schools geographically spread out around the city, just for efficiency purposes… So we want to take an objective, data-based approach in making these decisions.”

Wichita has 54 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, three K-8s, nine high schools and nine special schools. The average age of the district’s buildings is over 60 years.

Wichita’s enrollment has dropped by more than 8% over the past seven years. Some of that came from declining birth rates and shifting housing patterns, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-05-05/the-pandemic-shrunk-kansas-public-school-enrollment-and-that-means-cuts-in-education-budgets" target="_blank">COVID-19 pandemic worsened the problem</a>.

Districts around the country will soon face tough decisions about closures and cuts as they face what educators call the “fiscal cliff” — a storm of financial chaos brought on by declining enrollments, aging buildings, and the abrupt end of federal pandemic relief funds.

Data prepared by researchers at the Brookings Institution shows that over a four-year period that includes the pandemic, about 12% of the nation’s public elementary schools and 9% of middle schools<a href="https://www.hamiltonproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231012_THP_Enrollment_FullPaper.pdf" target="_blank">lost at least one-fifth of their enrollment</a>.

Denver school officials&nbsp;<a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2022/11/10/jeffco-elementary-school-closures-approved/" target="_blank">closed 16 elementary schools</a>&nbsp;last year as a way to tackle plunging enrollment, and that was just the first step in a larger consolidation plan.

Bielefeld, the Wichita superintendent, said building closures are part of the natural cycle of school districts. In 2012, as part of budget cuts and boundary changes, Wichita closed four elementary schools – Bryant, Emerson, Lincoln and Mueller – as well as the former Northeast Magnet High School at 17th and Chautauqua.

Bielefeld said the district doesn’t foresee job cuts. Employees at closed buildings will be offered positions elsewhere, including schools where some classrooms are staffed with long-term substitutes.

“If we can take some of those staff and reallocate them in a better way, we have a better chance of every kid in the district having a certified teacher,” he said.

Wichita teachers approved a contract last summer that includes 5% pay raises for the next two years. The district used about $20 million in COVID relief funds to help finance the salary package.

In addition to closing schools, the district plans to scale back its longtime&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usd259.org/Page/17303" target="_blank">AVID program</a>, which promotes college and career readiness. The program, now offered in all seven comprehensive high schools, will be limited to North, South, East and Heights.

Bielefeld said school closings this year would save about $16 million, or the equivalent of 230 teaching positions. Board members will consider using cash balances to plug the remainder of the budget shortfall.

This year's closures may be just the first part of a larger consolidation. Officials with Cooperative Strategies plan to present options for a districtwide facilities master plan in May.

Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KMUW, KCUR, Kansas Public Radio and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706532709391.png" alt="Wichita Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld says closing some elementary or middle schools is the only way to avoid massive job cuts." />
 <figcaption>Wichita Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld says closing some elementary or middle schools is the only way to avoid massive job cuts.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said a number of factors will go into deciding which schools to close and consolidate, including enrollment trends, the building’s age and condition, staffing levels and a school’s location within the district.</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/people/suzanne-perez">Suzanne Perez</a>, <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/kansasnewsservice">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas —&nbsp;About a half-dozen Wichita public schools will close for good at the end of the school year, as the district deals with declining enrollment and a massive budget shortfall.Wichita Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said four to seven schools will likely close. Officials plan to present a list to the school board at its next meeting Feb. 12, and board members plan to vote on closings before spring break in March.Wichita faces a $42 million budget gap, and leaders say closing buildings is the only way to prevent job cuts.Susan Willis, chief financial officer for Wichita schools, says resources are spread too thinly over the district’s 90-plus schools. Wichita’s enrollment is trending downward. Meanwhile, the district faces about $1.2 billion in needed building repairs and maintenance, and staff shortages continue.“It’s hard to even say the words, right?” Willis said. “Because it’s emotional to say the answer that solves those three problems is: Reduce the number of school buildings.”Wichita is the state’s largest district, but enrollment has been declining since 2016.“We are a district built for 63,000 students. We currently educate 47,000 students and change,” Willis said. “By definition, we are underutilizing square footage in our buildings, specifically elementary and middle.”Consultants hired by the district told board members last month that the district has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2023-12-13/amid-enrollment-declines-and-aging-buildings-wichita-district-could-shutter-some-schools" target="_blank">too many small elementary schools</a>&nbsp;and can’t afford to maintain them all.Nearly half of Wichita’s 54 elementary schools have fewer than 350 students, which is inefficient and costly to maintain, consultants said. Twelve elementaries have fewer than 300 students.Bielefeld said a number of factors will go into deciding which schools to close and consolidate, including enrollment trends, the building’s age and condition, staffing levels and a school’s location within the district.“There’s not an easy way to do it,” he said. “We have to have schools geographically spread out around the city, just for efficiency purposes… So we want to take an objective, data-based approach in making these decisions.”Wichita has 54 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, three K-8s, nine high schools and nine special schools. The average age of the district’s buildings is over 60 years.Wichita’s enrollment has dropped by more than 8% over the past seven years. Some of that came from declining birth rates and shifting housing patterns, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-05-05/the-pandemic-shrunk-kansas-public-school-enrollment-and-that-means-cuts-in-education-budgets" target="_blank">COVID-19 pandemic worsened the problem</a>.Districts around the country will soon face tough decisions about closures and cuts as they face what educators call the “fiscal cliff” — a storm of financial chaos brought on by declining enrollments, aging buildings, and the abrupt end of federal pandemic relief funds.Data prepared by researchers at the Brookings Institution shows that over a four-year period that includes the pandemic, about 12% of the nation’s public elementary schools and 9% of middle schools<a href="https://www.hamiltonproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231012_THP_Enrollment_FullPaper.pdf" target="_blank">lost at least one-fifth of their enrollment</a>.Denver school officials&nbsp;<a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2022/11/10/jeffco-elementary-school-closures-approved/" target="_blank">closed 16 elementary schools</a>&nbsp;last year as a way to tackle plunging enrollment, and that was just the first step in a larger consolidation plan.Bielefeld, the Wichita superintendent, said building closures are part of the natural cycle of school districts. In 2012, as part of budget cuts and boundary changes, Wichita closed four elementary schools – Bryant, Emerson, Lincoln and Mueller – as well as the former Northeast Magnet High School at 17th and Chautauqua.Bielefeld said the district doesn’t foresee job cuts. Employees at closed buildings will be offered positions elsewhere, including schools where some classrooms are staffed with long-term substitutes.“If we can take some of those staff and reallocate them in a better way, we have a better chance of every kid in the district having a certified teacher,” he said.Wichita teachers approved a contract last summer that includes 5% pay raises for the next two years. The district used about $20 million in COVID relief funds to help finance the salary package.In addition to closing schools, the district plans to scale back its longtime&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usd259.org/Page/17303" target="_blank">AVID program</a>, which promotes college and career readiness. The program, now offered in all seven comprehensive high schools, will be limited to North, South, East and Heights.Bielefeld said school closings this year would save about $16 million, or the equivalent of 230 teaching positions. Board members will consider using cash balances to plug the remainder of the budget shortfall.This year's closures may be just the first part of a larger consolidation. Officials with Cooperative Strategies plan to present options for a districtwide facilities master plan in May.Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KMUW, KCUR, Kansas Public Radio and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy.

$42 million budget gap: Largest school district in Kan. will close some schools

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for the shooting death of a security guard outside a convenience store.

On Friday, a judge sentenced 44-year-old Laroy West to life in prison without the eligibility of parole for 50 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In October, a jury found West guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the District Attorney’s office. In June of 2021 West had to undergo a mental competency examination as part of the investigation.

Just after 10p.m. May 5, 2021 police responded to report of a shooting near the QuikTrip convience store at Broadway and Murdoch in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.

At the scene, officers located 39-year-old Will Robinson, the Quick Trip security guard, in the alley across from the business with a gunshot wound to his upper body.

EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died two days later, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

Investigators learned Robinson encountered West who was causing a disruption inside the store. He escorted the man from the store and ultimately to the edge of the property where the disturbance continued and West shot him.&nbsp;

Robinson had worked as a security guard at QuikTrip for about a year. Before that he was a Wichita police officer. He was a married father of two children. QuikTrip, in a statement, said it was “absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the tragic loss of Will.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706373936542.png" alt="West as seen from the QuikTrip security camera the night of the fatal shooting-image courtesy Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>West as seen from the QuikTrip security camera the night of the fatal shooting-image courtesy Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for the shooting death of a security guard outside a convenience store.On Friday, a judge sentenced 44-year-old Laroy West to life in prison without the eligibility of parole for 50 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620393217853.png" alt="West booking photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>West booking photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>In October, a jury found West guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the District Attorney’s office. In June of 2021 West had to undergo a mental competency examination as part of the investigation.Just after 10p.m. May 5, 2021 police responded to report of a shooting near the QuikTrip convience store at Broadway and Murdoch in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.At the scene, officers located 39-year-old Will Robinson, the Quick Trip security guard, in the alley across from the business with a gunshot wound to his upper body.EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died two days later, according to Officer Charley Davidson.Investigators learned Robinson encountered West who was causing a disruption inside the store. He escorted the man from the store and ultimately to the edge of the property where the disturbance continued and West shot him.&nbsp;Robinson had worked as a security guard at QuikTrip for about a year. Before that he was a Wichita police officer. He was a married father of two children. QuikTrip, in a statement, said it was “absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the tragic loss of Will.”

Man sentenced for killing Kan. convenience store security guard

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Employees from a Ukrainian arms firm conspired with defense ministry officials to embezzle almost $40 million earmarked to buy 100,000 mortar shells for the war with Russia, Ukraine's security service reported.

The SBU said late Saturday that five people have been charged, with one person detained while trying to cross the Ukrainian border. If found guilty, they face up to 12 years in prison.

The investigation comes as Kyiv attempts to clamp down on corruption in a bid to speed up its membership in the European Union and NATO. Officials from both blocs have demanded widespread anti-graft reforms before Kyiv can join them.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was elected on an anti-corruption platform in 2019, long before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both the president and his aides have portrayed the recent firings of top officials, notably that of Ivan Bakanov, former head of the State Security Service, in July 2022, as proof of their efforts to crack down on graft.

Security officials say that the current investigation dates back to August 2022, when officials signed a contract for artillery shells worth 1.5 billion hryvnias ($39.6 million) with arms firm Lviv Arsenal.

After receiving payment, company employees were supposed to transfer the funds to a business registered abroad, which would then deliver the ammunition to Ukraine.

However, the goods were never delivered and the money was instead sent to various accounts in Ukraine and the Balkans, investigators said.

Ukraine’s prosecutor general says that the funds have since been seized and will be returned to the country's defense budget.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695327062140.png" alt="File photo&nbsp;&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Oct. 2023 visit to Washington- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo&nbsp;&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Oct. 2023 visit to Washington- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Employees from a Ukrainian arms firm conspired with defense ministry officials to embezzle almost $40 million earmarked to buy 100,000 mortar shells for the war with Russia, Ukraine's security service reported.The SBU said late Saturday that five people have been charged, with one person detained while trying to cross the Ukrainian border. If found guilty, they face up to 12 years in prison.The investigation comes as Kyiv attempts to clamp down on corruption in a bid to speed up its membership in the European Union and NATO. Officials from both blocs have demanded widespread anti-graft reforms before Kyiv can join them.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was elected on an anti-corruption platform in 2019, long before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both the president and his aides have portrayed the recent firings of top officials, notably that of Ivan Bakanov, former head of the State Security Service, in July 2022, as proof of their efforts to crack down on graft.Security officials say that the current investigation dates back to August 2022, when officials signed a contract for artillery shells worth 1.5 billion hryvnias ($39.6 million) with arms firm Lviv Arsenal.After receiving payment, company employees were supposed to transfer the funds to a business registered abroad, which would then deliver the ammunition to Ukraine.However, the goods were never delivered and the money was instead sent to various accounts in Ukraine and the Balkans, investigators said.Ukraine’s prosecutor general says that the funds have since been seized and will be returned to the country's defense budget.

Ukraine: Officials stole $40 million meant to buy arms for the war

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Sunday in Wyandotte County.

Kansas City, Kansas police reported a vehicle was westbound on Central Avenue at Interstate 70. A dirt bike turned onto westbound Central from the entrance ramp and struck the vehicle.&nbsp;

The driver of the dirt bike was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and has cooperated with the investigation. Police released no additional details early Monday.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Sunday in Wyandotte County.Kansas City, Kansas police reported a vehicle was westbound on Central Avenue at Interstate 70. A dirt bike turned onto westbound Central from the entrance ramp and struck the vehicle.&nbsp;The driver of the dirt bike was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and has cooperated with the investigation. Police released no additional details early Monday.

One dead after Kansas dirt bike crash 

JERUSALEM (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-houthis-red-sea-jake-sullivan-yemen-ff507d06a7a44d6f3644f128e7766b3d">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;said they attacked a U.S. Navy mobile base at sea Monday without offering evidence, something immediately rejected by an American defense official.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the group fired a missile at the USS Lewis B. Puller in the Gulf of Aden. The Puller, which serves as a floating landing base, had been earlier stationed in the Arabian Sea as part of American efforts to curtail Houthi attacks on commercial shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Houthi attacks will continue “until the aggression is stopped, and the siege is lifted on the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip,” Saree said in the statement.

A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said there had been no reported attack on the Puller. However, the Houthis have previously launched missiles that did not reach their intended target, instead crashing onto the land or sea.

The Puller served as a mobile base for the U.S. Navy SEALs who conducted a Jan. 11 operation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">seizing Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missile</a>&nbsp;components believed to be bound for Yemen. Two SEALs went missing in the operation and are presumed to have died.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.

The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-attacks-f36fc8911e069a5b4dbc4d9e67f31e50">sparking a fire that burned for hours</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703418619283.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-houthis-red-sea-jake-sullivan-yemen-ff507d06a7a44d6f3644f128e7766b3d">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;said they attacked a U.S. Navy mobile base at sea Monday without offering evidence, something immediately rejected by an American defense official.Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the group fired a missile at the USS Lewis B. Puller in the Gulf of Aden. The Puller, which serves as a floating landing base, had been earlier stationed in the Arabian Sea as part of American efforts to curtail Houthi attacks on commercial shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.Houthi attacks will continue “until the aggression is stopped, and the siege is lifted on the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip,” Saree said in the statement.A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said there had been no reported attack on the Puller. However, the Houthis have previously launched missiles that did not reach their intended target, instead crashing onto the land or sea.The Puller served as a mobile base for the U.S. Navy SEALs who conducted a Jan. 11 operation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">seizing Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missile</a>&nbsp;components believed to be bound for Yemen. Two SEALs went missing in the operation and are presumed to have died.Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-attacks-f36fc8911e069a5b4dbc4d9e67f31e50">sparking a fire that burned for hours</a>.