RENO COUNTY — Officials are working to determine the cause of a fire at Sonoco the packaging firm at 100 South Halstead Street in Hutchinson.

Just after 1p.m. Thursday, Fire crews responding to the fire in an outside recycling area on the south side of the Sonoco structure, according to a media release.

Strong southerly winds quickly fanned the fire through the paper and cardboard, which quickly spread to the building and cardboard pile north of the building.

In addition, crews had to contain spot fires that were igniting grass north of Sherman Street.
The deep-seated fires quickly created many challenges for firefighters. Those challenges included fighting fires in multiple locations, water supply, and high heat condition. Fire crews continued to monitor hot spots through the night.

Heavy equipment was utilized to assist in breaking up the tightly packed material.
Officials reported no injuries.

The Hutchinson Fire Department was assisted by Reno County EMS, South Hutchinson Mobile Incident Command Unit, Reno County Sheriff’s mobile lighting unit, and Sonoco employees.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Harvard and Chelsea Manning (all times local):

Harvard University has reversed its decision to name Chelsea Manning a visiting fellow, one day after CIA Director Mike Pompeo scrapped a planned appearance over the designation for the soldier who was convicted of leaking classified information.

In a statement posted to the university’s website early Friday, Harvard Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf writes that naming Manning a visiting fellow was a mistake even though he says the title carries no special honor. He says Manning is still invited to spend a day at the school and speak to students.

Manning responded on Twitter , writing that Harvard chills “marginalized voices under @cia pressure.”

Manning’s publicist didn’t immediately respond when asked if she would still accept Harvard’s invitation to visit the school.

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CIA Director Mike Pompeo says he scrapped his appearance Thursday at Harvard University over the school’s decision to make Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of leaking classified information, a visiting fellow.

Pompeo calls Manning an “American traitor.”

Pompeo, a Harvard graduate, says he didn’t make the decision lightly. He is citing military and intelligence officials who believe that the leaks endangered the lives of CIA employees.

He was supposed to speak at the university Thursday night, but was a no-show. The CIA released a letter Pompeo wrote to Harvard explaining his decision.

 

 

CIA Director Withdraws from Harvard Kennedy School Forum pic.twitter.com/N7YKyGy9H4

— CIA (@CIA) September 15, 2017

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Earlier Thursday, Mike Morell, former deputy director and acting director of the CIA, sent a resignation

letter to Harvard saying he could not be part of an organization that “honors a convicted felon and leaker of classified information.”

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3 p.m.

A former top CIA official has abruptly resigned as a senior fellow at Harvard University over the school’s decision to hire Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of leaking classified information.

Mike Morell, former deputy director and acting director of the CIA, sent a resignation letter Thursday to the dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Morell, who was a non-resident senior fellow, says he cannot be part of an organization that “honors a convicted felon and leaker of classified information.” He says leaking classified information is “disgraceful.”

Manning has been invited to be a visiting fellow at the Kennedy school’s Institute of Politics.

She is a transgender woman who was convicted in 2013 of leaking more than 700,000 U.S. documents. Her sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama.

RENO COUNTY— A Reno County  jury deliberated for about an hour before finding 54-year-old Leroy Randall guilty Thursday of all charges associated with an armed robbery of Dollar General in Hutchinson.

The jury agreed that Randall was guilty of two counts of kidnapping, one count of aggravated robbery and two counts of aggravated assault. He chose not to be in court for most of the trial, but was brought in early Thursday to indicate to the court that he wouldn’t testify for his own defense.

The state argued that the evidence pointed to him and his girlfriend because they gave investigators details of the crime that were not released publicly. Clothing that matched what the suspect was wearing in the video was found when a search warrant was issued on Randall’s residence.

The defense argued that Randall was seen talking with another individual and believe that individual wearing a red shirt could be the real suspect.

The case involved a store employee hearing a knock at a back office door. Thinking it was the other employee she was working with, she opened the door and a man came in, stuck a gun in her face and demanded money.

She screamed, causing the other employee to come out of the bathroom. The suspect then allegedly pointed the gun at him as well. Both stated they were scared. One thought the man was going to shoot him after being ordered to lay face down in the bathroom.

He is scheduled for sentencing in October.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Thursday held a hearing, titled, “Nutrition Programs: Perspectives for the 2018 Farm Bill.”

“As we conduct this review, it is important to remember the purpose of these critical nutrition programs,” said Chairman Roberts. “They are not about long-term dependency; they are about giving aid in times of trouble. They are about ensuring our nation’s security, helping folks become productive members of our economy, and assisting the vulnerable among us who cannot help themselves.”

“Unfortunately, we have learned of some significant issues regarding the administration and oversight of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.”

“Investigations by the Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, the Department’s Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Justice have revealed that states have purposely used ‘whatever means necessary’ to mislead the federal government to obtain bonuses or avoid financial penalties.”

“Simply put, no one knows the error rate of SNAP, and that is unacceptable. And, the federal government does not even know the basic elements of the problem, such as how long this has been occurring.”

“This program accounts for over 75 percent of Farm Bill spending. If we are unable to verify that this program is making every dollar count, and ensure that the right amount of assistance is going to those that need it, then something needs to change. And something will change.”

This marks the eighth hearing in preparation for the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization.

ROSE HILL, Kan. (AP) — Butler County authorities say an explosion that destroyed a rural home and critically injured a man was caused by a propane leak.

The home near Rose Hill exploded on Monday. A 67-year-old man suffered severe burns.

Andover Deputy Fire Chief Mike Roosevelt said investigators are sure propane caused the explosion but are still investigating the exact ignition source.

Propane is a common home fuel source in rural Kansas.

A family member said the injured man remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.