WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Wichita mayor and gubernatorial candidate says unsuccessful efforts were made to confirm the safety of his grandson before a body that is believed to be the boy’s was found encased in concrete.

Carl Brewer says “something went wrong,” although it’s too early to know whether the system failed 3-year-old Evan Brewer. Police say the body found Saturday in a rental home is likely that of Evan, though final confirmation is awaiting DNA results.

Brewer says Evan’s father, Carlo Brewer, worked through the court system, the state child protective agency and police, raising concerns about Evan. Evan’s mother and her boyfriend have been arrested but not charged in the death.

Brewer says Gov. Sam Brownback told him he would look into welfare officials’ involvement.

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The father of a boy whose dead body was found encased in concrete says officials received at least four reports of abuse against the child while he was in his mother’s custody.

Authorities said Tuesday that the body found in the rental home Saturday is believed to be 3-year-old Evan Brewer. The boy had been living with his mother, Miranda Miller, and her boyfriend, Stephen Bodine. No charges have been filed in connection to the boy’s death.

A petition filed in May by the boy’s father Carlo Brewer says four abuse reports were made dating as far back as July 2016 and as recently as April 2017. One allegation references an injury to his nose with filthy and inappropriate clothing.

One witness statement cited in the PFA alleges the boy had been beaten “to the point of death” while in the mother’s care.

TOPEKA —Soldiers of the Kansas National Guard’s 35th Military Police Company posted a message on their Facebook page to let family and friends know they are safe and well, despite being in the path of Hurricane Irma as it approaches Cuba, where the unit is deployed, according to a media release from the Kansas Adjutant General’s Office.

“Right now, the current trajectory of Hurricane Irma has her passing to our north. This trajectory will keep the worst of the storm surge away from our island, but still keep us in the outer rings,” said Capt. Nicky Inskeep, company commander. “We are expecting tropical storm level winds that should not exceed 50 mph. Of course, we will be monitoring for flooding and associated power outages.”

In preparation for the storm, soldiers were told to move all items away from windows, secure all loose items around buildings, back up computer files, cover computer workstations with plastic bags or wrap, and unplug all unnecessary equipment.
Inskeep said the hurricane may affect communications for a while.

“However, we have solid plans and we will all be sheltered for the duration of the storm,” said Inskeep.

Major Hurricane Irma expected to impact much of east central Florida late this weekend. pic.twitter.com/tYeVpRFmkm

— NWS Melbourne (@NWSMelbourne) September 7, 2017

“The safety and well-being of your soldier is my number one priority.”
The Topeka-based company was deployed to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in support of Joint Task Force Guantanamo in March. Members are expected to be deployed for approximately nine months.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Court records say the girlfriend of former Kansas Jayhawk football Maciah Long claims she was threatened with a loaded handgun during an argument.

The Kansas City Star reports that the arrest affidavit filed in Douglas County District Court says Long told the girlfriend, “I’ll shoot your kneecaps out.” The 20-year-old woman told police that just before the threat, Long pulled the slide back on the gun to rack a bullet into the chamber.

Long was arrested Aug. 20 and dismissed from the team the next day. He is charged with a felony count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two misdemeanors.

The 19-year-old from Houston played linebacker and tight end last season. He has been released from jail on $5,000 bond and doesn’t have a listed phone nu

LUFKIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas woman is being held on several charges after she slipped her handcuffs, stole a police SUV and then led officers on a pursuit that reached speeds of nearly 100 mph (160 kph).

Thirty-three-year-old Toscha Sponsler was being held Thursday in the Angelina County jail on charges that include evading arrest.

Authorities say Sponsler had been detained Saturday on suspicion of shoplifting and was in the back of the SUV when she managed to slip her hand through one of the cuffs.

Video released Tuesday by Lufkin police show her then squeezing through a partition to reach the front seat.

A chase went on for about 20 miles (30 kilometers) before a state trooper managed to spin her out.

Online jail records don’t indicate whether she has an attorney.

By Steven Koranda

Tyson Foods Inc. and Kansas officials unveiled plans Tuesday for a $300 million chicken facility outside Tonganoxie, a town about 15 miles northeast of Lawrence. The project will include a hatchery, feed mill and plant capable of processing more than 1 million birds per week.

Doug Ramsey, Tyson’s group president for poultry, said the complex will employ about 1,600 people and will produce trays of chicken sold at grocery stores.

“So why Tonganoxie? It’s the perfect place if you look at the grain, the plenty of farmland and the great pool of talent that is ready to work,” Ramsey said.

Gov. Sam Brownback hailed the economic investment and job growth that the project will bring to the area.

“This is a step in the right direction to further diversify and grow our state’s economy,” Brownback said. “I think this is a great project and a great day for Kansas.”

Local governments have promised infrastructure improvements and bonds for the facility. The state also will offer tax incentives for the project.

Some Tonganoxie area residents were not happy with the announcement for the plant, which Tyson plans to build on about 300 acres south of town. A presentation about the project was stopped briefly when some members of the audience said, “We don’t want it.”

After the announcement, some residents said news of the plant came as a surprise and they had no chance to weigh in on the project. Tana Walker said she contacted some local elected officials before the announcement who told her they couldn’t talk about the project because they signed non-disclosure agreements.

“NDAs should not have a place in public policy when public funds are involved,” Walker said.

Ramsey said that comes with the territory when developing this type of project.

“Part of the process in searching for a location is you do have to keep things under wraps … to make sure everything is lined up and appropriate before we move,” he said.

Walker recently moved to Tonganoxie, a town of 5,300 in Leavenworth County, and said she’s concerned that the massive plant will lead to pollution, odor and a lower quality of life.

“We really wanted to raise our kids in a small town that would give them a good upbringing and afford them the type of life that we both had,” she said. “We moved here in April to give them that, and now we regret moving here.”

Mary Gergick said she’s concerned the project will affect the “country living” that attracted some residents to the area.

“What is this poultry plant going to bring us?” Gergick asked. “Jobs are great, but at what cost? At what cost to the environment?”

Tyson officials said they will schedule town hall meetings so they can meet with residents to concerns about the project and how to address them.

Brownback said he understands why some residents are upset and he’s encouraged by the response from Tyson, which operates facilities in six Kansas communities that employ about 5,700 people.

“They’re going to comply with every state law and regulation we have. They are a corporate citizen here and have been for 50 years. We’re very familiar with Tyson,” the governor said.

The Tonganoxie plant is scheduled to open in 2019 with starting wages of $13 to $15 per hour.

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for KPR a partner in the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda.