By STEPHEN KORANDA

Paul Davis, a former legislator and Democratic candidate for Kansas governor, said Thursday he is considering a run for the 2nd District congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins.

Davis narrowly lost to incumbent Republican Sam Brownback in the 2014 race for governor. Davis is from Lawrence and served as the Democratic leader in the Kansas House of Representatives.

In an interview Thursday, Davis said he has concerns about some of President Donald Trump’s proposed policies.

“A lot of people who supported President Trump expected that he was going to try to change Washington in a positive way, get rid of the special interest influence,” Davis said. “He’s certainly changing Washington in some ways, but I’m not sure that’s necessarily for the better.”

Davis said he worked across the aisle during his time as a lawmaker in Topeka and could take that spirit to the U.S. Capitol to combat “political bickering.”

“The process doesn’t work if we don’t try to work together,” he said. “I think that’s what people expect.”

Davis had been rumored as a candidate for governor in 2018, but he’s instead pinning his hopes on the congressional seat.

“Congress right now desperately needs people who are going to attack the problems that people want to have addressed,” he said.

Tops among those issues is the economy, which Davis said “just is not working for middle-class and lower-income Americans.

“We see an economy where big corporations and people at the top end of the income scale are just doing better and better,” he said.

State Senator In The Race

Davis is the most recent person to announce interest in the seat since Jenkins announced in January that she won’t run for re-election or any other political office in 2018.

Republican State Sen. Steve Fitzgerald said earlier this month that he would run for the job.

In an interview Thursday, Fitzgerald said he believes he can keep the seat in Republican hands.

“We need a Congress that’s going to help President Trump achieve the agenda that the American people voted for,” said Fitzgerald, of Leavenworth.

He also said he would work to boost the economy, and part of that would include reducing federal regulations.

“It will be liberating for the economy, for business, for the states, and I think we will regain a lot of the energy that we need in order to move forward,” Fitzgerald said.

While it’s never easy for anyone going to Congress for a first term, he said, he pointed to his work in the political “trenches” in the Legislature, local school board and for the state Republican Party as experience that will help him quickly get up to speed.

“I’m always running,” Fitzgerald said. “I think I have enough experience and knowledge to be able to pick up quickly on a number of the issues that are going to be before us.”

Fitzgerald recently made some headlines when he compared Planned Parenthood to Nazis.

A Blip Or A Trend?

The 2nd District seat covers much of eastern Kansas and includes Topeka, Lawrence and Pittsburg.

Patrick Miller, a political science professor at the University of Kansas, said the competitiveness of the race will hinge on a number of factors, such as the quality of the candidates and the popularity of Trump.

“(The district) leans Republican, but there’s a healthy Democratic base to it, and under the right conditions Democrats can put it in contention,” he said.

Republican Kansas Treasurer Ron Estes beat Democrat James Thompson in a special election this week for the 4th District congressional seat in the Wichita region. Estes won with 53 percent of the vote, compared to Thompson’s 46 percent.

While Davis pointed to the 4th District results and said they show “a lot of support” for Democrats, Miller suggested that people shouldn’t draw conclusions from the 4th District results until after some other upcoming special elections for Congress.

“This could be a blip, but it could also be the start of a trend,” Miller said.

Vernon Fields, a city council member in Basehor, filed to run as a Republican for the 2nd District. Democrat Kelly Standley also has said he will run for the seat.

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for kcur.org, a partner in the Kansas News Service

MANHATTAN – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are investigating an alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 10:30 Thursday, police arrested Qavonjez Mason, 24, Manhattan, in the 1200 block of Fremont Street.

On Tuesday, police filed a report against a 24-year-old man for rape, electronic solicitation, and contributing to a child’s misconduct after a mother reported finding text messages and pictures that suggested her daughter was in a sexual relationship with the man, and that the man provided her 13-year-old daughter with marijuana.

Mason is being held on a $500, 000 bond on requested charges of rape (x2), aggravated criminal sodomy(x2), electronic solicitation, and aggravated endangering of a child, according to daily police incident report.

SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating a fatal shooting and asking for help to locate suspects.

Just after 11p.m. Thursday, police responded to a report of a shooting in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 2700 Block of South Seneca in Wichita, according to Lt. Todd Ojile during Friday’s online media briefing.

First responders found Brandon Nelson, 22, Wichita suffering from a single gunshot wound. He died at the scene.

Police determined Nelson was standing in the parking lot when an unknown vehicle pulled into lot. Nelson had contact with the vehicle. One of the occupants shot him and drove away.

SALINE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a case of vandalism and asking for help identifying several suspects.

Late Monday or early Tuesday, the suspects broke into the old schoolhouse in Gypsum south east of Salina, according to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities discovered damaged drywall and several broken windows in the building. The total loss was estimated at $1,000. 

Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit www.pd.salina.org and follow Crimestoppers link to submit a web tip. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 and you are not required to give your name.

MITCHELL COUNTY – A 6-year-old Kansas boy died in an accident just after 7p.m. on Thursday in Mitchell County.

The mother, Kay Lynn Lewis, 28, Beloit, was driving her two children to their rural home northeast of Beloit.

Near the home, the children asked if they could run the rest of the way to the house, according to Trooper Ben Gardner with the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The mother saw the older child running ahead of the SUV. When the vehicle continued, she realized the vehicle’s left rear tire hit the younger boy.

Nolan D. Lewis, 6, Beloit,  was transported to Mitchell County Hospital where he died.

The accident remains under investigation, according to Garder. However, there is nothing to suggest any charges from this accident.

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MITCHELL COUNTY – A 6-year-old Kansas boy died in an accident just after 7p.m. on Thursday in Mitchell County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Dodge Durango driven by Kay Lynn Lewis, 28, Beloit, was traveling in the 3200 block of E Road just west of Charlene Road Northeast of Beloit.

The vehicle’s left rear tire hit Nolan D. Lewis, 6, Beloit, who was running outside the vehicle.

He was transported to Mitchell County Hospital where he died.

COFFEYVILLE –Law enforcement authorities in Southeast Kansas are investigating a triple murder.

Just after 11:p.m. Thursday, the Coffeyville Police Department requested the assistance of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to investigate a fatal shooting in Coffeyville.

When Coffeyville police officers arrived at the residence, 208 S. Maple, three individuals were found deceased. They were 50-year-old Reginald Johnson of Coffeyville, 47-year-old Kimberly Bell of Coffeyville, and a 17-year-old male.

KBI agents arrived at the shooting scene Thursday night and the KBI’s Crime Scene Response Team arrived Friday afternoon to collect and process evidence, and reconstruct the crime scene.

Preliminary information indicates that gunshots were exchanged between two of the individuals. At this time it is not believed any suspects remain at large.

The KBI, the Coffeyville Police Department and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will continue to investigate this crime to determine what events led to the deaths. Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME or the Coffeyville Police Department at 620-252-6160.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Washburn University’s board of regents has approved a campus concealed-carry policy.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the board unanimously approved the gun policy without discussion Thursday.

The policy requires campus housing residents to safely secure and conceal handguns from sight on themselves, in their dorm or in the trunk of their car. A student will be subject to criminal charges if the weapon is used improperly.

A Kansas law passed in 2013 allows for keeping concealed guns out of public college and university buildings as long as security is installed at entrances. Washburn officials say making those security enhancements is too costly.

A 2015 Docking Institute of Public Affairs survey shows that 53 percent of Washburn students don’t want concealed weapons on campus.

The policy is set to take effect July 1.

OSAWATOMIE and GARNETT – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) announced that three arrests were made Thursday afternoon in connection to an aggravated robbery incident in Garnett, Kansas.

Just after 11:30 p.m Wednesday, the Garnett Police Department responded to an aggravated robbery report at Papa’s Front Porch Antiques, 618 East 6th in Garnett, according to a media release.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers located a female victim who had been physically battered and robbed. She was transported to the Anderson County Hospital for serious injuries sustained during the robbery.

On Thursday as a result of investigative efforts by the KBI, the Garnett Police Department, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Osawatomie Police Department, evidence was collected that led to the arrests of Billy Joe Waters, age 43, of Osawatomie, Harold Stults, age 36, of Osawatomie, and Daniel Vannorman, age 30, of Garnett.

Vannorman was arrested in Garnett, and Waters and Stults were arrested at separate locations in Osawatomie. Each arrest took place without incident. All three suspects were booked into the Anderson County Jail for aggravated robbery.

This investigation is ongoing. Requests for further information on this case should be directed to the Anderson County Attorney’s Office.

 RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are investigating a hit and run accident and asking the public to help find a vehicle.

Just before 2a.m. police responded to a report of a hit and run injury accident that at the intersection of 12^th Street and Bluemont Avenue in Manhattan, according to a media release.

First responders found a pedestrian identified as Amber Wilhelm, 21, Manhattan, suffering from severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle.

Witnesses on scene described a light in color 2011 to 2016 Chevrolet or GMC extended cab pickup truck that hit her and then fled the scene headed westbound on Anderson Avenue.

Interviews with witnesses lead officers to believe there is a chance that the suspect vehicle will only have slight damage to its front end.

Wilhelm was transported to Via Christi and then flown to Stormont Vail where she remains in critical condition, according to police.

Anyone with information on a vehicle matching the description is encouraged to call police at 785-537-2112.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have identified a man whose body was found in Kansas City, Kansas, as a Missouri man missing since April 4.

Police say the body found April 7 in the Fairfax District was 19-year-old Cristian Escutia, of Kansas City.

The day he went missing, witnesses told police they saw people forcing Escutia into a vehicle near his home and the vehicle speeding away.

When his body was found, police said the person died from an apparent gunshot wound.

Escutia’s body was identified Thursday.