Fatal accident at the Goodyear Plant in Topeka early Tuesday morning-photo courtesy WIBW TV
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Federal workplace safety officials will investigate a contractor’s death at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plant in Topeka.
Officials identified the victim of the Tuesday morning incident as 61-year-old James Lay Jr., a worker for Kansas Personnel Services Inc.
Goodyear and Kansas Personnel Services did not immediately offer details about circumstances involving Lay’s death.
Scott Allen, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said investigators with that agency were headed to the plant later Tuesday.
Senator Carolyn McGinn chairs the Ways and Means Committee
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators are advancing a new budget-balancing proposal to allow the state to pay its bills through June without cutting public school spending.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee unanimously endorsed a bill Tuesday that would temporarily short state contributions to public employee pensions and use internal government borrowing to get through June. The full Senate expects to debate the plan Thursday.
The state is facing a projected shortfall of $281 million in its budget for the current fiscal year ending June 30. It faces total budget gaps of more than $1 billion through June 2019.
The plan approved by the committee Tuesday assumes that lawmakers will increase taxes to raise $763 million over two years, starting in July. But new revenue would not flow before July.
Police on the scene of Monday night’s shooting-photo courtesy KAKE
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating an armed robbery that sent two men to a hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.
Just after 11p.m. Monday, police reported two 59-year-old men were approached by two men in the parking lot of a bar in the 1200 Block of East MacArthur in Wichita, according to Police Sgt. Nikki Woodrow during Tuesday’s online media briefing.
One of the suspects had a gun and demanded money from the victims. They victims attempted to run and were shot several times by the suspect.
The suspects fled the scene on foot. The victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, according to police.
Witnesses told police the suspects were white males wearing dark hooded sweatshirts. Police are looking for witnesses who saw the shooting or were in the nearby mobile home park on Monday night.
LINDSBORG -The Bethany College Board of Directors approved the college’s fiscal year 2016 audit report as presented by Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd Certified Public Accountants at its spring meeting.
The audit found that the total change in net operating assets improved from a negative of nearly $5.5 million in fiscal year 2015 to a positive of more than $77,000 in fiscal year 2016, according to a media release from the school.
“This is incredible news,” President Will Jones said. “Bethany was able to accomplish this goal thanks to the generous support of our alumni and friends, especially those in our local community.”
Additionally, the audit report confirmed that the college was able to fully fund depreciation expenses while correcting some financial issues from prior years.
“In the current environment facing smaller private colleges, especially those in Kansas, this audit report shows the wise stewardship that Bethany’s leadership team is providing the college,” said Matt Lindsey, president of the Kansas Independent College Association and Fund. “For any KICA college to fully fund depreciation is challenging and is a mark of strength that bodes well the present and future.”
In the auditors’ report to the board, they commended the college for its efforts in increasing contributions and in making a concerted effort to cut expenses.
“The bottom line is very encouraging,” Carol Summervill, senior manager of Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd, said. “The hard work of the management team and decisions that were made last year have paid off impressively. It was a successful year and the results can be seen in black and white.”
Corey Peterson ‘84, chair of the Bethany College Board of Directors, added that along with a focused effort on finances, Bethany also committed to providing students a transformative experience.
“Student surveys indicate that it was a very positive year on campus,” he said. “Along with our efforts to reduce Bethany’s expenses, we remained focused on helping our students to be successful.”
Jean Hall, vice president of Finance and Operations, also reported to the board that the college continues to carefully monitor and manage the budget and is confident that the financial progress over the past year will continue.
“This was the first year in many years that the college operated within a balanced budget,” she said. “With board leadership and commitment of administration, faculty and staff, the college passed another balanced budget and is off to a better start in the first six months of this fiscal year than in previous years.”
President Jones added, “The financial turn-around that is happening at Bethany is not complete. We still need our alumni, friends, and churches to continue to provide strong financial support. With this support, I am confident we will be a celebrated college in the Midwest and in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Douglas County authorities are still trying to identify a body found in a burning car last week near Clinton Lake.
Authorities say deputies sent to the Rockhaven Equestrian Park Campground near the lake last Tuesday on a report of a fire. They discovered the body inside the car when the fire was extinguished.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports Douglas County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kristen Dymacek said Monday the office is waiting for lab results from evidence collected at the scene.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees Rockhaven Park, says the park is currently closed and does not open until April 1.
SHAWNEE COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Shawnee County arrested five suspects in connection with Sunday’s triple-murder at a home in Topeka.
Richard Folsom, 26, Joseph Krahn, 34, Joseph Lowery, 30, Brian Flowers, 32, Shane Mays, 19, all from Topeka are being held in the Shawnee County Jail on charges in the case, according to a media release from police
Police identified the victims as Nicole Fisher, 38; Matthew Leavitt, 19 and Luke Davis, 20, all of Topeka.
Just after 11p.m. on Sunday police responded to a home in the 100 Block of NW Grant in Topeka for a welfare check and found the bodies of two men and one woman, according to a media release.
Investigators on the scene of Sunday’s murder investigation in Topeka-photo courtesy WIBW TV
Police continue to look for a red, 2006 Pontiac G6 in connection with the case, according to a media release.
———-
SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Shawnee County are investigating a triple-murder and have persons of interest in custody.
Just after 11p.m. on Sunday police responded to a home in the 100 Block of NW Grant in Topeka for a welfare check and found the bodies of two men and one woman, according to a media release.
Police identified the victims as Nicole Fisher, 38; Matthew Leavitt, 19 and Luke Davis, 20, all of Topeka.
Police continue to look for a red, 2006 Pontiac G6 in connection with the case, according to a media release.
Names of the suspects were not released.
——-
SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Shawnee County are investigating a possible triple-murder.
Just after 11p.m. on Sunday police responded to a home in the 100 Block of NW Grant in Topeka for a welfare check and found the bodies of two men and one woman, according to a media release.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas legislator is standing by a comment he made in a letter comparing Planned Parenthood with a Nazi concentration camp.
Republican state Sen. Steve Fitzgerald of Leavenworth told The Kansas City Star on Monday that he considers Planned Parenthood worse than the Nazi regime in Germany.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards called Fitzgerald’s comments disturbing and said he should be ashamed.
Fitzgerald is a strong abortion opponent. He sent a letter to Planned Parenthood Great Plains last week after learning a donation had been made in his name.
He said in his letter on official Senate stationery that such a donation in his name was worse than “having one’s name associated with Dachau.”
The Planned Parenthood chapter tweeted a photo of the letter.
TOPEKA, Kan. –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued an Emergency Order of Suspension toSmall Wonders Daycare, a licensed day care home located at 1125 Hill Street, Concordia, according to a media release from the state.
State law allows the Secretary of KDHE to issue such an order when, in the opinion of the Secretary, the order is necessary to protect children in the home from any potential threat to health or safety. The order is subject to appeal. Compliance history on this day care facility can be found here.
Among the findings in the report: During the initial survey process provider was not forthcoming with enrollment information which ultimately impacted the facility licensed capacity. Provider stated that an infant in care was a drop-in child when in fact per parent interview the child has been enrolled since the age of six weeks. Provider also claimed an additional child in care was a drop-in; this child was verified as a regularly enrolled child every Tuesday and Thursday. Provider also stated the child was 5 when the child is actually 4.
Facility is not maintained with strict regard to the health, comfort, safety and welfare of children in care
Facility was over capacity on 03/08/2017 with 9 children in care. There were 3 children in care, 2 weeks to 18 months; 5 children in care 18 months to 5 years and 1 child in care 5 years and older. Facility is over by 2 children 18 months to 5 years. Facility over capacity on 03/09/2017 with 10 children in care. There were 3 children in care, 2 weeks to 18 months; 6 children in care 18 months to 5 years and 1 child in care 5 years and older. Facility is over by 3 children 18 months to 5 years. Facility is over by 3 children 18 months to 5 years.
CLAY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in central Kansas are investigating two suspect following a high-speed chase and crash.
A high-speed chase that started in Salina, ended after the driver crashed in Clay County early this morning.
Just before 3 a.m. Monday, police received a call about a woman going through a trash bin behind Value Inn and Suites, located at 1640 W Crawford in Salina, according to Police Capt. Paul Forrester.
When officers arrived at the location, they found Joseph Majka, 36, and Lacy Rule, 20, both of Salina in a 2001 Honda Odyssey.
Rule had an outstanding warrant.
Police Majka sped away when the officer attempted to approach the vehicle.
The suspects traveled northbound on Interstate 135 reaching speeds of 105 miles-per-hour.
Rule
Saline County law enforcement pursued the suspects to the Ottawa County line where Kansas Highway Patrol and Ottawa law enforcement took over.
Majka attempted to discard drug paraphernalia during the pursuit, according to the police report. The chase ended in Clay County, where Majka crashed the van. Both suspects were transported to the hospital with minor injuries but have since been released.
Rule was booked into the Clay County Jail for the warrant. Majka was relocated to Salina, where he faces multiple drug charges, flee and elude, driving while revoked, speeding, littering and felony obstruction.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):
5:30 p.m.
President Donald Trump has signed an order aimed at streamlining the executive branch.
Trump says the new executive order requires the examination of every federal department and agency “to see where money is being wasted, how services can be improved and whether programs are truly serving American citizens.”
He says the Office of Management and Budget will oversee the evaluation, working with experts inside and outside the government to develop a reorganizing and consolidation plan.
Trump says that, “today there’s duplication and redundancy everywhere” with billions of dollars wasted.
The president signed the order in the Oval Office flanked by Cabinet members.
