With the majority of grassfires now under control across the state, response teams and assets that deployed to assist local authorities are being demobilized.

According to a media release, the Kansas Division of Emergency Management reduced staffing in the State Emergency Operations Center to a partial activation level at 7 p.m. Thursday night. It will remain staffed at this level until further notice.

Governor Sam Brownback Thursday signed Executive Order 17-01 to assist fire relief efforts throughout the state. The executive order facilitates the immediate delivery of large quantities of hay, feed, fencing materials, and other relief supplies by waiving certain motor carrier regulations.

The Kansas Livestock Association is working with private donors to provide hay for cattle in counties that suffered extensive loss of grazing lands and baled hay. Anyone wishing to donate to these efforts should contact KLA. Information is available on the KLA website

Fire crews continue to work active fires in Clark County (70 percent contained), Comanche (90 percent contained), Ellis (98 percent contained), Reno (95 percent contained), and Rooks (97 percent contained). Fire crews will continue to monitor all fires for hot spots and flare-ups. According to figures from local county officials across the state, the estimated total number of acres burned now stands at approximately 711,950acres.

KDEM officials are reminding Kansans the potential for grassfire still exists in many areas of the state due to dry weather conditions. Although there is no statewide burn ban, residents are urged to contact their local emergency management or sheriff’s office to find out if a burn ban exists in their area. The best practice under current conditions is to refrain from burning anything outdoors.

The Kansas National Guard has two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with collapsible 660-gallon water buckets assisting ground fire crews in suppressing fires in Clark County. Two CH-47 Army Reserve Chinook helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft from the U.S. Forestry Service have also been conducting water drop operations. Since these missions began, the aircraft have dropped approximately 263,410 gallons of water.

The Chinook helicopters and the fixed-wing aircraft will demobilize today. Two Black Hawks will remain in Clark County to assist ground crews.

KDEM advises anyone wishing to contribute to ongoing disaster relief efforts to donate cash to disaster relief organizations rather than donating goods. Officials recommends Kansans donating to reputable disaster relief organizations of their choice or local organizations within the affected communities.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Senate committee has endorsed a measure that would let doctors and physicians prescribe and dole out what’s described as “non-intoxicating” medicine derived from a marijuana chemical compound.

Senators initially were supposed to vote on a measure that would legalize the use of cannabis for certain medical conditions.

But an amendment stripped out that measure and replaced it with another that would allow medical professionals to prescribe and dispense “non-intoxicating cannabinoid medicine.” The bill does not define non-intoxicating.

The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee approved that bill Thursday. The measure now goes to the full Senate.

 

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Police in east-central Kansas’ Emporia are investigating the shooting death of a 38-year-old woman in an apartment building.

The Emporia Gazette reports that Mahogany Brooks died at the scene of the shooting late Thursday near Emporia State University.

Police say a 30-year-old man was taken into custody for questioning.

The University sent a message to the campus on Twitter and then removed them from the social media feed.

“ESU-Emporia: All Clear. Suspect apprehended but continue to avoid area of 13th and Merchant while authorities are on scene.

— Emporia State (@emporiastate) March 10, 2017

  The Gazette says Brooks’ death is first homicide in 25,000-resident Emporia since April 2013, when 25-year-old Adrian Peralta died five days after being shot. Gabino Ruiz-Ascencio later was convicted of first-degree murder in September 2015.  

ESU Alert-Emporia:Police reported armed suspect-1325 Merchant St. 10:40pm. Stay in secure location until further notice. — Emporia State (@emporiastate) March 10, 2017

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A former pastor from New Jersey has been ordered to stand trial on charges that he tried to choke an infant girl he didn’t know at a Kansas City-area Wal-Mart.

The Kansas City Star reports a judge in Kansas’ Johnson County ordered 54-year-old Oleh Zhownirovych (OH’-lay zow-nur-VIK’) to be tried on charges of aggravated battery, aggravated kidnapping and battery.

Monquisha Hill testified Thursday she was in the checkout line last October with her then-4-month-old daughter in a car seat in a cart when a man she didn’t know took the infant from her cart and began choking her. People in the store helped the woman and held the man until officers arrived.

The baby wasn’t injured.

A May 22 trial is set for Zhownirovych, of Clifton, New Jersey.

HARPER COUNTY– A third earthquake this week shook portions of Kansas Thursday evening.

The quake just before 9:30p.m. measured 2.7 and was centered approximately 13 miles west of Harper, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Just before 5:30p.m. Monday a 2.7 quake was centered approximately 20 miles east of Caldwell in Sumner County.

Just after 6 a.m. Sunday, a 2.6 quake was centered approximately 17-miles northeast of Caldwell in Sumner County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

In February, the agency recorded six Kansas earthquakes. They measured from 2.5-3.3 magnitude.

There have no reports of damage or injury from Thursday’s quake.

HUTCHINSON – Law enforcement authorities in Hutchinson are investigating a prank call to 911.

Just after school was dismissed on Thursday, police were called to Hutchinson Middle School 8, 200 West 14th Avenue, in reference to a 911 caller who stated, “He has a gun.” and then hung up.

Arriving officers were able to locate a 14-year-old student who admitted to placing the call as a prank.

He was subsequently arrested on a misdemeanor traffic warrant as well as the charge of giving a false alarm.

No additional details were released.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma custom-home builder has been indicted after accusations of involvement in an organized theft ring.

The Oklahoman reports that 43-year-old Dennis Lee is among six defendants charged by a federal grand jury in Oklahoma City. Lee owns Richardson Homes LLC.

An indictment filed Feb. 22 but made public Wednesday alleges that the individuals involved would transport stolen vehicles and riding lawn mowers in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Grand jurors allege the stolen property was stored at Lee’s business.

Lee has been charged with conspiracy to transport stolen goods across state lines, possession of a stolen tractor and golf cart, and illegal possession of firearms. Lee had denied any wrongdoing.

If convicted, Lee could be sentenced to years in prison and fined thousands of dollars.

By Madison Coker

KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA – An attorney for Kansas insurance agencies says a bill in the Kansas House of Representatives Insurance Committee would cause major issues for licensed insurers.

Will Larson, attorney for the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents, asked the committee on Tuesday to vote against the bill that would allow self-storage unit companies to sell their own insurance.

“[Insurance agents] do not oppose storage facilities selling this insurance,” Larson said. “What they do oppose is the people that will be selling it will not be licensed.”

SB14 provides for limited-license insurance coverage of self-storage units. This means self-storage companies could provide insurance for the contents inside people’s units.

Self Storage Association Representative Whitney Damron said the potential law includes specific regulations in place to protect insurers. He said the first regulation is that the policy is limited to $5,000 per unit. In addition, the companies would be required to post a sign and tell costumers to check with their own insurance agencies to make sure they are not already covered.

“These policies make this law clearer and will protect customers,” Damron said.

Damron also said that 25 states, including Missouri, have already adopted laws like this one.

He said this law benefits people who do not have homeowner’s insurance, such as members of the the military who are overseas or people leaving the country. The law would provide those people with an easy way to get insurance on their possessions left in storage units.

Representative Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita) said he sees this bill causing all kinds of problems.

“I am worried the companies are not going to know how to handle claims and deal with these cases,” Hawkins said.

Damron said storage company employees would be required to go through a training program before selling insurance. He pointed out that this bill only allows self-storage unit companies to sell insurance; the actual insurance is provided by a partnering insurance company.

According to Larson, a training program is not enough.

“We oppose chopping up the insurance industry to limited segments and then employing non-licensed people to sell it,” Larson said.

Hawkins agreed with Larson and said he will propose an amendment to this bill that would require the person from the storage unit selling the insurance to be licensed.

SB14 passed in the Senate in February with a vote of 38-1. A vote in the House will take place if the bill is passed through the committee after amendments are made.

Madison Coker is a University of Kansas junior studying journalism from Kansas City.

JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Jackson County are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a high-speed chase and crash.
Just after 2:30pm Wednesday, Jackson County deputies attempted to stop a southbound Chevy Cavalier on US 75 Hwy south of Holton for an alleged traffic infraction, according to media release.

The vehicle continued south on US Hwy 75, traveled westbound on 198th Road, and continued southbound on M, which is a dead end.

The vehicle then left the roadway and continued across a pasture where the vehicle became airborne and crashed in a gully causing both air bags to deploy.

Both occupants of the vehicle fled the crash on foot. Deputies arrested the alleged driver, Jeremy Lynn Simon, 39, and the passenger, Curtis Lowe Simon, 37, both of Horton, a short distance from the crash scene.

They were booked into the Jackson County Jail Initial charges on Jeremy Simon are the following: Felony flee and eluding, reckless driving, felony interference with law enforcement, driving while suspended and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jeremy Simon also is being held on an outstanding warrant.

Curtis Simon is being charged with felony interference with law enforcement.

Both suspects have a previous burglary conviction and Jeremy has spent time at Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge says a Kansas man accused of plotting to attack Somali immigrants poses “a grave danger” to the community if released.

U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren on Thursday denied Patrick Stein’s request for release. Prosecutors say Stein was the leader of a militia group called The Crusaders.

Melgren says Stein is a flight risk and the evidence against him is significant. The judge also says Stein has expressed extreme hatred and threatened violence against Muslims, and sought to obtain weapons and explosives.

Prosecutors allege Stein and co-defendants Gavin Wright and Curtis Allen conspired to detonate truck bombs at a 100-unit apartment complex where Somali immigrants live in Garden City, Kansas.

The three have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction.