RENO COUNTY — Law enforcement and fire officials continue to investigate the cause of a fatal fire on November 2, in rural Reno County.

Just before 8:30 a.m. November 2, fire units were dispatched to a house fire at 917 N. Dean Road in rural Reno County.

Crews found the fire appeared to be engulfing the rear of the house, however, it spread throughout and into the roof. It was believed that the house was unoccupied at this time. At some point, the roof collapsed into the house.

The fire was contained fairly quickly and, around 10:30 a.m., firefighters began a search of the inside of the house and discovered the body of a man identified as 57-year-old William Joseph Jamieson, according to Fire Captain Steve Lutz.

Officials have determined that Jamieson did not die as a result of the fire. No foul play is suspected involving the fire, but Lutz says they are still investigating the case.

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas mother has been convicted of repeatedly punching another mother after their children fought.

The Kansas City Star reports that jurors found 34-year-old Amanda Lee Gross guilty Monday of battery in Leavenworth County. The attack happened Feb. 2 in Leavenworth after the victim went to Gross’ house to talk about a fight their children had in school that same day.

According to testimony, Gross ran out of the house and punched the woman three or four times in her face. Gross followed her to her car and hit her two more times. Authorities say the victim suffered several injuries, including a broken orbital bone, a nasal fracture, a cut on her lip that required stitches and a busted tooth that had to be extracted.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A high school administrator has unseated the mayor of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.

David Alvey upset Mark Holland on Tuesday.

Holland says his opponent did a “better job” at getting supporters to the polls. He also pledged to assist Alvey in a smooth transition to the mayor’s office. Besides working for Rockhurst High School, Alvey also is director of the Board of Public Utilities.

Property taxes have been a frequent complaint, and Alvey had criticized Holland for making only modest reductions in property taxes during the last two years. Another issue was that under Holland and his two predecessors, new projects and attractions have popped up in western Wyandotte County. But development has languished east of Interstate 635.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Latest on a ballot measure on a $1 billion airport project in Kansas City, Missouri (all times local):

Voters in Kansas City, Missouri, have approved a $1 billion project to build a new privately financed airport in the city.

Tuesday’s vote followed years of debate on whether to demolish the current three horseshoe-shaped terminals at Kansas City International Airport and replace them with a single terminal. With most votes counted, the measure was winning by a 3-to-1 margin.

Supporters argued the current 45-year-old airport has outlived its usefulness and gives an embarrassing first impression to travelers and business leaders. They said the single terminal would provide more security, more comfort for passengers and the possibility of more flights. It will be funded by user fees and the airlines, not tax dollars.

Opponents wanted to redesign and renovate the current structures. They said the single terminal would be less secure and less convenient for travelers.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY — A Kansas man died in an accident just after 8p.m. Tuesday in Montgomery County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 BMW 750 driven by Johnny Lee Jones, Jr., 44, Cherryvale, was southbound on County Road 5125 at a high rate of speed.

The driver attempted to maneuver through a curve and lost control. The vehicle ran off the road to the southeast. Tires dropped off the roadway on to a grass ditch and traveled through 12 fence posts.

Passenger Anthony Dewayne Ellis, 38, Cherryvale, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Passenger Kyle Stanley Farley, 18, McPherson, was wearing a seat belt and not injured.

Jones and another passenger Andrea D. Vandergriff, 31, Cherryvale, were transported to a hospital in Tulsa. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

ELLIS COUNTY — Voters overwhelmingly rejected a $78 million bond issue that would have built two new elementary schools and more in Hays USD 489. Sixty percent of the voters said no to the tax increase of $128 a year on a $100K home.

Fifty-six percent of voters in Newton rejected a $61 million dollar bond for renovations to buildings in USD 373

Rose Hill voters approved a $10 million bond for security enhancement for USD 394. It replaces another bond and will not impact property taxes.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas teen died from injuries in a Sunday shooting.

Just after 5:30p.m. Sunday, the 19-year-old Nakari Moore of Wichita was paying a bill at a cell phone business in the 2800 Block of South Hydraulic in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

As Moore attempted to leave the business in a Pontiac 4-door vehicle, a 16-year-old suspect fired several gunshots at the car.

Moore received a serious gunshot wound to the upper body and was transported to a local hospital, according to Davidson. He died Monday afternoon.

Police have identified the 16-year-old suspect and continue to look for a second person in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.

The suspect’s vehicle is described as a silver Lexus SUV. Police have not made an arrest.
Anyone with information on the shooting or the whereabouts of the passenger is asked to call police.

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — A 19-year old Kansas man remains hospitalized in critical condition after a shooting on Sunday.

Just after 5:30p.m. Sunday, the 19-year-old was paying a bill at a cell phone business in the 2800 Block of South Hydraulic in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

As the 19-year-old attempted to leave the business in a Pontiac 4-door vehicle, a 16-year-old suspect fired several gunshots at the car.

The victim received a serious gunshot wound to the upper body and was transported to a local hospital, according to Davidson.

Police continue to look for a second person in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.

The suspect’s vehicle is described as a silver Lexus SUV. Police have not made an arrest.

Anyone with information on the shooting or the whereabouts of the passenger is asked to call police.

GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating vandalism at a cemetery.

Police reported someone damaged at least 30 headstones at Highland Cemetery in the 700 Block of West Ash in Junction on Monday night or early Tuesday.

Anyone with any information on the vandalism is asked to call the Junction City police.

TOPEKA —Approximately 60 soldiers of the Kansas National Guard’s 242^nd Engineer Company, augmented by soldiers from other engineer units left Tuesday on a humanitarian mission to Puerto Rico to assist local authorities with debris removal and damage assessments in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, according to a media release.

The soldiers will be relieving a National Guard unit from another state and are expected to be in Puerto Rico for 30 days.

“The damage and the suffering in Puerto Rico is extensive; it is going to take years to fully recover,” said Governor Sam Brownback.  “I am proud of our Kansas National Guard troops as they take part in the recovery efforts and put boots on the ground right where they are needed.  God bless them and we look forward to their safe return.”

“This is just the type of assistance mission our Soldiers train for and they are ready and eager to help the citizens of Puerto Rico,” said Lt. Col. David Burk, commander, 891^st Engineer Battalion.  “I have every confidence they will carry out this mission with skill, professionalism, and pride.”

The mission, made at the request of Puerto Rico, was arranged by the Kansas Division of Emergency Management through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a multistate, mutual aid agreement that facilitates interstate assistance in response and recovery operations during a disaster. Kansas Guardsmen have deployed to other states under the EMAC agreement to battle forest fires, aid in recovery after hurricanes and for other disasters.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislative leaders plan to spend $400,000 to get help in drafting a new public school funding law, including separate lawyers for the House and Senate.

The five top Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature agreed on the plan Tuesday. The two Democrats present at legislative leaders’ meeting called it a waste of money and opposed it.

The House and Senate each would spend $100,000 to hire its own attorney. The entire Legislature has had a single attorney previously.

Lawmakers also plan to spend $200,000 to hire a school finance expert to study how much it costs to finance a suitable education for every child.

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled last month that a law phasing in a $293 million increase in school funding over two years wasn’t sufficient.