RENO COUNTY — The suspect in a September 21, fatal hit-and-run accident in Hutchison made a court appearance Tuesday. Taylor Lukone, 19, now faces an upgraded charge of first-degree murder.  The 51-year-old victim died Monday.

Upon hearing the new charge Tuesday Lukone immediately told the judge that hitting Jose Lopez with his car while Lopez was riding his bicycle in the 1200 block of East 4^th Street was neither intentional or premeditated.

An affidavit read in court last week said that Lukone initially told officers that his car had been stolen. But he later told investigators he intentionally “sped up” and ran Lopez down.

Appearing from the Reno County Correctional Facility, he asked to appear in person in the courtroom for any future hearings.

He also asked for a reduction of the $100,000 bond, which was denied. His case now moves to a waiver-status docket on Oct. 18.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback went on an unpublicized, eight-day trade mission to Israel in late August and early September.

The schedule included a 90-minute meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Aug. 30.

The trip came a month after President Donald Trump nominated Brownback to serve as U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

But Brownback administration officials said the trip promoted Kansas businesses and sought to further ties between the state and Israel.

The state Department of Commerce said the schedule in Israel from Aug. 26 until Sept. 2 included visits to Israeli businesses and discussions, a stop at a hospital and discussions of irrigation and water treatment.

The department estimates the cost of the trip at about $32,000.

CLOUD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an attempted murder in north-central Kansas.

On Monday evening, police arrested Simone Ashley Longsine, 28, in Sedgwick County on a warrant for attempted first-degree murder and kidnapping, according to the Concordia Police Department. She has been extradited to Cloud County.

Just before 1:30 a.m. on September 29 Concordia Police officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Russ Street just for report of a woman bleeding.

“Upon arrival, officers found Jennifer Knipp, 38, outside her residence bleeding from the face and head from numerous wounds that had been caused by both broken bottles and blunt force trauma.

Knipp was taken directly to Salina Regional hospital and underwent surgery,” according to the Concordia

Police Department. They issued a warrant for Longsine in connection with the attack.
She has previous convictions for drugs and theft, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities Tuesday released additional details on the suspicious death of two brothers Shawn Paul Jacobs, 29, and Robert Ray Raymond Jacobs, Jr. 36, both of Topeka during a family dispute on September 26 in Shawnee County.

Just before 2:30p.m. Thursday police received a call of a possible shooting on the north side of the Kansas river near the northwest 14th and Gage area in Topeka, according to media release.

After walking the area, officers located a possible crime scene. Upon further investigation two persons were located with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.

Both Robert and Shawn Jacobs went to the area to fish when both of their vehicles became stuck in mud.  A friend was called to assist them. His vehicle became stuck in the mud as well.

While the third person and Robert were trying to get the vehicles freed, Robert and Shawn engaged in an argument.  The result of the conversation involved Shawn shooting Robert before turning the gun on himself and committing suicide.

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal Kansas shooting between two family members and have identified the victims as brothers Shawn Paul Jacobs, 29, and Robert Raymond Jacobs Jr, 36, both of Topeka.

Just before 230p.m. Thursday police received a call of a possible shooting on the north side of the Kansas river near the northwest 14th and Gage area in Topeka, according to media release.

After walking the area, officers located a possible crime scene. Upon further investigation two persons were located with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.

Police determined the incident was the result of a family dispute, according to Topeka Police Lt. Jennifer Cross.

Police released no additional details on Friday afternoon.

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal Kansas shooting.

Just before 230p.m. Thursday police received a call of a possible shooting on the north side of the Kansas river near the northwest 14th and Gage area in Topeka, according to media release.

After walking the area, officers located a possible crime scene. Upon further investigation two persons were located with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.

No identifications of the deceased have been made as of yet for next of kin to be notified.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State marching band members were forced to stop playing the “Wabash Cannonball” before the Wildcats took on Baylor because the pregame tradition had become the background music to an obscene chant.

The Kansas State Collegian reports that some student fans started chanting an expletive Saturday and the initials of another rival, the University of Kansas.

After Band director Frank Tracz cut the song short, the school played a pre-recorded message on the video board of head football coach Bill Snyder. He asked students to not disrespect the Wabash tradition with a “vulgar chant.”

Tracz blamed “immature and irresponsible” youths, saying they were ruining “what so many people have spent so many years building.” The song became a tradition when a 1968 fire destroyed the rest of the sheet music.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Hospitals were overflowing with victims of a gunman who fired on a concert from the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel.

Emergency personnel scrambled to deal with the aftermath of a Sunday attack by 64-year-old retired accountant Stephen Paddock that would kill 59 and wound 527.

VIDEO: #LVMPD Asst. Sheriff Todd Fasulo provides a wrap-up on the status of the mass shooting investigation. https://t.co/pJVuxYvVQu

— LVMPD (@LVMPD) October 3, 2017

  Doctors say some of the gunshot wounds were so severe they knew they had come from high-powered weapons not usually seen on the street.

PRESS RELEASE: LVMPD Police Still Working to Find Motive in Shooting https://t.co/T2mXxlvBDm #LVMPDnews pic.twitter.com/ylYLb125rL

— LVMPD (@LVMPD) October 3, 2017

Concert-goers described scenes of horror and heroism.

One man grasped the hand of a dying stranger to comfort him as he died, unable to pull himself away despite the danger.

Many carried the wounded to their own cars to drive to the hospital where they waited in lines of ambulances at emergency rooms.

A 24 hour Family Assistance & Reunification Ctr. now open at #LasVegas Conv. Ctr: https://t.co/slPP5HXuBK. #vegasshooting #PrayForVegas pic.twitter.com/DSVgiCrrNi

— Clark County Nevada (@ClarkCountyNV) October 2, 2017

 

WYANDOTTE COUNTY— Two people died in an accident during a police pursuit just before 4p.m. Monday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1996 Lexus ES driven by Zackery Smith, 20, Kansas City, was fleeing from law enforcement northbound on 94th Street.

The driver attempted a right hand turn on to Parallel Parkway. The Lexus and struck a 2015 Ford F150 driven by Dale Myers, 55, Kansas City, that was westbound on Parallel Parkway.

Passengers in the Lexus Jason Edwards, 27, Kansas City, MO., and Amber Bledsoe, 23, Prairie Village were pronounced dead at the scene.

Smith was transported to KU Medical Center. Myers was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.  Edwards and Smith were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rock superstar Tom Petty has died at age 66.

Spokeswoman Carla Sacks says Petty died Monday night at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles after he suffered cardiac arrest.

Petty, usually backed by his longtime band the Heartbreakers, was known for such hits as “Free Fallin,'” “Refugee” and “American Girl.” The Gainesville, Florida native with the shaggy blond hair and gaunt features drew upon the Byrds, the Beatles and other musicians he loved while growing up in the 1960s. He was also a member of the impromptu supergroup the Traveling Wilburys, which included Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne.

Petty and the Heartbreakers had recently completed a 40th anniversary tour, one he hinted would be their last. Petty, whose worldwide sales topped 80 million records, was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2002.

DETROIT (AP) — Fiat Chrysler is recalling nearly 710,000 Jeep and Dodge SUVs in North America because an improperly installed brake shield could let water leak in and limit braking ability.

The recall covers 2011 to 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos.

The company says brake booster shields were added as part of a 2014 recall, but a check of warranty claims found that some weren’t installed correctly. In those cases water can cause corrosion or get inside the booster and freeze. That can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fiat Chrysler says it knows of one potentially related crash but no injuries.

Dealers will inspect the shields and correct the installation if needed. The recall is expected to start Nov. 7.