MARION, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas high school student who fought to keep his rainbow-painted parking spot found it vandalized this week.

Marion High School senior Logan Waner decorated his parking spot with an LGBT pride design. It was covered in black paint or tar Thursday.

Seniors at the school are allowed to paint their parking spots, as long as the designs are approved by administrators. Students and administrators helped Waner clean up his parking spot.

Waner’s parking spot initially drew attention after he was told he had to paint over the design on Wednesday. The school reversed the decision that afternoon.

Principal Tod Gordon says he initially approved the design, but later met with Waner to discuss possible modifications to make sure there weren’t any issues.

HUTCHINSON — The Kansas State Fair didn’t break attendance records this year, but it did implement a new ticketing system that provides the most accurate attendance counts ever. A new partnership with web-based, ticketing-service provider Etix introduced a ticket-scanning system that digitally tracks fairgoer traffic.

This year, 322,278 people were counted through the gates to the State Fairgrounds. According to Fair organizers, attendance recorded this year showed about a 10 percent difference compared to the previously “weighed” and audited accounting for attendance last year, and in previous years. Saturday attendance typically reaches more than 60,000 people. This year, the actual scans accounted for 50,491 and 48,755 on each respective Saturday.

“It’s hard to set records year after year,” Susan Sankey, Kansas State Fair general manager, said. “The new ticketing system brought more confidence in tracking the attendance. Electronic ticketing has allowed for more efficiency and the data from the system will help to make improvements, assist with better planning, and sets a new standard for tracking attendance.”

While the fair wraps up for 2017, Sankey notes that overall feedback about the Fair has been overwhelmingly positive. “We’ve had many comments about how smoothly things went this year. We thank everyone who came out to enjoy the Fair – our sponsors, vendors, exhibitors, volunteers, students and every guest. “

Fair officials are still finalizing revenue numbers and preparing the budget for next year. There were some hot, windy and humid days, but the event was free of any major safety or weather problems. Recent amusement ride accidents, including on the opening day at the Ohio State Fair just weeks before the Kansas State Fair likely caused heightened sensitivity about the carnival rides, resulting in some lesser revenues. Also, the concert was delayed Saturday evening and the midway rides were temporarily shut down due to a passing storm.

North American Midway Entertainment, the contracted midway provider at the Kansas State Fair, followed its standard protocols, making safety a high, ongoing priority. Sankey says that led to a smooth transition to comply with new amusement ride regulations in Kansas.

“Rides are just one component of the wide range of activities we have happening every day at the Fair,” Sankey said. “For example, youth livestock shows represented record turnouts this year, filling the barns to capacity. Ours is a traditional Fair with a diversity true to agriculture and commerce. It celebrates everything Kansas every day.”

The Kansas State Fair has been held annually in Hutchinson since 1913. Plans are already underway for next year’s Fair, set for Sept. 7-16, 2018.

OSAGE COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office have requested the public’s assistance in identifying the remains of a woman found Aug. 25 at Melvern Lake. It is believed the woman was the victim of a homicide, according to a media release.

Forensic anthropology experts from the Washburn University Anthropology Department assisted law enforcement in studying the remains. They reported that the deceased individual is female, and likely Hispanic, however, White cannot be ruled out. They provided a likely age range between 35 and 50 years of age, but also offered a broader range of 30 to 65 years of age. She was believed to have been 5-foot-2 inches to 5-foot-8 inches, but could potentially also be between 5-foot-1 inches to 5-foot-9 inches. The report suggested that she was killed and has been at the scene since sometime between late Fall 2016 and July 2017, with a narrower estimate of April 2017 to July 2017.

KBI agents and Osage County Sheriff’s deputies are also releasing information about the woman’s clothing and jewelry to hopefully aid in identifying the victim. Her shirt size was small, and the brand “No Boundaries.” Her pants size was 32×30, and the brand “Helix.” Her bra size was 44 and the brand “Fruit of the Loom.” She was wearing several items of jewelry which include: a silver ring that spells “love” in cursive writing, a gold or bronze ring with a red stone, a silver bangle bracelet, and gold or bronze framed eyeglasses. Photos of the jewelry can be seen here.

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.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A woman who reported being punched and shoved by a former University of Kansas basketball player has pleaded guilty to battering him.

Nineteen-year-old Saleeha Soofi alleged in December 2016 that former player Carlton Bragg hit her while they were at a party. Bragg was charged with misdemeanor battery but the charges were dropped when surveillance video show Soofi was the aggressor.

Soofi was granted diversion in June, which included abstaining from alcohol and recreational drugs. But she was charged later in the summer with driving under the influence, possessing a controlled substance and refusing a preliminary breath test.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports Soofi pleaded guilty last week to the original battery charge. She was sentenced to six months of probation.

Bragg transferred this summer to Arizona State University.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 8a.m. Friday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Dodge Caravan driven by Oswalt, Lynn Marie Oswalt, 28, Topeka was southbound on the ramp to from Kansas 4 to U.S. Highway 24 in Topeka.

The van left the roadway and overturned. Oswalt was transported to Stormont Vail. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Records show that a black man fatally shot by two police officers in Kansas’ capital was months out of prison after serving time on burglary and illegal gun possession charges.

Authorities confirmed Friday that 30-year-old Dominique Tyrell White had a criminal record and spent almost two years in prison starting in 2015.

White died Thursday. Topeka police said he struggled with officers responding to a reported disturbance near a park, tried to flee and reached for a pocket containing a handgun.

Authorities haven’t identified the officers.

Department of Corrections records showed White went to prison in 2015 for felony burglary and was discharged in August 2016.

The records show he returned to prison in October 2016 for illegal possession of a firearm as a felon and was released in May.

SHAWNEE COUNTY  — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting.

Just before 9:30 Thursday, police responded to the 300 Block of Southeast Lawrence, in Topeka regarding a report of a disturbance with shots fired in the area, according to a media release.

Officers responding encountered a suspicious person identified as Dominique Tyrell White, 30, Topeka. White had a handgun.  In the process of trying to secure the firearm, the individual struggled with officers and attempted to flee.

While fleeing from officers, the individual reached for the pocket containing the firearm, causing the officers to fire their weapons. The individual sustained life-threatening injuries as a result.

Officers immediately provided medical assistance and summoned AMR who transported the individual to a local hospital where the subject was pronounced dead.

White’s gun was recovered from the scene. All parties believed to be involved in the incident have been identified and the public at large is not in danger.

The Lawrence Police Department is conducting the investigation in the interest of transparency and at the request of Topeka Police Chief Kramer. The Shawnee County Sheriffs’ Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol also responded to assist the TPD with the incident.

Names of the officers involved were not released.

SUMNER COUNTY —  A Kansas teen died in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Thursday in Sumner County.

A 2006 Honda Shadow driven by a Kansas teen was westbound in the 200 Block of west U.S. 160 at Edwards Road, according to a media release from the Sumner County Sheriff’s Department.

The motorcycle rear-ended a 2005 Pontiac G6 driven Oma Milledge, who was stopped behind a pickup making a left turn onto Edwards Road.

The teen died at the scene.  The sheriff’s department released no additional details.

In an email to parents, USD 353 reported, “A Wellington High School student was tragically killed in an accident last evening.  The district Crisis Team is in place this morning to help both students and staff.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal appeals court has dismissed an appeal from a man convicted in the 2002 killing a teenager at a Leawood swimming pool.

The Kansas City Star reports the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver on Thursday upheld a lower court ruling dismissing the appeal of Benjamin Appleby.

Appleby, now 42, is serving a life sentence for capital murder and attempted rape of 19-year-old Ali Kemp in the pump room of a swimming pool where she worked.

Appleby was arrested in 2004 in Connecticut and confessed to the killing. The Kansas Supreme Court later upheld his murder conviction and life sentence but dismissed the attempted rape conviction.

Among other things, Appleby’s appeal argued that his confession was not legally obtained and his trial attorney was ineffective.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the cause of an accident just after 7p.m. Thursday in Saline County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol a truck carrying anhydrous ammonia rolled just east of the Interstate 135 – Interstate 70 Junction.

The accident forced officials to divert eastbound traffic at the junction.

The accident also damaged an overhead sign forcing officials to divert westbound traffic diverted while the Kansas Department of Transportation assessed the damage.

There was no ammonia spill and no injuries reported

More information will be released Friday.