KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The number of licensed abortion clinics  in the region is growing. A Kansas City area clinic is expected to begin taking appointments next week.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains received a license to book appointments for nonsurgical abortions at its Kansas City clinic and consultations are expected to begin Sept. 18. This is the first time the organization will offer the service in over five years.

The organization also is expected to receive a license for surgical and medication abortions at its Columbia, MO., clinic in the next few days.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issued the licenses after a judge halted a state law restricting the practice.

An agency spokeswoman says licenses for clinics in Springfield and Joplin are still going through the formal review process.

It was a deadly Monday on Kansas Highways. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported 4 fatality accidents before noon.

At 7:40 a.m. in Gray County, a 2006 Dodge pickup driven by Zachariah E. Hammond, 21, Montezuma, was eastbound on U.S. 56 just west of Kansas 23.

The pickup entered the westbound lane and collided head-on with 2017 Kenworth semi driven by Robert L. Hoskinson, 53, Cimarron.

Hammond and Hoskinson were transported to the hospital in Dodge City where Hammond died.

The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

At 8:32 a.m. in Clay County, The KHP reported a 2000 Harley Davidson Motorcycle driven by Curtis Scott, 43, NE., was southbound on Kansas15 following a tractor trailer.  The motorcycle passed the truck in the no passing zone.

A northbound Chevy Malibu driven by Megan Anne Ggeller, 31, Wakefield, hit Scott when laid the motorcycle down on the left side in the northbound lane.

Scott was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Neill- Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home.

Gfeller was not injured.  Scott was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

At 8:38 a.m. in Crawford County ,The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Dodge pickup driven by Fred F. Bogina, 87, Arma, was eastbound on 640^th Avenue at U.S. 69. The driver failed to yield to a 2010 Peterbilt Semi driven by Justin Eddie Horner, 27, Kingman, that was northbound on U.S. 69. The vehicles collided in the intersection.

Bogina was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Horner was possibly injured according to the KHP. They did not indicate where he was treated.

Just after 11:45 a.m. in Stanton County, the KHP reported a 2014 Kenworth Semi driven by Osman Hernandez-Gonzales, 25, Hugoton, was east bound on County Road 4 twelve miles north of Johnson City.

The driver failed to yield at yield sign and was struck by a 2007 Chevy pickup driven by Lance Turner, 51, Walsh, CO., that was southbound on County Road W.

After the impact the semi rolled on to its left side on County Road 4. Vehicle 2 came to rest in the north east corner of the intersection.

Turner was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Garnand Funeral  Home.

Hernandez-Gonzales was transported to the Stanton County Hospital.  Turner was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—  Law enforcement authorities are investigating four thefts from vehicles at three country clubs in Kansas and asking the public for help to identify suspects.

The four thefts from vehicles occurred at Wichita Country Club, Reflection Ridge Swimming Pool, and Crestview Country Club on August 20, according to Wichita Police. On September 11, police released photos of a vehicle of interest and three individuals of interest.

If you recognize this vehicle or any of these individuals please call Crime Stoppers at 316.267.2111 or WPD detectives at 316.268.4407. The case numbers are: 17C522091, 17C521986, 17C521987, and 17C521999.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A library on the University of Kansas campus now offers gender-inclusive restrooms.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the Watson Library has debuted two private, non-gendered bathrooms this semester.

Dean of Libraries Kevin Smith says the renovations create a more welcoming space for those who don’t identify with traditional binary genders. He says the response has overall been very positive.

Smith says the staff-led restroom renovation project is part of the university libraries’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.

Other bathrooms in the library have also been renovated to be more accessible to those with disabilities.

Smith says the Spencer Research Library is also planning to add single-user restrooms similar to the new restrooms in the Watson Library.

ROSE HILL, Kan. (AP) — The Butler County sheriff says a person was seriously injured in a house explosion northeast of Rose Hill.

Sheriff Kelly Herzet says the explosion happened about 3:15 p.m. Monday.

He says at least one person was injured and taken to Via Christi Hospital at St. Francis. He says the man suffered severe burns and was listed in critical condition.

A propane tank was on the property but the cause of the explosion is under investigation.

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery at Sam’s Club, 2919 Market Place in Salina.

Just before 5 p.m. on September 8, a man and three women entered the store, cut the lock to the cell phone storage cabinet and got away with 58 phones, according to Police Captain Mike Sweeney.

The total loss was listed at $41,145.00

Police are currently obtaining surveillance video of the crime, according to Sweeney.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating over a dozen people on various charges after a weekend sex trafficking sting.

According to Officer Charley Davidson, 11 people were arrested for buying sexual relations, one for selling sexual relations, one for promoting the sale of sexual relations and two others on unrelated charges during the weekend sting operation.

The Wichita Police Department Vice Section, Exploited, Missing Child Unit, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, Patrol South Broadway Corridor Team and the Patrol West Special Community Action Team participated jointly in the investigation.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal report says Kansas inspectors failed to follow up on nearly half the problems they found in nursing homes in 2014.

The Inspector General’s report issued Monday said federal officials examined 100 deficiencies related to health services that were found by state inspectors at 79 nursing homes. The federal investigators found that the state verified that the nursing homes fixed the problems in only 48 cases.

The Kansas City Star reports in other cases, inspectors from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services required the nursing homes to submit plans to correct problems but didn’t check to see if the plans worked.

The report cited a shortage of inspectors as a possible reason for the findings

Gov. Sam Brownback said he would study the federal findings.

DICKINSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue the search for multiple suspects who fled a traffic stop on Interstate 70 just west of Chapman on Saturday night

When the officer tried to contact the Chevrolet Suburban they were riding in multiple Hispanic individuals fled from the vehicle on foot, according to Dickinson County Sheriff Gareth Hoffman.

Homeland Security was monitoring the vehicle for illegal trafficking, according to Hoffman.

Eleven suspects were in the Chevrolet Suburban.  Deputies arrested Four on Sunday afternoon two miles west of Chapman near Old 40 Highway between Oat and Paint Roads.

The Kansas Highway Patrol aircraft has helped in the search but seven of the suspects remain at large.

“Honestly we’re kind of hoping somebody will see somebody or catch a visual of somebody. We went back out to the area Monday morning, looked around a little bit, but didn’t locate anybody else,” said Hoffman.

SEDWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue to investigating the death of a 3-year-old Kansas boy whose remains were found in a concrete box inside a Wichita home on September 2.

On Monday, the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center notified the Wichita Police Department (WPD) that DNA results have positively identified the remains as Evan C. Brewer, according to a media release.

On Saturday, Sept 2 at approximately 10:30 a.m., WPD officers discovered Evan inside a residence in the 2000 block of south Vine in Wichita.

The property owner was cleaning out his rental property and alerted police to a suspicious concrete structure that was emitting an odor. Police removed the concrete structure from the house and later found the remains of Evan inside the concrete structure.

Police released no additional details in the case on Monday.

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities released new details Tuesday as they continue the investigation of the remains of a child found at a home in Wichita over the weekend.

In March of 2017 Carlo Brewer contacted police and the Department of Children and Families over the welfare of his three-year-old son Evan, according to Lt. Jeff Gilmore if the Wichita Police Department.

The child was in the custody of his mother 36-year-old Miranda Miller and living at a residence in the 2000 Block of South Vine in Wichita.

In April, an allegation of abuse of a three-year-old child was reported to the DCF. The agency investigated the allegation and on July 6, a court issued a protection from abuse order to Carlo Brewer on behalf of his son, according to Gilmore.

Wichita Police continued to work to locate Brewer’s son.  Police and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department repeatedly attempted formal service of the protection from abuse order to the mother.

Officers used surveillance, spoke to neighbors and contacted the residence but were not able to locate the child or his mother. Information indicated the mother left the state with the child but authorities had no specific location, according to Gilmore.

In late August officers learned the mother was aware of the protection from abuse order and was actively eluding officer’s attempt to serve the order.

On August 30, police located Miller in Wichita without the child and arrested her for aggravated interference of child custody.  Police also arrested Stephen Bodine, 40, who was living at the residence. He was booked on charges in an aggravated assault case, according to police booking records.

Just after 10a.m. Saturday, police were called to the residence in the 2000 Block of South Vine. The owner of the property had evicted Miller and Bodine and was cleaning the residence.  He alerted police to a suspicious concrete structure with an unusual odor inside the home.  Police removed the concrete structure and found the remains of a three-year-old inside. They believe it is the body of Evan Brewer, according to Gilmore.  Police hope to have DNA results back to confirm the identity of the body in two weeks.

As the investigation into the death continues, anyone that may have had contact with Evan or his mother are asked to call Wichita Police Homicide Division.

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SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating after police found the remains of a child.

According to media release, officers were called Saturday to a residence in the 2000 block of south Vine in Wichita after a property owner discovered a suspicious concrete structure emitting an odor.

Police removed the structure and found the remains of a child, about 3 years old, inside the concrete.

A 40-year-old man and 36-year-old woman, residents of the property, were arrested earlier last week. They are being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on charges associated with a child custody case, according to police.

There is a tentative identification of the child. Confirmation is being coordinated through the Sedgwick County Medical Examiner, according to police. No additional details were released late Sunday.