First responders on the scene during the prison disturbance and fire in Norton Tuesday night-photo courtesy KWCH
JOHN HANNA, Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ top prison official says protests outside the walls are helping to fuel unrest in state prisons by inspiring inmates to use mass demonstrations to air grievances.
Corrections Secretary Joe Norwood said in an Associated Press interview that he doesn’t see any other connection between a recent uprising at the Norton Correctional Facility in northwestern Kansas and past disturbances at the maximum-security prison in El Dorado.
Norwood said Tuesday night’s riot in Norton appeared to be spontaneous. Inmates set small fires, smashed windows, threw rocks and were told they could face lethal force.
He said political protests seem to be more common outside of prison and inmates who have some access to television are noticing.
But some lawmakers said inmate transfers or increased double-bunking are contributing to the unrest.
KANSAS CITY— (AP) — A Kansas City librarian has been found not guilty of charges he faced after he tried to stop the arrest of a library patron during a public forum.
A municipal court judge on Friday found Steve Woolfolk not guilty of obstruction, interfering with an arrest and assaulting a police officer.
The Kansas City Star reports Woolfolk was charged after a May 2016 confrontation at Kansas City library lecture by Middle East expert and diplomat Dennis Ross. Woolfolk intervened when off-duty police and private guards arrested Jeremy Rothe-Kushel of Lawrence, who was trying to ask Ross several questions.
Library executive director R. Crosby Kemper III publicly criticized the arrest. The library and Woolfolk received national awards for his stance.
City prosecutors had earlier dropped trespassing and resisting arrest charges against Rothe-Kushel.
DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal pedestrian accident. Just before 5a.m., first responders were dispatched to Kansas 10 at County Road 1057 after report of a vehicle hit and killed a pedestrian, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.
Eastbound K10 near CR1057 down to 1 traffic lane due to pedestrian being hit and killed by vehicle. Law enforcement still on scene.
Traffic was closed to one lane until almost 9 a.m. as a result of the crash. The Kansas Highway Patrol has not released the name of the victim or details of the crash.
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is touting a controversial multistate voter database as a key resource in response to U.S. Department of Justice questions about Kansas’ compliance with federal voting law.
In a recent letter to the Justice Department, obtained by the Kansas News Service through an open records request, Kobach describes the database as “one of the most important systems” Kansas uses to check the accuracy of voter rolls.
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach responded to a U.S. Justice Department request about voter registration information in an Aug. 31 letter. He cited a multistate voter database as a key resource for Kansas election officials. FILE PHOTO / KPR
Kobach has long said the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program — which began in 2005 under previous Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh — serves as a valuable tool for protecting the integrity of elections by allowing officials in about 30 states to compare their voter rolls in search of people who are double registered.
Critics, however, question the program’s value, saying poor data quality means there is far greater potential for mistakenly assuming people with the same name and birthdate to be the same person.
In his letter to the Justice Department, Kobach said the database serves to identify “potential duplicate registrations,” which can then be checked further.
His letter is a reply to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, which in June contacted election officials in all 50 states seeking details about how they comply with the National Voter Registration Act.
The Justice Department made its request on June 28 — the same day that Kobach, as vice chairman of President Donald Trump’s commission on voter fraud, asked all states for voter roll data.
The Justice Department asked states to reply within 30 days, but the reply from Kobach’s office is dated Aug. 31.
A Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed this week that Kansas’ letter has been received and is being reviewed. The spokeswoman declined to answer questions about the content of Kansas’ reply, the date of its submission and whether the Justice Department has received responses from all 50 states yet.
Kobach’s office declined to answer questions about the timing of the response and whether the office had sought an extension from the Justice Department.
Among the Justice Department’s questions to Kobach’s office, also obtained through an open records request, are requests for copies of policies and statutes related to removing names from the rolls when voters die or become ineligible because of a change of address. Kobach’s letter points the Justice Department to an online manual for Kansas elections.
Celia Llopis-Jepsen is a reporter for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio and KMUW covering health, education and politics. You can reach her on Twitter @Celia_LJ.
SEDGWICK COUTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a student after an altercation at a Kansas high school.
Just after 1p.m. Friday The School Resource Officer (SRO) at Northwest High School radioed for immediate assistance after a 16 year old student caused a disturbance inside of the school and was punching walls and lockers, according to Wichita Police Officer Charley Davidson
The SRO and two Board of Education (BOE) security officers contacted they boy and he was uncooperative.
He pushed a BOE officer. The officers attempted to take him into custody and he resisted. A Sedgwick County Deputy was also in the school and assisted with the situation by deploying a Taser as the 3 officers were having difficulty with the student.
Officers took the student into custody and transported him to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He was booked into the juvenile detention facility for battery of a school official and resist arrest. No officers were injured.
TESCOTT, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas homicide victim’s Australian shepherd has been found in California where it had been adopted out by an animal shelter.
The dog, named Zeus, and a pickup truck were missing when a family member found Matthew Schoshke’s body at his rural home on Aug. 12.
Thirty-four-year-old Robert Colson, of Bucksport, Maine, is charged with second-degree intentional murder in the killing. He was arrested about two weeks after the killing in Martinez, California. He had been injured while trying to escape from an Amtrak train after a person was stabbed.
Meanwhile, Schoshke’s family took to social media to search for Zeus. They posted this week that Zeus had been located. The newspaper reports that the dog will be reunited soon with Schoshke’s family.
SEDGWICK COUTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit-and-run accident and asking the public for help to identify the driver.
Just after 3a .m. Friday, police responded to an injury hit-and-run accident near the intersection of Kellogg and Webb in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. A 25-year-old man told police a 22-year-old man was involved with a disturbance at Club Rodeo.
The victim left the club, was walking on Kellogg and westbound possibly, red, Chevy Silverado HD pickup hit him. The driver of the pickup fled the accident scene. Emergency crews transported the victim to a local hospital in critical condition, according to Davidson. Police have few additional details on the accident but want the public to contact them if they can help find the driver or the pickup.
WALLACE COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Wallace County Attorney’s Office, the Greeley County Attorney’s Office and the Sherman County Attorney’s Office named the subjects arrested and charged in a recent western Kansas narcotics operation. The operation represented a coordinated law enforcement response to combating drug violence and reducing the accessibility of illegal drugs impacting western Kansas and Eastern Colorado.
SUBJECTS CHARGED IN WALLACE COUNTY COURT:
Name, Age City of Residence Charge (most serious)
Miles Ackerman, 30 Colby, KS Distribution of Methamphetamine- Level 1
Brandon Boutee, 38 Colby, KS Attempted Distribution of Methamphetamine- Level 4
Jonathan Louis Brandon, 37 Stratton, CO Distribution of Methamphetamine- Level 1
Dante Brown, 39 Colby, KS Distribution of Methamphetamine- Level 1
Jacob Dabney, 41 Thornton, CO Distribution of Methamphetamine- Level 1
Adam Ford, 29 Goodland, KS Distribution of Methamphetamine- Level 2
Crystal Garner, 39 Hays, KS Distribution of Methamphetamine- Level 1
Doug Gibbs, 60 Goodland, KS Distribution of Methamphetamine- Level 3
REPUBLIC COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities have captured a suspect wanted in connection with an August 30 murder in Kansas City.
Just after 10:30a.m. Friday authorities arrested 25-year-old Zachary Barnes on 260 Road between Shady and Timber south of the small Republic County town of Cuba, according to the Republic County Sheriff’s office.
Officials in Wyandotte County are charging Barnes with 2nd-degree murder, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies took him back to Wyandotte County Friday.
A woman with Barnes, Shannon Dace is still missing.
The sheriff’s department did not release any addition details on the arrest.
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REPUBLIC COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue a search in north-central Kansas for a suspect wanted in connection with an August 30 murder in Kansas City.
The Republic County Sheriff’s office in a media release reported authorities believe 25-year-old Zachary Barnes and Shannon Dace are still in the region. They are both severely diabetic and are believed to be looking for someone to drive them from the area.
Barnes is described as a white male, 5-foot 7-inches tall, 160- pounds, brown hair and green eyes. Dace is described a white female with reddish, brown hair and a slim build.
In addition to searching for Barnes at homes in Scandia and in Concordia, officials with U.S. Marshal’s Service searched locations in the small Republic County communities of Cuba and Agenda, according to the sheriff’s department.
Agenda is just south of Cuba, Kansas in Republic County- google map
After a lockdown Thursday, schools are open in Republic and Cloud County. However, USD 109 reported they will keep students inside during recess, according to the district social media page.
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REPUBLIC COUNTY — Schools officials in Cloud and Republic County are taking appropriate precautions as the law enforcement authorities report they have yet to find a Kansas City murder suspect believed to be in north-central Kansas.
All field trips and activities are still planned as normal at USD 109 in Belleville, according to the district social media page.
Schools will remain secured as usual. However, students will be kept inside for recess simply as a responsible action according to the situation. In case there are concerns caused through social media messages, the district contacted local law enforcement early Friday morning. It was determined that the situation did not deem it necessary to cancel schools.
On Thursday, the Republic County Sheriff’s Dept. received an arrest warrant for 25-year-old Zachary Barnes wanted for a murder that was committed in the Kansas City area, according to a media release from Sheriff Ron Blad.
Deputies went to Scandia to a residence to execute the warrant. The subject fled before they could make an arrest.
The subject was then spotted in Belleville and officers responded to the area of 18th and G. Street where the subject was believed to be in a house. As of 7a.m. subject was still at large.
Zachary Barnes is described as a white male, 5-foot 7-inches tall, 160- pounds, brown hair and green eyes.
There have been no shots fired in this county, no hostages, and no school shootings, according to the sheriff’s department. Schools in Cloud and Republic County were notified as a precautionary measure to lock down
Responding agencies include Troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol, Republic County Sheriff Deputies, Belleville Police Department officers, SRT out of Salina, US Marshalls, and Kansas Wildlife and Park officers.
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REPUBLIC COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue to search for a suspect wanted in connection with a murder.
On Thursday, the Republic County Sheriff’s Dept. received an arrest warrant for 25-year-old Zachary Barnes wanted for a murder that was committed in the Kansas City area, according to a media release from Sheriff Ron Blad.
Deputies went to Scandia to a residence to execute the warrant. The subject fled before they could make an arrest.
The subject was then spotted in Belleville and officers responded to the area of 18th and G. Street where the subject was believed to be in a house. As of 5a.m. subject was still at large at this time.
Zachary Barnes is described as a white male, 5-foot 7-inches tall, 160- pounds, brown hair and green eyes.
There have been no shots fired in this county, no hostages, and no school shootings, according to the sheriff’s department. Schools in Cloud and Republic County were notified as a precautionary measure to lock down
Responding agencies include Troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol, Republic County Sheriff Deputies, Belleville Police Department officers, SRT out of Salina, US Marshalls, and Kansas Wildlife and Park officers.
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CLOUD COUNTY — Schools and business are on lockdown in north central Kansas due to police activity and the search for a wanted suspect, according to the Republic County Sheriff’s office. Few details are available.
The Concordia campus of Cloud County Community College reported lockdown procedures were in place just before 4 p.m. Thursday because of a situation in the community.
Just after 5p.m. the college reported that due to the continuing lock down situation, evening classes at the Concordia campus were canceled.
In addition, local law enforcement advised USD 333 in Concordia to remain in lock down until further notice. Students will not be released until the issue is resolved. According to the school district, this procedure is for the safety of all involved.
MEDFORD, Okla. (AP) — An earthquake that rattled parts of northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas has been upgraded to magnitude 4.3.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the quake as magnitude 3.9 after it struck at 9:26 p.m. Thursday near Medford, Oklahoma, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of Oklahoma City.
The USGS upgraded the magnitude Friday after further review.
Grant County Emergency Management Director Brandon Fetters called the quake “stout,” but said there are no injuries or damage.
Thousands of earthquakes have been recorded in Oklahoma in recent years, with many linked to the underground injection of wastewater from oil and natural gas production operations.
State regulators have directed oil and gas producers to close some wells and reduce injection volumes in others.
MEDFORD, Okla. (AP) — An earthquake that rattled parts of northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas has been upgraded to magnitude 4.3.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the quake as magnitude 3.9 after it struck at 9:26 p.m. Thursday near Medford, Oklahoma, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of Oklahoma City.
The USGS upgraded the magnitude Friday after further review.
Grant County Emergency Management Director Brandon Fetters called the quake “stout,” but said there are no injuries or damage.
Thousands of earthquakes have been recorded in Oklahoma in recent years, with many linked to the underground injection of wastewater from oil and natural gas production operations.
State regulators have directed oil and gas producers to close some wells and reduce injection volumes in others.
Location of Thursday’s quake-image Kansas Geological Survey
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MEDFORD, Okla. (AP) — An earthquake has rattled parts of northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports the magnitude-3.9 quake struck about 9 miles southeast of Medford, Oklahoma, on Thursday night.
No injuries or damage was immediately reported. Medford is more than 90 miles north of Oklahoma City.
A smaller 2.5-magnitude earthquake was recorded around 5 p.m. Thursday roughly 10 miles west of Harper, Kansas.
Thousands of earthquakes have been recorded in Oklahoma in recent years. Many of them have been linked to the underground injection of wastewater from oil and natural gas production operations.
State regulators have directed oil and gas producers to close some wells and reduce injection volumes in others.
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HARRPER COUNTY — An earthquake shook portions of Kansas Thursday afternoon. The quake just before 5p.m. measured a magnitude 2.5 and was centered approximately 17 miles northwest of Harper, U.S. Geological Survey.
It is the first earthquake in Kansas since a 2.3 quake north of Cheney in Segwick County on September 2.
There are no reports of damage or injury from the Thursday’s quake, according to the Harper County Sheriff’s Department.
