Gov. Brownback during Thursday’s announcement-photo KDOC
EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback has announced pay raises at state prisons in the wake of inmate disturbances that have drawn public attention to staff shortages.
Uniformed officers across the state would receive about a 5 percent raise. Officers at El Dorado Correctional Facility will see raises of about 10 percent. The increase would kick in later this month if the employees’ union agrees.
Brownback says the state can fund the raises in the short term but lawmakers would have to find money next session to continue them.
The move would boost pay from $13.95 to $14.66 per hour statewide, and to $15.74 per hour at El Dorado.
Department of Corrections Secretary Joe Norwood says the higher pay in El Dorado facility is due to the tighter job market in that area.
RENO COUNTY — The Hutchinson chapter of the NAACP, churches and other organizations are sponsoring a candlelight vigil Friday night.
Organizers say 8p.m. event at George Pyle Park, Avenue B and Walnut in Hutchinson is not a political rally, but an outdoor assembly of people carrying candles as a non-violent way to raise awareness for a cause and to motivate change, according to a media release.
They say it’s also to show respect for the fallen and injured, a way to unite and speak out against hate and support one another in this time in response to the violence involving hate groups and the woman who died last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The event will feature local activist, supporters, and communities of faith coming together in solidarity with those in Charlottesville who stood up to the Nazism, racism and white supremacy.
There will be some speakers and music throughout the evening.
SHAWNEE COUNTY— A Kansas jailer has been arrested on suspicion of having unlawful sexual relations with an inmate.
Shawnee County Jail officials say corrections specialist Timothy James Anderson was booked into the facility Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of four counts of felony unlawful sexual relations with an inmate.
The jail officials said in a news release that the investigation leading to Anderson’s arrest began after department employees “detected an irregular pattern of behavior” between Anderson and inmates within a female housing unit. The release says the behavior reflected an “undue level of familiarity.”
Investigators determined there had been sexual contact after interviewing inmates and reviewing extensive video evidence.
The case has been referred to prosecutors, and the jailer has been placed on unpaid leave while the investigation continues.
WICHITA – A former city attorney of Manhattan pleaded guilty today to federal child pornography charges, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.
Bill Raymond, 55, Andover, Kan., pleaded guilty to three counts of transporting child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. Raymond admitted that he emailed child pornography to himself using a cellular telephone and a computer on Nov. 9, 2014, Feb. 28, 2015 and May 17, 2015. He also admitted that on July 30, 2015, he possessed child pornography.
The crimes occurred in Butler and Riley counties. Raymond became the city attorney in Manhattan after serving as an assistant county counselor in Sedgwick County.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 6. He faces not less than five years and not more than 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each distribution count, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the possession count. Beall commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
OTTAWA COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue to search for a pickup connected to the alleged murder of a rural Kansas man.
The body of 34-year-old Matthew Schoshke was found Saturday in a rural home near Tescott, according to The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says it is investigating the death as a homicide.
The agency is looking for Schoshke’s silver 2006 Ford F-150 extended cab pickup, with Kansas tag 892 DZO. The front license plate reads “EATBEEF” and the truck has a chrome push guard on the front and a black plastic tool box in the back.
The truck was last seen westbound on Interstate 70 in Colorado. A license plate reader identified the truck, according to Sheriff Keith Coleman.
Authorities have not released any information on the circumstances of Schoshke’s death.
Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley on Wednesday called on the state’s top three Republican leaders to condemn the weekend violence in Virginia. FILE PHOTO / KPR
The Kansas Democratic Party and the Democrat leader in the Kansas Senate, Anthony Hensley, called out top Republican officials Wednesday for not condemning the white nationalist march and violence in Charlottesville, Va.
The weekend events left one person dead and dozens injured. Two officers also died when a state police helicopter monitoring the rally crashed.
Hensley and the party aimed their messages at Gov. Sam Brownback, Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer and Secretary of State Kris Kobach.
“Racism and bigotry have no place in this state or country,” Hensley said. “It is shocking that leaders of the Republican Party in our state have not denounced the vile behavior of white nationalists.”
The statements from Hensley and the Democratic Party appeared to be part of a coordinated effort, as they were issued in quick succession.
Hensley and Kobach later traded especially sharp barbs, including references to a 2015 appearance Kobach made at a conference organized by The Social Contract Press.
“Kris Kobach, as a featured speaker for a white nationalist group, with connections to other hate groups, as a key architect of voter suppression laws, and a candidate for governor, the people of Kansas deserve to know whether your silence is indicative of your tolerance of such hate,” Hensley said.
In response to Hensley, Kobach said he hadn’t commented earlier because the issues weren’t directly related to Kansas.
“It goes without saying that white supremacist views and racism are reprehensible. I did not comment on the horrific attack in Charlottesville because I am running for governor of Kansas, not governor of Virginia,” Kobach said. “It is pathetic that a man with such poor logical thinking has been teaching public school kids in Kansas for so many years.”
Sen. Hensley put out a statement today making outrageous accusations in order to politicize the tragedy in Charlottesville. My response: pic.twitter.com/nbyVOnKzeK
Kobach said Hensley’s comments were untrue. He called the statement “slander” that has “no place in civil discourse.” He also noted Hensley originally supported the state’s voter ID requirement.
Brownback and Colyer also responded after being challenged by Hensley and the state Democratic Party.
“Racism, hatred, and violence should have no place in American life,” Brownback said in his statement. “Our state was born of the idea that all people are created equal, and that all people should be treated with respect and dignity. I, along with the people of Kansas, condemn any sentiment or demonstration against this fundamental truth.”
Brownback is slated to join President Donald Trump’s administration later this year as an ambassador for religious freedom once his nomination is confirmed.
For his statement, Colyer drew from his work overseas.
“I have seen the evil extremes of racial and ethnic cleansing first hand in Rwanda and other places around the globe,” Colyer said. “We must stamp out these harmful ideologies and evil doers before they can take root here at home. Kansas has been and will continue to be a beacon of light and hope for those who fight for equality and justice for all.”
Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for KPR, a partner in the Kansas News Service.
BELTON, Mo. (AP) — Authorities say human remains found in April in rural northwest Missouri are those of a 17-year-old girl who was last seen 10 years ago.
Belton police Lt. Brad Swanson said in a statement Wednesday that the FBI confirmed the remains were those of Kara Kopetsky. The Belton teen was last seen leaving Belton High School in May 2007.
Investigators found her skull in a wooded area south of Belton in April, a day after a mushroom hunter found a different set of remains.
A medical examiner identified the first set of remains as those of 21-year-old Jessica Runions, of Raymore, who disappeared in September 2016.
Runions was last seen at a gathering with 27-year-old Kylr Yust, who has been questioned in Kopetsky’s disappearance. He hasn’t been charged in either disappearance.
Officials with the Westar Energy, the National Weather Service and others will assess the damage Thursday as the cleanup continues. There were no injuries reported.
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects jailed after a high speed chase and crash.
Just after 7:00 a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a man attempting to get into vehicles in the 800 block of Quail Street in Valley Center, according to a social media report.
Officers found a white truck leaving the area with a man matching the description of the suspect and a second man in the passenger seat.
Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over and a pursuit began south on Meridian and East on Ford to the interstate.
They exited the interstate at 61st street. The pursuit ended at 61st and Air Cap Drive where the suspects rammed a Valley Center patrol car.
Police quickly took the suspects into custody and booked them into the Sedgwick County Jail. There were no serious injuries.
Park City Police Department, Bel Aire Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the chase.
