KANSAS CITY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Kansas City, Kan., man with producing child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.

Ronny D. Peters, 39, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with two counts of producing child pornography. According to court records, the investigation began when Peters’ former employers called the FBI to report finding child pornography on a company cell phone Peters turned in after he was fired. The phone belonged to Pop-A-Lock, a locksmith company based in Lafayette, La. The company has franchise operations across the United States and Canada, including Kansas City.

The indictment alleges Peters sexually exploited a minor child to produce videos that investigators found on the phone.

If convicted, he faces not less than 15 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. Peters has previous convictions for drugs, aggravated battery domestic battery, theft and burglary.

TOPEKA – A longtime, popular Kansas zoo gorilla had an important medical evaluation Wednesday.

Tiffany, 49, who came to the Topeka Zoo originally in 1968 was evaluated at the Morrison Veterinary Hospital at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center, according to a media release.

During the procedure, a medical team evaluated all of Tiffany’s organ systems in an effort to determine why the gorilla is reluctant to eat.

Early afternoon Wednesday, Tiffany returned to her home at the zoo to recover fully from anesthesia. She continues to be closely monitored.

Last Friday, zoo staff reported that Tiffany wasn’t acting like herself. Staff thought that a storm the previous night might have upset her. Over the following days, she has lost more and more of her appetite. While she is still drinking fluids, she needs the nutrients of her balanced diet to be able to live a healthy life. “We are at the point where a diagnostic exam under anesthesia is indicated,” said Staff Veterinarian Dr. Shirley Llizo.

Tiffany is one of the oldest female gorillas in a global database which shows age distribution of gorillas from many zoos around the world. Because of her geriatric status, staff at the zoo is taking a number of precautions to make sure that Tiffany’s procedure goes as smoothly as possible.

Tiffany has made a great impact on millions of zoo visitors over the years. Longtime residents still remember well the stories about Max and Tiffany. Tiffany’s fondness of children has continued her status as a zoo favorite through the years. Tiffany came to the Topeka Zoo in 1968. She spent some time at the Buffalo Zoo in the eighties before moving back to Topeka.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Police say a fiery crash of a semi-trailer truck will close one direction of Interstate 435 near Kansas City through mid-morning Thursday.

Overland Park police say the crash occurred about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday when the truck went into a median and erupted in fire.

The driver suffered only minor injuries but the crash damaged a safety device used to reduce damage in a crash. Repairs to that device aren’t expected to be complete until about 10 a.m. Thursday.

The crash is the latest of several wrecks along the same stretch of highway, where a major repair project is under way.

Willie “Darryl” Wilson died last weekend of burns he suffered in a fiery, chain-reaction crash July 17 in the eastbound lanes near Wednesday’s crash.

MEADE –  A Kansas man was convicted Wednesday of three child sex crime-related charges, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

A Meade County jury found Jose Alvino Trevino, 49, guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Judge Sidney Thomas presided over the trial. Sentencing has not yet been set.

The crimes were committed in November 2012. The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Assistant Attorney General Lyndzie Carter of Schmidt’s office prosecuted the case.

SALINE COUNTY —Authorities believe a lightning strike ignited an oil storage tank Northeast of Salina Wednesday morning. Rural residents reported seeing the smoke for miles.

Just after 6:30 a.m. fire crews were called to the intersection of East North Street and Holmes Road after someone called in the fire, according to Saline County undersheriff Brent Melander.

Rural Fire District #5, Saline County Emergency Management and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment responded.

Fire crews decided to allow the fire burn itself out and finished cleanup just before 9:30 a.m., according to Melander.

There were no reported injuries.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Kansas lawmaker has named a campaign treasurer in an ethics filing that lists the office he is seeking as governor.

The Wichita Eagle reports House Democratic Leader Jim Ward of Wichita made the filing Tuesday, naming former Kansas Democratic Party chairman Lee Kinch to the post. The form enables Ward to begin fundraising.

Ward plans an announcement Saturday.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback is serving his second term and couldn’t run again. President Donald Trump has nominated him to serve as U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. The timing of a U.S. Senate vote on his nomination is uncertain.

Democrats in the race are former Wichita mayor Carl Brewer and former state representative Josh Svaty. GOP candidates are Kansas Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer and Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer.

RENO COUNTY — A Kansas man arrested by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of sexual exploitation of a child made a first court appearance Wednesday morning in Reno County.

Samuel Ross Seck,  31, who has a prior conviction for attempted sexual exploitation of a child, apparently had numerous pictures on his phone of underage children, according to Capt. Steve Lutz with the sheriff’s office.

In court, Lutz indicated the case is still under investigation.

Seck is a registered sex offender in the county, according to Lutz, and has a prior conviction for attempted sexual exploitation of child out of Geary County from 2012.

He’s jailed on a $25,000 bond and should be back in court next week for the formal reading of charges.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri utility regulators have rejected a proposed high-voltage power line to carry wind power across the Midwest to eastern states.

The decision Wednesday by the Missouri Public Service Commission creates a significant hurdle for Clean Line Energy Partners, which wants to build one of the nation’s longest transmission lines.

All the other states along its route already have granted approval. The line would run from Kansas through Missouri and Illinois to Indiana, where it would connect with a power grid for eastern states.

Missouri regulators initially rejected the project in 2015, while questioning its benefits and burden on landowners.

This time, the regulatory commission cited a recent state appeals court ruling that said utilities must first get consent from affected counties before state approval can be granted.

Clean Line lacks local approval from several counties in its path.

SALINA-  Officials with USD 305 and fire officials were busy on the second day of classes at Salina South High School.

Just after 8a.m., officials checked the school, 730 East Magnolia in Salina, after report of a possible gas leak.

Officials did resolve the gas leak at approximately 8:30 a.m., according to Jennifer Bradford-Vernon, public information director.   They hoped to resume classes but released students just before 10am.

The closure is due to the length of time required to air out the building, according to Bradford-Vernon.

Officials arranged transportation for students who ride the bus.

“Dr. Hardy, USD 305 superintendent thanked local authorities for their expertise and the South High students for their cooperation. He praised school staff for their quick response,” Bradford-Vernon said.

KANSAS CITY -Law enforcement authorities continue investigating the shooting death last week of a police officer near Kansas City and have arrested a third suspect.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported Tuesday night Jacob Johnson, 27, of Clinton, was charged in Henry County with hindering prosecution of a felony.

Update: 3rd arrest. Jacob Johnson, of Clinton, has been charged with hindering prosecution of a felony by Henry CO PA Richard Shields.

— MSHP Troop A (@MSHPTrooperA) August 15, 2017

 

On Friday, A judge entered a not guilty plea for the man accused in the killing of a western Missouri police officer Gary Michael during a traffic stop.

Ian McCarthy appeared via video at his arraignment at the Henry County Courthouse in Clinton. He is charged with first-degree murder in the August 6, shooting death.

McCarthy’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 20.

Officer Michael was shot after he stopped a driver for a traffic violation. Prosecutors say McCarthy jumped out of his car and fired at the officer before driving a few blocks, crashing the car and fleeing on foot. McCarthy was arrested after a two-day manhunt.

Michael returned the gunfire, wounding McCarthy.

-The AP contributed to this report