WASHINGTON (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit accusing President Donald Trump’s commission investigating election fraud of failing to comply with a law designed to ensure public accountability. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is Vice Chairman of the commission.

The lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Washington says the commission held its first meeting without notifying or making the meeting open to the public. The lawsuit says the commission also failed to make meeting records public. The ACLU says that violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The lawsuit also says the commission is improperly stacked with individuals who’ve supported Trump’s statements on illegal voting.

Department of Justice spokesman Ian Prior wrote in an email that the office is reviewing the complaint. He declined futher comment.

The commission’s request for the release of voter data has prompted other lawsuits.

JEWELL COUNTY – Access to life jackets helped two boaters safely reach the shore after their boat sank Sunday afternoon at Jewell State Fishing Lake, according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

A Game Warden, a Jewell County Sheriff’s Deputy and helpful citizens also helped get the boat out of the water and to a ramp.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens reminded everyone to always wear a life jacket.

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced Monday to 20 years in federal prison on drug and gun charges, according to  U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.

Jason Lars Sheets, 36, Salina, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of brandishing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

In his plea, he admitted he was a member of a drug trafficking organization operating in the Salina area in 2016. He admitted that he and his co-defendants jointly possessed 18 firearms including pistols and rifles.

Co-defendants include:
Seth Allen George, 26, Salina, who was sentenced in June to 18 years.
Tyler Lee Shea, 21, Salina, Kan., who was sentenced in June to 15 years.
Kyle Allen Palmer, 30, Salina, Kan., who was sentenced in April to 15 years.

Beall commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Salina Police Department, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough for their work on the case.

SEDGWICK COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and asking for help to find a suspect.

Just after 2a.m. Monday, police responded to a gas station in the 800 Block of South Meridian in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

An employee reported a woman described as white, 5-foot 8-inches tall, wearing a yellow mask, gloves, black shirt and blue jeans entered the business. She displayed a handgun and demanded money.  As the suspect took the cash from the store, a 38-year-old man who witnessed the crime and was carrying a gun fired two shots in the air in the parking lot.

The suspect got into the back of a white Chevy pickup and escaped.   Davidson said police do not advise firing the gun as the bystander did. “You could face charges and those bullets do come down.”  He indicated that while you do have the right to protect yourself,  police need those in a similar situation to be a good witness by observing anything unique that might help solve the crime.

Anyone with information on Monday’s robbery is asked to contact police.

HARPER COUNTY-A Kansas teen died in an accident just after 11:50p.m. Sunday in Harper County.

A 1995 Dodge pickup driven by Adrian Gerber, 18, Anthony, was northbound on Southeast 70 Avenue, according to the Harper County Sheriff Tracy Chance.

The vehicle traveled through a T intersection at SE 70 Road. The driver attempted a turn, the truck rolled and a passenger 16-year-old Tanner Asper of Anthony was ejected.

Asper was pronounced dead at the scene.  Gerber refused treatment.   It appears they were not wearing seat belts, according to Chance.

SEDGWICK COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated battery that sent a Kansas man to the hospital.

Just after 11p.m. Sunday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 800 Block of South Topeka in Wichita, according to office Charley Davidson.

When officers arrived, they found a 55-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds.  The victim told police he was asleep in his apartment and woke up due to the shooting. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries.

Police have no suspects and no description to work with to find a suspect. Police did release the name of the victim.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump Jr. has shared a new doctored video of his father attacking CNN.

Trump Jr. tweeted a video of a doctored clip of the 1986 military thriller “Top Gun” Saturday. In it, President Donald Trump’s face is superimposed over Tom Cruise’s character as he shoots down a Russian jet with a CNN logo on it. Trump is seen in the clip repeating his “you’re fired” catchphrase before launching a missile.

Trump Jr. called the video, “one of the best I’ve seen.” The source of the doctored video wasn’t immediately clear.

One of the best I’ve seen. 😂🇺🇸😂🇺🇸 https://t.co/rqCplijJ57

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 8, 2017

President Donald Trump tweeted a video earlier this month of a doctored clip from a pro wrestling appearance that shows him pummeling a man whose face is covered by the CNN logo. The tweet became Trump’s most-shared tweet.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say two people died when a stolen pickup truck crashed in Kansas City, Kansas, and a survivor then fled after stealing a vehicle from a good Samaritan.

The Kansas City Star reports that at least five people were inside the truck when it crashed into a tree shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday. Police said that when a motorist stopped to help, a surviving passenger in the pickup stole the woman’s vehicle. The thief remains at large, although the woman’s vehicle has since been recovered.

Two other people in the stolen pickup were taken to a hospital with critical injuries. The names of the people killed weren’t immediately released.

The wreck remains under investigation.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy have announced a revamped plan to merge after Kansas regulators scuttled an earlier deal.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the deal announced Monday morning would form a utility with a combined equity value of about $14 billion. The move comes after the Kansas Corporation Commission denied the $12.2 billion sale of Topeka-based Westar to Kansas City, Missouri-based Great Plains Energy in late April. Regulators cited concerns about a high price, the capital structure, merger savings and Kansas job retention, among other issues.

Under the new deal, each share of Westar Energy could be exchanged for a share in the new company. Great Plains shares would be worth about 60 percent of a share in the new company.

No transaction debt would be incurred.

OSAGE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities reported Sunday that search crews found the body of a missing Kansas man.

On Saturday, the Osage County Sheriff asked for assistance to find 65-year-old Leroy L. Fouts of Overbrook, according to a media release. He had last been seen at 2p.m. on July 5 near 205th and Shawnee Heights.

He was leaving his residence and heading to an unknown destination in a red 1998 Jeep Cherokee with Kansas tag 385GFH. The Jeep has a KSU wildcat front plate and rust spots on back passenger door.

The sheriff released no additional details.