WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has fined Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach $1,000 for misleading the court about the contents of materials he was photographed taking into a November meeting with then President-elect Donald Trump.

The ruling Friday by U.S. Magistrate Judge James O’Hara also requires Kobach to submit to a deposition by the American Civil Liberties Union about that document as well as a separate draft amendment to the National Voter Registration Act.

The ruling stops short of ordering the materials be made public as the ACLU had requested.

But O’Hara says they would become a judicial record if attorneys file them as exhibits in a motion. The parties would then face a tougher standard to meet to keep them secret.

Kobach did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Kansas City physician was sentenced to one year and three months in federal prison without parole for a fraud scheme that involved disability exams for veterans.

Federal prosecutors say 74-year-old Wayne Williamson also was ordered Wednesday to pay restitution of $39,155.

Williamson surrendered his medical license in 2010 after pleading guilty to health care fraud, conspiracy to distribute drugs and harassing or attempting to harass an investigator with the Missouri State Board of Healing Arts. He was sentenced to three years in prison and banned from participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Despite not having a license, Williamson performed disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs at Industrial Medical Center in Independence. The federal government requires disability exams be conducted by credentialed providers with unrestricted licenses.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on a Kansas jury’s award of nearly $218 million to Kansas farmers who sued Syngenta over genetically modified corn seed. (all times local):

11:25 a.m.

Swiss agribusiness giant Syngenta says it will appeal a Kansas federal jury’s awarding of nearly $218 million to Kansas farmers who sued the company over its introduction of a genetically modified corn seed variety.

Syngenta says in a statement that it is “disappointed” by Friday’s verdict after a three-week trial in Kansas City, Kansas. That case involves four Kansas farmers representing more than 7,000 growers in the state. Another trial involving about 60,000 cases begins next month in Minnesota.

The lawsuits allege Syngenta introduced the seed variety to the U.S. market before China approved it for imports, wrecking an increasingly important export market for U.S. corn and causing price drops.

The Kansas trial was the first test case. It and the Minnesota trial will provide guidance for how the complex web of litigation in state and federal courts could be resolved

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11 a.m.

A federal jury in Kansas has awarded nearly $218 million to farmers who sued Swiss agribusiness giant Syngenta over its introduction of a genetically engineered corn seed variety.

Friday’s verdict after a three-week trial in Kansas City, Kansas, involves four Kansas farmers representing more than 7,000 farmers in the state. Another trial involving about 60,000 cases begins next month in Minnesota.

The lawsuits allege Syngenta introduced the seed variety to the U.S. market before China approved it for imports, wrecking an increasingly important export market for U.S. corn and causing price drops.

The Kansas trial was the first test case. It and the Minnesota trial will provide guidance for how the complex web of litigation in state and federal courts could be resolved.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A GOP leader in a largely white Kansas City suburb says the party “didn’t mean anything” by promoting a picnic with the slogan “Olathe Lives Matter!” and a rainbow font.

SHAWNEE COUNTY-  After police were involved in 84 incidents at a home including many involving drugs, the Topeka City Attorney announced Thursday the city is going to court to “padlock” the residence for up to two years.

In a media release, the first ever nuisance abatement case in Topeka, commonly referred to as a “padlock” case, is authorized under Kansas statutes when real or personal property is being used to carry on certain types of unlawful activities.

The owners of the home in the 2400 Block of SW Beverly were notified of the activities in October of 2016 and since that time, the unlawful activity at the property has continued.

The petition says authorities have recovered stolen vehicles, encountered a self-described methamphetamine addict and collected numerous drugs and paraphernalia.

Jeffrey Patton told the Capital-Journal that there have been “run-ins with the law” during the six years he’s lived in the home, sometimes with other people. But he says “cops cause more problems than I do.”

If the Court finds that the owner of the property knew or should have known of the unlawful activities and did not make a bona fide attempt to abate the nuisance, the Court can order any building or structure located on the property to be padlocked for up to two years.  A civil penalty of up to $25,000 and attorney fees can also be recovered.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report

WASHINGTON -Senate Republicans Thursday released a 142-page draft of their bill to eliminate much of the Obama health care law.

The measure would cut and revamp Medicaid, the health care program for lower-income and disabled people.

The Senior Senator from Kansas Pat Roberts said it is time to put ideology aside and move on the bill. “What is the alternative? Single payer, socialized medicine? The American people don’t want that. We can’t delay. Delay is higher premiums, higher co-pays and little choice. This bill is the best path to immediate relief for patients in 2018. This bill is the best possible bill under very difficult circumstances.”

Senator Jerry Moran did not commit to the bill, “I was not and am not for Obamacare and have seen firsthand the negative impact the law has had on too many Kansans.”

“I will fully review this legislation and am awaiting the Congressional Budget Office score to gain a complete understanding of the impacts and consequences this bill would have on hardworking Kansans. If this bill isn’t good for Kansas, it isn’t good for me.”

 

It would repeal tax increases Obama’s law imposed on higher-income people and medical industry companies to pay for expanded coverage. And it would end the tax penalty Obama’s statute imposes on people who don’t buy insurance — in effect, ending the so-called individual mandate.

It faces uniform Democratic opposition. And at least a half-dozen Republicans — both conservatives and moderates — have complained about it.

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Democrats are roundly criticizing the Republican plan to scrap the Obama health care law.

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke on the Senate floor Thursday moments after the GOP’s 142-page discussion draft was posted online. Republicans had been briefed on the plan behind closed doors.

Schumer says, “We live in the wealthiest country on earth. Surely we can do better than what the Republican health care bill promises.”

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi assails the GOP bill as a tax break for wealthy Americans. The bill would eliminate the requirement that Americans buy insurance or face a tax penalty.

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President Donald Trump is expressing hope that the Senate will pass a health care plan “with heart” following the release of a Republican plan to dismantle President Barack Obama’s health law.

Trump says at the start of a White House event on technology he is hopeful Congress will get something done on health care “with heart.”

The president spoke shortly after Senate Republicans released a 142-page draft of their bill to get rid of much of the Obamacare law.

The bill faces broad opposition from Democrats. But Trump says that Republicans would love to have Democratic support.

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A federal appellate court has upheld a judge’s dismissal of a Kansas woman’s lawsuit against police the Catholic former nurse insisted wouldn’t allow her to pray in her own home.

A 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel in Denver affirmed a Kansas district court’s decision last year to toss Mary Anne Sause’s case against two Louisburg officers.

Sause alleged the officers responding to a noise complaint demanded to be let into her apartment, wouldn’t specify why they were there and called a copy of the Constitution she showed them “just a piece of paper.” Sause said that when she began praying, an officer unconstitutionally ordered her to stop.

Hiram Sasser, a First Liberty Institute attorney for Sause on appeal, says lawyers for the woman are weighing their legal options.

SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for theft.

Just after 12 a.m. Wednesday, Joshua Christopher, 23, Salina, allegedly stole the 2005 Ford Escape from an acquaintance’s home in the 500 block of Woodlawn in Salina, according to Police Sgt. James Feldman.

Just before 1a.m., Christopher ran the Ford off the road and struck a curb and a light pole in the 2200 block of South Ninth Street.

Police say he then used the vehicle owner’s financial card to pay the $160 wrecker bill in order to return the SUV to the owner.

Police arrested Christopher at the same residence. He faces one count of felony theft, one count of misdemeanor theft and criminal use of a financial card.

The vehicle was valued at $4,000.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Relatives of a registered sex offender who’s charged with raping a 7-year-old in a stranger’s Wichita apartment say they are in “utter shock and disbelief.”

The family of 23-year-old Corbin Breitenbach said in a statement that it’s “impossible to communicate the depth of our sorrow and the grief we feel for the victim and her family.” The statement was left on the voicemail of an Eagle reporter. A woman who answered the phone at the number from which the voicemail was left identified herself as Breitenbach’s mother.

Breitenbach is charged with attempted capital murder, aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated burglary in the June 11 attack. He’d been released from prison six weeks earlier after serving time for choking and raping a woman in 2012.

SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting.

Just before 9p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 4700 Block of SW Topeka Boulevard in Topeka, according to a media release.

Officers made contact with a man who had suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was treated at the scene.

The man’s dog was also hit by a projectile but is expected to make a full recovery. Officers located a crime scene just east of SW Topeka Boulevard.

Crime scene investigators, Detectives and a K9 unit processed the scene. No arrests were reported and no additional details released.