SALINE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a suspect after an altercation with a knife.

Just after 11 p.m. Wednesday a woman reported to police that 33-year-old Michael Lynn showed up at her Salina residence intoxicated. An argument ensued and he allegedly pushed her up against the wall and began choking her, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

The woman attempted to escape and call the police when Lynn struck her in the head and threatened her.

Around that time, the victim’s roommate arrived and confronted Lynn.  He allegedly grabbed the roommate by the hair, pulling out her artificial extensions and shoving her into a coffee table. According to the police report, the roommate had several bald spots from the encounter.

The roommate then ran to the porch and called her boyfriend who arrived shortly before the Salina Police.

According to Capt. Forrester, the boyfriend entered the house to find Lynn on top of the female victim with a knife to her throat.

The victim told police that the boyfriend pulled Lynn off of her and took his knife.

Lynn allegedly ran to the kitchen and grabbed another knife. Capt. Forrester said that the boyfriend took Lynn to the ground, disarming him yet again.

When authorities arrived, the boyfriend had Lynn pinned to the ground, according to Capt. Forrester. The report did not specify at what point during the incident that the police were called or who made the call.

Lynn was treated for a cut to the head and was booked into the Saline County Jail early this morning. According to Capt. Forrester, authorities requested three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of criminal threat, two counts of domestic battery, aggravated intimidation of a witness, criminal restraint, criminal damage to property and battery.

SEDGWICK COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating a series of motel robberies and Wednesday asked the public to help identify a suspect.

On Thursday, police reported the suspect had been identified and is in custody in another state for unrelated charges.

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SEDGWICK COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating a series of robberies and asking the public for help to identify a suspect.

On Saturday, the Extended Stay America Hotel in the 9400 block of east Corporate Hills Drive was robbed and on Monday, the Days Inn Hotel in the 7300 block of east Kellogg was robbed.

Police believe a slender, light skinned black male in his 20’s and armed with a handgun committed both robberies.

The suspect is a slender, light skinned black male in his 20’s. He was armed with a handgun in the Days Inn robbery.
Anyone with information regarding the identity of this suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 267-2111

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the Kansas Legislature’s debate over keeping concealed weapons out of state hospitals and other public health care facilities (all times local):

8:10 p.m.

Kansas legislators have given final approval to a bill aimed at keeping concealed guns out of state hospitals and other public health facilities.

The House approved the measure on a 91-33 vote Thursday evening only hours after the Senate passed it on a 24-16 vote. The measure goes to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

A 2013 law requires public health facilities to allow concealed guns into their buildings starting in July unless the buildings have security such as metal detectors or guards.

The bill would grant a permanent exemption to state hospitals, other public hospitals, mental health centers, some nursing homes and the University of Kansas Health System and the university’s teaching hospital.

Brownback is a strong gun-rights supporter and legislators weren’t sure whether he would sign or veto the measure.

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4:00 p.m.

The Kansas Senate has approved a bill aimed at keeping concealed guns out of state hospitals and other public health care facilities.

The 24-16 vote Thursday came after senators rejected a proposal backed by the National Rifle Association to narrow the scope of the bill. The measure goes next to the House.

A 2013 law requires public health facilities to allow concealed guns into their buildings starting in July unless the buildings have security such as metal detectors or guards.

The bill would grant a permanent exemption to state hospitals, other public hospitals, mental health centers, some nursing homes and the University of Kansas Health System and the university’s teaching hospital.

The NRA and other gun-rights advocates wanted to limit the exemption to fewer institutions and only to certain areas in those facilities.

1:00 p.m.

The Kansas Senate has rejected a National Rifle Association-backed proposal to narrow the scope of a bill aimed at keeping concealed guns out of state hospitals and other public health care facilities.

Senators voted 24-16 against an amendment from Senate President Susan Wagle. The Wichita Republican’s plan would have allowed only state hospitals, community mental health centers and the University of Kansas Health System to keep banning concealed guns and only in certain areas.

A 2013 law requires public health facilities to allow concealed guns into their buildings starting in July unless the buildings have security such as metal detectors or guards.

The bill would grant a permanent exemption to state hospitals, other public hospitals, mental health centers, some nursing homes and the university’s health system and teaching hospital.

11:10 a.m.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback says gun-rights advocates and representatives for the state’s hospitals couldn’t reach agreement on a legislative proposal aimed at keeping concealed guns out of state hospitals and other public health care facilities.

The Senate was debating the measure Thursday.

A 2013 law requires public health facilities to allow concealed guns into their buildings starting in July unless the buildings have security such as metal detectors or guards. The bill being debated would grant a permanent exemption to state hospitals, other public hospitals, mental health centers, some nursing homes and the University of Kansas Health System and teaching hospital.

Brownback said Thursday he had talks with hospital industry officials and gun-rights advocates who want a narrower bill but the talks did not produce a compromise.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas gun-rights group is rallying members ahead of a possible legislative debate over a measure aimed at keeping concealed weapons out of public hospitals.

The Kansas State Rifle Association sent an email to members and supporters ahead of a scheduled Senate debate Thursday.

A 2013 law requires public health facilities to allow concealed guns into their buildings starting in July unless the buildings have security such as metal detectors or guards. The measure would grant a permanent exemption to state hospitals, other public hospitals, mental health centers, some nursing homes and the University of Kansas Health System and teaching hospital.

The gun-rights group called the proposed exemptions too sweeping.

Senate leaders previously postponed a debate to allow negotiations involving gun-rights advocates and KU health officials but the talks stalled.

KANSAS CITY – A registered sex offender from Kansas pleaded guilty Wednesday to picking up a 16-year-old girl in Virginia and taking her across state lines to have sex with him, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.

Logan Viquesney, 21, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity. In his plea, he admitted he communicated with the victim over the internet while she was staying with her grandparents in Virginia. On May 30, 2016, the victim was reported missing from her grandparents’ home. Investigators learned that Viquesney had driven to Virginia, picked up the girl, and taken her with him on a trip that took them from Virginia to Maryland, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. While on the trip, Viquesney had sex with the girl.

Viquesney was arrested after he arrived in Kansas City, Kan., with the girl.

Sentencing is set for July 31. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 15 years in federal prison.

POLK COUNTY, IOWA – An investigation by agents of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) led to Thursday’s arrest of a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy.

The sheriff’s deputy, David Schmitt, age 30, from Meriden, Kansas, was arrested at approximately 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 1 in Polk County, Iowa, according to a media release.

Schmitt was arrested for alleged offenses including: aggravated battery, disorderly conduct, two counts of aggravated endangering a child, two counts of intimidation of a witness or victim, and two counts of aggravated assault.

The suspected crimes are related to an April 13, 2016 domestic violence incident, and other alleged conduct while Schmitt was released on bond following his initial arrest on April 15, 2016. Schmitt was not formally charged after his initial arrest for domestic battery, and since then has remained on administrative leave from the Sheriff’s Office.

Following his arrest Thursday, Schmitt was booked into the Polk County Jail where he awaits extradition to Kansas.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man was been sentenced to 28 years and six months in prison in the death of his 23-month-old daughter.

KSNW-TV  reports that 31-year-old Michael Williams was sentenced Thursday for first-degree murder and child abuse.

His daughter, Princess Teyonia Williams, died in September 2015. She was left with her father while her mother worked. The police affidavit says the girl suffered massive internal injuries, including a skull and rib fractures.

Williams was convicted of forgery in 2008, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas has condemned a school district’s new guidelines that prevent those making public comments at board meetings from speaking about specific district employees or students, calling it “unconstitutional.”

The Kansas City Star reports Shawnee Mission School Board President Sara Goodburn received a letter Tuesday from ACLU of Kansas legal director Doug Bonney criticizing Goodburn for reprimanding a parent who used a board member’s name while asking about a specific conflict-of-interest issue in May.

Goodburn has since admitted she incorrectly interrupted the parent, as the member is not a district employee.

Bonney says the First Amendment protects the public’s right to “call out or praise” all public servants, including teachers and other school staff.

He says the district hasn’t yet responded to his letter.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas says it collected $1.9 million less in taxes than anticipated in May.

The Department of Revenue reported Thursday that the state took in $441 million in taxes, compared with a projection of $443 million. The shortfall was 0.4 percent.

The state saw a small surplus in tax collections in April and the department noted that the state remains on track to meet projections for the current budget year. The state has collected about $5.2 billion in taxes since the fiscal year began in July 2016,

The projections were set in a fiscal forecast issued last month.

Lawmakers are working on proposals to raise taxes to fix the state budget and provide additional funds for public schools. With Thursday’s report, the state’s budget shortfalls total $889 million through June 2019.

Topeka – Governor Sam Brownback Thursday issued the following statement to ensure that education finance legislation puts students first:

“The provision of suitable education for all Kansas students was included in our state’s constitution because Kansans know that the key to preserving our freedom relies on our ability to educate the next generation. It is our responsibility and obligation to ensure that any new education finance system improves the educational outcomes of our students and provides them with opportunities for a better future.

 

Issued the following statement to ensure that #ksleg school finance legislation puts Kansas students first. #ksed https://t.co/tM6SLCjWMa pic.twitter.com/R7Ub7EPZPF

— Sam Brownback (@govsambrownback) June 1, 2017

 

“I have long argued that our education finance system needs to be predicable and sustainable for both educators and taxpayers. We must ensure that these taxpayer dollars are being spent to achieve real outcomes and improve the achievements of our students.

“I appreciate the hard work of the House and Senate committees this session on this enormous and vitally important undertaking.  However, I do believe there remains some room for improvement.  Specifically, there a few reforms for which I have advocated throughout the past several years and have included in my State of the State address. I would like to see the following improvements be made to the legislation before it reaches my desk:

1. Expand educational opportunities available to the bottom 25 percent; and,
2. A limitation on bond and interest aid so we can drive resources to where it is needed most, the classroom; and,
3. Inclusion of a sunset date to allow the legislature to review the effectiveness of the new education finance system every five years.

“We cannot be satisfied with an education finance bill that does not address the core concern of the Supreme Court’s ruling. We must do more to improve the performance and outcomes of our lowest performing students.

“Providing Kansas parents and students with more opportunities will ensure that low performing students have the ability to move to a school that meets their specific needs. In the year 2017 we should reject the idea that a child’s zip code will determine their opportunities in the future. Innovative school programs will ensure that students who are performing in the lowest 25 percent will have the ability to find new paths to success.”

MIAMI COUNTY – Authorities are recognizing the quick work of a Kansas Game Warden on Wednesday after a rescue during a severe thunderstorm.

As a strong storm with high winds and golf ball size hail rolled through Kansas and a man and his service dog camping at Miami County State Fishing Lake were left without shelter when the tent was destroyed, according to a social media report.

Kansas Game Warden Jaron Cox responded to the emergency. He drove around downed trees and through flooded areas to reach the man and his service dog.

The man and his dog suffered only minor injuries.