WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has blocked an effort to overturn an Obama-era regulation restricting harmful methane emissions that escape from oil and gas wells on federal land.

The measure failed on a vote of 51-to-49 in the Republican-led chamber.

Republican leaders were seeking to overturn the Interior Department rule under the Congressional Review Act.

President Barack Obama finalized a rule in November that would force energy companies to capture methane that’s burned off or “flared” at drilling sites because it earns less money than oil.

Democrats and environmental groups say the rule protects the public health and generates millions in revenue for state, local and tribal governments.

Republicans and industry groups call the rule an example of federal overreach under Obama and say it duplicates state rules in place throughout the West.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man has pleaded guilty to lying about the whereabouts of a robbery suspect who later killed himself during a shootout that injured three federal agents at a Kansas motel.

The U.S. attorney’s office says 37-year-old Quentin Kirk Lawton, of Topeka, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of making a false statement to a federal officer.

He admitted that he denied having seen 28-year-old fugitive Orlando Collins last year at the Country Club Motel in Topeka. However, surveillance cameras showed Lawton left the motel shortly before fugitive task force members tried to contact Collins at the hotel.

Authorities say Collins shot two U.S. Marshals and an FBI agent. He started a fire that caused $350,000 in damage and his body was found when the fire was extinguished.

SUMNER COUNTY –Another earthquake rattled portions of Kansas on Wednesday morning.
The 2.7 magnitude quake hit just before 6 a.m. and was centered approximately 10 miles northwest of Conway Springs, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

This is the second quake in Kansas this month.

The agency reported a 3.5 magnitude quake in Harper County on May 5.

The USGS recorded nearly a dozen Kansas earthquakes in April, seven in March and six in February. They measured from 2.5. to 3.3.

There are no reports of damage or injury from Wednesday’s earthquake, according to the Sumner County Sheriff’s Department.

BUTLER COUNTY – Voters in another Kansas school district approved a pair of bond issues on Tuesday worth over $188 million.
One bond for USD 385 in Andover will use money to build two schools and provide storm shelters to schools, according to the district web site.
The money for the other bond will provide funds to build a swimming pool, add artificial turf for athletic fields and more.

We’re SO EXCITED for this results! Thank you Andover Community!! #WeAreAndover #385bond https://t.co/Kc4sinmVHk

— Andover USD 385 (@AndoverSchools) May 10, 2017

In April, voters in USD 265 Goddard approved a $52-million-dollar bond for security enhancements and storm shelters. USD 264 Coldwater also passed a $15 million dollar bond for school safety upgrades.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has fired FBI Director James Comey.In a statement, Trump says Comey’s firing “will mark a new beginning” for the FBI.

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran in an email did not support or condemn the President’s action.

“The American people deserve more information about the circumstances of Mr. Comey’s dismissal. The next FBI Director must be an impartial law enforcement professional dedicated to carrying out the Bureau’s critical mission of protecting the United States and its citizens.”

Kansas Senator Pat Roberts and First District Congressman Roger Marshall did not comment on the firing.

The White House says the search for a new FBI director will begin immediately.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has fired FBI Director James Comey.

In a statement, Trump says Comey’s firing “will mark a new beginning” for the FBI. The White House says the search for a new FBI director will begin immediately.”

 

I believe @POTUS was justified in terminating #Comey as @FBI director. #RT if you agree with me! pic.twitter.com/GtBziOtaLW

— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) May 9, 2017

 

Comey’s firing comes days after he testified on Capitol Hill about the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s
election meddling and possible connections between Russia and Trump’s campaign.

SEWARD COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities in Seward County are investigating a suspect on drug violatons.

Just before 1 a.m. Thursday, May 4, deputies stopped a vehicle in the 300 Block of West Pancake Boulevard in Liberal, according to Undersheriff Gene Ward.

The deputies requested K-9 officer Niko. The dog indicated there were illegal drugs in the vehicle and deputies found over 28 pounds of marijuana in the trunk.

No details were available on an arrest, according to Ward.

WICHITA – A Kansas man was sentenced Monday to five years in federal prison for carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.

Daniel Christian Thomas, 32, Wichita,  pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. In his plea, he admitted he was driving a PT Cruiser that had been reported stolen when the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s office stopped him.

A search of the car turned up a .45 caliber Bond Arms Snake Slayer derringer and .410 shotgun shells as well three baggies containing methamphetamine, two digital scales and approximately $1,000 in cash.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A research group that supports abortion rights says more than half of women of reproductive age live in states with unneeded restrictions on abortion facilities.

The analysis released Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute comes after a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year striking down a widely replicated Texas law on abortion clinics. The court held the regulations were medically unnecessary and unconstitutionally limit a woman’s right to an abortion.

That ruling prompted Guttmacher to look at laws it says are not based in science.

Abortion opponents say such restrictions protect women’s health.

Guttmacher analyzed laws that mandate standards for abortion providers, require waiting periods and ban abortions after 20 weeks.

It found Kansas and Texas have the most such restrictions, followed by Louisiana, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

FINNEY COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities and USD 457 officials continue to investigating a threat at schools and have made an arrest.

Police reported in a media release Jaquelin Rico, 16, was arrested for criminal threat and identity theft in relation to the original Snapchat message threatening violence towards students of the Garden City High School.

She was also arrested for an additional threat sent through social media on Saturday May 6.

She is being held in the Southwest Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center and could face the possible charges of, Criminal Threat (x9), Identity Theft, Making False Information for the original incident on May 4th. She could face additional charges, Criminal Threat (x9) and Making False Information for the additional Snapchat message on May 6th.

Through the investigation, it was also learned of an individual at the Garden City High School who was allegedly creating fake Snapchat accounts to send defamatory messages to other students at the school. Police arrested 16-year-old Jonathan Gonzalez of Garden City.

These alleged defamatory messages along with other disconcerting activities were the cause of the initial threat being issued.

He is also being held in the Southwest Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center

There was never an actual plan to carry out the original threat and students were not in danger from this incident. Both cases have been referred to the Finney County Attorney’s Office.

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FINNEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities and officials with USD 457 are investigating alleged threats at Garden City High School.

Just after 7p.m. Thursday May4, officers of the Garden City Police Department were made aware of reports of threats of violence towards students of the Garden City High School through social media, according to Police Captain Randy Ralston.

Based on information received during the investigation, police placed a 16-year-old boy into protective custody.

On Monday evening, the Garden City Police Department reported they identified the person who allegedly made the threat. “We believe there was never an actual plan to carry out the threat and students were not in danger from this incident,” according to a media release.

No arrests have been reported.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are looking to more closely oversee the state’s privatized foster care system and the contractors that run it amid questions about how the state monitors the program.

The House Children and Seniors Committee passed a bill Tuesday that would create a foster care task force to study the system and make recommendations.

A three-part audit says the Kansas Department for Children and Families and the contractors that run foster care don’t do enough to ensure children are placed in appropriate homes. The final part of the audit published last month said some parts of the state don’t have enough homes for the children awaiting placement.

The vote comes a day after a Kansas jury sentenced Michael Jones to life in prison for abusing and killing his son.

The boy’s stepmother, Heather Jones, pleaded guilty to the same charge in November and is serving a life term.