JUNCTION CITY—A Kansas City woman was involved in an accident on Wednesday morning in Geary County
The Sheriff’s Department reported Shannon S. Nelson, Prairie Village, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of Junction City when she fell asleep and lost control of her vehicle.
The car struck a road sign, barbed wire fence, and trees that caused major damage to the driver’s side.
Nelson was not injured.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Republican Party plans to have a network of lawyers ready to watch voting on Election Day for potential legal problems.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the GOP plans to have lawyers on standby, as they watch for what state GOP party director Clayton Barber calls “dubious actions” by Democrats. The newspaper says the plans were detailed in an email from Barber.
The email says poll watchers will be watching for any improper procedures, illegal electioneering near polling places and improper contact with voters.
Jason Perkey, director of the Kansas Democratic Party, said Democrats will defend everyone’s right to vote. He also objected to Barker’s accusation that Democrats engage in “dubious tactics.”
Barker says he was not referring to Democrats specifically but to any possibility of voter fraud.
LEBANON, Mo. (AP) — A southwest Missouri man is accused of hitting his two children in the head with a hammer as punishment, while his wife is accused of biting one of them for the same reason.
KYTV-TV reports 28-year-old Richard Tubb and 23-year-old Brittny Tubb were charged last week after police received a call about the children having bruises on their faces.
Doctors who treated the children for facial bruises found a bite on the boy’s arm. Police say Brittny Tubb admitted biting the boy, while Richard Tubb admitted hitting the children with a hammer.
Brittny Tubb is charged with second-degree domestic assault. Her husband is charged with two counts of second-degree domestic assault and two counts of armed criminal action.
Their attorney was not available Tuesday afternoon for comment.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A proposed constitutional amendment on next week’s Kansas ballot would allow nonprofit, religious, veterans and other organizations to hold raffles as fundraisers.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports organizations conducting raffles would not be allowed to sell tickets through electronic gaming or vending machines, under the proposed amendment. They also wouldn’t be allowed to contract with professional lottery or raffle companies to operate the raffles.
The Legislature passed a bill in 2013 that would allow charitable groups to offer raffles. But Gov. Sam Brownback vetoed the measure, saying it would violate the Kansas Constitution.
Brownback said in his veto message he would support allowing limited types of charitable raffles and encouraged the Legislature to consider a constitutional amendment.
BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — After months of controversy and compromise, smoking will be banned at most indoor public places in Branson.
The city’s Board of Alderman voted Tuesday night to enact a smoke-free ordinance. However, the ordinance won’t take effect until next July to allow businesses to prepare for the changes.
KYTV reports the proposal was first suggested last summer. The original bill was amended four times. It now includes exemptions for outdoor patios and tobacco shops and smoking lounges that generate at least 70% of their revenue from tobacco sales.
The ordinance also restricts smoking in some outdoor spaces, such as city parks and a distance of 6 feet from a public e
LYNDON, Kan. (AP) — The trial of a Kansas man accused of beheading a man with a guitar string will not be moved out of Osage County.
An Osage County judge on Tuesday rejected a request from 30-year-old James Paul Harris to move his trial to another county outside the Topeka news coverage area.
Harris is accused of garroting 49-year-old James Gerety, of Topeka, in March or April of 2011. Prosecutors allege Harris kept Gerety’s head for months for some type of religious practice. The skull was found in March 2012 in rural Osage County on land where Harris’ father lived.
Harris’ attorneys argued he could not get a fair trial because of publicity of the homicide.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Harris’ trial will start Dec. 1 in Osage County.
DETROIT (AP) — Chrysler is recalling more than 566,000 SUVs and trucks because malfunctioning fuel heaters can cause fires, or a software glitch can disable the electronic stability control.
The largest of two recalls announced Wednesday covers almost 382,000 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups and Ram 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs from 2010 through 2014.
In trucks with 6.7-Liter Cummins diesel engines, corrosion on a fuel heater terminal could cause overheating, fuel leaks and fires. Chrysler is not aware of any fires or injuries. Dealers will install upgraded terminals and fuel heater housings could be replaced.
The second recall covers more than 184,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs from 2014. A debris cover over a circuit board can disrupt communications and disable the stability control. Software will be upgraded.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The retrial of a Lawrence man convicted of killing his wife in 2004 is stalled while he seeks a new prosecutor.
Martin Miller plans to ask the Kansas Supreme Court to disqualify the Douglas County District Attorney’s office from prosecuting him during this second trial.
Miller was convicted in 2005 of first-degree murder in the July 2004 death of 46-year-old Mary Miller at the couple’s home. The Kansas Supreme Court overturned the conviction in February, citing incorrect jury instructions.
6NewsLawrence reports that a Douglas County judge on Tuesday allowed Miller’s attorneys request to delay the county case while attorneys ask the Kansas Supreme Court to disqualify the District Attorney’s office, alleging misconduct.
The District Attorney’s office opposed the effort, saying the disqualification was not warranted in this case.
CAPE GIRARDEAU (AP) – Same-sex spouses of employees and retirees at Southeast Missouri State University will now be eligible for university benefits.
The Board of Regents of the Cape Girardeau school voted Monday to extend benefits immediately to spouses in same-sex couples who were legally married in another state.
University vice president Kathy Mangels says the action follows an Oct. 3 order by a Jackson County circuit judge requiring the state to recognize such marriages. The Attorney General’s office declined to appeal, and the state’s main health-care and retirement plans have since expanded benefits to same-sex spouses with valid marriage certificates.
Southeast Missouri State officials say they expect to the cost to the university to be minimal.
BROCK VERGAKIS, Associated Press
MARCIA DUNN, Associated Press
ATLANTIC, Va. (AP) — NASA and officials from a commercial rocket company are searching for debris and answers following the explosion of a rocket and cargo module that were to deliver supplies to astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
Bill Wrobel is director of NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Virginia. He says crews plan to hit the ground at daybreak Wednesday to search for pieces of Orbital Sciences Corp.’s Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo ship.
The cargo ship that exploded Tuesday evening was carrying 5,000 pounds of experiments and equipment for NASA, as well as prepackaged meals and freeze-dried Maryland crabcakes for a Baltimore-born astronaut who’s been in orbit five months.
NASA space station program manager Mike Suffredini says astronauts at the station currently have enough supplies to last until spring.
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MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A commercial supply ship bound for the International Space Station has exploded moments after liftoff.
Orbital Sciences Corp.’s unmanned rocket blew up over the launch complex at Wallops Island, Virginia, just six seconds after liftoff.
The company says no one was believed to be hurt and the damage appeared to be limited to the facilities.
Flames could be seen shooting into the sky as the sun set.
The Cygnus cargo ship was loaded with 5,000 pounds of gear for the six people living on the space station. It was the fourth Cygnus bound for the orbiting lab; the first flew just over a year ago.
NASA is paying the Virginia-based Orbital Sciences and the California-based SpaceX company to keep the space station stocked in the post-shuttle era. This is the first disaster in that effort.
