ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri has raised a record amount of money at its annual fundraiser, a week after the Archdiocese of St. Louis suggested that local troops shouldn’t be a part of its parishes.

Spokeswoman Aurrice Duke-Rollings says the organization’s event Thursday in St. Louis netted more than $350,000 from 500 guests as they enjoyed a variety of desserts inspired by Girl Scouts cookies.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the event was planned far in advance of St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson’s unexpected announcement urging priests to sever ties with the Girl Scouts. He said the organization promotes values that are “incompatible” with Catholic teachings.

The event to mark the delivery of Girl Scout Cookies and the opening of special cookie sale booths broke all previous fundraising efforts.

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — An Arkansas City man has been arrested on suspicion of 34 sexual offenses, including rape.

The Arkansas City Police Department said Monday that the man was arrested Friday during a controlled traffic stop. Police said they were notified Wednesday of an adult male having an inappropriate relationship with a girl. Authorities say that during their investigation, they identified another juvenile victim.

Police say some of the offenses occurred in Arkansas City and others took place in rural parts of Cowley County.

The man faces three counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, 12 counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, three counts of criminal sodomy, 10 counts of indecent liberties with a child, and six counts of rape.

PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — The fourth suspect in a 2014 home invasion that led to the death of a Pittsburg State University student has been taken into custody in Mexico.

The Pittsburg Morning Sun reports 20-year-old Bryan Levi Bridges was arrested in Juarez, Mexico, on Sunday night. He was wanted in Kansas on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery in the October 2014 home invasion that left 20-year-old Taylor Thomas dead.

Crawford County Attorney Michael Gayoso says he hopes to have Bridges back in the county early next week for a first court appearance.

Prosecutors say Bridges was in the home with three other men as the group attempted to steal marijuana from Thomas’ roommate when Thomas was shot.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers are considering several proposals to make it easier to carry a concealed gun.

A House panel heard testimony yesterday on whether to allow people to conceal their guns without a permit in places where they would otherwise be allowed to carry openly.

Another proposal would allow people applying for a concealed carry permit to complete part of their safety training online.

The National Rifle Association and other gun-rights supporters said making it easier for people to carry guns makes it easier for them to protect themselves.

Democrats said there’s little evidence that more guns lead to less crime.

Lawmakers are also considering a bill that would require any place of worship to post a sign if it prohibits people from carrying concealed guns on the property.

 

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A 71-year-old Saint Louis County man is charged with unlawful use of a weapon after a Muslim family said he threatened to kill them while they were looking at a rental home.

The Saint Louis Post-Dispatch reports Leonard Debello was charged yesterday and held on $15,000 bond.

Saint Louis County police say Debello saw a husband, wife and their four children in his neighborhood on Feb. 21 as they were looking at a house.

Prosecutors say Debello drove by the victims and shouted, “You Muslim? All of you should die.” They say Debello went into his house and came out with a gun, which he pointed at the victims and said, “You, your wife and your kids have to die.”

It was unclear if he had obtained an attorney

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal magistrate judge has set a $10,000 bond for the woman accused of buying the guns used in last week’s mass shooting at the Excel Industries factory in Hesston.

More than a dozen family members and friends of Sarah Hopkins came to her hearing yesterday in U.S. District Court in Wichita, but refused to talk to the media.

Her attorney, Douglas Adams, declined comment. Prosecutors did not seek her detention.

The 28-year-old Newton woman is charged with knowingly transferring a firearm to a convicted felon. Prosecutors say she gave shooter Cedric Ford an AK-47 type semi-automatic rifle and a 40-caliber handgun. Four people, including Ford, were killed and 14 others were injured.

Adams told the court he expected Hopkins would be indicted Tuesday. Her next hearing is March 9th.

 

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Lawrence is considering allowing people to pay parking tickets with canned goods or monetary donations to food pantries.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that city commissioners will consider the issue today.

Currently, the fines cost $3.

The city had projected bringing in $545,202 to the parking fund from overtime parking violations in 2016. Staff projects that the city would receive $30,000 less annually in parking fines, assuming about 6 percent of parking violators participated in the alternative payment option.

The money pays for three police officers and several other staff members.

Options the council will consider include a pilot program. Alternatively, the program could be offered year-round with fines staying the same or increasing to $5 to offset the revenue loss.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Entries are being accepted for the 26th annual Nebraska Handwriting Contest.

The contest is open to Nebraskans in four age categories: 12 and under, ages 13-16, ages 17-49 and age 50 and over. The entry deadline is March 31st.

Entries will be judged on ease of reading, fluent rhythmic movement and technically correct performance of specifications such as the slope, space, size and shape of the letters.

Contestants will be provided text to copy for their entries, which must be written in any cursive style and not printed. Go online at http://coe.unk.edu/contest/ for contest rules and text to be copied. Entries will be judged in April.

Entries should be mailed to: Nebraska Handwriting Contest, Attention: Julie Agard, University of Nebraska at Kearney/Department of Teacher Education, Kearney, Nebraska, 68849.