CALLAWAY COUNTY  — Three people are in custody for the April 2, shooting death of Nathan Dean Pritchett Jr., 29, of Fulton on County Road 136, east of State Road JJ, south of Calwood.

At approximately 2:41 AM, deputies responded to a disturbance on County Road 136 and upon deputy arrival, they found Pritchett dead in the roadway, according to a media release from the Callaway County Sheriff.

At approximately 5:18 AM, with the assistance of the Fulton Police Department, deputies located Joey Morris, 28, Vandalia, MO and William Schoening-Scoggins, 28, Fulton at a residence in the 900 block of Churchill Drive in Fulton. Both were taken into custody.

At approximately 1:25 PM, with the assistance of the Fulton Police Department Special Response Unit (SRU – SWAT), deputies located Justin Witt, 47, Fulton, at a residence in the 5000 block of County Road 410 southeast of Fulton. Witt was taken into custody.

Witt is being held for Murder 2nd, Armed Criminal Action, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Forgery, Attempted Stealing of a Controlled Substance, and Attempted Possession of a Controlled Substance. Witt remains incarcerated in the Callaway County Jail without bond per judge’s order.

Joey Morris is being held for Murder 2nd, Forgery, Attempted Stealing of a Controlled Substance, and Attempted Possession of a Controlled Substance. Morris remains incarcerated in the Callaway County Jail without bond per judge’s order.

William Schoening-Scoggins is being held for Murder 2nd, Forgery, Attempted Stealing of a Controlled Substance, and Attempted Possession of a Controlled Substance. Schoening-Scoggins remains incarcerated in the Callaway County Jail without bond per judge’s order.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — One of three Kansas men charged in a triple homicide in downtown Lawrence has pleaded guilty to attempted voluntary manslaughter.

23-year-old Ahmad Rayton was scheduled to go to trial Monday but accepted the plea deal Wednesday. He had previously been charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 8.

The shootings in October 2017 involved two groups of Topeka men who had previous confrontations. They fired about 20 shots, killing three and injuring two others.

Twenty-year-old Dominique McMillon pleaded guilty in March to misdemeanor battery and was released from jail.

A third suspect, 22-year-old Anthony Roberts Jr. is scheduled for trial in June on three counts of murder.

By BRIAN GRIMMETT

Major flooding on stretches of the Missouri River from Nebraska and Iowa through Kansas and Missouri resulted in several breached levees and significant damage to cities, towns, and farmland in March. Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say the threat of even more flooding isn’t over yet.

According to NOAA’s spring flood outlook, flood risks will remain significantly high for the duration of spring.  And not just in the Missouri River basin.

Here’s what the report has to say about three of Kansas’ major waterways.

Missouri River Basin: Major Flood Risk

Flooding in the upper Missouri River basin, which includes parts of northeast Kansas, has already broken records this year.

Meteorologists at NOAA say a number of unusual circumstances added up to a major problem.

It started with a large amount of late spring snow in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Then rapid snowmelt and a bomb cyclone dropped even more water on already saturated or still frozen ground.

“It was like falling on a paved street,” said meteorologist Bob Holmes. “It had nowhere to infiltrate, there was no natural infiltration, and so every bit of that ran off.”

Additional spring rain and melting snow will prolong or expand the flooding that is already happening.

The outlook predicts that the Missouri River from Kansas City to the Kansas-Nebraska border has greater than a 50 percent chance of major flooding this spring. “Major” meaning flooding that causes extensive inundation of buildings and roads and prompts large scale evacuations.

This map depicts the locations where there is a greater than 50 percent chance of major, moderate or minor flooding through May 2019.

CREDIT NOAA

Kansas River Basin: Moderate Flood Risk

The areas that feed into the Kansas River basin do not have nearly as much extra snowpack as the feeders of the Missouri River basin. The greatest risk in the Kansas River basin instead lies with the chance of greater than normal rainfall falling on saturated ground.

That’s one of the reasons why NOAA’s spring flood outlook only puts the Kansas River basin at risk for moderate flooding — flooding with some inundation of buildings and roads, but less cause for evacuations.

The Kansas River basin also includes several reservoirs used for flood control, such as Milford Lake which receives water from the Republican River, and Tuttle Creek Lake which receives water from the Big Blue River.

Because the Kansas River ultimately flows into the Missouri, which is already at record highs, the reservoirs have been set to release only the minimum amount. So the lakes are at higher than normal levels.

“We have folks on the upper end of Tuttle Creek who have bottom ground, farm ground, coming into Tuttle Creek that is underwater right now,” Earl Lewis, Acting Director of the Kansas Water Office, said.

Tuttle Creek is 35 feet above normal, and at 40 percent of its capacity for flood storage. Some of the campgrounds around the lake have delayed their opening until the end of April because of the high water.

Arkansas River Basin: Minor Flood Risk

Unlike the other two rivers on this list, the Arkansas isn’t as likely to burst its banks this year. However, the NOAA forcast does predict a risk for minor flooding that would lead to minimal property damage, but could pose some public threat such as the flooding of roads and low lying areas.

The greatest risk to the Arkansas will come from spring thunderstorms that drop a large amount of water in a short amount of time. Couple that with ground that’s saturated and you have a recipe for flooded streets and small creeks overflowing.

The oft’ repeated advice from experts in situations like those: “Turn around, don’t drown.”

Brian Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett.

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City suburb of Liberty has become the latest in Missouri to repeal its ban on pit bulls as attitudes against the dogs soften.

Voters decided Tuesday to ditch the prohibition that had been on the books for three decades. About two dozen other Missouri cities also have repealed their bans.

Backers of bans say pit bulls are bred to be dangerous, but repeal advocates argue that the restrictions are outdated and arbitrary.

The Liberty Pitbull Alliance began lobbying the city council to repeal the ban three years ago. Member Jessica McKinney says, “The science and all the studies show that pit bulls are not the monstrous breed that has been portrayed by some of the media.”

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau has spent more than $700,000 settling claims of clergy sexual abuse over the last 30 years.

Bishop Edward Rice disclosed in a letter Tuesday that the southern Missouri diocese has spent more than $517,000 paying alleged victims and nearly $190,000 on legal fees since 1986.

Rice wrote that $70,000 went toward victims’ counseling, medications and “future funeral expenses.”

The southern Missouri diocese launched an inquiry into possible abuse cases in August following the release of a scathing report in Pennsylvania that cited widespread child abuse by priests.

The diocese has also listed on its website the names of 16 priests deemed to have credible accusations of child abuse.

Rice says the diocese’s efforts to address sexual abuse are ongoing.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Concealed carry would be allowed on college campuses under a bill that has won first-round approval in the Missouri House.

The measure was added to a bill that would allow some faculty and staff to carry weapons as designated campus security officers. The amended bill advanced Tuesday with a 98-42 vote.

Supporters say it would help people protect themselves from threats and sexual assault. The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Jered Taylor, of Republic, says sexual assaults on college campuses are increasing.

But Democratic State Rep. Tracy McCreery, of St. Louis, argued the bill wouldn’t make campuses safer. She took issue with the idea that women would have guns with them for protection from sexual assault, arguing that most rapes are committed by acquaintances, not strangers.

JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug and numerous additional charges after a long-distance pursuit.

Just before 2:30p.m. Tuesday, a deputy sheriff attempted to stop a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle that was allegedly driving erratically and speeding near 102^nd and U.S. Highway 75 in southern Jackson County, according to sheriff Tim Morse.

The motorcyclist continued south into Shawnee County and led law enforcement on a pursuit into north Topeka. A KHP air unit pursued the motorcyclist by air.

The motorcycle was followed to the 1700 block of NW Taylor in Topeka where the rider allegedly hid the motorcycle and left on foot.

KHP Troopers, Shawnee County Deputies and the Topeka Police Department assisted with the apprehension of the rider identified as Austin L. Terry, 35, Topeka, according to Morse.

He was arrested by Jackson County deputies and transported to the Jackson County Jail in Holton where he is facing charges of Flee and eluding law enforcement, reckless driving, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended, no proof of insurance and no registration.

By JOHN HANNA

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republican lawmakers in Kansas appear skittish about being able to block Medicaid expansion, offering political cover to moderate GOP colleagues if they back off their push for an expansion this year.

@GovLauraKelly is pushing for a socialist, Bernie Sanders-endorsed health care plan. Medicaid needs reform, not expansion. We cannot surrender to the mess of Obamacare in Kansas. #ksleg pic.twitter.com/i0bJb3sOVm

— Susan Wagle (@SenatorWagle) April 2, 2019

State Senate President Susan Wagle told reporters Tuesday that GOP leaders plan to have a legislative committee study Medicaid expansion this summer and fall. She said the panel would review proposals that could generate broader support among Republicans, such as a work requirement or drug testing for people receiving the expanded coverage.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has made expanding Medicaid health coverage for as many as 150,000 additional Kansas residents one of her top priorities after her Republican predecessors thwarted it. Expansion has bipartisan support, but conservative Republicans who oppose it hold key positions in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Expansion opponents prevented even a legislative committee vote on a plan until supporters forced a debate in the House two weeks ago and passed a modified versionof Kelly’s plan. The Senate has yet to take up the bill, and expansion supporters are trying to pressure that chamber’s GOP leaders into allowing a vote while working on ways to maneuver around them.

“If it passes, it will be a plan that’s affordable for Kansas and it will be catered to our needs,” said Wagle, a conservative Wichita Republican who’s been a strong expansion opponent. “We’re willing and open to discuss it, but we want to do the right thing.”

GOP leaders have argued that Medicaid expansion will be too expensive for Kansas, even with the 2010 federal Affordable Care Act’s promise that the federal government will cover most of the cost. Wagle also argued that state lawmakers should wait to see whether Congress overhauls health care again, but President Donald Trump on Tuesday deferred his push for a GOP alternative until after the 2020 election.

Thirty-six states have expanded Medicaid or have seen voters approve ballot initiatives. The federal government would cover 90 percent of the cost for Kansas.

State Rep. Susan Concannon, a moderate western Kansas Republican who supports Medicaid expansion, said GOP leaders are “feeling the heat” of popular support for it and further study is a “stall tactic” to get them through this year.

“I have a feeling their districts are starting to show their support for Medicaid expansion as well, and this is their effort to respond,” said Sen. Randall Hardy, another GOP moderate from central Kansas.

Kelly called on legislators to pass an expansion bill this week. Lawmakers are scheduled to begin an annual spring break Saturday and reconvene May 1 to wrap up business for the year.

“Enough is enough,” Kelly told reporters during a news conference. “No more stall tactics. No more bait and switch. No more excuses.”

Kelly’s administration estimates that the net cost of an expansion to Kansas would be $34 million during its first full year. Republican leaders believe the figure is far too low.

Wagle said legislators need months to review what other states have done, study what limits the Trump administration might allow and examine alternatives to Kelly’s plan.

“We want to put caveats in,” Wagle said. “We want time to look at those.”

But expansion supporters said an expansion plan will pass the Senate this year if backers can engineer a vote. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, dismissed Wagle’s arguments for further study.

“It’s a position of weakness,” he said.