KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced Monday to nine years in federal prison for trafficking in methamphetamine, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Crawford -photo Atchison Co.
Earnest Preston Crawford, III, 30, Atchison, Kan., pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In his plea, Crawford admitted that investigators arranged to make a series of controlled buys from Crawford at his residence in the 600 block of North 10th Street in Atchison.
Investigators learned Crawford was getting his methamphetamine from members of the Satan’s Disciples street gang. He was regularly purchasing pounds of methamphetamine for $6,000 to $10,000.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ new Democratic governor on Monday vetoed a tax relief bill approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature, arguing it would repeat an infamous fiscal experiment that failed under a GOP predecessor.
The people of KS elected me to bring fiscally conservative & responsible principles back to our government. I won’t endorse another round of fiscally reckless policies, similar to the Brownback tax experiment, that left our state in shambles. That’s why I’ve vetoed SB 22. pic.twitter.com/oDhx1ylx6X
Gov. Laura Kelly signaled for weeks that she would reject Republican leaders’ top priority this year, a measure aimed at preventing individuals and businesses from paying more in state income taxes because of changes in federal tax laws at the end of 2017. Kelly’s top priorities are boosting funding for public schools and expanding the state’s Medicaid health coverage for the needy.
“We cannot fix our state if we repeat the mistakes of the past,” Kelly said Monday.
A clash was inevitable. Allowing the tax relief to become law would have undermined the state’s ability to sustain Kelly’s proposals for education funding and Medicaid expansion. Republican leaders have yet to muster the two-thirds majorities necessary to override a veto and enact the tax bill, so Kelly is likely to prevail.
Republicans argued that failing to enact tax relief would allow an unlegislated tax increase. They said the issue was akin to deciding whether to return a lost wallet full of cashafter finding it on the sidewalk with the owner’s ID inside.
The governor and fellow Democrats noted the persistent budget woes that Kansas experienced after Republican legislators jumped into cutting income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at the urging of then-GOP Gov. Sam Brownback. Voters came to view the experiment as a failure, and bipartisan majorities reversed most of the tax cuts in 2017.
Kelly’s administration projected that under the bill, taxpayers would save $209 million during the state budget year beginning in July.
Like other states, Kansas faced the issue of revising its income tax code because it is tied to the federal tax code. While changes in federal tax laws championed by President Donald Trump lowered rates, they also included provisions that raised money for Kansas, in party by discouraging individual filers from claiming itemized deductions.
The bill vetoed by Kelly would have provided relief to taxpayers who have itemized on their state returns. It would have allowed them to keep itemizing even if they don’t on their federal returns, something previously prohibited.
Republican legislators also attached a provision to lower the state’s sales tax on groceries to 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent to make the bill harder for Kelly to veto. Kelly herself promised during her campaign last year to work to lower the tax.
But much of the relief in the bill would have gone to large businesses that faced paying state income taxes on income generated by operations outside the U.S. because of the federal changes.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — David Lunsford is an avid gun owner with a firing range on his Texas spread. With bump stocks about to be banned by the U.S. government, he grudgingly decided to sell off his and let someone else figure out what to do with them.
“If I get caught with one, I’m a felon, and it seems like to me that’s entrapment in the biggest way. I bought that thing legally with my hard-earned money,” said the 60-year-old Lunsford, who has at one time owned six AR-15 rifles that he built from kits, as well as a World War II German submachine gun.
The bump stock — the attachment used by the killer during the 2017 Las Vegas massacre to make his weapons fire rapidly like machine guns — will become illegal on Tuesday in the only major gun restriction imposed by the federal government in the past few years, a period that has seen massacres in places like Las Vegas; Thousand Oaks, California; Sutherland Springs, Texas; and Orlando and Parkland, Florida.
Unlike with the decade-long assault weapons ban, the government isn’t allowing existing owners to keep their bump stocks. They must be destroyed or turned over to authorities. And the government isn’t offering any compensation for the devices, which can cost hundreds of dollars. Violators can face up to 10 years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.
Lunsford bought three bump stocks over the years and wanted to recoup at least some of the money he shelled out, but it bothers him that he and others have been put in this position.
“I’ve never committed a crime with it, and just because of that one killer up in Las Vegas that used one that killed a bunch of people, they’re going to make people pay for it,” he said.
But Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, said: “It was because of bump stocks that the gunman in Las Vegas was able to kill 58 people from a hotel window. … It just goes to show the incredible lethality and dangers of these accessories.”
The prohibition goes into effect less than two weeks after the mosque shootings in New Zealand that left 50 people dead. New Zealand’s prime minister reacted swiftly to the bloodshed by announcing on Thursday a ban on military-style semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives first ruled that bump stocks were legal in 2010, and since then, the government estimates more than 500,000 have been sold.
They were originally created to make it easier for people with disabilities to fire a gun. The device essentially replaces the gun’s stock and pistol grip and causes the weapon to buck back and forth, repeatedly “bumping” the trigger against the shooter’s finger.
Technically, that means the finger is pulling the trigger with each round fired, a distinction that led the ATF to allow the devices.
They were considered by most gun owners to be a novelty and weren’t widely known until a gunman attached bump stocks to several of the AR-type rifles he used to rain bullets on concertgoers outside his high-rise Las Vegas hotel room.
The attachments were swiftly condemned by even ardent gun supporters, including President Donald Trump, who directed the Justice Department to rewrite the regulations to ban them. The impending ban was announced in mid-December.
Owners are being advised to either destroy them by crushing, melting or cutting them up or set up an appointment with the ATF to hand the devices over.
A week before the ban was set to take effect, bump stocks were being sold on websites and by at least one company that took over the inventory of Slide Fire, the Texas manufacturer that was the leading maker and has since shut down.
Ryan Liskey, of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, said he isn’t sure what to do with his bump stock. He said he got the device as a lark after trying it on the range with some friends.
“Do they have authority to do this? No. Is it a machine gun? No,” the 30-year-old Liskey said. “So do I follow an unconstitutional edict from the Department of Justice or do we stand our ground?”
ATF spokeswoman April Langwell said “a number of people” have already turned in their devices to ATF offices across the U.S., but she wouldn’t say how many. Starting next week, a person in possession of a bump stock can face federal charges of illegally possessing a machine gun.
“We’re going to enforce the law and those in possession will be subject to prosecution,” Langwell said.
The rule was met almost immediately with resistance from gun rights advocates. A federal judge in Utah refused to block it last week, and in February, a judge in Washington said the Trump administration can move forward with it, saying it was reasonable for the ATF to determine a bump stock performs the same function as a machine gun. An appeals court is set to hear augments in the case on Friday.
Gun Owners of America, a gun-rights group, is among those challenging the ban. GOA’s executive director, Erich Pratt, said the measure is an abuse of power and an end run around Congress.
“We think it’s really dangerous for a regulatory agency to be able to just turn on a dime. For 10 years they said that bump stocks fit within the law, they were perfectly legal. And then they reversed themselves and said, ‘Oh, this piece of plastic is a machine gun,'” Pratt said. “If they can do that and wave the magic wand, they can say anything is a machine gun. It’s like banning smoking by declaring cigarettes are sticks of dynamite.”
Gun-rights advocates and gun-safety activists agree on one thing: The ban would have been seen as more acceptable had Congress tackled the issue and enacted a law, rather than relying on a federal agency to do it administratively.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A Missouri man who confessed to knocking over about 120 headstones at a Jewish cemetery near St. Louis has been sentenced to three years of probation.
Harris photo MDC
Thirty-five-year-old Alzado Harris, of Northwoods, also was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution when he was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to felony institutional vandalism.
Harris was accused of knocking over headstones at the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in University City in February 2017. The case drew so much attention that Vice President Mike Pence visited.
But prosecutors said it didn’t appear there was an anti-Semitic motive when Harris was linked to the vandalism last year through DNA found on a discarded jacket. The DNA matched a sample he gave in an earlier burglary.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Flooding has closed about 140 roads in Missouri, even as water levels begin falling along much of the Missouri River.
In Kansas City, where the river crested Sunday, the public water utility has asked residents to conserve water because it’s working hard to treat the murky water. The river was cresting Monday in several smaller towns to the east, where levees have been holding.
On Tuesday, the crest was expected to make its way to Jefferson City, causing no major damage there but leaving some sections of the popular Katy Trail walking and biking path under water.
The worst of the damage is upstream, where about 20 levees have been breached in Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. Three people are dead and four others are missing. Crop damage is widespread.
WASHINGTON — Members of the Missouri and Kansas congressional delegations have made statements on the report issued Friday from Robert Mueller and his investigation into President Trump’s campaign and collusion with Russia and the additional communication Sunday from Attorney General William Barr.
(1/2) It’s finally over. After 674 days,$25M tax dollars, 2800+ subpoenas, and conducting nearly 500 search warrants, Mueller concluded there was NO COLLUSION between Russia and @POTUS’s campaign, the President did NOT obstruct justice, and he is NOT charged with any crimes.
After reading the Attorney General’s four-page summary of the Special Counsel’s findings, Chairmen Nadler, Schiff and I reiterate our call for the release of the Special Counsel’s full and complete report and all underlying documents.
Special Counsel Mueller concluded there was no collusion and, along with DOJ, determined no obstruction. With this investigation behind us, we must work to address the many issues facing our nation with less division and more cooperation for a better nation and more secure world.
For 2 years we’ve called this investigation out for exactly what it was- a witch hunt. Absolutely no collusion, and the most expensive ‘nothing burger’ I’ve ever seen
page 2U.S. Attorney General’s letter on the Mueller investigation -courtesy U.S. Dpt. of Justice (click to expand)
Kansas Fourth District congressman Ron Estes said, “I have reviewed Attorney General William Barr’s Special Counsel summary to Congress that concludes what many in the United States already know: there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election,” said Rep. Estes.
“After months of calling for the Special Counsel’s protection, Democrats now say his report is insufficient, even after millions of dollars spent for nearly two years, 19 lawyers and 40 FBI agents, more than 2,800 subpoenas, and nearly 500 search warrants. I’m hopeful that with the conclusion of the Special Counsel, our country can come together and move past the bitter partisan divide of the previous presidential election.”
page 4page 3
Kansas Senator Pat Roberts, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley and House members Sharice Davids, and Steve Watkins have not released statements on the report.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri has started offering licenses and identifications that comply with stricter federal identification requirements under the Real ID Act.
The Missouri Department of Revenue says there’s no immediate need to rush to apply when they become available Monday. The current state-issued license and ID card can be used to board domestic flights until October 2020. That’s when licenses that comply with tougher proof-of-identity requirements will be needed at airports. They’re also needed to get into federal facilities and military bases.
Some Missouri lawmakers worried about privacy pushed back against compliance for years. But a Missouri law that took effect in 2017 gives residents the option to get compliant driver’s licenses or other ID cards. The Real ID Act was passed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
TOPEKA — The Federal and State Affairs Committee heard passionate testimony from both sides of a controversial issue. Advocates from all over the state came in to discuss their perspectives on a resolution that would effectively ban abortion in Kansas.
Rep. Garber courtesy photo
House Concurrent Resolution 5004 is a proposition to amend Section 1 of the Kansas Constitution to extend the rights of Kansans to include fertilized eggs. This resolution would outlaw abortion with no exceptions.
Resolution sponsor Rep. Randy Garber (R-Sabetha) started Thursday’s testimony for the proponents.
“I believe, with all my heart, that this is the most important bill of this session,” Garber told the committee.
All of the resolution’s sponsors are men, a point brought up by committee member Rep. Brandon Woodard (D-Lenexa).
“You mentioned, in reference to one of your comments, that you trust women. I certainly do as well. I can’t help but notice that your resolution is sponsored by 21 men,” Woodard said. “Was there any discussion with any of your female colleagues about signing off on this bill?”
Garber replied that he had not approached any women in the legislature about the resolution.
The first person to testify in favor of HCR 5004 was Donna Lippoldt. She is the founder of the Culture Shield Network, a non-profit organization based out of Wichita, which, according to its website, works to “inform, connect, and mobilize the Body of Christ as the moral conscience of society.”
Lippoldt argued that abortion is morally wrong.
“We have a Holocaust in Kansas and it’s happening right now,” Lippoldt said. “Kansas legislature said years ago that it was ok to kill little baby boys and girls up until the time of delivery.”
Other testifying proponents were Margaret Mans from Right to Life of Kansas and Bruce Garren, director of Personhood Kansas.
The opponents to the bill included representatives from Planned Parenthood, Trust Women, National Advocates for Pregnant Women, and ACLU of Kansas.
In her testimony, Regional Director of Public Policy and Organizing for Planned Parenthood Rachel Sweet argued that HCR 5004 would have tricky legal implications for women who miscarry.
“HCR 5004 opens the door for miscarriages to be investigated as any action a woman takes either knowingly or unknowingly that could harm her pregnancy could put her at risk for prosecution for homicide, manslaughter or reckless endangerment,” Sweet said.
Sweet also noted that in-vitro fertilization would be a grey area of the law, as not all eggs fertilized in the process are implanted in the woman undergoing the procedure.
Julie Burkhart, CEO of Trust Women, which provides abortion services in underserved communities including Wichita, testified next.
“I’m here today to ask an important question,” Burkhart said. “How can a proposal to ‘prohibit the state from discriminating against any class of human beings’ be accurate and truthful if it clearly invades Kansas women’s medical privacy and denies them individual rights?”
If passed in the House and Senate with a two-thirds majority vote, then the amendment will be on the ballot in November 2020.
Kate Mays is a University of Kansas senior from Lenexa majoring in journalism.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Flooding has closed several routes across Northwest Missouri and a harsh winter has riddled the area with potholes. Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation will be on roadways across the region managing flooded, closed roadways, making repairs the flooding caused, and patching potholes on as many routes as time, material and weather allow.
In addition to the work mentioned above, construction season and bridge and road maintenance is planned for the roadways listed below. Some of the work listed below will only be completed when floodwaters recede. There may also be moving operations in progress that are not listed below.
Andrew County
Route O – CLOSED at the Platte River Bridge for a bridge replacement project. The bridge will be closed until the end of September, weather permitting.
Interstate 29 – Bridge maintenance at the Nodaway River Bridge, March 25 – 28
Buchanan County
Route Y – Bridge maintenance at the Bee Creek Branch Bridge, March 25 – 28
U.S. Route 36 – Joint repair between Route C/Z and Route 31 south, March 25 – 29. One lane each direction of U.S. Route 36 will remain open throughout the work. A 14-foot width restriction is in place.
Route 752 – Joint repair over I-229, March 25 – 29. One lane at a time will be closed throughout the work. A 17-foot width restriction is in place.
Carroll County
U.S. Route 65 – Bridge maintenance at the Missouri River Overflow Bridge, March 25 – 29
U.S. Route 65 – Bridge maintenance at the Wakenda Creek Bridge, March 25 – 29
Chariton County
U.S. Route 24 – Bridge maintenance at the Long Creek Bridge and Chariton River Bridge near Keytesville, The bridges will be narrowed to one lane with a 15-foot width restriction until May 31.
Route D – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Mussel Fork Avenue to Tonka Lane, March 25 – 26, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily
Route D – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Tonka Lane to Route DD, March 27 – 29, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily
Clinton County
Route NN – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from NW 328th Street to Route Y, March 27, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Harrison County
I-35 – Pothole patching from mile marker 106 (near Eagleville) to mile marker 84 (Route AA/H), March 25 – 29. This will include a 12-foot width restriction.
Holt County
I-29 – Bridge maintenance southbound at the Kimsey Creek Bridge, March 25 – 28.
Mercer County
Route M – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route W to Route Z, March 25, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Route Z – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from U.S. Route 136 to Route M, March 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Nodaway County
Route 46 – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route 113 to Route AB, March 25, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Route A – Drainage work at Route H, March 26
Route 46 – Drainage work from Echo Road to 270th Street, March 26
Route A – Drainage work at Hallmark Road, March 27
Route AC – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 246th Street to 135th Street, March 29, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Route E – Culvert repair at 150th Street, March 29, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Access to 150th Street will be CLOSED during this time.
Sullivan County
Route 139 – CLOSED at the Newtown Branch Bridge for a bridge replacement project. The contractor plans to have work completed mid-March, weather permitting. For more information, click here.
Route PP – CLOSEDUNTIL FURTHER NOTICE at the East Medicine Creek Bridge after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is currently scheduled for replacement in fiscal year 2020.
Route 129 – Driveway entrance repair one mile south of Route H, March 25
Route 6 – Driveway entrance repair one mile east of Route 6, March 26
Route D – Drainage work from Maryland Road north 2 ½ miles, March 26 – 29
Worth County
Route YY – CLOSEDUNTIL FURTHER NOTICE at the Middle Fork of the Grand River after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is currently scheduled for replacement in fiscal year 2021. For more information, visit the project’s web page.
MoDOT asks the public to stay alert, watch for road work, buckle up, slow down, and drive with extreme caution through work zones and in changing weather conditions.
For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (888-275-6636) or visit modot.org/northwest. You can also follow MoDOT’s Northwest Missouri District on Twitter @ModotNorthwest and on Facebook.
“If I get caught with one, I’m a felon, and it seems like to me that’s entrapment in the biggest way. I bought that thing legally with my hard-earned money,” said the 60-year-old Lunsford, who has at one time owned six AR-15 rifles that he built from kits, as well as a World War II German submachine gun.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Flooding has closed several routes across Northwest Missouri and a harsh winter has riddled the area with potholes. Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation will be on roadways across the region managing flooded, closed roadways, making repairs the flooding caused, and patching potholes on as many routes as time, material and weather allow.
