By ANDREA TUDHOPE

On what threatens to become the longest government shutdown in history, Kansas Republican representatives tend to agree — Democrats are to blame. 

It’s the third week of the shutdown, which came after Democrats and Republicans in the Senate failed to reach an agreement on a spending bill that would allocate $5 billion for a border wall. That means it’s the third consecutive week thousands of federal workers across the country have gone without pay.

Kansas Republican, U.S. Rep. Ron Estes said he thinks Democrats need to come to the negotiating table. In a statement, he said the shutdown continues because Democrats “refuse” to help secure the border, which he calls a crisis. 

With more emphasis on the importance of Congress and the Trump Administration coming together to resolve the shutdown, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., called for a “sense of urgency.”

Moran also acknowledged the negative impacts of the shutdown on federal employees and subcontractors in his state and throughout the country, who have now gone three weeks without pay. In a statement, he placed particular emphasis on farmers in Kansas who “wait in uncertainty as crucial federal aid sits on the desks of furloughed employees.”

U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., told KCUR border security is just that important.

“Certainly they have my heartfelt sympathy and concern,” Marshall said. “This is a hill we have to take, and I’m sorry, but I feel like the Democrats are using them as pawns in this.”

Meanwhile, in an interview with NPR, Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat, voiced concerns about Native American communities that rely heavily on government payouts. 

In a statement, Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II of Missouri called the continuation of the shutdown “incomprehensible,” and pointedly called attention President Trump’s comment in December that he would be “proud” to shut down the government if he didn’t get the funding he wanted for a border wall.

“It is troubling and incomprehensible that at this point, the President has dragged the nation into the second week of an unnecessary and damaging shutdown,” Cleaver said.

Last week, the House of Representatives, now controlled by Democrats, passed legislation to reopen the government without the $5 billion Trump demands, but with the promise of a month for Congress and the President to negotiate on border security with an operating government. 

Cleaver said he was hopeful Senate would support the legislation.

But, to date, little progress has been made to end the shutdown, as Trump has refused to sign any legislation that does not include funding for the border wall, and speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, has said the president would not get a wall.

Trump announced Monday he would address the nation from the Oval Office Tuesday night, to discuss the shutdown and “Humanitarian and National Security crisis on our Southern Border.”

Andrea Tudhope is a reporter in conjunction with the Kansas News Service.  Follow her on Twitter @andreatudhope.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities continue their search for an inmate who escaped from the Lansing Correctional Facility on Monday. Late Monday, police did locate the camo-painted state vehicle he drove away in. It was abandoned near 92nd Street and Parallel Parkway, according to police in Kansas City.

Inmate Cal Henry Green, 36, was in the Lansing Correctional Facility after convictions for aggravated battery, burglary and has convictions that include forgery, theft and attempt to flee or elude law enforcement.

Green is described as 5-foot-4 and weights approximately 196 pounds.

If anyone has seen or has information about Greed are encouraged to call 9-1-1.

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LEAVENWORTH COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an escape from a Kansas prison.

Inmate Cal Henry Green, 36, is believe to have stolen a camo-painted state vehicle, according to a social media post from Lansing police.

Green was in the Lansing Correctional Facility after convictions for aggravated battery, burglary and has convictions that include forgery, theft and attempt to flee or elude law enforcement.

Green is described as 5-foot-4 and weights approximately 196 pounds.

If anyone has seen or has information about Greed are encouraged to call 9-1-1.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri tax revenues were down 2.9 percent through the first half of the fiscal year, but budget officials expect that to rebound in the coming months.

Missouri took in $4.3 billion in net general revenue from July through December, which covered the first six months of the 2019 budget year. That was down $128 million from the previous fiscal year.

Individual income tax collections were down 3.7 percent, which offset 4.1 percent growth in state sales taxes.

State Budget Director Dan Haug says income tax collections likely will rise in the coming months, as people file tax returns for the first time since the state corrected an error in withholding tax tables.

Budget officials project state general revenue will end the fiscal year with 1.7 percent growth.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A former southwest Missouri sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing a girl.

58-year-old Joe Newton said he “messed up” before he was sentenced Friday for first-degree attempted statutory rape and two counts of first-degree attempted statutory sodomy. Newton worked as a Greene County sheriff’s deputy in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Prosecutor Nathan Chapman says Netwon blamed what happened on the victim.

Judge Calvin Holden says the abuse started in January 2015 and continued until March 2016, when the girl was around the age of 12. He said there was “a lot of grooming” of the victim.

LEBANON, Mo. (AP) — A 25-year-old man is charged with killing a woman who was found with her throat slashed last month.

Lebanon police say Kevin Kayden was charged Monday with first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Laquita Williams.

Williams was found dead Dec. 10 at a home in Lebanon.

Police say in the release that Williams’ arms were tied behind her back and a cord was around her neck. Her throat had been cut.

Police say Kayden had a history of domestic abuse against Williams and crime lab and the evidence tied him to the homicide.

Kayden is being held on $500,000 bond. Online court records do not show an attorney representing Kayden.

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Authorities say a Missouri police officer has been placed on leave after hitting and killing a 4-year-old girl with a patrol vehicle while trying to park on the sidewalk outside of a high school.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Officer Andria Heese struck Gabriella Curry on Friday afternoon outside Columbia’s Battle High School while trying to park on the sidewalk so she could watch students loading onto buses. The Columbia Missourian reportsthat police said in a news release that Heese was placed on leave, as is standard procedure when someone is killed.

Columbia city spokesman Steve Sapp says the girl was at the high school because her parents drive school buses and she was riding with one of them. Sapp says it’s not immediately clear when or why the girl left the bus.

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BOONE COUNTY — A child died in an accident just before 4p.m. Friday in Boone County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported marked 2015 Chevy Tahoe patrol vehicle driven by Columbia police officer Andria E. Heese, 27, was eastbound in a roundabout at the west entrance to the parking lot of Battle High School 7575 East St. Charles Road.

Our sincere condolences to all affected by the tragedy at Battle High School.

The attached photo depicts the general area of the incident. Preliminary Details have been released: https://t.co/ysAqxfrxaL pic.twitter.com/mWdP2QuEQn

— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) January 5, 2019

The vehicle exited the road with the intention of parking on the sidewalk so the driver could observe students loading onto school buses.

The vehicle struck Gabriella Curry, 4, Columbia, who was walking on the sidewalk.

Officer Heese, another CPD officer at the school and other school personnel began providing immediate medical care to the child, according to a media release from the city of Columbia. The officer requested further medical aid via radio. Columbia Fire and University Ambulance EMS arrived and provided advanced life support. The child was transported to the University Hospital Level One Trauma with CPD escort.

Despite life saving attempts by emergency personnel both on the scene and at the hospital, the child died due to injuries sustained during the incident.

Officer Heese has been with the Columbia Police Department for five years and is assigned to the Community Outreach Unit, according to the release. Officer Heese is on Administrative Leave as per department protocol. MSHP continues to investigate the incident.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State has dismissed sophomore center Maary Lakes from its women’s basketball program for a violation of team rules and conduct detrimental to the team.

Wildcats coach Jeff Mittie announced the decision in a statement Monday.

According to the Riley County Police Department, the 6-foot-4 Lakes was arrested early Monday on suspicion of domestic battery and criminal damage to property. She was released on a $750 bond.

Lakes was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery last summer, though charges against her were eventually dropped. Mittie said Lakes was “someone we thought deserved a second chance, but unfortunately, it is time for both of us to move on.”

The native of Peoria, Illinois, had played in all 13 games this season, averaging 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds.