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Traveler heading to KCI with smoking suitcase causes disruption

BOSTON (AP) – The Transportation Security Administration says smoke pouring from a suitcase caused a temporary disruption at Boston’s Logan International Airport over the holiday weekend.

The agency in a statement Wednesday said the checked baggage screening area was evacuated for 49 minutes on Saturday morning to allow authorities, including the state police bomb squad, to investigate.

The cause was determined to be a lithium battery in an e-cigarette that ignited.

The passenger, who was heading to Kansas City International Airport, was contacted by authorities and his flight was delayed until the situation was resolved. His name wasn’t released.

The TSA screened nearly 57,000 passengers plus their checked and carry-on bags that day.

UPDATE: 1 of 2 women who fled fatal NE Kan. officer shooting captured

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer involved shooting and aggravated battery to a law enforcement officer and continue to ask the public for help to locate one of two women wanted for questioning.

On Thursday morning, police located and arrested 29-year-old Misty Lynn Maspero.

Retana
Maspero -photo Shawnee Co.

Master and Chelsee Ann Retana, 26, were last seen running southbound from a silver SUV from NE Grant and NE Madison following the fatal-shooting and aggravated battery of two law enforcement officers, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.

Just after 10:45a.m. Tuesday, a police officer witnessed a maroon passenger vehicle stalled out in the intersection of NE Grant and NE Monroe in Topeka, according to Beightel. The Officer went to make contact with the occupants of the vehicle.

At that time, a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper responded to the area, because a Trooper attempted to stop that vehicle earlier in the morning, but the driver of the vehicle later identified as Jarmane Dyane Logan, 35, Topeka,  fled and evaded the Trooper.

As the Trooper and Officer were speaking to the occupants of the vehicle, a silver SUV approached them at a high rate of speed, almost striking them.

The occupants of the maroon passenger car attempted to flee and get into the SUV.

Law enforcement on the scene of the investigation Tuesday in Topeka -photo courtesy WIBW TV

As the Trooper and Officer tried to intervene, the Trooper and Officer were dragged by the SUV. The trooper shot and injured the Logan.  He was transported to a local hospital by ambulance and died, according to Beightel.

Retana is described as a white female 5-foot-8, 175 lbs., last seen wearing a brown heavy coat.

Masparo has seven previous convictions that include forgery, theft and burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Retina has previous convictions for fleeing or attempt to elude a law enforcement officer, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Anyone with information on the women or regarding this crime is encouraged to contact police.

Missouri man admits role in street shooting with AR-15 rifle

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Missouri man who was arrested following a street shootout in a residential neighborhood pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to illegally possessing a firearm, according to the United States Attorney.

Jones -photo Cole Co.

Richard Sterling Jones, 25, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to being a drug user in possession of a firearm.

According to today’s plea agreement, Columbia police officers were dispatched to the 4600 block of Rice Road at approximately 10:19 p.m. on June 24, 2018, in response to shots fired. When the officers arrived, they located numerous 9mm and .223-caliber spent shell casings along Rice Road. Officers spoke to numerous residents along Rice Road, who reported their residences and vehicles had been struck by gunfire.

Witnesses told police officers they saw a silver Pontiac Grand Prix, which they believed was involved in the shooting, quickly leave the area. Officers located Jones, who was sitting in a silver Grand Prix, shortly afterward, and he was detained. Officers searched his vehicle and found a bag of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Jones admitted that he fired several rounds from his AR-15 style rifle into the air in front of a residence on Rice Road. Jones drove to another residence and hid the firearm under a mattress in one of the bedrooms. Jones also admitted to using and selling marijuana. Officers executed a search warrant at the residence and found a loaded SOTA Arms multi-caliber rifle where Jones had hidden it.

Under federal statutes, Jones is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Deer poacher took trophy, left meat to waste in NE Kansas

WASHINGTON COUNTY— Authorities are looking for a deer poacher who illegally hunted a deer, taking the head and leaving the meat to waste on Thanksgiving morning.

According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens, the deer was poached in Washington County, between the towns of Hanover and Hollenberg. Thhe poacher likely showed the antlers to others and might take the taxidermist for a European mount.

Game wardens previously said two other deer were illegally killed by poachers on Thanksgiving morning.

HGTV episode taped in Kansas airs Thursday

WICHITA— Keller Williams Hometown Partners, LLC, Associate Broker in Wichita, Stephanie McCurdy, and her clients will be in a House Hunters episode that was filmed in Wichita.

The episode, “High Flying in Wichita,” premieres on HGTV Thursday night at 9 and again on Friday morning, according to the network’s website.

The episode features clients Alex Novotny and Christopher Roberson in their search for a Wichita home.

According to HGTV, Season 154 — Episode 3, features “Two acrobat enthusiasts [who] bring their high-flying antics to their house hunt in Kansas. While they both want a big yard to set up their circus ring, one wants a modern house with a media room and the other is more focused on proximity to Mexican restaurants.”

“Filming for HGTV’s House Hunters was such a unique experience. It was incredibly difficult to not reveal to colleagues, friends and family, the outcome of Alex and Christopher’s house purchase,” Stephanie McCurdy said. “We had a great time filming our episode while viewing houses together, it was sad when the filming wrapped.”

Northwest Jazz Ensemble to perform at music educators conference

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University Jazz Ensemble has been selected through competitive application and audition processes to perform at the 2019 Missouri Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop and Conference.

The ensemble’s performance is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, at the MMEA’s 81st annual conference. The ensemble’s program theme is “Made in Kansas City,” a tribute to composers and performers from the Kansas City area.

The Northwest Jazz Ensemble is the University’s premiere, audition-based jazz ensemble. With 20 members, it performs music representing a variety of styles and regularly tours the four-state region, in addition to on-campus performances throughout the academic year. The ensemble is under the direction of Dr. William Richardson, the University’s Dennis C. Dau Professor of Instrumental Music.

“The past two years, our jazz band has really stepped it up several notches,” Richardson said. “I’m very, very proud of them. We’ve got some great soloists, and the group just plays extraordinarily well.”

The Northwest Jazz Ensemble was the only university jazz ensemble selected for the MMEA performance this year. Each was vetted by an out-of-state committee of music educators who reviewed the recordings and recommended the performing ensembles for the conference.

The Northwest Jazz Ensemble performed at the Nebraska Music Educators Association conference in fall 2017 and last performed at the MMEA conference in 2006.

For more information about the Jazz Ensemble and other music ensembles at Northwest, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/finearts/music/.

Plea deal for Kan. man who sexually abused mentally disabled girl

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 39-year-old Lawrence man who molested a girl with mental disabilities was sentenced to just over 10 years in prison.

Capps -photo KBI Offender Registry

Steven Capps was sentenced Wednesday after previously pleading no contest to two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The girl was 14 when the abuse occurred.

Capps must register as a sex offender and be supervised for the rest of his life after he’s released from prison.

Prosecutor Mark Simpson said the victim’s family supported the plea agreement, in part because it kept the girl from having to testify.

Capps was arrested in July after another adult caught him in a room with the girl and called police.

Capps did not make a statement in court.

St. Joseph woman hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

BUCHANAN COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ram 5500 driven by Warren R. Stalker, 57, St. Joseph, was eastbound entering U.S. 169 at Loop 29 from a private drive.  The Dodge struck a 2009 Chevy Malibu driven by Raven A. Clark Mammah, 22, St. Joseph, who failed to stop at a steady red light.

The Malibu skidded onto a crosswalk and struck a pedestrian crossing light.

Clark Mammah was transported to Mosaic Life Care with minor injuries. Stalker was not injured.  Clark Mamman was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.

Mo. Sen.-Elect will reintroduce McCaskill duck boat bill

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Republican Sen.-Elect Josh Hawley says he’ll reintroduce a duck boat safety bill that his campaign rival Sen. Claire McCaskill proposed after a duck boat sank in July, killing 17 people.

Hawley on Wednesday said he’ll bring the legislation up again after he assumes office in January.

McCaskill pushed to enshrine into federal law recommendations to improve safety of the amphibious vehicles after the duck boat capsized on Table Rock Lake in Missouri.

Her bill would require the vehicles to comply with U.S. Coast Guard regulations aimed at ensuring they stay afloat.

Hawley unseated the Democratic senator this month. He says McCaskill was right to try to codify federal safety recommendations.

As Missouri’s attorney general, Hawley is suing the duck boat company.

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