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Kansas man sentenced for millions in false tax refunds

tax refundTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A southeast Kansas man was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for receiving millions of dollars in false tax refunds.

Federal prosecutors say 49-year-old Jerold D. Fisher, of Arma, was sentenced Monday to 41 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay restitution of more than $4 million.

Fisher pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false federal tax return. He admitted that while he worked for Fisher Alfalfa Farms from 2006 to 2009, he prepared false federal tax returns for himself and his mother to receive tax refunds they were not owed.

By 2009, he fraudulently claimed withholding of more than $3.8 million on income of more than $8 million.

Kansas Republican streak on line in US Senate race

GOPOVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Kansas voters aren’t exactly known for an independent streak. Not since 1932 have they elected someone other than a Republican to the U.S. Senate.

Republican Sen. Pat Roberts was looking to continue his party’s good fortunes Tuesday against a surprisingly staunch challenge from independent candidate Greg Orman.

Roberts has described his re-election campaign as crucial to Republican hopes of regaining the Senate and providing a check to the policies of Democratic President Barack Obama. He’s tried to portray Orman as a liberal Democrat.

Orman has described Roberts as part of a broken partisan system that has ground Washington to a halt. He’s vowed to bridge political divides and has emphasized his business expertise.

Orman became the main alternative to Roberts after Democratic nominee Chad Tayler dropped out in September.

Brownback faces verdict from voters on tax cuts

Brownback and Davis
Brownback and Davis

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback is awaiting a verdict from Kansas voters on whether his conservative tax-cutting experiment went too far.

Brownback was in a close race ahead of Tuesday’s election with Democratic challenger Paul Davis and faced a revolt from GOP moderates.

The 58-year-old governor painted Davis as a liberal and tried to tie him to Democratic President Barack Obama.

Davis is a 42-year-old Lawrence lawyer and the Kansas House minority leader. He ran as a centrist who would have a bipartisan administration.

Personal income tax cuts enacted in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback’s urging dropped the state’s top rate by 26 percent and exempted the owners of 191,000 businesses altogether.

A budget shortfall of $260 million is predicted by July 2016, but Brownback contends the economy is growing.

Winter wheat planting nearly finished in Kansas

Plantin2WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Winter wheat planting in Kansas is almost finished.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 93 percent of the wheat has been planted in the state. About 82 percent has now emerged.

Kansas farmers were also busy bringing in fall crops during the past week. About 86 percent of the corn crop has now been harvested.

About 52 percent of the sorghum and 72 percent of the soybeans have also been cut. The sunflower harvest is 43 percent complete.

Shields has a week to accept offer from Royals

RoyalsKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals extended a $15.3 million qualifying offer Monday to right-hander James Shields, which assures Kansas City of draft pick compensation if its staff ace signs a major league contract with another team before June 8.

Shields has until Nov. 10 to accept, and it is expected he will not. In the past two years, none of the 22 free agents given qualifying offers have accepted.

Kansas City has expressed interest in re-signing Shields, who helped the Royals reach the playoffs for the first time in 29 years and win the AL pennant. But with higher-payroll clubs in the market for pitching, Shields is expected to sign elsewhere.

If that happens, the Royals would receive a compensatory draft pick between the first and second rounds of next year’s amateur draft.

US investigating Honda for incomplete reports

HondaDETROIT (AP) — Federal regulators are investigating whether Honda Motor Co. failed to report deaths and injuries that occurred in its vehicles.

Federal law requires automakers to submit quarterly reports on deaths and injuries, warranty claims and other incidents. Legal claims alleging that a defect caused a death or injury must also be reported.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says Honda may have failed to report incidents related to Takata air bags as well as other defective parts. Honda has recalled more than 5 million vehicles in the U.S. to fix their air bags, which could injure occupants if they deploy after a crash.

Honda could face fines of up to $35 million if NHTSA finds it failed to report the incidents.

A message seeking comment was left with Honda.

Rivals make last pitches in Kansas governor’s race

Brownback and Davis
Brownback and Davis

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and Democratic challenger Paul Davis are making multiple stops across Kansas as they try to pick up the last few votes ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Davis started Monday by greeting western Kansas voters in Dodge City. He then traveled east to Greensburg, Pratt and Great Bend.

Brownback toured south-central Kansas and had stops in Garden Plain, Derby and Andover.

The governor is pressing his case that personal income tax cuts enacted at his urging have spurred an economic comeback for Kansas.

In Topeka, retired nursery owners Jim and Diane Herynk (HUR’-ihnk) said they voted in advance for Brownback because he lowered taxes as promised.

But Davis told The Associated Press that there’s general dissatisfaction with Brownback over the budget problems his tax cuts have caused.

Second Annual St Joseph Sculpture Walk Call For Entries

sculpture walk 1The Allied Arts Council in conjunction with the City of St. Joseph invites sculptors to apply for the second annual St. Joseph Sculpture Walk, an exhibit of outdoor sculptures displayed year-round.

Regional, national, and international sculpture artists are invited to submit work for this one-year sculpture exhibition scheduled from June 2015- May 2016.

Selected sculptures/sculptors receive a $500 honorarium and all sculptures selected compete for up to $13,000 in cash prize awards.

Interested sculptors should visit the Council’s website for more information, and how to apply. Entry requires submission of a brief biography, concise CV/resume, one-paragraph narrative for each sculpture entered, and directions for installation and removal. A maximum of four (4) entries may be submitted, represented by three (3) images per entry. The deadline for submission is February 3, 2015, with notification of acceptance on or before March 2, 2015.

Up to twenty-five sculptures will be placed throughout Downtown St. Joseph. Some of the locations will be on business property but the majority will be placed on sidewalks and green spaces owned by the City.

Communities across the country have used sculpture walks to bring sculptures into their parks and downtowns. With the Sculpture Walk in St. Joseph, The council aims to bring life and vitality to the outdoor spaces, serve as a tool to help define downtown as an arts and entertainment district, attract artists and businesses, enhance property value, foster local development, and engage the community.

Public support is needed for a successful program. Anyone interested in supporting the program should contact the Allied Arts Council at 816-233-0231. Sculptures will arrive in St. Joseph mid-May, and be installed June 2-11, 2015. An opening reception and public unveiling for artists, sponsors will be held June 12, 2015.

Homicide Victim Identified

Francisco Javier Vargas III
Francisco Javier Vargas III
The Platte County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation of an apparent homicide in southern Platte County.

Officials received the report that a deceased 27-year-old Hispanic male had been found in a residence on Twin Springs Road Saturday. Investigators say the victim suffered multiple injuries.

On Monday, authorities identified the victim as Francisco Javier Vargas III.

If you have information that could help, call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

One dead, 4 teens hospitalized after stolen car chase, crash UPDATE

Police chase

COLUMBUS, Kan. (AP) — The state Highway Patrol says a southeast Kansas teenager has died after crashing a car while being chased by law enforcement.

Four other teens were injured when they were thrown from the car.

The patrol says the crash occurred just after 8 a.m. Monday near the Cherokee County town of Columbus while officers were chasing a car driven by 17-year-old Noah Kirsch, of Pittsburg. The car went off the road and rolled over several times.

Kirsh and passengers Autumn L. Bell, 16; Hannah N. Newcomer, 15, and Preston Herzog, 15, all of Pittsburg were transported to Freeman Medical Center. Kirsh died just after 5 p.m.

Another passenger Isaiah Beeney, 16, Pittsburg, was transported to Via Christi.

The KHP reported they were not wearing seat belts.

————

COLUMBUS- Five teenagers were injured in an accident while fleeing from law enforcement just after 8 a.m. on Monday in Cherokee County.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s office said a 2002 Pontiac was reported stolen in Pittsburg.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the Pontiac driven by Noah Kirsch, 17, Pittsburg, was westbound on Northwest Lawton Road three miles northwest of Columbus.

The vehicle left the south side of the roadway, rolled several times, ejected four occupants and partially ejected another.

Kirsh and passengers Autumn L. Bell, 16; Hannah N. Newcomer, 15, and Preston Herzog, 15, all of Pittsburg were transported to Freeman Medical Center.

Another passenger Isaiah Beeney, 16, Pittsburg, was transported to Via Christi.

The KHP reported they were not wearing seat belts.

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