LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A new report says sexual offenses reported last year on the Kansas University campus increased by 10 from the previous year.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports there were 13 reported sex offenses in 2013. In 2012, there were three, and in 2011, there were two. The numbers come from incidents reported to the college’s Public Safety Office, student affairs office and the Department of Student Housing.

The federal Clery Act requires colleges to report their crime statistics and submit them to the U.S. Department of Education.

On Wednesday, the school placed the Kappa Sigma fraternity on interim suspension, after receiving reports of a sexual assault during a fraternity party over the weekend. The national organization’s executive director says they’re investigating the matter and have also suspended the local chapter for the time being.

RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press
JACK GILLUM, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government’s new Open Payments website is intended to let you find out whether your doctor is getting freebies, travel or other financial benefits from drug companies and medical device manufacturers. But it doesn’t make it easy.

For now, the website lacks a “Find Your Doctor” button.

The Obama administration says that’s coming. Consumers should start noticing some improvements later this month, particularly with navigation.

However, an Associated Press analysis found significant problems remain, with large chunks of missing information and disputed data, and those are not likely to be cleared up soon.

Disclosure of financial relationships between doctors and industry has long been a priority for consumer advocates. They worry that unseen incentives may influence prescribing decisions, the use of high-tech tests and even surgical procedures.

They don’t specify which side of the state line they’re talking about, and it’s possible they don’t know there’s a difference, but the Huffington Post has honored Kansas City as the most exciting “it” city in the US. We’re not sure what that means, but we can share the sentiment.

The food, the Midwestern hospitality and the music were all highlighted as reasons to visit the metro area.  The author doesn’t write a lot about the cities on the list. Here’s the KC entry:

“Get to the Green Lady Lounge for some jazz, eat awesome BBQ at Q39, and don’t forget to check out the historic City Market. The food is amazing, nearly everything is affordable, and the people are nice.”

Find the complete article here.

Kansas Libertarian Party

Keen Umbehr, Libertarian candidate for Kansas Governor, will embark on a whirlwind two-day tour of eastern and central Kansas on the morning of Saturday, Oct 4th. The tour will stop in 34 Kansas communities where Mr. Umbehr will visit with folks and provide campaign materials to those who would like them.

Although the aggressive 34-city schedule will not allow Mr. Umbehr to stay very long at any one location, he is looking forward to meeting those who come out and answering as many questions as possible before moving on to the next community.

“I have heard so many times that people are tired of professional politicians who will not answer their questions”, said Umbehr. “I will come to your community to answer your questions and all I ask in return is the opportunity to earn your trust and your vote.”

Saturday, October 4th
City Arrival Location

Topeka, 7:30 AM, Classic Bean, 2125 SW Fairlawn Rd
Lawrence, 9:00 AM, Runaway Pony B&B, 603 Tennessee St
Tonganoxie, 9:30 AM, The Coffee Depot, 626 E. 4th Street
Leavenworth, 10:15 AM, Pullman’s Place, 230 Cherokee
Bonner Springs, 11:00 AM, Daylight Donuts, 619 E Front St
Lenexa, 11:35 AM, Blackdog Coffee House at 12815 W 87th St Pkwy
Olathe, 12:10 PM, Old 56 Café, 912 S Chestnut St
Paola, 1:30 PM, Molly’s Table, 117 S Pearl St
Louisburg, 2:00 PM, The Coffee House, 408 W. Amity
Fort Scott, 3:15 PM, Common Grounds, 116 S. Main
Pittsburg, 4:00 PM, Spellbound Bookstore and Café, 202 Centennial Dr
Baxter Springs, 5:00 PM, Cowtown Days
Columbus, 6:45 PM, Norma’s Café, 218 E Maple St
Independence, 8:00 PM, Montgomery County Courthouse, 217 E. Myrtle
Winfield, 9:45 PM, Cowley County Courthouse, 311 E 9th Ave
Derby, 10:45 PM

Sunday, October 5th
City Arrival Location

Derby, 7:00 AM
Wichita, 7:30 AM, The Good Egg, 2141 N Bradley Fair Pkwy
Augusta, 9:00 AM, McDonald’s, 520 W 7th Ave
El Dorado, 9:45 AM Daylight Donuts, 1243 W Central Ave
Newton, 10:45 AM, Norm’s Coffee Bar, 125 W 6th St
Hutchinson, 11:45 AM, Pizza Ranch, 1805 E 17th Ave
McPherson, 1:15 PM, Craft Coffee Parlor, 120 N Main St
Lindsborg, 2:00 PM, The Old Grind, 113 N. Main Street
Salina, 2:45 PM, Moka’s South, 2424 S. 9th Street
Minneapolis, 3:30 PM, Mity-Quik, 121 N Mill St
Beloit, 4:30 PM, Banner Restaurant, 720 N Bell St
Concordia, 5:30 PM, Pick up dinner
Belleville, 6:00 PM, Bel-Villa Family Restaurant, Hwy 36 & 81
Washington, 6:45 PM, Casey’s General Store, 113 W 7th St
Marysville, 7:30 PM, Pony Express Statue
Blue Rapids, 8:00 PM, Weaver Hotel
Manhattan, 9:00 PM, A. J.’s Pizza, 301 Poyntz Ave
Wamego 9:45 PM Columbia Theatre
Alma, 10:15 PM, Keen’s Office

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who hid under a bed at his children’s home to spy on them has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Thirty-five-year-old Earl Brockington Jr., of Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced Wednesday for five crimes, including robbery and domestic battery.

Prosecutors say Brockington entered the Leavenworth home of the mother of his children on April 21 and hid under a bed for several hours while spying on the family.

The mother testified during a trial in August that she thought her son was imagining things when he told her someone was under the bed. The Leavenworth Times reports that after he was discovered, Brockington and the woman struggled over telephones before she was able to get the children out of the house.

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas Bureau of Investigation administrator has been disbarred by the state Supreme Court after pleading guilty earlier this year to sexual exploitation of a child.

Former KBI deputy director Kyle G. Smith was third in line at the bureau last November when an agency secretary found a photo of a teenage girl engaged in sexually explicit conduct that was traced to Smith’s email account.

Smith pleaded guilty earlier this year and was sentenced to 32 months in prison, which was suspended and he was placed on probation for three years. He also must register as a sex offender for 25 years.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the Supreme Court issued its disbarment order Friday. Smith had surrendered his Kansas law license Sept. 17.

 

EILEEN SULLIVAN, Associated Press

ALICIA A. CALDWELL, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secret Service Director Julia Pierson has resigned amid security lapses at the White House.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Wednesday that Pierson offered her resignation, and he accepted it.

The move came one day after her appearance before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in a congressional hearing focused on recent security lapses at the White House.

Pierson had worked at the Secret Service for 30 years.

Michael Pagels, Little Apple Post

MANHATTAN, Kan.-Alexander Edmond McConnell, Army Corporal Specialist, made his first court appearance Wednesday in Riley County Court via webcam from the Riley County Jail.

McConnell was arrested on Monday and charged with 1st degree murder and abuse of a child.

The hearing with Judge Hochhauser began with a review of the charges including an alternative second charge of abuse of a child including knowingly torturing or cruelly beating or shaking to cause bodily harm.

McConnell applied to have a state attorney represent him, which was denied by Judge Hochhauser due to McConnell’s financial holdings. David McDonald is McConnell’s current attorney.

A preliminary hearing for McConnell will be on October 14th at 1 p.m. with Judge William Malcolm presiding.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas court has ruled that Democrats can go without a U.S. Senate candidate after their nominee dropped out of the race against three-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts.

The ruling Wednesday is a blow to the GOP in a key race in the national battle over Senate control.

A panel of three Shawnee County District Court judges said a state election law does not require Democrats to fill the candidate vacancy.

The judges also said the disgruntled who filed a lawsuit to force Democrats to act didn’t prove his case because he failed to show up for a Monday hearing.

Some Democrats pushed their nominee out of the race because they saw independent candidate Greg Orman as the stronger rival for Roberts and didn’t want to split the anti-Roberts vote.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A University of Kansas fraternity is on interim suspension after the school received reports of sexual assault during a party during the weekend.

University Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said in a news release Wednesday that “disturbing and serious” behavior was reported at the Kappa Sigma fraternity. She did not elaborate.

The Lawrence Police Department and the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access are investigating the allegations.

The suspension come as the university faces increasing criticism for its handling of previous allegations of rape on the Lawrence campus. Kansas is one of 76 schools nationwide being investigated by the federal government for their handling of sexual abuse cases.

In response to the criticism, Gray-Little appointed a task force to review the school’s policies and procedures and to recommend improvements.