KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Missouri man was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years and a month in federal prison for a robbery at a bank in Shawnee, Kan., U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said in a news release.

Scott Thario, 22, Lee’s Summit, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

A grand jury indictment filed in December 2013 alleged that on Dec. 16, 2013, Thario robbed Intrust Bank at 19501 West 65th Terrace in Shawnee, Kan. The indictment alleged he was carrying a short-barreled shotgun during the robbery.

Grissom commended the Shawnee Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel for their work on the case.

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement today after being re-elected as Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Republican Conference:

“I’m honored to be re-elected as the Vice Chairman of the Republican Conference for the 114th Congress. It’s been a privilege to serve in this position for the last two years, and I will continue to bring Missourians’ concerns to the leadership table in the new Republican majority.

“I believe we have the tools necessary to ensure the Senate will function again in a more transparent and accountable way for the American people. I urge President Obama and congressional Democrats to work with us to address the real challenges facing the nation, including putting people back to work, boosting American energy, fixing our broken health care system, and strengthening our national security.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) recently appointed a new team to handle agriculture and trade policy in Washington, D.C., and Kansas. Legislative Assistant Judd Gardner, Legislative Correspondent Trey Joy and State Agriculture Representative John Sachse will serve Kansans as part of Sen. Moran’s agriculture team.

“Judd, Trey and John are important additions to my legislative staff,” Sen. Moran said. “Their backgrounds allow them to understand first-hand the challenges Kansas farmers and ranchers face. Ensuring a bright future for agriculture in our state is one of my top priorities in the Senate, and I am confident they will serve Kansans well on my behalf.”

Gardner and Joy—based in Washington, D.C.—will focus their efforts on agriculture and trade policy, as well as meet and work with Kansans and agriculture organizations to address policy concerns. Sachse—based in Manhattan, Kan.—will meet and work with constituents from across the state, including county leadership and agriculture organizations, to address policy concerns.

Gardner has advocated on behalf of agriculture interests for a number of years, including a stint with the House Committee on Agriculture. He received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree in agricultural sciences from West Texas A&M University. Gardner was raised on a cow-calf operation in central New Mexico.

Joy achieved a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Business from Fort Hays State University. While at Fort Hays State, he was elected mayor of Smith Center, Kan., where he served for more than five years focusing his efforts on rural economic development. Additionally, Joy and his twin brother are fifth generation farmers in Smith County.

Sachse achieved a bachelor’s degree in animal science, with a minor in agricultural economics at Kansas State University. At K-State, he held numerous leadership positions in agriculture-related organizations including co-founding the K-State Collegiate Cattlemen’s Club. Additionally, he holds his Masters of Beef Advocacy and is Beef Quality Assurance Certified. Sachse will be residing in Manhattan, Kan.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The superintendent of a rural central Kansas school district has been picked as the state’s next education commissioner.

The Kansas State Board of Education named Randy Watson to the role Thursday. Besides leading the McPherson school district, Watson is chairman of a new innovative districts program. Under a 2013 law, up to 29 of the state’s 286 school districts can be designated as innovative. The McPherson district was one of the first two to receive the designation, which allows districts to be exempt from certain state public education regulations if they present plans to improve student achievement.

Watson is taking over for Diane DeBacker, who left her position in May to become an adviser to the director general of the Abu Dhabi Education Council in the United Arab Emirates.

By KANSAS HEALTH INSTITUTE

WICHITA — The Kansas Health Foundation is teaming with local education leaders to raise awareness of student health programs and help parents get involved with wellness committees that already dot districts across the state.

Federal law requires all public schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to create local school wellness policies. But a foundation survey found that parents are largely unaware of the committees that form those policies. The survey found most parents want more information about school wellness programs, and 40 percent of them want to participate in forming policies but don’t know how.

In response, the health foundation is starting an initiative called Team Up for Kansas Kids to get information about student health practices in the hands of parents and local educators.

“The Kansas Health Foundation is dedicated to providing all Kansans with the opportunity to live a healthy life – and that means promoting wellness at a young age,” said Steve Coen, president and CEO of the Kansas Health Foundation. “Team Up for Kansas Kids aims to bridge the gap between those with the most influence on a child’s lifelong health and wellness – family members and school leaders.”

The foundation unveiled a website Wednesday with research studies, data and other resources for parents and educators.

The site includes statements about the positive effect that exercise and eating breakfast have on student brain activity and, ultimately, achievement.

Tammy Bartels, president of the Kansas Parent Teacher Association, said schools have an important role to play in forming children’s nutrition and exercise habits, which affect their academic performance.

“Parents want to know their kids are learning healthy habits during school hours, and they want to help implement wellness programs that will ensure their kids succeed,” Bartels said. “Healthy students are better learners, and an integrated approach to support wellness before, during and after the school day will help our kids reach their full potential.”

The Kansas Health Foundation is the primary funder of the Kansas Health Institute, which is the parent organization of the editorially independent KHI News Service.

JOHN HANNA, Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Judges in at least four Kansas counties were issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples a day after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling allowing them to wed.

Clerks in other counties were giving applications to gay couples but requiring them to abide by the state’s three-day waiting period before they can get a license.

As of midmorning Thursday, Douglas County District Judge Robert Fairchild had waived the waiting period for three couples and said he would consider similar requests on a case-by-case basis. A different judge had agreed to preside over the wedding of one of the couples after the courthouse closes at 5 p.m. CST.

Two couples received licenses in Sedgwick County, while judges in Cowley and Riley counties each had issued one marriage license to same-sex couples.

FORT CARSON, Colo. (AP) — A Fort Carson soldier faces a military trial on charges of murder and assault in the death of his soldier-girlfriend during a Valentine’s Day quarrel in 2013.

Sgt. Montrell Lamar Anderson Mayo’s court-martial is scheduled to start Thursday at the post outside Colorado Springs.

He is accused of killing 28-year-old Cpl. Kimberly Walker of Cincinnati. Friends of Mayo said Walker was visiting Mayo at the time. She was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Her body was found in an off-post motel. The coroner said she had been strangled and struck.

If convicted, Mayo faces up to life in prison without parole.

The Army listed his hometown as Greenville, South Carolina. He was stationed at Fort Carson at the time of Walker’s death.

 

COLUMBIA (AP) – A New York couple whose son died in Operation Desert Storm said Boone County’s decision to cover a Christian symbol on a war memorial dishonored veterans.

The Boone County Commission decided earlier this year to cover the ichthus – commonly called the “Jesus fish” – but it has only recently caused public controversy.

Only two names appear on the Courthouse Plaza memorial. The Columbia Daily Tribune reported he parents of one of those sailors, U.S. Navy Lt. Patrick Connor, learned of the decision last week. They said the covering of the symbol was an affront to fundamental American beliefs.

The commission said it covered the symbol in June after Washington, D.C.-based group threatened to take legal action against governments that allow religious icons on taxpayer-owned property.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An earthquake that rattled parts of Kansas and Oklahoma is the 94th earthquake reported this year in Kansas.

The 4.8-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday was the strongest in Kansas this year, with most quakes recorded in south-central Kansas.

The vibrations were felt across Kansas, northern and central Oklahoma and even a county in northwest Missouri.

The Wichita Eagle reports the most severe damage appeared to be in Milan in Sumner County. The town’s former post office, a community center and several homes suffered some structural damage. No injuries were reported.

Argonia Fire Chief Scott Spinks says that Sumner County town also was shaken hard.

Gov. Sam Brownback announced Wednesday that the state will fund six-station portable seismic network to monitor increased seismic activity in Harper, Sumner and Barber counties.