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‘90210’ star Luke Perry has died at 52 after suffering stroke

LOS ANGELES — Luke Perry, who gained instant heartthrob status as wealthy rebel Dylan McKay on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” died Monday after suffering a massive stroke, his publicist said. He was 52.

Perry was surrounded by family and friends when he died, publicist Arnold Robinson said. The actor had been hospitalized since last Wednesday, after a 911 call summoned medical help to his home in the Sherman Oaks section of Los Angeles.

Luke Perry speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Photo by Gage Skidmore

“The family appreciates the outpouring of support and prayers that have been extended to Luke from around the world, and respectfully request privacy in this time of great mourning,” Robinson said in a statement. At Perry’s bedside were his children, Jake and Sophie; fiancée Wendy Madison Bauer and his former wife, Minnie Sharp.

Perry had played construction construction-company owner Fred Andrews, father of main character Archie Andrews, for three seasons on “Riverdale,” the CW series that gives a dark take on “Archie” comics. A fourth season has been slated.

Born and raised in rural Fredericktown, Ohio, Perry gained fame on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” which ran from 1990 to 2000.

Perry has had roles in a handful of films, including “The Fifth Element,” ”8 Seconds” and “American Strays.” He appeared in HBO’s prison drama “Oz” and voiced cartoons like “The Incredible Hulk” and “Mortal Kombat.” In recent years he starred in the series “Ties That Bind” and “Body of Proof.”

The same day he was hospitalized, Fox TV announced that it would be running a six-episode return of “90210” that features most of the original cast, but Perry was not among those announced.

Update: Two 24-year-olds were victims in Manhattan shooting

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation of a weekend shooting that sent two people to the hospital.
Crime scene tape in Manhattan early Saturday during the investigation –image courtesy WIBW TV

Just before 2:20 a.m. Saturday, the Riley County Police Department Dispatch Center received a report of shots fired in the 2300 block of Tuttle Creek Blvd in Manhattan.

According to a media release form RCPD, an aggravated battery report was filed listing two 24-year-old men from the Kansas City area as victims.
Both victims were life-flighted to Stormont-Vail in Topeka and were reported in stable condition on Monday.
The victims and suspects were not known to each other.  RCPD personnel have been in contact with one person of interest. Authorities have not released names of the victims or the person of interest.
Police ask that anyone with information contact the Riley County Police Department or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

Ag Organizations Collectively Endorse USMCA at Commodity Classic

The National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, and the National Sorghum Producers announced their collective support for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. The announcement came as the organizations took part in the Commodity Classic, held in Orlando, Florida.

The groups say Mexico and Canada account for 25 percent of all U.S. agriculture exports and the USMCA preserves and builds upon the existing trading relationships between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Members of all four organizations will be advocating members of Congress to ratify the agreement this year. They’ll also be urging the administration to keep the current NAFTA agreement in place until the new one is ratified.

NCGA President Lynn Chrisp says, “Mexico and Canada are the corn industry’s largest, most reliable market. In fact, Mexico is U.S. corn’s number one buyer.” Davie Stephens, ASA president, says, “Passage of USMCA would boost both national and rural economies, and for soybeans, it would ensure tariff-free access to two strong markets.” Wheat Growers President Jimmie Musick says, “USMCA will include tariff-free access to imported U.S. wheat for our long-time flour milling customers in Mexico.”

Kansas priest denies allegations of abuse

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas priest announced at Mass this weekend that a woman who has twice accused him of abusing her has raised the allegation again.

Rev. William Bruning-image courtesy Queen of the Holy Rosary Church

The Rev. William Bruning told the congregation at Queen of the Holy Rosary Church that a woman in her early 30s says Bruning abused her when she was a minor at the Most Pure Heart of Mary School in Topeka. Bruning insisted the allegation was false.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas said in a statement Sunday that reviews begun after the woman made the accusations in 2015 and 2018 found they could not be substantiated.

The woman told the archdiocese last month she was not satisfied with that conclusion, prompting the archdiocese to share the information with church members during the weekend.

Will The WTO Decision Impact China-U.S. negotiations?

The World Trade Organization found that China exceeded its agreed-on limits for government subsidies on multiple crops. Politico notes that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer says the case could indeed become part of the negotiations and hoped-for trade deal with China. Lighthizer says there’s another WTO challenge in process that targets how China administers its import quotas on multiple agricultural products.

Lighthizer told the House Ways and Means Committee last week that they’re trying to resolve those issues with China within the context of a potential agreement. White House Chief Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow told CNBC that the outlook for a deal with China is “very positive.” That’s a different outlook than the one Lighthizer had during testimony to the Ways and Means Committee in which he said, “there’s still substantial work that needs to be done.” President Trump did say last week that they’ve made “major progress” in talks with China but also acknowledged the possibility things could still collapse.

During a press conference in Vietnam, Trump said, “I’m never afraid to walk away from a deal. I would do that with China, too, if it didn’t work out.” Also, on the trade front, the Trump Administration published its key objectives for a potential agreement with the United Kingdom, the first step in the process of beginning trade negotiations.

Innocent driver hospitalized after crash during chase of wanted Kan. felon

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted Kansas felon on new charges after a chase and crash.

Sherrill -photo Shawnee Co.

Just before 4p.m. Friday, police were alerted by the United States Marshals Service that 25-year-old Tommy Sherrill, Jr., was in the area of SE Lott and SE Illinois in Topeka. Authorities had a felony warrant for his arrest, according to Lt. Robert Simmons.

As Topeka police, KHP Troopers and the United States Marshals Service approached Sherrill he fled in a vehicle for a short distance.

During this short pursuit Sherrill almost struck 2 law enforcement vehicles.  His reckless driving caused an accident at 25th and SE Kentucky and his vehicle was rendered inoperable allowing officers to arrest him.

The innocent motorist that struck Sherrill’s vehicle as it drove through a stop sign, sustained minor injuries and was transported by AMR to a local hospital to be treated.

Sherrill was taken to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries and is in the Shawnee County Jail on requested charged that includeFelon in Possession of a Firearm, Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Felony Flee and Elude (and Traffic Related Charges, Felony Obstruction and the Felony Warrant

This is the 22nd case in 2019 with a charge involving a felon in possession of a firearm reported by the Topeka Police Department.

Cause of gas pipeline explosion in Missouri investigated

MEXICO, Mo. (AP) — Officials are investigating the cause of a gas pipeline explosion during the weekend in central Missouri.

Image courtesy Audrain Co. Sheriff

The pipeline owned by Dallas-based Panhandle Eastern Pipeline ruptured Sunday morning along Missouri 15 about 1 mile north of Mexico in Audrain County.

Little Dixie Fire Protection District Fire Chief Steve Gentry said his crews weren’t able to battle the blaze when they first arrived because the flames were so intense.

No injuries were reported.

The highway was closed for several hours while debris blown into the air by the explosion was cleared.

Deputy’s vehicle struck while working NE Kansas crash

JACKSON COUNTY — The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating the second of two accidents that damaged a Kansas sheriff’s deputy’s vehicle and sent a teen driver to the hospital.

photo courtesy Jackson Co. Sheriff

Just after 1p.m. Sunday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an injury accident north of 198th Road on U.S. 75 involving a 2016 Ram 1500 pickup truck driven by Michelle Holmes, 33, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and a 2016 Volvo semi-tractor and trailer driven by Ryan Love, 40, of Clarksville, Tennessee, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The pickup truck merged into the semi’s lane striking the front of the tractor.

Holmes was transported by EMS to the Holton Community Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy who was on the scene investigating the accident when a northbound 2000 Ford Taurus rear-ended the deputy’s patrol vehicle, according to Morse.

The patrol vehicle wasn’t occupied at the time of the accident. The deputy was able to warn the semi driver who was also out of his vehicle to take cover when he observed the Taurus approaching the scene.

The driver of the Taurus, Emily R. Howard, 17, of Topeka was transported by EMS to Holton Community Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The deputy and others at the scene were not injured.

Many universities in Kansas see drop in international students

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Many universities in Kansas are seeing a drop in the number of enrolled international students, which education leaders said hurts campuses’ cultural diversity and school finances.

Protests at KCi in January 2017 against the travel ban -photo courtesy Fox4 News

The number of international students enrolled in Kansas Board of Regents colleges has declined by more than 11 percent since 2015, or roughly 1,560 students.

Many of the affected schools already face limited state funding and declining enrollments, which is compounded by the lost revenue from international students who pay out-of-state tuition, often live on campus and contribute to local economies.

International students account for a roughly $260 million economic impact in Kansas, supporting about 2,500 jobs, according to data from the nonprofit NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

“These are 600 fewer students paying out-of-state tuition coming to our university,” said Charles Taber, provost of Kansas State University. “That’s millions of dollars of revenue loss.”

Chuck Olcese, director of international support services at the University of Kansas, acknowledged that money often leads conversations about a decrease in the number of international students. But Olcese said “the more guiding factor is the ability to make an international environment for students from Kansas or wherever they’re coming from across the U.S.”

About 70 percent of University of Kansas students may not have met someone from another country nor had any serious interaction with another culture, Olcese said.

Many school leaders have attributed the decline in the number of international students coming to Kansas to the perception that the country is increasingly unwelcoming to immigrants, pointing to issues such as President Donald Trump’s travel ban .

“The travel bans that came out right after the Trump presidency took effect and children being separated from parents at the borders, these all make international news in big ways, and just kind of underscores an unwelcome feeling,” Olcese said.

He said it’s difficult to imagine any profession that isn’t being affected by these issues.

“If you’ve done your whole education in a very isolated environment without interacting with someone who thinks different culturally than you, you’re really at a disadvantage,” Olcese said.

Art exhibit launches Missouri museum’s 50th anniversary celebration

FULTON, Mo. (AP) — A mid-Missouri museum honoring Winston Churchill will launch its 50th anniversary celebration Tuesday with an art exhibit featuring the work of roughly 4,000 students.

Officials with America’s National Churchill Museum on the campus at Westminster College in Fulton say the art was inspired by the words of Churchill’s famous “Iron Curtain” speech. The longtime British prime minister delivered the speech at Westminster in 1946, the phrase “Iron Curtain” describing the separation of Eastern Europe that was under Soviet Union rule.

The artwork was painted by students from the Fulton area, along with Westminster faculty, staff and students. The exhibit is titled the “Special Relationship Project,” a nod to a phrase also coined by Churchill in the 1946 speech to describe the alliance between Great Britain and the U.S

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