OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Students in suburban Kansas City have sent thousands of sweet notes of encouragement to students in Parkland, Florida, on the first anniversary of a shooting rampage that left 17 people dead.

Missy Pint, of Lenexa, Kansas, began planning the surprise weeks ago. She encouraged students at several schools to write words of encouragement on a candy label for “The Sweet Note Project.”

Pint flew this week to Florida, where she and a friend spent 18 hours applying labels to 400 pounds of chocolate. They delivered about 3,500 chocolate bars Tuesday to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Pint saved 2,000 for the Kansas City community.

One note read: “You are brave.” Another charmingly misspelled message proclaimed: “Your a treashore to the world.”

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged violent attack and have made an arrest.

On Tuesday, a 19-year-old who is pregnant, had gone to visit 38-year-old Gerad Herrera at the Budget King Motel, 809 N. Broadway, in Salina, according to Salina Police Lieutenant Jim Feldman.

The woman told police that during the visit, Herrera became irate and repeatedly beat her and strangled her multiple times. Additionally, she reported that sexual acts took place against her will, Herrera shave off some of her hair and at one point threatened to kill her, according to Feldman..

On Wednesday morning, Herrera had to leave the motel and took the woman with him. She was able to get away from Herrera and made her way to a relative’s house, according to Feldman. The relative then took the woman to the Salina Police Department.

After reporting the incident, the woman went to Salina Regional Health Center to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to Feldman.

Later Wednesday, police were able to make contact with Herrera at the motel, and after a short scuffle, he was placed under arrest and is being held on requested charges that include Rape, Aggravated sodomy, Aggravated domestic battery, Aggravated battery, Criminal restraint, Criminal threat, Felony obstruction, Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Herrera has a previous drug conviction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

 

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas school district is taking steps to respond to two students bringing guns to Lawrence High School in the last week.

USD 497 spokeswoman Julie Boyle said Tuesday night that the district had activated its Crisis Support Team at Lawrence High. She said the district also will have more adults present during late arrival and has asked for increased police presence at the school this week.

School staff is being asked to identify students who need more counseling and a gun safety campaign will be at basketball games on Feb. 19.

Boyle says no one was endangered during the two incidents, one on Feb. 6 and the other Tuesday. Three other gun-related incidents were reported this calendar year at Lawrence High and Free State.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 42-year-old man has admitted that he traveled to Kansas City in an effort to have sex with a 7-year-old girl.

Ryan Edward Mausner, of Basalt, Colorado, pleaded guilty Wednesday to enticement of a minor.

Prosecutors say Mausner thought he was communicating with the girl’s mother over several months in private chat sessions during which he said he wanted to have sex with the mother and daughter. Mausner was actually talking to an undercover agent.

Mausner was arrested after he flew to Kansas City in May 2018 intended to engage in criminal sexual activity with the child victim.

LINCOLN COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged stalking.

On February 6, detectives with the Lincoln County Missouri Sheriff’s Office began investigating a criminal complaint of stalking, according to a media release.

Employees with the Driver’s License and Vehicle Registration Office, in Troy, reported 34-year-old Timothy Howe, of Troy, frequents the office often asking for duplicate titles, abandoned vehicle forms and other vehicle registration related items.

Over a period of a few months, the victims said Howe would buy them pizzas anonymously and contacting them through social media under a false name. The victims said Howe’s vehicle is spotted driving through parking lot at all times of the day. One victim asked Howe not to buy her pizzas anymore so he bought them for everyone in the office, except for her.

In November 2018, Howe left a large amount of cash on the countertop saying, “Go get yourself a manicure or pedicure” and walkout at the behest of the victim.  The office manager reported the incident to the Compliance Investigation Bureau (CIB). The CIB informed Howe he could no longer use the Troy License Office.

Shortly after, Howe was able to obtain one of the victim’s cell number and he sent her a Merry Christmas text and other odd text messages. One victim stated Howe drove past her twice while she gassed her vehicle and felt unsafe around him.

Detectives observed Howe driving his vehicle near the Troy License Office and took him into custody.  Howe is currently charged with First Degree Stalking and three counts of First Degree Harassment.  Howe is currently housed in the Lincoln County Jail under a $20,000 cash only bond with no contact with the victims, GPS monitoring if released and no entry or staying on premises of 850 East Cherry St., Troy, MO.  Other conditions of bond may apply.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A recently unsealed court document says a former contestant on both “American Idol” and “Fear Factor” worked as a courier for a drug ring and was trying to deliver nearly 2 pounds of fentanyl when she was arrested last year.

32-year-old Antonella Barba was back in custody Monday, following a federal indictment charging her with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. Barba was originally arrested last October in Norfolk Virginia.

She was previously charged with shoplifting in New York and has a felony marijuana case pending in Kansas.

Barba, of New Jersey, reached the top 16 on “American Idol” in 2007, the year Jordin Sparks won. She competed on “Fear Factor” in 2012.

Her public defender didn’t immediately respond to the newspaper’s request for comment.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court has dismissed a member of the Satanic Temple’s challenge to one of the state’s abortion laws.

Judges on Wednesday ruled against Mary Doe, an anonymous Satanic Temple member.

Doe alleged that her religious rights were violated by a Missouri law requiring that women seeking abortions be provided with a booklet that says “the life of each human being begins at conception.” Abortion providers also must give women a chance to view an ultrasound and hear the fetal heartbeat.

Satanic Temple members don’t believe in a literal Satan but see the biblical Satan as a metaphor for rebellion against tyranny.

Doe’s attorney says they’re disappointed.