SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery but are not getting cooperation from the victim.
Police on the scene of Wednesday’s investigation photo courtesy WIBW TV
Just after 7 p.m. Wednesday, police were called to the 1300 Block of SW Harrison in Topeka for a report of shots fired, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.
Officers made contact with several victims of an attempted aggravated robbery at a single apartment and located signs of a struggle and shooting which occurred within the apartment. It was apparent that both a victim of the aggravated robbery and a suspect exchanged gunfire, according to Jones.
At 9:10 pm, officers were called to a local hospital to meet with a person suffering from a serious, but non-life threatening gunshot wound. The person being treated for the injury, a 27-year-old male, gave vague information about how he was shot and there is not enough information available at this time to suggest the two incidents are related to each other, according to Jones.
Growth Energy Wednesday filed a motion in a U.S. federal appeals court to intervene in a challenge to the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule allowing year-round E15 sales. The final rule is being challenged by the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers who filed the lawsuit on Monday. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor called the challenge “no surprise,” noting the industry saw similar challenges when E15 was first approved in 2011.
Skor says the oil industry “wants to inject uncertainty into the marketplace.”AFMP contends, “the plain language of the Clean Air Act does not authorize an RVP waiver expansion beyond E10.” Year-round E15 sales were authorized through a Reid vapor pressure waiver.
Under the Clean Air Act, legal challenges to EPA’s E15 rulemaking may be brought as a “petition for review” within 60 days of publication of the final rule in the Federal Register. Interested parties such as Growth Energy may also file a motion to intervene in the petition for review to protect their interests.
Senator Chuck Grassley this week announced a planned hearing regarding the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Grassley, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, says the committee will hear testimony from U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. The committee will hold the hearing, “The President’s 2019 Trade Policy Agenda and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” next Tuesday morning.
Grassley told reporters earlier this week, following meetings with House of Representatives leadership, that he expects demands from Democrats in the House can be worked out. The House must consider the agreement before the Senate can vote on ratification. Meanwhile, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland is meeting with Lighthizer this week, focusing on ratifying USMCA.
President Trump also sided with a group of more than 950 agribusinesses and organizations, calling on lawmakers to quickly pass the agreement once formally submitted to Congress. Trump, on Twitter, says “our patriot farmers and rural America have spoken,” saying “now Congress must do its job” by passing the USMCA agreement.
Trey Patterson, from Cheney, caught the 45.75 inch fish on June 8 while out with his father and brother-in-law on the east side of Refuge Point at the Cheney Reservoir.
When he first felt a bite on his line, Patterson thought he had a big wiper fish because that’s what they had been fishing for and that type of fish is known to fight back. He says it took about 25 minutes to reel it in.
It weighed 4 pounds more than the previous record-holder that a bowfisher caught in 2016 in Milford Reservoir.
Today, Governor Mike Parson congratulated Kansas City and all of Missouri for being selected by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue as the new home of USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agricultural Policy (NIFA).
— Missouri Dept. of Ag (@MoAgriculture) June 13, 2019
“We are thrilled that Secretary Perdue chose to relocate ERS and NIFA to the heartland. We appreciate all the hard work and commitment from Secretary Perdue, President Trump’s Administration, and the large Kansas City coalition in making this happen,” Governor Parson said. “Missouri agriculture has unrivaled diversity, access to cutting-edge research at our land grant universities, and a thriving agribusiness environment. By choosing a location close to their farmer-constituent base, these offices will remain rooted in agriculture and, as a result, will be better able to make decisions that serve American agriculture well. ”
Missouri agriculture is an $88.4 billion industry and remains the number one economic driver in the Show-Me State. To learn more, visit Agriculture.Mo.Gov.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Missouri man linked to several alleged fraud schemes has been indicted by a federal grand jury for making false statements to federal investigators.
James Parker -photo Greene Co.
James Calvin Parker, 57, Goodson, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney.
The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Parker on June 4, 2019. Parker remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing this afternoon.
The federal indictment alleges that Parker made a number of false statement to FBI agents who were investigating allegations that he engaged in a scheme to defraud a vulnerable victim in Polk County, Missouri. Parker allegedly repeated many of the same claims to FBI agents that he made to his victim, regarding his claim to $22 million held by the government, and his relationships with presidents and other federal officials.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, the FBI was contacted by the victim’s son on April 8, 2019. He reported that Parker had repeatedly asked his father (the victim) for money in order to pay various fines and expenses related to the release of a substantial sum of money that belonged to Parker but was being held by the United States government. Agents interviewed the victim and his two adult sons. Over the course of at least 10 months, the affidavit says, the victim gave Parker more than $130,000.
Agents interviewed multiple people who knew the victim and, on May 10, 2019, contacted and interviewed Parker at his home. In the course of the interview, the affidavit says, Parker made many materially false statements. Agents instructed Parker to not ask anyone for money, to not accept money from anyone regarding scam scenarios, and to specifically cease asking the victim for money.
The following weekend of May 11 and 12, the affidavit says, Parker again asked the victim for $3,000, which the victim gave him. Parker allegedly continued asking the victim for money in relation to the scheme. In order to provide cash to Parker, the victim has liquidated assets, most notably real estate.
WASHINGTON —U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on Thursday announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will relocate the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to the Kansas City Region, according to a media release from the USDA.
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue photo USDA
“Following a rigorous site selection process, the Kansas City Region provides a win win – maximizing our mission function by putting taxpayer savings into programmatic outputs and providing affordability, easy commutes, and extraordinary living for our employees,” said Secretary Perdue.
“I am excited to hear USDA selected Kansas City as the new location for the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Agricultural research is a critical function of USDA, and I am committed to ensuring we continue to support and strengthen the research mission that our U.S. producers rely on. Kansas City is an obvious choice, as many other
USDA agencies in the area partner closely with stakeholders,” said Sen. Pat Roberts. “The vital research that will occur at the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF) and already occurs throughout the KC Animal Health Corridor makes Kansas City a natural fit. I am pleased that USDA recognizes the rich resources the heartland provides.”
“After months of advocating to Secretary Perdue that NIFA and ERS ought to be relocated to the Kansas City area, I’m thrilled that USDA has selected Kansas City to house these critical research agencies,” said Sen. Jerry Moran. “The animal health corridor, stretching from Manhattan, Kansas to Columbia, Missouri, is the largest concentration of animal health companies in the world, and Kansas is also the home of the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility – and today’s decision further bolsters Kansas City’s status as a national leader in the ag industry. It is always positive when our government can operate outside of Washington and closer to the people it serves, and I am certain that the decision to relocate NIFA and ERS to Kansas City is a good one. I look forward to helping welcome these USDA agencies and employees to Kansas City.”
Kansas First District Congressman Roger Marshall said of the News on Twitter, “Great team effort by so many people to make this happen. Shout out to @KState and @KUnews in working so diligently with our federal delegation to help make the case for Kansas City. Agriculture and Kansas are truly synonymous – so we thank you, @SecretarySonny!
“The Kansas City Region has proven itself to be hub for all things agriculture and is a booming city in America’s heartland. There is already a significant presence of USDA and federal government employees in the region, including the Kansas City ‘Ag Bank’ Federal Reserve.
This agriculture talent pool, in addition to multiple land-grant and research universities within driving distance, provides access to a stable labor force for the future. The Kansas City Region will allow ERS and NIFA to increase efficiencies and effectiveness and bring important resources and manpower closer to all of our customers.”
USDA conducted a Cost Benefit Analysis and conservative estimates show a savings of nearly $300 million nominally over a 15-year lease term on employment costs and rent or about $20 million per year, which will allow more funding for research of critical needs like rural prosperity and agricultural competitiveness, and for programs and employees to be retained in the long run, even in the face of tightening budgets. On top of that, state and local governments offered generous relocation incentives packages totaling more than $26 million. Finally, this relocation will give USDA the opportunity to attract a diverse staff with training and interest in agriculture. To learn more about USDA’s Cost Benefit Analysis, you may view the USDA Cost Benefit Analysis document (PDF, 143 KB).
“We did not undertake these relocations lightly, and we are doing it to enhance long-term sustainability and success of these agencies. The considerable taxpayer savings will allow us to be more efficient and improve our ability to retain more employees in the long run. We will be placing important USDA resources closer to many stakeholders, most of whom live and work far from Washington, D.C. In addition, we are increasing the probability of attracting highly-qualified staff with training and interests in agriculture, many of whom come from land-grant universities. We look forward to this new chapter as we seek to fulfill our motto at USDA, which is to ‘do right and feed everyone,’” added Secretary Perdue.
Secretary Perdue sent this letter (PDF, 39.1 KB) to all USDA employees this morning and will be holding an all hands meeting with ERS and NIFA employees today to discuss the decision, the process, and next steps.
In addition, USDA announced in August the realignment of ERS under the Office of the Chief Economist. While we believe there is considerable synergies and benefits to a realignment, after hearing feedback from stakeholders and Members of Congress, USDA will not move forward with the realignment plans. The agency of ERS will remain under the Research, Education, and Economics mission area.
Background:
USDA announced in August it would undertake the relocations for three main reasons:
To improve USDA’s ability to attract and retain highly qualified staff with training and interests in agriculture, many of whom come from land-grant universities. USDA has experienced significant turnover in these positions, and it has been difficult to recruit employees to the Washington, D.C. area, particularly given the high cost of living and long commutes.
To place these important USDA resources closer to many of our stakeholders, most of whom live and work far from the Washington, D.C. area.
To benefit the American taxpayers. There will be significant savings on employment costs and rent, which will allow more employees to be retained in the long run, even in the face of tightening budgets.
Quality of Life: Subcategory examples include Diversity Index, Residential Housing Costs, Access to Healthcare, and Home and Community Safety Ranking.
Costs (Capital and Operating): Subcategory examples include Commercial Real Estate Costs, CPI Index, and Wage Costs.
Workforce: Subcategory examples include Labor Force Growth Rate, Unemployment Rate, and the Labor Force Population.
Logistics / IT Infrastructure: Subcategory examples include Lodging Availability, Proximity to Customers, and Airport Accessibility.
The top Expressions of Interest were reviewed in detail, and USDA selected a short list of locationsoffering existing buildings with sufficient space to meet ERS and NIFA requirements.
While 90% of USDA employees are located outside of the D.C. area, ERS and NIFA are the only USDA agencies that don’t have representation outside of the national Capital Region (NCR). Upon the relocation announcement, USDA proposed that sufficient staff levels would remain in the NCR to complete mission critical activities that require physical presence in or near Washington, D.C. at the recommendation of customers and stakeholders. In both the cases of ERS and NIFA, leadership reviewed the critical functions and staffing needs within and outside the NCR. Senior ERS and NIFA staff, with input from partner agencies and stakeholders, recommended to Secretary Perdue the critical functions to be retained within the NCR.
Out of NIFA’s 315 positions, 294 will relocate while 21 will stay in the NCR. Of the 329 ERS positions, 253 will relocate while 76 will stay in the Washington, D.C. area.
As a result of this move, no ERS or NIFA employees will be involuntarily separated. Every employee who wants to continue working will have an opportunity to do so, although that will mean moving to a new location for most. Employees will be offered relocation assistance and will receive the same base pay as before, and the locality pay for the new location.
USDA will be working with the General Services Administration to secure a permanent lease space through a competitive process in the Kansas City Region. USDA will continue to keep ERS and NIFA employees apprised as updates occur.
LEAWOOD, Kan. (AP) — The contents of the suburban Kansas City home of a pro racecar driver imprisoned for running an illegal $2 billion payday loan operation are going up for sale later this month as the government recovers assets to pay back cheated consumers.
The estate sale for Scott Tucker’s house in Leawood, Kanas, runs from June 28 to 30. Internal Revenue Service agents took possession of the $2.1 million 4,500-square-foot house in March. Items for sale include designer furniture and clothing, artwork and gym equipment. The home itself isn’t part of the sale.
Prosecutors say the former American Le Mans Series champion preyed on vulnerable borrowers and used the lending business proceeds to finance a professional auto racing team. He’s serving more than 16 years in prison on fraud and other charges.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Amtrak service between St. Louis and Kansas City will be partially restored this week.
The passenger rail service line and the Missouri Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that morning departures from the two cities on the Missouri River Runner route will resume Thursday. The afternoon departures will continue to use chartered buses, which will stop at all stations as close to the train schedules as possible.
The routes were suspended May 31 because flooding had diverted freight train traffic on to tracks used by the passenger rail service.
Officials say delays are still likely. Flooding issues on the Union Pacific Railroad network are still causing freight train traffic to divert to the Missouri River Runner route.
SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that occurred May 16 and after asking the public for help have located and arrested a suspect.
Just after 8p.m. May 16, police were dispatched to a residence in the 1500 Block of SE 23rd Street in Topeka in reference a disturbance and argument between two people known to one another. One of them had been shot, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.
Upon officers arrival police located an adult male victim suffering from a non-life threating gunshot wound.
Officers interviewed witnesses, the victim and collected evidence from the scene.
Just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday, officers in the area of the shooting recognize the suspect identified as 36-year-old Jessica Spencer and were able to take her into custody without incident. She was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections and is being held on requested charges of Aggravated Battery and Aggravated Assault.
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SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.
Jessica Spencer photo Topeka PD
Just before 8p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to a residence in the 1500 Block of SE 23rd Street in Topeka in reference a disturbance and argument between two people known to one another, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.
While enroute to the call a person that was at the scene called into police dispatch and advised that one of the parties had been shot. Upon officers arrival they located an adult male victim suffering from a non-life threating gunshot wound. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Officers interviewed witnesses, the victim and collected evidence from the scene. Through the investigation it was discovered that this incident was a result from the argument that citizens originally had called in.
Officers are now looking to speak with 36-year-old Jessica Joann Spencer in connection with this incident. If you know her whereabouts or any information on this incident please contact the Topeka Police Criminal Investigation Bureau at (785) 368-9400 or Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007. You can also make anonymous tips online at www.p3tips.com/128
Growth Energy Wednesday filed a motion in a U.S. federal appeals court to intervene in a challenge to the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule allowing year-round E15 sales. The final rule is being challenged by the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers who filed the lawsuit on Monday. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor called the challenge “no surprise,” noting the industry saw similar challenges when E15 was first approved in 2011.
Senator Chuck Grassley this week announced a planned hearing regarding the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Grassley, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, says the committee will hear testimony from U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. The committee will hold the hearing, “The President’s 2019 Trade Policy Agenda and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” next Tuesday morning.
