Kansas.com: News Updates

Catholic Charities names new executive director

Eagle staff — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:46 CDT

WICHITA — Cynthia Colbert has been named the new executive director of Catholic Charities of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, the organization announced today.

Colbert — currently director of Catholic Charities in Austin, Texas — will replace Janet Valente Pape, who is retiring May 1 after 18 years with the organization. Colbert will begin her duties April 1.

Colbert has a master's degree in social welfare planning from the University of California-Berkeley and more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management.

Obama rallies support for final health care votes

JULIE PACE — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:27 CDT

President Barack Obama described the stakes of this weekend's health care vote in stark terms Friday, using words uttered so rarely out of the White House that they seem all but banned: "If this vote fails."

What then? "The insurance industry will continue to run amok," the president declared, pointing to rising rates, denials of coverage and limits on care.

With Sunday's expected vote hanging on the support of just a handful of wavering Democrats, Obama delivered an energetic, 25-minute closing argument for the goal to which he has devoted much of his presidency and on which its future could pivot, at least for a time. Before an amped-up, campaign-style rally of several thousand at George Mason University in suburban Virginia, the president summoned both pragmatism and principle to sway the undecideds to his side.

Ohio Democrat switches to 'yes' on health care

ANDREW MIGA — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:26 CDT

Democratic Rep. John Boccieri of Ohio is switching his vote to "yes" on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

The freshman lawmaker announced his decision at a Capitol Hill news conference on Friday. Boccieri opposed the House version of the bill last November.

Boccieri said he was standing up and doing what he believes in.

Kansas boys found unhurt after boat swamps on river

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:42 CDT

Two teenage boys who were reported missing Thursday night were found hours later on the bank of the Wakarusa River.

A Eudora man had dropped off his son and nephew around 9 a.m. Thursday and was keeping in touch with them on a cell phone as they floated in a canoe.

But around 7 p.m., he lost touch with them, got nervous and contacted officials. Fire and medical crews were dispatched to look for the boys, who were found around midnight on a riverbank where searchers were looking for a place to launch a boat.

Man shot outside Wichita nightclub

Austin enns — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:56 CDT

WICHITA — A man was taken to a local hospital after being shot in the thigh Thursday night outside a Wichita nightclub, police said today.

Police said the shooting took place about 11 p.m. in the parking lot at Club Rodeo, 10001 E. Kellogg Drive. The man, 20, was taken to the hospital in serious condition after being shot once in the left thigh. The victim was then admitted to Wesley Medical Center for observation.

The gunman is thought to be one of a group of four males who were in the parking lot with the victim.

Robbery attempt leaves man seriously injured

TIM POTTER — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:11 CDT

WICHITA — A 43-year-old woman told police a man approached her outside her home in the 1200 block of North Emporia early today, bleeding from a severe cut on his upper arm.

Police determined that the man also had suffered cuts to his shoulder and thigh and that he apparently had been injured when someone tried to rob him, police spokesman Gordon Bassham said.

After approaching the woman, the man collapsed while trying to walk to nearby Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis. Paramedics took him to the hospital, where he was taken into surgery for serious but not life-threatening injuries, Bassham said.

Wichita teenager hurt in golf cart accident dies

LORI YOUNT — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:31 CDT

Regan Wheeler, the 14-year-old girl hospitalized after driving a golf cart into a barbed wire fence on Wednesday, died this morning, according to hospital and police officials.

Regan attended Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School, according to the Wichita school district. She was the daughter of Heights High School athletic coordinator Rick Wheeler.

"It's just one of those sad, tragic accidents," Butler County Sheriff Craig Murphy said.

Man found shot to death on Junction City sidewalk

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:15 CDT

A 22-year-old man has been shot to death on a Junction City sidewalk.

Police say officers found the victim's body around 2 a.m. Friday while responding to a report of gunfire. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he later was pronounced dead.

The name of the victim was not immediately released, pending notification of relatives.

Expect snow, bad driving conditions

TIM POTTER — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:17 CDT

WICHITA — Cold and snowy — that remains the forecast for the weekend.

The snow accumulation around the Wichita area could be 4 to 7 inches, National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Jakub said today.

When you combine the snowfall with the expected wind, visibility could be hampered, and driving conditions could be hazardous, Jakub said.

Ethics hearing reset for ex-Kansas deputy AG

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:21 CDT

A Kansas panel has rescheduled a hearing for a former deputy attorney general facing an ethics complaint over investigations of abortion providers.

The hearing for Eric Rucker by the state Board for Discipline of Attorneys had been scheduled to start April 27. It's been postponed to May 11 because Rucker's lawyer had a scheduling conflict.

The complaint accuses Rucker of making false statements to other officials, including the Kansas Supreme Court, to further investigations of abortion providers. He denies the allegations.

Defense Department holding exercise in Kansas

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:20 CDT

Officials at Fort Leavenworth are preparing to host to a joint planning exercise involving the CIA, the International Red Cross and other agencies.

Next week's five-day exercise will also involve 128 students from the Army's Command and General Staff College at the northeast Kansas post.

Participants will be simulate the stresses of working together in an interagency and multinational operation. Such operations involving military and nongovernmental organizations are common in places like Haiti, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Kansas State cruises to 82-62 first-round NCAA win over North Texas

KELLIS ROBINETT — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:34 CDT

OKLAHOMA CITY — For Kansas State, the hardest part of Thursday's 82-62 victory over North Texas at the Ford Center was waiting for it to start.

With BYU and Florida battling through two overtimes for the right to play in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, the Wildcats remained in their locker room 45 minutes longer than expected. To pass the time, they nervously watched other games.

They saw Old Dominion upset Notre Dame. They watched the opening moments of Murray State's surprising win over Vanderbilt, and they looked on in horror as No. 15-seed Robert Morris took No. 2-seed Villanova to overtime.

Kan. House panel's budget rejects tax increases

JEANNINE KORANDA — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:06 CDT

TOPEKA —The House Appropriations Committee passed a $5.1 billion budget proposal Thursday that includes no tax increases and would decrease money for public schools by about $172 million.

The amount of money that the state spends on kindergarten through 12th-grade education would stay the same next year as this year. However, the schools will get less money because they won't receive $172 million in federal stimulus money.

Gov. Mark Parkinson had asked the Legislature to increase funding to make up for the loss of federal funds, and spend another $33 million to increase per-pupil funding. However, the House committee recommended that the state not kick in any more money.

Former Wichita East star Bryce Brown leaves Tennessee football team

Eagle staff and wire reports — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:29 CDT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former Wichita East all-state Running back Bryce Brown left the Tennessee program on the first day of the Volunteers' spring practice, coach Derek Dooley said.

Dooley said Brown told him Thursday that he was dealing with family and personal problems that included "some of the reasons why he came here." Brown was not present for practice.

"I was a little surprised, but you can only control what you can control," Dooley said. "He went through the entire offseason, but I also think that this wasn't something from the last three weeks. But I'm not here to recruit. I'm here to coach." Brown averaged 38.3 yards in 12 games as a freshman in 2009.

Kellogg crackdown nets 34 speeding tickets Thursday

HURST LAVIANA — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:33 CDT

Wichita police wrote 34 speeding tickets this morning during a two-hour crackdown on drivers in the 300 block of East Kellogg. The fastest driver was going 30 mph over the posted limit of 50.

During the operation, which began at 8 a.m., officers also issued 60 citations for illegal turns at Broadway and Kellogg Drive. Most drivers were cited for failing to turn into the proper lane.

Officers on Wednesday issued 47 citations during an effort to catch speeders along other parts of East Kellogg.

Senate gives initial approval to Flint Hills burning resolution

Jeannine Koranda — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:16 CDT

TOPEKA – The full Senate gave initial approval Thursday to a resolution asking the federal government to exempt prairie burns in the Flint Hills from counting against air quality measurements.

The burns, which are conducted each spring, process helps keep trees and other woody plants from encroaching on the grasslands and helps provide richer fodder for cattle.

Cities, including Wichita and Kansas City, Kan., worry that smoke from the burns would bump them out of compliance with stricter ozone rules that the U.S. Environmental Protection agency is considering,

Planning for Salina aviation museum moves ahead

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:40 CDT

Lots of details are still unknown, but plans for a proposed Wings Over Salina Air Museum are moving forward.

The museum would celebrate the central Kansas community's role in aviation history.

This week, the Salina Airport Authority and Greater Salina Community Foundation established two funds - one to raise money for the building and monuments, the other to support the museum's operations.

Services set for family members killed in turnpike accident

LEAH OSOBA — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:23 CDT

WICHITA — Funeral services for three members of a Wichita family who died in an auto accident Monday will be Friday at First United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway.

Services will begin at 10 a.m. for Kyoung-Yeon Chae, 39; Yuna Choi, 17; and Seo-Won Choi, 9. A private internment will be held at a later date.

Another member of the family injured in the crash, Hana Choi, 17, was upgraded to serious condition today at Wesley Medical Center.

Police: 7 gang members arrested in spate of violence

TIM POTTER — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:46 CDT

WICHITA — Authorities have arrested or charged seven members of two Asian gangs they say were involved in violence outside an Old Town nightclub or a shooting death outside a North Broadway restaurant, a police official said today.

Police think some of those arrested also were possibly connected to two shooting deaths at a funeral wake outside a south Wichita home on Jan. 24, 2009. The shooting, in the 2900 block of East Dunham, killed Keo Intavong, 66, and Jeff Chitanavong, 22, said police Lt. Ken Landwehr.

Some of those arrested also could be connected to the fatal shooting of Danny Dang in 2006 at the Mid-America All-Indian Center, said Landwehr, head of the homicide unit.

Zoo to host movie night

AUSTIN ENNS — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:21 CDT

The Sedgwick County Zoo will show a movie Friday as a part of its Creature Feature series.

"A Bug's Life" will play at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Sedgwick County Zoo in the Cargill Learning Center auditorium.

After the movie, those who choose to stay will be able to learn about insects from zoo staff.