ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tracking statistics from the moving company United Van Lines indicate that Americans are still heading west, while parts of the Northeast and Midwest are losing people.

When looking at the percentage of people moving, Kansas ranks among the worst in the nation.

“Interestingly enough, these retirees are leaving at such a fast pace that the movement of millennials to urban areas in the Midwest and Northeast is being overshadowed,” Michael Stoll, economist, professor and chair of the Department of Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles said.

The suburban St. Louis-based moving company on Tuesday released its 41st annual National Movers Study, which tracks customers’ state-to-state migration patterns.

Three of the top four destination states are in the West: Oregon, Idaho and Nevada. The outlier is Vermont, a Northeast state that had the highest percentage of inbound migration in 2017. About 68 percent of state-to-state moves in Vermont were inbound last year.

FRANKLIN COUNTY — A Kansas man died in an accident just before 9a.m. Wednesday in Franklin County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Kenworth semi driven by Duayne Scott Powell, 58, Waverly, was northbound on Interstate 35 near the intersection of Shawnee Road and Vermont Road.

The truck drifted off roadway and into a field

Powell was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.  He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a car fire and have released the identity of the body found in the vehicle.

 

Just after 2.a.m. on December 20, Topeka Fire and Police personnel were dispatched to the area of SE 15th and SE Hudson for a report of a vehicle on fire, according to Lt. Colleen Stuart.

While extinguishing the fire, crews noticed a person was inside the vehicle. The individual inside was found deceased.
On Wednesday, arson investigators ruled the vehicle fire incendiary in nature, intentionally set. The Shawnee County Coroners’ office has ruled the death a homicide.

The victim has been positively identified as Arnulfo Garcia, 30, of Lawrence.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Topeka Police Department Detectives at 368-9400.

TREGO COUNTY —On Dec. 9, a 911 call was placed at 3:17 p.m. to the Trego County Law Enforcement Center.

Clayton Donnell Barnhill of Grayson, La., was working on a communications tower approximately a half-mile east of Highway 283 on CC Road in rural Trego County when he fell 320 feet to the ground.

A deputy from the Trego County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene at approximately 3:32 p.m. The death investigator, David Day arrived on scene at approximately 4:20 p.m., and Barnhill was pronounced dead at the scene at that time.

Based on reports by the Trego County Sheriff’s Office, a coworker on the tower with the deceased heard the deceased “click” his safety harness on, then the deceased leaned back and started to fall to the ground. Another co-worker on the ground, reported that the deceased hit three guy wires as he fell to the ground.

Following an investigation by Trego County Coroner Dr. Lyle Noordhoek and the Trego County Sheriff’s Office, it has been determined that the cause of death was accidental.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have released a description of the two suspects.

 

Just after 7:30p.m. Tuesday, police responded to report of an armed robbery at a convenience market in the 100 Block of West 21^st Street North in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

 

A 24-year-old female employee told police an unknown, white male suspect described as 6-foot-tall, medium build wearing black clothing, rubber gloves and a black bandana over his face entered the business, pointed a handgun at her and demanded money.

 

The suspect also pointed the handgun at a 37-year-old man in the store at the time of the robbery.

 

A second suspect described as a 6-foot-tall black male in black clothing and mask stood in the doorway of the business. The suspects took money and fled on foot, according to Davidson.

 

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Wichita Police.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Latest on a Los Angeles suspect in a hoax 911 call that led police in Kansas to fatally shoot a man in Wichita (all times local):

A 25-year-old Los Angeles man suspected of making a hoax emergency call that led to the fatal police shooting of a Kansas man faces a charge of making a false alarm.

The Los Angeles County district attorney filed a fugitive-from-justice warrant Wednesday against Tyler Barriss, saying he was charged with the felony Dec. 29 in Kansas.

Police have said 28-year-old Andrew Finch was shot after a prankster called 911 last week with a fake story about a shooting and kidnapping at Finch’s Wichita home.

Barriss faces an extradition hearing later in the day in Los Angeles and a public defender has been appointed to represent him.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett says Kansas is pursuing extradition of Barriss. That process that can take up to 90 days.

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7:36 a.m.

The head of a Kansas police department that had one of its officers fatally shoot a man while responding to a hoax emergency call says the department has no policy on such “swatting” calls.

The Wichita Eagle reports that Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay vowed Tuesday for a “thorough review” of the death of 28-year-old Andrew Finch.

Police have said Finch was shot Thursday night after a Los Angeles man called 911 with a fake story about a shooting and kidnapping at Finch’s home.

The goal of such calls is to get a SWAT team to respond, although Ramsey said none of the officers at the scene were SWAT team members.

Ramsey says Finch’s hands went up and down around his waistband. Ramsay called Finch’s death a “terrible tragedy.”

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 25-year-old Los Angeles man suspected of making a hoax emergency call that led to the fatal police shooting of a Kansas man is expected to have a hearing as prosecutors seek to have him extradited.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that prosecutors anticipate filing a fugitive from justice warrant against Tyler Barriss on Wednesday. Prosecutors said he is expected to have a hearing Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said in an emailed statement Tuesday that Kansas is pursuing extradition of Barriss, a process that can take up to 90 days. Under Kansas law, defendants are provided notice of charges they face at their first court appearance, and the nature of any charge is not public until then.

Police have said 28-year-old Andrew Finch was shot after a prankster called 911 last week with a fake story about a shooting and kidnapping at Finch’s Wichita home.

 
 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the theft of puppies from two Wichita pet stores and have offered a reward for the safe return of the animals.

Petland located at11333 E Kellogg Drive, reported thieves on Tuesday took a French bulldog and Blue Merle miniature Austrian Shepherd, according to store Manager Shelby Barnhart.

They are willing to offer a $4,000 reward for the person that can provide information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the thieves as well as the safe return of the puppies.

A Golden Retriever were and Husky-Healer mix were also reported taken from the Petland West, 3620 Maize Road, according to Barnhart.

Since authorities were able to recover the Golden Retriever, police may have suspects in mind and believe the same person is responsible, according to Barnhart.

WACO, Texas (AP) — The couple behind HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” will be fixing up a nursery once again.

Chip Gaines announced Tuesday on Instagram that he and his wife, Joanna Gaines, are expecting their fifth child. He shared a photo of the couple with the caption “Gaines party of 7.”

Launched in 2013, “Fixer Upper” follows the couple as they redo houses near their home in Waco, Texas. The show is in its final season.

Chip and Joanna Gaines also operate Magnolia Market, where they’ve turned converted old silos near downtown Waco into a home decor and food marketplace. The couple has also collaborated with Target on a home and lifestyle brand called Hearth & Hand with Magnolia.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY —A Kansas firefighter died from injuries he suffered in a fall on New Year’s Day.

Just before 5a.m. Monday, fire crews responded to a structure fire, according to a media release from the Wamego City Fire Department.

Firefighter John Randall fell while returning a fire apparatus to service, according to the release. Randall was transported to a hospital in Topeka in critical condition.

He died on Tuesday.  Authorities released no additional details on Randall’s injuries.

TOPEKA – Wade Stewart Parkhurst, 35, of Wamego, was the fatality victim located within the residence of an early morning, Dec. 26, fire in Pottawatomie County, according to a media release form the state Fire Marshal’s office.

This information is still pending official identification from the medical examiner’s office.

The Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal’s (OSMF) Investigation Division joined the St. George Fire Department in the investigation of the fire.

The fire occurred in the early morning hours at 3769 Stewart Farm Road, Wamego, KS.

Five investigators from OSFM responded to assist with this investigation where one person was initially unaccounted for, after five people in the residence had been able to evacuate.

The body of Parkhurst was located within the residence. The cause of death was listed as toxic gases due to the fire at the residence.

The origin of the fire was in the basement of the residence. The cause of the fire is still classified as undetermined, but more likely than not, is accidental associated with a failure or malfunction of several electric components within the area of origin.

Foul play is not suspected. It was a total loss to the property at this residence. Investigators estimated over $350,000 in damages.