DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling more than a half-million compact cars in the U.S. because the brake lights may not go out when the pedal is released.

The recall covers more than 390,000 Hyundai Elantra vehicles from the 2013 and 2014. Also included are over 134,000 Kia Forte cars from 2012 through 2014.

The companies say in documents filed with the government that a polymer stopper pad between the pedal arm and the light switch can deteriorate, allowing the switch to stay on. That can keep the brake lights illuminated and also let a driver shift out of park without putting a foot on the brake.

Neither company reported any crashes or injuries.

Dealers will replace the brake stopper pad. Kia’s recall starts Jan. 30, while Hyundai’s begins Feb. 8.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A man has been charged with dragging an 86-year-old man to death in Kansas City, Kansas, as he tried to stop his pickup truck from being stolen.

Thirty-one-year-old Dominic McGee was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and theft in the Nov. 29 death of Frank Davila. Bond is set at $500,000. McGee is jailed in Jackson County, Missouri.

Police say Davila was dragged when he confronted someone trying to steal his truck. He died at a hospital.

The carjacker fled in the truck, which was later found unoccupied across the state line in Kansas City, Missouri.

A prosecutor’s office spokesman didn’t immediately return an email asking whether McGee had an attorney.

By MADELINE FOX

The new secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families has come in promising a thorough review of the agency, staffing changes and more accountability following allegations and outrage about problems in the state’s foster care system.

Gina Meier-Hummel, who started the job Dec. 1, has been reluctant to criticize her predecessor but has said she wants to change the tone of the agency. She has promised more transparency and accountability in confronting issues like children sleeping in social worker’s offices, running away from their foster homes and dying while in the state’s care.

Great to be speaking before the Child Welfare Task Force today. We are dedicated to promoting transparency and openness as we continue collaboration and work together to improve our system for children and families. #ksleg pic.twitter.com/DulQAsXPHo

— DCF Kansas (@DCFKansas) December 12, 2017

Meier-Hummel has an extensive background in child welfare and has been active on a task force the Legislature established earlier this year to look into issues with the Kansas child welfare system.

In October task force members showed concern when they learned that then-DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore appeared to be unaware that three girls had been missing from their foster placement in Tonganoxie for more than a month. Meier-Hummel addressed this issue when her nomination was announced, saying she wanted a list every morning of which kids were missing and information about their cases.

Here are excerpts from an interview with Meier-Hummel after her first week at DCF.

On learning in October that there were more than 70 kids missing from their foster care placements:

It was really concerning to me, and it has certainly been a top priority since I’ve gotten the office. I have gotten the daily report we talked about. We are looking — actively looking — working with law enforcement for some of these kids, and working with our contractors to find all of them and make sure their needs are being met.

I think I was surprised (by the number). Having worked in the field, I know that kids leave placements. You certainly hope that kids don’t leave placements, you certainly want them to feel comfortable. I mean, you recognize that these are kids that have had very traumatic histories, some of them, but we need to then be trying to be responsive to those needs. So what is it that they need that’s causing them to want to do those things? And how can we better meet their needs?

On kids sleeping in social workers’ offices when foster care contractors can’t find placements that meet their needs:

We’ve already started having those conversations, as well, with the contractors, and we’re getting daily reports now. If there are kids, they need to tell us right away how many? Why? What are they doing to try to address this? We’ve asked them for corrective action plans around, “What are you doing to make sure this isn’t happening again?” We have a responsibility to come alongside our contractors and help create options for kids if that’s what’s needed.

If it’s that we don’t have beds or we don’t have capacity to meet the needs of the kids we currently serve, then we have to help them create that capacity.

On what these two issues indicate about the agency as a whole:

We have a lot of kids in custody. We have a record number of children in out-of-home care. And I think one of the things that we have to do differently is we have to work to strengthen families so kids can remain safely with their own families, and I think that’s a great opportunity for us to do more prevention work. We need to look at our assessment in making sure that we’re removing the right kids and then again look at our timeliness to serving kids and families. So are we acting with a sense of urgency? Are there barriers? So there’s a wide range of things we can do to make the system more responsive to the needs of Kansas families.

On whether she agrees with DCF’s “self-reliance” philosophy for food stamps and cash assistance:

I think certainly most folks don’t want to be dependent on state government, and most folks want to be independent and living on their own accord, so I absolutely think that’s the right approach.

 

Madeline Fox is a reporter for the Kansas News Service,  You can reach her on Twitter @maddycfox.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Fire officials say a third body has been found after a house fire at a Kansas City, Kansas, home.

The blaze was reported early Tuesday. Firefighters searching the single-story home found two bodies at that time. A third body was found later in the day as firefighters sifted through the house.

Kansas City, Kansas, police spokesman Tom Tomasic said evidence found at the home was leading investigators to believe the deaths were suspicious but they had not been ruled homicides.

KCTV5 reports Tomasic says the fire department will look for accelerants and an autopsy will be performed to determine how the people died.

No other details were immediately released.

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Firefighters have found two bodies while battling a blaze in a Kansas City, Kansas, home.

The Kansas City Star reports that the blaze was reported early Tuesday. The names of the victims weren’t immediately released. Fire Chief John Paul Jones said in a tweet that an “extensive fire investigation” is taking place. Fire investigators were sifting through the debris, and dogs were brought in to sift for evidence.

No other details were immediately released.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A company helping to manage the Kansas Medicaid program has fired an employee facing allegations of sexual misconduct from a previous job as a state social services administrator.

Amerigroup Kansas spokeswoman Olga Gallardo said Tuesday in an email that Brandt Haehn no longer works for the company. Amerigroup is among three companies managing Medicaid health coverage for the needy.

Gallardo didn’t provide further details. Haehn couldn’t be reached for comment.

Haehn formerly was the administrator overseeing in-home and community services in the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.

He left in June after being disciplined over his alleged conduct toward a woman who formerly worked for a provider of services to the disabled.

The woman, Jennifer Gill, told The Topeka Capital-Journal that Haehn solicited sex from her.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged shoplifting.

Just after 11:30a.m. Monday, employees at Orscheln Farm and Home, 360 North Ohio in Salina reported they say a man identified as Mason Reeves, 37, Salina, shoplift several items, according to police captain Mike Sweeney.

Reeves left the store with two coats and hooded sweatshirt. Employees followed Reeves as he got into a maroon Nissan passenger vehicle and driven by an unidentified suspect. The employees continued to follow for several blocks but lost sight of the vehicle.

An officer caught up to Reeves near the intersection of Santa Fe and Antrim; he was on foot and the suspect vehicle was gone. Officers pursued Reeves on foot through several neighborhoods.

A 28-year-old Salina woman told police that she found Reeves attempting to steal her 1997 Honda Accord. Capt. Sweeney said she confronted him as he attempted to start the car with a screwdriver. Reeves then asked the woman to help him hide from police.

She declined and Reeves was arrested shortly after in the 1200 block of North Fourth Street. He was booked into the Saline County Jail for theft, attempted theft, obstruction and criminal trespassing. Reeves also had a district court warrant, according to Sweeney.

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an arrest following a 4-hour standoff.

Just after 9a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a home in the 600 Block of Stowe Court in Lawrence after reports were received about a man in the street firing rounds into the air from a handgun, according to a media release.

Responding officers were able to determine the suspect had returned to a residence. After several hours of intermittent contact with the suspect, he exited his residence and was apprehended by officers on scene.

Officers completed a search of the residence and located the firearm believed to have been used during the incident. No injuries were reported.

The suspect was transported to an area hospital for an evaluation. Police did not release the name of the suspect or possible charges in the case.