TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has seen a 42 percent increase over the past five years in the number of children removed from homes in which a parent is using drugs.

The state Department for Children and Families reported Tuesday that the number of cases in which a child was removed and substance abuse was a contributing factor grew to more than 1,850 during the fiscal year ending in June. Five years ago, it was about 1,300.

The department reported the data amid questions from a legislative task force about why the number of children in foster care has grown steadily in recent years.

Some lawmakers see a potential tie between the increase and tougher rules for state cash assistance. Department officials said the agency’s internal data does not suggest much of a link.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a traffic stop.

Just before 8:30 November 10, a deputy pulled over a 1988 Ford F-150 in the 1900 block of South Ohio in Salina for not having a license plate, according to Saline County Sheriff’s Capt. Jim Hughes.

There were three people in the vehicle and all gave fake names, including the driver who did not have identification.

Through an investigation, the deputy determined that the driver of the vehicle was 40-year-old Kenneth Hazlett, of Plainville. Hazlett had an active Salina Municipal Court warrant.

One of the passengers was identified as 32-year-old Eligus Ricketts, who also had warrants in Saline Co. and Barton County. The deputy also found a bag that tested positive for methamphetamine and a syringe on Ricketts.

Deputies arrested Ricketts and Hazlett and they remain in the Saline County Jail.

OLATHE – A Kansas woman has been ordered  to repay more than $6,000 to the Kansas Medicaid program after being found guilty of Medicaid fraud,  according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Constance L. Ferreira, 61, pleaded guilty in August to one felony count of making a false claim to the Medicaid program. Johnson County District Court Judge Timothy P. McCarthy last week ordered Ferreira to repay $6,460.14 to the Kansas Medicaid Program.

Judge McCarthy also sentenced her to 12 months of probation with an underlying sentence of nine months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. Convictions such as this one may also result in a period during which the defendant is prohibited from being paid wages through a government health care program.

Ferreira was a personal care attendant to a disabled Medicaid eligible beneficiary. An investigation revealed that Ferreira billed Medicaid for services she claimed she provided to him in the home while he was in the hospital or in rehabilitation 89 times for a total of 760 hours. The crimes occurred between January 2012 and January 2016.

MANHATTAN — Classes were cancelled at Kansas State University Tuesday afternoon. A large crowd of students, faculty and staff wore purple and joined together for a unity walk and rally to reject discrimination on the university campus.

Watch replay of the event here.

Student body president Jack Ayres and Darrell Reese, president of the Black Student Union, hosted the event. University President Richard Myers discussed steps to help the community move forward and unite.

The event comes after a noose and racist flyers were found on the campus in recent months. Last month, a 21-year-old black man defaced his own car with racist graffiti in what he described as a Halloween prank that got out of hand.

By BRIAN GRIMMETT

The Department of Homeland Security is now taking public comment on a plan to release biological and chemical materialsat the former Chilocco Indian School near Arkansas City.

The release of the inert chemical and biological material at the abandoned school is meant to test how a potential chemical attack on the U.S. will impact people inside of houses differently than those outside.

DHS officials say they chose the school because the buildings on its campus are representative of typical homes and apartments found across the country. They are also far enough away from public buildings that officials believe the agents will dissipate before reaching them.

Congressman Ron Estes, who represents the area, says he was concerned when he first learned about the test’s proximity to Arkansas City.

“You know, it is important for all of our federal agencies to test their abilities in response to different threats, but I want to make sure that they were 100 percent certain this test is safe,” he says.

In the environmental assessment for the proposed test, DHS officials say the chemical and biological agents they will be using will pose no major risk to air quality, vegetation or wildlife. The first test is scheduled for January or February of 2018.

DHS will be accepting public comment on the proposed test until Dec. 8.

Follow Brian Grimmett on Twitter @briangrimmett

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the murder of a Kansas woman and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 10:30p.m. Monday police were dispatched to residence in 2200 Block of North Park Ridge in Wichita in reference to property found by Andover Police, according Wichita Lt. Todd Ojile. Officers did not make contact with anyone at the residence and returned to service.

Just after 2a.m. Tuesday, the Olathe Police Department contacted authorities in Wichita in reference to a suspicious character call. Olathe Police had located a vehicle and property belonging to the same individual in Andover.

Police returned to the residence and were unable to contact anyone. After further investigation, field service personnel forced their way into the residence and found a 42-year-old woman dead from blunt force trauma, according to Ojile.

Police in Olathe arrested a 37-year-old suspect on charges in Johnson County. Wichita Police are going to Johnson County to interview the suspect who reportedly had been dating the woman for several months.

Police did not release the victim’s name and won’t release the suspect’s name until he is returned to Sedgwick County.

GRANT COUNTY — A Kansas man suspected in last week’s investigation of an alleged active-shooter at the hospital in Garden City made a court appearance Monday.

Scott Bain, 51, Ulysses, is charged with Aggravated Criminal Threat and was released from the Grant County Jail with an ankle monitor to return home, according to Undersheriff James Biddle.

Just after 7:20 p.m. November 8,  police received two reports at approximately the same time reporting a possible active shooter at St. Catherine Hospital, 401 E Spruce Street in Garden City.

Officers arrived on scene and conducted a protective sweep of the facility. No shooter or victims were located.

An investigation revealed that Centura Health/Catholic Health Initiatives had received email threats referencing a civil litigation case they were involved in.

Further investigation led police to identify a suspect, Scott Bain, 51, Ulysses, who allegedly was sending the emails.  Deputies from the Grant County Sheriff’s office found and arrested him. He was in custody until Monday afternoon.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Lawyers for the family of a black Topeka man fatally shot by police say the city is trying to prevent his parents from viewing officers’ body camera footage.

Attorney Gillian Cassell-Stiga said Monday that the city initially agreed to allow Dominque White’s parents to see the body camera footage. But she said the city later said Kansas law allows it be viewed only by White’s four children, who range in age from 3 to 13.

Cassell-Stiga called that position “entirely ridiculous.”

City spokeswoman Molly Hadfield said Kansas law allows parents to view footage when a minor is the subject. Also heirs or estate administrators can view footage involving someone who has died. She said talks with the family are ongoing.

The 30-year-old White was shot Sept. 28 by two still-unidentified officers.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Wyandotte County District Attorney has filed charges against three men who were wounded in a shootout with FBI and Kansas City, Kansas, police officers last week.

Aggravated assault charges were filed Monday against 32-year-old Jason Trevillion; 27-year-old Ernest Jones; and 25-year-old Arthur Mitchell.

The Kansas City Star reports police said the gunfight started when several officers in the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force tried to stop a car in Kansas City, Kansas, on Nov. 6.

The three people in the car suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No officers were injured.

Further information on what prompted the officers to stop the car and how many officers were involved have not been released.

A police spokesman said Kansas City, Kansas, officers who were placed on leave are back on duty.