SEDGWICK COUNTY —Authorities are investigating a weekend burglary at a Kansas sports memorabilia and card store.
Early Sunday, suspects broke the glass in the front door at Oliver’s Sports
2491 South Seneca in Wichita, according to their social media page.
The suspects took hundreds of dollars in merchandise, according to the surveillance images.
Police have reported no arrests in the case.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say two loaded guns have been found at security screening checkpoints at the Wichita airport this week.
The Transportation Security Administration reported that a .38 caliber handgun loaded with five rounds was found on Sunday, and a 9mm handgun loaded with six rounds was found on Thursday.
A TSA news release says Wichita Airport Police took possession of the weapons and interviewed the individuals after they tried to go through security with the guns at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport.
Officials say seven guns have been found by TSA agents at the airport so far in 2018. That compares with four guns found in all of 2017.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Just a day after Kansas Ethanol announced the re-opening of the CHS soy facility in Hutchinson, there is more good news.
Siemens/Gamesa is ramping up production at the Hutchinson facility. The wind turbine plant is calling back 100 full-time employees and some contractors. The number represents about 60 percent of the workforce laid off last fall.
Myca Welch with Siemens expects the workforce to be in place by September of this year.
The company says significant capital improvements have been made to the Hutchinson facility to retool the plant for the assembly of the SG 3.4-132 wind turbine. Hutchinson is the first factory to build a new product under the Siemens/Gamesa banner. The retooling will also allow for the production of the SG 2.7-129, SWT-2.3-108 as well as the SG 3.4-132.
Welch also says the plant brought back power unit assembly — an area that employs about five full-time employees. The power unit conditions and converts energy from the base of the tower.
Siemens laid off 140 employees in Hutchinson last fall and a significant number of others at the blade facility in Fort Madison, Iowa. The layoffs were part of an overall reduction of the newly-merged company’s workforce, which totaled more than 6,000 worldwide.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The proposed State Fair sales tax bill passed the Senate by a 40-0 vote. Senate bill 415 will allow the fair to collect the sales tax it generates. The money will be used for the fair’s capital improvement fund.
Hearings about the bill spurred a multitude of questions. The state perceived a “lack of support” for the fair from the city and CVB. That led to the presentation of a House bill that would have required the fair to submit a request for proposals, which in turn, could have resulted in the fair moving to another city.
It is unknown if the bill will be seriously considered. However, it has resulted in a lot of conversation over the past four days between the city, county, chamber and the fair.
The state sales tax is 6.5 percent. The Kansas Department of Transportation will get 1.5 percent of that, leaving 5 percent sales tax generated on the fairgrounds. The tax could generate as much as $450,000. It also gives the fair incentive to grow. Officials can explore other ways to market the fairgrounds for non-fair events.
The Kansas House will vote on the bill next.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson stormwater utility fee sparked debate this week because of its connection to the State Fair. Legislation presented in Topeka has many Hutchinsonians wondering if the fair will stay in the community.
Hutchinson’s stormwater utility fee is $4.75 per ERU, or equivalent residential unit. The ERU is based on the amount of impervious surface on the property. In Hutchinson, the average ERU is set at 3,120 square feet. For every ERU unit of impervious surface on a property, $4.75 is added to the total utility fee. For example, if a resident has 31,200 square feet of impervious space, the monthly fee would be $47.50.
Most, but not all of the cities in the state have a similar policy. Most cities. like Hutchinson, also have various incentives put in place that can help residents lower their utility rate — some by as much as 40 percent.
Big businesses — such as the former Target store and Lowe’s — that have a large parking surface face fees of more than $450 per month. The Kansas State Fair was hit with a $4,300 per month fee because of the large amount of concrete and asphalt surface.
How does Hutchinson’s utility fee compare to other cities? About where it stands in the property and sales tax department: Above the midpoint. Many cities that have the stormwater utility have higher fees than Hutchinson. The Kansas City suburb of Mission tops the list with a rate of $19 an ERU. Getting closer to the norm, Lenexa and McPherson rates are above $7 a month. Newton, Liberal, Ark City, and Shawnee have rates above $6 per month. Manhattan, Fairway, Junction City and Olathe have stormwater rates above $5 a month. Hutchinson, Topeka, Lawrence, and Ottawa have rates above $4 per month.
Other cities that also carry a stormwater fee include: Pittsburgh, Hays, Derby, El Dorado, Shawnee, Overland Park and Garden City. All are between $2 and $4 per month.
Here is a list of stormwater rates in some other Kansas cities:
Mission $19
Lenexa $7.50
McPherson $7
Liberal $6.25
Newton $6.25
Ark City $6
Shawnee $6
Manhattan $5.34
Fairway $5
Junction City $5
Olathe $5
Hutchinson $4.75
Topeka $4.50
Lawrence $4.12
Ottawa $4
Pittsburgh $3.86
Hays $3.62
Derby $3
El Dorado $3
Shawnee $3
Overland Park $2.50
Prairie Village $0.04 per sq ft
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce issued a response to legislation introduced in Topeka Monday that could pave the way for moving the Kansas State Fair out of Hutchinson.
In response to the proposed legislation that would allow cities to host the Kansas State Fair, the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber, along with Visit Hutch and the City of Hutchinson, stay committed to hosting the annual event that attracts over 350,000 people to the community each year. The City of Hutchinson and Reno County value the 105-plus year history the community has as home of the Kansas State Fair, according to a release from the Chamber Tuesday afternoon.
The city and county have a longstanding spirit of partnership and cooperation with the State of Kansas, the Kansas State Fair and its leadership board. In 2000, the City of Hutchinson and Reno County worked together with the State of Kansas to fund a Master Plan for the Kansas State Fairgrounds. The city and county both committed a combined $3 million over a 10-year period. The City of Hutchinson and Reno County upheld that commitment.
One of the reasons cited for this proposed legislation is the recent increase in Hutchinson’s stormwater utility fee. In 2016, to help Hutchinson start work on a backlog of needed improvements to its drainage infrastructure, the City of Hutchinson implemented a change to how the stormwater utility fee would be assessed to local citizens and business owners. The adjustments to the stormwater utility fees were catching up for years of funding for deferred maintenance of the stormwater system. The fees were also consistent with stormwater management of other Kansas municipalities.
“The City of Hutchinson currently offers a variety of in-kind services to the State Fair in exchange for use of State Fair property for recreational purposes and has been working over the last two years with fair staff to identify ways to offset the stormwater fees,” John Deardoff, Hutchinson City Manager, said.
In addition, a portion of the city’s Transient Guest Tax funds tourism efforts through Visit Hutch, which in return recruits, submits proposals, and financially supports events year-round at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Recent national and statewide events held at the fairgrounds include: the Kansas Junior Livestock Show, American Maine-Anjou Association Junior National Show, and the All-American Junior Sheep Show. Those three events combined had an economic impact that surpassed $2.5 million.
“The Kansas State Fairgrounds is truly a valuable asset for our community,” LeAnn Cox, Vice President of Operations and Tourism for the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber, said. “It allows us to recruit events from all across the country that provides Hutchinson and Reno County with a much-needed economic boost.”
In the last two years, Visit Hutch has provided financial contributions of approximately $8,000 directly to 15 events held on the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
“Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, Visit Hutch, City of Hutchinson and Reno County have long stood behind and support all joint efforts to enhance improvements to the fairground facilities in Hutchinson,” Debra Teufel, Hutchinson Reno County Chamber President & CEO, said. “Hutchinson is a place where Kansans from across the state come to celebrate and learn about agriculture and commerce. We support and will remain steadfast in solidarity with local elected officials and community partners to ensure that the Kansas State Fair remains in Hutchinson for years to come.”
The bill stems from numerous questions regarding the support — or what some say is a lack of support — from the city, county and CVB. Some feel that, since the fair alone generates an economic impact of more than $46 million in just a 60-mile area around Hutchinson, more needs to come from those entities.
The questions stem from hearings on a proposal to allow the fair to collect the sales tax is generates. The bill would offset needed funds the state is supposed to pay the fair for its capital improvements fund, but rarely has in the past several years. That senate bill is making its way to the floor after being passed in committee.
By NADYA FAULX
The ex-girlfriend of one of the men accused of plotting an attack against immigrants in Garden City says the men spent months studying how to make homemade explosives.
Lula Harris was on the witness stand Monday during the first day of testimony in federal court in Wichita. She said she was in a relationship for several years with Curtis Allen, who along with Patrick Stein and Gavin Wright is charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction.
The three men are accused of planning to bomb a mosque and apartment complex that was home to Somali Muslim immigrants and refugees. The defendants were arrested in October 2016 following a months-long FBI investigation.
Their attorneys argue the men – heard on recordings by an FBI informant – were engaged in banter, complaining about immigrants and the state of the country. They say that is constitutionally protected free speech.
Prosecutors say the three men went beyond banter and crossed the line into action as they discussed their plans to bomb the building in Garden City.
In her testimony, Harris – who lived with Allen from June through October 2016 – said he repeatedly watched YouTube videos explaining how to make an explosive and collected recipes for homemade explosives.
Harris recounted a time she stopped by G&G Home Center, the business Wright owned and where Allen worked. She said sitting on the kitchen island was a burner and a beaker full of a white substance she recognized from one of the YouTube videos.
“It rattled me, upset me,” Harris said. “They were cooking explosives.”
She said she didn’t report the incident to police. Two weeks later, Harris reported Allen to the Liberal Police Department for alleged domestic violence. He was arrested, as were the two other men.
Harris told prosecutors the three men, who belonged to a militia group, had been discussing for some time a way to “wake people up” to what they saw as the problem of Muslims immigrating to the U.S.
“[Allen] just didn’t feel they belonged here; that they were violent,” she said. “They were a threat to our country.”
She said another plan involved killing the head of a refugee resettlement organization in Garden City and pinning the murder on a Muslim refugee.
Allen, Stein and Wright seemed so serious about their plan that even fellow members of the militia group distanced themselves from the discussion, a former member testified Monday.
Brody Benson said he met the defendants while a member of the Kansas Security Force. But he told prosecutors he resigned in June 2016, following a meeting in which Stein discussed using “high explosives” like rocket-propelled grenades to attack Somali immigrants.
The meeting, at a shooting range on Benson’s property, took place in the week after a man killed 49 people at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Benson testified that the group was just venting, but he was becoming concerned that the group was moving toward some type of violent act.
“It wasn’t just talk, it was … action,” Benson said.
During cross-examination, the defense asked Benson why he didn’t report his concerns to law enforcement and whether he was providing testimony to avoid facing charges himself. Benson can be heard on recordings made by an FBI informant suggesting targeting imams and Islamic leaders that he blamed for terrorist acts in the U.S.
Benson denied he is facing any charges.
Several other Kansas Security Force members are on the prosecution’s witness list. The trial is expected to last six weeks.
If the three men are found guilty, they could face life in prison.
Nadya Faulx is reporting for the Kansas News Service. Follow her on Twitter @NadyaFaulx.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged assault and have a suspect in custody.
Just after 1:30 p.m. Monday, police an 18-year-old was jogging on the bike path near Mclean and Seneca in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz. She was approached by a man who physically assaulted and attempted to sexually assault her.
During the attack, a City of Wichita employee who was working on the nearby observed the incident and immediately called 911 for help. Officers responded quickly and took a 36-year-old suspect into custody. Citizens who were nearby also stopped to assist the victim during this incident.
The victim sustained minor injuries. Police did not release additional detail.
MCPHERSON, Kan. — A McPherson plant was evacuated today following a bomb threat just after 9 a.m. 
McPherson County Sheriff’s Officers were called to Pfizer. There were some evacuations, however, Tim Hawkinson with Emergency Management didn’t know the extent. Officials are still on scene.
No other details of the threat have been released.
HOISINGTON, Kan. (AP) — A man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter in central Kansas.
Barton County authorities say 25-year-old Chaz Stephens was also charged Friday with child abuse, possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia. He remains jailed on $1 million bond.
The body of Iviona Lewis was found Wednesday morning northwest of Hoisington.
The child was last seen Sunday night at her home in Hosington but was not reported missing until Tuesday afternoon.
Hoisington Police Chief Kenton Doze said the girl’s mother was visiting her brother in Great Bend, and the delay in reporting Iviona’s disappearance was caused by confusion over who was supposed to be caring for her.
Stephens’ next court appearance was scheduled for April 5.
