Authorities in Newton County, Missouri, are investigating reports of a gun found in a student backpack.

 School officials in Granby say an unloaded pistol was found in a backpack at Granby Elementary and Junior High School Thursday. The weapon was found after a student reported having seen it in another student's bag.

The Student Resource Officer and the Newton County Juvenile Office are assisting in the investigation.

 Kansas Senator Jerry Moran questions the U.S. Attorney General on the southern border and national security.

 This week Moran pressed U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on violent crime and the national security threats facing the United States during a committee hearing. The hearing was to review the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the Department of Justice. Moran says the Biden Administration has caused a diffcult problem.

Moran is the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. He says these threats affect all Americans and they have hit close to home here in Kansas.

Moran added that  the cyber capabilities of U.S. enemies continue to improve which puts American systems at greater risk.

 As the weather warms, people everywhere start looking for fun things to do.

 In Coffeyville, one of those things is to pay a visit to the Aviation Heritage Museum. The museum is currently hosting a traveling display from Johnson Space Center in Houston. Coffeyville Area Chamber President Candi Westbrook says, if you haven't seen the display yet, it's definitely worth a look.

The exhibit will be on display in Coffeyville until June 14^th at the Coffeyville Aviation Heritage Museum at 2002 North Buckeye. Admission is free.

 The Fortitude Masonic Lodge # 107 in Independence is hosting a Health and Cancer Screening tomorrow.

 From 9 to noon, there will be screenings available for common types of cancer. There will also be materials available to help those who wish to quit tobacco. The public is invited to attended. No registration is required.

The event happens at the Masonic Building at 2000 West Laurel in Independence.

 A Crawford County high school student is honored at the KDOT Traffic Safety Conference in Topeka.

 Kendyl Renn a sophomore at Southeast High School in Cherokee received the 2024 Hero Award this week. More than 300 attendees looked on as Renn was recognized for her actions in rendering aid to students involved in a school bus injury accident on January 25^th.

Renn's parents and Southeast High School Principal Larry Malle were on hand to see her receive the award.

Photo courtesy Crawford County Sheriff's Office

 Police in Miami, OK, help out a familiar face who was having car trouble.

 The City of Miami posted a photo on their Facebook page of a Miami police officer with actor John Schneider. Schneider is well-known for his portrayal of Bo Duke on the television show the Dukes of Hazzard.

Schneider was traveling through Miami when he encountered some engine problems with his RV. Schneider posted on his own Facebook page “Thank you to the great law enforcement in Miami and their very own 'Cooter!' Greatly appreciate your hospitality all!”

Cooter was also a character on the show who was an auto mechanic.

 A federal judge sentences a southwest Missouri woman for her role in a 2020 kidnapping conspiracy of a Carthage man.

 40 year old Amy Kay Thomas of Webb City was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole for the July 2020 kidnapping of Michael Hall. Court documents show that Thomas entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Thomas is the fourth of six defendants to be sentenced in the case.

 A Cedarvale man is in a Tulsa hospital following a one-vehicle wreck on Thursday in Osage County, OK.

 The accident happened around 7:45am on Thursday. 21-year-old Tyler Vogele was driving a 2010 Dodge Ram on Oklahoma Highway 18, just north of Shidler when his pickup left the roadway to the right for an unknown reason. Vogele overcorrected to the left, causing the truck to go into a slide and roll.

The truck struck a fence and came to rest on its wheels.

Vogele was transported via ambulance to a Ponca City hospital, where he was later transported via medical helicopter to a Tulsa hospital. He was admitted in good condition with internal injuries.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office, Shidler Fire and EMS assisted at the scene.

 A Bartlesville woman faces charges of felony charge of child abuse.

 41 year old Leah Young is accused of hitting a minor child across the chest and shoulders with a belt.

According to an affidavit, police reviewed the forensic interviews with the juveniles and found that the victim told interviewers that he went into his room and shut his door because he was upset. Young then allegedly came through the door and started swinging a belt at him and struck him multiple times.

Police found bruising on the victim consistent with those made by a belt.

Young was ordered to have no contact with the victim and was given a $50,000 bond. Her next court date is set for May 3rd.

 The Independence Community College Board of Trustees selects an interim president.

 ICC has hired Dr. Jonathan Sadhoo as Interim President. Sadhoo will take the helm of the college while the board searched for a full-time, permanent president.

Sadhoo has served as ICC’s Vice-President of Administration & Finance and Chief Financial Officer since 2019. Dr. Sadhoo earned an International Baccalaureate Diploma from the École Internationale de Nice, in Nice, France, a Bachelor of Science in Business and Leadership, with a focus in Finance & Accounting, in Boston, and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration both from Northeastern University in Boston. Sadhoo also earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Policy and Leadership from the University of New England.

Sadhoo will take over as Interim President on May 15th. He will also continue with his current duties during his interim presidency. He takes over for outgoing President Dr, Vincent Bowhay, who announced his resignation in February.

Board of Trustees President Cynthia Sherwood welcomed Sadhoo to his new role, stating that the Board was pleased to have him assume his new duties.

 Congressman Jake LaTurner says he will not seek reelection this fall. 

 LaTurner, who serves southeast Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives issued a statement today making the surprise announcement.

 LaTurner cited family reasons for the decision.  LaTurner and his wife have four young children and says the rigors of campaigning along with his responsibilities in Congress have left him with too little time with his family.

 In his statement LaTurner says he looks forward to serving the remainder of his term and looks to the future with confidence.

 A Sedan business marks its 110^th year in business.

 And, not only has it been around for more than a century, Floyd's Market has been owned by the same family for four generations. Owner Austen Floyd says his family first came to the area around the same time that Kansas became a state.

Floyd says he moved away from the Sedan area in his younger days, but his ties to southeast Kansas brought him back for good. He says the sense of community is what he likes best about living and working in Sedan.

Floyd's Market will celebrate their 110^th birthday on Saturday with fun and prizes for their customers. Floyd's Market is located at 108 south Douglas in Sedan.

 The latest regular session meeting of the Caney City Council included a report from Jarred, Gilmore, and Phillips concerning the 2023 city audit.

 The city was given an unmodified opinion for 2023. City Administrator Kelley Zellner says he is happy with what was presented.

 Zellner says funds are more easily tracked now than in previous years of the city's budgets. He says the goal is to show all residents where the funds are coming from and going, with the least amount of movement possible.

 In other business, the council awarded the mowing contract of Sunnyside Cemetery to MTB Lawn and Garden for just over $26,500.

 Those in search of delicious baked goods should travel to Sedan on May 3^rd.

 The Sedan Senior Citizen Center will be hold a bake sale on May 3^rd from 9am to 4pm. There will be cookies, cakes, pies, coffee, and more. The purpose of the sale is to replenish the groups' funds after redoing the Center's roof. The Sedan Senior Citizen Center is located at 124 East Main in Sedan.

 City crews in Chetopa are out and about today working on equipment in the city park.

 Workers are making improvements to some of the playground equipment at Elmore Park and advise that there will be wet paint on some structures.

 The City of Sedan gives the go-ahead for asphalt.

 At this week's Sedan City Council meeting, public works requested more asphalt for street repairs.

The Sedan City Council approved the measure. The city also hired a new pool manager and is currently looking for applicants 15 years of age or older with red cross certification to be lifeguards for the summer.

 A Kansas woman is under investigation for making threats against two U.S. Presidents.

 40 year old Lori Davis of Park City is charged with one count of threats against a former president and one count of threats against the President of the United States.

The allegations stem from a call Davis is said to have made to the Clinton Foundation in September 2021 and several social media posts made about President Biden in 2024.

The U.S. Secret Service is investigating.

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated Davis' age as 49

 A head-on collision in Tipton Ford, Missouri, leaves one person dead and two others with serious injuries.

 The accident happened around 6pm yesterday when a 2000 Lincoln Town Car driven by 22 year old Joshua Niswonger of Neosho struck a 2018 Nissan Kicks driven by 50 year old Airine Gallen, also of Neosho.

Niswonger and his passenger 23 year old Lakin House both sustained serious injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Gallen was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of the crash in under investigation by the Major Crash Investigation Unit of the Missouri Highway patrol.

 Authorities in Bartlesville say the 3 year old toddler who was found submerged in a pond on Tuesday has died.

 The child was reported missing from a backyard in Bartlesville on Tuesday. When police conducted a search of nearby areas, they found the toddler submerged in a pond at a Bartlesville country club. The child was unresponsive, and was taken to a nearby hospital.

The incident is under investigation by the Bartlesville Police Criminal Investigation Division and Oklahoma Human Services Child Welfare Department.

 Reports of a stolen vehicle leads to a car chase in northern Oklahoma.

 A 16-year old juvenile led Osage County Sheriff’s vehicles on a pursuit throughout the county and in conjunction with the Ponca City Police Department, the chase ended with the juvenile crashing near the intersection of 14th street and Highland Ave. in Ponca City.  

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office was alerted of a stolen vehicle in Osage County late last week. When the deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the juvenile fled. After the crash, a brief foot pursuit ended with the suspect being taken into custody. He is now facing multiple charges.  

During the chase, a Ponca City Police Officer sustained minor injuries, but he received immediate medical attention and is expected to make a full recovery. The investigation is still ongoing.

Anyone traveling U.S. 400 between Beaumont and Severy will have to deal with a slight delay starting Monday.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, a resurfacing project on 400 is set to begin Monday at the Butler-Greenwood county line and continues east to the K-99 junction. Project activity includes surface recycling with an overlay. Flaggers and a pilot car will direct one-lane traffic through the work zone. Drivers can expect delays of 15 minutes or less during weekday daylight hours until July. KDOT awarded the construction contract of $4.7 million to Pearson Construction LLC, Wichita.

A benefit is being held this weekend for Deputy Justin Ward, who was injured in a car accident while on duty. The event is Saturday at Indy Fitness. Captain Chad Dunham says they have a full day planned.

There will also be a bounce house and carnival games for the kids at 4:00pm. Dunham says for anyone who can't make it there are two ways to donate including a GoFundMe.

Dunham says all the money raised will go to Deputy Ward and his family. The deputy has been recovering in the hospital since the April 7^th accident. A link to the GoFundMe can be found here.

It's wildfire season in Kansas and with fire being a useful tool for landowners it's important not to let a prescribed burn get out of control.

Kansas Forest Service Public Information Officer Shawna Hartman says escaped intentional burning is a major cause of wildfires.  Kansas has recently developed a Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal. A link to the portal can be found here.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation arrests a Kansas police lieutenant for child sex crimes.

At 7:15am this morning, 55-year-old David Justice, of Baxter Springs, was arrested near his residence. Justice was arrested for aggravated indecent liberties with a child, indecent solicitation of a child and promoting obscenity to a minor. The Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with the arrest. The Columbus Police Department and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office asked the KBI to investigate the allegations in February 2023.

Justice served as a Lieutenant with the Columbus Police Department but has been on unpaid administrative leave since February when the allegations were reported. KBI agents executed several search warrants to obtain evidence in the case. Following the arrest, Justice was booked into the Cherokee County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

 The Parsons City Commission approves the purchase of new fire equipment.

 At this week's meeting, the commission approved spending just over $27-thousand to replace fire hose and bag lift sets. The bag sets are used to lift heavy loads in industrial and commercial vehicle accidents. Fire Chief Brad Boss says the old set was more than 20 years old and had become a liability for the city.

In other business, the commission approved street closures for Labette Community College Commencement ceremonies and for Katy Days.