Month: September 2022

Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves crosses party line — again — to endorse Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly

by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — Former two-term Republican Gov. Bill Graves affirmed Thursday a cross-party endorsement of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

Graves, who served as Kansas governor from 1995 to 2003, said in a statement he would urge Kansas voters to reelect Kelly in November.

“In 2018, I broke party lines to support Governor Kelly because Kansas needed a steady hand at the wheel to put Kansas back on the map,” Graves said. “Over the last four years, Governor Kelly has done just that. She is a common-sense leader who continues to govern from the middle to get things done for Kansans.”

Kelly is in a contest with Republican nominee Derek Schmidt, the state’s attorney general; Libertarian Seth Cordell; and state Sen. Dennis Pyle, who is running as an independent. Schmidt’s candidacy has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump and former Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer, both Republicans.

Graves, who also was secretary of state in Kansas from 1987 to 1995, said Kelly was “the only candidate who can bring both parties together to deliver for Kansans.”

Kelly said she appreciated Graves’ support and shared his dedication to public service, fiscal responsibility and education.

“At the end of the day, all Kansans, regardless of political party, want the same things: safe roads, a balanced budget and high-quality schools,” Kelly said.

Schmidt and Kelly appeared Wednesday night at a question-and-answer forum sponsored by the Kansas Chamber with other statewide political candidates. The two candidates for governor are scheduled to debate Saturday at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson and Oct. 5 at an event organized by the Johnson County Bar Association.

Schmidt said he would welcome the opportunity to expand the debate schedule to appearances on television and in Garden City and Johnson County.

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

See more at https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/former-gov-graves-crosses-party-line-again-to-endorse-democratic-gov-kelly/

Today’s weather: Quiet, upper 80s

National Weather Service graphic

Warm temperatures continue in the forecast for Friday and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Today’s high will be 89, with tonight’s low 63, the weather service said.

On Friday night, for the Kansas Lottery 200 race at Kansas Speedway, the Monarchs game 2 of the playoffs at Legends Field and local high school football games, the Wyandotte County forecast does not show any rain. Temperatures will be around 86 at 6 p.m., dropping to 82 degrees at 8 p.m., according to the forecast.

The next chance for showers and thunderstorms will be Saturday night and the early morning hours of Sunday, and severe weather is not expected, according to the weather service.

The forecast for Saturday, when the Kansas Lottery 300 (2 p.m.) and Kansas Lottery 150 (6 p.m.) races are scheduled at Kansas Speedway, will be a slight chance of rain at 2 p.m., and increasing chances of rain at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms at 7 p.m. Saturday until 3 a.m. Sunday. It will be about 74 degrees at 2 p.m. Saturday, and about 68 degrees at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Cooler, dry weather is expected Sunday afternoon. There is no rain in the forecast for Sunday afternoon, when the Hollywood Casino 400 presented by Barstool Sportsbook, a NASCAR Cup Series race, begins at 2 p.m. at Kansas Speedway. The temperature at 2 p.m. is expected to be about 72, according to the weather service. The temperature at noon, when the pre-race concert is scheduled, is expected to be about 68.

Today, it will be sunny, with a high near 89 and a south wind of 3 to 7 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 63 and a south southeast wind of 5 to 7 mph becoming northwest after midnight.

Saturday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 4 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 78 with a north wind of 7 to 16 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation is expected.

Saturday night, there is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 p.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m., then showers likely after 4 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 57 with a north wind of 8 to 15 mph, gusting as high as 21 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Sunday, it will be sunny, with a high near 75 and a north wind of 7 to 11 mph, gusting as high as 21 mph, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be clear, with a low of 52, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be sunny, with a high near 81, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be clear, with a low of 54, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 86, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 62, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 89, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 66, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 89, the weather service said.

KCK police officer charged with felony

Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree said today that felony charges have been filed against a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer.

Officer Deotis Brown was charged in a domestic violence case involving physical violence with an adult romantic partner, according to Dupree. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated witness intimidation were the charges filed.

Charges first were filed in Jackson County, Missouri, on Saturday, he said. These include three counts involving a domestic incident.

Then after the witness came forward about another incident in February in Wyandotte County, charges were filed Thursday in Wyandotte County, according to Dupree.

The officer has been placed on suspension without pay, according to Chief Karl Oakman. He will be suspended without pay pending the outcome of the trial or the process. If he is convicted, he will be terminated, Chief Oakman said.

Dupree said domestic violence is a real concern. Sometimes victims are afraid to come forward. He encouraged victims to come forward and get help before it’s too late.

Chief Oakman said as with any crime, no one is above the law and everyone will be held accountable. Also, officers could be victims of crime and there is an opportunity for them to come forward as well, he said. He said the police department is reaching out to do what it can to help alleviate this type of violence in the community.

Thirty-four percent of the homicides in Wyandotte County this year were domestic-related, Chief Oakman said.

Brown has been employed with the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department since 2017. Bond was set at $40,000 in the Wyandotte County case, Dupree said.