Kansas Klips
Helicopter lands on hotel lawn
OBERLIN — Oberlin provided friendly skies recently for a helicopter crew looking for rooms and a parking space. The Cobblestone Inn and Suites was more than happy to accommodate a range survey for lesser prairie chickens. Lisa Votapka, general manager of the motel said, it was kind of neat to have the aircraft parked out on the front lawn. “It got a little bit of attention,” she said. Wildlife Biologist Troy Rintz of the Western EcoSystems Technology Inc. said the crew is working for a multi-state organization, Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which is supported by a five-state region for this project. “The lesser prairie chickens are a candidate species through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” he said. The states of Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico manage this species and randomly select areas across the five-state range to collect data, to help inform the states on population trends, whether it’s an increase, decrease or it is stable. The Robinson R44 Raven II four-seat helicopter helps them survey more habitat and do it more effectively than if they were doing their count on the ground. (The Oberlin Herald)
Inmates at work facility moved after positive COVID-19 test
TOPEKA — After a resident tested positive for the new coronavirus at a Wichita work release facility, the Kansas Department of Corrections on Sunday night moved more than 100 inmates to the Lansing Correctional Facility. The Wichita Work Release Facility resident, a man older than 40, tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, marking the second Kansas correctional facility to have a confirmed case. At the other facility, the Lansing prison, 18 inmates and 21 staff contracted the virus. On Sunday night, officials moved 113 residents from the dormitory housing unit where the man stayed to a newly reconstructed building at Lansing, about 30 miles northwest of Kansas City, for medical isolation and monitoring, corrections said Monday. (Kansas.com)
Gunfire from passing truck kills Wichita teen
WICHITA — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 18-year-old Aubrey Resendez of Wichita. Just after 12:30 a.m. Monday, police responded to a call at the Kwik Shop in the 600 block of South West Street in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. At the scene, police located a 2014 white Dodge Avenger with the rear window shot out. Inside the vehicle was an 18-year-old male driver, a 27-year-old male passenger and Resendez, who had been shot. EMS transported her to an area hospital where she died, according to Davidson. The other two individuals in the car were not injured. The investigation revealed a disturbance ensued on West Pawnee between the occupants of the Avenger and occupants of a silver truck. During the disturbance, an individual inside the truck fired multiple shots at the Avenger, striking the vehicle and striking Rensendz. (Kansas.com)
KU Med to participate in clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine in health care workers
KANSAS CITY — The University of Kansas Medical Center announced Monday that it will be participating in a nationwide clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in preventing COVID-19 infection in exposed health care workers. KU Medical Center is one of 60 such sites across the nation that will be participating in this clinical trial, led by the Duke Clinical Research Institute. The trial, the Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes of Hydroxychloroquine (HERO HCQ), will launch April 22. It is a phase-3 double-blinded clinical trial, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). It is accompanied by a registry, which launched Monday, that will create a community of health care workers who have expressed interest in contributing to the scientific community’s understanding of the impact of COVID-19. (KUMC News Service)
Man jailed for 5 business burglaries in 9 days
TOPEKA — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a string of business burglaries and have made an arrest. Last Friday night, police located 36-year-old Travis L. Russell of Topeka in the 2800 block of SE Topeka Blvd, according to a police spokesperson. Officers brought Russell into the Law Enforcement Center for questioning. As a result of the investigation, Russell was arrested for burglarizing five businesses over a nine-day period, including Vern’s Liquor on SW Gage Blvd, 29th St. Quick Stop, Schendel Lawn and Landscape on SW 6th Ave., Great Life Golf on SE 29th St., and Highland Crest Laundromat on SE 29th St. Russell is being held on requested charges of Criminal use of a financial card, Theft, Burglary, Criminal damage to property and Possession of stolen property, according to Topeka police. (JCPost.com)
