Minors

Minors are already not allowed to smoke real cigarettes in Kansas.  Starting next month, they won't be able to smoke electronic ones either. Governor Sam Brownback has signed a bill banning minors from possessing e-cigarettes, which goes into effect July 1st. The Lawrence Journal-World reports school officials have spotted students with e-cigarettes in the past, including some that are designed to look like pens or flash drives. Many companies selling electronic cigarettes say they have already limited sales of the device to people 18 and older.

The Kansas Lottery says parents should not buy lottery tickets as Christmas gifts for their children. Lottery tickets and scratch cards end up in some children's stockings.  Because of a growing concern about adolescent problem gambling, the Kansas Lottery along with several other organizations want to increase awareness about the impact of giving lottery tickets to minors. A recent study shows that 19% of high school students received lottery tickets or scratch cards as gifts.

Wichita police say nine criminal charges will be filed after a liquor store compliance check Wednesday evening. Police say 30 Wichita businesses were checked, of them six sold alcohol to minors.  An additional three charges were filed for other liquor license violations. The businesses cited are Dave's Liquor Store (847 S Oliver),  Phillips 66 Gas Station (1250 S. Rock Rd.), Wichita Suites (5211 E Kellogg), Hilton Garden Inn (2041 N Bradley Fair Parkway), Noodles and Co. (3300 N Rock Rd)

Police in El Dorado arrest a man who they say was soliciting minors online.  Police say they were alerted by the Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Exploited and Missing Child Unit about the situation.  They got a warrant and searched 31-year-old Peter Ferley's home.  He was arrested and police removed items from his home which they say are related to the charges. Ferley made his first appearance in Butler County District Court and faces charges including Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Electronic Solicitation of someone over 14 years old. Ferley is in Butler County Jail on $100,000 bond.

Wichita police take seven youngsters into protective custody after finding them living in filthy conditions. Staff at Linwood Elementary reported the situation after noticing two students with what they described as extreme hygiene issues.  Officers went to the home where they found no electricity, bug infestation and extreme filth. "Our goal is never to take kids out of a home unless we have to," says Lt. Doug Nolte. Seven minors, ranging in age from three to 15, were taken into protective custody.

by Kim Hynes (WICHITA, Kan.) The City of Wichita considers making it harder for minors to get spray paint. It's looking to update its graffiti ordinance to deal with an increase in cases. The changes were presented to the city council during a workshop Tuesday. In 2008 the city noticed a rise in graffiti and created a task force. In 2008 there were 1,876 cases and it cost $280,967 for the city to remove the spray paint. In 2009 there were 2,758 graffiti cases and the city spent $290,954.

Wichita police cite five area businesses for selling alcohol to minors. It was part of an underage drinking sting. Police checked 14 businesses, five of them sold alcohol to minors. More information is expected later this afternoon.

Four people were arrested early Friday morning after Wichita police broke up an underage drinking party in the College Hill neighborhood. During a morning police briefing Lt. Doug Nolte said, officers arrived at a home in the 400 block of South Clifton, where at least 25 minors were present and alcohol was being served. Two minors were arrested - one for possession of alcohol, the other for possession of marijuana. Two adults were also arrested for violating the hosting laws and furnishing alcohol to minors.

A Butler Community College student is treated and released after being shot accidentally overnight by a security officer. Emergency crews and police were called to a report of a firearm discharge at the Villa Apartments in the 700 block of S. Haverhill Road just after 10:30 pm Monday. A private security officer told police he was handling his firearm while on duty and it accidentally discharged while he was in the office area. Police say there was damage to a computer, some furniture and the wall between the office and a computer/media room.

Four people were arrested early Friday morning after Wichita police broke up an underage drinking party in the College Hill neighborhood. During a morning police briefing Lt. Doug Nolte said, officers arrived at a home in the 400 block of South Clifton, where at least 25 minors were present and alcohol was being served. Two minors were arrested - one for possession of alcohol, the other for possession of marijuana. Two adults were also arrested for violating the hosting laws and furnishing alcohol to minors.

A 12-year-old on a bike is struck by a car...but manages to walk away with only minor injuries.  It happened shortly before 7:00 Tuesday morning at 79th Street South and Seneca. No one else was hurt.  Sedgwick County officials tell us the boy was riding his bike to school headed north on the west side of the road when he was struck by a westbound car that didn't see him. Authorities say the woman driving the car won't be charged. The boy was taken to the hospital because of his age, but did not suffer any serious injuries.

Wichita police take seven youngsters into protective custody after finding them living in filthy conditions. Staff at Linwood Elementary reported the situation after noticing two students with what they described as extreme hygiene issues.  Officers went to the home where they found no electricity, bug infestation and extreme filth. "Our goal is never to take kids out of a home unless we have to," says Lt. Doug Nolte. Seven minors, ranging in age from three to 15, were taken into protective custody.

Should an adult who lets minors drink at her home be held accountable for a later accident that kills someone? That's the question in Missouri, where a judge will decide if Sandra Triebel can be charged with involuntary manslaughter for a fatal accident. She wasn't in the car,but she allowed a minor to drink at her party.. He later was involved in an accident that killed another teen. Should the fault lie only with the drunken driver or the person who supplied the alcohol.

Minors are already not allowed to smoke real cigarettes in Kansas.  Starting next month, they won't be able to smoke electronic ones either. Governor Sam Brownback has signed a bill banning minors from possessing e-cigarettes, which goes into effect July 1st. The Lawrence Journal-World reports school officials have spotted students with e-cigarettes in the past, including some that are designed to look like pens or flash drives. Many companies selling electronic cigarettes say they have already limited sales of the device to people 18 and older.

A Canadian man has been charged with picking up a 12-year-old girl in El Dorado, Kan., and taking her out of state for the purpose of having sex with her.   Stewart Kenneth Cody McGill, 20, Bewdley, Ontario, is charged with one count of transporting a minor out of state for the purpose of having sex. A criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Wichita alleges that on May 31 the girl's father reported to the El Dorado Police Department...

The Wichita Police Department and Kansas Alcohol Beverage Control cited two Wichita businesses during an underage drinking compliance check in northwest Wichita overnight. Officers used an underage decoy, using legal ID showing their true age at 25 businesses.  Most of them didn't sell alcohol to the decoy. Two businesses did. Those two businesses are Felipe's Mexican Restaurant at 119th W. and Maple and Shoeless Joe's Burgers at 2315 W. 21st. Police say the goal of the operations is to make sure the liquor stores, bars and restaurants check the I.D. and refuse to sell to the decoy.

Quiet weather is expected for all of Kansas the next few days as temperatures continue to be above normal for the end of January. Mostly clear skies should prevail overnight and expect a decent amount of sunshine for Thursday. Highs will end up between 50 and 55 for much of the state with wind speeds under 20 mph. The next system will be heading this way on Friday with a cold front sweeping across the state. Winds will increase from the north with skies turning mostly cloudy.