Three Judges Named Finalists for Kansas Supreme Court Vacancy

Federal Jury Clears KBI Director of Wrongdoing

Ellis County Plans Regional Hub for Rural Chronic Disease

Wichita Native's Secret Cold War Mission Found Titanic

Wichita Region to Host All 2028 KSHSAA Basketball Finals

Three Judges Named Finalists for Kansas Supreme Court Vacancy

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission has forwarded the names of three district judges, all from northeast Kansas, to Gov. Laura Kelly to fill a vacancy on the state's high court. The commission Thursday selected Douglas County District Judge Carl Folsom of Lawrence, who was appointed to the bench in 2022 after serving as an assistant federal public defender in Kansas and Oklahoma and with the Kansas Appellate Defender's Office. Also nominated were Johnson County District Judges K. Christopher Jayaram of Lenexa, appointed in 2021, and Robert Wonnell of Olathe, who has served as a judge since 2015. Upon official notification, Kelly will have 60 days to make her selection. The new justice would face a retention vote at the next general election after completing one year of service and, if retained, would serve a full six-year term.

Ad Astra Radio

Federal Jury Clears KBI Director of Wrongdoing

TOPEKA, Kan. — A federal court jury concluded a four-day trial Thursday by declaring Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Tony Mattivi did nothing procedurally wrong in driving out the agency's associate director over allegations of contributing to a toxic work environment. The eight-person jury unanimously sided with Mattivi in a lawsuit filed by former Associate Director David Hutchings, who claimed Mattivi unilaterally dismissed him in violation of his constitutional due-process rights. Mattivi's defense argued Hutchings voluntarily resigned in June 2023, and alleged Hutchings had secretly read employee emails, recorded conversations with colleagues and attempted to undermine the investigation of a former KBI colleague convicted in a child pornography case. Hutchings, a 32-year KBI veteran, had sought $335,000 in economic damages plus emotional damages, but jurors found he resigned voluntarily, nullifying questions of compensation.

Kansas Reflector

Ellis County Plans Regional Hub for Rural Chronic Disease

HAYS, Kan. — Ellis County health officials are working to position the county as a regional public health hub aimed at reducing preventable hospital visits among rural Kansans through better chronic disease management. The Kansas Regional Chronic Disease Intelligence and Action Pilot Program, a state-supported effort offered through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Wichita State University's Community Engagement Institute, would link health departments across the region to share data, coordinate responses and address common conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Ellis County Health Director Melissa Miller said the initiative grew from a broader federal push to rethink rural health-care delivery and reduce strain on emergency rooms in communities where services are often hours away. Miller said the process has already opened new conversations among hospitals, clinics and neighboring counties that do not always work closely together, including continuing discussions with HaysMed and First Care Clinic about closing service gaps. The department will also host a Picnic in the Park event May 23 at ARC Park and its annual Community Resource Fair on June 4 at the mall, both featuring free bike helmet checks and family health services.

Hays Post

Wichita Native's Secret Cold War Mission Found Titanic

WICHITA, Kan. — Exploration Place previewed a new exhibit Thursday detailing how Wichita-born oceanographer Robert Ballard discovered the Titanic during a top-secret Cold War mission for the U.S. Navy. The exhibit, "Finding TITANIC: The Secret Mission," reveals that Ballard was actually tasked with locating two lost American nuclear submarines, the USS Thresher and USS Scorpion, with the famed shipwreck search serving as a cover story for the public and trailing documentarians. After completing the submarine mission, Ballard had 12 days left to search for the Titanic and located it in the final hours using a camera on a string, finding the ship at 2 a.m. — close to the time it sank in 1912. The exhibit features photos from the day of discovery, declassified footage of the sunken submarines and details on the technology used to explore the wreck for the first time. "Finding TITANIC" opens Friday and runs through Sept. 7, with admission included in general entry and free for members; the city of Wichita has also named a street, Dr. Ballard Boulevard, near First Street and McLean Boulevard, in Ballard's honor.

KSN

Wichita Region to Host All 2028 KSHSAA Basketball Finals

WICHITA, Kan. — Visit Wichita and the Kansas State High School Activities Association announced Thursday that all classifications of the 2028 KSHSAA state basketball championships will be played within the Wichita regional footprint, marking the first time since 1945 that all state championship games have been this close in proximity. Koch Arena at Wichita State University, Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City and the Garvey Center at Friends University will host semifinal and final games for boys and girls across the larger classifications, while Hutchinson Sports Arena at Hutchinson Community College will serve as the site for smaller-classification tournaments. The consolidated format follows requests from KSHSAA member schools to combine championship tournaments into fewer sites for a more connected experience for teams and fans. KSHSAA Executive Director Bill Faflick said the arrangement allows fans to support the best teams in the state across multiple championship tournaments without extensive travel between venues. Wichita is currently SportsTravel magazine's Best Sports-Host City and already hosts all classifications of state track and field and soccer championships, along with recent or current hosting of state wrestling, baseball, softball and cross-country events.

KAKE

Sources

1. Ad Astra Radio
2. Kansas Reflector
3. Hays Post
4. KSN
5. KAKE

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