Harvest has started in earnest in southern Kansas, although rain has occasionally interrupted crews in some places.

Although storms on Tuesday dropped rain in Sedgwick Country and several other south-central Kansas counties, it was scant in Barber and Harper counties where harvest has begun.

Anthony Farmers Co-op agronomist Ed Sutton said Barber County’s harvest was in full swing Wednesday.

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Seeking to quell fears about government electronic surveillance, the newest Republican member of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee said Wednesday the programs are critical to keeping the country safe.

U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, said there is a concerted effort to inform the public about the need for the surveillance programs by people, like him, who believe the fight against radical Islamic terrorism continues. He said the two programs leaked by a National Security Agency contractor have adequate oversight from all three branches of government and do not look at the content of communications by Americans.

“Those of us that are conservative – and have a long tradition of understanding that the primary mission of the federal government is to make sure that America is strong and capable of defending its homeland – want to make sure we don’t lose the capability to do that,” he said.

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TOPEKA — Complaining that the Legislature forced their hand, the Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday approved a sweeping package of tuition increases for the state’s public universities.

The tuition increases include:

• Wichita State University — 8 percent overall, 3.5 percent to offset state cuts.

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Sedgwick County will ask for six months to study whether concealed-carry weapons should be allowed in 19 public buildings under a new state law.

Commissioners voted 3-2 on Wednesday to ask for an exemption from a new state law that allows concealed-carry in public buildings.

A state law beginning July 1 allows concealed-carry permit holders to take handguns into buildings including courthouses, police stations and libraries across the state. City and county governments can prohibit concealed carry in certain buildings as long as “adequate security measures,” as defined by the state law, are in place.

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An attorney for a former Sedgwick County jail deputy facing charges that he sexually assaulted six inmates said other inmates would testify that one alleged victim told them he let the deputy have sex with him so he could claim it was rape and make millions of dollars from litigation.

The alleged victim told other inmates he also “took one for the team” so he could get out of federal charges he was facing, defense attorney Chris O’Hara told District Judge Joseph Bribiesca during a hearing Wednesday.

The defense team for former jail Deputy David Kendall is trying to challenge the credibility of inmates who allege Kendall sexually assaulted them, contending that part of the inmates’ motivation is to gain money from potential litigation against the county.

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The rock band Journey, whose hits include “Don’t Stop Believin,’ ” “Any Way You Want It,” and “Wheel in the Sky” will perform at the Kansas Star Casino Arena on Aug. 24.

The band has 19 Top 40 singles and 25 gold and platinum albums, including a diamond-certified greatest-hits album.

Tickets starting at $58 will go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the arena box office, or at www.kansasstararena.com.

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Police are looking for a man who used an ax to damage his girlfriend’s house and two of her cars after an argument early Wednesday morning in east Wichita.

The 31-year-old man showed up drunk at his girlfriend’s house at about 3:30 a.m. in the 900 block of North Old Manor, Lt. Doug Nolte said. That’s northwest of Central and Edgemoor. She was upset that he was intoxicated, Nolte said, and an argument broke out.

The altercation escalated until she ran to her car to call 911. The man picked up an ax and began pounding on the car she was in, Nolte said, then moved to a second car and began striking it with the ax.

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Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor has filed a complaint against members of the Kansas Corporation Commission over alleged violations of the state’s open meetings act.

WIBW radio reports (http://bit.ly/1bWjt7L ) that Taylor filed the complaint Wednesday in Shawnee County District Court. It seeks an injunction against the KCC and its individual members over approval of a rate increase for a Salina water district.

Attorneys for the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board argue that the KCC approved the rate increase improperly and asked Taylor and Attorney General Derek Schmidt to investigate. CURB argues the KCC members approved the rate increase by a process called “pink sheeting,” in which members individually approve the request without holding a public hearing.

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How and why is still a mystery, but a missing elderly Garnett, Kan., couple headed to Illinois has been found — in upper Michigan.

“My son just texted me and said they found them in the Upper Peninsula,” said Beth Selanders of Overland Park, former daughter-in-law to Vernon Hunt, 91, and his wife, Goldie, 81.

Law enforcement officials began looking for the couple, who left their home in Anderson County on Monday, after family members raised concerns when the couple had yet to reach their destination about 510 miles away in Dwight, Ill.

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Police are seeking help from residents after a shooting incident in north Wichita late Tuesday night.

Three people were driving in the area of 18th and Park Place shortly before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday when they noticed a green 1995 Lincoln Towne Car following them, Lt. Doug Nolte said.

They recognized one of the people in the car, he said. A passenger in the car fired two shots at the victims near 18th and Park Place, they said. Their car was not hit.

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Three roofers who came to the aid of a woman being assaulted by her son Tuesday afternoon found themselves staring at the barrel of a rifle a short time later, Wichita police said.

The incident unfolded at about 2 p.m. Tuesday in the 400 block of North Bluff, near Hillside and Central, Lt. Doug Nolte said. The men were working on a house southeast of Central and Hillside when they noticed a man attacking an older woman.

They came down from the roof and intervened, Nolte said, then returned to the roof when they thought the clash had been resolved. When they reached the roof, however, they noticed the man was pointing a rifle at them.

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A 17-year-old girl was arrested after she reportedly threw a knife at a store clerk during a dispute over customer service Tuesday afternoon, Wichita police said.

The teen began arguing with the 22-year-old clerk at a business Nomar International Food store, 2056 N. Broadway, shortly before 3 p.m., Lt. Doug Nolte said. The dispute escalated to the point that the clerk threw some crackers at the suspect, who responded by picking up a 10-inch kitchen knife and throwing it at her.

The knife struck the clerk in the hand, Nolte said, causing a four-inch laceration. The teen was booked into the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center.

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Wichita’s fountains are coming back to life after being off all spring because of the drought.

The city’s five interactive fountains and splash pads – a favorite of children – were turned on Wednesday morning. The 12 decorative fountains will start being turned on Thursday and all should be flowing by July 4, said Chase Fosse, assistant to the city manager.

The Waltzing Waters fountain at downtown’s WaterWalk had its debut last weekend, but its times have been adjusted.

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A 14-year-old girl reported being flashed by a man at the Towne East food court early Tuesday afternoon, Wichita police said.

The girl told a parent that she was with three of her friends at the food court at about 12:45 p.m. Tuesday when she first saw the man sitting about five tables away, Lt. Doug Nolte said. He moved to a table next to the group and then pulled his athletic shorts open and exposed himself to them, a police report states.

He did not talk with the girl or her friends, Nolte said. She reported the incident to mall security.

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By The Hays Daily News ELLIS -- The Ellis City Council adopted a resolution at Friday's special meeting to ban the use of fireworks within city limits during the Fourth of July holiday. But at Monday's regular meeting, the council again took under ...

For the second time in less than a week, a fire was reported at a gentlemen’s club in Oaklawn.

The latest fire was called in by a motorist at about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, reporting smoke at Teddy Bear’s, 4858 S. Clifton, a Sedgwick County dispatch supervisor said.

Fire officials reported smoke at 5:36 a.m. and then declared the fire out 20 minutes later, the supervisor said. A cause and damage estimate have not yet been released.

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By RANDY GONZALES rgonzales@dailynews.net The tire amnesty program at the county landfill was designed for the guy who wanted to get rid of a couple tires in his garage, without having to pay the fee for disposal. It wasn't designed for one ind ...

Animals Impounds Male black domestic longhair kitten, 1600 block Allen One gray domestic shorthair cat, 100 block West Ninth One dark gray/white domestic shorthair cat, 100 block West Ninth One light gray/white domestic shorthair cat, 100 b ...

By DAWNE LEIKER dleiker@dailynews.net Water issues will serve as the dominant theme of Thursday's Hays City Commission work session at 6 p.m. at city hall. The meeting will start 30 minutes earlier than regularly scheduled. In an attempt to cur ...

By MIKE CORN mcorn@dailynews.net A 26-year-old Hays woman remained in jail Tuesday in lieu of $100,000 bond in connection with a suspected case of child abuse involving a 2-year-old child. The woman was identified as Jody M. Brooks by Hays Poli ...