Area briefs

Kansas Democrats meet today in Wichita

Kansas Democrats will gather today at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Wichita for Demofest, the party’s annual summer meeting.

Featured speakers between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. include five Democrats who are running for statewide office.

Gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Sebelius and Congressional candidate Carlos Nolla will speak during the 8 p.m. awards banquet.

Nolla, a Wichita attorney, is running against 4th District incumbent U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt.

During Demofest the group will adopt the party’s 2002-06 platform.

Woman sentenced for killing boyfriend

Girard A Pittsburg woman has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for stabbing her boyfriend to death during a drunken fight in their apartment.

Peggy L. Peterson, 49, pleaded guilty in January to involuntary manslaughter in the September 2001 death of Tommy Lee Fisher, 47. She was sentenced Thursday in Crawford County District Court to 59 months in prison.

Judge Don Noland noted that the couple had a troubled relationship.

Fisher had three domestic abuse convictions involving Peterson, while Peterson had one conviction for abusing Fisher.

K.C. man sentenced in drug conspiracy

Kansas City, Mo. A Kansas City man was sentenced to 33 years, nine months in prison for his role in a drug conspiracy.

Roman A. Rojas, 29, was sentenced Friday, U.S. Atty. Todd Graves said. Rojas was convicted in March on all 21 counts of a federal indictment that included a drug conspiracy involving 10 other defendants.

Graves said that Rojas sold narcotics in several nightclubs and bars, using employees to distribute the drugs. While on bond, Rojas fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution. He was arrested in August 2001 at a restaurant in Overland Park, Kan.