Wichita

Parrot missing from zoo

A 19-year-old African gray parrot named Squirrel is missing from the Sedgwick County Zoo.

Officials believe the bird was taken from the zoo’s Jungle Building between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

“We know she is not anywhere on the zoo grounds,” said zoo spokeswoman Christan Baumer.

There’s no chance another zoo animal could have eaten the parrot named Squirrel, Baumer said. Squirrel’s wings are clipped, so there is no way she could have left without a person’s help.

Baumer said the gray parrot is an exotic bird but is not considered an endangered or threatened species. Such birds can be purchased for $500 to $1,000. With proper care, they can live to be 50 years old.

Kansas City, Mo.

EPA trims list of river pollutants

The Environmental Protection Agency has removed several pollutants from a list of those endangering rivers in the Kansas City area.

EPA spokesman Martin Kessler said Kansas City-area rivers are clearer.

Mercury was removed as a pollutant from the Missouri River at Kansas City and St. Joseph, though the banned insecticide chlordane and PCBs remain a problem.

A chemical called benzo(a)pyrene was removed as a pollutant from the Blue River.

High acidity was removed from the list for Indian Creek in Kansas City, but the stream still has high bacteria levels.

Wichita

Worker gets probation for role in killings

A woman who pleaded guilty to helping a Wichita nightclub owner charged with killing three people has been placed on probation.

Christy Cousins, 19, pleaded guilty in November to aiding a felon for her role in the August killings. After her sentencing Monday, she was released from the Sedgwick County Jail.

Nightclub owner Arturo Garcia is scheduled to stand trial in February on three counts of first-degree murder. Wichita police said Garcia shot and killed Oscar Ramirez, Nicolas Ramirez and Clint Jones, then dumped their dismembered bodies in a Cowley County field.

Cousins was one of several employees of Club Mexico who described walking in and out of the club while bodies lay inside, according to court records. Cousins told police she walked to another part of the club and watched a movie while the bodies were taken to the basement and dismembered by Garcia.