Kansas City

Four people convicted of arranging fraudulent marriages

A jury in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., on Wednesday found Shabber Ali, 24, Tariq Mahmood, 34, Zaheer Ul Islam, 30, and Ahmed Bilal Aslam, 37, guilty of one count each of conspiracy to arrange fraudulent marriages. Islam and Aslam also were convicted of one count of marrying to evade immigration laws.

U.S. Atty. Eric Melgren said that Ali and Mahmood conspired to arrange sham marriages between Pakistani men and American women so that the Pakistani citizens could legally live in the United States. Melgren said the American women were paid.

Ali and Mahmood each face up to five years in federal prison for conspiracy. Islam and Aslam face up to five years in prison for marriage fraud. Sentencing is set for July 12.

Emporia

Advanced student seeks prom exception

Zahra Nasr-Azadani, a 15-year-old student at Emporia High School, has asked to be allowed to attend the prom.

A sophomore, Nasr-Azadanihas enough credits to be considered a junior.

But the school’s rules say only juniors and seniors can attend prom.

The request drew split opinions, with some emphatically saying she had every right to be at the dance.

Board members put off a decision until they hear from the student council. The board will make a decision at its April 27 meeting, four days before the prom.

Fort Riley

36th Fort Riley soldier killed in Iraq

Sgt. Christopher Ramirez, 34, of McAllen, Texas, died Wednesday in fighting in the Al Anbar Province near Fallujah, west of Baghdad. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, which has been in Iraq since September.

About 3,700 Fort Riley soldiers are in Iraq.