Wichita

Longtime broadcaster dies from leukemia

Mike Lynch, who started Wichita radio station KFDI and built a company that owned country music-oriented stations in five other states, died Thursday at a hospital in Houston. He was 74.

Dan Dillon, KFDI news director, said Lynch had been fighting leukemia for several years and died Thursday night of pneumonia at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

He and his former partner, Michael Oatman, sold their company to Milwaukee-based Journal Broadcast Group in 1998.

Funeral services were pending.

Independence, Kan.

Defendant pleads in double-murder case

An Independence man pleaded guilty Friday to involuntary manslaughter for his role in the deaths of two Caney residents.

Sylvester Lynn Jones, 20, also pleaded guilty to a count of aiding a felon. Both charges stem from the June 13, 2003, deaths of April Melholland and Samuel Yanofsky.

Police said the body of Melholland, 21, was found in the back seat of her 1990 Thunderbird; Yanofsky’s body was found in the trunk. Jones is due for sentencing Sept. 7.

Topeka

State GOP announces convention delegates

Republicans are getting ready for their turn on the national convention stage.

On Friday, the Kansas Republican Party announced the 39 delegates and 36 alternates who will be sent to the 2004 Republican National Convention. The convention will be Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 in New York City at Madison Square Garden.

Of the delegates, only one is from Lawrence. Jesse Borjon was picked as an alternate.