Indictments handed up in sheriff’s death

Wichita — A federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted a man accused of killing Greenwood County Sheriff Matt Samuels, allowing prosecutors to try the case in a court where the death penalty is a possible punishment.

The indictment charges Scott Cheever, 23, of Virgil, with two counts of murder in the Jan. 19 slaying of Samuels, plus seven other charges related to the manufacture of methamphetamine. The grand jury also indicted five others, on charges mostly related to drug manufacturing and trafficking.

Kansas Atty. Gen. Phill Kline had charged Cheever with capital murder in a state court. But the Kansas Supreme Court ruled in December that the state’s death penalty law was unconstitutional. While Kline is appealing that decision, it means a conviction in Greenwood County might not yield a death sentence.

U.S. Atty. Eric Melgren said it would be up to the U.S. Department of Justice to decide whether Cheever should face the death penalty.

Committee softens language on evolution

Topeka — A committee writing new science standards for Kansas schools on Wednesday adopted softer language on evolution, but its second draft by no means ends the debate.

Steve Case, co-chairman of the 26-member committee, said the second draft of the standards included wording stating that teachers should teach, not preach.

“Whether it’s naturalism or creationism, it should be science, not religion,” Case, also an assistant research professor at Kansas University, said.

The committee’s first draft left in place the standards’ current language, describing evolution as a key concept for students to learn.

On Wednesday, the committee met in Salina and adopted its second draft, 16-5. The State Board of Education is scheduled to review it during an April 12 meeting Hutchinson. The state board appointed the science committee last year and has the final say on the standards.

A subcommittee of the State Board of Education will hold hearings May 5-7 and May 12-14.