TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who prosecutors say threatened to kidnap and kill Wichita's mayor because he was upset with the city's mask ordinance was charged Tuesday with three counts of criminal threat.

Meredith Dowty, 59, of Wichita, is accused of sending text messages to a city employee threatening to kill Mayor Brandon Whipple because of his role in the passage of a mask mandate to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Dowty's bond was continued at $50,000 and his next court date was set for Nov. 5.

"He said he was going to kidnap me and slash my throat and he needed my address because...