TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A major winter storm has prompted Gov. Sam Brownback to close Kansas state government from Thursday morning through Friday morning. The National Weather Service is predicting the winter storm system will drop heavy snow across the state, with more than a foot expected in many areas. Brownback urged residents on Wednesday to stay home and off the roads as the storm advanced. Legislative leaders announced earlier in the day they were curtailing House and Senate activities through Friday and will be idle Thursday. Legislative deadlines for measures clearing committees were also pushed back until Tuesday ahead of…
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) The U.S. Postal Service says it plans to close its encoding center in Wichita, causing a loss of 380 jobs. The postal service said in a news release Wednesday that the center would close later this year, likely in or shortly after September. The center employs 797 people but only the 380 who are not covered by collective bargaining agreements will lose their jobs. The other employees will be reassigned to available positions within the postal service. Officials said new technology that automates and speeds up processing of hand-written mail and poorly printed addresses made the encoding…
HAYS, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Water Office says it will begin releasing water Monday from Cedar Bluff Reservoir to help recharge Hays water wells. The announcement on Tuesday says the releases will recharge wells along the Smoky Hill River near Schoenchen. The Hays Daily News reports the release will use virtually all of the 1,247 acre-feet of water left in an artificial recharge pool, or approximately 406 million gallons. Unlike earlier, similar releases, the city of Russell isn’t joining the request for water. That city instead will pursue other water supplies near its Pfeifer wellfield. Russell owns water in Cedar…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration projects that the revenue-raising measures he’s proposing this year to bolster the state budget won’t wipe out massive income tax cuts enacted last year. Secretary Nick Jordan said Wednesday the new figures from the Department of Revenue show Kansans still will see a net decrease in taxes each of the next four years. The department’s figure for net tax relief is $392 million for the fiscal year beginning in July, with the projection growing to $528 million in the following fiscal year. The department circulated the figures among lawmakers to counter arguments…
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) A former Lawrence police officer who was fired after admitting he fixed traffic tickets is suing the city, alleging wrongful termination and racial discrimination. Former Police Sgt. Michael Monroe, who is black, says in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court that he was denied due process and fired last March because of his race. He is suing the city and Lawrence Police Chief Tarik Khatib. Monroe admits he fixed traffic tickets for former Kansas Athletics employee Rodney Jones, who is in federal prison for his role in a broader ticket scandal. But he says he didn’t…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The ex-husband of a Kansas murder victim has settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed against him by his children. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Atchison County District Court records filed Tuesday say the terms of the settlement between Eugene Kimmi Sr. and his children are confidential. Kimmi was the ex-husband of Patricia Kimmi, 58, of rural Horton, who was killed in November 2009. Patricia Kimmi’s children sued their father, Roger Hollister, and Hollister’s wife, Rebecca Hollister. They alleged the three conspired to kill Patricia Kimmi. Roger Hollister was convicted of the murder. Rebecca Hollister was later dropped from…
CLEARWATER, Kan. (AP) A former Clearwater Middle School teacher has admitted that she had a yearlong relationship with a 15-year-old boy. Cathleen Balman, 40, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of indecent liberties with a child. Her trial on three counts of indecent liberties with a child was scheduled to start Wednesday. Two of the charges were dismissed as part of the plea bargain. Balman will be sentenced April 19. The Wichita Eagle reports Balman was arrested in October 2011 after interviews with the teacher and others indicated she had been involved with the boy, who was a former…
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) A Kansas City man with a history of committing armed robberies was sentenced to 95 years in federal prison for robberies in Topeka and Leavenworth. Charles Shaw, 55, was sentenced Tuesday after being convicted of robbing a credit union and bank in Leavenworth and the Educational Credit Union in Topeka in December. He was also convicted of trying to rob the Educational Credit Union a second time before being caught when he fell and broke his ankle trying to run away. WIBW reports prosecutors said Shaw had five other armed robbery convictions, dating back to 1983.…
HAYS, Kan. (AP) Former U.S. Senator Bob Dole has created a scholarship fund at Fort Hays State University to honor his two sisters. Dole says the fund with the university’s foundation will be named for Norma Jean Dole Steele and Gloria Dole Nelson, both of whom died last year. Dole says that his sisters always encouraged their children to seek the best education possible. KAKE-TV reported Wednesday that all undergraduate students from Russell County or who have graduated from Russell High School are eligible for the $1,000 annual scholarships, if they have a minimum grade point average of 2.5. Students…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has filled a vacant trial court judgeship in the Kansas City area. Brownback announced Tuesday that he appointed Leawood attorney Paul Gurney as a district court judge in Johnson County. He was one of three attorneys named as finalists for the vacancy by a local nominating commission. Gurney is the senior trial counsel for an Overland Park law firm, where he’s worked since 1999. He’ll replace District Judge Thomas Bornholdt, who announced his retirement late last year. Bornholdt had served as a judge since October 1993. The other finalists for the judgeship were…