TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Gov. Sam Brownback says he won’t disclose the applicants for the Kansas Court of Appeals because it would prevent some qualified candidates from coming forward. Brownback issued a statement Thursday amid ongoing criticism that a new selection process for the state’s second-highest court is less open than the one it replaced. His spokeswoman said Tuesday that he was considering releasing the names. Under law that took effect this month, the governor will appoint Court of Appeals judges, subject to state Senate confirmation. Under the previous system, a statewide nominating commission led by lawyers screened applicants and named…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Members of problem-gambling task forces in Kansas say the state is not adequately funding efforts to combat gambling and other addictions. The task forces work in zones around the three state-owned casinos. Members of those task forces were told Wednesday that each group would receive $10,000 in fiscal 2014, the same amount as last year. The Wichita Eagle reports members of the task forces said $10,000 a year is an insignificant amount and a “slap in the face” to volunteers who work with problem gamblers. The law that created the state-owned casinos in Mulvane, Dodge City and…
KINGMAN, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Attorney General’s office is no longer asking a judge to sentence a former law officer to 50 years without parole for killing his wife. Brett Seacat was convicted last month of killing his wife, Vashti Seacat, and setting their Kingman home on fire in April 2011. He and the couple’s two sons escaped the fire. Prosecuting attorney Amy Hanley said after the verdict the state would ask the judge to consider a “hard 50” sentence for Seacat. KWCH reports prosecutors withdrew that intent in court documents filed July 1. They cited a U.S. Supreme Court…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A standoff between authorities and a man suspected of firing shots at a Wichita Kmart is continuing at an apartment complex. Wichita police say the man barricaded himself alone inside an apartment Wednesday and had not surrendered by 6:30 a.m. Thursday. Authorities say the man has fired at law enforcement officers but no one was injured. Residents of three buildings at the complex have been evacuated. Police believe the man tried to rob a Kmart pharmacy Wednesday and fired shots before fleeing. No one was injured. He later holed up at the apartment. Derby police say the…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger has promoted three employees of her office’s Consumer Assistance Division to new supervisory jobs. Praeger announced the changes Wednesday. She says Steve O’Neil will be the division’s new director, replacing Jennifer Sourk, who left the Insurance Department recently for a job in private business. O’Neil had been the division’s health supervisor. Praeger named Elizabeth Fike to replace O’Neil has health supervisor. Fike had been working as an attorney and consumer health representative. Meanwhile, Praeger said LeAnn Crow will become the division’s new property and casualty supervisor after working as a market conduct…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Gov. Sam Brownback has announced his selections to participate in a statewide task force to address mental health issues in Kansas. The Republican governor is asking the group to recommend ways state agencies that provide mental health services can better coordinate their efforts while making good use of resources. Kansas has two state mental hospitals and 27 community mental health centers that work with private contractors, residential facilities and providers. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services will oversee the task force. The first meeting of the group will be July 18 in Topeka. Brownback will…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) An endangered species of monkey has given birth to twins at the Topeka Zoo. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Devra, a 3-year-old golden lion tamarin, gave birth to twins Wednesday. She and the babies’ father, Charlie, arrived in Topeka in December as part of the Golden Lion Tamarin Species Survival Plan. Both tamarins are first-time parents. The babies’ genders haven’t yet been released. The zoo says it will post updates and daily pictures of the baby monkeys on its Facebook page. The National Zoo says golden lion tamarins are native to Brazil’s coastal rain forests, and have…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A former Kansas doctor accused of unlawfully possessing drugs and a firearm will get more time to put together a defense. U.S. District Judge Monti Belot on Wednesday granted an unopposed defense request to delay Lawrence Simons’ upcoming trial this month. The judge set a new trial date for Sept. 20. A defense filing cites the “overwhelming” contents of storage lockers where authorities found prescription drugs. Video and photos depict nine tables covered with drugs and medical paraphernalia. Prosecutors have also turned over multiple CDs. Simons is a convicted felon who allegedly gave a bondsman a gun…
On today’s InFocus, Cathy talks with Sally Sowell from Fort Riley’s Soldier Family Assistance Center and Johnny Cyrene on upcoming event supporting wounded warriors, followed by Marcia Locke, Gene Klingler, and Char Henton with Kaw Valley Rodeo on spaghetti dinner fund-raiser. [mp3-jplayer]
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