TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Critics of multi-state, Common Core reading and math standards are pushing Kansas legislators to block their use in the state’s public schools. House Speaker Ray Merrick said Thursday that some fellow Republicans want an up-or-down vote on an anti-Common Core measure. They were vocal enough that GOP House members were holding up action on a proposed state budget for each of the next two fiscal years. Common Core resulted from efforts by states to develop uniform standards for reading and math. The Kansas State Board of Education adopted the new guidelines in 2010. Critics argue the standards…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Gov. Sam Brownback has opened the summer “Read Kansas Read” program by reading a story about ducks and rabbits to a group of children at the Statehouse. This is the second year for the program, which encourages children to read when they’re not in school. State Librarian Jo Budler said more than 80,000 students took part in summer reading programs last year at public libraries throughout Kansas. Brownback’s audience Thursday was made up of children from the Topeka YWCA’s Kids Quest program. The governor handed out books and encouraged the children to exercise their reading muscles during…
A man accused of killing a British soldier in London went to court on Thursday. Michael Adebowale is charged with murder and possession of a firearm.
Russian researchers say they have discovered a perfectly preserved woolly mammoth carcass with liquid blood on a remote Arctic island, fueling hopes of cloning the Ice Age animal.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett says a new Kansas domestic violence law is laudable. But Bennett also said Thursday that what works in urban areas doesn’t always work in sparsely populated rural counties, where treatment options are fewer. The law requires prosecutors to identify all crimes that have a domestic violence component, and mandates treatment for domestic violence offenders. The law took effect for counties last July and takes effect this July for municipalities. Bennett says one issue is funding. Shawna Mobly, director of a private agency called Correctional Counseling of Kansas, says offenders who cannot…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Sen. Pat Roberts says U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder should resign over allegations that he knew of the gathering of journalists’ telephone records and emails. The Kansas Republican told The Associated Press by telephone Thursday the resignation would be in the best interests of Holder and President Barack Obama. The Justice Department has been intensely criticized over its secret gathering of the phone records of AP reporters and the emails of a Fox News journalist. Holder has testified that he had no knowledge that the records were sought after journalists reported on government activities. Roberts says Holder’s…
On today’s InFocus, Cathy talks with Adjutant General of Kansas, Major General Lee Tafanelli, followed by Gordon Hibbard, President and CEO of Kansas 4-h Foundation. [mp3-jplayer]
The arraignment has been set for a St. Mary’s man who reportedly stole a vehicle and reversed into a police officer’s car back in April. Andrew Schindler, 46, was bound over on charges of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, felony theft and felony criminal damage to property, along with a number of misdemeanor charges. One count of felony criminal damage to property has been dismissed. Schindler remains confined at this time. The arraignment is set for June 18.
A mother of 7 from Arizona is being held in a Mexican jail, accused of smuggling drugs. Mexican soldiers claim they found 12 pounds of marijuana under Yanira Maldonado’s bus seat. Her family claims she was framed.
An advocacy group is demanding a civil rights investigation into the death of a Chechen immigrant who was shot to death by authorities in central Florida while being questioned about his ties to one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects.