The United Nations General Assembly voted 138-to-9 to recognize Palestine as a non-member observer state. The US strongly opposed the vote, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling it counterproductive.
Author: KMAN Staff
GODDARD, Kan. (AP) Authorities in Sedgwick County say a collision involving two school buses and a car west of Wichita left several people with minor injuries. The sheriff’s department says the accident happened shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday in Goddard. Details of the collision weren’t immediately clear, but no one was sent to the hospital. The Goddard school district says the buses were carrying elementary school students. Paramedics checked about a dozen people at the scene.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas officials have certified the results of this month’s general election amid a debate over a law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. The Board of Canvassers met briefly Thursday and unanimously approved figures provided by county election officials. The board consists of Secretary of State Kris Kobach, Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Gov. Sam Brownback, who sent his chief counsel. Kobach defended the state’s photo ID law, noting that 838 Kansans cast provisional ballots because they lacked the proper ID at the polls Nov. 6. That’s out of 1.18 million voters who cast…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A state senator is raising concerns about the overtime logged by workers at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex in Topeka because of staff shortages. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Thursday that employees of the juvenile prison worked more than 14,500 hours of overtime from July to November. Republican Sen. Pete Brungardt, of Salina, says the problem is related to the state budget and the inability to hire enough staff to cover duties. Terri Williams, the acting commissioner of the Juvenile Justice Authority, told lawmakers the agency has struggled to retain current staff and find enough qualified applicants who…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) State officials say they are working with law enforcement on legislation designed to reduce sex trafficking of teenagers and increase penalties for those who entice the children into the industry. A Kansas Department for Children and Families official said Wednesday the legislation will emphasize that children in the sex trade are victims, not criminals. Anna Pilato, a deputy secretary in the department, told child care workers in Wichita that Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office, law enforcement agencies and judges are collaborating on the legislation. The Wichita Eagle reports DCF’s role will be to ensure the minors involved…
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Lawrence Memorial Hospital wants to be designated to treat lower-level trauma patients. The hospital’s board of trustees voted Wednesday to start the process leading to a designation as a Level 4 trauma center, a level recently created by the state health department. Level 4 gives emergency responders the option to send patients to Lawrence Memorial to be stabilized before being sent to other hospitals. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that people who suffer serious injuries in accidents in Douglas County currently are sent to hospitals in Kansas City, Kan., Overland Park and Topeka. Eventually, the Lawrence hospital would…
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) A federal agency is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to arrests in more than a dozen suspicious fires in Lawrence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering the reward to help the investigation of fires that have been set in and around apartment buildings in south Lawrence since Oct. 19. The Lawrence Journal-World reports most of the fires were set in laundry rooms or hallways near unlocked exterior doors. Fire officials say they suspect the fires have been intentionally set, but have not released any more information.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) It’s time to pull out those rhinestone-covered Christmas sweaters and if possible grow a mustache. A 5K race called the Ugly Sweater Run takes place at 2 p.m. Saturday in downtown Lawrence. Near the starting line at Watson Park there will be snow machines, reindeer games and holiday music. Hot chocolate will flow freely during the race. After the run, there will be awards for things like the best mustache and sweater. Adult beverages also will be available. Participants are urged to bring a toy to donate to Toys for Tots.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas officials are preparing to certify results from this month’s general election. The State Board of Canvassers scheduled a meeting Thursday afternoon to review totals from races for congressional, legislative and other state offices. The board is led by Secretary of State Kris Kobach. Gov. Sam Brownback and Attorney General Derek Schmidt also are members, though they can send representatives rather than attending themselves. All are Republicans. The meeting comes amid a debate over a new Kansas law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. Critics contend the law suppresses turnout. But Kobach has reported…
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) A research team at Kansas State University is looking at the usefulness of social media in curbing the spread of infectious diseases. The researchers are studying whether a well-timed post from a public authority or trusted person could help as much as flu shots, hand-washing or sneezing into an elbow. Researchers are gathering information about human behavior and identifying the various groups such as teachers or public officials that need to be reached through social media. They’re also exploring the best way of distributing information using social media. Some findings are expected to be presented next month…