TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas House has defeated legislation that would create a school choice scholarship program funded by corporate donations. House members voted 63-56 Monday against advancing the bill to final action. The measure would have let parents of low-income or special needs children in elementary or secondary grades apply for scholarships to send their children to private or parochial schools. Corporations would receive tax credits for contributions to a qualifying scholarship-granting organization. The program would have been capped at $10 million annually. Supporters said the proposal would give parents who might not otherwise afford it an alternative to…
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Wichita’s legal department is recommending that the city approve an $89,000 financial settlement with a woman who was sexually assaulted by a former police officer. The Wichita Eagle reports the city council will consider the settlement agreement Tuesday. The woman has accused former officer Joseph T. McGill of sexually assaulting her in 2011. McGill pleaded guilty in January 2012 to sexual battery and was sentenced to three years’ probation. McGill resigned after the charges were filed. The civil lawsuit alleges the city and the police chief were negligent in hiring McGill, and in allowing him to remain…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A bill before the Kansas Legislature would change a state law that allows citizens to convene grand juries. Supporters say the current law is ineffective because prosecutors manipulate the grand juries to stop citizen complaints. Opponents say changing the law would politicize the grand juries. The Kansas City Star reports the citizen grand jury was designed to let citizens pursue wrongdoing overlooked by prosecutors. But prosecutors control which witnesses are called. One of the proposed changes would require the person filing a petition to be the first to address the grand jury. Currently, no witnesses have to…
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) The Delaware Tribe of Indians is considering moving the tribe’s headquarters from Oklahoma to Kansas. Dee Ketchum, a former chief of the tribe, says it is looking for property in Kansas, focusing on Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties. He met with Leavenworth city officials last week. Ketchum says the tribe is not looking for land for a new reservation. It could use the new headquarters for several things, such as health care, housing and child care. The Leavenworth Times reports Ketchum acknowledged that gaming could be part of an economic development effort. He says the move is being…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Lottery says changes in the Hot Lotto this spring will mean bigger prizes but also reduce the chance of winning. Kansas lottery officials said in a news release that the prize for matching three balls will go up from $4 to $6; matching four will double from $50 to $100; matching four and the Hot Ball will increase from $500 to $3,000; and matching five balls, without the Hot Ball, will increase from $10,000 to $30,000. The lottery will pay all taxes for the grand prize, meaning the winner will receive the full jackpot. However,…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Deer and turkey hunters in Kansas will be able to use more legal equipment during upcoming hunting seasons. The Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism says deer hunters will be allowed to use any center fire rifle or handgun cartridge when deer season starts in September. Previously, hunters had to use ammunition with at least a .23 caliber bullet. Also, any gauge slugs will be allowed starting in the fall. KFDI reports that the state also will allow anyone to use crossbows during archery season, and radio transmitters in arrows will be legal. Previously, only people…
Monday’s Riley County Commission meeting began with a bid opening for traffic signs, extruded street name signs, reflective sheeting, aluminum sign blanks and accessories, for the upcoming Manhattan street scaping project. Six bids were submitted for the project, only one of which came from a Kansas company: Newman Traffic Signs, Jamestown, ND-$24,656.08 Custom Products Corp, Jackson, MS-$20,244.41 Tapco Traffice and Parking Control Co., Brown Deer, WI-$34,062.14 National Sign Company Inc., Ottawa, KS-$22,327.15 Rocal Inc., Frankfort, OH-$20,004.20 Vulcan Signs, Foley, AL-$21,338.03 The commission approved to move all of the bids forward for staff evaluation and recommendation. County Treasurer, Eileen King came…
Riley County Police Director Brad Schoen told Law Board members Monday his department is “breathing pretty rarefied air” when it comes to being able to document and show its plan and follow-through. And that’s why the department apparently continues to excel when it comes to being recognized by the National Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement agencies. The local group once again was recognized for outstanding performance during a conference of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement agencies held in Charleston, South Carolina last week. RCPD Director Brad Schoen told the Law Board only six of the 125 agencies being reaccredited were presented with the Accreditation with Excellence…
Besides the normal Justice Center update Monday morning, which included the approval of a few change orders, the Pottawatomie County Commission looked at a few other items as well. Tim Eisenbarth, Noxious Weed Director, brought forth a permit application which would allow for the expansion of the household hazardous waste facility. The commission also approved the department to hire on summer help as part of a Kansas Department of Transportation contract and to help with the recycling portion of the department. Though snow has been causing some delays, the Transportation department has been doing rather well. Dustin Trego, Management Assistant of Operations, explained…
The Riley County Police Department attended a conference on March 17th in South Carolina. The department released a media release Monday announcing a special aware they received. For the second time, the Riley County Police Department was recognized for “outstanding performance”, and received honors, at the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies conference. The department maintained their Meritorious Service standing, and was awarded Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation with Excellence. Only six out of the 125 agencies being re accredited at the conference were presented with this award. In December of 2012, the department underwent a rigorous three-day on-site assessment…