TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A new report says the Kansas unemployment rate continues to decline. The state Labor Department said Monday that unemployment fell to 5.7 percent in October from 5.9 percent in September. Last month’s figure is also down sharply from a seasonally adjusted 6.6 percent in October 2011. September’s figure marked the first time since December 2008 that Kansas unemployment was below 6 percent. Interim Labor Secretary Lana Gordon says she’s encouraged by the latest report. But a Labor Department economist says the slow pace of seasonal hiring shows a tentativeness in the economy.
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Kansas Court of Appeals research attorney has been fired after an investigation into comments she posted to Twitter last week during the ethics hearing of former Attorney General Phill Kline. Sarah Peterson Herr was a research attorney for Court of Appeals Judge Christel Marquardt. Herr tweeted several negative comments about Kline during the hearing. Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss said Monday that Herr had been fired and that her case had been referred to other offices for possible ethical violations. She was suspended with pay on Friday, the same day she apologized because she…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) The re-election of President Barack Obama is rekindling hopes among wind energy supporters for the extension of the production tax credit for the industry. Obama strongly backs alternative energy. Democrats also gained seats in the Senate and House this election. The Wichita Eagle reports the American Wind Energy Association has predicted that losing the credit will lead to 37,000 layoffs as demand for new wind turbines and wind farms drops sharply. The credit expires Jan. 1. The conservative-dominated U.S. House has opposed reviving the wind energy subsidy. Two Republicans in the Kansas delegation Mike Pompeo and Tim…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Wichita police say a man caught two burglars at his elderly neighbor’s home and chased them away with a pitchfork. KAKE-TV reports the man saw two teenagers inside his neighbor’s residence just after 9:30 a.m. Saturday and called 911 before confronting them with a pitchfork. Officers arrived at the scene and found that the victim’s home had been ransacked. Two suspects, ages 16 and 19, were found hiding nearby and booked into jail on burglary charges. The victim is an 86-year-old woman who was not at home at the time.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Deer herds are a little thinner in a couple Kansas counties because of a seasonal virus that might be worse than normal because of the summer’s drought. The Lawrence Journal-World reports dozens of dead deer have been found near lakes and ponds in Douglas and Franklin counties. A spokesman for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism says about 400 deer deaths from epizootic hemorrhagic disease have been reported. Wildlife and disease coordinator Shane Hesting says the disease has affected only a small portion of a total deer population that exceeds half a million. Hesting says…
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) Kansas State University is taking part in a program to train more students from China to become veterinarians. Kansas State’s College of Veterinary Medicine signed a memo of understanding with Chinese officials last month. It provides for up to 10 Chinese students per academic year to take pre-veterinary courses at Kansas State while they become familiar with U.S. culture and education. Students in the program may then apply to study veterinary medicine at Kansas State or one of five other veterinary schools around the country. An organization called the China Scholarship Council has committed about $13 million…
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) Kansas officials and leaders in the oil and gas industry will gather in Hutchinson next week to give an update on activity in the geologic formation known as the Mississippian Lime Play. The discussion set for Nov. 27 is part of a daylong conference on how small businesses and job seekers can benefit from the resurgent oil and gas activity. The state Commerce Department says Gov. Sam Brownback is among the officials scheduled to take part in the morning roundtable. A networking session will give small-business owners a chance to meet officials from oil and gas companies…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A task force formed by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is preparing to open discussions about finding ways to reduce childhood poverty. The task force was having its first meeting Monday in Topeka. The 12-member group includes Brownback’s secretaries of health and environment, children and families, and aging and disability services. Kansas first lady Mary Brownback is serving as an adviser.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Department of Labor is preparing to release a fresh look at the state’s economy. The agency says its report on October’s unemployment rate will be announced Monday. The state’s jobless rate has been on the way down recently, falling to 5.9 percent in September from 6.2 percent in August and 6.7 percent in September 2011. September’s figure marked the first time since December 2008 that Kansas unemployment was below 6 percent.
Talk has been going on about a bridge that connects the two counties of Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee. Now the two commissions are moving forward together to make some decisions. At Monday’s Pottawatomie County Commission meeting, Wabaunsee commissioners and residence were in attendance to discuss the options available for the bridge. The three original were presented to the Wabaunsee commission as they were already given at the Pottawatomie County Commission at their last meeting. A fourth options was also made available by Robert Nealson, Midwest regional manager with Kwik Bond Polymers. Nealson suggested using a polyester polymer concrete. After discussion and…