WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Police in Wichita are looking into a possible case of child endangerment after finding two toddlers alone in their home overnight. KAKE-TV reports a neighbor called police around 3:30 a.m. Friday with concerns about the children. Officers went to the southeast Wichita home and found the 1-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl alone. Police have since talked to the parents, but no arrests have been made. The children were initially taken into protective custody and were later released to relatives.
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Republican leaders in the Kansas House say there’s very little support in their chamber for Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposal to raise additional sales tax revenue. House Speaker Ray Merrick of Stilwell and Majority Leader Jene Vickrey of Louisburg said Friday the measure proposed by the Republican governor does not appear viable. Brownback wants to cancel a decrease in the sales tax scheduled for July. Under current law, the 6.3 percent tax is set to drop to 5.7 percent. The governor would use the additional revenues to stabilize the state budget so that Kansas can pursue further income…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Some Kansas House members think pat-downs at the state’s airports are getting out of hand. A bill sponsored by 21 House members would it illegal for Transportation Security Administration screeners to touch an airline passenger’s private parts during a search. It also would bar the agents from taking a child under the age of 18 away from a parent or guardian to conduct a search. The Kansas City Star reported Friday that Kansas is joining other states that have objected to what they consider aggressive searches of people unlikely to be potential threats. But some experts say…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A bill before the Kansas House would clarify that legislative dinners at the governor’s mansion are legal under the state’s Open Meetings Act. The bill sponsored by Rep. Jim Howell, a Republican from Derby, is in response to a controversy last year, when the Shawnee County District Attorney investigated seven dinners at the mansion attended only by Republican lawmakers. District Attorney Chad Taylor determined the dinners likely were technical violations of the open meetings act. But he did not prosecute anyone because he said the lawmakers didn’t intend to break the law. The bill would specify that…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A bill introduced in the Kansas Senate would require the University of Kansas Medical Center to establish a center focusing on adult stem cells. The bill is sponsored by 22 conservative Republican senators. It would create the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center at the medical center in Kansas City, Kan. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the bill would require the medical center to appoint a director to oversee patient treatment and research with adult, cord blood and other non-embryonic stem cells. It also would require a 13-member advisory board. Abortion opponents oppose human embryonic stem cell research because…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Republican Party wants an investigation into a former Democratic lawmaker’s use of official-looking letterhead for committee testimony. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that state GOP Executive Director Clay Barker said Thursday that the party will ask Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor to investigate former Rep. Ann Mah of Topeka. Both Mah and Taylor are Democrats. Mah lost her race for re-election last year by 21 votes. Mah has spoken several times in committee hearings, providing testimony on stationery featuring a drawing of the Statehouse and identifying her as a state representative. Barker noted that state…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas officials will tour the state next month to gather suggestions and opinions on services funded by the Older Americans Act. Staff members from the state Department for Aging and Disability Services will hold hour-long meetings in five cities between March 5 and March 13. Lunch will follow each meeting. Services funded by the Older Americans Act are directed at people 60 and older. They include legal assistance, caregiver and in-home services, transportation help and nutrition programs. Department Secretary Shawn Sullivan says the agency wants to know what services older Kansans need to remain independent and stay…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Kansas House committee will hear more testimony on legislation to restrict where strip clubs can operate and what activities are permitted inside. The Federal and State Affairs Committee opened a hearing on the measure Thursday and planned to hear from opponents on Friday. Proponents testified Thursday the so-called Community Defense Act would preserve community values and protect women. The proposal would establish where adult businesses can be located, ban lap dances and regulate dancing onstage in various levels of undress. Opponents have argued in the past that such restrictions could cost the state up to 1,000…
The disabled Carnival cruise ship Triumph is being moved from the Alabama dock where it discharged its weary passengers and crew after five days at sea paralyzed by an engine-room fire.
A 150-foot asteroid hurtled through Earth’s backyard Friday, coming within an incredible 17,150 miles and making the closest known flyby for a rock of its size.