WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A subsidiary of Wichita-based Koch Industries has agreed to pay a $380,000 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the Clean Air Act in Kansas and Iowa. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the settlement with Koch Nitrogen Co. on Wednesday. The agency said inspections in 2007 and 2009 showed violations of risk management regulations at a pipeline terminal in Marshalltown, Iowa, and at ammonia manufacturing facilities in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Dodge City, Kan. EPA officials say the company had not fully implemented prevention requirements, nor adequately coordinated with emergency responders. Koch spokeswoman Melissa Cohlmia says…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Christian group that ministers to Kansas lawmakers is seeking prayers for what it calls dark spiritual sections of the state. The Capitol Commission says that southeast Kansas, Lawrence, north Johnson County and Kansas City, Kan., need extra prayer. The leader of the group says those areas were mentioned for their economic troubles, not for their political leanings. The letter also asks for prayers for the governor, his staff, legislative leaders and the media. The Kansas City Star reports representatives of Kansas City, Kan., and Lawrence objected to the letter, calling the characterization of their areas offensive…
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Lawrence city officials have decided to designate the city’s downtown and a surrounding area as a cultural district. The city commissioners voted Tuesday night to approve a request from the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission to create the district. The arts commission envisioned linking historic, arts, natural and cultural heritage sites such as the Arts Center, New York School, the river and art galleries downtown and in the Warehouse Arts District. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the arts groups suggested finding ways to combine private, public and grant funds to support improvements to the district. The commission plans to…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Thieves are slowing down the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad. Railroad officials say engineers discovered huge packs of batteries stolen out of two of its locomotives on Monday. The thefts occurred while the engines were sitting in the company’s rail yard. Railroad spokesman Jimmy Patterson says each case is worth $8,000 to $10,000. KAKE-TV reports the same thing happened to the railroad in January, when someone stole the 300-pound batteries from locomotives at night. Patterson says it not only stops the railroad’s work but also leaves employees at a standstill until the batteries can be replaced.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) A consortium of higher education institutions and several nonprofit hunger organizations are putting on a hunger relief summit next month in northeast Kansas. The event is planned for March 2-4 at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center. Kansas State University is one of the sponsors. The school says the Universities Fighting World Hunger Summit was started eight years ago at Auburn University. Several hunger experts will speak at the upcoming summit, including an official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the co-author of “Enough: Why the World’s Poorest Starve in an Age…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) The Association of Equipment Manufacturers reports that retail sales of farm tractors and combines have grown in January in the United States. The industry group reported Tuesday that farmers bought more than 11,163 tractors last month. That is up 20.3 percent compared to the same month in 2012. Also higher than normal are sales of combines with 538 sold in January. That is up nearly 21 percent compared to the same month the previous year. January is typically a slow month for farm equipment sales. Farm equipment sales usually spike in April and October.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas State Board of Education members aren’t likely to see a final draft of proposed science standards for public schools before April. State Department of Education official Matt Krehbiel says that means the board wouldn’t take a final vote on the standards until at least May. Krehbiel oversees work on the standards and updated the board Tuesday. Kansas and 25 other states are working on common standards for possible adoption in their public schools. Krehbiel said the final draft of the multi-state group’s guidelines should be ready at the end of March, possibly allowing the board to…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) An offer from the Kansas Association of Realtors to compromise on tax issues is getting serious consideration from the Republican chairmen of the Legislature’s tax committees. Association members rallied Wednesday at the Statehouse to preserve two popular income tax deductions for homeowners. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback is targeting the breaks in a broader plan aimed at positioning Kansas to phase out individual income taxes. Realtor lobbyist Luke Bell said the association is willing to see the deductions phased out over time, if other income tax breaks are also phased out as personal income tax rates drop. Senate…
The Topeka Capital-Journal was the first to report that longtime Rossville head football coach Steve Buhler has decided to accept the same position at Washburn Rural. Buhler led the Bulldogs a 120-54 record in 15 seasons, and a 27-13 mark in the postseason. Rossville has played in the 3A substate in seven of the last 11 seasons. Buhler will replace Derek Hammes, who resigned following a 4-5 season last fall. Coach Buhler will join “The Game” on SportsRadio 1350 KMAN at 4:45pm on Wednesday afternoon.
After violating his probation on two separate warrants, a Chapman man is behind bars. Craig Welsh (33) was arrested for violating his probation, with two counts of driving while suspended. He was arrested around 2:15 Tuesday afternoon and his bond was set at $3,000. ——– A Lawrence woman faces a hefty bond after violating her probation. Nancy Lacrosse (38) was arrested for probation violation around 8:45 Tuesday evening. The original charge was driving under the influence and no proof of insurance. Lacrosse’s bond was set at $3,000.