A Kansas Senate committee is debating whether to delay or change requirements that the state’s utility companies use more renewable fuels. The state required major utility companies to be able to generate 10 percent of their energy through a renewable source by 2011. Those requirements would increase to 15 percent by 2016 and 20 percent by 2020. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the Senate committee on utilities is considering extending the 15 percent mandate to 2018 and the 20 percent requirement to 2024. And it would allow delaying any requirements if utilities can show good cause, such as increased costs to…
Author: KMAN Staff
Kansas lawmakers have begun the process of renewing a statewide property tax that helps fund elementary and secondary schools. The 20-mill tax raises about $575 million a year for public schools and must be renewed every two years. A mill equals $1 per $1,000 in assessed property value. The Senate Education Committee heard testimony on the renewal Wednesday. Support came from the Kansas Association of School Boards and the Kansas National Education Association. There was no opposition, and the committee took no action on it. Revenue from the tax is considered to be part of each school district’s contribution to…
Police in Riley County say an 80-year-old man lost $110,000 in just two months to a home mortgage scam. The scammers tricked the Manhattan man using what appeared to be paperwork from Bank of America. The man was warned that he was behind on his mortgage payments and about to lose his home to foreclosure. The victim provided his financial information, allowing the scammers to access his account. Police say the man was first contacted Dec. 1. He reported the theft on Tuesday. The victim declined to be interviewed, except to tell WIBW he had been contacted both by phone…
A federal appeals court has tossed out evidence against a 66-year-old Kansas military veteran convicted of possessing incendiary bombs in preparation for the end of the world. Alfred Dutton, an Army and Marine veteran from Eureka, is serving a 21-month sentence. He pleaded guilty earlier to unlawful possession of unregistered destructive devices. Dutton had sought to suppress evidence taken in 2011 from a storage unit where authorities found five jars of homemade napalm with fuses attached. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday reversed a lower court’s denial of the motion and returned the case for more proceedings.…
The Douglas County prosecutor will decide whether to file charges against a man who was detained after approaching a Lawrence bank while wearing a bulletproof vest under his shirt. The Lawrence Journal-World reports employees at a Bank of America branch called police Tuesday after spotting the man acting suspiciously. The man had been at the bank previously and had conflicts with employees. Officers detained the man and seized a firearm from his vehicle. Police said the weapon might have been illegal for the man to possess because of an earlier, involuntary commitment for mental health reasons. The man was not…
A positive internal report on the effects of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s latest income tax proposals isn’t quieting criticism from some Kansas legislators. The state Revenue Department released figures Wednesday showing Brownback’s proposed cuts in individual income taxes would benefit Kansas’ poorest taxpayers more than its wealthiest ones. Brownback wants to reduce income tax rates further after cuts last year. Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan said Brownback is seeking a balanced approach. But the analysis doesn’t take into account Brownback’s plan to cancel a sales tax decrease scheduled for July to bolster the budget. And it appears to exclude roughly half…
Cathy is on vacation for the next week and a half, so others will be taking over InFocus until she returns. On today’s show, Tom Reust talks with USD 383 Board Vice President Curt Herrman and Superintendent Bob Shannon, followed with discussion with the K-State Study Abroad Office. [mp3-jplayer]
Wednesday, the Riley County Police Department made two arrests in connection with the armed robbery of Dara’s FastLane occurring earlier that morning at 1:20 am. 20 year old, Dennis Denzien of Manhattan was arrested for Aggravated Robbery, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set for $55,000.00 Further investigation led to the arrest of 20 year old, Patrick Scahill of Manhattan. Martin was charged with Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Mushrooms with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to…
Hear from Coach Snyder and Sean Snyder. Also KSU recruits Tanner Wood, Jake Waters, Nick Ramirez and Cre Moore as well as their high school and junior college coaches! ESPN.com Recruiting Expert Jeremy Crabtree and Rockhurst High School Head Coach Tony Severino also joined the show. [mp3-jplayer]
The U.S. Postal Service will stop delivering mail on Saturdays but continue to deliver packages six days a week under a plan aimed at saving about $2 billion, the financially struggling agency says.