Author: KMAN Staff

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Education officials say Kansas has until next spring to revise the way it evaluates teachers to factor in students’ performance on standardized tests. The officials told State Board of Education members Tuesday that a commission of teachers and administrators will begin working on proposals next month. The commission’s first report is expected in December. Kansas was granted a waiver in June from key provisions of the No Child Left Behind law, which requires all students to be proficient in reading and math by 2014. Federal officials are pushing Kansas to revise its teacher evaluation method so that…

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ST. FRANCIS, Kan. (AP) A northwest Kansas county commissioner says he’ll keep campaigning despite losing a tie-breaking coin toss in his bid for re-election. The Hays Daily News reports that incumbent Andy Beikman and challenger Brett Poling both received 179 votes in last week’s Cheyenne County Commission District 3 race. The tie stood after Monday’s canvassing. County Commission chairman Dale Patton decided to break the tie with the toss of a gold coin, which he got from a bank. Poling called “heads” and won the toss. Despite the loss, Beikman says he’ll wage a write-in campaign to keep his seat…

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) A South Hutchinson Planning Board rejected a permit to build housing near Hutchinson for inmates just released from prison. The board’s vote came after more than 100 residents attended a meeting Monday night to discuss the proposal to build the housing just west of Hutchinson. Those attending spoke in favor and against the proposal. The Hutchinson News reports the planning board’s recommendation goes to the city council, which will vote on the issue Aug. 20. Prairie Lighthouse Inc., a nonprofit group, wants to renovate a closed nursing home into housing and mentor ex-inmates from the Hutchinson Correctional…

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GALENA, Kan. (AP) State health officials say pollution from a former southeast Kansas smelter operation is scheduled to be cleaned up next year and the site could eventually be redeveloped. The former EaglePicher plant began operation in 1878 and operated for much of the following century. The Joplin Globe reports the 68 acres of the former smelter will be cleaned up using $6.5 million from EaglePicher’s 2005 bankruptcy settlement. The project also will include cleaning up sediment from Short Creek, which flows across the back of the property. It is expected to begin next summer. The Kansas Department of Health…

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) Hutchinson voters in November might face ballot issues that would either repeal gay rights or broaden them. In June, the Hutchinson City Council added protections against discrimination in housing and employment for gay, lesbian and bisexual people. After the vote, opponents began gathering signatures on petitions to require a November vote to repeal that ordinance. On Tuesday, the Kansas Equality Coalition announced it would gather signatures on a ballot question asking voters to approve wider protections for gays, lesbians and bisexuals. The Hutchinson News reports the KEC, which has about 170 Hutchinson members, will need 327 valid…

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