WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A new company begins work this week on a high-capacity transmission line it says will create an energy “superhighway” between eastern and western Kansas and bolster the state’s wind energy potential. Prairie Wind Transmission plans to break ground Wednesday in Colwich on a 108-mile line that will extend from Wichita to Medicine Lodge and south to the Oklahoma border. The high-capacity line carries about 345 kilovolts. Prairie Wind is a joint venture of Westar Energy and Electric Transmission America. The line is expected to be finished and energized in December 2014. The company says it will provide…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Senate President Steve Morris has a big fundraising advantage over his Republican primary opponent. Morris filed a report Monday with the secretary of state’s office showing he raised almost $89,000 from Jan. 1 through last Thursday. He began the year with more than $159,000 in the bank. The Hugoton Republican’s report also shows he has spent more than $148,000 this year on his race for re-election. Morris is opposed in the Aug. 7 primary by House member Larry Powell, of Garden City. Powell reported raising almost $29,000 this year, including $20,000 in personal loans to his…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A northeast Kansas county plans to spend nearly $2.1 million to buy 45,000 bins for a curbside recycling program expected to begin next year. The Shawnee County Commission voted Monday to spend about $46 each for 95-gallon bins from a company with a manufacturing plant in DeSoto. The price includes a $4 per-bin assembly charge. Shawnee County, which is home to Topeka, plans to begin curbside recycling early next year for all garbage-collection customers, while raising rates by $4 a month. The county plans to make recycling pickups every other week. Customers who don’t want to recycle…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A political action committee formed by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is backing conservative challengers to moderate Republican state senators in the Aug. 7 primary. Kobach’s Prairie Fire PAC filed a campaign finance report Monday with the secretary of state’s office showing it raised nearly $20,000 from its formation in February until Thursday. The PAC spent nearly $11,000, mostly in campaign contributions to Kobach’s fellow GOP conservatives. The donations included $1,000 each to conservatives hoping to unseat Senate President Steve Morris, of Hugoton; Pete Brungardt, of Salina; Tim Owens, of Overland Park; and Vicki Schmidt, of…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A major investigation into illegal deer hunting in Kansas has snared three more out-of-state hunters. The U.S. attorney’s office says three customers of a hunting camp called Camp Lone Star pleaded guilty and were sentenced Monday on misdemeanor charges of interstate transportation of wildlife taken in violation of state law. A judge sentenced Bart Stelly of Arnaudville, La..; Ryan Pinkston of Center, Texas; and Tim Metcalf of Lafayette, La., to probation. They must also pay fines and restitution. The government says 25 people have now been sentenced for activities of the hunting camp near the south-central town…
Campaign expenditure reports filed Monday for the Riley County Commission District Three Republican primary race shows David Fiser raising the most, with nearly $4,775 raised, compared to Ron Well’s $3,140. Fiser has spent about $ 4,601.66 of that, with Wells spending $486.35 –although Wells indicates that’s not truly reflective as he hadn’t turned in bills that came in after the 27th. Fiser tells KMAN he tries to be fiscally responsible when spending the money he receives, adding people want to be a part of the campaign. Wells describes himself as conservative, saying he thought appropriate use of the money contributed to…
1, A Junction City woman’s car was reportedly vandalized at Manhattan Town Center Mall on Monday. According to Riley County Police 34-year-old Nadine Malkmus found her white Mercedes Benz badly keyed on Monday morning. Total damages are estimated to be around $4,000. Police are investigating the incident, and no arrests have been made at this time. 2. Wichita police arrested a woman on a warrant out of Riley County courts on Monday. According to Riley County Police reports Vicky Ewing was arrested on a failure to appear warrant stemming from the orginal charges of possession of methamphetamines, two charges of…
Sunset Zoo recently welcomed a new primate to the animal collection – a baby Colobus Monkey. Blinkin, the animal’s mother, and the new infant are doing well. The new addition is roughly a week old and is now on exhibit to the public in the Primate Building located along the Zoo’s African Forest Trail. Unlike adult Colobus who are known for their highly contrastive coloring – glossy black fur with white hair around their face and a bushy white tail – the infants are born with completely white hair. Over time the animal’s hair will darken, achieving full adult coloration…
The Riley County Clerk’s office has released the receipts and expenditure reports for the primary candidates for Riley County District 2 county commission. The reports show each candidate has a different strategy on campaign funding. Candidate Robert Boyd has had a total of $3,280 in contributions, and $1,562.47 in expenditures. Boyd says he’s trying to get the word out about the race, and Boyd says he’s doing a variety of methods to accomplish that mission. Candidate Jeffrey Holmes has had $525.00 in contributions, and has spent $4.345.00. Holmes says his campaign revolves around folks in the county knowing him or…
The July 30th campaign expenditure report deadline has passed, giving an indication of local candidates’ contributions and expenditures before next week’s primary election. In the State Senate 22nd District Republican race, incumbent Roger Reitz has received the most contributions of nearly $34,890. Candidate Joe Knopp received $29,717.25 and Bob Reader $22,284.44. Knopp has spent the most, however–with $32,031.12 listed as total expenditures and other disbursements. Reader follows with $24,102.60 , and Reitz spent the least of the candidates at $13,414.76 . Democrat Tom Hawk raised $1,200 and spent $50. In the 51st District State Representative Republican race, Dee McKee raised the most…