LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Lawrence school district officials have told an 8th grade teacher to change a lesson on slavery that included having some of the students wear mock shackles. Mike Wormsley at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School has taught the lesson for years. The two-week role-playing exercise is designed to show students the roles of slaves and slave owners. Part of the lesson required some students, including black students, to wear mock shackles in school. District officials this year told Wormsley they understood the value of the exercise but wanted him to end the use of shackles because it isn’t…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A bill introduced in the Kansas House would require the state’s schools to provide evidence in classrooms questioning the existence of climate change. The bill, introduced last week, says instruction about scientific controversies should include evidence for and against the theory. The only controversy identified in the bill is “climate science.” The Topeka Capital-Journal reports no hearings have been scheduled for the bill before the House Education Committee. The bill comes at the same time the Kansas State Board of Education is preparing to vote on new science standards, which are still being developed. Another bill currently…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas leaders have kicked off a month-long food drive with the goal of bringing in 50,000 meals for needy families in the state. Gov. Sam Brownback and Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman on Monday launched the “Neighbor to Neighbor” statewide food drive that will end March 19, which is Kansas Agriculture Day. Donations to the drive can be left at Dillon’s Food Stores and other locations across the state. The grocery store chain made an initial donation of 8,000 pounds of nonperishable food items Monday at the kick-off event in Topeka. Brownback says the food drive won’t end…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas senators have advanced a bill aimed at preventing children from seeing obscene or harmful images while using the Internet in schools and public libraries. The measure received a brief debate Tuesday before advancing to final action, set for Wednesday. The Senate Education Committee had endorsed the bill Monday. The bill initially would have required schools and libraries to install technology, such as filters or content blockers, to prevent children from viewing all forms of pornography or other obscene or harmful material. The committee amended the bill so that in addition to technology, schools and libraries can…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Senate has given first-round approval to a bill prohibiting doctors from terminating a pregnancy solely because a woman doesn’t want a baby of a certain gender. The bill advanced on a voice vote Tuesday. The Senate is expected to give the measure final approval Wednesday and send it to the House. The bill makes a misdemeanor the first time a doctor is convicted of performing a sex-selection abortion and a felony each time afterward. A woman’s husband could sue a doctor over such a procedure, as could a parent or guardian of a girl under…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas is closer to ending a constitutionally questionable ban on out-of-state residents circulating petitions to put candidates on the ballot or gain recognition for political parties. The state House approved a bill Monday to repeal the prohibition. The 118-1 vote sends the measure to the Senate. The bill results from a federal lawsuit filed in 2010 by the Constitution Party. The state hasn’t enforced its ban since, acknowledging that it likely violates rights to freedom of speech and association. The Constitution Party isn’t recognized in Kansas. Voters can’t list themselves as being affiliated with it when they…
Authorities don’t know the motive in Tuesday’s rampage of carjackings and shootings across California’s Orange County. Three people were killed before the gunman ended the rampage by taking his own life.
The Obama administration says the U.S. will continue to strengthen its defenses and discuss cyber theft with top Chinese officials following a security report that blamed China’s military for recent cyberattacks on key industries.
It was a day of reviewing goals from the past year and looking toward the coming year for the Riley County Law Board Tuesday. Progress indicators in 2012 were basically met, according to Riley County Police Director Brad Schoen, who went over the approximate half dozen goals. Some of those are improving traffic safety, reducing crime, increasing public satisfaction, and making use of available technological advances. One particular goal that created discussion involved mental health housing needs, with an ad hoc working group discussing the matter. Board member Wynn Butler indicates he wants to see something concrete and less talk. Director Schoen…
A horse with a knack for opening stall doors at a Michigan farm is getting attention after a video of her escape-artist antics was posted online.