SALINA, Kan. (AP) Salina’s anti-discrimination ordinance will include gays, lesbians and transgender people starting June 4. Salina’s city commission on Monday amended the ordinance to prohibit discrimination against those groups in employment, housing and public accommodations. Companies that do less than $20,000 a year in business with the city or have fewer than four employees will be exempt. The vote came after several months of discussion and controversy over the proposal. KSAL reports the controversy might not be over. Opponents of the ordinance could collect petitions to put the proposal to a public vote.
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas schools are winning recognition for keeping students active. The Kansas State Department of Education says it worked with the Midwest Dairy Council to encourage schools to upload videos showing how their schools are active each day. The grand prize winner in the Fuel Up to Play 60 Physical Activity Challenge was Gardiner Elementary School in Wichita. Runner-up schools are in Norton, McPherson, Olathe and Blue Rapids. Fuel Up to Play 60 is a school nutrition and physical activity program. It’s created in partnership with Midwest Dairy Council and the National Football League. This year’s focus was…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Long delays caused by a new computer system prompted state officials to extend the time some Kansans have to renew their vehicle tags and get license plates. The Kansas Division of Vehicles announced the extension Monday for those who couldn’t meet registration deadlines of backups caused by the computer installation. The delays began when treasurer offices in all 105 counties were closed for a week earlier this month while the system was installed. The new grace periods are: May 31 for tags expired April 30 (last names beginning with C or D) June 29 for tags that…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Convenience stores aren’t especially famous for offering low-salt snack foods. But 13 Topeka stores plan to make it easier for customers to find healthy offerings among the chips and soda. Erin Tynon of the Shawnee County Health Agency says each store has agreed to add a stand-alone rack of “healthy, low-sodium items.” The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the agreement is part of an initiative financed by a three-year grant worth more than $930,000. The money comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Topeka Zoo and Shawnee County Department of Corrections also are participating. The zoo…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A former majority leader of the Kansas Senate will be the next leader of the state Board of Regents. The board announced the election of Tim Emert as chairman on Monday. He begins a one-year term in July, succeeding Ed McKechnie, of Arcadia. The nine-member board also elected Fred Logan, of Leawood, as vice chairman. Emert is a Republican from Independence. He was appointed to the board in 2010 by Democratic then-Gov. Mark Parkinson, a Democrat. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a law degree from the University of Kansas. Logan was appointed by Republican…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A former public works director who admitted stealing equipment from a Kansas county is pleading with a federal judge to spare him from prison. Steven Collier has pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from Barber County in 2010 and agreed to pay more than $116,310 in restitution. The sentencing is scheduled for May 30. Collier’s lawyer attorney filed a motion Monday seeking a shorter term than the 12 to 18 months prescribed by federal guidelines. Collier says he strayed from his marriage and stole because of a toxic relationship with his girlfriend. He says he used…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo won’t get involved in a federal lawsuit over the Legislature’s failure to redraw the boundaries of the state’s political districts. Pompeo said Monday he’s confident that three federal judges handling the lawsuit will do their best to draw workable maps of the state’s four U.S. House districts. He issued the statement after the judges had a hearing in the case and allowed fellow Kansas Congressman Kevin Yoder to intervene. Pompeo and Yoder are freshman Republicans. Pompeo represents the 4th Congressional District of south-central Kansas. Yoder represents the 3rd District, centered in the Kansas…
Rutgers student is sentenced
WESTMORELAND, Kan. – The Pottawatomie County Commission opened bidding for the Timber Creek Bank Stabilization project on Monday. Three companies bid on the project, which will address embankment issues along Elbo Creek. The low bid came from Rush Creek Construction in Beatrice, Neb., at $711,684.15; however, county engineers had only budgeted $560,000 for the project. “All three bids were higher than our (engineer’s) estimate,” Commission Chair Gary Yenzer said. “That’s a major increase in what we want and can’t afford.” The commission will have two weeks to hold the bids while it attempts to obtain more funding from the Kansas Department of Health and…