TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas House members don’t think much of giving a state official the power to double the fee for registering a boat to use at state parks. The House voted 82-29 on Tuesday against giving first-round approval to a bill allow the secretary of wildlife, parks and tourism the authority to increase the boating fee to $60 from $30. Boat owners pay the fee once every three years. Supporters of the bill said that even if the fee is doubled, it will still be competitive with the fees charged in other states. They said the Department of Wildlife,…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A bill setting standards for when public schools may physically restrain disruptive students or place them in isolation faces a final vote in the Kansas House. The vote Wednesday was scheduled a day after the chamber gave the measure first-round approval. The bill is backed by advocates for the disabled, who don’t think voluntary guidelines enacted by the State Board of Education are enough to protect students from abuse. Some critics argue the state should leave the issue to its 286 school districts. Under the bill, physical restraints or placement in a so-called seclusion room couldn’t be…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Republican-controlled Kansas House has rejected a Democratic proposal for keeping local property taxes in check. The plan called for the state to provide $45 million to local governments during the fiscal year that begins in July, to replace property tax revenues. The state used to provide such aid every year but stopped after 2008 because of budget problems. The House defeated the proposal Tuesday on a 76-41 vote. Democratic Rep. Jim Ward, of Wichita, offered the plan as an amendment to a bill making a technical change in property tax laws. The House advanced the measure…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas House members are preparing to take up a bill designed to inform high school dropouts about other means of continuing their education once they leave school. The legislation would require 16- and 17-year-old dropouts to be given information about alternatives to a traditional high school diploma, such as a general educational development credential, or GED. The proposal originally required those quitting school to enroll in a GED or other alternative program. But a House committee amended the bill so that students must be informed of their options during their final counseling session before dropping out. There…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has told Kansas business leaders that the nation needs a change of direction and called for a “patriot” energy policy, better education and an overhaul of the federal tax code. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported that Bush spoke Tuesday night at the Kansas Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner. While he steered clear of presidential campaign politics, Bush was sharply critical of President Barack Obama’s polices on domestic energy production, education and environmental regulations. “We need to celebrate every time someone starts a business in this country not regulate it to death,” Bush said.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A 37-year-old man faces two misdemeanor charges of telephone harassment over an allegedly threatening call he made to the Kansas governor’s office. Stephen J. Thibodeau remained in the Shawnee County jail in Topeka Tuesday night on $25,000 bond. Authorities said his last known home was Columbia, Mo., though he said in court appearance last week that he and his family were moving back to Salina. Thibodeau was arrested last week at a Topeka motel after Gov. Sam Brownback’s office reported receiving what authorities described as a threatening call. The Shawnee County district attorney’s office filed a complaint…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Police in Wichita say a 52-year-old woman was injured when she tried to stop a man from stealing a car out of her driveway. KFDI-FM reports the incident began at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday when the woman left the car warming up in the driveway. She ran back outside when saw a man get in, and stood behind the car thinking the thief wouldn’t run her down. But the thief backed down the driveway with the woman hanging onto the bumper. Police say she suffered bumps and bruises from being dragged. Officers chased the car after seeing it…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) An administrative judge has issued an order revoking a Kansas doctor’s license over her referrals of young patients for late-term abortions. The judge said Dr. Ann Kristen Neuhaus failed to meet accepted standards of care in performing mental health evaluations on 11 patients, aged 10 to 18, in 2003. The order was made public Tuesday. Neuhaus provided the second opinions that allowed the late Dr. George Tiller, of Wichita, to terminate the patients’ pregnancies. But Administrative Judge Ed Gaschler, who presided over a hearing for Neuhaus, said the care of the patients was seriously jeopardized by her…
HOLTON, Kan. (AP) A convenience store on the Prairie Band Potawatomi reservation in northeastern Kansas has been shut down for what the state says is failure to pay more than $1.7 million in sales tax. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that state revenue agents and Jackson County sheriff’s officers began seizing the assets of Kathy’s General Store near Holton on Tuesday morning. The Revenue Department says it seized all known bank accounts, on-site cash, business inventory and personal property assets of Kathy’s Inc. and owner Kathy L. Kaul Kennedy. Kaul Kennedy has challenged the state’s authority to collect various types of…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Kansas Senate committee is extending its discussion of Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposal to rewrite the formula for distributing state aid to school districts. Friday is the last day in this year’s legislative session for bills in certain committees to clear their chamber of origin. Sen. Jean Schodorf says the Education Committee won’t be able to finish its work on the school finance bill this week, and will request an exception to allow for more debate. Schodorf, a Wichita Republican, says Brownback’s plan is complex and has generated a lot of discussion. She says the bill isn’t…