TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Negotiators for the Kansas House and Senate have settled some key issues on pensions legislation but they’re still haggling over the details of a new retirement plan for future public employees. Three senators and three House members met Tuesday to work on the final version of a pensions bill. They agreed on using some revenues from state-owned casinos to bolster the long-term health of the state pension system. And House members dropped a proposal to create a new, voluntary 401(k)-style plan for new hires. But they haven’t agreed on details of new plan for public employees hired…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Workers at the Jostens plant in Topeka say they are surprised by news that the plant will close and move its work to Tennessee. The company announced the move Monday, affecting 372 jobs. It says the move to Clarksville, Tenn., will help it become more efficient. The Minnesota-based company, which makes yearbooks, class rings and other products, has been in Topeka since 1969. It has been moving jobs and production out of the city for several years. Still, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports many workers say they were surprised by Monday’s announcement because they believed the plant would…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Gov. Sam Brownback has a law that expands the types of work that dental hygienists will be allowed to do. The new law will allows specially-trained dental hygienists to perform such tasks as pulling baby teeth, teeth cleaning and providing temporary fillings. The Kansas City Star reports the bill was designed to address a shortage of dentists in Kansas, particularly in rural areas. But critics say it doesn’t go far enough. The bill also requires the Board of Regents to add more slots for Kansas residents at the University of Missouri-Kansas City dental school. Those students would…
SALINA, Kan. (AP) The Salina City Commission has given first round approval to a proposal to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance. The commission voted Monday to add those categories to an ordinance that prohibits discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation. The vote came after four hours of discussion and public comment. Commissioners will take the issue up on second reading during their regular meeting next week. The Salina Journal reports even if the commission passes the issue next week, opponents and proponents both have promised an appeal that could put the issue to…
LANSING, Kan. (AP) A former Lansing police officer and school board member has been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison without parole for trying to entice a minor to have sex. Federal prosecutors announced that 41-year-old William Brian Duncan of Leavenworth was sentenced Monday. When he gets out of prison, he will be on supervised release for the rest of his life. Duncan pleaded no contest last October to using the Internet to try to persuade a 14-year-old boy to engage in sex and crossing the state line to meet the minor for sex. Duncan was a Lansing police…
HAYS, Kan. (AP) A math and science academy created to keep some of Kansas’ top students from leaving the state has graduated its second class. Students chosen for the program begin living at Fort Hays State University and taking classes there after their sophomore year in high school. They finish the early-college-entry program with their high school diplomas and up to 68 hours of college credit. The second class of the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science arrived at Fort Hays State in August 2010. Earlier this month, 20 of them graduated. Nine will continue their education at Fort Hays…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) State officials will get the latest report on the Kansas economy on Friday with the release of April unemployment figures. The state’s jobless rate stood at 6.2 percent in March, down from 6.8 percent in March 2011. Gov. Sam Brownback and the Republican-controlled Legislature have been working all session on tax cuts they hope will stimulate growth and promote job creation. Legislators have sent Brownback one version of the tax plan, but he has encouraged them to work on a compromise that will phase in the cuts and have a smaller effect on state revenue. Part of…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Winter wheat fields across Kansas are turning color, in still another sign that this year’s harvest will be especially early. The Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that half the fields in south-central and southeastern Kansas have already turned color as the wheat continues to ripen three weeks ahead of normal. Statewide, about 26 percent of wheat fields have turned color. But the crop’s condition continues to decline, due largely to a shortage of rain in many of the state’s major wheat-growing areas. The agency says that 16 percent of the Kansas crop is in poor to…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Senate plans to debate a proposal favored by moderate Republicans for redrawing the chamber’s 40 districts. Senate Majority Leader Jay Emler, a Lindsborg Republican, predicts the bill will pass following the scheduled debate Tuesday. But passage probably won’t break a stalemate with GOP conservatives, who have a majority in the House and have blocked an earlier proposal for Senate redistricting. Conservatives have said both Senate proposals were designed to keep the chamber’s moderate GOP leaders in power. They’ve responded with proposals seen by many lawmakers as attempts to boost the right’s chances for toppling Senate…
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Bruce Chen pitched into the seventh inning for his second straight win and the Kansas City Royals took advantage of Adrian Beltre’s throwing error for a 3-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night. Chen (2-4) has won his last two starts since a four-game losing streak. The left-hander struck out seven and walked two over 6 2-3 innings, giving up only a massive homer to Nelson Cruz. Scott Feldman (0-1) allowed two unearned runs over 4 2-3 innings in his second spot start this season. Feldman gave up three hits, the last a two-run single…