TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas would resume its funding of arts programs under Gov. Sam Brownback’s latest budget proposal. But Brownback proposed Thursday that the Kansas Arts Commission be merged with the state Film Commission in the Department of Commerce. Brownback Budget Director Steve Anderson presented the proposal to the House Appropriations Committee. He told members the administration had listened to complaints about Brownback’s decision last year to veto arts funding. The governor vetoed the Arts Commission’s entire budget, making Kansas the first state to end its funding for arts programs. Brownback had wanted to turn the commission’s functions over to…
Author: KMAN Staff
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback gave his State of the State address Wednesday night in Topeka, and his message was one of transition for Kansas. Governor Brownback said the important part of the new transition was growth. The Governor’s State of the State address highlighted his plan to lower individual income tax rates for all Kansans to help obtain that growth. The goal is to bring the tax rate down from 6.45 percent to 4.9 which would make it the second lowest in the region. Governor Brownback also revealed that his fiscal 2013 budget would produce a balance of 465 million…
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) A Kansas woman who left a hair dryer running to warm her infant daughter on a freezing night has pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter in the baby’s death. Brigit Hippen, of Hutchinson, had been scheduled to go on trial Tuesday for a second time on a charge of second-degree murder. Instead, she pleaded to the lesser charge in Reno County District Court. KWBW-AM reports that Hippen faces roughly three to 11 years in prison. She’ll be sentenced Feb. 24 two years and one day after 2-month-old Karina Perez died of hyperthermia. Hippen told investigators she placed…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran is urging The Boeing Co. to transfer its Wichita plant to a local or state development authority to help the city attract new industries. Moran released a letter Tuesday to Boeing CEO James McNerney asking him to meet with state and local officials on the possibility of conveying the facility. Boeing announced last week it was closing the Wichita plant by the end of 2013. The plant employs 2,160 workers. Moran noted that Wichita has provided more than $3.5 billion in industrial revenue bonds since 1979 to finance the plant and granted $650…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Secretary of State Kris Kobach says he’ll push for a change in Kansas law to require some potential voters to provide proof of citizenship beginning June 15 instead of next year as scheduled. Kobach told The Associated Press on Tuesday evening his proposal will be presented to Kansas lawmakers Wednesday. The House Elections Committee was scheduled to meet Wednesday morning to consider sponsoring Kobach’s measure. Kansas already has a proof-of-citizenship requirement for people registering to vote in the state for the first time, but it doesn’t take effect until 2013. Kobach has said he wants the rule…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) After months of speaking in general terms, Gov. Sam Brownback is preparing to outline his goals for reforming the Kansas tax code and shoring up the state budget. Brownback delivers his annual State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature on Wednesday evening. Details of the budget and tax proposals will be outlined by the governor’s staff Thursday. The Republican governor has said his tax plan would be revenue-neutral meaning it would not reduce overall tax collections but will make the income tax fairer, simpler and, in his words, “flatter.” Brownback and the…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) The American Civil Liberties Union is planning to question Kansas insurance providers about the impact of a new law restricting abortion coverage. The organization filed notice Tuesday in federal court in Wichita that it plans to take depositions later this month from officials of United Health Care, Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Coventry Health Care of Kansas. The ACLU has filed suit challenging a state law barring insurance companies from offering abortion coverage as part of general health plans in Kansas. The organization is seeking information on abortion riders offered by the insurance companies. It also…
GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) A western Kansas woman is out $4,300 after she fell for an Internet scam that advertised education grants. The Garden City Telegram reports the unidentified Garden City woman received an email advertising an education grant of several thousand dollars. The woman applied for the grant and was asked to pay an application fee to receive the money. She paid with a credit card and was repeatedly contacted for more fees from Dec. 8 to Jan. 5, when police learned of the scam. Garden City police Sgt. Randy Ralston says the case is an example of why…