TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) New figures from the Kansas Legislature’s staff project that a compromise plan for cutting taxes will leave the state with a budget shortfall exceeding $700 million by mid-2018. The new figures from the Legislative Research Department circulated Wednesday, two days after the same agency projected that the tax plan would create a budget shortfall of $161 million by July 2018. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the projections from a legislative source. Lawmakers in both parties say they need assurances that the tax plan they pass won’t create a shortfall. The plan, drafted by House and…
Author: KMAN Staff
GREENSBURG, Kan. (AP) Some Greensburg residents will mark the fifth anniversary of a tornado that nearly wiped out their town with a play based on the experience. The play, called “Rooted: The Greensburg Odyssey,” is the creation of author Marcia Cebulska of Topeka. It is sponsored by The Cornerstone Theater Company and the William Inge Center for the Arts in Independence. A cast of 22 will present the play at 7 p.m. Saturday in the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church in Greensburg. Producer Lois Lessman told The Dodge City Daily Globe the group wanted to perform the play…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A House committee has approved a bill that would allow smoking in Kansas bars. The bill approved Tuesday by the House State and Federal Affairs Committee would allow smoking in any private business that has only patrons and employees who are at least of legal drinking age. Bel Aire Republican Rep. Steve Brunk, chair of the committee, said it’s unlikely the bill will become law this year because it was introduced so late in the legislative session. Brunk, who doesn’t smoke, told The Wichita Eagle he supports the bill. He says it is consistent with state law…
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Wichita has lifted a burn ban that’s been in effect since April. The city said in a news release Tuesday that residents can conduct outdoor burning within the city limits according to local and state laws. Residents can also use outdoor fire places, cooking grills and similar items. Open burning in certain areas of the state, including Wichita, was restricted during April to address air pollution in the region. The city said ozone is the top air pollutant for Wichita.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Kansas judge has granted a state board temporary custody of a former abortion provider’s patient files after hundreds of his records turned up in a recycling bin. The State Board of Healing Arts went to court last week for custody of the discarded documents plus others still in the possession of Krishna Rajanna. Shawnee County District Judge Franklin Theis granted the board’s request Monday. The board revoked Rajanna’s medical license in 2005. A woman later found hundreds of his files dumped in a recycling bin near his home in Overland Park, a suburb of Kansas City.…
FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) Military police at Fort Leavenworth will let their guard down on Friday to help families focus on summer safety. The 15th Military Police Brigade at the northeast Kansas post is holding “Spring into Summer,” a daylong event promoting safety. The event will include displays and presentations on fire, watercraft, hunting, all-terrain vehicles, swimming, motorcycle riding and personal security. There will also be inflatable bounce houses for children and a motorcycle show.
Two Clay Center co-defendants have pled no contest to Medicaid fraud related charges, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced. April “Michelle” Hockett, 49, pled no contest to unlawful acts relating to the Medicaid program, making a false claim to the Medicaid program, and theft. Donald Peterson, 53, pled no contest to conspiracy to commit unlawful acts relating to the Medicaid program and conspiracy to commit theft. Peterson and Hockett conspired to defraud the Medicaid system by submitting personal care attendant timesheets for services not actually provided. As part of the plea, the defendants together must pay restitution in the amount…
Arrests Anthony Parham, Jr., 22, Fort Riley, Kan., for failure to appear. BBond set at $1,000. Kyle Robert Plaice, 23, 2914 Nelson’s Landing, for probation violation. Bond set at $1,500. Isom Washington McGowan, 20, 632 Griffith Dr., for failure to appear. Bond set at $148. Jesse David Manning, 22, Sedgwick, Kan., for probation violation. Bond set at $1,000. Dylon Joseph Babcock, 18, 617 Bertrand St., for aggravated battery, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and accidental damage to a vehicle. Bond set at $4,000. Incidents Riley County police are investigating a series of thefts that have occurred at Best Buy over the…
It was Commission Reorganization time in Wamego Tuesday night, with Vic Enns being sworn in for another term as Commissioner, and the election of a new Mayor. Commissioner Bill Ditto is the new Mayor, with Bob Morse elected as Mayor Pro-Tem. In other business, City Manager Merl Page told about receiving a call asking the City to provide the water at no charge for the Community Garden again this year. According to Page, the City has done this for the past 4 years and the cost to the City is minimal, but the benefit to the community is lots of fresh…
(following story and picture provided by Fort Riley) President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance on Bagram Airfield to speak with U.S. troops from Fort Riley stationed there during his trip to Afghanistan Wednesday. Obama addressed more than 1,000 service members., which would be early morning Kansas time. The president’s visit to the troops came only minutes after signing a strategic partnership agreement between the U.S. and Afghanistan with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul. More than he elaborated on the details of the partnership agreement though, Obama spoke in recognition of the sacrifices U.S. service members have made in Afghanistan over the…