Update on missing teen ! The runaway girl from Emmett reported earlier this week has been located. 15 year old Savanna Kochaniek was found Thursday afternoon in Topeka. Detectives from the Pottawatomie county sheriff’s department following up leads located her at a relative’s house in Topeka and she was taken into custody by Topeka Police . Pottawatomie county Sheriff Greg Riat reported Tuesday Kochaniek left her home in Emmett sometime in the overnight hours Monday (May 21). (previous story follows) The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the assistance in locating a missing juvenile from the Emmett area, possibly a runaway. Savanna D. Kochaniek,…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed massive cuts in state income taxes into law. Brownback signed the bill during a Statehouse ceremony Tuesday. A contentious debate continues about whether the cuts will usher in economic prosperity or create massive budget problems. The law will cut individual income tax rates for 2013 and eliminate income taxes for the owners of 191,000 businesses. Coupled with a sales tax reduction already scheduled for July 2013, the income tax cuts would provide $231 million in tax relief for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The annual figure would grow to $934…
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Lawrence school officials are considering asking voters to approve a new bond issue next year to make upgrades at the city’s elementary schools. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Tuesday that the board agreed to begin developing the plan. It could include adding space to remove portable classrooms and upgrade kitchens at the schools. Improving traffic patterns at the schools is another possible target of the bond issue. The board decided in April not to consolidate any of the elementary schools in eastern or central Lawrence. The district is nearing the end of a $54 million bond issue passed…
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.
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…