Author: KMAN Staff
Today brought another announcement of intent to run for re-election. Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo made the announcement Thursday morning. Vargo has served the county for four terms leading up to the announcement. ” I just really enjoy working at Riley county. We’re a very progressive community and enjoy working with all of the county commissioners here and all the elected and non-elected department heads here at the county. I feel like we have a great group,there’s always something new going on here at Riley County, and its just been a good experience.” stated Vargo. Vargo has been a Riley County resident…
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) There’s disagreement in Kansas over whether oil company TransCanada should be exempt from paying millions in property taxes for the section of its Keystone pipeline that moves oil through Kansas to Oklahoma. The Kansas Department of Revenue wants the Kansas Court of Tax Appeals to reconsider its decision to approve TransCanada’s 2011 property tax exemption. The department estimates TransCanada owes nearly $19 million in 2011 property taxes for the pipeline that’s been operating since last year. The department says the pipeline doesn’t meet a requirement that Kansas refineries must have access to the oil in order…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas House members have approved a bill seeking to buy time for defining what constitutes real and personal business property. Wednesday’s 103-21 vote sends the measure to the Senate. At issue is property that has previously been exempt from property taxes because of abatements granted by cities and counties. As those abatements expire, the property must be classified as either real or personal for tax purposes. However, legislators approved a bill in 2006 that removed business machinery and equipment from tax rolls. Legislators want to take two years to define real and personal property. Their goal is…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Negotiations are under way on the final version of the 2013 Kansas budget as legislators seek a compromise on the $14 billion spending bill. Passage of the bill is central to lawmakers being able to end the legislative session on Friday, which is the scheduled last day. House and Senate budget leaders met Thursday morning to discuss the first offers for reconciling the budget, which includes proposals for increasing spending for public schools and social services. One sticking point will be how much legislators will pay for the schools and how they will find the money. Senators…
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) Owners of small cafes in Kansas are happy to see one group of motorcyclists pull up for a bite to eat. The Retired Old Motorcyclists Eating Out or ROMEOS make an effort to provide some cash and customers for mom-and-pop restaurants across the state. The Hutchinson News reports the group was started a dozen years ago by Richard Kutz of Lindsborg, who recruited a small group of friends to ride to restaurants every week. Today, the ROMEOS have split into five clubs with nearly 500 members. Kutz says the group knows it’s hard for small towns to…
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) Johnson County health officials say the county has seen an outbreak of whooping cough this year. The county said Wednesday that 70 confirmed or probable cases of whooping cough have been reported in the county this year. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment said people who have regular contact with infants should get a Tdap vaccine. And health care providers are being urged to consider the possibility of whooping cough when evaluating patients with a serious cough.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Hospitals in Sabetha and Beloit are the first in the state to be designated as Level 4 trauma centers. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday announced the designation for Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit and Sabetha Community Hospital. The designation means the two hospitals have met requirements for equipment and resources to provide urgent care for seriously injured patients. They also have established relationships with other trauma centers if a higher level of care is needed. WIBW reports the Legislature gave KDHE authority earlier this year to begin designating Level IV trauma…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas House members have given first-round approval to a bill that seeks to buy time for defining what constitutes real and personal business property. Wednesday’s voice vote advanced the measure to final House action, expected Thursday. House passage would send the measure to the Senate. At issue is property that has previously been exempt from property taxes because of abatements granted by cities and counties. As those abatements expire, the property must be classified as either real or personal for tax purposes. However, legislators approved a bill in 2006 that removed business machinery and equipment from tax…