TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas House members face a decision on debating proposals for cracking down on illegal immigration. The House was set to vote Friday on a request from Rep. Charlotte O’Hara, an Overland Park Republican, to remove an immigration bill from committee and debate it. She needed support from 70 of the House’s 125 members. The bill would require companies holding contracts with state or local government agencies worth more than $5,000 to use the federal E-Verify database to determine whether new employees are in the U.S. legally. A proposal to require state agencies but not private companies to…
Author: KMAN Staff
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas House members have blocked debate for now on proposals aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration. The House voted 91-31 against a request from Rep. Charlotte O’Hara, an Overland Park Republican, to remove an immigration bill from committee and debate it. The bill would require companies holding contracts with state or local government agencies worth more than $5,000 to use the federal E-Verify database to determine whether new employees are in the U.S. legally. A proposal to require state agencies but not private companies to use E-Verify cleared committee Thursday, but its future is uncertain. House…
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Thousands of dollars-worth of electronics were taken from a Manhattan home on Thursday. Sometime between 8 a.m. and 9:15 p.m., a burglar(s) entered 714 Lee Street and made off with a Play Station 3 video game console and games, EPSON 8350 projector, and iPhone. The total loss came to $2,294. The victims were 26-year old Robert Campbell, a soldier in the United States Army, and 27-year old Lonnie Wright, a student at Kansas State University. Riley County police have begun investigating the incident but no suspects have been identified.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Westar Energy has temporarily shut down a unit that generates more than half of the Lawrence Energy Center’s power to make environmental upgrades. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the work is part of a $325 million effort that started in 2009 to reduce the amount of pollutants coming from the plant. This spring, the utility entered into the heart of the work at Unit 5, which typically generates 64 percent of the plant’s 585 megawatts of electricity. Crews are working to complete the construction before Westar heads into the demanding summer season. Work on the pollution upgrades…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas health officials say a sharp increase in rabies cases in the state since Jan. 1 shows the need to keep animals vaccinated. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says four skunks, two bats, two horses, two cows, one cat, one coyote and one raccoon have tested positive for rabies this year. The 13 cases compare with just four at the same point last year. State veterinarian Ingrid Garrison says Kansas has had an average of 68 rabies cases a year since 2007. Skunks are the animals most likely to have rabies, and can pass the…
MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Riley County police tactical team uncovered and seized a large amount of illegal drugs after searching a northeast Manhattan home on Friday morning. At approximately 6:35 a.m., RCPD executed a search warrant at 69 Cody Place. During the investigation, officers uncovered a variety of drugs, drug paraphernalia, and a number of loaded weapons. Two individuals were arrested at the conclusion of the investigation. David Bonney, 27-year old male, for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of hydrocodone, possession of alprazolam, no drug tax stamp, possession of drug…
Starting this weekend to May 13th, the Riley County Police Department will deploy additional officers on an overtime basis to enforce laws related to underage drinking. The overtime is being reimbursed from a grant through the Kansas Department of Transportation called the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EDUL) Grant. Officers involved with this grant will focus primarily on alcohol parties in the residential neighborhoods surrounding the campus of Kansas State University. They will also target underage drinking in Aggieville bars. Other violations typically associated with this grant include hosting underage drinkers, with a minimum fine of $1,000; and using a license/ID…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Republicans who support GOP Gov. Sam Brownback’s overhaul of the Kansas Medicaid program have brushed aside an attack on his efforts in the state House. The House voted 69-54 Thursday to send back to its Appropriations Committee a bill creating a legislative oversight panel on Medicaid. The $2.9 billion-a-year program covers health care for the poor, elderly and disabled. Brownback’s administration plans to issue contracts this summer to three private companies to manage the Medicaid program. Supporters argue the overhaul will lead to better coordination of care and save money. The House’s move cut off debate and…