TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Two years after an unsuccessful effort, an animal rights group is renewing its fight to have two elephants moved from the Topeka Zoo to a Tennessee sanctuary. Animal Outreach of Kansas has erected two billboards in Topeka as part of a campaign to convince the city to retire 49-year-old Sundra and 40-year-old Tembo. They want the animals sent to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tenn. The group contends the zoo does not provide enough space, causing the elephants physical and emotional harm. Zoo director Brendan Wiley said Wednesday that the zoo is proud of the care it…
Author: KMAN Staff
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) The nation’s farmers seeded more winter wheat this season amid higher prices and easing drought conditions in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Thursday that the 41.9 million acres of winter wheat planted for harvest in 2012 is up 3 percent from 2011 and up 12 percent from 2010. The hard red winter wheat that is typically used for making bread accounted for the bulk of that surge. The estimated 30.1 million acres of hard red winter wheat is up 6 percent from last year. Kansas again led the nation in winter wheat…
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is proposing a tight state budget that spends slightly less of the state’s tax dollars than the current budget. Brownback’s administration outlined his spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 in a Thursday briefing for the House Appropriations Committee. The budget plan calls for spending a little less than $6.1 billion in general state revenues on government programs, compared to a little more than $6.1 billion under the current budget. The difference is a little less than 1 percent. The overall budget, including spending financed with federal funds, would be…
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…
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…