Governor Takes on Dropout Rate (6/16/10)
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson says the state's high school dropout rate is too high, and he believes it's hurting the economy. Parkinson signed an executive order Tuesday creating a panel called the Kansas Commission on Graduation and Dropout Prevention and Recovery.
The governor's office says the commission will study the dropout problem and make recommendations with a goal and timeline for reducing the annual dropout rate. The commission will also develop systems for spotting students at risk of dropping out. Parkinson says nearly 39,000 Kansas students have dropped out of school over the past decade. He puts the economic effects at $10 billion in lost earnings, taxes and productivity. The governor says dropouts also cost the state heavily in Medicaid and uninsured health care expenses.
AP Morning Update (6/16/10)
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) - Scientists at Pittsburg State University will use a $2 million federal grant to study ways to create polymers from algae. The polymers can be used to make products such as floor tiles or foam seats more friendly to the environment.
FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) - An Army transportation officer has been honored for his service in the transportation branch. Major Severt Anderson has been awarded the military Order of St. Christopher at Fort Leavenworth. Army officials cited Anderson's years of service at Fort Eustis, Va., where he held several leadership positions with transportation units.
WELLINGTON, Kan. (AP) - Some tense moments for those aboard a Union Pacific freight train near Wellington. The train was stranded on a bridge over the Chikaskia River yesterday after the engineer noticed the bridge was sagging. The crew was able to get off the bridge and the cars and locomotives were removed later in the evening.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - Reaction to the near breakup of the Big 12 Conference continues today in Kansas. Kansas Athletic Director Lew Perkins has scheduled a news conference at noon to discuss the topic. And Kansas State University officials have called a 1:30 news conference in Manhattan.
Winter Wheat Update (6/15/10)
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A new report confirms what most Kansas farmers already know: The state's wheat harvest stalled almost as soon as it began. Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that just 1 percent of the winter wheat crop was cut last week before heavy rain hit much of the state. The agency says about 6 percent of the wheat is normally cut by this time of year, although the harvest hadn't even started at the same point one year ago. Wheat condition was pegged as 9 percent excellent, 48 percent good and 30 percent fair. About 9 percent is in poor condition with 4 percent in very poor shape.
AP Morning Update (6/15/10)
ABILENE, Kan. (AP) - Authorities in central Kansas have arrested a 21-year-old Herington woman identified as the mother of a newborn baby found dead in a ravine in March. She was being held in jail in Abilene on $500,000 bond yesterday. No charges had been filed.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Prosecutors plan to call a final rebuttal witness today in the federal trial of a Kansas doctor whose clinic has been linked to 68 overdose deaths. Stephen Schneider and his wife are charged with 34 counts, including money-laundering and unlawfully prescribing drugs at their Haysville clinic.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) - Rain could continue in much of Kansas through today, and that could further hold up the harvest of winter wheat. Not much harvesting occurred over the weekend after storms drenched the state.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - Manhattan city officials are looking for a way to end a century-old policy of giving free water to all churches and public schools. The finance director says it cost the city $62,000 in production costs last year and $200,000 in potential income it could have received if churches and schools paid for the water.
Tony Awards for Kansan...Almost (6/14/10)
NEW YORK (AP) - A former Topeka woman who was nominated for two Tony Awards was not a winner in Sunday night's awards ceremony in New York. But 43-year-old Sherie Rene Scott still can say she was nominated in two categories in the same year. Scott was nominated for Best Actress in a Broadway Musical for "Everyday Rapture." It's a semi-autobiographical, one-woman show about growing up in Topeka before she left for New York. Scott lost in that category to Catherine Zeta-Jones, who won the Tony for her role in "A Little Night Music."
Scott also was nominated for Best Book of a Musical. That award went to Joe DiPietro for "Memphis," which won three other Tonys, including best musical.
Heavy Rains Delay Harvest (6/14/10)
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) - Heavy rains that soaked much of Kansas have caused further delays in this year's winter wheat harvest. The Hutchinson News reports that not much, if any, harvesting occurred over the weekend after storms drenched much of the state. Matt Gerard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Dodge City, says rain reports in western Kansas included 5.11 near Hanston and 4.76 in Greensburg. And he says south-central Kansas got rain ranging from 1 to 6.75 inches in 24 hours ending at 7 a.m. Sunday. Gerard says creeks could rise across much of the state because many creeks and streams are near capacity. And the weather service says rain could continue in much of the state through Tuesday.
Pregnant Woman Robbed (6/14/10)
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Topeka police say a pregnant woman who was pushing her 6-month-old baby in a stroller was attacked and robbed. The woman told police she was attacked Sunday afternoon near Samuel Jackson Park. The 18-year-old woman told police a man stole her purse and her baby stroller. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the woman then walked about 1 1/2 miles to a police station to report the crime. The woman was taken to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center but her injuries were not considered life-threatening. The baby was not injured. No arrests have been made.
AP Morning Update (6/14/10)
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A man has been shot and killed in the parking lot of a Wichita hospital. Police say a witness said she was walking to her car this weekend when she saw a dark-colored SUV drive into the lot. She said she heard a gunshot and saw a man pushed out of the SUV, which sped away.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Topeka City Council is scheduled to meet tomorrow and is set to consider reinstating a law that bans the carrying of firearms in public places. The law was unintentionally repealed in 2007. It would not keep concealed-carry permit holders from being armed in public.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - For years, the job of Kansas secretary of state has been largely non-controversial, with no compelling issues to differentiate the candidates. It could change this year. That's partly because Democrat Chris Biggs was appointed to take over when Republican Ron Thornburgh resigned.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - It's been four years since a woman in Topeka started saving orphaned baby opossums, and she says despite the funny looks some folks give her, she'll keep it up. Linda Hines raises the opossums in her home until they can be released into the wild.
Party Primary Rules (6/14/10)
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Democrats are once opening their primary elections to unaffiliated voters. But the state GOP will continue limiting its primary to registered Republicans. This year's Kansas primaries will be held Aug. 3. The two parties have used different rules since 2004, when a federal court invalidated a longstanding Kansas law directing them to have closed primaries. Kansas Democratic Party chairman Larry Gates says letting unaffiliated voters cast primary ballots will strengthen the party's nominees. He also says it shows Democrats are more inclusive. But state GOP executive director Ashley McMillan says the truly inclusive primary is the one with more voters and more candidates on the ballot. Both of those are true on the Republican side in GOP-leaning Kansas.
Authorities Search for Missing Teen
UPDATE: Teen and step-father located in San Diego, CA; taken into custody.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is now getting involved in the search for a missing Kansas teen. The KBI is releasing photographs statewide as they aid Overland Park Police in the search for 16-year-old Jordan McKenzie Stuart, a white female with brown hair, blue eyes, 5'5", 120 lbs.
She was last seen Thursday June 3, in the company of her step-father, 39-year-old Patrick Neal Porter (photo below), white male, 5'8", 210 lbs. Police say they are driving a white 2003 Ford Expedition with Kansas University Specialty license plate, 19450.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Overland Park Police Department at 913-535-3333. An Amber Alert has not been issued in this search, according to the KBI.
Democrat Names Running Mate in Gov's Race
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Democratic state Sen. Tom Holland is naming fellow senator Kelly Kultala as his running mate in the race for governor.
Holland, of Baldwin City, made the announcement on his Facebook page Wednesday before a campaign event in Overland Park. Other events are planned in Topeka and Wichita. Kultala is from Kansas City and is serving her first term in the Senate. Thursday is the last day to file for the Aug. 3 party primaries. No other Democrats are expected to file for governor.
U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback is the leading Republican candidate for governor. Brownback and his running mate, state Sen. Jeff Colyer, filed for the GOP primary last week. Also in the GOP race is Joan Heffington of Derby, a former home builder and founder of a nonprofit legal group.