Northeast Kansas Prosecutor Launches US Senate Bid
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas prosecutor has opened his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat by criticizing three-term Republican incumbent Pat Roberts for moving to the right on issues.
Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor's kickoff news conference Friday made him the first Democratic candidate in the race. Roberts is seeking re-election but faces a GOP primary challenge from Leawood radiologist Milton Wolf.
Taylor said that Roberts has lost touch with Kansas values and has moved to the far right.
But Roberts spokesman Leroy Towns said Taylor will have to defend President Barack Obama and fellow Democrats in Washington.
Taylor was first elected district attorney in the county that includes Topeka in 2008 and was re-elected in 2012.
A Democrat hasn't won a Senate race in GOP-leaning Kansas since 1932.
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1-Time Payments Boost Kansas Revenues in February
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — One-time income tax payments totaling more than $50 million helped boost Kansas revenue collections in February ahead of official estimates.
The Kansas Department of Revenue says Friday that overall revenue collections were $97.6 million more than projected. Individual income taxes were $100.7 million more than anticipated, while corporate tax collections were up $4.8 million.
Officials say Kansas collected $329 million in February, beating estimates for $231.4 million. Kansas has collected $3.62 billion in revenues, compared to the $3.5 billion projected for the fiscal year that began July 1.
The gains were partially offset by declines from estimates in sales, use, motor carrier and cigarette taxes and fees.
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Topeka Man Sentenced to 2 Life Terms
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Shawnee County judge has sentenced a 40-year-old Topeka man to two consecutive life sentences for two murders more than a decade apart.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Shawnee County District Court Judge David Debenham on Friday sentenced Monroe Eugene Lockhart III to two consecutive life sentences for the murder of Corey Brown in 2012 and Damon Anderson in 2000.
Lockhart pleaded guilty Jan. 16 to premeditated first-degree murder in the Jan. 3, 2012, slaying of Brown, and the Valentine's Day 2000 death of Anderson. Both victims were from Topeka.
Lockhart has to serve 50 years — 25 years on each of the life sentences — before he's eligible for parole. The life terms also are consecutive to a nearly 10-year sentence tied to a violent Topeka home invasion.