Legislator Switches Parties over Abortion, Gay Rights
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House member is leaving the Democratic Party to seek re-election as a Republican, citing what she calls Democratic hostility to her opposition to abortion and same sex marriage. Jan Pauls of Hutchinson announced her decision yesterday (FRI) as legislators formally ended the 2014 session.
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May Tax Revenues Fall Short
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas collected $217 million less in taxes than it expected in May, but officials in Governor Sam Brownback's administration say it's the result of a temporary problem. The Department of Revenue release preliminary figures yesterday (FRI) showing the state collected about $389 million in taxes during May, when it expected to collect about $606 million.
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Flight Diverted in KC, Dog Blamed
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A cross-country fight had to make an unscheduled landing when a service dog pooped twice in the aisle, sickening passengers with the odor. A US Airways spokesman said the May 28th US Airways flight from Los Angeles to Philadelphia had to make an unscheduled stop in Kansas City. The flight continued after the mess was cleaned up on the ground. The passenger and service dog were rebooked on another flight.
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Dickinson Co Lake Hit with Algae
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health officials have issued a warning for people and animals to stay out of a north-central lake because of high levels of toxic blue-green algae. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment yesterday (FRI) placed Old Herington Lake under a toxic algae warning. The agency also said a previous warning for Barton County's Memorial Park Lake remains in place.