Court Decision Called "Negative Event" for KS Credit
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A leading credit rating firm says a recent Kansas Supreme Court ruling on school funding was a "negative" event that puts even more pressure on the state's ability to pay its debts. Moody's Investor Service, one of the leading credit rating firms in the country, raised the concerns in its weekly public finance outlook issued late Thursday.
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Fed Charges Down Across KS, Region
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A new report shows federal prosecutors charged about 21 percent fewer defendants last year in Kansas than in 2012, led by steep declines in immigration and drug cases. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Kansas says it, like other districts, has faced gaps in resources over the past two years due to a federal hiring freeze and budget cuts.
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Water Plan Faces Uncertain Funding
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities trying to establish a plan for dealing with dwindling water resources in Kansas say it's unclear how much the state wants to spend on solving the problem. Governor Sam Brownback in October called for development of a 50-year plan for water in Kansas that would meet residents' needs and extend the life of the Ogallala High Plains Aquifer. Earl Lewis, assistant director of the Kansas Water Office, tells the Lawrence Journal World that any possible solutions cost money.
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PSU Engineering Students Build Emergency Shelter
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Two Pittsburg State University engineering students are building an easy-to-assemble shelter they hope will someday be used by refugees and disaster victims around the world. The Joplin Globe reports Austin Leake of Independence, Kansas and Cody Frieden, of Lamar, Missouri will enter their design next month in a national contest in Arkansas.