Kansas Lawmakers Continue Budget Talks
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators who are drafting the final version of a $14.1 billion state budget are narrowing their discussions to their biggest differences. House and Senate negotiators met for about two hours yesterday to work on the spending plan for state government for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. The negotiators plan to resume their talks tomorrow.
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Arts Funding Still Uncertain as Commissions Merge
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will be overhauling its state arts agency this summer, but funding for arts programs remains uncertain. Kansas Citizens for the Arts spokeswoman Sarah Carkhuff Fizell said yesterday that funding remains the key issue as the state prepares to merge its Arts and Film Services commissions on July 1st. Republican Governor Sam Brownback proposed the merger and signed a bill enacting it this week.
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Topeka Man Dies in Mowing Accident
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An elderly Topeka man has died after his riding lawnmower slid down an embankment, overturned in a pond and pinned him. Shawnee County authorities have identified the man as 84-year-old Wilbur Johnson, who was a caretaker of the property he was mowing when the accident happened. Fire crews used a wench to free the man, who was already dead around 6:30 p.m. Friday.
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Boy Killed in Hunting Accident
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A boy has been killed in a hunting accident in Pottawatomie County, and investigators say there are no signs of foul play. Sheriff Greg Riat says the accident was reported around 7:15 a.m. yesterday in the northeast part of the county. The boy's identity and age weren't being released Saturday.