More than 1,000 Gather for KC Pro-Choice March
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR/KMBC) - More than 1,000 protestors marched through the streets of Kansas City Saturday. KMBC reports that the March for Reproductive Rights went about one mile, starting at the Power and Light District and ending near Crown Center. The march took place one month before Kansas voters will have the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment on abortion. With last week's U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, abortion is now illegal in Missouri except in case of "medical emergency.'
==============
Kansas Tax Receipts Higher than Expected in June
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Higher than expected June tax collections helped Kansas close out the fiscal year with total tax revenues of $9.8 billion. Governor Laura Kelly announced Friday that June tax receipts were more than $918 million. That's $20 million or 2.2% higher than expected, and more than seven percent higher than a year ago. In addition, corporate income tax collections were up dramatically: 48% over the estimate and 33% over June 2021. Kansas Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart said that the higher-than-expected corporate estimated payments are a sign that businesses anticipate greater profits in 2022.
===============
Most KU Employees to Get Pay Raise
LAWRENCE Kan. (KPR) - Most University of Kansas employees will receive a 5% pay raise for the 2022-23 school year. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that KU leaders announced that "most KU faculty and staff" will see the pay increase in their August 21st paycheck. The pay increase is an across-the-board raise, rather than the traditional merit-based increases. The pay increase does not apply to KU affiliate organizations, like Kansas Athletics and the Kansas Union.
===============
Two Dead in Sedgwick County Shootings
DERBY, Kan. (AP) - Two people are dead and the third is wounded in a shooting near Wichita. The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office says deputies responded to a call reporting a shooting Saturday morning, where they found a man and a woman dead from apparent gunshot wounds. Another man found at the scene was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Names of the victims have not been released. Authorities have not disclosed any other information about the shooting. The area was closed off for several hours as the shooting was investigated.
===============
KC Sees Uptick in COVID-19 Cases
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KPR) - The Kansas City metro area is seeing a bump in the number of reported COVID-19 cases. The Kansas City Star reports that the average number of new cases this week was 2,859. That's up from 2,550 from the previous week, and the first time since February that the number of cases has surpassed 400 per day. The actual number is expected to be far higher because of home testing.