Kansas Governor Responds to Criticism of Education Policies in Debate
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’s Democratic governor is responding to Republican criticism of her education policies in her tough race for reelection. That race recently featured Republican attacks over transgender athletes and what’s taught in the classrooms instead of her preferred focus on increases in public school spending on her watch. In their final debate, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly sought Wednesday to portray Republican challenger Derek Schmidt as a threat to adequate funding for public schools. Schmidt said he's committed to adequate funding but argued that Kansas should protect parents' rights. A GOP proposal vetoed by Kelly would have made it easier for parents to object to classroom materials or library books.
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Kansas Gubernatorial Candidates Split over Possible Kansas Transgender Ban in Female Sports
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KNS) — The two leading candidates for Kansas governor sparred Wednesday over how to let transgender athletes compete in girls' and women’s sports. Republican Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said transgender athletes pose a threat to Title IX, the federal education law barring discrimination based on gender. The law is credited for elevating athletic opportunities for female high school and college students. He said during a debate that he would quickly sign a bill into law that prohibits competitors in female sports who were identified as male at birth. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly, who is seeking a second term, twice vetoed such a bill. "It's fundamentally unfair to female athletes,” Schmidt said. “People who are biologically male should not be allowed to compete in sports that are reserved for female athletes.” Kelly argued the matter should be decided by state organizations dedicated to those matters, like the Kansas State High School Activities Association. The
Republican-led Kansas Legislature twice passed a bill that banned transgender girls from girls sports, but Kelly vetoed both. Lawmakers were unable to override either of her vetoes. ( Read more.)
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2 South American Researchers Killed in Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri homicide and arson detectives are investigating the deaths of two South American scientists whose bodies were found after a weekend apartment fire near the Kansas City biomedical research center where they worked. Kansas City police identified the victims as 24-year-old Camila Behrensen, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and 25-year-old Pablo Guzmán Palma, of Santiago, Chile. The Stowers Institute for Medical Research said in a tweet Tuesday that both were predoctoral researchers there. Police released few details but said there is a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. They asked Tuesday for help from anyone with surveillance video.
(Earlier reporting...)
Two Dead in Kansas City Fire, Homicide Suspected
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KC Star) - Two people are dead following a fire early Saturday in Kansas City’s Midtown neighborhood. The Kansas City Star reports that KCPD is now conducting a homicide investigation. Officers were called to the scene of a fire just before 5:00 am near 41st and Oak Street. Firefighters say they found two people suffering from apparent trauma inside the apartment building after putting out the fire. The two, who have not been identified, were declared dead at the scene. Homicide detectives are investigating the fire and the deaths. Anyone with information on the homicides is asked to call KCPD at 816-234-5043, or the anonymous TIPS Hotlines at 816-474-TIPS. The killings mark the 125th and 126th homicides in Kansas City this year.
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3 People Taken to Hospitals After 2-Vehicle Crash in Rural Douglas County
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LJW) - Three people were taken to hospitals after a two-vehicle crash in southwestern Douglas County Tuesday evening. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that shortly after 8 pm, deputies were notified of the crash in the 600 block of East 100 Road. According to sheriff’s office spokesman George Diepenbrock, a preliminary investigation indicates a southbound vehicle driven by a 46-year-old woman swerved on the roadway before striking a northbound vehicle driven by a 45-year-old man. Diepenbrock said an air ambulance took the woman to an area hospital with injuries that were serious but not believed to be life-threatening. The man and his passenger, a 16-year-old boy, were taken by ground ambulance to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka; information on the severity of their injuries was not immediately available Tuesday evening.
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Police Shoot and Kill Burglary Suspect in Lawrence
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has launched an inquiry into a fatal police-involved shooting that happened Sunday night in Lawrence. A KBI-issued press release says that police received a report of a burglary and broken window at a residence on East 21st Terrace around 5:30 pm Sunday. When officers arrived, they learned a male suspect was inside the residence. The man was later identified as 43-year-old Michael S. Blanck, of Lawrence. The homeowner was not present at the time, and police did not enter the house. Blanck exited the house around 7:20 pm and the officers attempted to make verbal contact with him. The KBI says that during that interaction, Blanck pulled out a handgun and pointed it at officers. Three of the five responding officers fired, and multiple rounds struck Blanck. Blanck was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers were injured. The KBI will conduct an independent investigation into the incident, and the findings will be turned over to the Douglas County District Attorney for review.
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Death Investigations Underway in Labette County
MOUND VALLEY, Kan. (KPR) – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office are investigating after two people were found dead Monday in rural Mound Valley. Investigators say a man discovered two bodies when he went to a home in Mound Valley to check on his friends. He called the sheriff’s office. Deputies responded along with the KBI’s Crime Scene Response Team. Investigators discovered the decomposing bodies of a male and female subject. The victims have not yet been identified but the circumstances of their deaths are considered suspicious. Autopsies are scheduled. Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Tips can also be submitted online at https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.
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Missouri Man Convicted in Brothers' Deaths Admits to Fraud
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man pleaded guilty Tuesday to a cattle fraud scheme that he tried to cover up by killing two Wisconsin brothers. The U.S. attorneys office said 28-year-old Garland Nelson, of Braymer, must forfeit more than $215,000 after admitting to mail fraud and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He entered the plea just days after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 24-year-old Justin Diemel and 35-year-old Nicholas Diemel, of Shawano County, Wisconsin.
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Kansas Revenues Exceed Forecasts Again for September
TOPEKA. Kan. (KNS) - Kansas tax revenue for September came in $96 million higher than expected. The report marks the 26th month in a row where revenue outpaced projections. Kansas collected a total of $961 million during September. That’s 11% more than the state estimated and nearly 10% more than the state collected during the same time last year. The largest increase came from corporate taxes. They were almost $50 million higher than expected. Governor Laura Kelly says stronger tax collection comes from the state’s focus on job creation and attracting new businesses.
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Kansas Highway Patrol Needs More Troopers
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The Kansas Highway Patrol is hiring more troopers after it changed policies to become more competitive in the job market. But as the Kansas News Service reports, there's still a shortage of troopers. Wages at the Kansas Highway Patrol were sometimes up to five dollars less per hour than surrounding states. Raises helped make the state more competitive and a shorter application process is getting troopers onto the job quicker. This has increased staffing, but the agency is still down 78 sworn employees since 2019. Major Andrew Dean says that can hurt response times. “We're going to be less timely and assisting our local partners and agencies when requested," he said. "There's obviously officer safety concerns in some instances, and burnout retention is another factor.” KHP says its next training class had over 175 applications, which could help improve the situation.
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Mobile Abortion Clinic Open in Illinois, No Immediate Plans for Kansas
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS/KMUW) - On the heels of news that Planned Parenthood is opening a mobile clinic in Southern Illinois to provide abortions, the organization’s Great Plains branch says it doesn’t have any immediate plans to do the same in Kansas. The Kansas News Service reports that’s not for a lack of demand. Part of the reason there isn’t a plan to offer mobile clinics in Kansas is because Planned Parenthood Great Plains opened a new clinic this summer in Wyandotte County. But president and CEO Emily Wales says that even with the new clinic, the organization can only see 10-15% of the patients who call seeking abortions. “We’re telling them you really do have to look to other options. It may be in your best interest to look to Illinois, New Mexico, Colorado," she said. She says the organization is thinking about how to offer more appointments in Kansas but has to weigh things like security concerns and state laws restricting abortion. While restrictions remain in place, abortion is legal in Kansas until 22 weeks' gestation.
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Nurses Try to Unionize at Wichita's St. Francis Hospital
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS/KMUW) - Nurses at one of Wichita’s largest hospitals are trying to form a union. More than 600 nurses at St. Francis hospital could soon have a union. The nurses filed this week for an election with the National Labor Relations Board. If they vote to unionize, the nurses would be represented by the National Nurses United. It’s the biggest nurses' union in the country, with more than 175,000 members. Overall, about 20% of registered nurses in the U.S. are union members. The Kansas State Nurses Association says there are more than 50,000 registered nurses in the state. About a fifth of all registered nurses in the U.S. are union members. St. Francis is a part of the Ascension Via Christi network, which has hospitals across Kansas.
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Are All Native American School Mascots in Kansas on the Way Out?
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS/KMUW) - A committee formed by the Kansas Board of Education is urging schools to retire Native American mascots. More than 20 Kansas schools still have mascots that feature Native American images and names such as Raiders, Braves or Indians. The state school board will consider a proposal next week to urge districts to remove those mascots and help them pay for changes. Raphael Wahwassuck serves on the tribal council of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. He’s seen parents wearing jackets that say “tribal elder” on the back, which he says is insulting to Native students. “To us that’s a status that somebody earns through their lifetime. And for these folks to just, you know, put that on a T-shirt and wear it around, no big deal — it affected them," he said. Schools in Wichita, Atchison and Shawnee Mission recently retired their Native American mascots.
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Home Sales in Kansas Projected to Fall by Year's End
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Home sales across Kansas are projected to drop by the end of the year, but they won’t stay down for long. The Kansas News Service reports that sales are expected to rebound in 2023. That's according to Stan Longhofer at Wichita State University, who says a year of volatile housing markets in Kansas will end with home sales cooling off. He says even as the demand for homes eases, values should still remain strong, up 12% from last year. Even with the fluctuations, he says there’s a clear upward trend. "Home prices have been appreciating at an absolutely incredible pace. We have never seen anything like that," he said. Longhofer says the changes are not just due to the pandemic, and it has been a seller's market even years before COVID.
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Kansas Public Radio Searches for New Statehouse Bureau Chief
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Kansas Public Radio (KPR), at the University of Kansas, is seeking a new Statehouse Bureau Chief. This position works primarily at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. The position duties include managing all aspects of KPR’s capital news bureau, which provides broadcast and digital news reports to a number of radio stations in Kansas and Missouri. This position is primarily responsible for reporting on all aspects of state government. This includes but is not limited to covering the Kansas legislative session, the governor, attorney general, supreme court, the state’s congressional delegation and statewide elections. The KPR Statehouse Bureau Chief researches, writes, reports and produces spot news, digital stories and long-form audio features for KPR and its reporting partners. Learn more about this position.
The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy.
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Company Picked to Build Terminal at Topeka's Philip Billard Municipal Airport
TOPEKA, Kan. (TCJ) - A company has been selected to build a new terminal at Topeka's Philip Billard Municipal Airport. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority (MTAA) accepted the lowest of two bids Tuesday. The winning bid came from Wichita-based Icon Structures, which offered to do the project for $4.67 million. The MTAA received one other bid, from Topeka-based Senne Corporation, which totaled $5.2 million. The five-member MTAA is a volunteer board that oversees the operations of Philip Billard Municipal Airport, Topeka Regional Airport — formerly known as Forbes Field — and Topeka Air Industrial Park, located at Topeka Regional Airport. Though only two bids were received, MTAA President Eric Johnson said the project was advertised in print and online, and about 35 contractors viewed the plans. Some of those were subcontractors. Grant funding from the Cares Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — Airport Terminal Program are being used to finance the project to replace the Billard terminal. Johnson says the current terminal, built in 1954, is in poor condition. Construction on the Topeka terminal is expected to begin next March.
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Missouri Lawmakers Approve $40 Million in Tax Breaks for Farmers
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Legislature has passed $40 million in annual tax breaks for farmers. The GOP-led Senate on Tuesday voted 26-3 to send the tax incentive package to Governor Mike Parson. Lawmakers had passed a similar bill in May. But the Republican governor vetoed it, in part citing the short two-year sunset on many of the tax credits. He called a special legislative session to extend the agricultural tax credits for a longer period of time. He also asked lawmakers to spend some of the state's surplus revenue on an individual income tax cut, which they approved last week.
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Birds Need Help During Peak Migration Period Over Kansas
TOPEKA. Kan. (KNS) - It’s peak bird migration season in Kansas and Missouri. Scientists are asking people to turn out their lights at night to help birds survive the trip. On nights with favorable wind, tens of millions of birds fly over Kansas and Missouri this time of year. Cornell University Lab of Ornithology scientist Andrew Farnsworth says to turn off any outdoor lights you can and to use curtains to keep indoor light indoors. “As little light at night as possible,” Farnsworth said. “That’s super important because it allows birds not to be attracted or disoriented.” North America’s bird population is dropping dramatically, and migration is a vulnerable time. On nights with clear skies and tailwinds, tens of millions of birds migrate over our region. The Cornell ornithologists predict heavy migration over Kansas and Missouri Wednesday night, considered the peak of the bird migration season.
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Former Republican Senator Kassebaum Endorses Democrat Kelly for Governor
TOPEKA. Kan. (Kansas Reflector) — Former U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum, the first woman to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate and the daughter of 1936 G.O.P. presidential nominee Alf Landon, has endorsed Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s campaign for reelection. The Kansas Reflector reports that Kassebaum, a Republican, cites Kelly’s bipartisanship and commitment to “work with both sides of the aisle for solutions to real problems.” Kassebaum says that makes Kelly the better choice over Republican candidate Derek Schmidt or independent Dennis Pyle. Schmidt, who is currently serving as Kansas attorney general, worked as a legislative assistant to Senator Kassebaum for six years in the 1990s. Kassebaum also was a co-chair of Schmidt’s initial campaign for attorney general in 2010 but has often endorsed Democrats in recent years. She endorsed Kelly in her successful 2018 campaign against Republican candidate Kris Kobach. Kassebaum, served in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1997. Her father, Alf Landon, was Kansas governor and was nominated in 1936 by the Republican Party to challenge President Franklin Roosevelt.
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Alert Eudora Officer Spots Kidnapping Suspects
OLATHE, Kan. (KSHB) – Officers from Douglas and Johnson County rescued a child after an armed kidnapping in Topeka. KSHB reports that a Eudora police officer spotted a vehicle early Friday morning associated with the kidnapping in eastern Douglas County on Kansas Highway 10, near the Johnson County line. Eudora and Olathe officers along with Douglas and Johnson County deputies conducted a "high-risk" stop on K-10 near the K-7 interchange. Three adults were taken into custody and the 3-year-old child was rescued. Deputies turned the suspects and the child over to the Topeka Police Department. Authorities say the child was unharmed. No additional details have been provided.
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Kansas Farm Bureau Donates $5 Million for K-State's New Agriculture Buildings Project
MANHATTAN, Kan. (KPR) — The Kansas Farm Bureau has pledged $5 million over five years to support the Kansas State University College of Agriculture's innovation centers for grain, food, animal and agronomy research. It’s the largest donation in the Farm Bureau's history. The two new innovation centers will focus on the development and diversification of the food and agricultural economy, both in Kansas and around the world. This investment will fund new facilities, renovations of current buildings and improvements in the technology and equipment necessary for interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research and continue to enhance the college's exceptional student experience. (Read more)
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Kansas Hospitals Urge Lawmakers to Increase Number of Mental Health Beds
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas hospital officials are urging lawmakers to increase the state’s capacity for mental health care. The Kansas News Service reports that the shortage of such beds is causing a burden for local hospitals. A lack of mental health resources in Kansas is often forcing hospitals to take in people experiencing mental health emergencies. Hospital leaders recently told a special legislative committee that the lack of mental health beds is leading to emergency rooms filling up. Val Gleason is the CEO of NMC Health in Newton. She says ERs aren’t fully equipped to provide mental health care, so people needing those services get little support. “Heart attacks in the ER, we know how to do that. But behavioral health is vastly different," she said. The Kansas Hospital Association is asking the Legislature to create an annual $5 million fund to reimburse hospitals for taking in mental health patients.
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Missouri Deputy Injured, Suspect Dies After Shooting
KANSAS CITY, MO. (WDAF) - The suspect in a police shooting Saturday in Excelsior Springs has died at a local hospital. The Clay County, Missouri, Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting that also left a police officer wounded. Fox-4 News reports that Excelsior Springs police approached a man in a parking lot who had a warrant out for his arrest; he fled the scene in a truck and then shot at police after they stopped his truck. An officer was shot in the shoulder and the hand. The suspect, identified as 65-year-old Carl Carrel, was pronounced dead on Sunday. The officer has non life-threatening injuries, but a police department spokesman says the officer will require additional surgery.
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Lawrence Man Arrested in Topeka Murder
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – A Lawrence man has been arrested as a suspect in a Friday morning homicide at the Meadowlark Apartments in Topeka. Topeka Police say they arrested 20-year-old Bruce Holloway Jr. of Lawrence on Saturday. WIBW reports that Holloway is charged with 1st degree murder in the death of 23-year-old Keith Gaylord, Jr. of Topeka. Another person at the apartment was also taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Holloway is being held at the Shawnee County Jail. The investigation is ongoing.
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KC Man Accused of Fatally Shooting Cousin in Dispute over Playing Card Game
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KSHB) — A Kansas City man was charged Monday for allegedly fatally shooting his cousin after a tense moment while playing a card game. KSHB TV reports that 28-year-old Jordan Huff is now facing second-degree murder and other charges. On Saturday, police officers in Independence, Missouri, were dispatched to an apartment (on the 3900 block of Redwood Drive) where they found James Robertson dead. He had suffered four gunshot wounds to his chest and back. His siblings told police they were at the residence with the victim and Huff, smoking marijuana and playing drinking games. According to police, at one point, Huff grabbed his AR-15 and shot James Robertson. Eight bullet holes were found in the apartment's drywall.
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Junction City Man Arrested After Fatal Shooting
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (WIBW) - A 34-year-old Junction City man has been arrested following a deadly shooting early Sunday morning. Officers responding to reports of gunshots fired found Justin J. Rose, 38, of Junction City, suffering from a gunshot wound. WIBW reports that Rose was pronounced dead at Geary Community Hospital. Sunday evening, Junction City Police arrested 34 year-old Joshua Sturgis on charges of 2nd Degree Murder and 2 Counts of Aggravated Assault. The Missouri Highway Patrol spotted Sturgis driving in Saint Charles County Missouri, where he is being held on $1,000,000 bond pending extradition.
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Leavenworth Chosen as Regional Veterans Day Site
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (KFDI) - The Veterans Day National Committee has selected Leavenworth as a regional site for celebrating the holiday. The Committee is part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. KFDI reports that this Veterans Day will mark the 103rd consecutive year for the Leavenworth County Veterans Day Parade. The parade was first held on November 11, 1919, the one-year anniversary of the armistice agreement of World War I between the Allies and Germany in France. The celebration is recognized as the largest parade west of the Mississippi River. Retired U.S. Army Tech Sgt. Wilbur Grisham, who served in World War II, will be the Grand Marshal of the parade. More information about the Leavenworth County Veterans Day Parade can be found at lvvetsparade.com.
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Governor Kelly Attends Groundbreaking at New Dodge City Cheese Producer
DODGE CITY, Kan. (KPR) – One of the world's largest producers of American-style cheese and whey products has broken ground on a new production facility in Dodge City. The Hilmar Cheese Company's $600 million investment in the region is expected to create 250 new full-time jobs. Governor Laura Kelly attended the groundbreaking ceremony, touting projections that the facility could bring an additional $500 million in investments and 750 jobs to the Dodge City area by late 2023. The Hilmar Cheese Company, based in California, produces American, Monterey jack, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese. The company already runs facilities in California and Texas. Company officials say milk for the Dodge City plant will largely be sourced from southwest Kansas dairies.
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Kansas Gets Ready to Help Small Businesses Hurt by Pandemic Orders
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - Financial help is now on the way for small business owners in Kansas, specifically for those who didn't get much help from the government during the height of the pandemic. Kansas Public Radio reports that small business owners can recoup some of their COVID-19 pandemic losses through a program established by the Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Act, passed in the final days of the Kansas Legislature’s 2022 session and signed into law by Governor Laura Kelly in June. The law earmarks $50 million in federal COVID tax dollars for partial property tax refunds to retail businesses forced to close or cut occupancy during the pandemic. Businesses with pandemic-related losses in 2020 and 2021 are eligible for up to $10,000 – $5,000 for each year. The Kansas Department of Revenue will start processing refund applications in October. Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart said the agency is putting the finishing touches on a one-page application that business owners will complete online. A date hasn’t been set for the start of applications, he said, because the agency is still testing its website. ( Read more.)
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Roy Williams Inducted into Kansas Sports HOF
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KC Star/KPR) - Former University of Kansas basketball coach Roy Williams has been inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. The Kansas City Star reports that Williams is being honored for his 15 seasons as men's basketball coach at KU, a career which included nine regular-season conference titles, four trips to the Final Four, and two NCAA title games. He went on to coach North Carolina for 18 years. The inductees at a ceremony Sunday in Mulvane also included baseball historian and writer Bill James of Lawrence, NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer of Emporia, and Negro Leagues Baseball League All-Star Elwood "Bingo" DeMoss of Topeka.
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Lance Leipold Happy at No. 19 Kansas Despite Links to Wisconsin
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — University of Kansas football coach Lance Leipold says he's happy to be with the Jayhawks. Kansas is No. 19 in this week's Associated Press poll and plays No. 17 TCU on Saturday. But Leipold's happiness doesn't mean there isn't going to be plenty of interest in hiring a coach that took a downtrodden program to 5-0 this season. The rumors began when Nebraska fired Scott Frost a few weeks ago, but they really built up steam this week after Wisconsin fired Paul Chryst. Leipold grew up in Wisconsin and was a graduate assistant for the Badgers. He also played at Wisconsin-Whitewater and later led it to six Division III national titles.
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KU and K-State Improve in Football Poll Rankings After Weekend Wins
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) -The University of Kansas Jayhawks are now ranked 17th in the USA Today Week 6 Coaches Poll after posting a 5-0 start for the first time in more than a decade. WIBW reports that the Jayhawks defeated the Iowa State Cyclones 14-11 Saturday afternoon in Lawrence. KU will play TCU on Saturday, October 8, in the last of its three straight home games. The Jayhawks and the Kansas State Wildcats were both ranked in the latest in the AP Top 25 poll. KU ranked at No. 19 in the poll. The K-State Wildcats moved up to No. 20 following their win against Texas Tech on Saturday.
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Transfers Making Big Impact for Big 12's Early Leaders
UNDATED (AP) - Some of the Big 12's lesser-known transfers are making big impacts so far for the teams at the top of the conference. When No. 17 TCU visits No. 19 Kansas on Saturday, a combined eight starters and several key backups will be first-year players for the Horned Frogs and Jayhawks after having played at other schools. At TCU, linebacker Johnny Hodges, strong safety Mark Perry and cornerback Josh Newton lead the defense. At Kansas, defensive end Lonnie Phelps and linebacker Craig Young have been keys and offensive lineman Dominick Puni is the highest-graded pass blocker.
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These area headlines are curated by KPR news staffers, including J. Schafer, Laura Lorson, Kaye McIntyre, and Tom Parkinson. Our headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays, 11 am weekends. This news summary is made possible by KPR listener-members. Become one today. And follow KPR News on Twitter.