Wagle Hopes for Consensus in Discussion of Dress Code Rules
TOPEKA, KAN. (AP)_The Kansas Senate's top leader says one of its committees is likely to reconsider a dress code for women imposed by its chairman. The Topeka Capital-Journal says Senate President Susan Wagle said the Ethics and Elections Committee will probably discuss the issue when it meets again next week. The Wichita Republican serves on the panel but wasn't present when Chairman and St. John Republican Mitch Holmes outlined rules for the panel. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported the Holmes' rules included a dress code prohibiting women testifying on bills from wearing low-cut necklines and miniskirts. The rules have no dress code for men. A bipartisan group of women senators is criticizing the dress code. Wagle plans to let the committee handle objections to the dress code, saying the legislative process eventually moves towards a consensus.
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Sedgwick County Zoo Approved For New African Elephants
WICHITA, Kan. (AP)_Zoos in Kansas, Nebraska and Texas have received federal approval to bring in new elephants from Africa. KFDI-AM reports that the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, the Dallas Zoo in Texas and the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska, were part of the joint application. They made the request to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The three zoos want to bring a total of 18 elephants from Swaziland to their facilities. The Sedgwick County Zoo has a new elephant exhibit that will be opening in the spring. The facility hopes to get one male and five female elephants.
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Kansas City Cold Case Ends with Murder Conviction
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP)_ A Kansas City, Kansas man has been sentenced to life in prison for the death of a woman 18 years ago. The Star reports that the sentence was ordered Friday for 35-year-old Jason L. Rucker. He was convicted last year of first-degree murder in the October 1997 killing of 33-year-old Vicky Ernst.