GOP Fights Off Attempt to Rescue Governor's Plan to Cut Sales Tax on Food
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Republicans in the Kansas House have fought off an attempt to rescue Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s proposal to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries. Democrats in the House tried to force a vote on the governor’s bill to take the state’s 6.5% sales tax off groceries by July 1st. Republicans blocked the effort, but some said they could support a compromise plan to phase the tax out by 2025. But it’s not clear that even that idea will get a vote. Kelly says the political risk to Republicans of doing nothing keeps her hopeful. “I just cannot imagine this Legislature going home and facing their constituents without eliminating the sales tax on food," she said. The state expects to have more than $3 billion in cash reserves at the end of the coming budget year. Kelly says that means it can afford to do without the roughly $450 million generated annually by the grocery tax.
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Kansas Lawmakers May Beef Up Child Abuse Investigations
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas lawmakers are looking to tighten the rules for investigating allegations of child abuse. The Kansas News Service reports that lawmakers are considering plans that might help identify more instances where kids are abused. Legislators could expand access to more thorough child abuse exams, allow specialists to review allegations of abuse and give police more access to confidential information when abuse is reported. Under the current rules, law enforcement lobbyist Ed Klumpp says police might not even get the name of the person who filed a complaint of abuse. “Just imagine if we were told to go respond to a robbery call, and the dispatcher said, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t tell you who called and I can’t tell you who the witnesses are. Just go investigate this, and that is kind of where we were on this,'” he said. Some child abuse reforms have already passed. Governor Laura Kelly signed a bill increasing punishment for some child abuse crimes.
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Kansas Looks to Use Taxes on Sports Bets to Attract Kansas City Chiefs' Interest
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators are close to approving a measure authorizing sports betting that would dedicate most of the state’s revenues from it to efforts to lure the Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri to the Kansas side of the metropolitan area. The Kansas Senate is expected to vote by Wednesday evening on a sports betting bill. The House approved the measure earlier this month, so the Senate’s approval would send it to Governor Laura Kelly. The measure says 80% of the revenues from a 10% tax on bets would go to incentives for professional sports teams to come to Kansas. It could be about $5 million a year.
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Kansas Senate Overrides Governor's Veto of "Parents Bill of Rights"
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The Kansas Senate has voted to override Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of a Parents’ Bill of Rights, which gave parents more control over what’s taught in public schools. Now, the measure goes to the Kansas House. Democratic Senator Pat Pettey says parents already have access to classroom materials, and that teachers deserve more trust and respect. “I’ve heard today: Parents on one side, teachers on the other. That should be what we don’t want to have happening. We shouldn’t want to have that kind of division," she said. Republicans supporting the measure say some districts have shut parents out of public school board meetings.
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Kansas Senate Overrides Governor's Veto of Ban on Transgender Sports
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Republicans in the Kansas Senate have voted to override Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill that would ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. If the House also votes to override the governor’s veto, the transgender ban will become law. Supporters of the bill argue it’s needed to prevent cisgender girls and women from being overmatched in competition and to protect them in their locker rooms. Democratic Senator Cindy Holscher says those arguments remind her of how people used to defend other discriminatory policies. “These types of statements harken back to the 1950s and 60s when closed-minded individuals labeled Black people as predators as a reason for not sharing restrooms and water fountains. How far back, do we as a state, need to go," she said. All but one Senate Republican voted to override the governor’s veto.
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Kansas Lawmaker's Remarks About Trans Colleague Cause Furor
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — LGBTQ-rights advocates are calling for a Kansas state lawmaker to be formally censured after she said she didn't want to share the women’s restrooms at the Statehouse with a transgender colleague. The Kansas House’s top Republican says GOP state Rep. Cheryl Helmer’s comments about Democratic Rep. Stephanie Byers are “unfortunate” and Democrats condemned them. Helmer’s made the remarks in an email Sunday to a University of Kansas student and in subsequent media interviews. The state's leading LGBTQ rights lobbyist called them “a new level of toxic bigotry.” Helmer said Tuesday that she's concerned about child safety and that parents shouldn't be allowed to ”change" a young child's gender.
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Missouri House Approves Limits on Transgender Athletic Participation
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's GOP-led House has voted to limit which high school sports teams transgender athletes can compete on. House members on Monday voted 93-41 to require transgender students to compete on teams that match the sex listed on their birth certificates. Missouri’s current public high school sports rules already prohibit transgender girls from competing on girls teams unless they’re undergoing hormone therapy. Two transgender girls have been approved to play on Missouri girls’ teams in the past decade.
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Missouri High School Bans LGBTQ Support Stickers and Cards
GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (AP) - The school board of suburban Kansas City high school has told its teachers to remove cards and stickers that show they are allies of LGBTQ students. Officials in the Grain Valley emailed families on Monday saying the school board had directed administrators to remove cards or stickers that may read "Safe space for all." The directive came after members received "a concern" about the cards and stickers. The email said the district remains committed to helping create a safe and inclusive environment but the cards were "not appropriate at this time." The Kansas City Star reports some parents, teachers and advocates have objected to the decision.
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Missouri Faces More Lawsuits over Lack of Redistricting Map
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri is now facing lawsuits in both federal and state court over the Legislature's inability to pass new U.S. House districts. Republicans control the Missouri House, Senate and governor's office, but they have been unable to agree on a final plan to redraw the state's eight congressional districts based on the 2020 census. Missouri is the only state that has not at least passed some proposal, though several others also face uncertainties because of court challenges or vetoes. The Missouri Legislature faces a May 13 deadline to pass bills. Hearings have been set in federal court for May 9 and in state court for May 23.
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Kansas Voters to Decide on Preserving Election of Sheriffs
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP/KPR) - Kansas voters will decide in November whether to make sure counties and state lawmakers can't stop the longstanding tradition of electing county sheriffs. The Kansas House has approved a proposed amendment to the state Constitution to declare that almost every sheriff in the state must be elected to a four-year term. The Senate had already passed the measure, so it goes on the ballot this fall. There's little chance counties will stop electing sheriffs, but the Legislature has the power to make changes. Amendment supporters said sheriffs should remain directly accountable to voters. Riley County in northeastern Kansas is the only county out of 105 without an elected sheriff.
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Kansas Officials: Agriculture Exports Surpass $5 Billion for First Time in a Decade
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Kansas Governor Laura Kelly says the state exported $5.35 billion in agricultural goods in 2021, marking the first time Kansas agriculture exports exceeded $5 billion in at least a decade. Those exports were also $1.30 billion, or 32.35%, more than 2020. “Kansans have long-known that farmers, ranchers, and agriculture producers are vital to our state’s economy,” Kelly said. The top export for Kansas in 2021 was meat, which made up 54% of all agriculture exports. The second was cereals making up nearly 40% of total ag exports. Other products exported include oilseed, vinegar, beverages, dairy products, milling products, fats, vegetables, flour, starch and other products. Mexico, Japan, and China were the top three countries to purchase Kansas agricultural goods. ( Find the full report here.)
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Longtime Director of the Kansas Historical Society Dies
TOPEKA, Kan. (Topeka Capital-Journal) - Jennie Chinn, director of the Kansas Historical Society since 2004, died Saturday at the age of 64. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that a moment of silence was held Monday in the Kansas Senate in Chinn's honor. Governor Laura Kelly said Chinn "left a legacy of contributing to Kansas," which included writing an award-winning Kansas history book, serving as the state's historic preservation officer and spearheading new exhibits. ( Read more.)
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Free State Seniors Win National Debate Tournament - a First for a Kansas High School
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LJW) - Two Free State High School seniors have won the national debate championship, concluding a record-breaking high school career. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that over the weekend, a debate team, comprised of Free State High School seniors Serena Rupp and John Marshall, won the National Championship at the Tournament of Champions hosted by the University of Kentucky. Their win is not only the first national debate championship in Free State High School and Lawrence school district history, but also the first for a team from Kansas. Kelly Thompson, director of speech and debate, said the win concluded a “record-shattering” high school policy debate career for Rupp and Marshall. “They’ll graduate next month as one of the most successful teams in Kansas history, and they’ll both continue their debate careers at Emory University (Serena) and Kansas University (John), respectively,” Thompson said. The team’s topic was: “The United States federal government should substantially increase its protection of water resources.” “They’re both brilliant, hard-working and talented people who I trust will make an impact on the world!” Thompson said. ( Read more.)
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St. Marys Child in Medically-Induced Coma After Tree Limb Fell on Her
ST. MARYS, Kan. (KSNT) – A second-grader is in critical condition after part of a tree fell on her in a northeast Kansas town. KSNT TV reports that Quinlynn Jones was playing outside Saturday in St. Marys on Saturday when a falling tree limb hit her. That's according to a Facebook post from a family member. Jones suffered fractures to both sides of her skull, as well as bleeding on her brain. The family member went on to say that the amount of brain damage the little girl may have suffered from the injury remains unknown. A friend of the family set up a Gofundme page, which the description says will help the family with medical expenses and any time off Jones’ mother needs to stay by her side. At the time of the fundraiser’s creation Monday night, it said that Jones remained in the hospital in critical condition. Jones’ family created a Facebook group called Quinlynn’s Climb, which they said will be a diary following the young girl’s recovery. According to reports, Jones is being kept in a medically-induced coma with heavy sedation to encourage recovery.
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Haskell University May Soon Have New President
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCUR) - Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence may soon have a new - and permanent - president, though that person has not yet been named. In an email to constituents, Kansas Republican Senator Jerry Moran wrote that he spoke with the director of the Bureau of Indian Education last week, and was informed a hire has been made. B-I-E spokesperson Klarissa Jensen didn’t confirm that, but told KCUR Radio in an email: “Once all the specifics have been finalized we will be letting local media know the full details.” Interim president Tamarah Pfeiffer has led the federally-funded tribal university since May. There have been six permanent or interim presidents in the last four years.
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University of Kansas Ranked as No. 5 Best School in the Nation for Veterans
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KU/KPR) — For the second year in a row, the University of Kansas ranks fifth nationally among Tier 1 research institutions in the 2022-23 “Military Friendly Schools” survey. The annual survey is the longest-running review of college and university investments in serving military-affiliated students. Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using public data sources and survey information. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2022-2023 survey, with 665 schools earning special awards for going above the standard. KU has ranked as a Military Friendly Top 10 school since 2018 and has earned “Gold” award status since 2017. The Military-Affiliated Student Center at KU, in Summerfield Hall, serves as a centralized resource for students. It includes a lounge with 24-7 access, study spaces, headquarters for the KU Student Veterans of America student organization, VA work-study opportunities, GI Bill and military tuition assistance and more. KU has several scholarships and an emergency fund for military-affiliated students, a Veterans Upward Bound program and a series of Graduate Military Programs. ( Read more.)
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Kansas Man Gets over 21 Years for Stabbing Death
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison for the 2018 stabbing death of his girlfriend's ex-husband. Prosecutors said in a news release Wednesday that Vincenzo Anecio Lucasta was sentenced earlier this month to 258 months in prison for the death of 57-year-old David Paterno, of Shawnee. Lucasta pleaded no contest in January to second-degree intentional murder in the case. Officers found Paterno mortally wounded in his home on Aug. 8, 2018, after a neighbor heard a loud fight inside the home. Lucasta had initially been charged with first-degree murder.
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Prosecutor Won't Bring Charges Against Accused Topeka Priest
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Catholic priest in Topeka suspended from his public duties after being accused of sexually abusing a minor will not face criminal charges in the case. The Capital-Journal reports that Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay decided not to file charges against the Rev. John Pilcher after reviewing the results of an investigation conducted by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas announced last September that it had suspended Pilcher, of Mater Dei parish, but said Pilcher denies the allegation and has fully cooperated with the investigation. The archdiocese says it will continue with evaluating Pilcher's status as a priest.
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Fire Crews Prepare for Dry Thunderstorms, Erratic Winds
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — From the Southwestern U.S. to the southern High Plains, forecasters are warning that more strong winds and low humidity will challenge fire crews over the coming days. Firefighters in New Mexico were preparing Wednesday for dry thunderstorms to move over the region, bringing with them erratic winds that will test lines they have built around the largest wildfire burning in the U.S. Residents in multiple counties remain evacuated. In Nebraska, unseasonably warm temperatures and dry conditions will keep crews on their toes as they battle a deadly prairie fire that has been burning since last week.
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Progress Made on Blazes Burning on Kansas/Nebraska Line and in Southwest U.S.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Stiff winds remain a challenge but beefed up fire crews are making significant progress on a large prairie fire burning near the Nebraska-Kansas line. In the Southwest, lighter winds have allowed firefighters to keep flames from advancing significantly at big fires in Arizona and New Mexico where multiple blazes have charred a combined 225 square miles since last week. More than 200 firefighters are now battling the Nebraska fire that killed a former volunteer fire chief, injured several firefighter and destroyed several homes last week. Fire spokesman Terry Krasko says the biggest loss on Tuesday was a few hay bales. That fire is now 74% contained.
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Abortions in Kansas Rise; Fewer Women Coming from TX and OK, More from Missouri and Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas saw a 4.1% increase in the number of abortions performed in the state in 2021 compared with 2020. More Missouri residents but fewer Oklahoma and Texas residents came into the state to terminate their pregnancies. A preliminary report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment showed that nearly 8,000 (7,849) abortions were performed in the state last year, several hundred more the year before. The number of abortions performed in Kansas for women from Oklahoma and Texas dropped by nearly 35%. But abortions for Missouri women increased 8%, as did abortions performed for Kansas women.
(Editor's note: KDHE reports 7,849 abortions were performed in the state last year. That's 303 more than the 7,546 performed in Kansas in 2020.)
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Construction Expected to Wrap-Up Soon at NBAF
MANHATTAN, Kan. (KNS) - Construction is almost complete on NBAF, the federal lab in Manhattan that will conduct animal disease research. The Kansas News Service reports that the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility will be the first of its kind in the U.S. After pandemic-related construction delays, some of the 240 employees at NBAF are moving in. When it opens this summer, it’ll be the first lab in the US that’s big enough to hold large livestock like cattle with the highest level of biosafety containment. That’ll allow researchers to study dangerous animal diseases, work on vaccines and prepare for outbreaks. Communications director Katie Pawlosky says NBAF will help protect an agriculture industry that contributes more than $1 trillion to the US economy. "NBAF, with the capabilities we’ll have, really acts as an insurance policy for our agriculture," she said. The Manhattan facility will employ roughly 400 people once it’s fully operational in 2024.
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Kansas College Looking into Alleged Water Cooler Tampering
LINDSBORG, Kan. (AP) — Bethany College officials are investigating an allegation that someone associated with its baseball program intentionally contaminated the water cooler used by the opposing team. Athletic director Laura Moreno confirmed the investigation and declined further comment. Kansas Wesleyan athletic director Steve Wilson said a foreign substance was discovered in the cooler during a doubleheader Sunday. He said it is common practice for the home team, Bethany in this case, to provide water for the visitor. Wilson declined further comment, including whether any players, coaches or support staff drank the water or became ill.
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Wichita Task Force Releases Recommendations Following Teen's Death
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) - A task force reviewing the death of 17-year-old Cedric Lofton finalized its recommendations to various government agencies Monday. Key recommendations include additional training for officers, limiting the use of the prone position on juveniles in custody, and funding a 24-hour mental health response unit. Lofton died while in custody in 2021 at the Sedgwick County juvenile intake facility. He was arrested by Wichita police while suffering a mental health crisis. City Council member Brandon Johnson says city and county staff are working to review the suggestions. Both will report back on any changes implemented after 90 days. "This was a tragedy that never should have happened, he said." Changes requiring additional funding will be worked out during the city and county’s respective budgeting processes. State-level recommendations will be included in the city and county’s legislative platforms.
(AP version)
Group Recommends Policy Changes After Wichita Teen's Death
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A task force is recommending dozens of policy changes in response to a Black Wichita teenager's death while being restrained at a juvenile detention center. The task force was created after 17-year-old Cedric Lofton died in September after being restrained facedown for more than 30 minutes. The Wichita Eagle reports the task force made 57 recommendations for changes in the state foster care system, Sedgwick County 911, the Wichita Police Department and the county's youth corrections system. The recommendations are not binding. They include an audit of "Stand Your Ground" laws that were cited when officers who restrained Lofton were not charged.
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Weary of Many Disasters? UN Says Worse Yet to Come
UNDATED (AP) - A new United Nations report says disasters are on the rise and are going to get worse. In the late 20th century, the world had some 90 to 100 disasters per year. Now a new UN report says disasters that range from climate change to COVID-19 are going to jump to about 560 a year by 2030. One scientist likened the trend to multiple illnesses that weaken a body's immune system. He says it's not just the disasters themselves but the accumulated risk, how they add up and ping-pong against each other.
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Oklahoma Governor Signs Bill for Massive Corporate Subsidy
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt's staff says the Republican governor has signed a bill to authorize up to $700 million in state subsidies to lure an unidentified major manufacturer to the state. Stitt spokeswoman Carly Atchison says the governor signed the Large-scale Economic Activity and Development, or LEAD, Act on Monday. Stitt and lawmakers who crafted the plan have not identified the company they are targeting, but the Japanese broadcast network NHK has reported that Panasonic. is considering both Kansas and Texas as potential sites for an electric-vehicle battery factory. The state of Kansas has passed its own incentive package, worth up to a billion dollars, to attract the company and the 4,000 jobs that are promised to come with it.
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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!