Should Sales Tax Relief on Kansas Groceries Only Apply to Healthy Food?
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - A bill in the Kansas Senate would amend the sales tax exemption on groceries so it only applies to healthy foods. The Kansas News Service reports that the bill would also exempt those foods from both state and local sales taxes. The bill limits the Kansas sales tax exemption on groceries to things like produce, dairy products and meat. Supporters contend that’s a trade off so the plan can also eliminate local sales taxes on groceries. Several food retailers oppose the change because it would make tax rates on food more complicated. Derek Hein, of the Kansas Beverage Association, says Kansas would be the first state to define healthy foods and that would be controversial. “Each one of us would have a different idea of what healthy is," he said. "So, it’s a dangerous road to go down.” Kansas is currently on track to phase out only the state’s sales tax on groceries.
Senate President Ty Masterson says his plan is better because it includes eliminating local sales taxes too. Kansas is currently on track to phase out only the state portion of the sales tax on most groceries. The tax dropped from 6.5% to 4% on January 1 and is scheduled to be fully eliminated in 2025. “And some jurisdictions will pay 3-and-a-half to 4 percent," he said. "Yes, it narrows the items. But it takes it to true zero.”
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Computer Chip Manufacturer Plans to Open Plant in Burlington
BURLINGTON, Kan. (KNS) - A computer chip manufacturer plans to open a new factory in Burlington. EMP Shield intends to invest $1.9 billion into a new plant in the town about an hour south of Topeka. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s office says the company is applying for federal funding through the CHIPS Act, which is aimed at increasing U.S. semiconductor production. Kelly’s office says the plant will create 1,200 jobs, with an average yearly salary of $66,000. This comes after a separate company, Integra, announced plans to build a $1.8 billion semiconductor plant in Wichita.
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Kansas Lawmakers Consider Turning Off Blinking Red Lights on Wind Turbines
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Some Kansas lawmakers want to rein in the blinking lights on wind turbines that interrupt night-time rural skies. Wind farms have blinking red lights to make sure airplanes don’t hit them at night. But residents nearby often complain about those lights. The Federal Aviation Administration now lets wind farm operators apply for permission to keep the lights off except when airplanes approach. A Kansas Senate committee has advanced a bill to require wind farms to apply for FAA permission to install the new light systems.
David Fisher, a retired business owner in Centerville, urged lawmakers to mitigate the blinking red lights. He lives 17 miles from turbines and worries more could be built closer to his home. “I am tired of seeing the blinking lights," he said. "I want to protect my family from having to live with these.” A Senate committee voted to advance a bill that would make wind farm operators seek federal permission to install new light systems that only flash when airplanes fly nearby. States including Colorado and South Dakota have similar rules.
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Supreme Court Won't Intervene in Arkansas Anti-Israel Boycott Law Dispute
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to step into a legal fight over state laws that require contractors to pledge not to boycott Israel.
The justices rejected an appeal on behalf of an alternative weekly newspaper in Little Rock, Arkansas, that objected to a state law that reduces fees paid to contractors that refuse to sign the pledge.
The full federal appeals court in St. Louis upheld the law, overturning a three-judge panel's finding that it violated constitutional free speech rights.
Similar measures in Arizona, Kansas and Texas were initially blocked by courts, prompting lawmakers to focus only on larger contracts. Arkansas’ law applies to contracts worth $1,000 or more.
Republican legislators in Arkansas who drafted the 2017 law have said it wasn’t prompted by a specific incident in the state. It followed similar restrictions enacted by other states in response to a movement promoting boycotts, divestment and sanctions of Israeli institutions and businesses over the country’s treatment of Palestinians. Israeli officials said the campaign masked a deeper goal of delegitimizing and even destroying their country.
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Despite GOP Split, Kansas Conservatives Go After Ballot Drop Boxes
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Conservative Kansas lawmakers pushed ahead Tuesday with trying to eliminate most ballot drop boxes in elections, despite a split among top Republicans that could doom the conspiracy-driven effort.
A Kansas Senate committee voted 5-4 to approve a bill that would limit each of the state's 105 counties to only one drop box, only inside its election office and only when two people from different political parties are constantly monitoring the box. Counties currently can have as many drop boxes as elections officials want, and the secretary of state's office said 167 boxes were in use in 85 counties in last year's election, or one box for every 11,700 registered voters.
The bill's backers argue that restricting drop boxes will restore public confidence in Kansas elections, though there have been no reports of problems with them. Some Republicans continue to circulate baseless election conspiracy theories following former President Donald Trump's false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.
The Kansas effort comes after Republicans' disappointing showing in last year's elections, particularly for election conspiracy promoters. State Sen. Jeff Longbine, an eastern Kansas Republican who opposed the drop-box limits, said he doesn't understand why the GOP is attacking something that voters find helpful.
“We have a certain segment of the Republican Party that's voting either as an independent or as a Democrat, and it's because of issues like this,” Longbine told reporters after the committee's vote.
Republicans have long enjoyed an advantage among registered voters in Kansas, and the Legislature has GOP supermajorities. But supporters of restricting or eliminating drop boxes altogether are likely to need two-thirds majorities to override an expected veto from Democratic Governor Laura Kelly, who narrowly won reelection in November.
Earlier this month, election conspiracy promoters showed their clout within the Kansas GOP when its state committee narrowly elected election conspiracy promoter Mike Brown as state chairman through the 2024 elections. Brown wants to ban all ballot drop boxes and unsuccessfully challenged Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a vocal drop box supporter, in last year's Republican primary.
“Voter confidence in the integrity of our elections has definitely decreased over the years, and anything that we can do to create sort of a firewall against fraud — ahead of it, before it happens — I think is a good thing,” said state Sen. Alicia Straub, a Republican from central Kansas.
Republicans have a 7-2 majority on the Senate committee, but Longbine and GOP state Sen. Ron Ryckman Sr., from southwestern Kansas, joined the committee's two Democrats in voting no.
Schwab is backing another bill before the House to allow him to set standards for counties' use and monitoring of drop boxes. He told the Senate committee Monday during a hearing that its bill could force voters to rely on U.S. Postal Service delivery of mail-in ballots.
“Why in God’s green earth would you want the federal Post Office or the federal government in charge of your ballot?” Schwab said. “I got a Christmas card last week.”
However, the bill has strong support from Schwab's predecessor as secretary of state, Kris Kobach, who was elected Kansas attorney general last year. Kobach has long promoted the idea that election fraud is potentially widespread and argued in Monday's hearing that the bill would help stop “ballot harvesting.”
When Kansas Republicans use that term, they mean having one person deliver multiple ballots for other people to election offices. In 2021, GOP legislators limited people to returning 10 ballots for others, overriding a Kelly veto of the measure.
There haven't been reported cases of fraud in Kansas tied to third-party ballot deliveries, and voting-rights advocates believe the law hinders poor, older and disabled voters in getting their ballots delivered and counted.
But Kobach told the Senate committee Monday: “You have to decide, do we want to keep our crime against ballot harvesting? And if you do, do you want it to be enforceable or unenforceable?”
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KC Police Identify Pedestrian Killed in Same Crash that Killed Officer and Police K-9
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KSHB) — The Kansas City Police Department has identified the pedestrian who was killed in the same crash that killed police officer James Muhlbauer and his K-9 partner last week. KSHB TV reports that the pedestrian killed in the crash has been identified as 52-year-old Jesse Eckes. Police say Eckes was sitting on the concrete traffic island at Truman Road and Benton Boulevard in Kansas City when the driver of a speeding Ford sedan ran a red light and struck the police cruiser. Eckes was struck during the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene. Officer Muhlbauer's K-9 partner also died at the scene. Muhlbauer was pronounced dead later at a nearby hospital. The driver of the Ford sustained minor injuries in the crash and was taken into police custody pending further investigation.
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British Woman Wins 2023 International Pancake Day Race
LIBERAL, Kan. (KSN) – The International Pancake Day Race, a tradition between Olney, England and Liberal, Kansas, took place on Tuesday, with the British winner clocking a faster time than the Kansas winner. KSN reports that this is the 74th year of the race in Kansas, but in Olney, England, the Pancake Race tradition dates back nearly 600 years to 1445. KSCB News reports Isabelle Sullenger won the Liberal leg of the race. Her time was 1:13.51. Cindy Medrano was second, and Alondra Brito was third. The Olney winner is Eloise Kramer with a time of 1:05. That means Olney is the winner of this year’s International Pancake Day Race.
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Sheriff: Man Carrying BB Gun Fatally Shot by Goddard Officer
GODDARD, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a Goddard police officer shot and killed a man who refused numerous orders to drop a weapon as he walked toward the officer. Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said 39-year-old Michael James Trask, of Lake Afton, died in the shooting Monday near Goddard. Investigators determined the weapon he was holding was a replica BB gun. Easter said the Goddard police officer tried to stop Trask's vehicle Monday but the driver fled. The officers told dispatchers the driver flashed a gun at him when he eventually stopped his car. Easter said the officer ordered Trask to drop the weapon at least 15 times before shooting him. Trask died at the scene.
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KU Raises $3.2 Million During One Day One KU Fundraiser
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LJW/KPR) - The University of Kansas raised more than $3.2 million from donors last week as part of its annual 24-hour fundraising campaign called One Day One KU. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the fundraising effort garnered donations for the Lawrence, Edwards and medical center campuses. The campaign allowed donors to provide gifts to specific departments or programs. KU Endowment, which oversaw the campaign, said gifts to the butterfly ecological program Monarch Watch, Kansas Athletics, the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and scholarships for students were the donation categories that attracted the most donors. KU leaders touted that the One Day One KU program, now in its sixth year, continues to grow as a way for people to donate to the university.
Kansas Public Radio received about $50,000 in contributions during One Day One KU, which will be used for the creation of a permanent news fund, primarily to support KPR's Statehouse Bureau in Topeka.
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Topeka Man Injured in Crash That Shut Down K-10 Monday
LENEXA, Kan. (WIBW) - A Topeka man was hospitalized after a rollover crash Monday morning that shut down Kansas Highway 10 at I-435 for hours. Police say 57-year-old Shawn Beuchat, of Topeka, was driving a dump truck on the westbound ramp from I-435 onto K-10 when he lost control of the vehicle around 9:30 Monday morning. WIBW TV reports that Beuchat was taken to Overland Park Regional Hospital with minor injuries.
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Attorney General Kobach: Walgreens Won't Send Abortion Pills into Kansas
TOPEKA – (KPR) - Walgreens has announced it will not send abortion pills into Kansas. In a letter, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach warned the company in early February that dispensing the abortion drug Mifepristone would be a violation of state and federal law. “This is a significant victory for the pro-life cause and for women’s health,” Kobach said. “The dispensing of these pills without a supervising physician present would expose women to complications and potentially to coercion as well." Walgreens responded to the attorney general’s warning with its own letter dated February 17. In it, Walgreens Executive Vice President Danielle Gray writes: “Walgreens does not intend to dispense Mifepristone within your state and does not intend to ship Mifepristone into your state from any of our pharmacies. If this approach changes, we will be sure to notify you."
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Proposal Would Outline Foster Families "Bill of Rights"
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas foster parents and children could soon have stronger legal protections to help them navigate the system. State lawmakers are now considering a bill of rights to protect foster kids and parents. The law would add 40 total rights. These rights would ensure family visits for kids and proper training for parents. Most of the rights already exist somewhere else, like in foster care policy. But lawmakers say this would strengthen those protections. Kristi Cundiff is the CEO of a foster parent advocacy group in Indiana. That state already has a bill of rights for parents, and she says it has made a difference. “Foster parents felt like they weren't being heard," she said. "And that has definitely changed because of the foster parent bill of rights. It actually states that certain rules need to be followed.” Supporters of the bill say foster care is complex and creating a law that centralizes people’s rights will simplify the system.
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Kansas Bill Would Limit Campaign Finance Oversight Efforts
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The head of the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission says a bill backed by Republican lawmakers would hinder the agency’s ability to enforce campaign finance laws. The proposed bill puts restrictions on the commission’s subpoena power. Mark Skoglund says that would make it nearly impossible to thoroughly investigate complaints against candidates and political action committees. “This bill, as written, means that we would never be able to support most, especially complex violations of the campaign finance act," he said. "There’s just no reason to have the law.” Backers of the bill say the proposed restrictions are aimed at curbing overly aggressive enforcement tactics that inhibit free speech. The House Elections Committee is expected to vote on the bill this week.
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A Member of the Kansas House Wants to Extend School Year by 40%
TOPEKA, Kan. (TCJ) - A proposal in the Kansas Legislature would lengthen the school year by about 40%, extending the academic year by 11 weeks. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the idea faces widespread opposition. The bill in the Kansas House Education Committee would increase the school year by 444 hours. Rep. Bill Rhiley, a Wellington Republican, introduced the plan, saying it would help students learn more. He also said many school districts are barely meeting the minimum requirement for instruction hours. Critics say there's little evidence to suggest a longer school year would improve student achievement. Others have complained about the cost, saying teachers would need to be paid more and longer school years would also require additional maintenance and increase transportation costs.
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Kansas Lawmakers Battle over Bans on Plastic Bags
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - An effort by Kansas businesses to stop cities and counties from regulating certain kinds of plastic waste has hit a snag at the Statehouse. A Kansas Senate committee has sidetracked a bill that would prohibit cities and counties from banning plastic shopping bags and other types of single-use containers used by retailers and restaurants. The committee rejected the measure despite efforts to narrow its impact by removing a section that would have made it illegal for local governments to regulate virtually any kind of consumer product. Republican Senator John Doll joined Democrats on the panel in opposing the bill despite the change. “There isn’t enough lipstick in the world to make this a good bill," he said. Even so, the bill is backed by several influential business groups. So, it could be resurrected. Lawmakers passed a similar measure last year but Democratic Governor Laura Kelly vetoed it.
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Suspects Arrested in Southeast Kansas Homicide
CRAWFORD COUNTY, Kan. (KPR) - Two men have been arrested in connection with a murder investigation in Crawford County. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says 32-year-old Travis Conness, of Neosho, Missouri, and 43-year-old Collin Pal Gebford have been taken into custody. Both men are facing murder charges in the death of 51-year-old Duane Mays, of Weir. Mays suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest in Pittsburg Friday afternoon. Pittsburg police say an altercation led to gunfire. Gebford was arrested Friday. Conness was taken into custody Saturday morning. The Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Wildlife and Parks, Pittsburg police and the Crawford County Sheriff's Office all assisted with the investigation.
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Dodge City Cargill Plant Named in Labor Investigation
MINNEAPOLIS, Kan. (AP/KPR) - The Cargill plant in Dodge City has been named in an investigation into children working dangerous jobs in food processing. The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered Packer Sanitation Services pay $1.5 million for employing more than 100 children in meat processing plants around the country. Officials say the children have been working overnight shifts in hazardous jobs at the plants. Packer Sanitation Services was fined more than $393,000 for employing 26 kids, aged 13 to 17, at the Cargill plant in Dodge City. The Labor Department's investigation also named several meat processing plants in Nebraska, Minnesota, and five other states.
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Topeka Man Arrested, Accused of Sex Trafficking Child
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A Topeka man has been arrested on charges of child sex trafficking. Police say 57-year-old Dwayne G. Cheshire was taken into custody last week. He's accused of human trafficking a child to engage in sexual acts. WIBW TV reports that Cheshire was booked into jail, where he remains on $500,000 bond. His next court appearance has been scheduled for June 1.
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Kansas Citians Get Sneak Peek at New KCI Terminal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Thousands of Kansas Citians got a sneak peek at the new terminal at KCI over the weekend. KCTV reports that 10,000 people toured the $1.5 billion terminal on Saturday. The new building replaces older terminals that opened more than 50 years ago. The new terminal sits on the ground where Terminal A used to sit. The new terminal is set to open for business February 28.
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$11 Million Headed to Kansas to Help Revamp Airports
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Around $11 million in federal funds is headed to Kansas to revamp dozens of airports for public use. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced last week that 66 airport projects across the state were chosen to receive grants. WIBW TV reports that the Kansas Airport Improvement Program funds will be used to plan, construct or rehabilitate general aviation airports. Among the airports receiving grant money:
- Lawrence Regional – Airport master plan update, $360,000; apron rehabilitation, $130,500 design, $800,000 construct; runway extension, $99,750 design
- New Century Air Center, Johnson County– Airfield electrical vault building, $89,300 design, $338,400 construct; rehabilitation of a central portion of the west apron, $133,000 design, $800,000 construct; maintenance materials, $13,600
- Johnson County Executive – Pavement maintenance materials, $13,600; southwest fence, $129,600; north fence, $156,150
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KU Rises to Number 3 in AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll
UNDATED (AP) – Houston returned to number one in the AP men’s college basketball poll for the third time this season while Northwestern and Texas A&M barged into the rankings after each had a pair of impressive wins last week. The Cougars picked up 48 first-place votes from the 62-member national media panel with just two weeks left in the regular season. Alabama dropped one spot after losing to Tennessee and routing Georgia in its lone week at No. 1. The Crimson Tide held onto seven first-place votes, while Kansas also earned seven to climb two spots to No. 3. North Carolina State and Florida Atlantic dropped out after each lost games last week.
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Former KU Women's Basketball Coach a Finalist for Naismith Hall of Fame
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KC Star/KPR) - Former University of Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington has been named a finalist for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Kansas City Star reports that Washington is the winningest women's basketball coach in KU's history. Gene Keady, a Larned native who lettered in three sports at Kansas State University and went on to coach 25 seasons at Purdue, was also named one of the 12 finalists. Whether Washington and Keady receive enough votes for induction will be announced April 1st at the college basketball's Final Four.
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This summary of area news is curated by KPR news staffers, including J. Schafer, Laura Lorson, Tom Parkinson and Kaye McIntyre. Our headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays. These ad-free headlines are made possible by KPR members. Become one today. And follow KPR News on Twitter.