While Kansas may still have a high unemployment rate, there is some positive news about the state’s economy. Tax revenues are growing at a rate faster than state officials had expected. That’s what Legislative Research Director Alan Conroy told a group of lawmakers today (MON). The state is three months into a new fiscal year, and Conroy says the state general fund is 50 million dollars ahead of expectations.

Most of the growth has been in income and sales tax collections. That means Kansans are earning more and spending more than expected.

UFOs above the sky in Kansas City? Maybe. Several dozen eyewitnesses claim to have seen unidentified flying objects earlier this week in Kansas City, Lee's Summit and Raytown, Missouri. Margie Kay is a Missouri-based spokeswoman for an organization called MUFON (moo-FON) -- the Mutual UFO Network. Kay says a team of UFO investigators has converged on Kansas City to speak with the eyewitnesses.

Kay says some -- but not all -- of the UFO sightings may have a more Earthly explanation. She says in one case, eyewitnesses may have observed military planes or other aircraft. Some planes were known to be flying in formation in the area.

A reorganization of the state’s social services agency is likely to be a part of a soon-to-be-announced plan to reduce the cost of Medicaid. We have this report this morning from Jim McLean of the KHI News Service.

A constitutional debate is being staged this (THUR) evening at the Dole Institute of Politics in Lawrence. Noted attorneys and health care law experts Gregory Katsas (KAT-suss) and Catherine Stetson will face off on a provision of the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requiring the purchase of health insurance coverage. Some legal scholars say that requirement is unprecedented, and exceeds the powers of the U-S Congress. Others say the requirement falls within Congress's power to regulate matters affecting interstate commerce. Dole Institute associate director Barbara Ballard says the issue poses some very interesting constitutional questions, which will eventually have to be decided by the Supreme Court.

The debate begins at 7:30 tonight (THUR) at the Dole Institute on the University of Kansas West Campus. Admission is free. Both students and community members are welcome.

The Dole Institute of Politics is hosting a constitutional law debate this (THUR) evening. Attorneys Gregory Katsas (KAT-suss) and Catherine Stetson will debate whether certain provisions of the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are constitutionally permissible. Dole Institute Associate Director Barbara Ballard says it's a particularly timely topic.

Ballard adds that the program is not designed to debate the merits of the health care law, but to discuss whether the U-S Constitution allows enforcement of the law's requirements. Students and community members are welcome to attend. The program begins at 7:30 tonight (THUR) at the Dole Institute on the University of Kansas West Campus. Admission is free.