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OP Police Issue Statement on Stun Gun Use on StudentOVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Overland Park police say a high school student shocked by an officer's stun gun had been holding a knife to his own throat. Police issued a statement explaining the use of the stun gun on the 14-year-old boy at Shawnee Mission West High School. They say the teen refused to drop the knife.======================House Speaker Pleased by Court Ruling on Malpractice CapTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas House Speaker Mike O'Neal says he's pleased by a state Supreme Court ruling upholding a $250,000 cap on non-economic damages in personal injury lawsuits. The law imposing the cap was enacted in 1988. O'Neal is an attorney who helped draft the law.======================Brownback Creates Task Force for DMVTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback wants a task force he's creating to look for solutions for problems in the state's motor vehicles division. Brownback says there's no excuse for subjecting drivers and vehicle owners to delays and long lines in dealing with registrations, titles and licensing.======================First Snow of Year Falls in NW KansasGOODLAND, Kan. (AP) — Northwestern Kansas received its first snowfall of the season yesterday when Goodland got about a half-inch of snow. Other communities in that part of the state received dustings of about the same amount. The forecast called for more snowfall.======================Gov. Unveils Ad Campaign for Tech Education ProgramTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas officials are launching a new advertising campaign aimed at drawing attention to recent changes in career and technical education programs. The state is paying the tuition for students who enroll in several technical career fields while finishing their high school education. Gov. Sam Brownback unveiled an advertising campaign Friday in Topeka with the theme of "Sparks will fly."

The versatile actor had hundreds of screen credits to his name, including Platoon, The Rock and Final Destination.

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Photo credit: Smithsonian InstitutionWASHINGTON (AP) — An energy businessman is donating a record $35 million to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History to build a new dinosaur hall on the National Mall. The Smithsonian is announcing the gift Thursday from David H. Koch, the executive vice president of Koch Industries Incorporated of Wichita. It is the single largest gift in the museum's 102-year history. The Smithsonian Board of Regents voted Monday to name the new dinosaur hall in Koch's honor. Koch, an engineer, is a billionaire who lives in New York City. He was the Libertarian Party's vice presidential candidate in 1980 and has been a major donor to conservative political causes. Koch gave the Smithsonian $15 million in 2009 to build a new exhibit hall exploring human evolution over 6 million years.

Jayhawks head football coach Charlie Weis (Photo credit: kusports.com)Tomorrow (SAT), the University of Kansas Jayhawks play their opening football game of the 2012-2013 season with a brand-new head coach, taking on a team they're favored to beat. But after being fired at Notre Dame in his previous stint as a college head coach, Charlie Weis knows how short a honeymoon can last...particularly if an underdog manages to pull off the upset. Kansas Public Radio's Greg Echlin has more. Kickoff time for both games is 6 p.m. tomorrow (SAT).

(Photo Credit: wikimedia.org)TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Services have been curtailed, including the closing of post commissaries as the partial federal government shutdown takes effect at Kansas military installations. Major Martin O'Donnell, spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, says Wednesday that initially the impact isn't being noticed on the northeast Kansas post, though the effects will be felt the longer the shutdown lasts. About 1,000 civilian employees were put on emergency furlough until further notice. Functions related to the life, health and safety of soldiers and families were protected. But other activities have been altered, including the closing of the post commissary. In addition, the museum at Fort Riley will be closed during the week and open only on weekends. Another 2,300 employees were sent home at Fort Leavenworth, leaving 300 on the job.

The grounds of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene. (Photo credit: The National Archives)ABILENE, Kan. (AP) — Staff members at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene are gearing up for two days of activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landing in France. The events June 6-7 are an extension of a three-year exhibit at the complex to tell the story of World War II. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the supreme Allied commander of Europe in World War II who led the invasion in 1944 that would lead to Germany's surrender less than a year later. Karl Weissenbach, director of the Eisenhower library, says the events are meant to thank veterans for their service and to explain the significance of World War II to younger generations. He says the overall exhibit launched in 2013 has drawn interest from veterans and students alike.

(Photo Credit: commons.wikimedia.org)HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — The recent rainfall in Kansas has shattered records across the state and has helped ease drought conditions in some sections. Mary Knapp, state climatologist, said that in the first nine days of August, 144 daily precipitation records were broken across the state. Four of those records were in Hutchinson, including a 6-inch rainfall on August 4th that broke the record for the amount of daily rainfall for any day in August. The Hutchinson News reports the previous record was set last year when 3.3 inches of rain fell on August 25, 2012. Knapp also said, however, that when the ground is dry, it can't quickly soak up the water, which increases flooding. The U.S. Drought Monitor says much of Reno County is out of the drought — for now.

Voters turned out at a rate not seen in decades. Polls showed the left-wing coalition New Popular Front gaining a majority of seats in parliament with the far-right National Rally in third place.

On this edition of Conversations, Jane Spinak talks with host Dan Skinner about "The End of Family Court: How Abolishing the Court Brings Justice to Children and Families.”