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A top official at the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services says he will urge district court judges to reduce the number of people sent to state mental hospitals. The state hospitals are frequently over capacity. KHI News Service reported on the comments by Deputy Secretary Pedro Moreno. As KPR’s Stephen Koranda tells us, some mental health advocates say there would be few other options for people needing mental health services.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa79d8b0000

Topeka Unified School District 501 has named a new permanent superintendent. Last (THUR) night, school board members voted unanimously to approve Julie Ford for the position. She had been serving as the district's interim superintendent. She's the first female to hold the top job for the Topeka public schools: 00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7a56b0000Julie Ford's new contract is effective until June 30, 2014. She'll receive a $155,000 base salary, along with longevity and performance-based incentives.

(Photo by Stephen Koranda)Democrats in the Kansas Legislature have unveiled their jobs proposals for this session. The bills would require state agencies to make efforts to buy American-made and Kansas-made goods when making purchases. Paul Davis, from Lawrence, is the top Democrat in the House. He touted a bill stipulating that state contractors must attempt to hire Kansans first before bringing in out-of-state workers.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7bade0000Republicans have big majorities in both chambers, but Davis says he believes the bills could get support from both sides of the aisle.

Governor Sam Brownback is leading a trade delegation to the Paris Air Show this week. The trip to France is aimed at attracting aviation business to Kansas and drumming up sales for the aircraft industry in the state. Brownback says trips like this are a good opportunity to meet with top executives of aviation companies.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7c1650000Brownback says he believes an airshow visit last year will lead to a new product line being brought to Wichita. The delegation headed to France includes economic development officials from the Wichita area and representatives of aircraft-related businesses in Kansas.

File photo of Governor Sam Brownback. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)Republican Governor Sam Brownback won’t set a date for nominating a candidate for an open seat in the state’s appeals court system. The top Democrat in the Senate, Anthony Hensley of Topeka, has called for naming a candidate by the end of this week. He says that would give lawmakers more time to consider the nominee. KPR’s Stephen Koranda reports.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7c2760000

Caleb Stegall during the Senate committee hearing. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)Governor Sam Brownback's nominee for an open seat on the Kansas Court of Appeals is headed for a vote in the full Senate. A committee yesterday (TUE) endorsed the nominee after a public hearing. This is the first vacancy filled on the court under a new system where the governor chooses nominees, who then must be confirmed by the Kansas Senate. As KPR's Stephen Koranda reports, Brownback chose his office's top attorney, Caleb Stegall, for the seat on the state's second-highest court.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7c3e40000

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(Flickr Photo by Holley St. Germain)Two bills that would have cut back teachers’ bargaining rights have been shelved for this session. The top Democrat in the Kansas Senate believes opposition from union members forced the delay. Senator Anthony Hensley, from Topeka, is not only that chamber's minority leader, he’s also a teacher.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7bdc90000Overland Park Republican Marvin Kleeb (“cleb”) chairs the House Commerce Committee. He told the Associated Press that the break will give groups representing teachers, superintendents and school boards a chance to work out a compromise.

A top Republican Party official says presidential caucus sites across Kansas are reporting heavy turnout. State GOP Executive Director Clay Barker said today (SAT) that even small counties are reporting more voters than anticipated. Republicans will caucus until 2 p.m. this afternoon (SAT). Democrats will open their caucus doors at 1 p.m.; voters need to be in place by 3 p.m. to participate.

This is National Consumer Protection Week. Jeff Wagaman, the spokesperson for the Kansas Attorney General's office, says one of the activities being held in conjunction with the event is geared toward high school students. 00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa791430000The writers of the top 3 entries from around the state will each win 400 dollars. All entries are due next Monday, March 14th. More information can be found online at the Kansas Attorney General's website, www.ksag.org. National Consumer Protection Week is being observed with various activities in all fifty states.