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Kris W. Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State (Photo by: Walt Whitaker)Democratic leaders in the Kansas Legislature are criticizing Secretary of State Kris Kobach for serving as the honorary campaign chairman for a fellow Republican. Paul Davis, of Lawrence, is the top Democrat in the Kansas House. He says the secretary of state is responsible for maintaining fair elections in Kansas and therefore, Kobach shouldn't be involved in campaigning. 00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa78c780000 Secretary of State Kobach says his actions are not out of the ordinary. 00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa78c780001 Kobach says the ethics code of the National Association of Secretaries of State does not forbid endorsing candidates. And, he says, serving as an "honorary" campaign chairman is nothing more than an endorsement.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Speedway officials have named Governor Sam Brownback as the grand marshal for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The Republican governor will preside over the Hollywood Casino 400, which is the fourth race in NASCAR's top series championship. Matt Kenseth is leading the championship over five-time series winner Jimmy Johnson and Kyle Busch. Johnson won last weekend's race at Dover, New Hampshire. Two other races are scheduled for the weekend at the northeast Kansas track, starting with Friday's Kansas Lottery 98.9 ARCA Racing Series. The Kansas Lottery 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race will be run Saturday.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Leaders of the top Kansas teachers' union are vowing to continue the fight through November's elections against the Legislature's vote to eliminate tenure. Lawmakers inserted the provision Sunday into a bill that increases state funding for public schools. The measure is now on Governor Sam Brownback's desk. The Kansas National Education Association said Tuesday that ending tenure would limit teachers' ability to advocate for their students' best interests. The union also says depriving teachers of the administrative due process provided by tenure puts their jobs in jeopardy. Proponents of the change included conservative Republicans and the group Americans for Prosperity. They argued the move would give local school boards and administrators more power to remove underperforming teachers and would improve the quality of public education.

The White House effort to replace Attorney General Eric Holder is happening largely in the shadows. But Labor Secretary Thomas Perez is emerging as a top candidate for the post.

The top military commander in Iraq has recommended a temporary freeze on U.S. troop reductions in Iraq after July. Gen. David Petraeus made the comments to senators Tuesday on Capitol Hill. Today, Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker return to brief members of the House.

Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with open war after accusing Israelis of killing one of its top commanders. "Zionists, if you want this type of open war then let the whole world hear: let it be an open war," Nasrallah told mourners at the funeral of Imad Mughniyeh.

Detroit's Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick learned Monday whether he'd face perjury or other related charges. A county prosecutor has been investigating the mayor after the publication of racy text messages allegedly written between him and a former top aide.

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) responds to the latest congressional testimony from Gen. David Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq. Clyburn explains why he opposes Petraeus' call to suspend troop withdrawals.

Here are the headlines for the KPR listening area, as compiled by KPR news staffers.

In a first visit to China by a member of President Biden's Cabinet, the secretary of state will seek "open lines of communication" with Beijing but no diplomatic breakthrough is expected.