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(Image Credit: technorati.com)TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An environmental group says companies engaged in an oil and gas drilling method known as fracking have used chemicals that can cause cancer in four wells in Kansas. Industry representatives on Wednesday denied the allegations in a report issued by the Environmental Integrity Project. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the group says the chemicals used to extract gas from the four wells included kerosene, diesel and other hydrocarbons during hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Katie Brown, a spokeswoman for a program of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, says the industry has adequate safeguards to protect public health. She also says permits to use kerosene weren't required when most of the wells were in use.

Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams (Photo Credit: KWCH-TV)WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams, who has served in the department for nearly 40 years, says he will resign, effective September 5. Williams announced his resignation Thursday in a news release and police briefing. He began his career as a police officer in Wichita in 1975 and moved up to through the department before becoming chief on April 14, 2000. He said he had been considering retirement for about a year but wanted to wait until his command staff was in place. City Manager Robert Layton said information regarding an interim chief or successor will be released at a later date.

(photo credit: the Associated Press)The Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team attended a celebration dinner Thursday night, then held an open practice Friday at the Superdome in New Orleans. That was in addition to participating in more media interviews. So what did Bill Self learn from the Final Four experience in 2008 that's helping him this year? The Jayhawks will play Ohio State in one of the NCAA national semifinal games Saturday night. Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 7:30.

7 people were killed in a stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair in 2011 (Photo credit: CNN.com)One year ago at the Indiana State Fair, a gust of wind toppled a stage, killing seven people. Kansas State Fair general manager Denny Stoecklein says a situation like that is not likely to happen here in Kansas:Stoecklein says it's the responsibility of the fair organizers and those putting on the outdoor concerts to make sure that concert-goers and fair-goers are safe when severe weather threatens.

The Republican River Basin (Image credit: grin.com) The state of Kansas has been in a long legal battle with Nebraska and Colorado over water rights to the Republican River. This week, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is in Maine for a hearing on the water use compact that affects all three states. Schmidt says the main point of his argument is that states have a hard time planning for the future when they don't know what resources will be available. Schmidt hopes the existing terms of the compact are upheld so that Kansas can get its share of water from the Republican River.

(Image credit: uthmag.com)Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt's office receives thousands of complaints each year about companies that are suspected of committing consumer fraud. Schmidt says the office has several options to pursue against those companies: Schmidt says that more often than not, his office can get those who are violating the law to make amends...but sometimes, he does have to...as he said..."drop the hammer"...on others.

Hurricane Hunter aircraft flying through Tropical Storm Isaac find that the storm is very close to becoming a hurricane. (Image Credit: NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center)Some Kansans are already helping those in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida cope with Tropical Storm Isaac. Meghan Spreer with the Kansas Capital Chapter of the American Red Cross says three people from the Manhattan area...Jody Portuese (JOH-dee pohr-TEESE), Crystal Belt and Virgil Small...have already set out to take on specific duties in the Gulf Coast region. Spreer says the volunteers will be in place to help those who are displaced, and to take care of any other duties that might arise.

(Photo Credit: AP)TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo-based mobile carrier Softbank Corporation has reached a deal with SprintNextel to acquire 70 percent of U.S. wireless company Sprint for $20.1 billion in the largest ever foreign acquisition by a Japanese company. The deal was announced Monday at a joint news conference in Tokyo by Softbank President Masayoshi Son and Sprint Chief Executive Dan Hesse. The deal, approved by the boards of both companies, still needs approval from Sprint shareholders and U.S. regulators. Softbank said the deal is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. The deal will bring together the third biggest mobile carriers of both Japan and the U.S., underlining the growth ambitions of Softbank.

(Photo credit: nourishlife.org)Kansas school children may not actually see the changes, but they'll be eating healthier meals if they're having food from school cafeterias. K-State nutritionist Sandy Proctor says that's because of the federal "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act."Along those lines, Proctor says kindergarteners will no longer be served the same portion sizes as high school students. Not all the changes mandated by the act will go into effect this year... but by next year, schools will have to meet a series of new guidelines that affect both lunch and breakfast meals served at school.

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army)MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) _ The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says he wants to increase the national conversation about war veterans and how they're treated and regarded in society. General Martin Dempsey spoke Monday to a large audience of soldiers, faculty and students at Kansas State University. He said he believes the nation has a positive image of its military men and women. But Dempsey says that after many years of war, it's important for veterans and the nation to talk about the role of those who have served, where they fit in society and whether they're regarded as heroes, victims or average citizens. Dempsey's speech was part of Kansas State's Landon Lecture series.