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(Photo Credit: via msnbc.msn.com)NICKERSON, Kan. (AP) — After hearing from several angry residents, the Nickerson City Council voted for the second time to disband the city's police department — but added a chance for a vote on the issue in April. The council voted last week to eliminate the police department after the chief resigned in early October. On Monday night, about 50 residents of the Reno County town blasted the decision. The Hutchinson News reports that council members voted again Monday to disband the department. But they included a provision that the public could vote in April to reinstate the department. Until then, the Reno County Sherriff's Department will provide law enforcement in Nickerson. Sheriff Randy Henderson warned that deputies respond to calls by priority, and they are often busy in Hutchinson, particularly on weekends.

(Photo credit: PrisonProfiler.com)TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department says the state women's prison in Kansas violates the civil rights of its inmates by failing to protect them from sexual misconduct and abuse by staff and other prisoners. The department said in a letter Thursday to Governor Sam Brownback that the problems have continued since it began investigating the Topeka Correctional Facility in April 2011. The letter outlined steps the prison and the Kansas Department of Corrections can take to resolve the issues. Those steps include additional training and investigations of all complaints of misconduct. But the letter also says that if the Justice Department isn't satisfied with the efforts at the prison facility by late October, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder could file a lawsuit. Department of Corrections spokesman Jeremy Barclay says it is reviewing the letter.

(Photo Credit: via city-data.com)GOODLAND, Kan. (AP) — Crews from Black Hills Energy are fixing a ruptured gas line that forced evacuations of homes and businesses in downtown Goodland. Authorities were unable to say how many people remained out of their homes Wednesday night. The evacuation zone covered a few city blocks. The Sherman County Sheriff's Department said in a news release that some residents were allowed to return and the evacuation zone was adjusted about 90 minutes after the leak was discovered around 3 pm Wednesday. No fires, injuries or explosions were reported. The American Red Cross sent volunteers and food from Hays to shelter people overnight if necessary. The sheriff's office says the rupture was apparently caused by workers using a boring machine.

(Flickr Photo by Jimmy Emerson) A Kansas House committee has approved a bill that would remove any state subsidies for abortion, even through tax credits or exemptions. Much of the debate today (THUR) focused on part of the bill that prohibits employees of an abortion provider from teaching sex education in schools. But it was written so broadly that a parent who works for an abortion provider wouldn't be allowed to volunteer in the classroom for any purpose. Allan Rothlisberg, a Republican from Grandview Plaza, was in favor of the measure.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa7bc620000The committee eventually amended the bill so people employed by an abortion provider could become school volunteers, but would not be allowed to work for a school district or teach any sex ed courses. The full Kansas House will now consider the legislation.

Golden Konza tallgrass prairie, a part of the Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area. (Photo Credit: Jim Minnerath/USFWS)The physical landscape of Kansas has changed quite a bit in the last 150 years or so. Before the land was settled, cultivated and fenced off, most of it was covered by a sea of tall grass. Commentator Rex Buchanan says there are still some places where that sea of grass can be seen today. 00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa73d880002Commentator Rex Buchanan, circa late 1990s or early 2000s.Commentator Rex Buchanan is the interim director of the Kansas Geological Survey at the University of Kansas. You'll find more of his work on the KPR website. Production assistance for this commentary was provided by KPR News intern Sixuan Wu, a University of Kansas senior from China, who is majoring in journalism.

A scene from the new film "ParaNorman" (Image credit: Focus Features)Even as the summer draws to a close, families can still find plenty to watch at the local cineplex. Film critic Abby Olcese (ohl-CHESS-see) says that "ParaNorman," which opens nationwide today (FRI), has an old-school, family-friendly feel wrapped up in its modern 3D package.00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa73b3d0000"ParaNorman" opens at theatres everywhere today (FRI). Abby Olcese (ohl-CHESS-see) writes about movies for Kansas Public Radio. You can see more of her work at her blog, NoMorePopcorn.wordpress.com.

Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins in the film "Hitchcock" (Photo Credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures) Producer and director Alfred Hitchcock is regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of all time. His work in the suspense genre inspired strong emotions in both his fans and his detractors. Reviewer Abby Olcese (ohl-CHESS-ee) says a new film that offers an inside view of Hitchcock's work on the movie "Psycho" could use a little more of that emotion, and a little less detachment. 00000184-7fa7-d6f8-a1cf-7fa73be30002 "Hitchcock" has been playing in limited release nationwide; it opened this week in Lawrence and Kansas City. Abby Olcese (ohl-CHESS-see) writes about movies for Kansas Public Radio. You can see more of her work at her blog, No More Popcorn.wordpress.com.

(Photo Credit: Douglas Graham, Congressional Quarterly/Roll Call)LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The former Republican chairwoman of the Kansas Senate's Education Committee who was defeated last year by a more conservative challenger says she is changing her party affiliation to Democrat. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Jean Schodorf announced on Facebook Sunday that she will make the change on Monday. The Wichita resident was one of several moderate Republicans defeated in the August 2nd primaries by conservatives backed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Governor Sam Brownback. Schodorf said in her Facebook post that she feels the Republican Party at both the state and national levels no longer represents her. She had announced shortly after the primary that she planned to leave the party and wanted to help form a moderate-centrist coalition in the state.

(Photo Credit: hutchnews.com)TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House is considering a bill that would allow some religious symbols on public lands. The religious symbols would be permitted if they are part of the community's history or heritage. The Wichita Eagle reports that the bill is a reaction to an incident last summer, when a group threatened to sue the town of Buhler because its official city sign included a cross. The town replaced it with similar signs on private land. The bill would also allow religious displays in public schools, if they are part of a course of study. Representative Don Schroeder of Hesston told a House committee Thursday that he believed religious displays like Buhler's do not violate the U.S. Constitution. House Majority Leader Arlen Siegfried expects a vote on the bill next week.

The KU women's track team celebrates the program's first NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship (photo credit: Kansas Athletics)One of the Senate’s last official acts of the 2013 session was to approve a resolution congratulating the University of Kansas women’s track team on winning the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship. Senator Marci Francisco, a Lawrence Democrat, sponsored the resolution. And the Senate set aside partisan differences to pass it unanimously. Francisco says members of the team couldn’t make it to the Statehouse because they are at the USA Track and Field championships in Des Moines.But assistant track coach Mike Whittlesey and Associate Athletic Director Chris Howard were able to join Francisco on the floor of the Senate for the ceremonial vote.