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Legal ethics experts had previously said while Ginni Thomas is an outspoken conservative activist, her husband is able to act as an independent judge of matters that come before the court.

The Trump administration says that more than 1.6 million immigrants have self-deported. But there's also evidence of an internal migration from target cities and states and into quieter areas that feel safer.

Employees at the Starbucks near Rock and Central voted in favor of unionizing their store.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Sam Brownback won't release the names of applicants for a new position on the Kansas Court of Appeals, even though the names of candidates have been disclosed for more than 30 years. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the decision by the Republican governor is being criticized by Democratic legislative leaders and the chairwoman of the statewide nominating commission, which previously screened applicants for the Court of Appeals. The Legislature added a seat to the state's second-highest court as of July 1 and changed the process for selecting its judges. They'll now be appointed by the governor, subject to state Senate confirmation, with no role for the nominating commission. Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley said the governor is treating Court of Appeals appointment as he does other appointments.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says the number of clandestine meth labs in the state increased dramatically between 2010 and 2011. The KBI says the number of meth lab reports increased from 143 in 2010 to 204 last year. Kansas law enforcement reported 24 meth lab incidents in the first three months of this year. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Cherokee and Montgomery counties lead the state in reports this year with six and five incidents, respectively. Experts say the number of methamphetamine labs has risen across the nation. They attribute the increase to the popularity of methods that require less equipment and pseudoephedrine to produce the drug. Kansas ranked 14th in the country in meth lab reports in 2011.

The Kansas Jayhawk men's basketball team faces the Ohio State Buckeyes today (SAT) in the Final Four. The Jayhawks held an open practice yesterday (FRI) at the Superdome in New Orleans, and held more media interviews. So what did Bill Self learn from the Final Four experience in 2008 that helps him this year?The Jayhawks will tip off against Ohio State in the second semifinal game tonight (SAT). Tipoff isscheduled for around 7:50. Kansas Athletics has announced that Allen Fieldhouse will be open at 6pm to watch the game on their videoboard. Members of the KU pep band, spirit squad, and the mascots will be at Allen Fieldhouse.

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.

(Flickr Photo Courtesy of USDAgov) WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Thousands of U.S. farmers are filing crop insurance claims this year as drought and triple-digit temperatures burn up crops in the Corn Belt. The final cost to the taxpayer-subsidized program has yet to be determined, but Kansas State University is forecasting underwriting losses at nearly $15 billion. That figure is based on anticipated claims totaling $25 billion. Extension specialist G.A. "Art" Barnaby says the Agriculture Department's Risk Management Agency cut premiums for corn and soybeans in many states, expecting new technologies to eliminate or reduce big losses. More than $1.42 billion in insurance claims have been paid so far, with the bulk still to come. Texas is leading the nation with $518.6 million in claims, followed by Kansas with $223 million. Colorado is third with $66 million.

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).

(Flickr Photo by Jeremy Yerse)TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has passed a bill abolishing political action committees formed by legislative leaders in both parties after a bitter partisan debate. Republicans used their supermajority to push the bill through the chamber Thursday on a 31-6 vote, sending the measure to the House. Democrats opposed the measure, seeing it as an attempt by GOP majorities to hamstring the minority party's fundraising efforts in a Republican-leaning state. GOP senators said the bill is a good-government measure. Senate Democrats and House Democrats have leadership PACs. There's a Senate Republican PAC, but it's controlled by GOP moderates, who once led the Senate but were ousted from power in 2012. House Republicans have no PAC. A 2000 law prohibited legislators from forming new PACs, but it didn't abolish existing ones.