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CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocates - help abused and neglected children caught up in the Kansas court system, through no fault of their own. CASA chapters across the state are actively recruiting new volunteers during April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, to look out for the thousands of Kansas kids who need an advocate in court.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state agency has been asked to study ways to save money at the Kansas Neurological Institute in Topeka. Rep. David Crum, a Republican from Augusta, says the discussion could include transitioning KNI from an institution for people with severe developmental disabilities to residential housing for the disabled. But Crum said Tuesday that the discussion is only in preliminary stages. He says he asked the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services to make recommendations after a two-day legislative break in March. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the House Social Services Budget Committee approved Governor Sam Brownback's recommendation to provide $28.6 million for KNI, with $10.3 million from the state general fund. Last year, Brownback recommended closing the KNI but lawmakers rejected the proposal.

(Photo by Janet Loebel, via Shawnee County Historical Society)TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka house that preservationists say is an important architectural structure from pre-World War I will go up for auction June 25. The Dillon House, which is across the street from the Kansas Statehouse, features Renaissance-style architecture and the first electric elevator in a Topeka home. Banker and lawyer Hiram Price Dillon moved into the home in 1914. The state acquired the property in 1998. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Oklahoma-based AmeriBid LLC will conduct the auction. The home's appraised value is $448,500. Two bids were made on the house in February but state officials determined they were below the fair market value. A bill introduced during the 2010 legislative session that would have allowed the Kansas Arts Commission to raise $4.6 million to restore the house fell through.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Department of Transportation is planning $1.2 billion in improvements to the state's highways, bridges and other projects. Kansas Secretary of Transportation Mike King announced the plan Thursday for fiscal years 2015 and 2016. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the plan includes 464 highway projects and 194 bridge/interchange improvements involving about 1,600 miles of roads. The largest projects are a $116 million expansion of the Interstate 235/US 54 Highway interchange in west Wichita, and a $95 million expansion of Kellogg in east Wichita. Two large projects are scheduled for Interstate 70 in western Kansas - a $52.6 million improvements on 11.5 miles in Thomas County near the Logan County line and $43.4 million for nine miles in Gove County near the Trego County line.

Governor Sam Brownback (Photo credit: Charlie Riedel/The Associated Press)WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A new report shows Kansas job growth is lagging well behind the nation but predicts the employment outlook will be better next year. Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research on Thursday released its employment forecast for the Kansas and the Wichita metropolitan area. It shows that while employment nationwide grew by 1.9 percent nationally in the last 12 months, Kansas jobs increased by just 1 percent. It forecasts employment statewide will grow next year by 23,239 jobs, for an anticipated employment growth of 1.7 percent. The strongest growth is expected to be in the service sectors such as education and health with a growth rate of 2.6 percent. The Wichita economy is projected to improve next year but still grow more slowly than the national average.

INDEPENDENCE, Kan. (AP) — Former U.S. Senator Bob Dole returns to Kansas next month for the latest of several planned trips to his home state this year. The 91-year-old Russell native lives in Washington, D.C., and is making the homecoming tour to greet longtime friends and supporters throughout the state. He spends an hour at each stop, chatting with fans and old acquaintances. The schedule for the first week of September will take Dole to 10 communities in southeastern and south-central Kansas, beginning September 4th in Independence. He'll be in Howard, Sedan, Winfield and Wellington the following day. On September 6th, Dole is to make stops in Kingman, Pratt, Coldwater, Medicine Lodge and Anthony. He'll spend the afternoon of Sunday, September 7th, greeting visitors to the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.

(Photo Credit: Kansas Grape Growers and Winemakers Association Facebook page)WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — It's grape harvest time in Kansas, and the state's growing wine industry is expecting a big crop this year. The Kansas Grape Growers & Winemakers Association says the state has 35 registered wineries and vineyards. Most are small, with two to five acres of grapes, rather than large-scale farms. Nearly all of them are in eastern Kansas. The Wichita Eagle reports the state's climate doesn't allow wineries to grow well known grapes such as Cabernet or Merlot. Instead, they grow hybrids that include part of the heartier native American grapes. Winemakers produced 107,000 gallons of wine worth $6.9 million in 2010, the last official count. Wine experts say this year's production is likely to be much higher, thanks to a strong harvest of grapes.

A walking trail in the Konza Prairie. (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A long-term research project at the Konza Prairie will continue for at least six more years. Kansas State University announced Thursday that the school's Konza Prairie Biological Station has received a $6.76 million grant renewal from the National Science Foundation. It is the seventh consecutive renewal of the grant since 1980, bringing the total funding for the research to $29 million. The Konza Prairie research station is jointly owned by Kansas State and The Nature Conservancy and managed by the university's Division of Biology. The university says the 8,600-acre native tallgrass prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. Projects at Konza Prairie include research on grassland responses to fire and grazing, woody plant encroachment, climate change and nutrient enrichment.

(Photo Credit: wikimedia.org)TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Services have been curtailed, including the closing of post commissaries as the partial federal government shutdown takes effect at Kansas military installations. Major Martin O'Donnell, spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, says Wednesday that initially the impact isn't being noticed on the northeast Kansas post, though the effects will be felt the longer the shutdown lasts. About 1,000 civilian employees were put on emergency furlough until further notice. Functions related to the life, health and safety of soldiers and families were protected. But other activities have been altered, including the closing of the post commissary. In addition, the museum at Fort Riley will be closed during the week and open only on weekends. Another 2,300 employees were sent home at Fort Leavenworth, leaving 300 on the job.

(Photo Courtesy of AAA)Driving somewhere for Thanksgiving this week? Jim Hanni (HAY-nee), a spokesman for Triple-A Kansas, says it will be cheaper to fill up at the pump.Nationwide, nearly 44 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more this holiday week.==============================(Newscast #2)Kansas Thanksgiving Travel Increases AgainThe number of Kansans travelling this Thanksgiving holiday should outpace the national average. And, gasoline should be cheaper this year. The price of gas here in the Midwest has fallen 41 cents in the last month and is 6 cents lower than last Thanksgiving. Even so, travellers will still shell out a lot of money this week. Jim Hanni (HAY-nee) is a spokesman for Triple-A Kansas.National Thanksgiving travel hit a low in 2008, falling nearly 2 percent, but has slowly increased since then.