WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has vetoed a Republican bill forcing construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
The White House sent notice of the veto to the Senate on Tuesday, shortly after the bill was received at the White House. It’s the third veto of Obama’s presidency.
The move puts a freeze on a top GOP priority, at least for now. It also reasserts Obama’s authority over a project that’s become a flashpoint in the national debate about climate change.
Congressional Republicans may try to override Obama’s veto, but have yet to show they can muster the two-thirds majority in both chambers that they would need. Sen. John Hoeven, the bill’s chief GOP sponsor, says Republicans are about four votes short in the Senate and need about 11 more in the House.
The Barton County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that they will be offering a concealed carry class Saturday, March 21, 2015.
This class is a prerequisite for obtaining your concealed carry permit through the State of Kansas. Residents of Barton County will be given priority enrollment.
The fee for the class is $50. Students will need to furnish their own handgun and at least 50 rounds of ammunition. Enrollment is limited.
Further information may be obtained from the Sheriff’s Office by calling (620) 793-1876.
It was a light agenda for the Great Bend Board of Education Tuesday afternoon at their luncheon at the high school.
USD 428 Superintendent Brad Reed told the school board they were still trying to lock in a calendar schedule for next year.
Right now, the calendar committee will receive the feedback from the two options still available.
Brad Reed Audio
The biggest difference in the two calendar options is that one adds a professional work day for the teachers. Reed also noted he wanted to get the ball rolling on another recognition program for high school graduates.
Brad Reed Audio
As of now the recognition would be called a “Graduate of Promise”. The distinction would be similar to graduates with honors or those involved with National Honor Society.
HUTCHINSON— Police have made an arrest in connection with a stabbing on Monday morning near 12th Street and Monroe in Hutchinson.
Police say Drew Sims, 32, is in custody on suspicion of aggravated battery.
Sims is being held on a $50 thousand bond. He made a court appearance on Tuesday via video from the Reno County Jail.
He is suspected of stabbing 30-year-old Brandon Zeh in the chest during an argument over money
Zeh was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery.
On February 6, Sims was granted community corrections for crimes that included two counts of theft, forgery and giving a worthless check. The state could now seek to revoke his community corrections status.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A tax exemption championed by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback helped about 90,000 more business owners than previously anticipated, as well as about 53,000 farmers.
New state Department of Revenue figures have intensified a debate over how to address the budget problems that arose after lawmakers cut personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 in a bid to boost the economy.
But Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan said Tuesday that tax relief for owners of small businesses should not be blamed for budget difficulties.
Lawmakers in 2012 eliminated personal income taxes for many owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships and other businesses. The state had said 191,000 business owners would be helped.
The department now estimates that nearly 281,000 business owners were helped, along with the farmers, whose numbers weren’t estimated previously.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A key Republican legislator says he’s not sure how Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s efforts to obtain the authority to prosecute election fraud cases will fare when the state Senate debates the measure.
The Senate was taking up the bill Tuesday. Judiciary Committee Chairman Jeff King, a Republican from Independence, said senators have supported the concept in the past but are likely to have questions about the details.
Kobach has argued that his office needs to the power to pursue election fraud cases because county prosecutors have too many other cases that are a higher priority for them.
But Kobach’s critics contend that there’s no need for such a change.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley said while Kobach is an attorney, future secretaries of state might not be.
K-State Police @KStatePolice Follow K-State Police would like help identifying this fan. Send a tip at https://www.ksu.edu/police/silent or call 532-6412
A day after Kansas State men’s basketball fans stormed the court at Bramlage Coliseum following the Wildcats’ upset victory over Kansas, K-State Police were looking to identify a fan who collided into a KU player and Wildcats athletic director John Currie offered an apology.
Early Tuesday morning, K-State athletic director John Currie released the following statement about the incident:
On behalf of President Schulz and K-State Athletics, I apologize to Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger, Coach Bill Self and the KU basketball team for the unfortunate situation in which they were placed last night at the conclusion of our basketball game.
Our security staff, which in similar past postgame celebrations has, according to our procedures and rehearsals, provided a solid human barrier to allow the teams to conduct a postgame handshake and safely leave the court, was unable to get into proper position quickly enough last night and was overwhelmed by the fans rushing the floor.
K-State prides itself on providing a great game atmosphere in a safe environment and did successfully execute our security plan when we defeated KU last year in Bramlage as well as in 2011. Although no one was hurt last night, we fell short of our expectations for securing the court and escorting KU to its locker room without incident. We are disappointed that we did not do better for the KU team.
We are reviewing our procedures internally and consulting with our law enforcement partners to determine any steps necessary to improve our gameday security.
Additionally, we are actively reviewing video and working in concert with law enforcement to identify any fan who intentionally touched visiting players or personnel. We will take appropriate action with such identified persons, including turning over all evidence to law enforcement so that any applicable charges can be filed.
Early this morning I met with Student Governing Association President Reagan Kays and Vice-President for Student Life Pat Bosco who are supportive of these steps. While we are proud of the incredible atmosphere of Bramlage Coliseum and the passion of K-State students and fans, we are saddened by the insistence of some fans to sully the image of our great institution with audible profane chants. We will continue to work with our student leadership to provide a better example of sportsmanship for our audiences.
Congratulations are still in order for our coaches and student-athletes for their tremendous effort last night, and we look forward to Saturday’s home finale against Iowa State.
A short while later, the Big 12 Conference also released a statement that explained it was reviewing the actions of all of those involved.
“The Big 12 Conference office and the two schools are reviewing the postgame celebration that occurred at the conclusion of last night’s Kansas at Kansas State game. In accordance with Conference policy, home team game management is responsible for the implementation of protocols to provide for the safety of all game participants, officials and fans.”
The incident, which included K-State fans bumping into KU players and coaches, KU assistant Kurtis Townsend forcefully restraining a KSU fan from taunting KU players and general chaos and pandemonium, has become a hot topic nationally, as several media outlets have made this latest incident of college-celebrations-gone-wild the focal point for renewed debate on whether there is a place for such scenes in college athletics.
The swim season may have ended last weekend for the Great Bend Panthers, but members of the swim team will be back in the pool this weekend as they “Swim to a Wish”, a 100-mile relay to raise funds for the Make a Wish Foundation.
Team members will be completing a non-stop 100 mile relay that will extend over two days and nearly 48-hours. Swimmers will take turns completing one-mile swims until their goal is reached. The event that will take begins at the Barton Community College pool on Friday, , has a goal to raise $5 thousand dollars with 100-percent of the proceeds going to Make a Wish of Kansas. The hope is that a family from Great Bend will be able to benefit from the funds raised at this event.
If you have questions or wish to make a donation, you can call coach Steve Beaumont at 620-282-2754 or coach Keith Moeder at 620-603-6033. You can make checks payable to Make a Wish and a receipt will be provided for tax purposes.
BEATTIE, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas farm cooperative has been fined $65,900 after a worker lost the toes on his left foot when he became entangled in an auger.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Tuesday that the employee of the Beattie Farmers Union Cooperative was injured in August 2014 while he was cleaning out a grain bin near Waterville. It said locking devices were not placed on the augers to prevent them from turning on while workers were in the bin.
OSHA said in a news release that it found one willful, one repeated and three serious safety and health violations at the operation. The employee has not been able to return to work.
Representatives for the cooperative did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
SALINA -Police have arrested a teenager on a half dozen counts of arson and one count of aggravated assault, in connection with setting a series of small grass fires.
Police Captain said David Eklund, 15, is accused of starting a small grass fire in the 700 block of Gypsum on February 13, two grass fires in the 600 block of South 2nd, two fires in Oakdale Park, one small grass fire in the 100 Block of South Kansas on the February 18.
Sweeney said Eklund also allegedly threatened an 11-year-old boy with a lighter and an aerosol bottle of deodorant spray.
Eklund is being held in the juvenile detention facility in Junction City.
JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press
