Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson-photo Kansas Dpt. of Education
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas education commissioner wants to choose seven school districts to participate in a major redesign of their systems based on the state board of education’s “Kansans Can” vision.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Commissioner Randy Watson told board members Tuesday the intent of the redesign project is to the help districts “determine what makes a successful high school graduate.”
Watson says the schools will base their redesign on the five goals of the “Kansans Can” vision for the students’ success. Those are locally measured social and emotional growth; kindergarten readiness; individual study plan focused on career interest; high school graduation rates; and postsecondary completion and attendance.
Inspired by the Mercury 7 astronauts, each district will be named after each astronaut.
Watson says the districts will be chosen by September.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Missouri state records show an emaciated boy whose father later killed him and fed his remains to the family’s pigs told authorities he was being abused.
Adrian Jones was 5 years old in July 2013 when he told a Missouri Children’s Division worker and police officer that a “little bone come out” when his father kicked him in the head. Two years later, Adrian was dead.
Adrian’s father and stepmother, Michael and Heather Jones, are serving life sentences in his death.
The records released this week show Missouri welfare officials said in 2013 that they didn’t think they could ensure Adrian’s safety at home, but that a county juvenile officer suggested the family be provided more services. The family then moved to
Michael Jones
Kansas.
Similar records remain under seal in Kansas, where welfare officials have said allegations against the family were “thoroughly investigated.”
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas senators unanimously have passed a bill that would toughen the state’s laws on human trafficking.
The bill approved on Thursday creates new crimes related to trafficking and toughens some existing laws.
The House passed it unanimously on Monday. It now goes to GOP Gov. Sam Brownback for a signature.
The bill would create new crimes related to human trafficking, such as using communication devices to facilitate human trafficking or knowingly selling travel services connected with human trafficking. It also would create the crime of internet trading child pornography.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt backed the bill and told lawmakers in written testimony that Kansas’ response to human trafficking has improved. According to Schmidt’s testimony, victim offices served 463 victims of human trafficking last fiscal year, up from two in 2009.
Trump met on Nov. 20 with Kobach at Trump’s New Jersey golf course. photo courtesy Fox
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the commission to review alleged voter fraud and vote suppression in the U.S. election system (all times local):
President Donald Trump has named Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach to help lead a voter fraud commission. But Kobach won’t be leaving his post in Kansas.
Kobach and Vice President Mike Pence will lead a commission to review alleged voter fraud and suppression.
But Kobach spokeswoman Samantha Poetter says he does not plan to end his term as secretary of state early. Kobach also is considered a top likely contender in the 2018 Kansas governor’s race.
Kobach championed Kansas’ tough proof of citizenship requirement as a way to keep noncitizens from voting. He has stood by Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that millions of people voted illegally in November. He also advised the Trump transition team and has been ordered to turn over proposals he took to a meeting with Trump.
2:18 p.m.
The White House says President Donald Trump has signed an executive order creating a commission to look at the public’s confidence in the integrity of the voting system.
The long-awaited panel follows Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations that millions of people voted illegally in the 2016 election.
The commission will look at allegations of improper voting and fraudulent voter registration in states and across the nation.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says Vice President Mike Pence will chair the panel, and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (KOH’-bahk) will co-chair it.
She says the group plans to complete its work with a report to the president by 2018.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Thursday launching a commission to review alleged voter fraud and voter suppression in the U.S. election system. That’s according to three White House officials.
One official says Vice President Mike Pence and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach will lead the commission, which will look at allegations of improper voting and fraudulent voter registration in states and nationally. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details ahead of a formal announcement.
Trump has alleged, without evidence, that 3 to 5 million people voted illegally in his 2016 campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
The official says the panel will include Republicans and Democrats and include current and former state election officials.
The Kansas Senate finally debated a tax bill Wednesday, but Democrats and conservative Republicans rejected it for different reasons. FILE PHOTO / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
After several false starts, the Kansas Senate on Wednesday finally took up a tax bill.
But after a brief debate, Democrats and conservative Republicans voted for different reasons to reject it.
Two Democrats joined 16 moderate Republicans in voting for the bill, which failed 18-22.
The seven Democrats who voted against the measure said they feared it would not generate sufficient revenue to both balance the state budget and increase funding for public schools by enough to satisfy the Kansas Supreme Court.
Sen. Lynn Rogers, a Wichita Democrat, said like many new members, he ran for the Legislature to fix the budget problems triggered by the income tax cuts that Gov. Sam Brownback pushed through in 2012, when conservative Republicans were firmly in control.
“While this (bill) makes many of the right moves in that direction, it does not fix school funding,” Rogers said.
Fifteen conservative Republicans, including Senate President Susan Wagle of Wichita, opposed raising taxes by more than $1 billion. They also objected to specifics of the plan, which would have effectively reversed Brownback’s income tax cuts by raising rates, restoring a third bracket and repealing a controversial business tax exemption.
Sen. Gene Suellentrop, a Wichita Republican, said any plan to balance the budget also should reduce the cost of government.
“There are some ways to lower that cost so that we do not have to take that much money from the citizens of Kansas,” Suellentrop said.
Senate Vice President Jeff Longbine, an Emporia Republican, warned members that rejecting the plan likely would push the session into overtime.
“My constituents and other people I’ve talked to around Kansas have told me time and time and time again, ‘You know what the problem is, find the political courage to fix it.’ I think this is the fix,” Longbine said, noting that lawmakers were approaching the 100-day deadline they set for ending the session.
Earlier this session, the House and Senate approved a tax plan, but it was vetoed by Brownback, who has staunchly defended the 2012 tax cuts. The House voted to override the veto, but the Senate was a few votes short of the 27 needed for an override.
Longbine was clearly frustrated after Wednesday’s vote.
“I think we went backward today,” he said. “Politics got in the way of good policy.”
Before they go home, legislators must approve plans to erase a projected two-year budget hole of $900 million and increase funding for public schools in response to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that declared the state’s current formula unconstitutional.
Jim McLean is managing director of the Kansas News Service. Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for kcur.org a partner in the Kansas News Service.
FINNEY COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities and officials at USD 457 continue to investigate threats toward students and staff.
Just after 11a.m. Wednesday, police learned through a teacher report to principals of a threat of violence at Garden City High School, according to a media release.
Police arrested 15-year-old Eudy Gonzalez for Criminal Threat in relation to allegedly making verbal threats towards students and staff that he had a gun and was going to commit violence to students and staff at the school.
Gonzalez is being held in the Southwest Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center and could face the possible charges of Criminal Threat.
Further investigation revealed Gonzalez allegedly made these statements in a facetious manner and did not have a gun or plan to carry out these acts. The case has been forwarded to the Finney County Attorney’s Office.
On Tuesday, police reported the arrest of Jaquelin Rico, 16, for criminal threat and identity theft in relation to a May 6, Snapchat message threatening violence towards students of the school
They also arrested 16-year-old Jonathan Gonzalez of Garden City. Police say he allegedly creating fake Snapchat accounts to send defamatory messages to other students at the school.
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hit and run crash and have made an arrest.
Just after 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, a 61-year-old man reported driving south in the 1400 Block of North Perry in Wichita, according to Sgt. Nikki Woodrow during Thursday’s police briefing.
The driver told police he came upon a woman in the street, unresponsive.
She has been identified as 39-year-old Elena Martinez. She was transported to a local hospital where she died.
During an investigation of the accident, police learned that a Chevy pickup driven by a 27-year-old man was southbound on Perry and hit Martinez.
WAMEGO, Kan. (AP) — Another Kansas school district has announced plans to randomly drug test students who participate in athletics and activities such as debate.
The policy takes effect this fall at Wamego Public Schools. The school board voted 6-1 Monday to approve an amended random drug testing policy.
The policy will affect students involved in Kansas State High School Activities Association events.
The amended policy lowered penalties for first-time violations from a 90-day suspension for KSHSAA participants to 45 days, second- time violation penalties from a 180-day suspension to a 90-day suspension, and a third-time violation from a 365-day ban to a 180-day ban.
Suspended students can still practice, but they aren’t allowed to participate in games or competitions. Banned students won’t be allowed to practice.
Funnel cloud near Goodland on Wednesday evening-photo Sherman Co. Sheriff
SHERMAN COUNTY – Thursday’s spring storm brought tornado warnings high winds, hail and flooding rain to many areas of Kansas.
A small tornado south of Goodland prompted the National Weather service to issue a tornado warning and the sirens were used in Goodland, according to the Sherman County Sheriff’s Department.
Funnel Cloud spotted south of Goodland. Take shelter now if you are in the path of this storm! #KSwxhttps://t.co/hrINQeDvxJ
Approximately 6 inches of rain in Gove County prompted flash flood warnings and a flash flood emergency for the city of Grinnell. Officials worked most of the night, according to the Gove County Sheriff’s Department.
FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY in and around Grinell, KS until 1:45PM MDT. DO NOT DRIVE IN THIS AREA. Reports of severe flooding occurring. #KSwxhttps://t.co/jxRu39wzqa
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating illegal gambling and have seized machines.
On Wednesday, police executed two search warrants were in the 1100 block of W. 31st Street South and the 3100 block of South Seneca in Wichita. Officers seized over 80 machines, according to Wichita Police Sgt. Nikki Woodrow during Wednesday media briefing.
If businesses or business owners have any question about the type of machines that are not allowed, or if community members want to check to see if the machines they see at area businesses are illegal, they can contact the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.
Their website is www.krgc.ks.gov . Also on that website, you will find a lot of information about what is considered illegal when it comes to Gambling.
Also, if anyone in our community would like to report that a business is in possession of illegal gaming machines, please contact Crime Stoppers at 267-2111.
“If a machine looks like it would belong in a casino and it takes money with a chance of winning money it is safe to say that it is probably illegal,” according to Woodrow.
