Kansas Meadowlark

Sheri Steisel, National Conference of State Legislatures, explains aspects of federal funding of child welfare and foster care to Fed. and State Committee on Tuesday

Watchdogs on State Issues

Kansas:
Virginia:
- Cut a little money here, spend a little there
- New reforms could ban lobbyist from ethics panel
Mackinac Center: Forced Unionization of Small Business Owners Spreads to Other States [Look what happened in Kansas: Gov. Sebelius assisted AFSCME-CCPT in unionizing child care providers in Kansas]
Michigan Capitol Confidential: Senate Fails to Reject Government Pay Hike

Kansas Government

Wichita KAKE: Kan. House Speaker Challenges Critics
Lawrence: Kansas House speaker challenges Democrat critics to file ethics complaint against him
Kansas Foster Care Services blog: Twitter Posts from the KansasWatchdog on hearings today in Topeka, KS on Children’s Issues, “Foster Care”

Kansas Economy/Budget/Taxes

Kansas Reporter: Costly Kansas tax credit needs more money, panel told
Wichita KAKE: Kansas Revenue Chief Predicts Delays In Tax Refunds
Wichita Eagle:
- Kan. House committee reviews sales tax bill
- Kansas economy pointed toward growth, according to Creighton survey
Wichita Liberty: Kansas historic preservation tax credits should not be expanded

Kansas Schools

Kansas Reporter: Schools asked to pay more of special education costs
Wichita Liberty: Artificial turf meets Wichita public schools board
Garden City: District still bracing for more cuts
Hutchinson: Hutch teachers mull possible pay cut
Leavenworth: District officials prepare for cuts
KC KCTV:
- Kan. Delays Aid Payments To Public Schools Again
- Shawnee Mission OKs Ads At District Stadiums, Gyms
KC Star: Johnson County’s three largest school districts could lose $7 million under Senate bill
Topeka C-J:
- Limiting catastrophic ed OK’d
- Schools for Fair Funding practice questioned
Wichita Eagle:
- Senators discuss new Kansas school aid formula
- Wichita superintendent: District at ‘edge of a cliff’ in cuts

Kansas Campaign 2010

KCK: Steineger working with Ethics Commission
KC KCTV: ELECTION RESULTS: Pair Ousted From Gardner Council Seats
KC Star: Gardner recall meets success at polls
State of the State KS: Kansas Democrats Focus on 2010 Elections at Washington Days
Hays: ‘Fire Beier’ drive and its effect on finances
Hutchinson: Pratt commissioners seek to block drive to allow public vote on 2 city street matters

Across the State

Blogs

Wichita Liberty: The stimulus evidence one year on
KFL: Obamacare, like Mass. plan, limits health coverage
Cattle Network:
- School Snacks Could Change In Kansas
- Tiahrt Supports State Hearings on Kansas Jobs, Opposes Onerous EPA Regulations

midwest voices:
- Climategate drives stake through cap-and-trade bill
- Kansas must not turn a blind eye to problems at state-owned casinos
Prime Buzz: State grass debate grows long in KS House

Kansas Free Press: Kansas Democrats Aren’t Benchwarmers; They’re Starters
Forward Kansas:
- New Campaign Finance Law Proposed this Morning
- Calling Out Republicans Voting Against Kansas Jobs [Meadowlark: But what if this is unconstitutional and allows a lesser candidate to get a job?]
Everyday Citizen:
climate + energy project: KCStar: “Stimulus-funded weatherization of homes far behind schedule”KCStar: “Stimulus-funded weatherization of homes far behind schedule”
[Related: Popular Mechanics: What Went Wrong With Weatherization and Wichita Eagle: Winterization program far behind goals]

News

Baldwin City: Douglas County to mail new valuation notices to most owners after error
Lawrence KU: Editorial: Students pay for bank policies
Topeka C-J:
- Morris Publishing emerges from bankruptcy protection
- Students learn disabilities don’t have to separate
Topeka KSNT: Kansas senators ask for Haskell investigation
Winfield: County commissioners surprised at push to realign board

Contact: Earl F Glynn, e d i t o r @ K a n s a s M e a d o w l a r k . c o m

Statewide News Digest for Feb 28, 2010 (weekend edition)

Earl Glynn — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:59:03 +0000

Kansas Clips from Thursday through Sunday:

Kansas Treasurer Dennis McKinney at Democrat's Washington Days on Saturday in Topeka

Watchdogs on State Issues

Kansas:
Michigan Capitol Confidential: State Government Employee Unions Prosper in Midst of Recession
MacIver Institute: Stimulus Funds Spent on Insurance, Utility Bills
Freedom Foundation: Eminent Domain Abuse: reform still needed

Kansas Government

Kansas Reporter:
- February Tax Revenues Fall $71 Million Short
- Taxpayers, workers asked to pay more into KPERS
Midwest Voices: Kansas revenue numbers continue to fall: When will it end?
Pittsburg: Kan. pension fund gets poor marks

Kansas Economy/Budget/Taxes

Kansas Reporter: Simpler Tax Plan Draws Lawmakers’ Support
Topeka KTKA: Millions of stimulus dollars creating thousands of construction jobs in Kansas
Wichita Liberty: Your Kansas Tax Dollars: Efficient, Effective & Targeted?

Kansas Schools

Wichita Liberty:
- Andover schools advocacy website not complete, accurate, or balanced
- Wichita schools: why so many employees?
Dodge City: Dodge schools struggle to ink teacher contracts
Garden City: Small schools bash plan to promote consolidation
Topeka KTKA: Despite funding issues, Kansas schools still doing well academically and recognized nationally for it

Kansas Campaign 2010

Hutchinson:
Prime Buzz: O’Hara OUT of 3rd District race for Congress
KC Star: Appeals court, judge refuse to halt recall vote for two Gardner City Council members
Wichiopekington: Tiahrt cleared by ethics panel
Wichita Liberty: Kansas Republican online efforts lag

Across the State

Blogs

Wichita Liberty:
- Importance of economic freedom explained in Wichita
- Kansas long-term debt on the rise

State of the State KS:
- Kansas Treasurer Dennis McKinney Talks About Balance in Government
- Transportation Funding Debate Puts Kansas Roads On The Line
Midwest Voices: Why do health care costs keep going up?
Wichitopekington: Kansas’ statewide smoking ban exempts some areas

Forward Kansas: WashDays by the Photos
Everyday Citizen: On Lecturing in a Prison, Where Minds Are Free

News

KC Biz: Kansas gets $1.7M to help roll out electronic health records
Lawrence J-W: Kansas cities’ lobbying and organizational group asks communities to commit funding for group’s 100th anniversary
Pittsburgh: Student journalists compete at PSU
Salina: Clerks refuse to sell booze to underage buyers
Topeka C-J: City smoking ban trumps state’s
Topeka WIBW: KS Woman Gets $78K From State Check
Wichita Eagle: Topeka aims to become Google Internet test site
Washington Post: Ethics panel clears 7 on earmarks including Todd Tiahrt

Statewide News Digest for Feb 24, 2010 (midweek edition)

Earl Glynn — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:59:40 +0000

Kansas Clips from Monday through Wednesday:

State Rep Mike Kiegerl (R, Olathe) compliments two students for their participation in the hearing about the Little Bluestem becoming the official state grass.

Students presented their case at the House Federal and State Affairs Committee hearing in Topeka today about why the Little Bluestem grass should be made the official state grass. The Star’s Prime Buzz discussed “Little Bluestem growing on Kansas lawmakers.”

I was at the Little Bluestem hearing because I could not find an online agenda about the hearing today and thought there would be a discussion of children issues instead. Those hearings about children issues are now scheduled for March 2 and 3.

Why can’t the legislature do a better job updating online information about committee hearings?

Watchdogs on State Issues

Kansas:
Oklahoma (CapitolBeatOK): Findings of “Fraud, Waste, Abuse” anger Burrage
New Mexico: Another Member of Environmental Improvement Board with Conflict of Interest on Emissions Cap Petition
Virginia: Transportation Stimulus projects drag
West Virginia: W.Va. Bond Debt Continues to Balloon
National:
- Lawmakers’ Misdeeds Often Escape Close Scrutiny
- Voter law loophole: Tarrant voters registered to federal office building

Kansas Government

Hutchinson: Kan. Senate panel mulls plan for ‘rainy day’ fund
Lawrence: Kansas Senate committee ponders who’s in charge if the sheriff leaves office
Topeka KTKA: Legislator seeks changes to Kan. concealed gun law
Wichita Eagle:

Kansas Economy/Budget/Taxes

Basehor: Grocery store closes after only seven months
Topeka C-J: $7.5 M to laid-off Kansans
Wichita Eagle: 7.6 percent of Wichita area mortgages underwater, says company
Wichita Liberty: Kansas sales tax exemptions don’t hold all the advertised allure
KC Star: Kansas unemployment answers: Only a podcast away
Hays: Too many loopholes in Kansas tax policy

Kansas Schools

Wichita Eagle: Missing from Kansas school financing debate
De Soto: USD 232 to begin superintendent search
Wichita KWCH: El Dorado Voters Want More Information about Bond Issue
Wichita Liberty: Kansas school spending study finds $717 million in potential savings
Wichita Biz: USD 259 to cut $25M from 2010-11 budget

Across the State

Blogs

Cattle Network:
- Kansas Farmers Have Less Money Despite Record Crops
- Number Of Kansas Farms, Acreage Stable
Kaw & Border: Kansas Senate Passes Incumbent Elevation Act
NOlathe: Follow the money and count the votes
KFL:
- Human embryos not safe under NIH guidelines
- Tenth child-rape ‘video sting’ at Planned Parenthood

State of the State KS: Tea Party Activists Vet Candidates at Winter Rally
Micheal Mahoney: KC Women’s Political Caucus to Vote on Role of Men
Prime Buzz:
- Tiahrt: Obama may be suffering from hearing loss
- ACORN still alive in St. Louis, but KC office closed months ago

Kansas Free Press: Kansas Politicians Not Ready For Their Close-Ups
Forward Kansas: Let’s Get Our Priorities Straight

News

Abilene:
- Survey of judges find support for Court-Appointed Special Advocates
- Area lawmakers asked to review pipeline exemption
Hutchinson:
- Farmers and ranchers are using social media sites
- KU Medical Center planning simulation center
Pittsburg KOAM: Girard residents protest jump in their electric bills that many have no way to pay
Topeka C-J: Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases coming to K-State
Wichita KFDI: Sedgwick County to mail valuation notices next week

Statewide News Digest for Feb 21, 2010 (weekend edition)

Earl Glynn — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:59:40 +0000

Kansas Clips from Thursday through Sunday:

Watchdogs on State Issues

Kansas:
Michigan Capitol Confidential: Public Bus Fares Cover Less Than 20 Percent of Costs [Is this what is happening with buses in Lawrence?]
Old Dominion: Computer virus eats at government, social networking sites

Kansas Government

Kansas Reporter: KPERS funding among the U.S. lowest, study finds
Wichitopekington: Kansas public pension system a ’serious concern’
Gardner: Mike Kiegerl eNews: Week 5

Kansas Economy/Budget/Taxes

KC Reporter: Bankers see bleak job prospects for Kansans
Hutchinson: House approves break for Kan. businesses
KC Star: Mortgage delinquencies decline
Pitch: State budget in Kansas looks uglier than most

Kansas Schools

Kansas Watchdog: Schools for Fair Funding Proceeds with Lawsuit; Permits No-notice Meetings
Abilene: Superintendent Schmidt, AHS principal Ford resign posts with Abilene schools
JoCo Sun: Blue Valley considers teacher layoffs, larger class sizes to balance budget

Kansas Campaign 2010

Across the State

Blogs

Wichita Liberty: Kansas historic preservation tax credits audit reveals inefficiency, data problems
NOLathe:
- Follow the tracks. What happened to the tracks [in campaign contributions?
- Senator Vratil Makes Final Four American Idol
KFL:
- Victory for free speech in Kansas Senate
- Senate bills attack citizen-grand juries, auto-dial calls

Cattle Network: OSHA Cites Endres Processing LLC Of Kansas City, Kansas
State of the State KS:
- Kansas Senator Tom Holland
- New Study Shows Kansas Health County By County
WE Blog: Obama’s numbers upside down in Kansas
Micheal Mahoney:
- Moran Campaign Staff Shake-UP
- Ks. AG Asks Politicians to Help Limit Political Robo Calls
Prime Buzz: Kraske: Thornburgh stood up to Dole, fellow moderates -- and made his mark
Wichitopekington: Report: Kansas reluctant to disclose homeland security spending

Kansas Free Press: Senator McGinn's Poignant Question [Why doesn't Senator McGinn's question hold from conception to natural death?]
Everyday Citizen: Iranians Protest Bill of Rights on Women
Dome on the Range: Derek Schmidt rejoices – I doubled my fundraising with one blow!
Kansas Energy: America’s Wind Energy Potential Triples in New Estimate

Other News

Hays: Walter Williams: The census and the U.S. Constitution
KC Star:
- Kansas House OKs covenant marriage legislation
- Letter: Conservative fiscal policy imperative
Topeka C-J: Jurors won’t hear ‘victim’ at trial [you can't call someone who was murdered a victim?]

Technology

KMBC: Predators on Facebook tough to track
Think Big Topeka: Bring Google’s Fiber Project to Topeka

Digest for Feb 17, 2010 (midweek edition)

Earl Glynn — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:59:25 +0000

Kansas Clips from Monday through Wednesday:

Watchdogs on State Issues

Kansas:
- Healing Arts Director Filed Lawsuit against Board over “Resignation”
- Government payrolls show continuing, long-term growth as private sector jobs decline
Nebraska: Terry Rips Stimulus, Won’t Criticize Governor
New Hampshire: Audit finds US census preparations wasted millions
Michigan Capitol Confidential: Stimulus Fails at Job Creation

Kansas Government

Kansas Reporter:
- Audit: Redrawing court districts would save millions
- House panel rejects proposed tax-break moratorium
KC Star:
- Kansas Senate approves resolution on states’ rights
- Kansas Senate endorses bill that would allow police to seize assets of human traffickers
Wichitopekington:
- Kansas Senate passes tougher seat belt law
- Kansas Senate to consider amendment blocking federal health-care reform
State of the State KS: One Judge Per County Rule May Not Survive In Recession

Kansas Economy/Budget/Taxes

Wichita Eagle: Nonprofits: Tax will mean cuts
Kansas Reporter:
- Kansas needs stronger plan for tax breaks, audit finds
- Sales tax plan hurts low income Kansans, critics say
KC Star:
- Johnson County’s economic pulse: Slightly off kilter
- KC Fed’s Hoenig: Tackle federal debt or risk “next crisis”
KC Biz:
- Mayor: Overland Park is on the ‘road to recovery’
- Overland Park Chamber of Commerce opposes Mid-America Regional Council’s green development proposal
Hutchinson:
- Auditors release study of Kansas taxes
- Kan. library with caffeine fix gets good tax news
Topeka C-J:
- Library doesn’t have to pay tax bill
- Mexico could get Salina jobs
Midwest Voices: KC’s big federal stimulus victory [The Star's editorial board is gleeful about stimulus money but doesn't mention the future debt burden. "Stimulus" money is not "free" money.]
KC Biz: Kansas gets $2.5M in federal stimulus money to help local governments hire energy managers [Where was any comment that is a future tax of roughly $1/person in Kansas? "Stimulus" is not "free" money.]
Wichita Biz: KDOT touts stimulus benefits [Where does the Wichita Biz explain this will be $378 million in future debt that our kids will need to pay. "Stimulus" is not "free" money.]
Lawrence J-W: U.S. debt will keep growing even with recovery

Kansas Schools

Wichita Liberty: Missing from Kansas school financing debate
Wichita Eagle: Kansas public school enrollment increases by 6,100
JoCo Sun: Schools seek feedback on upcoming cuts
KC Star: Shawnee Mission schools consider $9 million to $11 million in budget cuts
Osawatomie: USD 367 Keeps Eye On State Legislation

Kansas Campaign 2010

Forward Kansas: Tom Holland announces candidacy for Kansas Governor (Video)

Across the State

Blogs

Kansas Free Press:
- Best for Government: No Filibusters, No High Salaries
- Open Government in Kansas
Everyday Citizen:
Climate + Energy: KCC announces “Energy Manager” grant program for local govt coalitions

News

Hays: Harvest of 2009 drags into 2010
Hutchinson: Kan. competes for broadband funds
KC KCTV: Report: SRS Doesn’t Give Cops Child Abuse Reports
KC Star:
- Federal Reserve: Unemployment in 2010 to hover between 9.5—9.7 percent
Lawrence J-W: Letter: Why is it so difficult to get useful information about our school budget?
Manhattan KSU Collegian: ‘American Idol’ watch party held for Wamego contestant [congrats to someone from my home town]
Salina: Board members vote to restrict use of meeting rooms
Shawnee (Kansas Liberty):
- Protecting unborn children ‘too controversial’
- Unelected SOS to make crucial appointment in 2010
Topeka C-J:
- Grand jury bill moves ahead
- Judge OKs Morris restructuring (Morris owns the C-J)
Topeka KTKA: Report: SRS doesn’t give cops child abuse reports
Topeka WIBW: Kansas Counties Get Health Rankings
Wichita Eagle:
Wichita KFDI: New information system keeps track of inmates in Sedgwick County

Digest for Feb 14, 2010 (weekend edition)

Earl Glynn — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:59:37 +0000

Kansas Clips from Thursday through Sunday:

Watchdogs on State Issues

Kansas:
- “Motor Voter” allows teens under 18 to pre-register to vote in Kansas without proposed new law
- Dodge City reporter found in contempt, fined for court no-show
Oklahoma:
- $360,000 in weatherization funds used to buy trucks
- ‘Glitch’ doubled reported cost of trucks
New Hampshire: NH gov: $140M in budget cuts, layoffs unavoidable
National Watchdog: Day Care Union Scheme in Michigan Part of Union Push Nationwide — see Kansas story

Kansas Government

Hutchinson: Dems target O’Neal on fee sweep votes

Kansas Economy/Budget/Taxes

Topeka C-J: Lenexa call center offers 220 jobs
Kansas Liberty: Kansas can’t afford a cigarette tax hike

Kansas Schools

Kansas Reporter: Supreme Court denies schools’ bid to reopen funding suit
Wichita Eagle: Districts plan to file new suit over funds
Hutchinson: Schools will have to file a new suit
Salina: Kan. court denies motion to reopen school aid case
Shawnee: USD 232 weighs budget deficit

Across the State

Blogs

State of the State KS:
- Kansas Farm Bureau Explains Position on Prairie Burns
- Sierra Club Says Annual Burns Do More Harm Than Good
Prime Buzz:
- Kansas Supreme Court won’t reopen school finance case
- Kansas proclaims its sovereignty

Kansas Free Press: Ron Thornburgh: The Last Eisenhower Republican
Forward Kansas: The Next Secretary of State and Open Government in Kansas
TravisSwicegood: Open Government in Kansas

News

Dodge City:
- Globe writer cited for contempt by district judge
- Source comes forward; Globe reporter testifies
Hutchinson:
- Kan. commissioner sends offensive e-mail to critic
- Reporter testifies about story at inquisition
KC Star:
Pittsburg:
- Testimony continues on sales tax exemptions
- Dodge City reporter found in contempt
Topeka C-J:
- Regents president to join WU
- Violent crime statistics on rise
Topeka KTKA:
- Topeka announces job cuts — 40 positions
- Medicaid cuts affecting local families
Wichita Eagle:

Dodge City reporter found in contempt, fined for court no-show

Earl Glynn — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:58:55 +0000

Are Kansas Courts overstepping their bounds in a freedom of the press case?

Claire O’Brien, a Dodge City Globe reporter, learned details from an interview with a murder suspect. Ford County attorney Terry Malone wants to force her to reveal her sources:

From today’s Hutchinson News: Dodge City reporter is fined for court no-show

From today’s Pittsburg Morning Sun: Dodge City reporter found in contempt

From the Feb 3 Lawrence Journal-World: Judge denies subpoena stay for Dodge City reporter

Doug Anstaett, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, said the ruling sends an “unmistakably chilling message” to reporters and their sources.

“Reporters won’t be able to do their jobs and sources will not come forward now that they see that the strong arm of government can be used to silence them,” Anstaett said in an e-mailed statement