Area legislators defend Brownback dinners amid KOMA scrutiny
Rep. Reynaldo Mesa of Garden City says he did not attend the Jan 17 Cedar Crest dinner but trusts colleagues who were present and disputes Kansas Open Meetings Act concerns. Governor staff say precautions ensured no committee business was discussed, and KOMA generally does not apply to legislative committees. Rep. Don Hineman expects to attend a similar dinner and believes no KOMA violation occurred. Powell Hayzlett and Larry Powell were invited to the Jan 17 and Jan 23 events. no responses were received from their offices.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sam Brownback
Reynaldo Mesa
Garden City
Cedar Crest
Governor’s Mansion
Kansas Press Association
Brownback
Mesa
Ner
Topeka
KPA
Senate
House
Caleb Stegall
Stegall
Don Hineman
Brighton
Hineman
Gary Hayzlett
Rlakin
Larry Powell
Powell
Mayzlett
Gatherings and Meetings Stir Open Records Debate in Kansas
Morris questions gatherings related to the Meetings Act and denies an open records request for guest lists from Cedar Crest dinners. The Capital Journal, EPA, and critics argue such dinners resemble committee meetings and may violate KOMA, prompting a potential District Attorney review.
Ruling puts Sunflower coal plant on hold amid disputes
Sullivan's ruling follows a lawsuit by the Sierra Club against RUS and Sunflower filed in October 2007. The 2007 actions included Kansas air permit denial for greenhouse gas emissions. Governors Sebelius and Parkinson backed or brokered deals affecting the plant. Senate leaders argue demand and jobs justify the project while RUS calls for revised approval.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sullivan
RUS
Sunflower
The
Sierra Club
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Kathleen Sebelius
Sebelius
U.S. Health and Human Services
Mark Parkinson
Parkinson
Sam Brownback
Senate
Steve Morris
Hugoton
Griffith survives blizzard rescue ambulance run to Hays Medical Center
Griffith, a heart attack patient, was saved by a KDOT convoy during a blizzard after Interstate 70 closed. Four trucks led the ambulance from Scott County Hospital through treacherous 15 mph sections, with blockers clearing windows and a final leg to Hays Medical Center. He recovered after surgery, crediting teamwork and hometown heroes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Glassman
KDOT
Griffith
Hays Medical Center
Dighton
Ness City
Larry Kjellberg
la Crosse
Kjellberg
Hays
Scott County Hospital
America
Plan to keep illegal immigrants for work in Kansas proposal
A coalition released a draft of proposed legislation to allow illegal immigrant workers to stay and be employed, targeting industries like agriculture, dairies, feed lots, landscaping, roofing and construction in western Kansas. Officials caution no firm job shortage data, while officials consider waivers to ease labor gaps.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Commerce
Associated Press
House
Senate
Kansas
Wendy Sessaf
Immigration Policy Council
Dale Rodman
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Department of Agriculture
Chelsea Good
Rodman
Early Years of William Allen White Printer and Editor
Part 2 of 8 outlines William Allen White born 1868 in Emporia. He began as a printer's devil at a local paper and learned the power of words. His parents shaped his beliefs, and he built a lifelong Emporia career after buying The Emporia Gazette in 1895. He spoke against the KKK, won Pulitzer prizes, and left a lasting literary legacy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William Allen White
White
Emporia
el Dorado
College of Emporia
University of Kansas
Lawrence
Kansas City Star
Emporia Gazette
WAW
Kansas
Barbara O’connor
Vietnam
Cynthia Kadohata
Sallie Lindsay
William Lindsay
Mary
Peter Pan Park
Also Mentioned on This Page
Morris
Capital Journal
Governor’s Office
Mike Merriam
Gregg Ireland
EPA
Shawnee County
Chad Taylor
Merriam
Taylor
Doug Anstaett
Anstaett
United States
Theodore Roosevelt
Herbert Hoover
William Howard Taft
Warren Harding
Calvin Coolidge
Ku Klux Klan
KKK
South
Kansas State Historical Society
Jeanie Warner
Jwarner
Salina
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!