Legislature Starts Up In Kansas 2003 Session
The Kansas Legislature opened the 2003 session, to last 90 days. Rep. Doug Mays was elected House speaker on a unanimous voice vote, and Sen. John Wratil became Senate vice president on a 30-9 vote. Leadership votes drew unusual recorded ballots. Bills were introduced to limit abortion after 21 weeks, ban criminal defamation suits, and mandate tax revenue sharing for bistate cultural programs. The session begins with no election pressure and redistricting deferred until after the 2010 census.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Doug Mays
Ropeka
House
John Wratil
R-Leawood
Senate
Frank Miller
Independence
Derek Schmidt
Rindependence
Kay O'Connor
Rosathe
Kansas City
McKinney
Tim Huelskamp
R-Fowler
Clark
Chamber
Senate Republicans
Vratil
Sandy Praeger
R-Lawrence
Huelskamp
Dave Kerr
R-Hutchinson
Police seek white male suspect in attempted kidnapping case
Investigators canvass area after an attempted kidnapping warning circulated by a formation coordinator for USD 457. Police urge vigilance as leads are pursued and multiple departments have been notified. Parents are reminded to teach children to walk away from strangers and report suspicious vehicles to Crime Stoppers or local police.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
USD 457
Stephens
Utz
Garden City
Safeguard Your Children Promoting Stranger Safety Rules
Guidance emphasizes child safety habits from child home alone rules to stranger avoidance. Teach never talk to strangers, bike with a buddy, wear helmets, look both ways, establish play boundaries, and avoid entering vehicles with unknown people. Use buddy system, set passwords, and seek adult help if worried. Encourage reporting to trusted adults and assure children they are not at fault for any inappropriate contact.
Pippenger to retire as Garden City superintendent
USD 457 announces superintendent David Pippenger will resign with a year left on his contract. Board President Mike Utz and members express sadness while planning to hire a successor at the next meeting. Pippenger cites district progress and thanks staff, noting improvements in academics and graduation requirements.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mike Utz
Betty Livingston
Pippenger
Utz
Garden City
Fort Scott
Longmont
Colo
San Jose Christian College
USD 457
Kathleen Whitley
Livingston
Bush opens door to food and energy aid if North Korea disarms
President Bush signaled a possible revival of food and energy aid to North Korea if it dismantles its nuclear weapons program. He stressed no negotiations or rewards for bad behavior, and noted the policy shift aims to pressure Pyongyang while aiding North Koreans amid global shortages.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bush
North Korea
Washington
Pyongyang
South Korea
Pentagon
Iraq
White House
Aleksander Kwasniewski
Colin) Powell
United States
U.N
Ethiopia
Africa
U.S
James Kelly
Asia
Kelly
Powell
County Commission Cuts Employee Raises and Spending
Finney County commissioners approve a 25 percent cut to employee raises tied to the lesser of 2002 or 2003 evaluations and trim county spending. Reductions include jail supplies travel and training, delaying computer upgrades, and diverting funds from various sources to the general fund. Two potential Deferrals failed, and officials warn deeper cuts may be needed for 2004. Commissioners Davis opposed all raises. Stephens described the situation as a wait-and-see scenario.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
General Fund
Finney County
Washington, D.C
Kansas
Commission
Jerry Davis
Cliff Mayo
Irv Stephens
Alan Fankhauser
Roman Halbur
John Wheeler
Fankhauser
County General Fund
District Court
Stephens
Dighton Schools Close Amid Illness Surge
Timken reports at least five students hospitalized and three staff out ill as Dighton schools shut down after winter break. Absences rose to 15 of 145 at Dighton Grade School with five more sent home before early dismissal. Principal Gayla Rodenbur notes this is the first closure in at least five years.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Timken
Dighton
Gayla Rodenbur
Also Mentioned on This Page
The
Associated Press
Kansas Legislature
U.S. Department of Justice
Florida
County
Aghoyets
Korry Chopp and
Angella Green
Bethphage
Korry Chopp
Angelia Green
Kerry
Angelia
Alvin Smu
Loe Watts
N. Fleming
Ksalvinsmith
Edsgc
Ectelegram.com
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!