A Florida company has agreed to repay Kansas consumers after being accused of illegally operating a loan modification service in Kansas, Attorney General Derek Schmidt has announced.

Defense Law Group, P.A., of Miami, agreed in a consent judgment to repay $17,681 to nine Kansans. The judgment was approved last week by Shawnee County District Judge Franklin R. Theis. In addition, the company agreed to pay the costs of the attorney general’s investigation.

“Companies that offer services in Kansas are expected to comply with our laws governing those transactions,” Schmidt said. “Our office will continue to enforce those laws and protect Kansas consumers.”

The Attorney General’s Office accused the company of operating a mortgage loan modification service without proper registration in Kansas and charging fees greater than allowed under Kansas law. Defense Law Group agreed to cease operations as a “credit services organization” in Kansas and to comply with the Kansas Consumer Protection Act in all future transactions involving Kansas customers.

Schmidt reminded Kansans to be cautious when working with mortgage modification services, especially those that charge an upfront fee. Companies that engage in these services in Kansas are required to register with the Kansas Bank Commissioner. For more information, visit www.ag.ks.gov.

Numerous metropolitan statistical areas, micropolitan statistical areas and counties that were among the fastest-growing last year were located in, or at least near, the Great Plains and West Texas, according to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released this week. Click on the map to take a closer look.

Midland, Texas, was the fastest-growing metro area over the July 1, 2011, to July 1, 2012, period, with its population increasing 4.6 percent. Adjacent Odessa, Texas, ranked fifth overall, Austin-Round Rock, Texas, was seventh, while two areas in Wyoming (Casper and Cheyenne), along with Manhattan, Kan., and Bismarck, N.D., were also among the 20 fastest-growing metropolitan areas.

“After a long period of out-migration, some parts of the Great Plains ─ from just south of the Canadian border all the way down to West Texas ─ are experiencing rapid population growth,” said Thomas Mesenbourg, the Census Bureau’s senior adviser performing the duties of director. “There are probably many factors fueling this growth on the prairie, but no doubt the energy boom is playing a role. For instance, the Permian Basin, located primarily in West Texas, and North Dakota accounted for almost half of the total U.S. growth in firms that mine or extract oil and gas, during a recent one-year period.”

Micropolitan areas, which contain an urban cluster of between 10,000 and 49,999 people, followed a similar pattern, with those located in or near the Great Plains among the fastest-growing. Williston, N.D., ranked first in growth (9.3 percent), followed by Junction City, Kan.; Dickinson, N.D.; and Andrews, Texas. Three areas in western Oklahoma (Elk City, Weatherford and Woodward), as well as Gillette, Wyo., also made the top 20.

The situation for counties was also much the same, with Williams, N.D.; Geary, Kan.; Richland, Mont.; and Stark, N.D., each among the five fastest-growing counties with populations of 10,000 or more. These are just a few examples of the plethora of counties in or near the Great Plains that appear on the list of fastest-growing counties.

When looking at the areas with the largest numeric gains, those high on the list are mainly in the South and West. The metropolitan areas of Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles and New York each added more than 100,000 people over the July 1, 2011, to July 1, 2012 period. Meanwhile, Austin, Texas, and Orlando, Fla., were not only among the top 20 numeric gainers, but also among the top 20 in terms of rate of growth.

Among counties, Harris, Texas (Houston); Los Angeles, Calif.; Maricopa, Ariz. (Phoenix); Dallas, Texas; and San Diego, Calif., comprised the top-five numeric gainers.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Advocates of a move to help states collect sales taxes on Internet transactions have won a Senate victory.

In a nonbinding, 75-24 vote, the Senate signaled its support Friday for legislation giving states the power to collect taxes on purchases consumers make from Internet companies.

The vote was a symbolic expression of lawmakers’ views on the issue. But it showed that supporters of enforcing existing sales taxes on Internet purchases would have enough strength should the Senate consider the proposal later this year.

An estimated $20 billion in sales taxes go uncollected every year by out-of-state online merchants.

Supporters say collecting the tax would restore competitive balance between Internet companies and retail stores that already charge sales taxes. Opponents say the system would be too complicated.

Legislators are continuing efforts to develop a pilot program aimed at freeing school districts from rules and regulations that many claim impair creative teaching.

Republican legislators and school administrators say the program would foster creative ways to get more out of student achievement. The Kansas National Education Association and other detractors worry about the rights of teachers and whether such a proposal is even constitutional.

The plan would set up a five-year pilot program allowing up to 28 districts to form a coalition of innovative districts. They would apply to be part of the program, spelling out what their goals would be for improving student performance.

Senators approved the bill sending it to the House for consideration.