Refunds totaling just over $917 million may be waiting for an estimated 984,400 taxpayers who did not file a federal income tax return for 2009. However, to collect the money, a return for 2009 must be filed with the IRS no later than April 15, 2013.

Some people may not have filed because they had too little income to require filing a tax return even though they had taxes withheld from their wages or made quarterly estimated payments. In cases where a return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund.

The IRS estimates that around 9,900 Kansans fit this category and could be owed $7.7 million in refunds.

The top administrator of the retirement system for Kansas teachers and government workers says it would benefit from a legislative proposal to issue $1.5 billion in pension bonds.

Executive Director Alan Conroy told the House pensions committee that its plan would boost the short-term financial health of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.

KPERS projects a $9.3 billion gap between anticipated revenues and the benefits promised to public employees through 2033. Its assets now cover 53 percent of its obligations.

Legislators made changes last year to close the gap. But KPERS officials say dumping bond proceeds into the retirement system would boost the funding ration to 61 percent in 2015 and accelerate its rise toward 100 percent.

Tax dollars already contributed to KPERS would pay off the bonds.

A Newton woman will go before a judge this morning for a bond hearing. Forty three year old Kayla Tillery faces felony theft charges. Police say she stole Newton Bucks from the Chamber of Commerce.

AP — Kansas legislators have given final approval to a bill barring public employee unions from deducting money from members’ paychecks to help finance political activities.

A 68-54 vote Tuesday in the House sends the measure to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, who’s expected to sign it. The Senate approved the measure last week.

Proponents argued the bill would protect members of public employee unions from having part of their pay funneled to candidates or causes they oppose. Supporters also said state and local government agencies processing payrolls shouldn’t be entangled in such transactions.

But critics see the measure as an attempt to hinder fundraising by public employee unions, which generally are strong supporters of Democrats.

Opponents also note that union members typically sign off on any deductions from their paychecks.

AP — A 51-year-old south-central Kansas man is dead after getting trapped beneath a bale bed while working on a farm truck.

Kingman County sheriff’s investigator Dustin Cooke says emergency responders declared Orrin Westerman of Kingman dead at the scene Tuesday following the 8:55 a.m. accident.

Cooke says family members were present at the farm about seven miles southwest of Kingman when Westerman was caught beneath the hydraulic device, which is used to handle hay bales.

He says the victim suffered head trauma in the mishap.

The Kansas House has given first-round approval to a bill blocking tax breaks for abortion providers and barring public schools from using sex education instruction from abortion providers.

The chamber’s voice vote Tuesday advanced the measure to final action, which is expected Wednesday.

Abortion-rights advocates consider the bill as the biggest threat in Kansas this year to access to abortion services. Supporters contend it demonstrates the state’s commitment to protecting life.

The bill would prevent groups providing abortions from receiving tax exemptions or credits that go to other nonprofit groups or health care providers. It would also bar women who claim income tax deductions for medical expenses from including the cost of abortion services.

The legislation also prohibits abortion providers from furnishing materials or instructors for schools’ sex education classes.

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