OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The latest snapshot of business conditions in Kansas and other Midwest and Plains states suggests the region’s economy will gain some steam over the next few months. The Mid-America Business Conditions index jumped to 58.2 in March, compared with 53.1 in February and 53.2 in January. A score over 50 indicates growth in the months ahead.

HUTCHINSON, Kansas (AP) — Kansas court officials say up to 25 percent of the state’s court reporters will be eligible to retire in the next three years, leaving a big gap in courthouses.

Many of the state’s current 132.5 court reporters are older, and even more are expected to retire in the next five to 10 years.

Court reporters type the official record of legal proceedings, using a series of complex letter combinations to record up to 225 words per minute with 95 percent accuracy.

The Hutchinson News reports that Butler County Community College and the Court Reporting Institute of Kansas City are the only two schools in Kansas that offer training for court reporters.

The Kansas Court Reporters Association says it’s encouraging its members to promote the field to young people.

Two Hutchinson men were arrested in the 2100 block of North Lorraine early Saturday morning after allegedly taking a bag of cash from an employee of the Dickinson Theatre at 1500 East 11th.

The robbery allegedly occurring while the employee was at Central Bank & Trust at 1330 East 17th.

Jailed on bonds of 10-thousand dollars each are 25-year-old Robert D. Raigoza Jr., of 718 East 14th, Apt. 718, and 20-year-old Preston R. Raigoza of 1201 North Main, Apt. 2.

The incident reported to police around 12:40 a-m, Saturday morning.

Unless the two make bond, they should make a first appearance in court on the charges Monday morning.

AGENDA

April 1, 2013

REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS

City Hall – Council Meeting Room

BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.

ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)

1)            CONSENT AGENDA

a)            Minutes from Work Session on March 11, 2013; Regular Meeting on March 18, 2013; Special Meeting on March 20, 2013; and Special Meeting on March 25, 2013.

b)            Bills Ordinance #1922

(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda.  By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)

PUBLIC COMMENTS

(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes.  If several people from group speak on same subject, must appoint a spokesperson.  ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment.  Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)

2)            PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)

3)            SPECIAL ORDER

a)            Appointment to Vacant Council Seat

b)            Scott Ross, Division of Water Resources

4)            UNFINISHED BUSINESS

a)            Discussion on Engineers for Capital Improvement Projects

b)            Discussion regarding Interlocal Agreement with Ellis County

c)            Consideration of Police Vehicle

d)            Discussion of Water Conservation Issues

5)            NEW BUSINESS

a)            Permit for Cereal Malt Beverage Consumption

6)            REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS

a)            Administrative

1)            Public Works

(1)          Department Update

2)            Police

(1)          April calendar

(2)          Department Update

3)            City Clerk

(1)          Water Quality and Conservation Fair Dates

4)            Mayor/Council

(1)          LKM Training in Ellis 4/12/13

(2)          Hiring Committee for Public Works Director

7)            ADJOURNMENT

TOPEKA, Kansas (AP) — Kansas legislators return from a long weekend determined to push through tax legislation, new restrictions on abortion, gun-rights legislation, the bulk of the next state budget and every other bill of any significance in just five days.

Republicans leaders have pledged that lawmakers will finish almost all of the year’s work by Friday, breaking with their standard practice over the past quarter-century, to shorten their annual session. But to make good on the pledge, some tricky and contentious issues will have to be resolved quickly.

The biggest piece of the puzzle is how to resolve differences on taxes and whether a 2010 sales tax increase is allowed to expire in July as scheduled or remains in place to shore up the state’s $14 billion budget for 2014.

(AP) – Abortion opponents expect the Kansas Senate to approve a bill this week to block tax breaks for abortion providers and to bar them from participating in public school sex education classes.

The bill on the Senate’s agenda Monday already has passed the House. Supporters hope senators won’t make any changes so that a vote to pass it will send it to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, who opposes abortion.

The Senate has a solid anti-abortion majority.

The bill would prevent abortion providers from claiming tax credits and exemptions available to other groups and health care providers. Also, a woman couldn’t include abortion expenses if she deducts medical expenses from her income taxes.

The legislation also would prohibit abortion providers from providing materials or instructors for sex education classes in public schools.