(AP) — A Kansas group is planning to use a billboard campaign to push for legalizing marijuana in the state.

Fire It Up Kansas says the ad on a digital billboard near the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane is the first it plans to put up across the state in coming weeks.

The ad demands that the Legislature legalize, tax and regulate the sale of marijuana.

The group’s co-founder, Mike Golden, says marijuana is now in a black market with no regulation. He says

putting it in a legal market takes away the criminal element.

The Silver-Haired Legislature of Kansas recently approved a non-binding resolution supporting legislation to let people use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

(AP) — Eleven rural Colorado counties delivered a divided vote on an effort to form a 51st state called North Colorado.

Six counties voted against the idea — including Weld County, whose commissioners spearheaded the effort. They cited popular frustration with the Democrat-led state government that they claim neglects rural interests.

Unofficial returns from Tuesday’s election suggested Elbert, Lincoln, Logan, Sedgwick and Moffat counties also voted against secession. Voting “Yes” were Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Phillips, Washington and Yuma counties.

Colorado’s Legislature and the U.S. Congress ultimately would have to approve any new state — something considered highly unlikely. But the movement’s leaders claimed victory in attracting attention to their complaints.

(AP) — Secretary of State Kris Kobach is embroiled in a legal dispute over which court should hear a challenge to a Kansas law requiring voters to present photo identification at the polls.

Kobach’s office moved successfully to have the lawsuit transferred from state court to federal court. Kobach said Tuesday that the lawsuit raises federal voting law issues.

But Wichita attorney Jim Lawing responded with court filings that denied he’s raising federal issues in representing two northeast Kansas residents challenging the photo ID requirement.

Lawing asked to have the lawsuit returned to Shawnee County District Court.

Lawing represents Arthur Spry and Charles Hamner of Overbrook. They’re retirees, and their votes in the November 2012 general election weren’t counted because neither had a government-issued ID card with a photograph.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) joined Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) in introducing S. 1617, the If You Like Your Health Plan, You Can Keep It Act – legislation to follow through on President Obama’s broken promise: “If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan. Period.” This bill would make the grandfathered health plans under Obamacare less restrictive and provide flexibility for individuals to keep the plans they already have.
“At least 29 times, President Obama promised Americans that if you like the insurance you have, you could keep it under Obamacare,” said Sen. Moran. “Despite the President’s repeated promises, the fact is that thousands of individuals and families across Kansas are among the millions of Americans who have had their health plans cancelled because they do not meet the law’s requirements. Americans should be in control of their own health care and should be free to choose the plans they want. This legislation would force the President and congressional Democrats to live up to the promise they made to Americans, even if they do not want to honor it.”

The Washington Post’s “Fact Checker” gave President Obama’s pledge that “no one will take away” your health plan a “Four Pinocchios” rating – its highest classification of fallacy. The unfortunate reality is many more Americans have lost their health insurance than have enrolled in coverage under Obamacare. Young Americans and middle-class families are facing significant premium increases they cannot afford, and workers are seeing their hours reduced and their paychecks cut because of the mandates of the law.

Sen. Moran strongly opposes Obamacare and believes the best course of action is to dismantle the law and replace it with practical reforms that are workable and will actually reduce health care costs. In July, President Obama acknowledged that a significant component of Obamacare is broken and delayed enforcement of the employer mandate. The following week, Sen. Moran offered amendments in the Senate Appropriations Committee to delay both the employer mandate and individual mandate. Unfortunately, both amendments were defeated in party-line votes.

Additionally, Sen. Moran is an original cosponsor of the “Delay Until Fully Functional Act,” legislation introduced by Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) that would delay Obamacare’s individual mandate until it can be certified that the law’s website and health insurance Exchanges are functional. It is blatantly unfair for the federal government to punish individuals for not doing something the government is requiring them to do when the Administration’s incompetence has made it impossible for them to comply. Sen. Moran believes the entire law should be repealed and replaced, but until that happens American individuals and families must be protected from the disasters created by Obamacare.

 (AP) — The North American Aerospace Defense Command is conducting an air exercise over Colorado and Kansas.

Officials say residents in an area between Hugo, Colo., and Garden City, Kan., may see F-16 fighter jets or Learjet planes participating in the exercise Tuesday afternoon.

The exercise, called Felix Hawk, is designed to test the rapid-response capability of NORAD’s Western Air Defense Sector.

NORAD is a joint U.S.-Canada command responsible for defending the skies over both nations and monitoring sea approaches. Its headquarters are at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo.

4 p.m. update  Formal charges have been field against 3 students of Hutchinson High School in connection with a hazing incident involving members of the high school football team.

Kendric Hudson and Jaiden Casanova, both 18 are charged with aggravated battery and hazing. Both are free on bond. 16 year old Cody Curl for aggravated battery and possession of tobacco.

While admitting it didn’t seem fair that two of the subjects are free, Judge Patty Mackie Dyck noted that Curls substantial criminal record left her no choice but to keep him in juvenile detention. Curl has 16 cases of burglary and other cases pending in juvenile court.

The three are accused of using hot coat hangers to brand several students who had just been promoted to the varsity football team. Parents of the victims also say they have received threats from others since their sons came forward. Police say the hazing has been ongoing for some time.

5:30 a.m.  A Hutchinson teenager, a member of the high school football team, will make a court appearance today for hazing.

Investigators say some upperclassman used a wire hanger to brand players who made the varsity football team. One incident reportedly happened in a locker room at the school. Eight players including 4 freshman, just promoted to the varsity were branded.

18-year-old Kendric S. Hudson was arrested for aggravated battery, criminal restraint, hazing and tattooing and bodypiercing a minor without their consent.
18-year-old Jaiden M. Casanova was also arrested for aggravated battery,.tattooing, body piercing a minor without their consent and hazing. Both ar3e free on bond and are tentatively set to make their first appearance on Friday.
16-year-old Cody R. Curl, was taken to the Reno County Juvenile Detention Facility on charges of aggravated battery, tattooing and body piercing without consent and possession of tobacco.