TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A commission tasked with improving the efficiency of Kansas’ public schools is talking about studying the state payments that districts receive to help finance construction and infrastructure projects.

The K-12 Student Performance and Efficiency Commission discussed Thursday the so-called “equalization” payments that are handed out based on districts’ property tax base. Not all districts qualify for the payments that are used to pay for bonds and interest. But those that do can have the state pay up to 83 percent of their costs, depending on the districts’ wealth.

Commissioners noted that there is no limit to how much the state can be asked to chip in. Commission chairman Sam Williams suggested that there should be a review process.

Commissioners could authorize a study as soon as Friday.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has ordered the state to remove U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Chad Taylor’s name from the ballot, in a ruling that could influence the national fight for control of the Senate.

The court’s decision Thursday leaves Democrats without a nominee, potentially making it easier for independent candidate Greg Orman to defeat three-term Republican incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts. The GOP has counted on Roberts winning re-election on Nov. 4 as they seek to recapture a Senate majority.

Taylor withdrew from the race to avoid a split of anti-Roberts votes. But Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who backs Roberts, declared that Taylor didn’t fully comply with a state election law in submitting his letter of withdrawal.

The Supreme Court says Taylor’s formal letter was sufficient.

The Roberts Senate campaign responded to the news “Today, the Kansas Supreme Court deliberately, and for political purposes, disenfranchised over 65,000 voters. In a bow to Senators Claire McCaskill and Harry Reid, liberal activist Supreme Court justices have decided that if you voted in the Democrat Primary on August 5th, your vote does not matter, your voice does not matter, and you have no say in who should be on the ballot on Election Day. This is not only a travesty to Kansas voters, but it’s a travesty to the judicial system and our electoral process.”

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple has tightened its technological security so not even the company can pry into a password-protected iPhone or iPad in a move meant to reassure the millions of people who are increasingly storing vital pieces of their lives on the devices.

The additional safeguard is part of Apple’s latest mobile software, iOS 8, which the Cupertino, California, company released Wednesday. Apple Inc. revealed the stronger protection in a new section of its website that is prefaced with a letter from CEO Tim Cook emphasizing the company’s “fundamental” commitment to privacy and security.

The company’s inability to unlock password-protected smartphones and tablets could frustrate law enforcement officials who sometimes obtain court orders to vacuum personal data off the phones for potential evidence in criminal investigations.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey suggests economic growth is rural areas of 10 states in the Plains and the West will continue slowing down in the next few months.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said Thursday that crop prices are significantly lower than last year, and that’s a drag on the economy in rural areas.

The overall economic index from the monthly survey of bankers declined to 48.2 in September from August’s already weak 48.3 reading.

The survey indexes range from 0 to 100. Any score below 50 suggests decline in the months ahead.

The bankers continue to doubt the economy. The confidence index fell to 33.4 in September from August’s 39.9.

Bankers from rural areas of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

 

PARSONS, Kan. (AP) — Students in a southeast Kansas district will soon be required to undergo alcohol breath tests before they’re allowed into school dances.

The Parsons Sun reports the tests will be administered to all students and their guests, even if they’re not suspected of drinking. Anyone refusing the test will be barred from the dance.

Parsons superintendent Shelly Martin said the district has received two handheld blood-alcohol breath wands that will be used at the high school. If an initial test registers alcohol on a student’s breath, law enforcement officers will administer a second test with a device used by the police department.

Martin said the district may extend the policy to other activities in the future.

KHI News Service

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services has been awarded a five-year, $3.9 million federal grant to expand employment services for Kansans with severe mental illness, including those with a mental illness and co-occurring substance disorder.

KDADS received the grant to expand individual placement and support services from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“One of Governor Brownback’s priorities has been to expand employment opportunities for individuals faced with serious challenges,” KDADS Secretary Kari Bruffett said. “These services will help individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring mental and substance-use disorders to obtain meaningful employment and lead productive, fulfilling lives.”

The Enhancing Supported Employment in Kansas (ESEK) project is designed to help people with mental illness achieve steady employment in mainstream competitive jobs, either part-time or full-time.

The University of Kansas Center for Mental Health Research and Innovation will assist KDADS with implementation of the project, and the KU Center for Public Partnerships & Research will evaluate it.

Staff will work with community mental health centers to expand employment services at Comcare in Wichita and the Compass Behavioral Health Center in Southwest Kansas, headquartered in Garden City. Each site will provide supported employment services to at least 25 clients during the project’s first year.

Total funding for the five-year grant is $3.967 million, including $798,738 for the first year.

The project will:

• expand employment services to non-Medicaid clients.

• include paid employment peer mentors within each implementation site.

• establish a statewide supported employment steering committee and develop local supported employment steering committees.

• provide supported employment services through video teleconferencing.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Attorney for Kansas Barry Grissom has been appointed to a national committee that advises the U.S. attorney general on policy and management issues.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced Grissom’s appointment to a two-year term on Thursday.

The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee is made up of 20 federal prosecutors from around the country, representing federal judicial districts and U.S. attorney’s offices of various sizes.

The U.S. attorney in Kansas has three offices and a staff of about 100, including 50 assistant prosecutors.

 

TOPEKA (AP) — A new commission looking for efficiencies within Kansas’ public school system is raising questions about how the state provides extra money to help districts educate their poorest students.

The K-12 Student Performance and Efficiency Commission began a two-day meeting Thursday with a discussion of so-called “at-risk funding.” Legislative post auditor Scott Frank said school districts receive about $1,750 in extra funding for each student who is poor enough to qualify for free lunches. Statewide, that amounts to $347 million.

An earlier audit found that as many as 23,000 students receiving the free meals weren’t eligible. Frank says another 6,900 students may be eligible but don’t apply.

Commission members asked whether using census poverty data or student achievement results would be a better way to distribute the money.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Independent candidate Greg Orman is launching a new statewide television ad in the U.S. Senate race in Kansas to counter criticism from Republican Sen. Pat Roberts.

The ad began Thursday in the Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita markets. In it, Orman says Washington politicians would rather attack opponents than solve problems.

The spot does not mention specific criticisms of Orman.

Roberts campaign manager Corry Bliss said the ad “literally says nothing.”

Orman says in the ad that as he faces attacks, the nation’s problems only get worse. Orman is a 45-year-old Olathe businessman running as a centrist.

Roberts paints Orman as a liberal Democrat, saying Orman refuses to call for repealing the federal health care overhaul. Orman says the overhaul was flawed and he wouldn’t have supported it.

 

CENTERVILLE- Two people were injured in an accident just before 6 a.m. on Thursday in Linn County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Kenworth semi driven by Marvin D Ward, 40, Fairfield, VA., was northbound on road 1077 just south of Centerville.

The driver lost control at a curve and the truck overturned.

Ward and a passenger in the truck Jamie Koebernik, 37, Fairfield, VA., were transported to Miami County Medical Center.

The KHP reported they were not wearing seat belts.