WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has been appointed to several key U.S. Senate committees whose jurisdictions have a direct impact on our nation’s economy and the lives of Kansans. Sen. Moran will serve on the following committees in the 114th Congress:

• U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
• U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee
• U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations
• U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
• U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
“It is clear that the economic policies put into place by the Democrat-led Senate and the Obama Administration have not worked,” Sen. Moran said. “In January, we begin to forge a new path. As a member of the Commerce, Banking and Appropriations Committees I look forward to advocating for pro-growth policies that create jobs and more economic opportunity for every American.”

Chair of the Committee on Committees Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) lauded Sen. Moran’s work to earn these appointments, saying, “Jerry’s efforts on and off the Hill are highly regarded by me and my Republican colleagues. The GOP conference is deeply grateful for his hard work and strong leadership as NRSC Chairman, which is reflected in these important committee assignments.”

In his new role on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Sen. Moran will work to provide valuable oversight on a wide range of issues including communications, highways, aviation, rail, shipping, transportation security, fisheries, science, space, interstate commerce and numerous others.

“Jerry Moran is not only a hard-working, well-respected member of our Conference, he is a good friend and I look forward to working with him on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee during the 114th Congress,” said Sen. John Thune (R- S.D.), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

Through his appointment to the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Sen. Moran will continue his long-time commitment to strengthening the economy, creating jobs, opening up foreign markets to U.S. exports, and fostering the growth of small businesses.

Sen. Moran has a long history of opposing reckless spending on Capitol Hill and will continue to bring Kansas common sense and hard-nosed fiscal oversight to the appropriations process. In his role on the Appropriations Committee, Sen. Moran is committed to working to eliminate wasteful spending and prioritize initiatives that effectively and efficiently serve the American people.

Additionally, Sen. Moran has made improving the quality of life for the nearly 250,000 veterans living in Kansas a top priority throughout his time on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and will continue doing so as a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

“There is no group of Americans I hold in higher regard than our veterans, who bravely put their lives at risk to protect the freedoms and liberties we all enjoy,” Sen. Moran continued. “They kept their promise to us and we must keep our promise to them. I am humbled to have the opportunity to continue working on behalf of those who have honorably served our country.”

Finally, Sen. Moran will join the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to study the unique problems of American Indian, Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native peoples and propose legislation to alleviate difficulties including education, economic development and land management.

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Arkansas City police are investigating a Grinch-like crime in the southwest Kansas town.

Police say thieves who hit at least 10 homes during the weekend stole mostly Christmas decorations and broke several windows.

Police Captain Mark McCaslin says the thefts were in the northwest part of the city and were likely related.

One of the thefts was at the home of Donna Wells, where thieves took a wreath from a front porch that had belonged to her son, who died last year.

Anyone with information on the thefts is encouraged to call Arkansas City police.

KIOWA, Kan. (AP) — Officers are investigating after a woman’s body was found behind a convenience store in a small south-central Kansas town.

The Barber County Sheriff says the body was found Monday afternoon behind the Little Store in Kiowa.

No further details have been released, including the woman’s identity or a possible cause of death.

KAKE-TV reports the area where the body was found is secluded and investigators aren’t sure how long the woman’s body was there.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is helping with the investigation.

WELLINGTON, Kan. (AP) — Police in south-central Kansas have charged a woman who they say stabbed her 10-year-old son to death in his bedroom.

Thirty-three-year-old Lindsey Blansett of Wellington is being held at the Sumner County Jail on $500,000 bond. She is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her son, Caleb Blansett.

Wellington police say the boy had gone to bed on Sunday when Lindsey Blansett entered his room with a rock and knife. They say she struck him with the rock and stabbed him multiple times in the chest.

The Wellington Daily News reports a 9-year-old girl in the house was taken into protective custody on Monday and released to family members.

No other injuries were reported.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Blansett has an attorney.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office says a first-grade student brought a loaded handgun to school but didn’t display it or make any threats.

Sheriff’s Maj. Phil Blume told The Topeka Capital-Journal (https://bit.ly/1IVgUGn) that the pupil “self-reported” having the gun on Monday at Indian Hills Elementary School in Topeka.

Blume says the gun was “rendered safe” by an officer at the scene. He says the weapon was loaded but there were no rounds in the chamber.

A news release from the Sheriff’s Office says the child brought the gun from home.

Indian Hills Principal Jim McDaniel sent an email to parents advising of the weapon, though school officials declined to say what kind of weapon was found.

The email says the weapon was never taken out of the student’s backpack.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is urging dismissal of a lawsuit that would dismantle the president’s immigration program, an initiative designed to spare nearly 5 million people in the U.S. illegally from deportation.

The case was brought by an Arizona sheriff, Joe Arpaio who contends that President Barack Obama’s program serves as a magnet for more illegal entries into the U.S. Arpaio says the new arrivals will commit crimes and thus burden his law enforcement resources.

In a court filing late Monday, the Justice Department told U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell that the sheriff’s theory is speculative and unsubstantiated and that Arpaio has failed to show he will suffer any injury at all from the federal government’s program.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Two Kansas men have pleaded guilty in federal court to operating a synthetic drug business that generated at least $16 million in sales in less than two years.

U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom says 58-year-old Tracy Picanso and 56-year-old Roy Ehrett, both of Olathe, each pleaded guilty Monday to one count each of conspiracy, producing and selling misbranded drugs, producing and selling counterfeit drugs and conspiracy to launder money.

Prosecutors say the men owned an Olathe-based business that produced and sold synthetic marijuana and stimulants in Kansas, Missouri, California, Texas, Georgia and Colorado.

Prosecutors say some of the drugs were manufactured in buckets with drill-powered mixers and tried out on “testers” who helped tweak the recipes by reporting on the drugs’ effects.

Sentencing is set for April 13.

CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — One of the Obama administration’s harshest congressional critics will get a final high-profile shot Tuesday when the House Oversight Committee grills witnesses about the president’s health care overhaul.

California Republican Darrell Issa (EYE’-suh) will lead the questioning of former health legislation adviser Jonathan Gruber.

The MIT economist recently apologized for saying voters’ “stupidity” was vital to passing the health law in 2010.

The committee also will question Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Issa has used the committee chairmanship to probe and attack the administration on issues such as the Benghazi attacks, the IRS scandal and guns. Talk radio conservatives love him, but even some GOP colleagues say he overdoes the combative partisanship at times.

Issa will surrender the chairmanship next year.

KINGMAN, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in southern Kansas have charged a man with murder in the death of another man.

The Kingman County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that 50-year-old David Younger was booked into the county jail. He is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 62-year-old Danny Ely. Both men are from Kingman.

The sheriff’s office says deputies responded to a report of a suspicious death around 2 p.m. Monday. It didn’t release other details.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Younger has an attorney.