TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas collected $22 million more in taxes than expected this month.
The Department of Revenue reported Friday that the state collected almost $310 million in taxes in February, when it anticipated taking in $287 million. The surplus is 7.7 percent.
The numbers are good news for Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and legislators, but they don’t solve the state’s budget problems.
Officials must close a budget shortfall that had been projected at nearly $600 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Tax collections for the current fiscal year, starting in July 2014, still remain behind expectations, after falling short in December and January.
During those eight months, the state collected $3.55 billion in taxes, when it expected $3.6 billion. The difference is $37 million, about 1 percent.
DETROIT (AP) — Fiat Chrysler is adding more than 467,000 Dodge and Jeep SUVs worldwide to a recall from last year to fix a potential stalling problem.
The company says it’s adding 2012 and 2013 Dodge Durangos and 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokees outside North America to a recall from September of last year. The Jeeps have diesel engines.
Chrysler says fuel pump relays can deform and cause the pumps to malfunction. That can cause unexpected stalling or prevent the engines from starting. The company doesn’t know of any crashes or injuries from the problem.
Dealers will install a new relay circuit. Chrysler says it will let customers know when they can schedule service.
The recall from last year covered 189,000 other Grand Cherokees and Durangos in the U.S
SALINA – Police in Salina arrested two suspects on Friday morning on drug charges.
Police reported stopping a car at 9th Street and Claflin just after 12:15 a.m. for a taillight out.
The police officer noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car. During a search of the car three baggies of marijuana were recovered.
Police arrested Mauricio Simmons, 33, on requested charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and a violation of a drivers license restriction.
A passenger in the car Thomas Berry, 28, was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and no tax stamp.
I.D. Creech, Hays Public Works Director, explains changes to the city’s stormwater management code.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The city of Hays has adopted changes to the Stormwater Management portion of the city’s code. The ordinance amendment was approved by commissioners Thursday night.
Public Works Director I.D. Creech said the changes will bring the city into compliance with federal Clean Water Act requirements for “post construction” stormwater controls.
He outlined three major changes.
It will impose requirements on residential developments for stormwater management, and also change the current standards for storm sewer infrastructure–moving away from water in pipes to overland flows in new developments. Non-stormwater discharges causing problems with unpaved surfaces are added to the list of prohibited discharges.
“There will be some growing pains,” Creech cautioned.
“The new water quality requirements will initially be a challenge for developers and planning engineers, and upfront costs for developers will increase, but they may be offset with a reduction in infrastructure.”
In addition to bringing Hays into compliance with the EPA regulations, Creech listed reasons how the changes will benefit the city.
Creech said future new development will not increase flood flows and stormwater discharge from new and re-development should have less impact on Big Creek water quality.
Development and re-development should decrease nuisance flows and improve groundwater recharge and new development should have less negative impact on aquifer recharge. Removal of current exemptions allows for uniform application of stormwater controls based on proposed thresholds, Creech explained.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Leonard Nimoy, world famous to “Star Trek” fans through a beloved cult TV series and a half-dozen films as the pointy-eared, purely logical science officer Mr. Spock, has died.
Nimoy’s son, Adam, says the actor died Friday morning in Los Angeles of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 83.
Although Nimoy followed his 1966-69 “Star Trek” run with a notable career as both an actor and director, in the public’s mind he would always be Spock.
His half-human, half-Vulcan character was the calm counterpoint to William Shatner’s often-emotional Captain Kirk on one of television and film’s most revered cult series.
The driver of semi owned by Ellis County apparently misjudged the height of an overpass just east of Ellis on Thursday, causing its haul to hit the bridge.
According to Kansas Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Tod Hileman, KHP troopers responded to a report of the crash at around 1 p.m.
Hileman said the driver of the semi was hauling a backhoe when “part of it hit the bridge.”
Hazmat crews from the Kansas Department of Transportation were called to the scene to clean up oil leaking from the backhoe.
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Pittsburg State University and the city of Pittsburg have agreed to swap land in a deal designed to help both entities expand.
The trade was ratified Tuesday by the City Commission but must be approved by the Kansas Legislature.
The Joplin Globe reports the university agreed to give 72 acres to the city, which wants to use it for home building. In return, the city will give Pittsburg State one 25-acre site and another 5-acre site.
City manager Daron Hall says the trade does not involve any money. Hall says the city badly needs new housing developments.
University official Chris Kelly says the university has no immediate plans for its new land but it will be available for future development.
AGRA – A Phillips County teenager died in an accident just after 8 a.m. Friday in Phillips County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 GMC Sonoma pickup driven by Courtney Faith Miller, 15, Kensington, was northbound on East 1400 Road three miles east and one mile south of Agra.
The vehicle dropped off the right shoulder, and the driver over corrected.
The vehicle crossed back over to the other side of the road, entered the west ditch and rolled.
Miller was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel in Phillipsburg.
The KHP reported she was properly restrained at the time of the accident.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has ordered a 90-day, unpaid suspension for Sedgwick County District Judge Timothy H. Henderson for violating the code of judicial conduct.
The ruling handed down Friday comes after a finding by the Judicial Qualifications Commission that Henderson had sexually harassed female attorneys and staff. The panel had also found that he tried to prejudice an attorney because of the judge’s personal views and had tried to use his office to get his wife a job.
The court also ordered Henderson to complete within a year a course in sexual harassment, and file a report with the court detailing his training.
It further prohibited him from supervising any judicial branch employee other than his chambers staff for two years after that training.
VATICAN CITY (AP) — A whodunit is making the rounds at the Vatican.
The publisher of a book on traditional Catholic marriage is crying foul, saying someone apparently swiped as many as 100 copies of the book from the Vatican mailboxes of bishops who attended a controversial meeting on family issues last October.
The publisher sent the books to attendees to counter progressive proposals by Pope Francis’ favorite theologian to let divorced and civilly remarried Catholics receive Communion.
The book, penned by five high-ranking, conservative cardinals, explains that the suggestion is simply contrary to Christ’s teaching on the indissolubility of marriage.
The Vatican spokesman insists the books were delivered without impediment.
But the mystery remains: What happened to the books?
Steven Walters, Hays Stormwater Specialist, talks about levee improvements during Thursday’s city commission meeting.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Improvements will begin this spring to the Big Creek levee from 8th Street to the Highway 183 Bypass. The levee, built in 1950, has never had any work done to it.
According to Hays Stormwater Specialist Steven Walters, the levee has a “minimally acceptable” rating by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The most recent inspection revealed poor sod cover, tree encroachment, minor erosion, silt deposits and erosion near drainages.
During their meeting Thursday night, Hays City Commissioners voted to award the low bid of $486,645.00 for levee improvements to J Corp of Hays. The engineer’s estimate was $776,819.
The bid includes tree removal, repair of outfallstructures, replacement of stormsewer pipe, re-grading of Montgomery Ditch, the repair/rebuilding of the levee embankment east of Main Street, and constructing a 6 inch concrete cap on the levee. The concrete cap will extend the KDOT hike and bike trail project east of Main Street.
The project will be funded by the Stormwater Utility – Capital projects line item.
Commissioners also approved the $21,000 bid from Penco Engineering, Plainville, for construction phase engineering services.
JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer
