MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is asking skeptical questions as the court hears arguments over the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry.

Kennedy, whose vote is seen as pivotal, said Tuesday that marriage has been understood as one man and one woman for “millennia-plus time.” He said same-sex marriage has been debated in earnest for only about 10 years and he wondered whether scholars and the public need more time.

He told a lawyer representing same-sex couples that it’s “very difficult” for the court to say “we know better.”

Chief Justice John Roberts said that gay couples are not seeking to join the institution of marriage, they are seeking to change it.

The session was interrupted after about 30 minutes a protester yelling loudly. He was removed by security.

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Great Bend Post

HOISINGTON -The Kansas State Board of Education has approved USD 431 to put funding for a new elementary school and structural improvements to a vote this summer.

The new elementary school would replace the existing Lincoln Elementary built in 1926.

Julia Debes, chairwoman of the Cardinal Legacy Committee, says the Hoisington school district has been considering the best options for years now but were encouraged to see the Larned school district pass a similar bond in the spring election.

“It was definitely encouraging to see that voters in Larned supported building a new school in their district and we look forward to citizens in Hoisington doing the same thing as well,” she said.

The bond measure would also improve security and handicap accessibility at all schools in the district and enhance traffic flow and pedestrian safety at both the district’s grade schools.

USD 431 Superintendent Bill Lowry says the time to act is now. After July 1, new state financing laws will reduce state aid for bond and interest from 25 percent to 10 percent.

That means the same measure passed after July would cost local taxpayers an additional $3.2 million.

According to Debes, “The plan now is to construct the new school where the playground is now. They would take down the old building after the new one is constructed so school wouldn’t be interrupted at all.”

Ballots for the bond will be mailed to the district’s registered voters on June 1 and must be returned by June 16.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Students who play in a special-needs sports league in the Wichita area scored a victory.

The Wichita Eagle reports the Wichita school board voted Monday to direct schools to award regular varsity letters to students who participate in the Tri-County Athletic League.

The board voted unanimously to accept new guidelines proposed by the Tri-County league, which has teams from 11 area high schools for students with special needs. The handbook includes criteria for earning an athletic letter.

The decision comes after a Wichita mother complained that her special needs son was told last year that he should not wear a letter jacket with a varsity letter she had purchased for him. District officials have said no one asked the student to take the jacket off.

SALINA, Kan. (AP) — A 15-year-old Kansas girl will go on trial in September for first-degree murder in the stabbing death of her sister.

Sierra Niehaus pleaded not guilty Monday to killing her sister, 13-year-old Galazia, at the family’s home in rural Saline County on Aug. 1. She is being tried as an adult.

The Salina Journal reports the trial was scheduled to begin Sept. 15 and is expected to take about a week.

Attorney Julie Effenbeck was appointed to represent Niehaus, who earlier this month was transferred from juvenile detention to Saline County’s adult inmate population.

Judge Patrick Thompson ruled in April that Niehaus should be tried as an adult. She was 14 when her sister was killed.