TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Senate committee’s leader has outlined proposals to raise taxes by $470 million annually to eliminate a projected budget deficit.
The plan Tuesday from Assessment and Taxation Committee Chairman Les Donovan would eliminate an income tax break for business owners and farmers enacted in 2012.
Donovan’s plan also would increase the state’s sales tax to 6.5 percent from 6.15 percent, though the Wichita Republican would lower the tax on food to 6 percent.
His plan also would increase property taxes, tobacco and alcohol taxes and the state’s gasoline tax.
The tax break for farmers and business owners exempted their profits from personal income taxes. Donovan would instead create an income tax credit equal to 1 percent of their payrolls.
The Senate committee expects to debate the plan Wednesday.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Verizon Wireless has agreed to pay $90 million and Sprint $68 million to settle charges that the mobile giants allowed phony charges on their customers’ monthly bills.
According to federal regulators, the two mobile providers had partnered with third-party vendors that sell premium text messaging services, such as daily horoscopes, trivia and sports scores. But consumers who hadn’t signed up for the services were being billed anyway, typically about $9.99 a month.
Regulators said they launched an investigation after receiving numerous complaints that the carriers had refused to refund the charges. Both companies said in statements emailed to reporters on Tuesday that they had stopped allowing premium text messaging before the government investigation began and that the settlements reflect their commitment to customer service.
Joel Dugan, Assistant Professor of Art and Design at Fort Hays State University, tells Mike Cooper about the University’s involvement with Seth Kastle’s book, “Why Is Dad So Mad?”
MANHATTAN- Police in Manhattan have made an arrest in a domestic violence, arson case.
The Riley County Police Department reported a 2001 Honda Accord was damaged with a blunt object and bed sheets were damaged by fire following a domestic altercation in the 1800 Block of College Avenue.
Officers arrested Tanya Wright, 52, Manhattan, and jailed her Monday on a $9000 dollar bond.
There were no injuries. An investigation in the case continues.
NEW YORK (AP) – The song Dolly Parton says is the favorite one she wrote will be turned into a TV movie. NBC will develop a movie called “Coat of Many Colors.” Parton will serve as executive producer. No word on when the movie will run. Parton’s original coat of many colors is on display at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
The Wild West Festival committee has been hard at work preparing many activities the public will be able to enjoy during the festival July 1 to 4.
The 45-member committee often begins planning the day after the final show — “on July 5 for the next year. It’s a yearlong process. We are always preparing,” co-president Mary Karst said.
This is the 21st year for the event.
“We have a booking agent that helps us,” said Karst, who has been on the committee for 16 years. “We kind of get a list together and check pricing and see who might be within our price range and then we have a booking agent who books them.”
Fellow member Bob Swift has been volunteering for the past 21 years. He said the committee is excited for this year’s upcoming lineup.
This year’s headliners include Parmalee, Joe Diffie, Trixter and Starship featuring Mickey Thomas. Hays’ own Hannah Norris will play the opening act on Friday, July 3. To view full list of concerts and business outlets, go to wildwestfestival.com.
Karst said the business community gets behind the annual event, and it’s the private funding the committee receives that allows the festival to occur each year.
“If we didn’t have the support of our business community, there’s no way we could do it, because the $15 ticket doesn’t come close to paying for all of the talent that we bring in,” Karst said. “The business community really gets behind it takes ownership in it and helps.”
The public also will be able to attend the Main Street Parade on July 4. “Staying True to the Red, White and Blue” is the theme.
There are no concerts on Saturday, but fireworks are scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. While watching the fireworks, be sure to listen to Eagle Radio Mix 103.3FM.
For $125, VIP tickets are available. Tickets can be purchased online now or next week at supporting businesses.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House committee has rejected a second proposal to increase the state’s sales tax by a full penny to help close a budget shortfall.
The Taxation Committee was debating other alternatives Tuesday to the measure from Republican Rep. Marc Rhoades of Newton.
The panel rejected Rhoades’ proposal on a 9-11 vote. It would have increased the sales tax to 7.15 percent from 6.15 percent but dropped the rate to 5.9 percent for food products.
The committee is drafting a plan to erase a projected $406 million budget deficit for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
The panel will now consider a third proposal, which would restore some taxes to small businesses and raise the sales tax by a lower rate.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House committee has rejected a conservative lawmaker’s proposal to increase the state’s sales tax by a full penny on the dollar to help close a budget shortfall.
But the Taxation Committee was debating other alternatives Tuesday to the measure from Republican Rep. Steve Brunk of Wichita.
Brunk’s plan failed on a voice vote. It would have increased the sales tax to 7.15 percent from 6.15 percent.
The committee is drafting a plan to erase a projected $406 million budget deficit for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Brunk’s plan also would have dropped the state’s lowest personal income tax rate to 2.55 percent from 2.7 percent and preserved an income tax exemption for business owners and farmers.
The committee approved a bill Monday to repeal the exemption.
Hays High School’s Andrew McGinnis has qualified for the 4A state tennis tournament which begins Friday in Pratt. McGinnis finished 2-2 at the Lindsborg Regional to finish sixth. He won his first match, lost his second, won the third then dropped the fourth match.
All of the other Hays High competitors lost their first round match.
The 4A state tournament will be held at the Pratt-Walter Blake Tennis Complex beginning at 10:30 am Friday.
SPEARVILLE- Two drivers were injured in an accident just before 11 a.m. on Tuesday in Ford County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Ford F 250 driven by Ted E. Bailey, 66, Davenport, IA., was eastbound on US 50 on the north end of Spearville.
The truck rear-ended an eastbound 2013 Ford Escape driven by Paul A. Elliot, 62, Dodge City, that had stopped to turn onto 126th Road.
Bailey and Elliott were transported to Western Plains Medical Center.
Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident according to the KHP.
Fort Hays State had eight athletes receive USTFCCCA All-Region honors for the 2015 outdoor season, released on Tuesday (May 12). Five men and three women earned the honors with two of the men earning the honor in two events.
Cory Keehn and Michael Kinuthia were the two men that received all-region distinction in more than one event, Keehn in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and Kinuthia in the 800 and 1,500 meters. Jonny Bernansky was also an all-region honoree in the 10,000 meters. Brady Tien earned the distinction in pole vault and Brenner Wells received the honor in javelin.
All three of Fort Hays State’s women all-region performers were in the javelin. Estefania Lopez, Madision Wolf and Megan Honas are all among the top 11 javelin throwers in the country entering the NCAA Championships. FHSU is the only school with multiple athletes within the top 11 in the event.
The top five individuals in each event from each region earned the All-Region distinction, in addition to each of the regions’ top three relay teams. The regions used for this award match those used during the cross country season, and student-athletes must come from USTFCCCA member institutions. FHSU competes in the Central Region.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is not saying whether he would veto a revenue-raising plan from legislators if it repeals a tax break he’s championed for business owners and farmers.
The Republican governor shrugged off that question Tuesday as the House Taxation Committee worked on a plan to close a projected $406 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
The committee on Monday approved a bill repealing a tax break enacted in 2012 for more than 330,000 business owners and farmers. It exempted their profits from personal income taxes.
Brownback pushed for the tax break as an economic stimulus and opposes repealing it.
Asked about the House committee’s action Monday, the governor said he wants to see what emerges from the lengthy process of passing a tax plan.
DETROIT (AP) — General Motors says it is recalling nearly 470,000 Chevrolet Malibu midsize cars to fix potentially weakened steel cables that link the front seat belts to the vehicle.
The company also is recalling about 53,000 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickup trucks to fix seat frame hooks that weren’t installed properly during assembly.
The Malibu recall covers cars from the 2011 and 2012 model years mainly in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The cable can weaken and separate as people move in the seats. Dealers will replace a mounting bracket and inspect the cable and replace the lap-tensioning mechanism if needed.
The pickup recall covers 2015 models in the U.S. and Canada. Dealers will inspect seats for proper installation and fix the seat frame hooks if necessary.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An anti-tax group has launched a statewide cable television ad campaign to pressure legislators into preserving an income tax exemption for more than 330,000 business owners and farmers. See the ad here.
Kansas Club for Growth lobbyist Mark Dugan said the group began the television spots Tuesday and plans to run them at least a week.
The ads began a day after the House Taxation Committee approved a bill to repeal the tax break to help close a budget shortfall.
The break was enacted in 2012 and exempted farmers’ and business owners’ profits from personal income taxes. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback championed it as an economic stimulus, and the ads say it has helped small businesses grow.
Dugan declined to say how much the Kansas Club for Growth is spending on the ads.
