WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is announcing $4 billion in pledges from major foundations and institutional investors to pay for innovations that reduce carbon pollution. President Barack Obama is also using his executive powers to help make such investments easier.

Vice President Joe Biden drew attention to the effort Tuesday during a Clean Energy Investment Summit at the White House. The White House says the investment commitments come from hundreds of organizations ranging from the Sierra Club Foundation to Goldman Sachs.

Among the initiatives is the creation of a non-profit group that would identify and assess companies and commercial investments that result in projects that are both profitable and aim to address climate change.

The executive actions are designed to encourage the private sector to invest in more clean energy efforts.

GREAT BEND- A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Barton County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Mazda Protégé driven by Teresa Mehl, 45, Ellsworth, was eastbound on Kansas 156 fourteen miles northeast of Great Bend.

The vehicle crossed the center lane and entered the westbound lane.

A westbound 2012 GMC Sierra driven by Andrew Kirkpatrick, 31, Ellinwood, swerved to miss the Mazda. The vehicles collided in the north ditch and the Mazda rolled.

Mehl was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Bryant Christian Funeral Home.

Kirkpatrick was not wearing a seat belt and possibly injured according to the KHP. They did not indicate where or if he was treated.

DAVID PITT, Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bird flu outbreak in the Midwest has actually resulted in cheaper chicken meat in the U.S. because exports have been restricted, leaving a plentiful domestic supply.

In a monthly poultry market report published Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says importers halted shipments even though chickens remain unaffected by bird flu. Wholesale prices in the Northeast are 32 percent lower than a year earlier. Drumsticks are down 33 percent.

The bird flu outbreak did cause egg prices to increase.

Egg prices more than doubled from pre-bird flu prices but in recent days have fallen. Roasting turkey prices are 3 percent higher than a year ago and may increase a little more toward Thanksgiving.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A small southeastern Kansas congregation has settled its federal lawsuit stemming from a zoning dispute over church property.

A court filing Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas indicates the parties have agreed that Liberty Baptist Church can use land it owns in Crawford County for a new church outside Pittsburg city limits. The judge’s order dismisses the lawsuit.

The congregation of 15 members sued the county in April after it was denied a conditional use permit, claiming the zoning laws violate the First Amendment and federal law.

Pastor Sandy Stallings commended the commissioners in a news release for not dragging the case out at “great public expense.”

The church agreed to plant some shrubs across its southern border and the county agreed to compensate it for some costs.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed bills raising sales and cigarette taxes to balance the state’s next budget.

The Republican governor announced the signings Tuesday, only hours after he had a Statehouse news conference to defend the higher taxes.

Brownback said the bills don’t really represent a tax increase because of past income tax cuts he pushed successfully through the GOP-dominated Legislature in 2012 and 2013.

A budget shortfall arose after those income tax cuts, and the two bills passed this year together raise $384 million during the fiscal year beginning July 1 to avert a deficit.

One bill increases the sales tax to 6.5 percent from 6.15 percent. The other increases the cigarette tax by 50 cents a pack to $1.29. Both laws take effect July 1.

Great Bend Post
HOISINGTON -Just over 51 percent of the Hoisington USD 431 registered voters participated in the school bond proposal mail-in ballot that was finished at noon on Tuesday.

The $11.5 million dollar school bond passed easily and will allow the Hoisington school district to build a new Lincoln Elementary.
USD 431 Superintendent Bill Lowry was excited to receive the news Tuesday afternoon.

874 votes were received that supported the bond proposal compared to 278 against the idea.

The Board of County Canvassers will conduct the final canvass on Monday, June 22.

During the past eight years, the student population of USD 431 has grown 20 percent. Built in 1926, Lincoln school was getting crammed and contained out-of-date facilities and amenities.
The bond proposal will also increase security and accessibility to the other Hoisington schools.

There will be no increases in taxes to pay for the project that is expected to be complete in August 2017.

The current school bond will be extended an additional 20 years to cover the cost.

The new facility will be built behind the current Lincoln Elementary School where the playground is located.

PRATT– Law enforcement authorities in Pratt County are investigating a break in and criminal damage at the Ninnescah Archery Range.

The sheriff’s office reported officers recovered stolen property in connection with the case and is referring charges on two juvenile, male suspects to the Pratt County Attorney.

They say the success in this case was the result of a surveillance camera and good old fashion police work involving cooperation between Pratt County Sheriff’s Deputies and Pratt Police Officers.

The case remains under investigation.