TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission has launched a new campaign finance website that officials say might not address the public’s needs.

The website aimed to give people easier access to information about which political candidates are receiving money and who’s contributing to campaigns, The Lawrence Journal-World reported.

Carol Williams, who heads the commission, said the website won’t address many of the concerns raised in a new national report that says most states have campaign finance websites that are confusing, difficult to navigate and often provide inaccurate information.

Williams said she believes the new website is easier to navigate but that the data itself is still the same. It’s composed mainly of PDFs, which are hard for users to search or navigate because many of them are handwritten.

RILEY COUNTY – One person was injured in an accident just before 1:30p.m. on Thursday in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Mitsubishi passenger car driven by Shannon M. Timm, 41, Phoenix, AZ., was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of Tallgrass Road.

The vehicle hydroplaned on the wet surface and sideswiped a semi.

Timm was transported to the hospital in Manhattan.

The semi driver Bradley C. Pooler, 50, Delphos, was not injured.

Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

WAMEGO — Details are still scarce, but a tornado near Wamego caused damage on Thursday afternoon.

The storm downed trees in the community.

Check Hays Post for details as they become available.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general and director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, visited Dickinson County and the Abilene area today, assessing the damage caused by a tornado that touched down north of Abilene. Brownback and Tafanelli took an aerial tour of the tornado damage.  While on the ground in Abilene, Brownback and Tafanelli were given an update from county emergency management and Incident Management Team officials.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected by Wednesday night’s tornadoes,” said Brownback. “The local and statewide teams that are on site have done great work helping initial recovery efforts. With additional rounds of dangerous weather expected, I encourage everyone to remain aware of weather conditions and take action to be safe.”

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management staff in the State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka continues to monitor storm activities across Kansas.  Additional storms are predicted to move across Kansas starting during the afternoon/evening hours of Thursday,

May 27 into Saturday, May 29.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Union officials say Wichita teachers have approved a plan to lengthen the school day and shorten the year.

United Teachers of Wichita president Steve Wentz tells The Wichita Eagle that nearly 70 percent of the more than 4,000 ballots the union received Wednesday morning were in favor of the proposed calendar.

The calendar was proposed as a way to trim about $3 million from next year’s budget. It’ll shorten the school year by 15 days for Wichita students and lengthen the school day by 30 minutes.

The Wichita school board must approve the proposed change. Members are expected to approve an addendum to this year’s teacher contract noting the calendar change, as well as a new calendar for the 2016-17 school year, during its June 6 meeting.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A man faces life in prison now that he’s admitted in federal court that he kidnapped his Kansas girlfriend’s 5-year-old daughter and killed her during a police chase.

Thirty-two-year-old Marcas McGowan pleaded guilty Thursday in Kansas City to charges of kidnapping resulting in death, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

Authorities allege McGowan abducted Cadence Harris on July 18, 2014, after a domestic dispute in the Atchison, Kansas, home they shared with the girl’s mother.

During an ensuring chase in which McGowan fired at police, authorities pursuit him into Missouri before officers shot McGowan after they say he pointed a gun at them in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 6. Both sides have agreed to recommend a sentence of life on the kidnapping charge.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle wants the chamber to vote next week on a resolution condemning a recent federal directive on accommodating transgender students in public schools.

Wagle’s office disclosed Thursday that she is drafting a nonbinding Senate resolution to be considered next week, when lawmakers have a brief ceremony scheduled to formally adjourn their annual session. Wagle sent an email to GOP senators Wednesday evening.

President Barack Obama’s administration earlier this month directed public schools to allow transgender students to use the restrooms associated with their gender identities rather than their birth genders.

Many GOP officials in Kansas question whether the Democratic president’s administration has the legal authority to issue such a directive.

LGBT-rights advocate Tom Witt said Thursday that lawmakers are singling out transgender children for harassment.

SALINA – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a suspect in connection with burglary and criminal damage to a neighbor’s home.

Salina Police reported a homeowner called them around 9p.m. Wednesday evening to report a man, who lived across the street, had gone inside and locked him out of his home in the 400 Block of Missouri Street.

The man refused to let Davis back into the house.

After obtaining a key, officers went inside and found Brandon Doherty who had kicked at 42 inch television into a window and eaten a hamburger.

When going back to Doherty’s residence, police found he had caused damage to walls, windows, window blinds inside the home and damaged property in a detached garage.

He also smashed windows, mirrors and did extensive damage to a 2000 Volkswagen Beetle parked nearby.

Doherty was arrested on requested charges including burglary and several counts of criminal damage to property,