LAWRENCE (AP) — An influx of oil operators in northeast Kansas to reactivate old mineral leases has some property owners feeling like they’re being crowded out of their own land.

The Lawrence Journal-World reported residents like Victoria and Fernando Guerrero are seeing their property values go down because of the number of new wells.

The couple was stunned last February when they returned to property they purchased before going overseas for Fernando’s two-year military employment.

The land where they had planned to build their dream home was dotted with oil wells, and there’s not enough room to build because of set-back requirements.

State Sen. Tim Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, has introduced a bill to give property holders more rights, but it hasn’t been scheduled for a hearing.

TOPEKA (AP) — A Kansas nonprofit agency says it has spent 10 months and $5,000 trying to get the state attorney general’s office to provide information related to a settlement with tobacco companies that funnels millions of dollars into early-childhood programs.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Kansas Action for Children president and CEO Shannon Cotsoradis contends the information is of public interest and vital to helping the Legislature and Kansas Children’s Cabinet plan for future spending.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt says “most parts” of the accounting documents outlining how much the state is estimated to receive each year is “made confidential by a court order.”

Schmidt says claims that his office has withheld information are not true. He says he has provided more information on the issue than previous administrations.

LAWRENCE (AP) — The Kansas State Board of Education is expected to receive a draft regulation this week that eventually could lead to all teachers in the state being forced to submit fingerprint cards and undergo background checks when renewing their licenses.

The Lawrence Journal-World reported all new teachers have been required since 2002 to submit fingerprint cards and undergo background checks before receiving their initial license. But Education Department officials say up to 35,000 practicing teachers who started working before that never had to provide fingerprint cards.

Lawrence Superintendent Rick Doll told the state board last month that teachers see the proposed requirements as a personal affront.

The state board meets Tuesday and Wednesday this week in Topeka.

TOPEKA (AP) — Abortion is perpetually on the Kansas Legislature’s agenda, and a House committee plans to vote this week on legislation pushed by abortion opponents.

But supporters describe the measure before the House Federal and State Affairs Committee as technical legislation that makes small changes in existing laws rather than setting new policy. Planned Parenthood officially is neutral.

The bill tackles two issues raised by abortion providers in state and federal lawsuits challenging anti-abortion laws enacted last year.

One piece revises a requirement that the home pages of abortion providers’ websites link to a state health department site with information about pregnancy and fetal development.

The bill also revises language in various provisions of state law dealing with medical emergencies in which abortion restrictions are waived.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Miss Kansas traded evening gowns for camouflage when she went out on a deer bow hunt this winter in southeast Kansas.

Theresa Vail joined a December hunt in the Pratt area organized by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, JB Outfitters and Realtree Outdoors, which taped the hunt for a television show.

The Kansas City Star repored Vail has been hunting since her dad introduced her to the sport when she was 10. She took part in the hunt to get a chance to shoot a trophy buck and shatter a stereotype.

The National Guard sergeant shot an 8-point buck in the final hour on the third day.

She was scheduled to be a featured speaker at the Hunter’s Expo in Overland Park, which ended Sunday.

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

HAYS ­– Snow might be covering your block, but spring is just around the corner, and that means turkey season is on its way. Spring turkey hunters can get a head start on the season by applying now for exclusive entry into areas with limited access through the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) Special Hunts Program. While there is no guarantee of success, this special access usually means a higher quality hunt and potentially greater harvest rates. From Feb. 1-24, hunters can apply for a special hunt at ksoutdoors.com by clicking “Hunting/Special Hunts.” Following the application period, a random drawing will be held with notifications sent to successful and unsuccessful applicants vie e-mail.

This year, the Spring Turkey Special Hunts Program is offering 202 different individual turkey hunts on 23 properties.  Half the hunts are “Open,” 58 are “Youth” hunts and 43 are “Mentor” hunts. The spring turkey special hunts occur on lands not normally open to public hunting including, but not limited to, wildlife areas, state parks, Corps of Engineers properties, National Wildlife Refuges, city and county parks and on private lands enrolled in the special hunts program.

Open hunts are available to all hunters with no age or experience restrictions. Youth hunts are open to hunters 16 and younger accompanied by an adult. Mentor hunts are open to youth and novice hunters accompanied by an adult mentor. Both the youth/novice and the mentor may hunt during a mentor hunt. A novice is defined as a hunter who has not hunted turkeys in the last three years. Hunts can range from one day to several days, with some open the entire spring turkey season.

Kansas Department of Commerce

Nominations for the Kansas Department of Commerce’s 20^th annual Business Appreciation Month awards are now open. The awards recognize successful Kansas companies that create jobs, support their local communities and enhance the quality of life in Kansas.

The awards are announced each June. Regional finalists are recognized at an awards ceremony during the Team Kansas awards banquet, with the top nominee receiving the Governor’s Award of Excellence, the highest award given to a business by the state. The 2013 winner was B&W Trailer Hitches of Humboldt.

Nominations are accepted from chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, small business development centers, organizations and individuals. Companies may also nominate themselves.

Nominations will be accepted through 5 p.m., March 21. Regional winners will be selected in the manufacturing/distribution, service, retail and hospital/non-profit sectors. Regional winners will then give presentations about their companies and community involvement to a panel of judges. The recipient of the Governor’s Award of Excellence will be announced at the Team Kansas awards ceremony in June. Late nominations cannot be accepted.

Award qualifications include:

• Business expansion in Kansas
• Successful employee retention and recruitment practices
• Employee training/educational programs
• Capital investment in Kansas
• Support of local activities including school activities, community events, economic development and leadership programs

To submit an online nomination, visit KansasCommerce.com/BAM. For more information, contact Krista Mellen at (785) 296-7911 or [email protected].

 

HOUSTON (AP) — Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. declined by 14 this week to 1,771.

The Houston firm said in its weekly report Friday that 1,416 rigs were exploring for oil and 351 for gas. Four were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago there were 1,759 active rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained three rigs, Kansas was up two and Ohio rose by one.

West Virginia was down by four, Louisiana declined by three, while Alaska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Wyoming each dipped by one. Arkansas, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah were all unchanged.

The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Court of Appeals judge says the judicial branch is doing its best to produce timely rulings and legislation to create deadlines is unnecessary.

Judge Patrick McAnany on Friday told the Senate Judiciary Committee that judges and justices were aware of concerns about timeliness of decisions and were trying to prompt each other to pick up the pace.

The committee is considering a bill that would create soft deadlines for the district courts, Court of Appeals and Kansas Supreme Court. The courts could miss the deadlines if proper notice was given to parties in the cases.

Senate Vice President Jeff King says six states have similar laws on time limits, which can withhold pay from judges who are tardy in their rulings.

WICHITA (AP) — The Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University has acquired 125 photographs by Kansas native Gordon Parks.

The Wichita Eagle reported the museum already has an extensive collection of Parks’ papers, letters, personal photos and manuscripts.

The acquisition was made possible by a donation from the Gordon Parks Foundation, a $150,000 challenge grant from Barry and Paula Downing and matching funds.

The collection includes several photos of Parks’ hometown of Fort Scott, images of Malcolm X and “Harlem Gang Leader,” his first photographic essay for Life magazine.

He was born in Fort Scott on Nov. 20, 1912, and died in New York City on March 7, 2006. He was also an activist, musician, writer and film director best known for his photographic essays for Life magazine.

Salina Post

SALINA — A fire destroyed a truck at Snack-Atak, at the intersection of Centennial and Magnolia, at approximately 8 p.m. Thursday.

The Salina Post is in the process of gathering details on the cause and aftermath of the blaze.

Caution: Video Contains Expletives Video by: Who Hernandez

Kansas Department of Agriculture

Topeka – The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) are partnering to host the first farmer’s market conference in five years. The conference will be held in Topeka at the Downtown Ramada Hotel and Convention Center Feb. 28 through March 1.

The two-day conference is for market organizers, farmers, vendors and community to come together for continuing education opportunities, collaboration and networking. Well-known professionals specializing in community economic development, public health policies and more will be keynote speakers at the conference and will share information about new federal and state initiatives available to farmers’ markets, nutrition programs and how policy changes in communities can help encourage farmers’ market growth.

“We are very excited to partner with KDHE and reintroduce the Kansas Farmers’ Market Conference,” said Annarose Hart, From the Land of Kansas specialist. “The dynamic selection of workshops, interactive platforms and activities led by industry professionals are tailored to meet everyone’s specific needs – including market managers, farmers, vendors and community leaders.”

The popularity of farmers’ markets continues to increase across the state. Farmers’ markets give growers and small businesses the opportunity to cultivate relationships with their customers and keep money in local Kansas communities.

“Farmers’ markets are economic engines for rural and urban communities,” said Hart. “KDA has already worked to provide tools to farmers’ markets through the Farmers’ Markets Promotion Act and the Central Registration of Kansas Farmers’ Market; the conference is just one more avenue to provide tools and tips for markets and vendors to grow and expand.”

The conference will be held at the Downtown Ramada Hotel and Convention Center. Costs for attendees will be $25 per day or $40 for both days. In addition, a discount of $5 a day is given to From the Land of Kansas members and to market managers who have registered their market with the Central Registration of Kansas Farmers’ Markets.  Conference attendees may register online and pay with a credit card or the attendee registration form can be found here or mailed in. Pre-registration by Feb. 14 is preferred. For more information about the event, view the conference schedule and speakers, please visit FromtheLandofKansas.com/farmersmarketconference.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri Public Service Commission staff report accuses Missouri Gas Energy of failing to take “prompt and adequate” steps to ensure safety the day of a fatal restaurant explosion in Kansas City.

The report released Thursday says MGE employees waited too long before checking whether gas levels had reached unsafe conditions inside JJ’s restaurant on Feb. 19, 2013. An explosion and fire leveled the building, killing a JJ’s employee and injuring several people.

Authorities have said the explosion and fire were caused when a cable company’s subcontractor breached a natural gas supply line.

The PSC staff also filed a complaint against MGE asking the commission to find the utility violated PSC safety rules.

MGE disputed the allegations in the PSC staff report, which it says failed to include “important facts.”