TOPEKA – Kansas finished the first quarter of the fiscal year with $27 million more than predicted on Friday.

The first quarter’s numbers are 4 percent more than estimates for the year and almost 8 percent more than receipts in fiscal year 2011’s first quarter. September’s receipts continued a six month trend of positive revenue growth with the state $66.2 million ahead of estimates for the fiscal year, or 4.8 percent.

“While we’ve had six months of an upward swing, we are still mindful that the economy is still in a fragile state and more than 100,000 Kansans are still struggling and out of work,” said Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan. “Now is not the time to detour from the focus on increasing job and personal income that the governor set out in his Road Map for Kansas.”

Individual income tax receipts continued to show growth ending 5.8 percent, or $15 million, more than estimates. Within that figure, withholding taxes increased 9 percent and estimated taxes grew 12 percent.

State sales and use tax receipts also continued their growth trend with sales tax up $6.1 million and use tax up $169,000.

(AP) – The Kansas Supreme Court has overturned the murder conviction of a Dodge City police officer accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend in 2007.

The justices on Friday ruled the jury should have been instructed to consider lesser charges instead of first-degree murder in the case.

The Hutchinson News reports the court ordered the case sent back to Ford County for a retrial.

A Ford County jury found Christopher Tahah guilty in April 2008 for the shooting death of Erin Jones, whom he had dated for about five months before the relationship ended.

Tahah was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 20 years, and a consecutive 8 1/2 year term for discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling resulting in great bodily harm.

(AP) – Bonny Lake State Park is closing Sunday and sending almost all of its water to Kansas and Nebraska.

Colorado officials began draining the reservoir on Sept. 22, sending the water to the other two states to comply with the Republican River Compact.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists are removing fish from Bonny Lake as it drains over the next two months.

Biologists plan to trap as many fish as possible and relocate sport fish to other public fishing waters.

Topeka – The State of Kansas launched the Kansas Walk of Honor Friday with the unveiling of a plaque recognizing the contributions made by Sen. Bob Dole on a state and national level.  More than 100 family, friends and fellow Kansans joined Sen. Dole, his wife Elizabeth, Gov. Sam Brownback and First Lady Mary Brownback

Born in Russell, KS in 1923, Dole served as a combat infantry officer in Italy during WWII and was wounded twice.  He graduated from Washburn University Law School.  Highlights of Sen. Dole’s long public service career include county attorney of Russell County; Kansas House of Representatives; U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.   He was the GOP nominee for the vice-presidency in 1976, serving as Gerald Ford’s running mate and was the party’s presidential nominee in 1996.

Sen. Dole said his debt to those Kansans who elected him to serve will never be repaid.   “But it can be honored – every time I try, in some small way, to emulate the compassion and generosity of my friends and neighbors in Russell, multiplied over the years by countless acts of kindness, and culminating today in this ceremony,” Sen. Dole said.

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts recalled Dole’s many accomplishments in Washington, including the Hospice Care Act (1981); numerous farm bills; Social Security Reform (1983); Americans with Disability Act (1990), Voting Rights Act (1965); and Bayh-Dole Act (1980).

The Kansas Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3), will serve as the caretakers of funds for the Kansas Walk of Honor.  The Historical Foundation, which supports the Kansas Historical Society, a state agency, will establish the Walk fund so that people can offer donations to cover the cost of plaques. The cost for each plaque is $2,000 including shipping.

The plan is for up to three plaques to be added each year to the Walk. The 25 Notable Kansans recently announced will be among the first to be placed on the Walk.  Kansans also may submit names of others to be considered for future plaques to the Kansas Historical Foundation.  A small committee will be appointed that will make nominations and selections.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers spent slightly more last month, but they earned less for the first time in nearly two years. The new data on spending and incomes suggest Americans tapped their savings to cope with higher gas prices and a weaker economy.

The Commerce Department says consumer spending rose 0.2 percent in August after a revised 0.7 percent increase in July.

Incomes fell 0.1 percent. That’s the poorest showing since a similar 0.1 percent drop in October 2009.

Americans saved less money. The savings rate fell to the lowest level since late 2009.

A decline in income growth could slow the economy, if it causes households to cut back on spending. Consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of economic activity.

(AP) — Residents of the tiny town of Damar in northwestern Kansas say they’ll fight possible plans to close their post office.

The Rooks County town of about 150 residents is among 134 post offices in Kansas the Postal Service has identified as possible locations to be closed.

But Damar Mayor Brian Newell says that residents have done a lot to keep their town alive and they want to keep their post office.

Newell said he’s confident the Postal Service doesn’t understand how important the post office is to Damar. He says elderly residents who don’t have cars walk to the post office daily to pick up their mail.

The community is planning a meeting on the issue Wednesday evening.

by Randy Picking ~ Salina Post

A fedral grand jury in Topeka has indicted a man on drug charges in a 2009 case in Lincoln County . 39 year old Alfredo Salazar, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute approximately 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred from Jan. 20, 2009, to Jan. 25, 2009, in Lincoln County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $8 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot is prosecuting.

(AP) – A 42-year-old Olathe woman has been charged with driving while intoxicated after police said she crashed her car in her daughter’s school parking lot.

Kelly R. Dixon of Olathe was planning to pick up her daughter from a Kansas City school before she reportedly crashed into the school’s stop sign swing arm Wednesday. Jackson County prosecutors on Thursday charged her with DWI as an aggravated offender. Online court records don’t list a lawyer for Dixon.

The Kansas City Star reports that in 1996, Dixon’s 23-month-old son was killed when she crashed into a tree. Dixon’s blood alcohol level after that wreck was more than twice the legal limit. Dixon was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and given probation.

Another drunken-driving arrest in 1999 put Dixon behind bars until 2001.