State News - The Morning Sun

Kansas activist sues for a statewide abortion recount

A Kansas anti-abortion activist is suing for a complete hand recount of an election in which voters soundly rejected a proposal to remove abortion rights from the state’s constitution. Mark Gietzen … more

8/24/22

Editorial Roundup: Kansas

Kansas City Star. August 20, 2022. Editorial: Give it up, Mark Gietzen. You can’t Donald Trump your way out of Kansas abortion vote From the moment it was proposed, it was clear that the … more

By The Associated Press | 8/24/22

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Further Expands Chicagoland Footprint with Multi-Unit Development Agreement

Leading Fast-Casual Concept to Bring Six New Restaurants to Northeast IllinoisWICHITA, Kan., Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fast-casual restaurant concept Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers® … more

8/23/22

Sunflower Partners with NAMI Kansas to Educate Families on Mental Health

Offering family trainings across KansasLENEXA, Kan., Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunflower Health Plan (Sunflower) is partnering with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Kansas to … more

8/23/22

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson speaks to reporters on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, at his Capitol office in Jefferson City while announcing that he is calling a special legislative session to consider an income tax cut. Parson said the tax is affordable because of a record state surplus. He said the special session will begin Sept. 6. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)

Gov. Parson calls for special session to pass income tax cut

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is calling lawmakers back to work Sept. 6 for a special session to cut income taxes. Parson on Monday said he wants lawmakers to cut the top income tax rate from 5.3% to … more

By SUMMER BALLENTINE | 8/22/22

First Federal Bank of Kansas City releases new online banking and mobile app

Upgraded digital banking system offers a more powerful financial management experienceLEAWOOD, Kan., Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- First Federal Bank of Kansas City today launched a refreshed, … more

8/22/22

KANSAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY RECOGNIZES FIELD WORKERS ORGANIZING WITH TEAMSTERS

TOPEKA, Kan., Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- About 20 field organizers with the Kansas Democratic Party joined Teamsters Local 696 and have been recognized by the party's leadership.The new bargaining … more

8/22/22

Brent Kiger, Olathe Public Schools' director of safety service, displays a panic-alert button while students at Olathe South High School rush between classes Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Olathe, Kan. The district introduced the buttons, which allow staff to trigger a lockdown that will be announced with flashing strobe lights, a takeover of staff computers and a prerecorded intercom announcement, at the start of this school year as part of $2.1 million plan to make district schools more secure. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Back to school, with panic buttons: The post-Uvalde scramble

Schools are installing panic buttons to summon help during a shooting, as they scramble to reassure worried parents after this spring's massacre in Uvalde, Texas, and ahead of back-to-school. Panic … more

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH | 8/21/22

Last Kansas county to release abortion vote recount results

The final Kansas county that's been recounting ballots from an Aug. 2 vote that affirmed abortion rights in the state was expected to release its numbers Sunday. Sedgwick County officials missed … more

8/21/22

Little change in Kansas abortion recall; 1 county not done

Recounts of election results in eight of nine Kansas counties appear to confirm that voters soundly rejected an amendment to remove abortion rights from the state's constitution. The counties faced a … more

8/20/22

Former Missouri church elder convicted in wife's killing

A former elder in a Kansas City, Missouri, church has been convicted of killing his wife in Kansas. A jury on Friday found Robert Lee Harris guilty of first-degree murder in the death of 38-year-old … more

8/19/22

FILE - Allie Utley, left, and Jae Moyer, center, of Overland Park, Kan., reacts during a primary watch party Aug. 2, 2022, at the Overland Park Convention Center. A notable increase in turnout among Democrats and independents and a surprising shift in Republican-leaning counties contributed to the overwhelming support of abortion rights last week in traditionally conservative Kansas, according to a detailed Associated Press analysis of the voting results. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP, File)

Spielberg among donors in $22M Kansas campaign on abortion

Abortion opponents and abortion rights advocates together spent more than $22 million on a ballot question this month in Kansas, and famed film director and producer Steven Spielberg contributed to … more

By JOHN HANNA and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH | 8/19/22

Court rejects appeal of Wichita woman convicted in beheading

The Kansas Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a Wichita woman who was convicted of decapitating her ex-boyfriend's mother in 2017. Forty-year-old Rachael Hilyard was convicted in 2020 of … more

8/19/22

Eudora woman will face new trial in day care death case

A Kansas woman accused in the death of a 9-month-old at a day care where she worked will face another trial, despite a Kansas Supreme Court decision to let a ruling reversing her conviction stand. … more

8/19/22

Former Kansas officer charged in serial sex assaults case

A former Hutchinson, Kansas, police officer is suspected of committing a series of sexual assaults between 2012 to 2018 while he was working for the department. Fifty-one-year-old Todd Allen was … more

8/18/22

BUTLER NATIONAL CASINO SUBSIDIARY SPORTS BETTING MANAGEMENT CONTRACT WITH KANSAS LOTTERY APPROVED

Online-wagering platform partner DraftKings readies for timely debut of online and mobile sports betting in KansasOLATHE, Kan., Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Butler National Corporation (OTCQB: … more

8/18/22

Bail set at $10M for man charged in slayings of 4 in Ohio

Bail has been set at $10 million for a man charged in the shooting deaths of four people in a southwestern Ohio town earlier this month. Authorities say 39-year-old Stephen Marlow didn't enter any … more

8/18/22

Cobalt Iron Ranks High Among Leaders in GigaOm 2022 Radar Report for Enterprise Hybrid Cloud Data Protection

LAWRENCE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 18, 2022--Cobalt Iron Inc., a leading provider of SaaS-based enterprise data protection, today announced that GigaOm has named Cobalt Iron an industry Leader in … more

8/18/22

Derek Schmidt outlines plan for Southern Kansas four-lane highway

Kansas Attorney General and Republican Nominee for Governor Derek Schmidt provided additional details Wednesday about his plan if elected to prioritize a four-lane highway connecting Southeast Kansas, Wichita, and Southwest Kansas. more

By Jonathan Riley / jriley@morningsun.net | 8/18/22

USDA reminds Kansas livestock producers of available drought assistance

USDA’s Farm Service Agency FSA is reminding drought-impacted producers in Kansas this week that they may be eligible for assistance through the ELAP program. more

Staff Reports / news@morningsun.net | 8/18/22