Wire
Kansas participating in aircraft design contest
TOPEKA (AP) — Kansas is participating in a contest for high school students to develop fuel-efficient designs for aircraft. The contest is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, which plans to pick a national winner in April 2009. So far, Oklahoma and Vermont also have agreed to participate. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Education Commissioner Alexa Posny spoke to about 50 students at Seaman High School, north of Topeka, to kick off the sta...
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Sebelius: VP speculation ‘out of body experience’
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius says being mentioned as a potential running mate to Barack Obama is something of “an out-of-body experience.” But Sebelius would say little Thursday about the possibility that the expected presidential nominee would ask her to join the Democratic ticket. “Whoever it is, I am an enthusiastic supporter,” said Sebelius. “I want Barack Obama to be elected president. I am going to do everyth...
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3 massage parlor owners plead guilty to prostitution
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Three owners and operators of massage parlors in Johnson County, Kan., pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to engaging in human trafficking by forcing employees recruited from China to engage in prostitution. U.S. Attorney John Wood said 46-year-old Ling Xu, also known as “Cherry,” 36-year-old Zhong Yan Liu, also known as “Lucky,” and 22-year-old Cheng Tang, also known as “Tom,” pleaded guilty in separate appearan...
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Universities say jobs could be cut
WICHITA (AP) — The University of Kansas chancellor told the Board of Regents that up to 125 jobs could be cut at the Lawrence campus if state funding reductions are made. At an annual retreat in Wichita on Wednesday, Robert Hemenway said that if 5 percent is cut from next year’s budget, reducing positions in Lawrence and more at other locations will likely be needed. “We would have to cut between 100 and 125 positions, and that’s just on t...
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Celebrities
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former “American Idol” contestant Sanjaya (san-JY’-yah) has gone from “pitchy” to pitchman. Sanjaya Malakar is selling Nationwide Insurance in a new ad that’s part of the Columbus, Ohio-based company’s campaign, “Life Comes at You Fast.” Malakar says that’s something he knows from personal experience. In a statement, he points out that he went from an unknown singer to appearing before of millions of people on “Idol.”...
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Last governor to leave early was part of ‘Triple Play’
TOPEKA (AP) — The last Kansas governor to resign before his term expired was involved in what’s known in political lore as the “Triple Play.” He was Fred Hall, a Republican from Dodge City, and he stepped down as governor on Jan. 3, 1957, only 11 days before his single term ended. Kansans are speculating about whether Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will finish her second, four-year term because of speculation that she’ll be named by presumed Democrat...
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Oddities
Canadians receive free Ohio dinner, 15 years later CANTON, Ohio (AP) — A Canadian couple finally took a restaurant up on an offer that arrived 15 years ago — by balloon. For its 1993 grand opening, Nicky’s Restaurant in Canton released balloons with attached cards good for a free dinner for two. One of the balloons made it across Lake Erie and into the backyard of Margaret and Ken Savory in Waterford, Ontario. They were treated to pork ch...
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Tentative deal reached in Kansas City abuse cases
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Roman Catholic diocese has tentatively agreed to pay $10 million to settle 47 pending sexual abuse claims against the diocese and its priests. In a letter sent to priests with the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese late Tuesday night, Bishop Robert W. Finn said the deal is subject to his approval after he consults with two diocese boards. “These incidents have been painful for the victims and their families, for priest...
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Pittsburg losing largest private employer
PITTSBURG (AP) — The city of Pittsburg will lose 600 jobs when its largest private employer, wheel manufacturer Superior Industries International Inc., closes its southeast Kansas plant by the end of the year. City officials were caught off guard by Tuesday’s announcement, which the Van Nuys, Calif.-based company blamed on declining demand for the light truck and SUV wheels made in Pittsburg. Superior has had a presence in Pittsburg for ab...
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Sebelius still mum on veep chances
John Hanna AP Political Writer FORT RILEY (AP) — Speculation swirled around Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, but she kept a normal work schedule Wednesday and continued to duck questions about whether she’ll be Barack Obama’s choice for vice president. “I don’t have any idea,” Sebelius said before a ceremony at Fort Riley. Obama, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, was thought to have narrowed his list of potential running mates to four, inc...
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Celebrities
Toby Keith praises Obama LOS ANGELES (AP) — Barack Obama is getting praise from Nashville, courtesy of one big, patriotic country star. Toby Keith, perhaps best known to non-country audiences for his post-Sept. 11 song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” says he’s a Democrat, and was impressed by the senator from Illinois. Keith has said in the past that the 2002 song — which included lines aimed at the Taliban like “we lit up your wor...
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Searchers say all missing in Grand Canyon located
PHOENIX (AP) — Rescue crews have located a handful of hikers who were missing after floods tore through a remote part of the Grand Canyon, authorities said Tuesday. The 11 people from two families were tracked down in the canyon Monday, Coconino County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Gerry Blair said. They were the last to be accounted for after creeks overflowing with runoff from severe thunderstorms washed away trails during the weekend, s...
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Oddities
NZ kiddie disco forced to turn down noise WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A group of children rocking out to kiddie tracks at a kindergarten disco party were told to turn down the tunes or face a shut down of their party by noise control officials who raided the soiree. The raid — called “absurd” by one teacher — happened Friday night at One Tree Hill Kindergarten in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. As parents and the gaggle of childr...
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Possible Obama veep choice Sebelius speaks to women
WARREN, Mich. (AP) — The question on many minds was whether Kathleen Sebelius expects to be chosen by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama as his running mate. The Kansas governor’s answers Tuesday were she didn’t know, it was a flattering notion and she really isn’t looking for new work. She said she’s been working nonstop to get Obama elected. It was in her role as an advocate — not short-list pick for vice president — that bro...
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Third Wittig trial likely postponed
TOPEKA (AP) — The third federal criminal trial of two former Westar Energy Inc. executives, set to begin Sept. 9, will likely be postponed as court officials await the outcome of a pending appeal. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson also told attorneys for former Westar CEO David Wittig and former chief strategy officer Douglas Lake that her staff would need about 30 days after that decision to prepare the pool of potential jurors because of t...
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Kansas tops 25 percent barrier in obesity report
Bill Draper Associated Press Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas has joined the ranks of states with an adult obesity rate higher than 25 percent, according to a new report released on Tuesday. According to the “F is for Fat” report issued by Trust for America’s Health, Kansas is the 23rd-fattest state, with 25.8 percent of its adult population obese and 62.3 percent either obese or overweight. Last year, the state’s rate was 24.3 perc...
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KDOT chief sees big task with plan
John Hanna Associated Press Writer TOPEKA (AP) — The state’s top transportation official hopes a task force she’s leading will draft a plan for a new highway program ahead of the 2009 Legislature but believes the job will be much tougher than in the past. Transportation Secretary Deb Miller said task force members face difficult questions about financing what will replace the state’s 10-year, $13 billion program, which expires next summer...
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Polygamist group girl ordered into state care
SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) — A 14-year-old girl allegedly married to jailed polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs with her parents’ blessing at age 12 was ordered back into foster care Tuesday by a Texas judge. District Judge Barbara Walther said that there was “uncontroverted evidence of the underage marriage” and that the girl’s mother, Barbara Jessop, refused to guarantee the girl’s safety. The girl, shown in photographs submitted to the court...
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Celebrities
NEW YORK (AP) — Annie Lennox is recovering at her London home after having spinal surgery to release an impinged nerve, according to her representatives. The singer-songwriter underwent an operation Friday following a painful back spasm she suffered while attending the international AIDS conference in Mexico City as an ambassador for Oxfam, according to a statement released by her management and record label Monday. “The surgery went as pl...
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Snorkel plant to lay off 125
ELWOOD (AP) — Snorkel International plans to lay off 125 workers from its manufacturing plant here, which makes aerial lift trucks. Dan Jenkins, spokesman for Snorkel’s English parent company, Tanfield Group, said increased construction costs have postponed some projects and forced contractors to cut back on buying the company’s equipment. “If those guys see a downturn in their business and reduce their purchasing plans, then almost overni...
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