How you can help tornado victims
WICHITA - The tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma, as well the twisters as Kansas and Texas, have killed dozens and left thousands homeless. Officials expect the death toll to rise.
Relief efforts are underway. Right now, the best way to help the victims is a donation to major relief organizations.
Click HERE to view the Moore Oklahoma Tornado Information Facebook page.
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Groundbreaking Planned For Kan. Biodefense Lab
MANHATTAN, Kan. - A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for next week for the central utilities plant at a new, national biodefense lab in Manhattan.
Officials planning to attend the May 28 ceremony include Gov. Sam Brownback, U.S. Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, U.S. Reps. Tim Huelskamp and Lynn Jenkins and Kansas State University President
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Cosmosphere Showcases Apollo Engine Restoration
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Visitors to the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center will be able to watch the restoration of rusted pieces of Apollo-era rocket engines that helped boost astronauts to the moon.
The Apollo F-1 conservation project premiers Friday at the Hutchinson museum. The first public tour begins at 11 a.m. with ongoing tours daily after
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Salina Resident Accused of LA Gang Activity
SALINA, Kan. - California authorities have arrested a 31-year-old Kansas resident who's accused of helping coordinate gang activities in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Francis Hardiman was in Salina on Wednesday to arrest Cecilia DeLeon, 31. Hardiman told The Salina Journal the woman's accused
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Wichita May Issue Fines over High Water Use
WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita residents and businesses might be required to pay a $1,000 fine a month if they use too much water. The city staff made that recommendation as part of a water conservation proposal unveiled Wednesday. The fine would be imposed on those who use 310% more than their average winter water usage.
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Second Child Dies after Pratt County Crash
PRESTON, Kan. - A young girl has died of injuries she sustained in a crash in Pratt County. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the accident happened around 10:20 a.m. Monday on Kansas Highway 61, about a mile and a half north of Preston.
Nevaeh Smallwood, 5, died Thursday at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. Her brother,
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Second Day of Testimony in Seacat Murder Trial
KINGMAN, Kan. - A total of four witnesses have been called to the stand to testify in the murder trial of Brett Seacat in Kingman. Seacat, a former Sedgwick County sheriff's deputy and Kansas law enforcement instructor is charged with first degree murder in the death of his wife, Vashti Forrest-Seacat.
Jurors saw a video
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Ark City Man Dies Following Motorcycle/Deer Accident
MEDFORD, Okla. - An Arkansas City man died Wednesday morning as a result of injuries sustained when the motorcycle he was riding struck a deer in Alfalfa County, Okla. The accident occurred during the early morning hours on Oklahoma Highway 11 just west of Medford.
Brandon Roebuck, 38, was eastbound on the roadway on his 2005
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Ammonia Leak at Emporia Plant Sends 7 to Hospital
EMPORIA, Kan. - Seven people have been released from an Emporia hospital after an ammonia leak at the city's Tyson Foods plant.
KVOE-AM reports that emergency workers were sent to the plant Thursday morning. Officials said the level of ammonia that was leaking was well below what's considered
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Brownback Vetoes Bill Expanding Raffles
TOPEKA, Kan. - Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has vetoed legislation that would have allowed limited expansion of charity raffles. The Republican governor said Thursday he determined that the bill violated the Kansas Constitution's provisions on lotteries and gambling.
Brownback says he supports the Legislature's intent to
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Children Removed from Extremely Filthy House; Parents Arrested
WICHITA, Kan. - Four children are in protective custody and their parents are facing charges.
Police Lt. Doug Nolte says officers were sent to a house in the vicinity of 13th and Old Manor around 11:30 Wednesday morning on an anonymous tip that conditions in the home were "un-livable".
Lt. Nolte says
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Cessna Lays Off Workers
WICHITA - Cessna Aircraft Co. laid off an undisclosed number of workers Thursday.
Cessna announced in April that it was seeking workers who wanted to voluntarily retire early, but suggested that involuntary layoffs likely would come soon, too.
The reductions come following a first quarter that showed weak demand for aircraft in the light-jet segment. Cessna pared
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Sedgwick County Tornado Re-Classified To EF-2
WICHITA - A tornado that touched down southwest of Wichita Sunday afternoon packed more of a punch than originally thought.
The National Weather Service in Wichita said the tornado has been re-classified as an EF-2. It had initially been classified as an EF-1.
EF-2 tornadoes can carry winds estimated up to 135 miles per hour.
The tornado damaged several
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13 Year Old Girl Suspected of Arson
WICHITA, Kan. - Police are looking for a thirteen year old girl who they suspect set a fire early Thursday morning in east Wichita.
The fire was reported just before 4:30 a.m. in the 6200 of Eilerts, southwest of Kellogg and Woodlawn. Police say the residents smelled smoke, investigated the source and discovered at least one fire in the
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Wichita State to close Cessna Stadium parking lot
WICHITA - The days are numbered for one of Wichita State University’s largest parking lots.
The university says it will close the 750-space lot that sits to the south of Cessna Stadium on Sunday to make way for the start of construction on a new, $60 million residence hall, which will house about 770 students and include a 400-seat dining
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Kan. Senate GOP leaders push for votes on taxes
TOPEKA, Kan. - Republicans in the Kansas Senate are pushing for a flurry of votes on tax issues in hopes of breaking a deadlock with the House's GOP leaders.
GOP senators proposed having each chamber vote Thursday on as many as three different plans for raising new sales tax revenues while reducing individual income tax
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Line of storms brings flash floods to OKC area
OKLAHOMA CITY - Storms that lingered over the Oklahoma City area have brought flooding to several areas.
A number of roads in the metro area had to be closed Thursday morning due to high water. Cars and people were stranded in places and the National Weather Service recommended residents delay traveling until the waters
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Mourners remember girl, 9, killed in Okla. tornado
OKLAHOMA CITY - Friends and family are attending funeral services for a 9-year-old girl killed by Monday's tornado in an Oklahoma City suburb.
Thursday's funeral for Antonia Candelaria was the first since the storm that killed 24 people. Ten of the victims were children.
Relatives and friends
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Still Stalled on Kansas Taxes
TOPEKA - Senate negotiators have rejected the latest offer from House counterparts on a deal to adjust Kansas tax rates and end the annual legislative session.
The top two Republicans at the negotiating table expressed disappointment over where talks were headed. More meetings were likely later Thursday.
Republican
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Heavy I-35 Traffic Hinders Tornado Recovery
MOORE, Okla. - Oklahoma transportation officials say heavy traffic on Interstate 35 through Moore is hindering the tornado recovery effort.
The Transportation Department on Thursday asked motorists to avoid the area. The I-35 off-ramps in Moore are still restricted. The only people allowed to travel into Moore are residents and emergency
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Wichita Fire Department Battles Basement Fire
WICHITA - The initial call came in at 4:25 Thursday morning, Sedgwick County Dispatchers sending Wichita fire crews to the 62-hundred block of east Highland and the report of a house or apartment fire with the possibility of persons trapped inside. Upon arriving fire crews found a basement fire in a tri-plex. The fire was considered under control in less
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June Sentencing in KS For Dad Who Bound Kids
LAWRENCE, Kan. - A June sentencing date has been scheduled for a suburban Chicago man who was arrested after two of his children were found bound and blindfolded in a Wal-Mart parking lot in eastern Kansas.
Fifty-three-year-old Adolfo Gomez and his wife, Deborah Gomez, of Northlake, Ill., were arrested last June 13 in Lawrence. Police reported
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Ex-KS Doctor Indictment on Firearm, Drug Charges
WICHITA- A federal grand jury has formally charged a former Kansas doctor with illegally having a handgun as a convicted felon. A three-count indictment handed down Wednesday charges Lawrence Simons with unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition and controlled substances.
Simons was arrested last week on a criminal complaint.
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Seacat Murder Trial Begins in Kingman
KINGMAN, Kan. - The murder trial of a former Sedgwick County sheriff's deputy and Kansas law enforcement instructor has begun in Kingman. Prosecutors allege that Brett Seacat shot and killed his wife Vashti Forrest-Seacat just two weeks after the woman filed for divorce.
During opening statements, prosecutor Amy Hanley laid
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Hutchinson Council Supports Fireworks Display
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - It appears Hutchinson area residents might see a big Fourth of July fireworks display after all. The fireworks show was in jeopardy after a new city policy wiped out the revenue that used to pay for it.
Now, Hutchinson is contributing $10,000 toward a $15,500 show at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. The
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3 Children Found Safe 5 Miles from SW Kansas Home
LIBERAL, Kan. - Three young children who wandered five miles from their southwest Kansas farmhouse have been found safe after a frantic, 15-hour search.
The High Plains Daily Leader reports authorities in Seward County were notified of the children's disappearance Tuesday evening. A citizen spotted them around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday
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Memorial Service Planned for Okla. Tornado Victims
MOORE, Okla. - Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin says a memorial and prayer service will be held this weekend to honor Oklahoma tornado victims.
The governor's office says the service will take place Sunday in the tornado-ravaged community of Moore to remember the victims of Monday's massive tornado that killed 24 people and a May 19
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Gov. Pushing Lawmakers to Wrap Up Tax Debate
TOPEKA, Kan. - Gov. Sam Brownback is telling Kansas legislators that it's time for them to resolve their differences on tax issues and finish their work for the year.
The Republican governor issued his statement Wednesday after negotiations between the House and Senate on adjusting the state sales tax hit a new
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Feds Charge Ex-Police Officer with Bribe Scheme
WICHITA, Kan. - A former Wichita police officer has been charged with conspiring to bribe a car-theft victim in hope of saving her job.
The U.S. attorney's office says ex-officer Joletta Vallejo, 34, was indicted Wednesday on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy. Also charged in the case are Patrick Melendrez, 40, and Courtney
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Kan. Weekend Tornado Was an EF4
DODGE CITY, Kan. - The National Weather Service says a tornado that traveled seven miles across rural western Kansas during the weekend was an EF4, with winds of 165 to 185 mph.
The report from the agency's Dodge City office follows a survey of the tornado's path Saturday night in Pawnee County. An EF4 is the
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Wings to Fold, or Rise Again?
WICHITA, Kan. - Major Indoor Soccer League president Tim Holt says the league is still looking for any potential buyers for the Wichita Wings franchise, and says the league has not rejected any proposals to buy the team, because no such proposals have been made.
A report, released Wednesday, stated the Wings would fold after the
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Governor Orders Flags Lowered on Saturday
Topeka, Kan. - In accordance with Executive Order 10-12, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff from sun-up to sun-down on Saturday, May 25 in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Trenton L. Rhea, who died Tuesday, May 14, 2013 while deployed to Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.
“I would like to offer my
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Maize Teacher Arrested for Making Criminal Threats
MAIZE, Kan. - A Maize High School teacher was arrested early Wednesday morning on charges he made criminal threats at a school sporting event.
Sedgwick County jail records show James Stiverson, 39, was booked on charges of criminal threat and is being held on $250,000. Sedgwick County Sheriff's investigators received a
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$500,000 Damage at Warren Theatre in OK
WICHITA - Bill Warren tells the Wichita Business Journal he can’t decide if it was paranoia or foresight that led him to build his Warren Theatres cineplex in Moore, Okla., from concrete and reinforced steel, but either way the decision paid off.
Warren’s theater there largely withstood an EF-5 tornado that leveled surrounding
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Crimestoppers Tip Leads to Three Arrests
WICHITA - A Crimestoppers tip leads to three arrests.
Last week, there was a case in north Wichita involving occupants of one vehicle shooting at another near 13th & Broadway. Based on the tip, Wichita police gang-unit detectives performed surveillance at a residence in the 1500 block of N. Topeka.
A suspect left that
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Fatal Crash in E. Wichita: Kellogg & Greenwich
WICHITA - One person has died after a two-vehicle crash in east Wichita. It happened shortly after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on west-bound Kellogg east of Greenwich, involving two S-U-Vs.
Police said an east-bound S-U-V crossed the median and struck a west-bound vehicle. An elderly woman in the west-bound vehicle was killed.
Kellogg has been completely shut down east of Greenwich; drivers were asked to avoid the intersection.
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President Will Visit Tornado Damage in OK
WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Barack Obama will travel to tornado-ravaged Moore, Okla., on Sunday.
That's according to a White House official, who wasn't authorized to publicly discuss the trip ahead of the official announcement and requested anonymity.
A monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburb
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McConnell Will Be Base For New Tankers
TOPEKA, Kan. - Wichita's McConnell Air Force Base has been selected to be the main operating base for the Air Force's new KC-46A air refueling tanker. Members of the Kansas congressional delegation issued a joint statement Wednesday announcing the Air Force decision. The aircraft will replace the aging KC-135 fleet flown by crews for the past 50 years. According
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Riley Co. Boys Accused of Posting Porn
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Riley County officials say five school boys are suspected of posting pornographic images of at least 10 juvenile girls online. County police spokesman Matthew Droge said the number of girls whose photos were posted could increase as the investigation continues. The boys are students in middle and high school. They allegedly posted the pictures
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Feds Put Iola Site On Cleanup Priorities List
IOLA, Kan. - Federal regulators are putting the site of an old zinc and lead smelting operation in southeast Kansas on a list of hazardous waste places with highest priority for cleanup. The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it was placing the former United Zinc & Associated Smelters Site on the federal Superfund National Priorities List. The land is located in
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Walmart Pledges $1 Million in Tornado Assistance
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Walmart says it is pledging $1 million for the recovery from the tornado that devastated Moore, Okla. The Bentonville, Ark.-based company said Tuesday that it will make donations of cash and materials equal to $1 million.
Walmart is also sending truckloads of food, water and other basic items to serve
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Multiple Vehicle Accident Closes Highway 50 near Cimaron
DODGE CITY, Kan. - The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a multiple vehicle accident near Cimaron, west of Dodge City. The accident happened Tuesday afternoon on Highway 50 between Cimaron and Howell. The highway was shut down for several hours as troopers investigated the accident.
One accident victim was transported
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Death at Topeka School Lot Not Suspicious
TOPEKA, Kan. - Shawnee County officials say the death of a man whose body was found in a car on the campus of a Topeka school is not considered suspicious.
A deputy found the man's body in a car late Monday on the grounds of Washburn Rural Middle School. He was described as being in his mid-40s but his name was not
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Salina Commission Discusses Liquor Sales on Sunday
SALINA, Kan. - Salina's city commission will consider allowing liquor sales in the city on Sunday. The possibility arose during a meeting Monday, when the commission approved an ordinance that allows microbreweries in the city.
During discussion of that ordinance, commissioners considered whether to allow Sunday liquor
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President Opposes GOP Bill on Keystone XL Pipeline
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The White House says President Obama opposes a House bill that would speed approval of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to Texas.
The White House said Tuesday that the bill "seeks to circumvent longstanding and proven processes" by removing a requirement for a presidential permit. The
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Former IRS Agent Gets Probation for Theft
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A former Internal Revenue Service agent has been spared any prison time after admitting she was paid for meetings with taxpayers that never occurred.
The U.S. Attorney's office says Becky L. Book, of Pittsburg, was sentenced on Tuesday to two years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of about
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Pharmacist Admits Misbranding Dialysis Drugs
WICHITA, Kan. - A Tennessee pharmacist has admitted distributing a misbranded Chinese-made drug that was given to kidney dialysis patients in Kansas.
The U.S. Attorney's office says 53-year-old Robert Harshbarger Jr., 53, of Kingsport, Tenn., pleaded guilty Tuesday in Topeka to one count each of distributing a misbranded drug and
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Reno Co. Deputy Accused of Sexual Contact with Inmate
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - A deputy at a central Kansas jail is accused of having illegal sexual relations with a female inmate and bribing or intimidating two others.
Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson announced the charges Tuesday against Jonathan Diaz, 30. Henderson says he asked the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to get involved
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House, Senate Move Closer on Sales Tax Rate
TOPEKA, Kan. - Negotiators from the Kansas House and Senate are moving closer to a deal on canceling all or part of a scheduled drop in the state sales tax. Three negotiators resumed their talks on tax issues Tuesday and plan to continue Wednesday.
The sales tax is the key issue. It's scheduled by law to decline in July from
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Cheney Wants Better EMS Service
CHENEY, Kan. - The home of the Sedgwick County Fair is struggling with its ambulance service and says they deserve better. The city of Cheney just wants the same service everyone else in the county gets.
Medical professionals call it the "golden hour", the short amount of time a critical patient has to get to the
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Oklahoma: Search & Rescue Efforts Near End
MOORE, Okla. - The fire chief in the Oklahoma City suburb raked by a massive tornado says the search for survivors and the dead is almost complete.
Fire Chief Gary Bird said Tuesday that he's "98 percent sure" there are no more survivors or bodies to recover under the rubble in Moore.
Bird says every
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Chiefs installing mixed bag offensive system
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Chiefs are putting together an offensive system that promises to be bold and dynamic, if not downright revolutionary, a blend of old and new under coach Andy Reid.
At least, that's what it looks like on paper.
The Chiefs have hired former Vikings coach Brad Childress
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WBJ: Hundreds of Job Cuts at Via Christi Health
WICHITA - The Wichita Business Journal reports Via Christi Health is taking drastic measures to offset volume declines and continued declines in operating margins.
Those measures, CEO Jeff Korsmo says, include the elimination of 350-400 positions, or about 4% of Via Christi’s work force in Kansas, and 4% reductions in the salaries of 35
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Oklahoma City residents asked to conserve water
OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma City residents are being asked to help conserve water while power remains out at one of the city's main water treatment facilities.
City officials say rain and lightning during Monday night's storm delayed progress to restore power at the Draper Water Treatment Plant.
City
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Oklahoma interstates open, but traffic slow moving
OKLAHOMA CITY - Officials say all of the interstates through the tornado-ravaged areas of Moore and Oklahoma City are open, but traffic is moving slowly.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports portions of Interstates 44 and 35 that were shut down after Monday's deadly tornado were reopened about 10 p.m.
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Okla. Senator says tornado aid should be paid for
WASHINGTON - Conservative Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn says that any additional federal aid to help tornado victims and to rebuild devastated areas of his state should be financed with cuts to other programs in the government's $3.6 trillion budget.
Spokesman John Hart says it's a position Coburn has consistently held regarding
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Oklahoma governor to tour tornado ravaged areas
MOORE, Okla. - Gov. Mary Fallin will survey tornado-ravaged areas of central Oklahoma from a helicopter.
Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz says Fallin will board a Blackhawk helicopter Tuesday morning to fly over parts of Moore and other areas that were devastated by Monday's tornado.
At least two dozen
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Former IRS agent faces sentencing for theft
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A former Internal Revenue Service agent faces sentencing after admitting she was paid for meetings with taxpayers that never occurred.
U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil will decide Tuesday whether to accept the government's recommendation of probation for Becky L. Book of
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Kan. lawmakers' budget, tax negotiations to resume
TOPEKA, Kan. - Kansas legislators were preparing to resume their negotiations on budget and tax issues as freshman Republicans in both chambers gathered for a joint meeting.
First-term GOP lawmakers were caucusing Tuesday ahead of meetings of separate teams of senators and House members appointed to reconcile their chambers'
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City Council Approves Loan to Starwood
WICHITA - The Wichita City Council voted to approve the $200,000 forgivable loan to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. The company is seeking incentives from the state, county, and city. According to Wichita Urban Development Director Allen Bell, the return-on-investment for the proposed project is 2.54 to 1 for City of Wichita and 2.49 to 1 for Sedgwick County.
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