2/4/2010

Kan. House committee wrestling with budget

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A Kansas House committee continues to wrestle with making changes to the state's current budget.

The House Appropriations Committee planned to continue work Thursday on a bill revising the budget for the fiscal year ending July 1. The Senate already has approved the measure.

Most of the bill's changes ratify actions Gov. Mark Parkinson took last year to head off a deficit when the current fiscal year ends.

The biggest change was shifting $80 million from road maintenance and highway projects into general government programs.

But the committee is expected to do some tinkering with the bill's contents. Since Parkinson imposed changes in the budget in November, revenues have fallen $34 million short of expectations.

------ Top Kan. lawmaker is lawyer in suit against state

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas' House speaker is representing insurance funds, businesses and trade groups in a lawsuit challenging a financial maneuver used by the state last year to help erase a budget shortfall.

Some of Speaker Mike O'Neal's fellow legislators said Wednesday that it's improper for the Hutchinson Republican to be lead attorney in the lawsuit. It was filed Jan. 21 in Shawnee County District Court, with O'Neal signing the petition for 17 clients.

O'Neal said state law permits lawmaker-lawyers to file lawsuits for clients to challenge a statute approved by the Legislature. O'Neal argued last year that the state couldn't constitutionally take the action his clients now seek to overturn.

The lawsuit challenges the Legislature's decision to confiscate unused funds in various accounts set aside for specific regulatory purposes and divert them to general government programs, such as education and social services. O'Neal's clients paid fees deposited in special accounts that had $5 million swept out of them.

"This is one example of government overreaching, and it needs to stop," O'Neal said during an interview. "If guys like me can't stop it, then government has gotten too powerful."

Democratic leaders in the House and Senate were critical. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, accused O'Neal of using his office to "drum up legal work."

------ Boeing tests inside of new 787

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- Boeing Co. designers and marketers are betting that a lot of subtle changes in the interior of their new 787 jetliner will add up to strong passenger demand to fly on the plane.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes on Wednesday showed off the first 787 with a passenger cabin installed. The plane, the third 787 to be built, is among six that Boeing is using in its flight test program this year.

While the other aircraft will test flight characteristics and aircraft strength, this plane, scheduled to fly later this month, is dedicated to cabin features and safety -- the "passenger experience" as Boeing describes it. Everything on board, from the ventilation system to the coffee pots, must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration before 787s can go into passenger service.

Bigger windows that are dimmed electronically, mood lighting, more spacious lavatories and other features all were carefully chosen to please passengers, said Tom Galantowicz, the company's director of 787 interiors. Among the "very simple things," he said, are more convenient latches on the larger overhead baggage bins.

The bins, which swing up and away, also allow more headroom. Lavatories have imitation tile floors and toilet seats that close electronically -- no need to touch should the previous occupant thoughtlessly leave it up.

The initial 787-8 model will carry 210 to 250 passengers on routes of up to 9,400 miles, such as New York to Hong Kong. Aircraft comfort becomes important on such long flights.

------ Overland Park lawyer on track for top Kan. fed job

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- An Overland Park attorney who specializes in employment discrimination cases confirmed on Wednesday that he is being vetted for the top federal law enforcement job in Kansas.

Barry Grissom said he met last week with seven representatives of the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., for an interview before his name is forwarded to President Barack Obama for consideration as U.S. attorney for Kansas. He said he is also undergoing a background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"If I am fortunate enough to be nominated and confirmed, it will be a real honor to serve," Grissom said.

Grissom told The Associated Press that U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) and Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson sent a letter to the White House recommending him for the position. Moore's office also confirmed it has recommended him.

The 55-year-old Democrat, a former legal adviser to Moore during his first two congressional races, still must be appointed by Obama and confirmed by the Senate.

The top job at the U.S. attorney's office in Kansas has been filled by a series of temporary replacements since Eric Melgren resigned the position to take a federal judgeship in the waning days of President George Bush's presidency.

------ Another funding lawsuit brewing in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The speaker of the Kansas House is representing numerous businesses and insurance funds in a lawsuit alleging that the state unconstitutionally "swept" money from various accounts last years.

The state's goal in the sweep was to help cover a revenue shortfall. But House Speaker Mike O'Neal of Hutchinson argues in the petition that the money should be returned.

The suit was filed Jan. 21 in Shawnee County District Court.

In addition to businesses and insurance funds, some counties also are considering joining the suit.

At issue is the final budget bill of last year, which transferred money from an assortment of funds intended for specific purposes into the state's general fund. That allowed the money to be used for education and social services.

------ Parkinson names new Kansas Board of Regents member

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Gov. Mark Parkinson has appointed a southeast Kansas Democrat and former House member to a seat on the Board of Regents.

Ed McKechnie of Pittsburg was announced Wednesday by Parkinson to replace Bill Thornton. The term on the nine-member board expires in June.

Thornton resigned to become secretary of commerce.

McKechnie was in the House from 1991 through 2001. For the past decade he has been with Watco Companies Inc., in Pittsburg, and currently serves as chief commercial officer. He also is secretary-treasurer of the Kansas Biosciences Authority.

The appointment must be confirmed by the Kansas Senate.

The regents oversee six state universities, 19 community colleges, six technical colleges and one municipal university in Kansas.

------ Kan. Senate panel backs states rights affirmation

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas residents angry about what they view as federal encroachment on the state's sovereignty scored a victory Wednesday -- albeit a nonbinding one.

The Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed a resolution that affirms the state's powers as protected by the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. By a 10-1 vote, it goes to the full Senate.

As approved, the measure would be sent to President Barack Obama, leaders in Congress and heads of all state legislatures expressing Kansas' frustration with what supporters say has been an ever-increasing erosion of state and individual rights. The movement gained momentum in Kansas with Obama's push for health care reform, but supporters say the issue is much deeper.

"I do see it as a second revolution that is a peaceful revolution," said James Powell, an El Dorado businessman. "Republican, Democrat, I don't care who they are. If they aren't doing what they should be doing, get rid of them."

Senate Judiciary Chairman Tim Owens conceded that a nonbinding resolution carries no more weight than just the expression of concerns of the voices behind it. He said Democrats in power in Washington may ignore a resolution from traditionally Republican Kansas.

"Don't expect them to drop everything and say 'Look what Kansas did. We better do this'," said Owens, an Overland Park Republican.

------ Kansas House approves ban on chemicals in fake pot

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A bill aimed at stopping the spread of synthetic marijuana won the Kansas House's approval Wednesday, as legislators move quickly to enact what they believe is the nation's first ban on altered herbs sometimes known as "K2" or "Spice."

The bill, approved 110-11, targets two chemicals that are sprayed or sprinkled as a powder on herbs, so that they can be smoked and produce a pot-like high. The legislation also deals with two chemicals used for a new form of the illegal, euphoria-inducing drug Ecstasy.

It would become illegal to possess or sell those chemicals, just as it is for marijuana.

Law enforcement officials in northeast Kansas have said they began seeing people using synthetic but legal marijuana last summer. The National Conference of State Legislatures knows of no attempts by other states' lawmakers to ban it but acknowledges having done no survey on the issue.

"It has expanded over the last six months," said Master Deputy Chris Farkes of the Johnson County Sheriff's Department, who handles drug cases. "This one product is going to be for this niche group that wants to get high but doesn't want to get caught."

The Senate approved its own bill two weeks ago, 36-1. Its measure is slightly different, and the two chambers must agree on a single version.

------ La. police: Ex-attorney printed $1M in fake checks

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- A former public defender printed $1 million in bogus payroll checks so he could gamble at casinos from Florida to California, sometimes using Web site logos to make the checks appear legitimate when co-conspirators cashed them, authorities said Wednesday.

Charles Bradford, 47, is believed to be from New Jersey but has had no fixed address since getting out of prison in 2006, said Lt. Ed Baswell, spokesman for Bossier Parish Sheriff Larry Deen. Bradford is wanted in Arkansas, California, Florida, Kansas and Ohio, and may have operated in other states, Baswell said.

"This was a little reminiscent of 'Catch Me if You Can,"' Baswell said, referring to the 2002 film about check forger and con artist Frank Abignale Jr., who went on to help the FBI catch other check forgers.

Bradford apparently told investigators he could help businesses avoid being conned by people like him, Baswell said.

"He didn't go into specifics, but he said, 'I know how they can avoid being ripped off,"' Baswell said.

He did not know where Bradford had practiced law, but said he was a former public defender who apparently went crooked in 1988, when he was arrested on charges of impersonating a federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent with stolen credentials. He also was accused of selling firearms to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Office.

------ 20 people arrested in SE Kan. meth sweep

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- An eight-month investigation has led to charges against 20 people allegedly involved in manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine in southeast Kansas.

Attorney General Steve Six's office announced Wednesday that prosecutors from its office joined with 13 other law enforcement agencies involved in the drug sweep Tuesday. The arrests were made in Chanute, Iola, Stark, Paola and Fort Scott.

Seventeen of the 20 people charged were arrested Tuesday. Two men arrested last week were included in the anti-meth operation and charges are pending against another man.

Those arrested were charged with crimes that involved obtaining large quantities of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, using those ingredients to make methamphetamine and then selling the drug.

The attorney general's office says more arrests are expected.

------ More women joining male-dominated fantasy sports

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- Ignore the pundits on "Sportscenter" -- Gina Byrd has her own theory about why Brett Favre keeps coming back from retirement.

"It could be because he heard that I was loyal every year," says Byrd, who drafts Favre every year for her fantasy football team.

After nine years of playing fantasy football, Byrd has developed her allegiances to her favorite players. Her league mates -- all men -- often tease her for being so predictable.

"I don't know if this is because I'm a woman or if it's just me, but I tend to pick the same players year after year," she says. "I stuck by (Favre) through the lean years. It turned out to be a good thing this year."

In the male-dominated world of fantasy sports, it's not uncommon for players like Byrd to be the only woman in their league. The game generally caters to hardcore sports fans who crave competition and get a thrill out of assembling a team that's more dominant than the product on the field. There are multiple online forums to play in for all major sports, but the concept is the same: field a team with the best players and obliterate the competition.

For Byrd, fantasy football offers another rooting interest when the Pittsburgh Steelers have a bad year.

------ Economist says Kansas economy improving

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Signs are emerging that Kansas' dismal economy is finally showing signs of a possible turnaround, a university economist said Tuesday.

Clearly, the state's economy suffered in 2009, plagued by weaknesses in aircraft manufacturing, telecommunications and agriculture.

And although Kansas has yet to catch up to the 50 or greater business conditions index that indicates expansion, the state shows slow progress in keeping with regional and national data that reveal signs of possible economic recovery in the coming months, said Ernie Goss, economist for Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.

"The negatives for the Kansas economy are getting less negative each month," Goss said. "Upturns in the global, national and regional economies will be a strong stimulant to aircraft production in 2010 and to farming and industries tied to farming this year."

The Business Conditions Index for the Mid-America region, which Goss oversees, showed Kansas' index was 47.4 for January, up from 44.8 in December and 42.1 in November. For the region, which covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota, the January index was 54.7, up from 50.3 in December and 47.5 in November. Nationally, the average was 58.4 in January, 55.9 in December and 53.6 in November.

The index ranges from zero to 100, and any score above 50 suggests economic growth in the next three to six months. Conversely, a score below 50 suggests a contracting economy over the next three to six months.

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