Kansas News Bureau

McConnell Selected For New Air Force Tanker Base

KC46A tanker. (U.S. Air Force photo)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Kansas Congressional Delegation release)

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.

Kansas was the only state to have both of its Air Force bases, Forbes Field in Topeka and McConnell Air Force Base, selected as finalists for the KC-46A Tanker Program.

The selection of not just one, but both Kansas Air Force bases as candidates is a testament to the critical role our state plays in supporting all branches of our military and allied partners as they carry out missions overseas and at home. Strategically positioned in the heart of the United States, the location, capacity and mission of McConnell and Forbes make both bases exceptionally equipped to provide air mobility globally at a moment's notice.

The McConnell base was in the running along with other bases such as Altus, Oklahoma which will receive 8 new tankers and serve as a training ground.

Currently the McConnell base has an economic impact of $619 million annually. The addition of the new tankers will increase this dramatically.

Sales Tax Talks Take New Twist

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ Kansas legislators are considering a proposal to impose a lower state sales tax on groceries than on other consumer goods.

Senate Republicans offered the proposal Wednesday during negotiations with House members on tax issues.

House and Senate Republicans disagree over how much the state's 6.3 percent sales tax should drop in July.

It's set to decline to 5.7 percent, but Gov. Sam Brownback and Senate GOP leaders have said allowing it to drop much will cause budget problems and prevent Kansas from cutting income taxes.

In negotiations, GOP senators proposed keeping the sales tax at 6.25 percent, while the House's plan was 6 percent.

As a compromise, Republican senators suggested dropping the sales tax on groceries to 5.7 percent while keeping the tax on other items at 6.25 percent.

Gun Bill Gets Final Approval

House approved the bill Tuesday sending it to Governor Brownback.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas legislators have given final approval to a bill barring the use of state funds to promote or oppose gun-control policies.

The House approved the measure Tuesday on a vote of 83-28. The Senate passed it last week.

The bill goes to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. The governor is a strong gun-rights supporter but has not said whether he'll sign it.

The measure is backed by the National Rifle Association.

Supporters contended that state funds shouldn't be used to promote policies opposed by many Kansans. Critics called the bill vague.

A Kansas law that took effect in April says the federal government has no power to regulate firearms, ammunition and accessories manufactured, sold and kept only in the state.

Cash Donations Best Way To Help Oklahoma Relief Efforts

TOPEKA, Kan. (Release from Kansas Adjutant General)

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management is urging anyone wishing to contribute to disaster relief efforts ongoing in Oklahoma to donate cash to disaster relief organizations rather than donating goods.

KDEM recommends Kansans consider donating to reputable disaster relief organizations of their choice such as the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org), Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org) or United Way (www.unitedway.org) or local organizations within the communities affected.

Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general and director of KDEM, urged people to volunteer their time and services through official channels rather than self-deploying.

Any requests from Oklahoma for civilian emergency responders will come through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact system alerting the Kansas Division of Emergency Management of the need. Requests for Kansas National Guard troops to assist will come through National Guard Bureau to the state and likely also be routed through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact system. This ensures the state is reimbursed through FEMA and state emergency declaration procedures, and the response is part of the overall coordinated state effort.

Tornado Season Got Off To A Slow Start

This season marked the longest the U.S. went without recording an EF1 or stronger tornado.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - The tornadoes that have raked communities in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and other states over the past week belie what has been an unusually slow start to the 2013 tornado season.

In fact, this was the longest the U.S. had gone into May without registering an EF1 or stronger tornado, which are the types that can cause damage. That's according to Harold Brooks, a research meteorologist at the National Severe Storms Laboratory.

A cool spring in the nation's midsection kept the funnel clouds at bay about a month after they'd typically begin their deadly dance.

The calm has melted away with a recent rise in temperatures and humidity that has allowed for the ideal conditions that have given rise to deadly twisters in Texas and Oklahoma since last Wednesday.

No Sign of When Kansas Budget Talks Will Resume

Budget negotiations broke off Friday. No indication when they will resume.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Lawmakers are working on proposed budgets of roughly $14.5 billion for each of the next two fiscal years, beginning in July. Talks broke off Friday.

Negotiators for the Kansas House and Senate still haven't decided when they'll resume talks aimed at reconciling differences between the two chambers on budget issues.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Marc Rhoades of Newton was meeting privately Monday with other GOP House leaders.

Lawmakers are working on proposed budgets of roughly $14.5 billion for each of the next two fiscal years, beginning in July. Talks broke off Friday.

The two chambers disagree over funding for state universities, community colleges and technical colleges. Both are at odds with Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's recommendations.

Brownback wants to hold higher education funding flat for two years.

The House proposes a 4 percent cut during the next fiscal year. Senators are seeking to phase in a 2 percent cut over two years.

Kansas Growers Making Progress On Corn Planting

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A new report says Kansas farmers have planted about 70 percent of this year's corn crop.

But Monday's weekly update from Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service also says planting of the corn crop trails the 97 percent planted by the same time last year, and the average of 74 percent.

The Kansas winter wheat crop is 41 percent headed. Forty-two percent of the wheat is rated in poor to very poor condition, with 30 percent fair, 25 percent good and 3 percent excellent.

Some damage was reported from hail and high winds that accompanied weekend rain in parts of Kansas.

Despite the rain, subsoil moisture supplies were short to very short across 54 percent of the state. Topsoil moisture supplies remain short to very short in 34 percent of Kansas.

Furloughs To Hit More Than 6,000 Kansas Military Workers

Furloughs to hit Kansas National Guard and Fort Leavenworth.

ASSOCIATED PRESS - Kansas military officials are juggling schedules and changing plans to accommodate furloughs of more than 6,000 civilian employees because of federal budget cuts.

The staff to be idled starting this summer ranges from operations and logistics employees with the Kansas National Guard to instructors at the Army's Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.

Furloughs are necessary because of automatic federal spending cuts that took effect in March, which forced the Department of Defense to adjust staffing and operations. The cuts are in addition to already planned reductions related to cutting the Army by about 80,000 soldiers by 2017.

The impact in Kansas also will be felt at Fort Riley, home to the Army's 1st Infantry Division and nearly 18,000 soldiers and their families.

Violent Weekend Weather Hits Kansas

Tornado moves into Wichita Sunday. (NOAA Photo)

ACROSS KANSAS (Kansas News Bureau) - The clean up continues after a weekend of violent weather in much of Kansas.

High winds, hail and tornadoes hit Western Kansas Saturday. Sunday the targets were mainly south and central Kansas. The good news is that there have been no reports of death or serious injuries
.
In Wichita Sunday afternoon a rain-wrapped tornado moved directly over the city, touching down near Mid-Continent Airport. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service were forced to take cover for a time, but soon were back in operation. Trees and power lines were down in much of Wichita and Sedgwick County, and at one time Westar Energy reported about 7,400 customers were without power.

In central Kansas winds estimated at up to 100 miles an hour hit Ottawa County with hail the size of golf balls causing damage in the town of Bennington.

Kansas Unemployment Rate Drops Slightly In April

April's job growth was less robust than expected.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A new report says the Kansas unemployment rate dipped to 5.5 percent last month while the number of people filing initial claims for jobless benefits also fell.

But Friday's full report from the Department of Labor also says April's job growth was less robust than expected.

The report says the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged lower from 5.6 percent in March. The rate for April 2012 was 6.1 percent.

The agency says about 13,200 people filed their initial claims for benefits in April, compared to about 15,000 claims in March and 14,700 in April of last year.

Kansas had about 1.1 million people working in private-sector, nonfarm jobs in April, about 12,300 more than in April 2012, or growth of 1.1 percent.

Listen Live

News

Weather

Sports

Markets

Music

Marketplace

Classifieds

Events

Blogs

Fun+Games

Info