News
Panel would study merging state colleges
TOPEKA — A Kansas House committee is considering a bill that would create a 17-member commission to study operations and priorities of public higher education institutions, including consolidation of state universities and community colleges or technical colleges. The bill was introduced in early March by state Reps.
Legislation may boost campaign to delete DEI programs
TOPEKA — The Kansas House delivered preliminary approval Monday on legislation forbidding external postsecondary educational organizations from compelling a Kansas public and private college or university to violate state law in order to receive full accreditation. The bill previously passed by the Kansas Senate was championed by two out-of-state, conservative organizations lobbying to convince states to move higher education away from certain ideologies, programs or expenditures.
City gives workers paternal leave, not sick leave transfer
The City of Lindsborg will allow city employees up to four weeks of paid time off to care for and bond with a new child, but a proposal to let them turn accumulated sick leave into vacation time was struck from employee handbook revisions that the City Council approved by a 5-1 vote Monday night. In other business, the council continued contracts for ambulance service and insurance, and approved a sandblast-and-paint job for the swimming pool.
Old Mill keeps building online archive
The photos and books that the Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum puts online for free access has grown to more than 7,500 images, a 50 percent increase in nine months, and work on the project in the museum’s crowded, windowless basement continues.
Board reviews entries for superintendent
The Smoky Valley Public Schools board met Monday to screen candidates for the job of superintendent. The meeting was closed to the public.
Democrat breaks with party, amends fetal child support bill
TOPEKA — Republican legislation to establish child support payments for pregnancy-related costs — and, in turn, establish “fetal personhood” — revealed tension among legislators as one Democratic senator inserted a bipartisan tax credit provision. Senate Democrats agreed that House Bill 2062, which requires courts to consider fetuses when determining child support judgments, risked providing legal precedent for treating fetuses as people.
McPherson Foundation names new president
The McPherson County Community Foundation Board of Directors picked Chief Financial Officer Michelle Huddle to replace President/CEO Becky Goss, who will retire on Dec. 31.
IN BRIEF
Iowa choir will perform with Bethany’s March 27 The Augustana Choir, from Augustana College in Davenport, Iowa, will perform with the Bethany College Choir at 7:30 p.m. March 27 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 320 N.
State tax on tips might depend on Congress
It’s a busy Friday afternoon at The Monarch bar and restaurant in downtown Wichita, and food server Kelly Bonnell is right at home. As she grabs a customer’s sandwich and fries from the kitchen, she greets people that come and go — all the while smiling and full of energy.