I was walking in the neighborhood when this was going on.

Suspicious Package on Delaware Avenue: Update | WKBW - TV Buffalo, New York | Local News

__________________
A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.

"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes toward the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.

"I'm a panda," he says at the door. "Look it up."

The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.

"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."

I wonder what is in the packages now myself. lol Some of many reader comments included.
For those who are unaware I enclude a pix of them at work spreading their hate meassages.


Phelpses fail to post bond: CJOnline - Phelpses fail to post bond

The Associated Press
Published Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. CDT
BALTIMORE — Two members of the Westboro Baptist Church have failed to post bonds needed to stay the collection of a $5 million jury award pending appeal.

U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett, on April 3, granted motions by Shirley L. Phelps-Roper and Rebekah A. Phelps-Davis to delay payment of the verdict for protesting a U.S. Marine’s funeral. The postponement was contingent upon their posting $125,000 and $100,000 bonds, respectively.

Bennett also imposed a lien on the properties of the church and its founder, Fred W. Phelps Sr.

The sisters had argued for lesser bond amounts; Phelps-Roper said she wouldn’t be able to offer such collateral to the court.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, the deadline imposed by Bennett, the women hadn’t posted the bonds, according to court records.

Sean E. Summers is an attorney for plaintiff Albert Snyder, the plaintiff. He said the sisters’ appeal of Bennett’s ruling on their motion to stay made it improbable they would put up the cash Monday.

“It would be counterintuitive to do that if they were going to post the money,” Summers said. “It’s hard to cry poor to the 4th Circuit if they’ve already paid the money.”

Phelps-Roper confirmed her refusal to obey Bennett’s order granting a stay and discounted that part of the proceedings.

“All this collection stuff, it’s a lot of fluffy talk,” she said. “If I don’t have no $5 million, you can’t take no $5 million.”

In November, a jury found that the Topeka, Kan.-based church intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon Snyder, of York, Pa. Snyder’s son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, 20, was killed in Iraq in March 2006.

Summers said he will file a motion with Bennett to execute on the sisters’ property — houses and small bank accounts, according to their submissions to the court. But until Bennett rules on that motion and the Richmond appellate court rules on the appeal of Bennett’s original ruling on the motion to stay, that property will remain safe.

“It’s not going to happen immediately,” Summers said. “The wheels of justice turn, but they turn slow.”

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Reader Comments
+ 1 Rating Posted by: councilcrooks at May 06, 2008 at 11:43:44 AM
“All this collection stuff, it’s a lot of fluffy talk,” she said. “If I don’t have no $5 million, you can’t take no $5 million.”

Well, maybe they can take your neon signs and crossing-guard uniforms. That would bne worth $5 million to me just to see it happen.

+ 3 Rating Posted by: cgbraves56 at May 06, 2008 at 11:49:07 AM
You may not have "no 5 Million dollars," but you will eventually lose everything you do have if the court can possess it. When the Lord doesn't deliver you and your church from this trial, I hope your followers take it as a sign that hatred is of the world and of the devil. While you are correct homosexuality is a sin, and one must not condone the sin (especially churches), Jesus commanded us to love; NOT hate. Your over-the-top protests have written checks your beliefs cannot cash!

+ 5 Rating Posted by: techman_jim at May 06, 2008 at 11:52:29 AM
No, they also need to take the children away from the parents (if you want to call them that) due to the fact that they are using the kids to do unthinkable works of the devil!

+ 3 Rating Posted by: oldcop at May 06, 2008 at 12:00:08 PM
The noose continues to slowly tighten.......... enjoy the ride.

-4 Rating Posted by: councilcrooks at May 06, 2008 at 12:10:48 PM
cg, excellent post!

Posted by: yardman at May 06, 2008 at 12:13:47 PM
Maybe instead of the signs saying "FEARGOD" they should say "FearJudgeBennett"

+ 2 Rating Posted by: amesmb at May 06, 2008 at 12:15:43 PM
“All this collection stuff, it’s a lot of fluffy talk,” she said. “If I don’t have no $5 million, you can’t take no $5 million.”

^Gee, she talks so purty!^ (eye roll) "Fluffy talk," geez.

Posted by: blexican at May 06, 2008 at 12:27:17 PM
I didn't know homosexuality was a sin. I guess you learn something new every day.

Posted by: TopekaIsBoring at May 06, 2008 at 12:32:18 PM
Although I don't think that any average citizen's "emotional distress" is worth $5 million, it sure is nice to see the Phelps cult finally get punched back. They bullied their way through Kansas and it took people in Maryland and Nebraska to get some charges to stick against them...but that just gets them more attention, so they win again. The best thing to do is to ignore them and hope that someone "accidentally" mows 'em down with a large car or truck while they're out protesting.

Posted by: bob421 at May 06, 2008 at 12:39:15 PM
Maybe as soon as Judge Bennett rules against them, they can tear down the "compound" on 12th street and make a nice park over there for the kids in that area. At least tear down the compound, no body will want to live there anyway. The Phelps are on their way down, it may take some time in court, but they are coming to the end of their road soon. Still surprised no one has done anything "crazy" to them at a protest, last crazy thing I can remember is the pipe bomb thing back in the 90's.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

thing is being done on any thing else on their plates. A total waste of time and they get paid to do something. And fail at that. But as you will see in the next post the Republicans don't give up!
Reader comments included,

Legislature remains mired in conflict: CJOnline - Legislature remains mired in conflict

By Tim Carpenter
The Capital-Journal
Published Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. CDT
The House and Senate today continues a long-running joust over a proposal to build the $3.6 billion coal-fired electric plant in Holcomb.

Much of the hand-to-hand combat is among Republican leaders of the two chambers, who can’t reach agreement on an unrelated budget bill.

The House-Senate conference committee on the budget measure was shut down to give House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, and Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, more elbow room to craft a deal.

Neufeld maintains the Senate won’t give up pork-barrel projects, including $750,000 to improve a road leading to the defunct Parsons ammunition plant. On the other hand, Morris believes the House is spending too much money overall.

House Democratic leader Dennis McKinney said rank-and-file conferees, three from the Senate and three from the House, should be left alone by leadership to settle differences on the omnibus budget bill.

“It works better than leaders trying to do a short cut,” McKinney said.

If all goes well, the two chambers will vote later today on a budget measure and a new bill for the Holcomb coal project. If dialogue continues to splinter, lawmakers could postpone significant action until Wednesday. Or, maybe, they’ll walk away from the Statehouse without resolution on either issue.

The coal legislation, which must be voted on first by the Senate, is heavily laden with economic development projects of interest to legislators throughout the state. Most of these economic initiatives have already been passed by the Senate, but the House delayed action to use each as a bargaining chip for coal.

“There isn’t a single one of these economic development bills I wouldn’t support” if separated from coal legislation, said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka.

Merged into a coal bill:

- Extension of an income tax break created by the Legislature last year for the benefit of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, of Topeka.

- State guarantees for bonds used to support development of a massive shipping hub in Johnson County.

- Sales tax refund for telecommunications companies operating in Kansas.

- Broadening eligibility for incentives to lure new businesses to the state.

In October, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment denied an air permit required by Sunflower Electric Power Corp. to add 1,400 megawatts of coal-fueled electric power at the Holcomb facility. Neufeld and Morris thought KDHE went beyond its authority to block a coal plant project based on concern about future emissions of carbon dioxide -- a pollutant not previously regulated by the state.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed two bills approved by the Legislature that would have reversed KDHE’s ruling on the permit.

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+ 4 Rating Posted by: bluesguy at May 06, 2008 at 03:52:31 PM
This is the kind of behavior that drives me crazy about legislatures. If a bill can't stand on its own then it should die. Melvin Neufeld won't drop the coal fired power plant bill because that is his district. Since he is the House Speaker he has a lot of power to make things happen or not happen.

This kind of 'childish behavior' ("do it my way or no one will get to play") happens whether or not it is a Democrat or Republican. It has happened in every state I have lived in.

If any person who works at a regular job behaved like Melvin Neufeld they would be fired.

Posted by: FrankFurter at May 06, 2008 at 04:25:34 PM
The $750,000 earmark by Umbarger is a tragedy.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: whistlestop75 at May 06, 2008 at 04:37:44 PM
What is the tragedy? The state promised help two years ago when the feds decided to shut the plant down...should the state recind after their promise? I think Umbarger is just making them live up to their political promises...

Posted by: jon154187 at May 06, 2008 at 04:51:42 PM
Remember, It's Election year and YOUR vote counts.
I say time to clean house!

-5 Rating Posted by: parkay at May 06, 2008 at 05:02:43 PM
Let's shut down the Legislature and the budget, until we have a pro-life abortion restiction bill signed into law. We have the votes. No guts, no glory.

Posted by: RH at May 06, 2008 at 06:02:16 PM
All of these items could not be approved and the state of Kansas would never know the difference.

Now if they would craft a bill that included wind power,solar power,refined hydro power and geo thermal power this would make a significant impact throughout the entire state. Now we're talking big time economic growth.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

Yet the state budget hasn't been addressed nor any othe rissue. The republicans decided yesterday to not do any other business unless this got passed.

Legislators work on new bill on power plants: CJOnline - Legislators work on new bill on power plants

The Associated Press
Published Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. CDT
Legislative leaders hope to pass a new bill allowing two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas.

The latest version ties the plants to legislation for other projects, including a transportation hub in Johnson County.

The measure also would restrict the power of the secretary of health and environment.

Secretary Rod Bremby denied an air-quality permit in October to allow Sunflower Electric Power Corp. to build the two coal plants in Finney County.

The Senate must take up the latest legislation first. It planned to convene this afternoon to consider it.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has vetoed two previous bills to clear the way for the plants, and lawmakers have failed to override her.

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+ 3 Rating Posted by: TopekaIsBoring at May 06, 2008 at 04:13:34 PM
Kansans DO NOT WANT two additional coal plants! Why can't Neufeld and the rest of those idiots see that? The Governor offered a very fair compromise, but they don't want to compromise. They just want it their way, and to h*ll with Kansas.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: RH at May 06, 2008 at 06:03:35 PM

Now if they would craft a bill that included wind power,solar power,refined hydro power and geo thermal power this would make a significant impact throughout the entire state. Now we're talking big time economic growth.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: r2mcmullen at May 06, 2008 at 06:06:51 PM
Are you just now seeing this? This legislature is nothing but pety a**holes. How much money are they getting for trying to push this through? You have got to be stupid not to think someone is getting PAID! When will Kansans wake up and see that THEIR government is bought and paid for by the energy companies wanting to sell their product. I hope Kansasns remember this when they go to the voting polls.


+ 1 Rating Posted by: CrazyLarry at May 06, 2008 at 07:41:18 PM
I seem to recall this Melvin character making statements at the beginning of this session that the power plant issue would not affect other important business such as immigration and the budget...hmmmph...what a lying piece of ****E!

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

related as the father of one victim speaks out.

Dad: Shootings connected: CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Dad: Shootings connected

Two of Topeka's recent victims of slayings were family members
By Ann Marie Bush
The Capital-Journal
Published Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Henry Holley wants his son's killer brought to justice, and he is doing everything he can to make sure that happens, including talking about what he says are connections to at least one other recent shooting death.

Holley's son, Michael Holley, died Feb. 23 after an early-morning shooting outside Deep Pockets, 4310 S.W. 21st St. The 24-year-old was related to David Wakes, who was killed in a drive-by shooting April 27 in the 2800 block of S.E. Michigan, Henry Holley said. The two were cousins.

"They knew each other," Holley said. "They were family."

Debbie Munoz, Wakes' mother, was reached by telephone but declined to comment.

Henry Holley said the death of his son and the shooting of Wakes also may be connected to the shooting death of Farrell Sanders, a 17-year-old Highland Park High School junior who was killed in 2400 block of S.E. Minnesota. Holley said he knew both Sanders and Wakes.

"I think the people who did it are in gangs," Holley said of the Highland Park slayings and the shooting of his son in southwest Topeka. "I think the same people are doing this."

Topeka Police Capt. Ron Brown said officers aren't investigating the two Highland Park shootings as being connected to the Deep Pockets shooting. Police are still looking into whether Wakes' and Sanders' deaths may be related, he said.

Wakes' funeral took place Saturday at Truevine Baptist Church.

Dawn Strecker, a family friend of the Sanders and assistant director of Doorstep Inc., said the Sanders family is in the process of planning a funeral for Farrell Sanders.

Police continue to follow leads in the Deep Pockets shooting, Brown said.

"We have other witnesses related to the Deep Pockets shooting we would like to have come forward," he said.

Some witnesses to shootings may be afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation or of being labeled a snitch, he added.

Michael Holley's family members have posted information on a MySpace page on how to come forward with information on the shooting. The page states that Holley was shot eight times in the back.

"We need the witnesses to come forward," the MySpace page states. "It happened on a busy street when the bar was closing, lots of traffic, security cameras on surrounding businesses, and maybe you saw the cowards speed away in the car."

Henry Holley said people know more than they are telling the police.

"A lot of people aren't saying what they should say," Henry Holley said. "I believe they are scared."

There is a reward for information, Holley said, including $700 the family has raised. The family plans to have other fundraisers, too, including a car wash.

Henry Holley said he is working with others in the community to organize a rally to raise awareness of the violence. The rally should take place within the next week, he added.

"We want to make the community aware of all of this," Holley said. "We want to make the community aware that these people aren't going to stop at our children. We need some community bonding. I'm not going to sit silent. I'm going to keep on trying to find out who killed my son."

Ann Marie Bush can be reached at (785) 295-1207 or ann.bush@cjonline.com.

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Reader Comments
+ 2 Rating Posted by: kansasman101 at May 06, 2008 at 02:53:41 AM
I applaud Mr. Holley for being brave and speaking out. If in fact what he is saying is correct he is putting his life in danger.

I would also say the entire COMMUNITY is aware of the violence going on. I am puzzled why he feels the communithy isn't. If these killings are in fact related to gangs then the vast majority of the community isn't going to get "involved" in gang warfare. Why risk our lives when we have nothing invested in such foolishness.

It is time the families and friends of these gang members and hangeroners and wannabes get involved! Do these people right by being active. However, don't expect the entire community to rish their lives because of these gang bangers.

+ 7 Rating Posted by: laural at May 06, 2008 at 05:54:16 AM
I TOO APPLAUD MR. HOLLEY FOR BEING "OPENMINDED" AS TO WHAT MAY REALLY BE HAPPENING HERE.MAY GOD BRING COMFORT, PEACE, AND CLOSURE TO ALL THESE FAMILIES.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

on the coal plant size increase I sure hope this is it. Note the washington GOP tactics tag the bill you want with ones that are needed to force the way to passage.

Coal debate in final days:CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Coal debate in final days

Republicans to take another shot at controversial bill
By Tim Carpenter
The Capital-Journal
Published Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Republican House Speaker Melvin Neufeld is optimistic today's session of the Legislature — perhaps lawmakers' last big work day in 2008 — delivers hard-fought victories on a contentious coal debate.

Unable after four months of labor to push through a $3.6 billion Holcomb coal plant development, the House speaker maneuvered to gain leverage by packaging the project with a telecommunications industry tax break, financial support for a new transit complex in Johnson County and expansion of tax incentives for business recruitment.

"The economic development package we have before us is absolutely critical for the state of Kansas," Neufeld said Monday, a day devoted to backroom dealing designed to bring the session to a close. "I wouldn't expect the governor to veto this."

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who vetoed two previous bills that would force issuance of a state permit for Sunflower Electric Power Corp.'s project, said she would likely reject the latest offering from coal advocates.

The Senate twice voted to override the governor's veto, but the House has yet to find a two-thirds majority to trump Sebelius.

It is likely the House and Senate will pass Neufeld's package of energy and economic development measures. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said it was just as likely the governor would veto the bill.

Hensley said the House speaker was jeopardizing prudent economic incentives to make a final run at a new coal plant for southwest Kansas.

"He is sacrificing those proposals on the altar of coal," Hensley said.

Hensley was among four Democrats from Topeka and Lawrence, all opponents of the Holcomb project, who participated in a news conference Monday to denounce Neufeld's merger of economic policy with legislation opening a door for the 1,400 megawatt coal expansion.

Rep. Annie Kuether, D-Topeka, said the debate over state energy policy didn't have to result in such a volatile legislative showdown.

"This is all about the speaker of the House being a bully," she said.

The Sunflower project has been a top legislative priority of Neufeld, an Ingalls Republican, and Senate President Steve Morris, a Hugoton Republican, since the Kansas Department of Health and Environment denied Sunflower an air quality permit in October.

Rep. Kenny Wilk, R-Lansing, chairman of the House Taxation Committee, said it made sense to include coal in the collection of economic development initiatives.

The deal includes bonding guarantees for infrastructure improvements at the $800 million BNSF intermodal transfer facility in Johnson County, a $20 million telecommunications sales tax refund and extension of a tax benefit created last year to spur growth at Hill's Pet Nutrition, of Topeka.

"It puts together our state's need for more electricity, incentives to bring and grow businesses in our state and hundreds of well-paying jobs," Wilk said.

Opponents of the consolidated bill vowed to place a protest in the House and Senate journals today citing Kansas Supreme Court precedent declaring unconstitutional the incorporation of more than one subject in a nonbudget bill.

"It makes this attempt and bill blanketly unconstitutional," said Rep. Paul Davis, a Lawrence Democrat and attorney.

Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, an Independence Republican and lawyer, said he disagreed with Davis' legal conclusion. Schmidt voted for the coal bill.

If Sebelius vetoes a third coal bill, the Legislature could try an override May 29 when in Topeka for the ceremonial conclusion of the (( NON WORK BY MLURP)) session.

Tim Carpenter can be reached at (785) 296-3005 or timothy.carpenter@cjonline.com.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

Well the Washington tie th ebill in with need policies worked. But the Gov. still has he rveto pen ready. I just can't believe our elected officials put all other important business aside to get this plant oked. I smell a bad politics with some greed. But that is IMHO only. Readers comments included, some are gret reads.

House passes Holcomb coal plant bill: CJOnline - House passes Holcomb coal plant bill


The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. CDT
The House approved today the latest bill designed to make certain a $3.6 billion power plant expansion occurs in southwest Kansas.

The bill merging authorization of the Sunflower Electric Power Corp. project with a series of economic development initiatves was adopted 76-48 by the House and follows passage Tuesday in the Senate on a vote of 24-10.

The Holcomb coal bill now heads to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who has already vetoed two previous coal bills this session. She indicated a third veto was likely. If so, the Legislature would have an opportunity May 29 to override her.

The Senate twice before has gathered the necessary two-thirds majority to overcome Sebelius’ opposition to the coal project, but the House has failed to reach that level to complete a veto override.

State regulators in October denied an air-quality permit for the Holcomb plant based on potential damage caused by a projected 11 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

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Reader Comments
+ 2 Rating Posted by: wakarusan at May 07, 2008 at 02:26:56 PM
May it be vetoed again!!! When will theses crooked Western KS Repubs. get the hint??? Tying it to other legislation is even the worst method for passage!!!

+ 2 Rating Posted by: kdj699 at May 07, 2008 at 02:28:31 PM
At this point, I think there is more gas coming out of the Statehouse then Holcomb will ever produce....

Posted by: napoleon969 at May 07, 2008 at 02:35:51 PM
If the State of Kansas had the same attitude regarding corn, wheat, soybean, etc production (everything produced must be consumed by its citizens and not sold out of State)where would our economy be? Expand the plant and move on.

-3 Rating Posted by: OMWF at May 07, 2008 at 02:39:59 PM
Well is seems that most of you have forgotten when the KPL-KGE merger landed us in the northern part of the state with high with higher utility bills. It was due to the state feeling sorry for those in the southern part of Kansas. They had poor and outdated generation. Now all of us pay for Wolf Creek and all of the power goes south. More coal generation in Kansas may offer cheaper generation instead of gas and nuke. We should want that generation in western Ks. It may lower our rates in the long run. Westar does a good job in the purchase of cheaper power. Not all of this proposed generation will go out of state. Get REAL!

+ 2 Rating Posted by: RH at May 07, 2008 at 02:42:22 PM
I support the veto!

-3 Rating Posted by: Macguyver at May 07, 2008 at 03:04:30 PM
Well, as much as I hate to admit it, OMWF, you do make an excellent point. One of the parts of the plants will be to connect Western Kansas to the grid which it not currently to a large degree. More energy on the market will bring prices down regardless of where it goes. Plus if Westar can get it cheaper from Sunflower, it will. In this half of Kansas we have gotten spoiled by small electric rates. Trust me, as a native from Southwest Kansas, they do not enjoy the same electric rates. Coal also lessons the demand for natural gas and will help bring oil prices down. I wish Southwest Kansas would do even more with its wind farms, but you still can't use wind as base load generation. It just doesn't blow ALL the time. As for nuclear generation, guys don't hold your breath. A new nuclear plant construction currently takes 20 to 30 years and costs about 10 times as much as a coal plant. I agree that Kansas needs more nuclear plants, but it's not gonna happen in this generation even if construction started now. So I guess, I'm switching sides. I'm too broke to be green right now.

Posted by: T-TownTracker at May 07, 2008 at 03:30:45 PM
OMWF,
There is a draught, and they don't have the water for this facility. The corporate capitalists don't care as long as there is money. Too bad for them, there is a governer that doesn't always put money first, and is listening to the other side screaming "no". The drawbacks outweigh the benefits.

-1 Rating Posted by: 65impala at May 07, 2008 at 04:01:16 PM
Boys and girls. You all keep grasping at straws and changing your justification on how to oppose this plant. Face it, if there is a generating facility that was expanded in southwest Kansas you all will be B%$@%ing about something else the "EVIL" western Kansas Republicans are alledgly doing to you to notice. I'm sure that most, if not all, of you who are complaining about this one are the same winers that stopped the proposed wind farm in the flint hills.

-1 Rating Posted by: jdubyaks at May 07, 2008 at 04:01:35 PM
The bottom line is the plant will be built. Whether it is this bill. Or the court overturning the agency action. Sebelius' political hack at KDHE overrode the professional staff's recommendation of granting the permit. The permit complied with ALL current state and federal laws. The permit was denied based on potential pollution of something that isn't regulated under Kansas or Federal law. This is so clearly arbitrary and capricious action by a state agency that every court in this state would overturn the denial of this permit.

Posted by: suzadele at May 07, 2008 at 04:05:24 PM
Since when is the Kansas Legislature a lobbying group for one company? Three attempts to feather their corporate masters beds. Sunflower Electric is very fortunate indeed.

+ 2 Rating Posted by: thisreallysucks at May 07, 2008 at 04:15:51 PM
Veto it.

+ 3 Rating Posted by: kdj699 at May 07, 2008 at 04:25:48 PM
I still think if we could find a way to harness all the hot air coming from the Statehouse we wouldn't have to even THINK about building any more power plants....

+ 4 Rating Posted by: grasslandgal at May 07, 2008 at 05:18:49 PM
It's important not to separate the notion of cheap energy from its consequences. What supporters of Holcomb are saying is that they are willing to pass on the costs to others - climate change, mercury deposition, acid rain, asthma, etc. - for the HOPE of cheap energy. Of course, now that China and other nations are moving to a consumer economy like ours, American coal is being sold overseas and its cost is going up like gangbusters. The cost of building Holcomb has jumped as well, and Wall Street is increasingly hesitant about funding coal-fired power plants.

Instead of fighting over Holcomb, and allowing ourselves to be deluded that energy will forever be cheap and without environmental and health costs, we need to recognize that WE MUST CHANGE THE WAY WE LIVE AND DO BUSINESS.

Secretary Bremby made his decision based on a federal court decision that said CO2 was a pollutant and could be regulated as such. That there is no current federal regulation is a consequence of the Bush administration's reluctance, not because of scientific evidence. KDHE's staff recommended approval of Holcomb based on current regulations; Secretary Bremby used his legal discretion to get ahead of the curve. That's leadership.

The Pentagon recognizes that future military conflicts will be over water, food and energy resources. We can work to prevent that by making it a federal, state and personal commitment to reduce energy demand, and to produce energy locally and regionally in an environmental and ecologically responsible manner.


+ 2 Rating Posted by: agoering at May 07, 2008 at 05:27:26 PM
Isn't Sunflower the same company that years ago invested in the nuclear plant at Burlington? Their rates were sky high, because they went nuclear. Eventually, they sold off their interest in Wolf Creek and took a huge loss, costing ratepayers millions of dollars. Now they want the legislature to do an end run around the Kansas Supreme Court and force feed a coal plant down our throats. Their timing is just as bad on coal as it was on nuclear. And if the legislature succeeds in forcing the plant, the economic consequences for rate payers will be equally bad as it was with coal.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

The reader comments are more of the story on race near the bottom. So I didn't include all of them. Crime in Topeka is all around in all areas of the city. As I imagine it is else wheres.
I neve rknew grass got one so stupid to go out in th ecity and let loose with a gun and still be there when th epolice came. Now this guy is real stupid. How he missed shooting himself amazes me.

Police answer gunfire call, make arrest: CJOnline - Police answer gunfire call, make arrest

The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. CDT
Topeka police early today were called to Fairlawn Green Apartments, 5237 S.W. 20th Terrace, on a report of gunfire in the area.

Kristi Pankratz, spokeswoman for the Topeka Police Department, said officers who responded to the call at 12:30 a.m. found Joseph Weston Clark, 20, of Topeka, firing a gun outside the apartments.

Clark was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Jail on charges of criminal possession of a firearm, criminal discharge of a firearm, possession with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of marijuana and felony obstruction.

No one was injured in the incident.

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Reader Comments
+ 1 Rating Posted by: oldcop at May 07, 2008 at 10:17:10 AM
It's a nice warm spring night honey....... let's smoke some crack and do a little target practice in the parking lot. Nobody will mind. Really.

Posted by: MIX at May 07, 2008 at 10:23:58 AM
I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIM. LOL

Posted by: bob421 at May 07, 2008 at 10:24:27 AM
right next to a high school, good thing it was at 12:30 am. TPD needs to do a sting at those apts. I'm sure there are many other drug user in there.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: heidis at May 07, 2008 at 10:43:45 AM
There has been problems there for awhile. While my brother worked there, a woman got pistol whipped by her own daughter over drug money and a high school girl was murdered there. This was in a 6 month time span!

Posted by: rkquiet at May 07, 2008 at 10:47:28 AM
No can't be! For all the other shooting comments the last couple of weeks everyone was denying that Topeka had a gang or drug culture problem. Yea right.

Posted by: heidis at May 07, 2008 at 10:56:21 AM
rkquiet- I'm just glad it wasn't another HP neighborhood, now people will see the problem is ALL of Topeka.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: jyoung2266 at May 07, 2008 at 11:20:54 AM
Probably another sideways hat wearing wanna be punk topeka kid. We have a fine collection of these idiots in our city.

Posted by: bcyb at May 07, 2008 at 11:38:02 AM
Hmmm so crime does happen all over Topeka!!

Posted by: buttongod at May 07, 2008 at 11:42:54 AM
It just makes you want to walk up to those kids and say, "put your hat on right, pull up your d@mn pants, and put that gun down !"

Posted by: lokee40 at May 07, 2008 at 12:01:17 PM
yes, this apt complex has had problems for awhile now. anybody who's lived in topeka for any time can tell you crime is not isolated to the HP area. still waiting to for the report on where the other 120 murders occured w/in the last 10 years.

Posted by: lRajewski at May 07, 2008 at 12:02:52 PM
i really dont think the way you wear your clothes has anything to do with being in a gang or being a violent person. Come on people. violence is all over, by many different people wearing different clothes and living in different areas.

-3 Rating Posted by: lokee40 at May 07, 2008 at 12:03:41 PM
I SUPPOSE THIS PAPER IS BIASED/SLANTED TOWARDS THE WESTSIDE OF TOWN. WHY ELSE WOULD THAT INFORMATION BE WITHHELD FROM THE PUBLIC!!!!!!!!!!!! TOPEKA MEDIA IS A JOKE!!!!!

Posted by: GBPackers at May 07, 2008 at 12:20:34 PM
The Apt. Bldgs. in Topeka are a breeding ground for drugs. My daughter was hanging around one where there was drug activity, I called the property manager at KP apartments, SHE told me off, and said she didn't care as long as they were good paying tennants. Shortly after that the man had both ankles broken. HMMM I wonder how that happened? LOL LOL

Posted by: CountyDweller at May 07, 2008 at 12:22:59 PM
Did anybody else find it ironic that they opened up a Popeye's Chicken joint right next to Fairlawn Greens?

+ 2 Rating Posted by: GBPackers at May 07, 2008 at 12:30:35 PM
Al Sharpton owns it.

Posted by: mcpeepants at May 07, 2008 at 12:30:48 PM
What are you implying with the Popeye's Chicken? It was Wendys for a long time and there is a McDonalds right around the corner.

Posted by: CountyDweller at May 07, 2008 at 12:35:56 PM
Nuttin, other than I have have never seen a Popeye's in a more "upscale" neighborhood. Like Pawn shops, in a way.

Posted by: bluea716 at May 07, 2008 at 01:04:03 PM
CountryDweller you really are a cold piece of work on here everyday fyi popeye's was first inside hypermart and apparently there are quite alot of white folks who luvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv some good chicken

-1 Rating Posted by: dwd69 at May 07, 2008 at 01:08:03 PM
CountyDweller where you been? There used to be a Popeyes inside the Wal-Mart food court on Wanamaker when it first opened. I know it's been 15 or 20 years ago but I would consider Wanamaker an "upscale neighborhood" more than 21st and Fairlawn.
Glad to see something happening on the westside of town and getting the attention for it. A little scared to go out that way now.

-3 Rating Posted by: blexican at May 07, 2008 at 01:11:32 PM
Here we go again. Al Sharpton probably owns it? C'mon. Baggy pants and sideways hats. I wear baggy pants and sideways hats, yet I don't have a criminal record. Some of you people amaze me. We're all American's, why is it that we have to stereotype without much preliminary knowledge of situational contexts in which these incidents take place? Why are people so quick to link friggin' chicken to Al Sharpton and black kids wearing their hat's sideways? Did it ever occur that there are some well-to-do, contributing members of society that are young, minority and like don't like chicken?

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

One reader comment. I guess they have done somthing afterall i tonly took a lo tof overtime for them. Now the earmarks.

Agreement near on year’s final spending bill: CJOnline - Agreement near on years final spending bill

The Associated Press
Published Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. CDT
Legislative negotiators were close today to agreement on a version of the year’s final spending bill, which would preserve a project that critics call “the road to nowhere.”

The measure would complete a $13.6 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Its approval would allow legislators to adjourn their annual session on its 90th day and keep it from going longer than planned.

A big issue has been $750,000 for road improvements outside the soon-to-close Parsons Army Ammunition Plant. Local official want to turn the plant into an industrial park and view the road project as vital.

But House members have derided it as a pet project for Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dwayne Umbarger, a Thayer Republican, because it’s in his district.

The Parsons project was one of several issues that had threatened to prevent an agreement on the spending bill, but Tuesday night Umbarger, two other senators and three House negotiators verbally agreed to the bill’s contents. They still had to sign their report so that both chambers could consider the measure.

“We got to get her signed,” Umbarger said. “That’s when I know we’ve got an agreement.”

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius already has signed most of the next state budget into law, and the bill before legislators would add about $33 million. Overall spending would increase $391 million, or about 3 percent, during the next fiscal year.

Most state employees would receive a 2.5 percent pay raise and many retired teachers and government workers would receive an additional $300 payment.

Legislators also were trying to finish work today on legislation designed to rewrite business tax laws, although they didn’t expect their bill to result in a net reduction of revenues for the state.

But the debate over the budget turned contentious as House members attacked individual projects as wasteful spending, including the one outside Parsons.

Senate leaders argued the real issue was the overall amount of spending. House members’ version of the bill would have added $86 million, while senators’ version merely shifted money around, without increasing the overall budget.

The budget legislation Sebelius already has signed authorized the road improvements outside the Parsons plant.

House members wanted to add language to the final bill to strip the $750,000 from the budget. Many argued the project should be weighed against other potential projects before the Department of Transportation, not singled out.

“There are tremendous opportunities at the old Army Ammunition Plant,” said House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney, a Greensburg Democrat. “We should probably get a coordinated plan.”

Local officials note that the plant was targeted by federal officials in 2005, the state’s only real casualty in a round of military installation closings. Daniel Goddard, the plant’s executive director, said the project championed by Umbarger is in reality the “road to economic recovery and greater prosperity.”

Umbarger said House members’ nickname was an attempt to demean the project and had little to do with its merits.

He also noted numerous examples of legislators earmarking money for individual projects in the budget. For example, last year, lawmakers set aside $1.5 million last for a dam project in the district of House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Sharon Schwartz, a Washington Republican.

On the Parsons project, negotiators agreed to language that would give the Department of Wildlife and Parks the first option to buy land near the ammunition plant for a wildlife preserve, paying $750,000 to local officials. They could then use the money for the road project.

“It just so happens that it was in Chairman Dwayne Umbarger’s district, and that’s why they went after it,” Umbarger said. “That’s the only way I can explain it.”

———

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Reader Comments
Posted by: SoOrCat at May 07, 2008 at 01:15:09 PM
"He also noted numerous examples of legislators earmarking money for individual projects in the budget. For example, last year, lawmakers set aside $1.5 million last for a dam project in the district of House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Sharon Schwartz, a Washington Republican."

That sure sounds like, "She got her pork, why can't I get mine?" With any luck, we'll hear a BIT more convincing reasoning being employed in the future.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

Crime is everywhere, what area your police doing about it. I bet this was for drugs. So they will be caught sooner or later if the description is correct. Reader comments included.

Topeka police investigating robbery

The Capital-Journal
Published Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. CDT
A Topeka woman was transported to a local hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening after she was attacked and robbed Wednesday night in the parking lot of 225 N.W. Gordon.

Kristi Pankratz, spokeswoman for the Topeka Police Department, said the 31-year-old victim told police that she was grabbed from behind by two men as she stood outside her car, reaching inside, at about 9:15 p.m.

The men stole the woman’s purse and items from her vehicle, then left the area.

The suspects are described as two white males. One was about 40 years old, 6-foot-3, with a medium build, a long goatee and last seen wearing a jean jacket and T-shirt.

The second suspect is described as being in his late 30s, about 5-foot9, with a heavy build and a shaved head.

Police continue to investigate and ask that anyone with information call detectives at 368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 234-0007.

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Reader Comments
-1 Rating Posted by: renegade811 at May 08, 2008 at 01:48:18 PM
Something violent happens everyday in Topeka, it seems. Almost makes you not want to read the paper or watch the news. It really is getting pitiful!

+ 1 Rating Posted by: truthfinder at May 08, 2008 at 02:04:28 PM
I'm just glad it wasn't a homicide. Did you read the article about the Man in KC that stepped out for a smoke break at work and got shot? Topeka could be alot worse.

+ 2 Rating Posted by: psyberangel at May 08, 2008 at 02:12:11 PM
Purse snatchers & pickpockets are everywhere. Always have been, always will be. Sooo watch your back, ladies and gents!

-2 Rating Posted by: topekacitizen at May 08, 2008 at 02:16:45 PM
I hope this investigation doesn't take as long as the shooting by LEO or the tazing.....If so, this along with most other crimes won't ever be solved!

Posted by: behonest at May 08, 2008 at 04:15:53 PM
Good afternoon truthfinder----Trying to figure the parking lot they are talking about on Monroe

Posted by: truthfinder at May 08, 2008 at 04:19:37 PM
I thought it was on Gordon?

Posted by: truthfinder at May 08, 2008 at 04:20:41 PM
Maybe the little liquor store on the corner.

Posted by: behonest at May 08, 2008 at 04:25:16 PM
Yourright on Gordon St. Don't know why I said Monroe.oops

Posted by: truthfinder at May 08, 2008 at 04:36:11 PM
It was the Los Compadres Restaurant and apparently not the first time someone has been assaulted their. Google the address and you'll see.

Posted by: lake12 at May 08, 2008 at 06:42:31 PM
topekacitizen, go get yourself a state certification and conduct your investigations at lightening speed.

__________________
Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”