This amazed me he makes a lot of sense in this. And it is in every neighborhood. Not just here in KS.

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

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

Reader comments included.

Gunman robs business on S.W.Topeka Boulevard: CJOnline - Gunman robs business on S.W.Topeka Boulevard

The Capital-Journal
Published Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. CDT
A man escaped with an undisclosed amount of money after robbing a south Topeka business Monday night.

According to Kristi Pankratz, spokeswoman for the Topeka Police Department, the man entered Priscilla’s, 3330 S.W. Topeka Blvd., at about 10:30 p.m., displayed a gun and demanded money. No one was injured.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male who was last seen wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and a black ski mask.

Police ask anyone with information on the robbery to call detectives at 368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 234-0007.

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Reader Comments
-1 Rating Posted by: dwd69 at May 13, 2008 at 10:35:01 AM
This place must be an easy target that's at least twice in how many months. Just shut it down.

Posted by: frankfurter at May 13, 2008 at 11:48:54 AM
Is that a gun or are you just happy to see me?

+ 1 Rating Posted by: ezstreet at May 13, 2008 at 12:17:56 PM
That location has now been hit twice, and the location on 21st street was also robbed.

Sounds fishy to me.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: thehambone at May 13, 2008 at 02:11:27 PM
Does Priscilla’s have a slaughter sign on the door (you know the no gun sign)? If so might take it down make them (the crooks) wonder a bit more. If they do have a sign up …well it is a welcome mat you know.

Posted by: heidis at May 13, 2008 at 02:45:41 PM
Hambone- OK, so if you think guns are not a necessary part of ordinary life, you have a welcome mat?
Only frightened lil punks carry a gun. Worried someone bigger might beat their a$$.
Most of the time in an intrusion, the robber (who may be unarmed) can get it away from you and hurt you or your family...All good, evolution at its best!

Posted by: robinhood at May 13, 2008 at 03:07:15 PM
Arm the shopkeeper, blast the bad guy and this crap will stop.

-1 Rating Posted by: T-TownTracker at May 13, 2008 at 03:19:48 PM
heidis,
Thanks for letting us know that only frightened little punks carry a gun. I was worried.

Posted by: oldcop at May 13, 2008 at 04:02:29 PM
heidis,
The ONLY time an unarmed intruder can disarm someone and use their firearm against them is when the resident has inadequate training or is unprepared to pull the trigger. This is a common myth perpetuated by anti-gun people. Carrying a firearm is not for everyone. To do so you must be prepared to kill someone when necessary. If that presents a problem on a personal level, then it would be unwise to carry any type of deadly weapon.

Posted by: BandtChsr at May 13, 2008 at 04:32:19 PM
Heidis, Your way is like opening the door and telling the crooks... We won't shoot go ahead and take our hard earn money, our cars, our homes, our familes...

Old Cop is correct, the stat for gun oweners killed by their own gun, isn't a stat for home defense. They compile every incident where an owner of a gun was injured by it.
If you don't think or you have a doubt that you can pull the trigger on a human. Then don't pull a gun.... never pull a gun unless your prepared to use it.
When we lived in Southern Calif. I had to pull a gun on intruders to our house twice in two years. Once shots were fired... We lived right on a pathway for Illegals on their way from Mexico.
So, no way can you tell me that guns don't protect the home owner.
Besides it is always better to error on the side of caution. It is better to have a gun for protection and never use. Than to need one and not have it.

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

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

the law... So sad. I didn't include reader comments as they seem to have mixed feelings.

Crash with fleeing SUV kills woman, daughter: CJOnline - Crash with fleeing SUV kills woman, daughter

The Associated Press
Published Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. CDT
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City police say a mother and her daughter were killed Monday night when their car apparently was struck by a sport utility vehicle that was fleeing officers.

The Kansas City Star reports that the incident started about 8:40 p.m. when two officers tried stopping the SUV. It isn’t clear why the stop was made. Two passengers in the vehicle got out and ran, but were caught and arrested.

The SUV driver fled, but police didn’t pursue the man. Officers saw the SUV crashed a short time later and arrested the driver.

Police say the SUV struck a car with a mother and her children inside. The woman and one of her daughters were killed. Two other daughters were taken to hospitals.

Their names and ages weren’t immediately released.

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

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

I left out a lot of the reader comments, mine included as it is at the bottom of the list. If auto accidents are your thing just click the link. There are about 4 as I glance thru the topics.

Southwest Topeka gunfire suspect arrested: CJOnline - Southwest Topeka gunfire suspect arrested

Shot missed pursuer following holdup
By Steve Fry
The Capital-Journal
Published Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. CDT
Topeka police arrested a 40-year-old man Wednesday night in connection with the armed robbery of a southwest Topeka tire store several hours earlier in which the gunman fired a shot at a pursuer.

David Anthony Cox, 40, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Jail in connection with one count of aggravated robbery, Kristi Pankratz, police spokesman, said this morning.

Cox was arrested in the Topeka robbery of Expert Tire, 5320 SW 21st, at about 5 p.m. Wednesday. No one was wounded during the robbery, which occurred as rush-hour traffic streamed along S.W. 21st, customers drove through a drive-up lane at the adjacent Arby’s, and children and adults jogged and ran on the Topeka West High School track about 100 yards west of the tire store.

Police said a man entered the business, displayed a handgun and left the business with an undisclosed amount of money. Police said the robber ran north through the rear parking lot of the business, around a chain-link fence and into the adjacent parking lot at the Fairlawn Green Apartment complex, 5237 S.W. 20th Terrace.

A 44-year-old store clerk pursued the man and was climbing the parking lot fence when the gunman fired a single shot at him from the apartment parking lot. The range appeared to be roughly 25 feet. The bullet, which wasn’t recovered, was thought to have passed between Expert Tire and The Toy Store, 5300 S.W. 21st. Police guessed the bullet might have landed in a tree line far to the south side of S.W. 21st Street.

The gunman then jumped into a vehicle that was waiting and left the area.

The vehicle was located by officers in the 3300 block of S.E. Emerson about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, and the vehicle’s occupant, Cox, was taken to the Law Enforcement Center where he was interviewed, then arrested, Pankratz said.

Police are looking for a second man, described as a black male in his early 30s, 5-feet-10 and weighing 205 pounds. Police have asked that anyone with information please call detectives at 368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 234-0007.

Steve Fry can be reached (785) 295-1206 or at steve.fry@cjonline com.

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Reader Comments
+ 1 Rating Posted by: wolfmoon83 at May 15, 2008 at 12:02:39 PM
Huh!!!! Imagine that. A couple of black men with guns from the Highland Park area robbing and shooting.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: djquik1 at May 15, 2008 at 12:08:42 PM
We couldn't see that one coming wolfmoon83.......LOL.It is a shame that the city council isn't taking the gang related crimes and violent crimes more seriously.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: Macguyver at May 15, 2008 at 12:11:17 PM
ohh wow, I can feel it brewing, another East vs West storm. I can't wait for all the original comments that are getting ready to hit.

-2 Rating Posted by: T-TownTracker at May 15, 2008 at 12:11:54 PM
WM83,
I didn't see where this article disclosed a description of Cox ya friggin' racist. It Ain't like no other ethnic group never committed armed robbery.





+ 1 Rating Posted by: wolfmoon83 at May 15, 2008 at 12:12:44 PM
I was talking to a Topeka PD Officer yesterday nad he said approx 8 yrs ago when they cleaned up the gang trouble they basically disbanded the gang unit and haven't re-instated the task force. It sounds like it's about time they did. Maybe, we as concerned citizens, should start bombarding the Police Dept. with phone calls demanding they start doing something about the gang-bangers. As a Highland Park resident I think it's well past time for some action from our Illustrious PD!!!!!!!!!

+ 2 Rating Posted by: Macguyver at May 15, 2008 at 12:18:30 PM
Actually T town, the earlier article about this story did give a description of Cox. Not withstanding whether wolfmoon is a racist or not.

+ 3 Rating Posted by: wolfmoon83 at May 15, 2008 at 12:20:39 PM
Yea!!! T-town the first article stated that the robber was a 6-0 or 6-1 light complected black man. Maybe you learn to read before you spout off at the mouth ya friggin idiot.

+ 3 Rating Posted by: djquik1 at May 15, 2008 at 12:21:24 PM
T-town.The earlier article claimed Cox was a 6' to 6'1" black male.If wolfman is a racist for sure has yet to be seen.

Posted by: Macguyver at May 15, 2008 at 12:22:58 PM
wow, ok. Wolfmoon, your on your own now.

Posted by: wolfmoon83 at May 15, 2008 at 12:23:33 PM
And besides when was the last time you heard of a caucasian doing a drive by or committing armed robbery in this town. And when there is lets get a comparison from Topeka PD. I'll bet you'll be surprised with the ratio. Not racism, just simple fact

Posted by: Macguyver at May 15, 2008 at 12:26:23 PM
Ok, I am definately not with him.

Posted by: T-TownTracker at May 15, 2008 at 12:26:41 PM
so djquik.1,
Are we to now assume that any armed robbery was committed by gang members?

Ya know, the TV has a brightness control on it. Too bad this blog doesn't.

This illustrates a need for the skin hue scale. Drug addiction, organized crime, and robbery is not the exclusive claim of any ethnic group. I knew a guy that committed several armed robberies that had the same last name, "Cox". I thought this might be his younger brother, but I guess I should assume it is not since he doesn't match the presumed description.

-2 Rating Posted by: funkymcstain at May 15, 2008 at 12:29:37 PM
pretty sure i read an article last week about a white armed robber wolfmoon83. your still a biggot. hang out in north topeka much? bunch of upstanding white folk around there for sure.

Posted by: wolfmoon83 at May 15, 2008 at 12:34:27 PM
Yea, I work in North Topeka and live Highland Park. Don't care for either that much. That's why I'm back to the country where I feel safer!

+ 1 Rating Posted by: buttongod at May 15, 2008 at 12:34:34 PM
Tracker, the saying goes: "why is there a control on the tv for brightness, but not one for intelegence ?" Just trying to help !

Posted by: T-TownTracker at May 15, 2008 at 12:34:58 PM
I thought wolfmoon might have seen the description, but he did not bother stating that, did he?

It was the rest of his comment that showed his racism. Race is a social construct and does not scientifically exist. Socio-economics and other environmental factors lead to crime, not an imaginary classification based on the way you look, speak, act, hail from, or any convenient combination decided by racist men in distant offices.

Did you know that there are still Mexican-Americans in Topeka that remember being white? That was before the Civil Rights movement deemed them "minorities".

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

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

All reader comments included... Anything like this happening in your area?

Man charged with violating Clean Water Act; CJOnline - Man charged with violating Clean Water Act


The Capital-Journal
Published Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. CDT
A Lawrence man and his company have been charged with violating the Clean Water Act.

A federal indictment charges Raymond Sawyer, 56, and MagnaGro International., Inc., with unlawfully discharging waste from a fertilizer manufacturing operation into the Lawrence sewer system in violation of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act.

In 2001, Sawyer and MagnaGro discharged a large quantity of industrial waste into the Lawrence sewer system, interfering with the system’s operation. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the city of Lawrence told Sawyer not to discharge more material into the sewer system.

In September 2007, the indictment says, agents from the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division served a search warrant at MagnaGro and determined that Sawyer was discharging waste from MagnaGro’s fertilizer production directly into the city’s sewer system.

Sawyer had been pumping water from a waste pit surrounding the fertilizer mixing vat. The waste was pumped through a hose and into a toilet at the MagnaGro facility.

If convicted, Sawyer faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The company could be fined up to $500,000.

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Reader Comments
-2 Rating Posted by: bigjohnpowercat at May 15, 2008 at 12:22:49 PM
The tree huggers of Lawrence are going to run this guy out of town even if he doesn't get convicted.

Posted by: TopekaIsBoring at May 15, 2008 at 12:39:36 PM
Throw the book at this jerk. I hope that he gets the max.

+ 2 Rating Posted by: ILikeCheese at May 15, 2008 at 12:50:16 PM
need to take a look at Jani!!!

+ 1 Rating Posted by: spiritwind at May 15, 2008 at 03:09:10 PM
He won't spend time in jail, and his fine is less then his company makes in a week. People like this, their business should be shut down, period.

Posted by: T-TownTracker at May 15, 2008 at 05:46:20 PM
There are "tree huggers" everywhere. Things like this should make ecology activists of all of us. It is time to put our home planet, food and water supply ahead of the almight buck! China is polluting worse than we ever did, and we don't care because we make (or save) money off them.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: kansasman101 at May 15, 2008 at 05:57:15 PM
I totally agree! EVERY needs to buy their own wind turbine then we wouldn't need these big corporations who are "money hogs" wanting to provide electricity.

Posted by: bluesguy at May 15, 2008 at 06:07:53 PM
Mr. Sawyers should get to drink untreated waste water while he is serving his time.

I also think bigjohnpowercat should get to live in a 3rd world country for a few years and drink that water. There are some heavy metal mining operations in South America where he can live just downstream of their operation. That way he can experience laissez-faire capitalism & the environment. I wonder if bigjohnpowercat would be a tree hugger after that experience.

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

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

I left out the reader comments. Got a bit racey.

Police identify latest homicide victim
Description of shooter changed
The Capital-Journal: CJOnline - Police identify latest homicide victim

Published Friday, May 16, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. CDT
The city’s latest homicide victim has been identified as Pamela K. McMaster, 50, of Topeka, police department spokeswoman Kristi Pankratz said in a news release this morning.

Police responding to a report of gunfire about 7:50 p.m. Thursday at Regency Inn, 3802 S.W. Topeka Blvd., found McMaster with multiple gunshot wounds near the east side of the office. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The shooter initially was described as a white man wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and a bandana, but Pankratz said that description had changed to a slender, 6-foot-tall black man in his 20s. He was last seen wearing a black or gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

The man got into a four-door, newer model vehicle occupied by three white females. The vehicle’s tag is described as having a blue or gray background with red lettering and a partial tag of “920.”

McMaster is the city’s fifth homicide victim this year and the third since April 27.

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

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

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

This is sick and so sad.

Man to testify against brother: CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Man to testify against brother

Plea agreement linked to slaying of Hope Street Academy student
By Steve Fry
The Capital-Journal
Published Friday, May 16, 2008
As part of a plea agreement with the Shawnee County district attorney's office in which he admitted using a hammer to batter a Topeka couple, Anthony Earl Hall agreed to testify against the man charged with the brutal slaying of 15-year-old Nacole Winter in December 2006.

Hall will testify against his brother, Christopher Dwayne Hall, 25.

The case of Christopher Hall, who is charged with the first-degree murder of Winter, aggravated indecent liberties with a child and desecration of a corpse, is scheduled to be in district court June 19 for a docket call.

Anthony Hall, 28, pleaded guilty Monday to attempted second-degree murder. A second count of attempted murder, a count of aggravated robbery and two alternative counts of aggravated battery were dismissed, according to court records.

Christopher Hall and a third brother, Michael Timothy Lamar Hall, 27, also are charged with the aggravated robbery of Michael Joseph Delaney and two counts of the attempted second-degree murder of Jennifer Leigh Hughes and Delaney.

Michael Hall is scheduled to make a plea in that case May 28, according to court records. Terms of the plea aren't known.

The Hall brothers had lived at the Fairlawn Green Apartments, 5237 S.W. 20th Terrace.

They were charged with using a "giant hammer" to beat Delaney and Hughes, who lived in the same apartment complex, on Christmas 2006, District Attorney Robert Hecht said in a statement. The two suffered serious injuries after each was struck on the head.

In addition to attempted murder, Anthony Hall pleaded guilty to attempted rape and aiding a felon, Hecht said.

The attempted rape conviction is tied to the sexual assault of a woman, 26, in November 2006 in a laundry room at her apartment complex, Hecht said. The woman screamed and was able to break free from her attacker, Hecht said.

Anthony Hall's aiding a felon conviction is tied to helping or harboring someone he knew who killed Winter and committed aggravated indecent liberties with a child, Hecht said.

Potential sentences for Anthony Hall are 55 to 247 months each for the attempted murder conviction and attempted rape and seven to 23 months for the aiding a felon conviction, Hecht said. The sentences depend on his criminal history.

In early December, District Judge Thomas Conklin found Christopher Hall incompetent to stand trial and ordered him to a state psychiatric hospital for evaluation and treatment for at least 90 days. Conklin said a psychiatrist had found Hall was a "serious and imminent risk" to himself.

Winter, an eighth-grader, disappeared after she walked away Nov. 30, 2006, from Hope Street Academy, an alternative school operated by Topeka Unified School District 501. Her body was found Dec. 14 in a wooded area in the 4100 block of S.E. East Edge Road in an open field near Lake Shawnee.

The body was burned from the waist down in an apparent attempt to conceal evidence of the assailant's identity. The killing, sexual assault and burning of the body occurred between Dec. 11 and 14, court records said.

Steve Fry can be reached at (785) 295-1206 or steve.fry@cjonline com.

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

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

Some you know about a few are new the ones that strikes me are the VA
e-mail, the IRS report of failure, and yahoo munity and the Forces seeking Al-Qaida in Mosul.

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

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

Coal Power plant fight.. Reader Comments included.

Governor vetoes third attempt at power plant expansion: CJOnline Page Not Found

By James Carlson
The Capital-Journal
Published Saturday, May 17, 2008
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius today vetoed the Legislature's third attempt at allowing expansion of a coal-fired power plant in southwest Kansas.

Supporters of the $3.5 billion project had tied this latest bill to economic development projects around the state, including a tax break aimed at bringing a $150 million manufacturing plant to Topeka. Sebelius criticized the bundling of bills in her veto message.



Gov. Kathleen Sebelius
"Rather than working toward a compromise solution, legislative leaders recklessly chose to jeopardize important initiatives for businesses and communities across our state by combining them with energy legislation I have previously vetoed twice," she said.

House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, said the bill would have provided "billions (of dollars) in opportunities." "Now with the Governor's veto, Kansas has lost out on those opportunities," he said. Many legislators were angered by an October decision by Rod Bremby, secretary of the Kansas Health and Environment, to deny the 1,400-megawatt plant addition sought by Sunflower Electric Power Corp.

In his ruling, the secretary cited dangers posed by the new plant's projected 11 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Many scientists link CO2 pollution to global warming.

Bremby's action prompted lawmakers to craft legislation authorizing the construction and stripping the secretary of the power to regulate greenhouse gasses beyond current federal regulations. Two such bills had already flown through the Statehouse with simple majorities in each chamber, but Sebelius has met each with a veto.

Supporters of the coal plant have always had the two-thirds of votes in the Senate needed to override the governor's denials, but the House has consistently come up short of the veto-proof majority.

In an attempt to widen the measure's appeal and gain a few new supporters, legislative leaders packaged the coal-plant issue with a telecommunications industry tax break, financial support for a new transit complex in Johnson County and expansion of tax incentives for business recruitment.

One of the tax incentives was directed toward luring a $150 million wind turbine manufacturing plant to Topeka, one of three cities vying for the project.

Opponents of the coal bill — and some supporters — said the coupling of so many disperate items wouldn't pass the constitutional requirement of each bill having only one subject.

Sebelius said Friday she "cannot support a measure that blatantly contradicts our founding document." Neufeld rejected that criticism, saying every item in the proposal is for economic development. On Friday, he also slammed the governor for allowing to stand Bremby's decision, which Neufeld said is creating regulatory uncertainty that is scaring away investment in the state.

"Businesses must know what is expected of them before they commit to Kansas," he said. "With the Governor's veto, the water remains murky for businesses."

The speaker and others contend a $10 billion oil refinery project that had considered locating in Kansas is no longer interested because of the secretary's action.

Supporters of the plant expansion outside Holcomb in Finney County will have an opportunity to try to override Sebelius' veto when they return for the ceremonial end of the session on May 29. But House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney, D-Greensburg, a supporter of the plant, said he didn't expect enough votes to succeed in the override.

"I'm hoping we continue the conversation and try to gain approval of this next year," he said. He said getting other utilities in the state to purchase a portion of the power from the Holcomb facility could generate some extra support. Some critics have focused on the fact that only 200 of the plant's 1,400 megawatts are earmarked for Kansas, while the remaining energy will flow to Colorado and Texas.

Steve Miller, a spokesman for Sunflower, was disappointed in Friday's veto. "We think Kansans deserve the most reliable and lowest cost energy," he said. Also on Friday, Sebelius vetoed a companion measure to the coal-plant bill that would have kept an additional 200 megawatts in the state and would have applied a 2-cent fee on every electric meter in the state to help pay for a bioenergy research center.

James Carlson can be reached at (785) 233-7470 or james.carlson@cjonline.com.

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Reader Comments
+ 1 Rating Posted by: jhoracek at May 17, 2008 at 02:59:01 AM

So, Sebelius is sticking to her anti poor and middle class position. Her actions will result in increased costs to the people least able to adjust to increasing energy costs, the middle class and the poor. What a cold hearted person she truly is! Once the people realize that actions like this are intended, that's right intended, to result in increased energy costs, they will rebel and throw the bums out of office. Studies have shown that implementation of carbon taxes or cap and trade plans will result in increased costs of gasoline between $1.50 and $5.00 a gallon and incrases in power costs to the tune of billions of dollars for the U.S. Thanks a lot Sebelius. Scourge of the poor and middle class. I hope your personal political gain will salve your conscience for the damage you have helped cause the middle class and the poor of this state.

Posted by: hedge at May 17, 2008 at 06:38:42 AM
our gov.will have a fit when she finds out that trampling all over our state still doesn't get her a vp job

Posted by: hedge at May 17, 2008 at 06:40:22 AM
she will have a fit if trampling all over our state she still doesn't get vp job

Posted by: jdubyaks at May 17, 2008 at 07:57:11 AM
The veto just delays the inevitable. The plants wil be built. The political hack at KDHE made the decision (against the recommendation of the KDHE professional staffto approve the permit). The decision wasn't based on state law. The secretary is trying to regulate something that isn't regulated under either federal or state law. A state agency only has the power given to it by the legislature. To exercise that power the agency must have rules and regulations in place. In this case there are no such rules and regulations. The agency is so clearly acting outside the scope of its authority that the decision on it's face is arbitrary and capricious. The courts are going to overturn the denial and the plants will be built. Unfortunately the bill would have saved the state and the ratepayers a lot of money that will now be spent on lawyering.

-1 Rating Posted by: RH at May 17, 2008 at 08:18:12 AM
Kansans should thank their lucky stars that we have a governor that has remained above and beyond the special interest money Sunflower has been offering. Let's not be so stupid to believe this does not exist.


If the people of Kansas wise up and support Governor Sebelius then Kansas will move forward economically. It is impossible for me to comprehend why some Kansans want to remain stuck in yesteryear. There is much more out for the entire state. Yes many many more jobs for the entire state that which makes our economy move forward.

The only reason Sunflower wants these coal plants is the billions in tax dollar welfare that accompanies the industry. What a waste of money that could be directed at college loans,Vo-Tech student financial assistance and public school educcation. Or developing a energy generation team that promotes economic growth throughout Kansas. NE Kansas residents are willing and able to purchase windpower from western Kansas. NE Kansans want to get rid of that very polluting coal plant that sits outside Lawrence,Kansas.

While demonstrating that renewable energy solutions are sustainable both environmentally and economically,the aim is to enact federal and state policies that support renewable energy, reduce barriers to the adoption of renewable technologies, and encourage all energy purchasers to use renewables.

Electric utilities continue to invest in conventional coal plants despite the fact that governments are moving to restrict the heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions from such plants. The risks are both environmental and financial(high dollar).

Coal is simply no longer a healthy source for generating energy.

Fossil Fuel Index

Go with new generation that will produce a ton of new economic growth for families
throughout western Kansas rather to only the Holcomb area.

Rebuilding economies:
Renewing America's Economy

There are thousands of new jobs attached to wind power,solar power, refined hydropower and geo thermal. It’s all available now. Why not go for it?


-1 Rating Posted by: RH at May 17, 2008 at 08:21:36 AM
"Unfortunately the bill would have saved the state and the ratepayers a lot of money that will now be spent on lawyering."

Blame this on the republican controlled legislature for NOT being willing to move forward with a more advanced energy generation team aka wind,solar,geotherma and refined hydro power.

Posted by: BAB at May 17, 2008 at 09:56:13 AM
jdubyaks may be right. But, no one knows with any certainy what the Courts will do. That is like predicting the weather. This current supreme court will do whatever it wants and the Gov has put a couple of on the Court. So, it could go either way.

I just find it funny that Neifield is such a baffoon that he can not override a veto in republican state.

+ 2 Rating Posted by: jhoracek at May 17, 2008 at 11:30:49 AM

There is no cheaper source of electric power than coal. Period. Coal is not subsidised. I've seen this posted a number of times and it's simply not true. Solar, geothermal, and wind are all heavily subsidized by the taxpayers. These sources are still not economically feasible without government subsidy and that's why power companies did not invest in them before they were subsidized. Cap and trade, carbon taxes, and yes government subsidy, all add to the cost of energy. Recent senate reports indicate that the proposed federal cap and trade plan will increase the cost of gasoline by $1.50 to $5.00 per gallon and the cost of electricity in the U.S. will increase by hundreds of billions as an "intentional" direct result of cap and trade plan. The people that will be hurt the most are the middle class and the poor. That's because they can't avoid the increased energy costs. If you like subsidized energy sources, fine, but you should realize that you are hurting the poor and middle class. Don't you care about the poor?

All of which is really tragic because none of this expense is necessary. There is virtually no empirical support for the "theory" that manmade CO2 is causing global warming. By the way, manmade CO2 consists of less than 0.37 percent of all global warming gases. Water vapor (clouds) represent 95%. Regardless of this fact, manmade global warming propoents take the position that 0.37% is drivng world temperature not the 99.67% that occurs naturally. Do you actually believe that?

There is certainly no evidence of an imminent crisis. Recent scientific reports indicate that cooler ocean currents are going to reduce global temperature for the next ten years or so. Doesn't sound like an imminent crisis to me. By the way, how do ocean current cool during a global warming period and if cooler oceans currents can stop global warming for 10 years, how can we be sure that small increases in temperature are not also caused naturally? It seems to me if you plan to force a lowered lifestyle onto all Americans, especially the middle class and the poor, that you need a great deal more certainty that these actions will have the intended effect. Because if you are wrong, you are certainly going to hurt people and it will effect them for their entire lives.


Posted by: kdj699 at May 17, 2008 at 12:44:43 PM
Jhoracek, where did you get your degree in climatology from?

Posted by: mlurp at May 17, 2008 at 01:51:22 PM
jhoracek you must be a Republican have stock in the plant or get table scrapes left over from the summerfest the plant had for our elected members who sided with them.
So explain how some far away plant in S.W. KS. selling all it peak power to two other states will rise my costs here in Topeka? Unless they do like Weststar and just plain bend us over and shove. The greed won't stop!
And where did you get your climate degree? Toys or Us?

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

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

Lets hear how your city handles their budgets! 2 reader comments.

Fire department temporarily shuts down company
The Capital-Journal: CJOnline Page Not Found

Published Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. CDT
A Topeka fire company that serves the downtown, Oakland and East Topeka areas was shut down today under a policy implemented to conserve overtime pay for firefighters called back to replace those who are sick or on vacation.

The fire department said it closed its engine company based at Fire Station No. 3, 318 S.E. Jefferson, effective from 7 a.m. today to 7 a.m. Sunday.

The move come under a policy change Fire Chief Howard Giles announced in March regarding the department's practice of generally calling back firefighters to work overtime to maintain the minimum 54 firefighters needed to staff its 18 fire companies.

Giles said budget concerns prompted him to opt to no longer call back firefighters to staff as many as two companies after the department in any given month reaches a prorated limit of about $12,000 he has set in callback overtime pay. He decided to shut down the engine company at Fire Station No. 3 at times when the department would need to call back one to three firefighters, and also to close the truck company at Fire Station No. 9 when four to six firefighters would need to be called back.

The fire department’s engine companies carry hoses and water to fight fires while its truck companies are responsible for search and rescue and providing lights and ventilation. The department’s truck company based out of Fire Station No. 3 remains in operation today.

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Reader Comments
Posted by: OtherSignGuy at May 17, 2008 at 06:32:22 PM
Wait! I've heard this song before! It goes "Vote the bums out! Vote the bums out! da da, da-da da da, vote the bums out!"

Posted by: mlurp at May 17, 2008 at 07:06:44 PM
I guess he has his fingers crossed that no fire will start in the closed down fire companies area of operation.
This stupid policy was approved by whom? Maybe if the city council had more desire to do for the citizens they represent and not for choppers that consultants they hired told them were not needed there would be money to support the Fire departments. And even hire more men. Same with the Police department. Just a thought.

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

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