Looking for the police Briefs. But have to settle for this.

Police investigating shooting incidents: CJOnline - Police investigating shooting incidents
The Capital-Journal
Published Monday, April 21, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. CDT
Police are investigating reports of overnight gunfire, according to Kristi Pankratz, spokeswoman.

At about 11:15 p.m. Sunday, officers were called to the 400 block of S.E. Lafayette, where they found gunshot damage to a residence.

About 15 minutes later, police were called to a local hospital, where a 21-year-old man had arrived by private vehicle with gunshot injuries not thought to be life-threatening.

Police are looking at whether the shootings might be related.

Anyone with information on either of these incidents is asked 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.”

Lots to this and will benefit our state.

Governor signs bill allowing help for Cessna: CJOnline - Governor signs bill allowing help for Cessna
The Associated Press
Published Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. CDT
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has signed a bill providing help from the state for Cessna Aircraft.

The new law, taking effect May 1, allows the state to issue up to $33 million in bonds to help the aircraft manufacturer expand its Wichita-area facilities.

The expansion will allow Cessna to produce its new Citation Columbus business jet in Kansas. The company expects to increase its annual payroll by about $74 million and add 1,000 new jobs.

Sebelius had a signing ceremony at the Cessna Customer Center in Wichita.

Under the new law, the bonds will be repaid from the withholding taxes Cessna collects from its new employees. (( This part I am not sure of, does it make any sense to anyone?))

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

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

Reader comments are included. Very good reads.

Slattery to start bid in Topeka: CJOnline Page Not Found
By Tim Carpenter
The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Former Congressman Jim Slattery will launch from Topeka a campaign for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in a two-way race that places the winner in a showdown with incumbent Pat Roberts.

Slattery, who represented eastern Kansas for 12 years in Congress, plans a daylong announcement tour starting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Kansas Expocentre's Heritage Hall. Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is expected to attend.



Jim Slattery served in Congress for 12 years.
Slattery decided last month to run and has concentrated on raising money and creating a campaign staff.

"It will be a difficult race, but I believe that Kansans desire change," he said. "Kansans want a leader who has a vision for the future and is committed to taking the actions necessary to solve America's urgent problems."

The primary includes labor union activist Lee Jones, who lost by 42 percentage points in 2004 to Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. There would have been a third Democrat on the primary ballot, but Greg Orman, an investment adviser, withdrew.

Roberts has raised $3.9 million for his re-election campaign, according to the latest finance reports. Slattery took in $289,000 during a two-week period after confirming his candidacy.

Slattery worked in Washington as a lawyer after losing the race for governor in 1994. He is expected to focus his Senate campaign on the deficit, economy, environment, health care and Iraq.

He also intends to appear at 11 a.m. at the Regents Center in Johnson County, 1 p.m. at the Wyandotte County Courthouse and 4 p.m. at Newman College in Wichita. Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson is scheduled to participate in the Kansas City-area campaign stops.

Tim Carpenter can be reached at (785) 295-1158 or timothy.carpenter@cjonline.com.

Reader comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Click here for our full user agreement.

You can rate each comment by clicking the or buttons.
To report an inappropriate comment, click the .

Reader Comments
-1 Rating Posted by: wofford at Apr 23, 2008 at 07:25:45 AM
"a vision for the future and committed to taking the actions necessary to solve America's urgent problems", OK, fine. He contributed, like every other elected fool, to the mess we are in at this point in time. However, we can only blame ourselves because we have failed to require accountability in these folks; failed to establish a vision or rather maintain the vision created by the Founding Fathers, as to what America is about. We can't even set a priority of what is needed because special interest groups buy elected officials like hookers on a street corner. The average working stiff that is burdened with ever increasing taxes has no voice in Kansas or America. Slattery will not provide any of this, he is just re-baked day old bread.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: TopekaVoter at Apr 23, 2008 at 08:09:47 AM
Mr. Slattery, I will be looking forward to reading your responses to our candidate questionare. Hopefully we can put our resources and membership behind you.

Kansas Equality Coalition - Welcome

+ 2 Rating Posted by: shesalady at Apr 23, 2008 at 09:27:07 AM
It will be a difficult choice between Pat Roberts, a really honest, good man, and Jim Slattery--also a good, honest man. Both love Kansas and have represented us honorably. But if Jim needs help with his campaign, I'll stuff envelopes for him!

+ 2 Rating Posted by: BAB at Apr 23, 2008 at 09:30:11 AM
TV:

You really think Pat Roberts is more sympathic to your cause? Come on. Slattery is a no brainer.


-2 Rating Posted by: tigerfans3 at Apr 23, 2008 at 10:30:51 AM
Hey Jim,
Good to see you, I haven't been able to vote against you since your humiliating run for Governor. As for your Honesty well... Honestly, what a joke! BTW, how's your best friend Bill Clinton doing these days?

-2 Rating Posted by: redkansas at Apr 23, 2008 at 10:48:25 AM
Slattery hasn't been in the state since his humiliating loss for Governor. He's been making millions in DC as a lobbyist for questionable clients. Kansans are smarter than to let someone come back to the state after writing us off and try and buy the election.

-2 Rating Posted by: Matty5 at Apr 23, 2008 at 10:55:32 AM
Slattery has jumped on the Obama "change" bandwagon. Too bad the change Obama is talking about is ridding DC of shaddy lobbyists like Slattery

+ 1 Rating Posted by: Hot_Toe_Picker at Apr 23, 2008 at 11:08:26 AM
If you people think that lobbyists are so bad, what do you think about Senator Roberts' son being a lobbyist? How many favors do you think that ol' Pat does for Davey's clients?

Posted by: badprincess at Apr 23, 2008 at 12:36:16 PM
Slattery has and will lobby for virtually anything and everything. That precedence will prove difficult to take position on anything without contradicting his paid past. Roberts has a clear record and can't be paid for his conscience.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: TopekaIsBoring at Apr 23, 2008 at 12:45:43 PM
"Roberts has a clear record and can't be paid for his conscience."

Pat Roberts' conscience should be giving him ulcers and keeping him awake at night right now because he's been Bush's lapdog for the past seven years. Roberts purposely failed in his duties as the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee to protect Bush, and because of Roberts' inaction Americans are still getting killed in Iraq. Pat Roberts proved that he has no conscience and is a despicable human being. He should be ashamed of himself and should do the right thing and not run for reelection.

Posted by: badprincess at Apr 23, 2008 at 01:40:43 PM
While Pat Roberts was working on bringing more businesses to Kansas, using business initiatives and program resources, Slattery was aiding the BlackBerry Corporation gain a multi-million dollar settlement.
Pat Roberts never stopped working for Kansas throughout his entire political career; Jim Slattery’s efforts go to the highest bidder.


Posted by: TopekaIsBoring at Apr 23, 2008 at 02:31:49 PM
You should be careful not to demonize lobbyists or else it'll come back to bite you. If it's bad for Slattery to be a lobbyist, then it must be bad for Roberts' son to be a lobbyist too, right?

+ 1 Rating Posted by: jn-cn at Apr 23, 2008 at 02:58:49 PM
I hope I am in the large majority of Americans who now believe that Bush/Cheney produced knowingly false intelligence to sell Congress on the Iraq war so their oil buds could prosper. That is why I really can't blame any republican or democrat for voting for the war resolution at that time. Congress clearly trusted the integrity of the administration. It turned they did so at their own and our country's peril.

What is equally despicable, however, is Pat Roberts holding up the release of the study about that Iraq intelligence clearly showing practically all of it to be bogus. This protection of Bush/Cheney represents a disregard for the need to be honest with not only his constituents but all Americans. Pat Roberts needs to go. He has clearly placed party politics above the real needs of his country.

Posted by: sunflower08 at Apr 23, 2008 at 03:11:10 PM
Roberts a good Senator and and honest Senator. People around Kansas have good things to say about him.

-1 Rating Posted by: Jayhawk777 at Apr 23, 2008 at 04:24:46 PM
Wow...the entire Iraq war and all of the casualties are Senator Roberts' fault? The conspiracy theories are exhausting. Convenient for dems though, I must say.

-1 Rating Posted by: TopekaIsBoring at Apr 23, 2008 at 06:11:52 PM
"the entire Iraq war and all of the casualties are Senator Roberts' fault?"

If you paid any attention to current events you would know that if it weren't for Roberts laying down on the job Dubya never would've won in 2004. So, yes, he's responsible for George Bush's war (he voted for it and still supports it) and all of its casualties (because he didn't do his job and report on Dubya's pre-war "intelligence").

Posted by: mlurp at Apr 23, 2008 at 08:28:04 PM
I just moved back to Kansas, but as I recall neither GOPers have done much for us. But do know they have voted to help big business and the elite. I will help stuff envelopes for Jim. And I support Mrs. Boyda. So if others think I am wrong let me know, please.

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

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

Guess the race is on for a growing crime rate here in Topeka.

Police look into shooting, stabbing: CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Police look into shooting, stabbing

The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Topeka police are investigating separate incidents, a shooting and a stabbing, that occurred early Tuesday.

Police department spokeswoman Kristi Pankratz said officers were called at about 4:25 a.m. to a hospital, where a 17-year-old man had arrived with gunshot injuries not thought to be life-threatening.

The shooting is thought to have occurred at a residence in the 200 block of S.W. Western.

At about 5:40 a.m., police were called to 316 S.E. 29th on a report of a fight, Pankratz said.

Robert Johnson, 31, of Wakarusa, had been cut with a knife and was taken with injuries not thought to be life-threatening to a local hospital. The other person involved in the fight was described as a black man in his mid-30s, about 5-foot-11 and last seen wearing a stocking cap, green jacket and jeans.

Anyone with information on either case may call detectives at 368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 234-0007.

And this one dies just for asking for ID. A mother and friend to many. Reader comments included.

Mo. man charged with killing KCK bartender: CJOnline - Mo. man charged with killing KCK bartender
The Associated Press
Published Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. CDT
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Authorities have charged a Missouri man with killing a Kansas City, Kan., bartender who refused the suspect service.

Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome Gorman today charged Brandon Hulett, of Raytown, with first-degree murder in the early Saturday shooting of bartender Lori Reynolds.

Hulett is also charged with one count of aggravated battery and 10 counts of aggravated assault.

Reynolds was working at The Gossip Inn when she refused to serve Hulett, who turned 21 a week earlier, because he lacked proper identification. Hulett allegedly opened fire, striking Reynolds multiple times and spraying up to eight rounds through the bar.

No one else was injured.

Hulett’s bond is set at $500,000.

Reader comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Click here for our full user agreement.

You can rate each comment by clicking the or buttons.
To report an inappropriate comment, click the .

Reader Comments
Posted by: ks4life at Apr 23, 2008 at 07:13:32 PM
Why even consider bail for this person? If he lacks the judgement and morals that prevent one from shooting a bartender that rightly asks for identification, why even consider exposing any more of citizenry to this piece of human waste? Some people need to be behind bars and the best way to insure this is to have such an exremely high bail there is no way they will ever meet it.

Posted by: spiritwind at Apr 23, 2008 at 07:35:38 PM
I agree ks4life. Our society is too soft on the violence now days. They will probably find some sympathy defense, my daddy beat me, to get a light sentence.

Posted by: vickit at Apr 23, 2008 at 07:50:39 PM
Wow, did he not think about how hard it will be to get a drink in jail. I agree put him to sleep now before he breeds again.



Posted by: topekasports at Apr 23, 2008 at 07:52:32 PM
Im sure that a family member will say that he was just turning his life around.
To bad Pedro is going to be busy here in Topeka, I bet he could get him off.

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

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

The big business interests just don't get it and will continue to waste our legislators time going for what they want not what is good for our state and it is happening in every state.

Override wouldn't clear path for coal plant: CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Override wouldn't clear path for coal plant

Sebelius would still try to prevent Holcomb expansion
By John Hanna
The Associated Press
Published Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' top energy adviser said Tuesday her administration is considering steps to block the expansion of the coal-fired electric plant at Holcomb even if legislators insist on allowing it.

Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson promised the dispute over two proposed generators at the plant won't end if legislators override Sebelius' veto of a bill authorizing the expansion. She has vetoed two similar bills.

Sebelius' administration has blocked the expansion since October over its potential carbon dioxide emissions. The Sunflower Electric Power Corp. plant is located in the southwest Kansas county of Finney.

"We're certainly going to evaluate all of our options," Parkinson said. "I assure you, there are multiple options, and if Sunflower's out there telling people that all they need to do is get this veto overridden and the plants will be built, and if they believe that, they're sadly mistaken."

Top Republican legislators accused the Democratic governor's administration of ignoring public support for Sunflower's project.

"What is this, a monarchy?" said Christian Morgan, the state Republican Party's executive director.

Environmentalists believe most Kansans oppose Sunflower's project, but backers point to the bipartisan legislative majorities favoring it as evidence that critics are wrong.

"You have Republicans and Democrats, you have conservatives, moderates, liberals, rural, urban, a cross-section of every walk of life in this state, supporting this," said Senate President Steve Morris, a Hugoton Republican who supports the project.

Parkinson made his comments during a brief Earth Day observance at the Kansas Expocentre, calling on legislators to sustain Sebelius' vetoes. He is co-chairman of an energy policy council and frequently speaks for the administration on energy issues.

"There are multiple options, and we're looking at them all, but I don't want to comment on anything because we haven't committed to any of them," Parkinson told reporters after the event.

The Legislature plans to return April 30 from its annual spring break, and clearing the way for Sunflower's project tops GOP leaders' agenda.

Sunflower and its legislative allies always have had the two-thirds majority necessary in the Senate to override a veto. They have been at least one vote short in the House, but Speaker Melvin Neufeld has said he is confident an override will occur.

"I don't believe the lieutenant governor's or the administration's comments are going to deter the House and the Senate from doing what they need to do," said Neufeld, an Ingalls Republican, another Sunflower supporter.

Sunflower spokesman Steve Miller said Parkinson's comments were regrettable but declined to criticize him. Miller said the utility will continue working through whatever legislative and court challenges are necessary to see that the generators get built.

"The administration is solely focused on an energy policy that is about reducing the production of greenhouse gases," Miller said. "What we're trying to do is find the lowest-cost reliable source of power that we can for our consumers that is in compliance with all existing applicable federal and state regulations."

Both bills vetoed by Sebelius also stripped some power from the secretary of health and environment. That is a response to Secretary Rod Bremby's denial in October of an air-quality permit for Sunflower.

Bremby cited the plants' potential CO2 emissions of up to 11 million tons a year and said the state couldn't ignore the dangers of global warming, which many scientists link to man-made greenhouse gas emissions.

"You cannot say that you are an environmentalist, that you support the environment, that you're a part of the green movement, and vote for coal-fired plants that are not needed in this state," Parkinson said.

Later, Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran was more conciliatory than Parkinson. She said the governor hopes her vetoes will be sustained and is still working toward a compromise.

"But we recognize that there are numerous other barriers to the plant projects," she said. "Litigation is likely, and there is real financing uncertainty with the increased costs of the new coal plants."

Critics question the $3.6 billion estimate for Sunflower's project, noting construction costs are rising sharply. Parkinson suggested the true cost could be $4 billion or $4.5 billion and criticized the utility for not revising its estimate.

Miller said Sunflower would spend about $500,000 revising its estimate and doesn't want to do it until it knows it will build the generators.

"We know it's going to be more than the $3.6 billion," he acknowledged.

Reader comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Click here for our full user agreement.

You can rate each comment by clicking the or buttons.
To report an inappropriate comment, click the .

Reader Comments
Posted by: butthead at Apr 23, 2008 at 09:51:40 AM
"What is this, a monarchy?" said Christian Morgan, the state Republican Party's executive director.
Maybe the Republicans will wake up and realize that working with the Governor on any issue was a mistake.

Posted by: Hot_Toe_Picker at Apr 23, 2008 at 11:10:17 AM
Kansans do not need or want this pollution machine in our state.

Posted by: frederick at Apr 23, 2008 at 11:19:44 AM
Mr. Morgan may think the Sebelius administration is a monarchy. However, if you are a Republican like myself, its actually worse than a monarchy, its a democracy. This means that since we let her win the governorship we now have no choice but to cooperate and compromise. This is the position we are finding ourselves in.

This is why we fought so hard to defeat Sebelius so we could have common sense decisions coming out of the administration. However, many of our fellow Republicans sided with Democrates in the general election to bring Sebelius to victory. For shame, for shame !

Maybe Mr. Morgan should have worked a little harder to get a Republican in Cedar Crest. But we failed in that mission and today we are now seeing the consequences of that.

As Republicans, We have to face the music, the Democrats are in power, they are gaining influence and frankly are treading all over us. Mr. morgan needs to spend less time name calling and get back to his primary job of creating winning strategies to turn this tide of Democratic influences.

Until we fix the problems within our own party machinary, and start winning elections again, we will continue to sustain these set backs by the Democrats. If you want to change this trend Mr. Morgan, then you must realize they are out-strategizing us and playing us like a fiddle.
Get smart, get creative, and get wise Mr. Morgan and good luck overthrowing this monarchy.

-1 Rating Posted by: acglencove at Apr 23, 2008 at 03:39:55 PM
Republican leadership: Why wait for Governor Sebelius and her progressive-enviro/utopian friends to peddle coal plant killing carbon tax legislation in Washington DC --- indeed, and why should the Fed/wastrels get to spend relatively poor Kansans' carbon tax money?

Rep. Legislators need to give electricity consumers in Kansas a timely foretaste of carbon taxes and at the same time flush the Governor and her legislative allies out of their hypocritical, enviro/exhibitionism. How: immediately prepare and force an up or down vote on a bill calling for a State of Kansas carbon tax to be imposed directly on eastern, western, and mid-Kansas consumers of coal based electricity produced or sold anywhere in Kansas (around 70% of total). Republican leaders: recommend that Republican legislators vote "no" but run the bill up the flag pole and see who wants to salute before the elections this November. And don't forget to stop the enviro/utopians from attempting a redistribution bribe of Kansas consumers --- specifically prohibit Gov. Sebelius/KCC from offloading the carbon tax onto shareholders and/or onto capital accounts of Co-ops. Mandate continuance of the customary modest rate of return to Kansas' electricity generators ... but... require that the tax on consumption be charged directly to those Kansas who do the consuming. cc: Ks. Repub. leadership

(takes a new level of politico-economic disinformation and a complicit media for Governor Sebelius to be able to join her progressive-enviro/utopian friends nationwide in favor of a banker intimidating, deal killing federal carbon tax on new coal generators and then for the Governor to complain: "...there is real financing uncertainty with the increased costs of the new coal plants.")

FYI: New York Times: April 28, 2008... "Over the next five years, Italy will increase its reliance on coal to 33 percent from 14 percent. Power generated by Enel from coal will rise to 50 percent. And Italy is not alone in its return to coal. Driven by rising demand, record high oil and natural gas prices, concerns over energy security and an aversion to nuclear energy, European countries are slated to build about 50 coal-fired plants over the next five years, plants that will be in use for the next five decades"



Posted by: xtopekan at Apr 23, 2008 at 05:50:51 PM
The only public support for these boondoggles is in Colorado where they will be buying cheap power from the fools in smoggy Kansas

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

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

offer. With reader comments.

New coal-plant proposal offered to Sebelius: CJOnline - New coal-plant proposal offered to Sebelius

By James Carlson
The Capital-Journal
Published Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. CDT
Electric cooperatives seeking permission for a coal-fired power plant in western Kansas today offered the governor what they called a compromise proposal that would allow a slightly smaller facility than originally proposed.

The idea presented to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius would reduce the generating capacity of the plant from 1,400 megawatts to 1,200 megawatts.

Sunflower Electric Power Corp. and Midwest Energy, two of the cooperatives with a stake in the project, have also agreed to accelerate the timetable for which they will increase their renewable-source power.

Under the proposal, Sunflower would also join The Climate Registry, which would require a third party to track Sunflower's greenhouse gas emissions.

But the proposal doesn't change what has been a major sticking point for the plant's detractors - a removal of some of the powers of the secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. A bill in the Statehouse allowing the plant expansion would strip some of the secretary's authority to regulate greenhouse gasses. Sebelius has mentioned it as a key reason why she vetoed two previous bills allowing the plant expansion.

Her office has said in the past it would not sign any legislation with such provisions.

The Legislature has been consumed with talk of coal this year after a decision in October by Rod Bremby, KDHE secretary, to deny a permit for the $3.5 billion project outside Holcomb in Finney County.

Lawmakers, angered by what they called an arbitrary decision, proposed legislation that allows the expansion and removes some of the authority of the KDHE secretary.

The Legislature has passed two separate bills with the same basic components, and Sebelius has vetoed both of them. Many expected lawmakers to attempt to override the governor's action when they returned for the wrap-up session April 30.

House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, said today that the compromise seeks common ground.

"Our approach reduces impacts on our environment, assures future power needs are met and creates jobs for Kansans," Neufeld said.

Neufeld and Senate President Stephen Morris, R-Hugoton, gave Sebelius until April 30 to respond, and said if she doesn't agree by then, they will move forward with a veto-override attempt.

The governor's office was not immediately available for comment.

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

Reader comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Click here for our full user agreement.

You can rate each comment by clicking the or buttons.
To report an inappropriate comment, click the .

Reader Comments
+ 2 Rating Posted by: eldaremington at Apr 24, 2008 at 03:01:21 PM
On April 20, 2008 t 10am on the steps of the United States Courthouse 1100 Commerce Street Dlls Tx. Autism

United and Safeminds will sponsor a press conference. Dr. Ray Palmer of the University of Texas will present his latest research that shows that exposing children to mercury in coalfired power plant smoke leads to a direct increse in autism. The closer a child lives to the plume of a power plant the higher the rate increses. The rate is 1 in 150. It rises w/the proximity of the coal burning power plant......autism.

+ 2 Rating Posted by: TopekaIsBoring at Apr 24, 2008 at 03:04:31 PM
They call that a compromise?!? That's no compromise. Kansans don't want or need the Holcomb expansion, and I applaud the Governor for standing up for us against corporate greed.

+ 1 Rating Posted by: kdj699 at Apr 24, 2008 at 03:53:31 PM
I'm still trying to figure out how this benefits Kansas. I mean we get the pollution from it and Colorado and other states get the electricity. Less then 20% of the electricity generated stays in the state. If they want to build a power plant, build one big enough to cover the electricity for Kansas but let the other states build their own.

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

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

See the reader comments as the GOP isn't going to do well in the state I believe. Changing colors from red to blue. lol

Speaker critical of Parkinson's coal remarks: CJOnline - Speaker critical of Parkinson's coal remarks

The Associated Press
Published Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. CDT
House Speaker Melvin Neufeld says recent comments from Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson show Parkinson doesn’t understand economics.

It is the latest episode in the ongoing dispute over two proposed coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas.

Neufeld, an Ingalls Republican, views the plants as economic development.

Parkinson, the governor’s top energy adviser, said Tuesday that western Kansas is seeing a lot of economic activity. He said it is wrong to assume that the region needs to be pulled out of a depression.

Neufeld told The Associated Press that it is wrong to suggest that any part of the state couldn’t use an economic stimulus.

That, he says, shows “a complete lack of understanding of economics.”

Reader comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Click here for our full user agreement.

You can rate each comment by clicking the or buttons.
To report an inappropriate comment, click the .

Reader Comments
Posted by: lonis at Apr 24, 2008 at 01:16:43 PM
Only one way to solve this, pistols at dawn

Posted by: T-TownTracker at Apr 24, 2008 at 01:35:53 PM
oh, shut up. Just another Republican attempt to discredit the speaker instead of finding facts to counter the argument. Their party slogan should be "Be afraid of everything, and let the rich think for you since you are not smart enough to think for yourselves."

Posted by: Cabocrazed at Apr 24, 2008 at 01:50:02 PM
No TTT, that would be the slogan of the Demorats - [we'll give you free healthcare, free childcare, free housing, free college tutition (especially if you're here illegally), free food] - the list goes on and on. "The government will take care of you, don't do anything to contribute." Heck, why even work?

Posted by: reharkins at Apr 24, 2008 at 02:43:46 PM
Cab, I hear your argument all the time and it is wrong. Democrats tend to be the middle class people who do the work and pay the taxes while the rich set back and enjoy the fruits of our labor. The republicans convince enough people that their philosophy is right that enough people vote for the party of the rich to keep them in power. I think now in the information age and the extensive use of the internet that is about to change. Of course people want free everything if they have no jobs since greed for cheap labor has exported their jobs.

Posted by: mockflea at Apr 24, 2008 at 03:09:03 PM
T-town tracker,

You are misinformed. Neufeld-R is the speaker of the house.

Posted by: butthead at Apr 24, 2008 at 03:12:52 PM
Could a mime be speaker?

Posted by: Cabocrazed at Apr 24, 2008 at 03:59:00 PM
Re - you hear it all the time because it's true. All the middle class that I work with are Republicans. All the bosses that I work under tend to be Deomcratic elitists that look down their noses at the middle class and tell us how things should be and that they should be doing the thinking for the "worker bees." I think you can thank Clinton and the NAFTA crowd for why the jobs are exported. Read the news - there was a mass exodus after Clinton got NAFTA passed.

Posted by: kansasman101 at Apr 24, 2008 at 04:47:40 PM
Parkinson is a complete nimby wimby being used at every whim by Kathleen. They both are so out of touch with reality it isn't even funny.

For all YOU greenies out there who do not want "dirty" coal powered energy in western Kansas look at eastern Kansas. We have so many nasty units which are so outdated and pouring out pollutants it'll probably kill us long before the NEW proposed, very safely, built and run plant in Holcomb.

However, don't let your bias and political views get in the way of the facts. Go ahead and breathe this filthy air in eastern Kansas and not fight for upgrades to these nasty plants YET...........tell western Kansas what to do.

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

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

I can't understand this never give up attitude of business and the politicians they seem to have working for their causes. It is put on hold yet our elected Legislators still won't go to other state business in their upcoming overtime short work session. No they and the big business want both of these coal fired plants. And Kansas won't get but 20% of the power and all the emissions.

Supreme Court puts coal-plant cases on hold: CJOnline Page Not Found

The Associated Press
Published Friday, April 25, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. CDT
The state’s highest court has put on hold indefinitely its review of a regulator’s decision blocking two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas.

The Supreme Court plans to wait until legal challenges to the decision are considered first in district court and in administrative hearings involving the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Sunflower Electric Power Corp. wants to build the two plants outside Holcomb, in Finney County. It applied for an air-quality permit from KDHE, but Secretary Rod Bremby rejected it in October.

Bremby’s decision led to six separate legal challenges, three of which are before the Supreme Court.

Legislators also have passed two bills to clear the way for the plants’ construction, but Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has vetoed them. Overriding her latest veto last week will be a key issue for legislators when they return Wednesday from their annual spring break.

“I think that what the court’s saying is that we have to address it here,” House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, an Ingalls Republican, who strongly supports Sunflower’s project, said Friday.

Spokesman Steve Miller said Sunflower wouldn’t comment about the Supreme Court’s action until its attorneys had a chance to review its order.

The court issued a single-page order Thursday, signed by Chief Justice Kay McFarland. The court directed parties involved in the cases to prepare regular progress reports on administrative hearings and district court cases, with the first one due June 2.

In denying Sunflower’s permit, Bremby cited the two plants’ potential carbon dioxide emissions of up to 11 million tons a year. He said the state couldn’t ignore the dangers of global warming, which many scientists link to man-made greenhouse gas emissions.

But critics believe Bremby overstepped his authority and note that Kansas never has had any written rules on CO2. Also, the project enjoys bipartisan legislative support because many lawmakers view it as economic development, with Sunflower expecting to spend at least $3.6 billion.

After Bremby’s decision, Sunflower filed an administrative appeal with the Department of Administration, hoping to force him to reconsider.

Sunflower also filed a lawsuit in Finney County District Court. A second lawsuit was filed in district court by one of Sunflower’s partners, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc., of Westminster, Colo. Both cases are pending, with no hearings scheduled.

In addition, Sunflower and Tri-State filed separate appeals with the state Court of Appeals. A third appeal was filed by the Finney County Commission and the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce.

In November, the Supreme Court took those three appeals from the Court of Appeals, something it frequently does when a case is likely to end up before it.

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

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

chance to get out in 20 years. And he prayed his shots wouldn't get the wrong person. Some reader comments included.

Gang member gets life for killing KCK toddler: CJOnline - Gang member gets life for killing KCK toddler

The Associated Press
Published Friday, April 25, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. CDT
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A teenage gang member has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a 2-year-old girl in Kansas City, Kan., on April 3, 2007.

Wyandotte County Judge John McNally imposed the sentence on Thursday, even after noting that Daniel Perez Jr. didn’t intend to kill the girl when he fired five shots. McNally also referred to testimony that Perez prayed that his shotgun wouldn’t find the wrong person.

But the gunfire found 2-year-old Yelena Guzman in the living room of her grandparents’ home. Prosecutors said the shooting was an act of revenge directed at Yelena’s uncle, who belonged to a rival gang.

Perez will be eligible for parole in 20 years.

Two other gang members face the same charges as Perez. One remains at large, and a retrial is expected to be scheduled for the second suspect. A fourth person pleaded guilty.

Reader comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Click here for our full user agreement.

You can rate each comment by clicking the or buttons.
To report an inappropriate comment, click the .

Reader Comments
+ 5 Rating Posted by: topcpht at Apr 25, 2008 at 12:22:27 PM
Apparently God doesn't answer prayers when it comes to "hoping that the bullets from your gun don't find the wrong person." Hopefully this 2 yr olds family's prayers were answered when he was sentenced to life in prison.

+ 2 Rating Posted by: T-TownTracker at Apr 25, 2008 at 01:17:05 PM
topcpht, yeah, maybe God got hung up on the whole "Thou shalt not commit murder" clause, effectively nullifying related prayers.

I also blame the uncle. There is not a legal issue here, but a moral issue. It is well known that gangs are committed to violence against anyone, even the innocent. If you join a gang, your innocent family members may be killed. Is it worth the short-term artificial success before you go to prison?

+ 2 Rating Posted by: T-TownTracker at Apr 25, 2008 at 01:22:44 PM
Dads, let's stop glorifying violence. Condemn violence so your sons might live a better life.

Fear is not respect, it just resembles it on the surface, so you are not respected, you just think you are. It's all in your head, like the drugs you do. That is why you are angry.

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

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

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

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