Campaign finance reports show Dems out spending their Republican challengers; PACs have big money to spend in last days leading up to election; Kansas cold weather law goes into effect.
Dems Outspend GOP Challengers In Key KS Senate Races
New campaign finance reports show Democrats in hotly contested Kansas Senate races out spending their Republican opponents over the past three months.
Reports filed this week with the secretary of state's office show the widest gap between Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley and GOP challenger Casey Moore. Both are from Topeka and running in the 19th Senate District.
Hensley reported spending nearly $113,000 on his re-election campaign from July 27th through October 25th, compared with the roughly $12,000 spent by Moore.
Another closely watched race is in the 5th District in the Kansas City area. Democratic incumbent Kelly Kultala of Kansas City reported spending more than $56,000 over the past three months. Republican Steve Fitzgerald of Leavenworth spent about $51,000.
PACs Raising, Spending Big Bucks In Kansas
Political action committees, or PACs, have submitted their last campaign finance reports before the fall election. Two of the wealthiest in Kansas are a PAC connected to a teachers' union and another affiliated with the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.
4 KS Inmates Treated For Medical Emergencies
Officials at a Kansas prison are investigating a medical problem that sent two inmates to Wichita-area hospitals and two others to the prison clinic.
The four were taken from Hutchinson Correctional Facility's administrative segregation unit yesterday afternoon for what were described as "unknown medical issues." Prison spokesperson Dirk Moss said in a news release that one inmate was evaluated and released from the clinic, while another was held for observation.
A third was flown to a hospital in the Wichita area. The fourth was transported by ambulance.
Kansas Cold Weather Rule Begins Nov. 1
Tomorrow marks the start of the cold weather rule period in Kansas, restricting utility cutoffs for nonpayment of bills.
Olathe's Berry Named KS Superintendent Of Year
The leader of a northeastern Kansas school district has been named Kansas superintendent of the year.
Olathe's Marlin Berry is the recipient of the award from the Kansas School Superintendents' Association. The award was announced this week. It also allows Berry to select a high school senior for a $1,000 scholarship.
Berry has been an administrator with Olathe Public Schools since 2007 and superintendent since 2010. He has also been superintendent of the Smoky Valley and Abilene districts.
