The Kansas Gas Service says the rate hike is fair; Sorgum based fuel qualifies as renewable energy source; Jenkins says it won't be easy for Kansas to retake ag seat.
KS Ratepayers Board: KGS Rate Hike Is Fair
The Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board, a consumer advocacy agency for utility customers, says the agreement recently reached on a Kansas Gas Service rate hike was a fair one.
Brownback Applauds EPA's Ruling On Grain Sorgum
Governor Sam Brownback says Kansas could benefit from an Environmental Protection Agency decision that says grain sorghum ethanol qualifies as a renewable fuel under federal standards.
Jenkins: Not Easy For KS To Regain Ag Committee Seat
Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins says it may not be easy to get a Kansan back on the Agriculture Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. Kansas congressman Tim Huelskamp lost his seat on the committee last week.
KS Lawmakers Discuss Court Selection Process
Conservative lawmakers are discussing options for changing how Kansas' appellate and Supreme Court judges are selected. The issue came up Saturday during a Legislative retreat in Topeka.
University of Kansas law professor Stephen Ware says Kansas' judicial selection system is unusual and "undemocratic" in how it selects its nominating commission. The governor selects four members of the commission, and members of the Kansas Bar Association elect another five members.
Ware says Kansas is alone in giving the Bar control of the majority of the commission. Ware says he favors eliminating the commission and having the governor select judges with confirmation votes by the Senate.
Conservatives favor the idea. But Democrats and some moderate Republicans say that would give the governor too much power.
Brownback Speaks At Religous Event
Governor Brownback spoke this weekend at a religious event in Topeka, drawing criticism from a group that promotes the separation of church and state.
Several hundred people attended the privately funded ReignDown USA event Saturday. Brownback talked for about 10 minutes and said he turned to religion in 1995 when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State said Sunday that Brownback was elected to serve as governor of Kansas, "not pastor-in-chief."
