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Top Morning News 4.10.13

Despite rain, ground still too dry for burning; Judge orders restitution in child porn case; Washburn University holding Jules Verne film fest. 

Burn Ban In Effect, Despite Recent Rain

Though much of Kansas has received plenty of rain recently, state fire officials say it's still too dry for outdoor burning.

The State Fire Marshal and Kansas Interagency Wildfire Council issued a burn advisory Tuesday, citing high winds, low humidity and other factors. State Fire Marshal Doug Jorgensen says that because of the drought, residents should plan to delay burning fields and other areas for another year.

In instances where prescribed burns are essential this spring, officials recommend checking for local burn bans, alerting neighbors beforehand, and making sure adequate resources are available to keep fires from getting out of control.

Wildfires burned more than 41,000 acres in Kansas last year.

Judge Considers $2M Restitution In Child Porn Case

A federal judge has been asked to award three child pornography victims more than $2 million dollars in restitution from a Kansas man convicted of downloading their images over the Internet.

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Kan. University To Hold Jules Verne Fest

Washburn University is planning a film festival highlighting the futuristic tales told by 19th century novelist Jules Verne.

The event will take place May 3 and May 4 in the Henderson Learning Resources Center at the university. Films begin at 7 p.m. the first day and 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on the second day.

Verne was a pioneer of the science fiction genre. Works that will be featured include a film adaptation of Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."

Kan. Abortion Rights Advocates Deliver Petitions To Gov

A group of abortion-rights supporters delivered 1,600 signed petitions to Gov. Brownback Tuesday. The petitions asked the governor not to sign a bill that puts new restrictions on abortion.

Legislators passed a bill Friday that declares life begins at fertilization. The measure also blocks tax breaks for organizations that provide abortions and makes it illegal to perform an abortion based solely on the baby's sex. Gov. Brownback is expected to sign the bill.

The group presenting the petitions included representative from the Kansas National Organization for Women, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri, the Mainstream Coalition and Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri.

When she's not out making lattes in her mobile coffee bus Sunflower Espresso, Kate Hutchens is a fill-in host for KMUW. She has worked in broadcast journalism at KFDI, Oregon Public Broadcasting, and at KMUW as Morning Edition host, which she did until March 2017.