Kansas House approves coal plant
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The Kansas House today again endorsed legislation designed to allow an expansion of a coal-burning power plant, inching closer to a veto showdown with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Understanding the issues with ‘Bodies Revealed’
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“I think Union Station has an obligation to know how the bodies were acquired, and I think that the exhibitors need to present them with full documentation on the origin of the bodies for the exhibit. It seems that part of the attraction to this exhibit is that these are actual human bodies. And in that regard, there is a kind of sensationalism underneath it. As Bishop Finn and I said in our original joint statement, it borders on human taxidermy. Do we stuff people for exhibitions?”- Archbishop Joseph Naumann.

AFP outlines its ‘model’ budget plan
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A group that argues for limits on government spending is proposing its own “model” budget for legislators to consider. The proposal is from the Kansas chapter of Americans for Prosperity. It would hold the growth in spending financed with general tax revenues to 3.5 percent for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ budget calls for growth of 4.6 percent. Not only would the group’s plan spend about $107 million less than the governor’s budget, it would leave room for tax cuts. Americans for Prosperity is proposing more than $187 million in cuts. The group’s model budget would consolidate water programs, eliminate the Kansas Arts Commission and fold the Human Rights Commission into the attorney general’s office.

Pflumm displays good conservative principles in Shawnee Mayor’s Race
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Dan Pflumm: The key to keeping taxes down is make sure we have the correct balance between residential and commercial real estate. By increasing our commercial development we will increase our sales tax dollars and achieve to the desired balance. We need to watch our spending and verify that our services do not suffer do to poor business practices. In response, current Mayor Jeff Meyers said, “I could pander to voters and say I plan to slash the city’s tax rate, but as Mayor, I will continue to govern in the real world rather than my opponent’s fantasy land.”

The Slippery Slope Begins: KU to offer domestic partner benefits
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It’s past time to offer domestic partnership benefits. That was the consensus reached Tuesday at a meeting of Kansas University’s University Senate Executive Committee. But more than domestic partnership benefits, the committee concluded that KU’s entire benefits system needs to be revised to give faculty, staff and even students more options.

Profiling bill problematic
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"Some of the language in Sen. Betts' bill is too restrictive and will prevent us from doing our job of keeping the public safe," said Johnson County Sheriff Frank Denning, who spoke for the Kansas Sheriffs Association, which opposed the measure. Sometimes the descriptions officers might have for investigations include the suspect's race, said Sean McCauley, attorney for the Kansas State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police. Officers acting on that information would be guilty of racial profiling under the proposal because race was a factor. The profiling law is a train-wreck of political correctness.

Record-high grain prices bolstering rural economy
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Record-high grain prices are fueling a rural economic boom in U.S. farm states such as Kansas. While their city neighbors are struggling with foreclosures and fears of a recession, a lot more money is circulating in rural Kansas today, said Jere White, executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association.

MO Treasurer: Illegal workers shorting Missouri by $49 million
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Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman says Missouri is missing out on as much as $49 million a year from illegal immigrants not paying income taxes.

Athletic Director accused of having meth lab
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The Butler, Missouri High School Athletic Director was arrested this week for the manufacture and possession of methamphetamine after a meth lab was discovered at his residence.

Adult store sting operation nets 10 arrests
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Undercover Wichita police on Thursday arrested 10 men --some of whom groped the officers--in a sting operation at an adult bookstore on West Kellogg. Eight of the men exposed themselves to undercover officers, and four of them groped the officers in private booths in the store, Sgt. Randy Reynolds said Friday.

Suspect accused of intent to abduct 13-year-old
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Stout, who has claimed residence in Parks, Ark. — but court records list an Olathe address — faces felony charges of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, three counts of lewd and lascivious behavior and fleeing from police. Stout was granted diversion in a 2000 Lawrence exposure case and also pleaded guilty in 2006 to misdemeanor sexual misconduct in Clay County, Mo. Prosecutors said that case involved a April 8, 2005, incident also outside a junior high school. Stout also removed the license plate from his car and exposed himself to two children.