End of grand jury leaves questions
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The Johnson County grand jury’s investigation into Planned Parenthood’s Overland Park clinic left doubt as to whether jurors were given all the information necessary to make a decision. There was more interference from the judge, special counsel and the subject of the investigation than usual in grand jury inquests. And the abrupt ending of the grand jury investigation leaves more questions than answers. What’s puzzling is how the court allowed Planned Parenthood to negotiate — or dictate — what it gave to the grand jury. When does the subject of a criminal investigation negotiate evidence? Subjects negotiate plea agreements but not evidence subpoenaed by grand jury.

Feds want power plant in Kansas
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The federal government has asked Kansas and other states vying for a new Department of Homeland Security laboratory to commit to building a power plant for the facility. Homeland Security has proposed a $450 million National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility that would focus on potential food supply threats. DHS has requested that the facility have a separate gas-fired power plant, Sebelius said. That’s not wind Governor!.

Is ethanol boom going bust?
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Tough times have struck the ethanol industry as profit margins have declined while corn prices have soared. Last month, Cargill suspended development of an ethanol plant near Topeka. An ethanol plant that opened last fall in Pratt already has stopped producing ethanol. A new biofuels plant in Mead, Neb., shut down last fall. Another ethanol plant in Canton, Ill., is in bankruptcy.

Moran and Tiahrt vote with Liberals on Pork Spending Bill
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38 Republicans voted against their own party on the one bill that establishes all of the discretionary spending for a full fiscal year. In other words, it wouldn't be unfair to say that this budget defines what it means to be an economic conservative. And yet, these 38 Republicans voted against it. It speaks volumes about their misguided priorities.

Your taxes at work: Art money to go to new juvenile detention center
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The county has now seated the final member of its Public Art Commission, which will advise the county on its new 1 percent tax for arts program. Bob Rohlf of Leawood, president and executive producer of Starlight Theatre, will serve a three-year term. He’s a member of the Kansas City Arts Council. The first Johnson County project that could qualify for art funding is the $17.4 million juvenile services and detention campus in downtown Olathe.

Liberal Correctional System causes Crime Increase
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The number of major crimes in Wichita jumped 19.5 percent during the first two months of 2008, and Wichita police said Friday that they suspect the increase was partly the result of the state's reluctance to return parolees to prison. Wichita Police Deputy Chief Tom Stolz said there were probably several reasons: A growing population of young males in their crime-prone years; An economic environment that has seen sharp jumps in the cost of gasoline and other product; and, state laws that call for most nonviolent offenders to be sentenced to probation. But he said parolees were a big part of the equation. The Kansas Department of Corrections agreed that in years past, a parolee who violated the terms of his or her parole could expect to be sent back to prison for 90 days. Under the current system many offenders are being given second and third chances.

Former teacher indicted on child porn charges
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The day federal investigators descended on Coen Potts' Topeka apartment was his last as an area elementary school art teacher. The woman told the FBI she cut off contact the next month when Potts shared a fantasy that they would get married and have children that he could "deflower."

KCMO Mayor wants to curtail spending
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Mayor Mark Funkhouser today presented his recommendations for Kansas City’s budget, saying he wants to concentrate on priorities of “streets, codes, cops and kids.” Funkhouser, who studied the city’s budget in depth during his 18 years as city auditor, offered his ideas for how to fund those services — by cutting tens of millions of dollars elsewhere during a strapped budget year.

McCaskill speaks in support of Sen. DeMint’s Earmarks Bill
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Democrat US Senator in Missouri supports conservative Republican’s “government spending reduction” bill.

New Leadership in Westwood Sought
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Teresa Elder, a 43-year-old business owner, is vying for the seat because she thinks the city needs a change in leadership. She is on a slate, called A Better Westwood, with two City Council candidates, John Ye and Paul Day.

Roeland Park Council criticizes Mayor’s lack of leadership
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SThe council began considering a policy following a special meeting earlier this year to discuss audience outbursts and a lack of decorum at council meetings. Requested by Councilmen Scott Gregory, Toni Hull and Bob Myers, the meeting addressed behavior at a December council sessions including the non-enforcement of council rules for meetings. Councilmen criticized Mayor Steve Petrehn for not controlling outbursts in the meeting.

Obscenity case businesses make appearance
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Two area businesses indicted by a Johnson County grand jury for promoting obscenity appeared Friday in Johnson County District Court.