JOCO DA - Murder Case upgraded to Capital Murder
Story
Charges against Edwin R. “Jack” Hall, the man accused of kidnapping and killing Kelsey Smith, were amended this morning to capital murder and now include rape and aggravated criminal sodomy charges.

Brownback stands strong on Stem cell research
Story
Sen. Sam Brownback recently voted in committee against the fiscal 2008 spending bill for Labor, Health and Education because it includes a provision that would expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Brownback, R-Kan., a conservative running for president, opposes the research on moral grounds because it entails the destruction of human embryos. But he did get a $500,000 earmark added to the bill (S 1710) for the Midwest Institute for Comparative Stem Cell Biology. The institute, part of Kansas State University, conducts research using stem cells derived from non-controversial sources, primarily human and animal umbilical cords.

Boyda wants taxpayers to pay for prison museum
Story
The group singled out U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-KS, who requested nearly $1.2 million for the museum. The request has not been acted on yet, but Americans for Prosperity said it was important the public know about it. “If there is truly a market for a prison museum, people who find it interesting should pay for it — not the 99.9 percent of taxpayers who will never visit it,” said Alan Cobb, who directs the Kansas chapter of Americans for Prosperity.

Councilman is registered sex offender
Story
An Edwardsville councilman has resigned as City Council president after news recently surfaced that he is registered as a sex offender in Wisconsin. Councilman Patrick Isenhour announced at Monday’s meeting that he would step down as president but said he had no intention of resigning his council seat.

Johnson County appoints Treasurer
Story
Letcher, named to the post Monday by County Manager Mike Press, will be responsible for 85 full-time employees who oversee $1 billion in taxes, including collection of delinquent accounts. Seven years ago, voters approved the county’s new Home Rule Charter, making the county treasurer an appointed position. This is a very important position and one that should be elected by the people, not appointed.

Leavenworth man convicted of sodomy on 4-year-old
Story
Shawn M. Jones, 29, was convicted Tuesday of first-degree statutory sodomy for sexually abusing a 4-year-old girl.

Hispanic Chamber doesn’t want assimilation into American Culture
Story
In a month or so, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City will unveil its new Web site, which for the first time will be bilingual. And the chamber’s meetings also are now in Spanish. Apparently, the Hispanic Chamber is not going to help people assimilate into American culture. Another step toward multiculturalism.

Agnostic to teach Theology classes at Church
Story
Theology classes will be offered at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lawrence by Bart Ehrman, a theologian at the University of North Carolina. However, Ehrman is agnostic!