ROUND ROCK, Texas (AP) — A buffalo that roamed away from home has been recaptured after being cornered by police in Central Texas in a chase through a residential area.
Round Rock police were dispatched Friday morning when the owner reported the buffalo jumped some fences at a rural property and fled.
Patrol car video shows officers with flashing lights chasing the buffalo as it gallops along sidewalks, on grass and into streets.
Officers managed to secure the buffalo, safely returning the animal to its home.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Kansas Governor Sam Brownback says he is open to raising the sales tax to fill gaps in state’s budget.
Brownback said during a news conference Thursday that over time he would like to shift the state from income and property taxes to consumption taxes.
The state faces budget shortfalls of nearly $600 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1st. The Senate passed a budget in March that does not balance without tax increases.
The governor has recommended raising taxes on cigarettes and alcohol to generate the revenue needed to fill the budget gaps.
He said Thursday that he hopes the Legislature will come up with a broad mix of consumption taxes and would be open to an overall sales tax hike.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House has passed legislation aimed at addressing ethics concerns in the only state that allows both unlimited campaign contributions and lobbyist gifts while permitting lawmakers to immediately become lobbyists after leaving office.
The House on Thursday approved the bill 132-14.
The original Senate bill blocked lawmakers elected next year from becoming lobbyists until two years after leaving office. It also prevented lobbyists from paying for out-of-state trips for lawmakers.
House Republicans bulked up the Senate measure to also limit lobbyist gifts to $25. Other changes include applying a cooling-off period to current legislators, but allowing them to enter lobbying a year after leaving office.
Senators can either approve the amended bill as is or hash out differences with the House.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A state audit says more than $7 million in funds meant for Missouri highways was improperly spent by the state transportation department.
The report released Thursday says the Department of Transportation used nearly $3.8 million of road funds for safety grants to local entities.
It says the department also spent nearly $1.9 million from road funds to settle employee discrimination lawsuits, and paid nearly $1.5 million to employees on administrative leave who were subsequently laid off.
The department said that spending was within its rights, but it would try to find other funding sources for some expenses.
The audit comes as the transportation department has been warning of a funding shortfall that will prevent it from adequately maintaining all of Missouri’s roads and bridges.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri may soon join the rest of the country in creating a prescription drug monitoring database that supporters say will curb substance abuse.
The Missouri Senate passed a measure 24-10 Thursday that would track prescription drugs. It’s been held up in previous years because of privacy concerns.
The measure would create a monitoring program to track when prescriptions for controlled drugs are written and filled, with a goal of preventing abuse of addictive pills such as painkillers.
The bill includes protections for the data and limits on accessing it, as well as penalties for improper use or sharing of the information.
Some Republican lawmakers say they still are concerned about the risks to such sensitive personal information.
The Senate version now goes to the House, which approved a similar program.
The 24-10 roll call vote Thursday by which the Missouri Senate passed legislation authorizing the creation of a state database to track prescription drug purchases.
Voting “yes” were 15 Republicans and nine Democrats.
Voting “no” were 10 Republicans including Sen. Rob Schaaf of St. Joseph.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will become the fifth state to allow its residents to carry concealed firearms without a permit throughout the state.
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback on Thursday signed a bill ending the permit requirement. The change takes effect July 1.
The National Rifle Association says Kansas joins Alaska, Arizona, Vermont and Wyoming in having such a policy. The NRA says Montana and Arkansas have concealed carry without a permit, but not everywhere.
Kansas still will issue permits for gun owners who want to carry concealed in other states that recognize Kansas permits. A person seeking a Kansas permit must undergo eight hours of firearms training.
Brownback said gun owners have shown they are responsible.
But Democratic state Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau of Wichita said the state still should require some training.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Delinquent Missouri taxpayers could get their first chance since 2002 to pay back taxes without facing penalties under a proposal that is moving forward in the state Senate.
Senators gave initial approval Wednesday to a tax amnesty measure that would bring an estimated $60 million for fiscal year 2016.
The money would have to be used for rate increases for Medicaid providers or Medicaid dental coverage for adults, which lawmakers have previously funded but the governor has blocked.
Delinquent taxpayers would need to pay between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30 to qualify. They also would need to comply with state tax laws for the next eight years.
Unpaid taxes before Dec. 31 would be eligible.
The measure faces another vote in the Senate before returning to the House.
FARMINGTON, Mo. (AP) — An eastern Missouri police officer is facing child abuse charges for allegedly throwing a 4-year-old boy against a wall.
The Daily Journal newspaper in Park Hills, Missouri reports that 38-year-old Jay Bellis of Farmington was hired by the Leadwood Police Department on March 12.
He is charged with felony child abuse. Police say Bellis admitted losing his temper and throwing the child, causing the boy to hit his head on a kitchen cabinet, and causing the boy’s ear to bleed while disciplining him for misbehaving at daycare.
Bellis is jailed on $50,000 bond and does not have a listed attorney.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Democratic lawmaker is under investigation after nine GOP lawmakers complained about comments she made during a committee hearing.
The panel of three Republicans and three Democrats selected to look into the complaint held their opening hearing Wednesday. It will meet again to begin the investigation April 30.
The complaint concerns comments Valdenia Winn made during a House Education Committee meeting March 19th.
Winn criticized a bill to repeal a law giving a tuition break at public universities and colleges to young students living in the U.S. illegally.
Winn is black and called the proposal racist. Winn declined to comment after the panel’s meeting.
House Minority Leader Tom Burroughs said in a statement that the investigation is Republican attempt to silence a minority voice speaking out against discrimination.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Hallmark Cards is offering a buyout program as it tries to cut 200 jobs by this summer.
The company announced the buyouts Monday for eligible employees in its product development and creation business.
President David Hall says the company is looking for ways to reduce costs as consumer spending changes.
The Kansas City Star reports (http://bit.ly/1bMjDWw ) eligibility for the buyouts will be based on a combination of years of service and age. If enough employees don’t take the voluntary buyout, involuntary staff cuts will occur.
Employees will be offered severance payments and outplacement assistance.
