LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Researchers are planning to measure ground water in western Kansas to check for dropping water levels.
The Kansas Geological Survey based at the University of Kansas will work with the Department of Agriculture in early January to track a drop in aquifer levels over the past 60 years.
A statement from the university says annual data has shown decreases in groundwater levels in the High Plains aquifer. Research cited sparse rains and a rise in irrigation usage.
The underground aquifer is the main water source for irrigation, cities and industries in western and central Kansas.
Survey water-data manager Brownie Wilson says most of western Kansas had moderate to severe drought this month. Counties on the Oklahoma border had extreme drought.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS says taxpayers can start filing their 2014 tax returns on Jan. 20.
The agency says tax season will start on time despite a last-minute tax law passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama.
Earlier this month, Congress passed a bill extending more than 50 tax breaks that had expired at the start of the year. The new law will allow taxpayers to claim the breaks when they file their 2014 returns.
Each year, millions of taxpayers file returns during the first few weeks of tax season so they can get quick refunds.
In recent years, the IRS says it was able to issue most tax refunds within 21 days, if the returns were filed electronically.
McCune- A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 2 p.m. on Monday in Crawford County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 GMC Jimmy driven by Ricky W. Culp, 22, was westbound on U.S. 400 attempting to turn north on Kansas 126 just south of McCune.
A 2014 Ford Explorer driven by Gayla D. Fisk, 53, Altamont, was westbound behind the GMC. The vehicle failed to stop and rear-ended the Jimmy.
Fisk was transported to Labette County Medical Center.
Culp, a passenger in the GMC and two children in the Ford were not injured.
The KHP reported all were properly restrained at the time of the accident.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal appeals court has refused to reconsider a decision allowing residents of Kansas and Arizona to register to vote using a federal form without providing proof of their U.S. citizenship.
A three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver issued a one-sentence ruling denying a request from the two states.
The appeals court ruled in November that Kansas and Arizona cannot demand help from federal officials in enforcing state laws requiring new voters to submit a birth certificate or other papers documenting U.S. citizenship.
The same panel overturned a ruling in March by U.S. District Court Judge Eric Melgren requiring the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to revise its federal voter registration form for those states to require proof of citizenship.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department says Indonesia has asked the United States for help in locating a missing AirAsia jet. The U.S. is considering ways to help.
The jet carrying 162 people is believed to have crashed into Indonesia’s Java Sea. The State Department says no Americans were on board.
The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta received a diplomatic note from Indonesian officials on Monday asking for assistance finding the plane. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke says the U.S. is identifying how best to help, but that it will take some time to review the request. He’s not specifying what types of assistance Indonesia has requested.
AirAsia Flight 8501 vanished Sunday morning on its way from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore.
The Office of the Public Counsel has initiated a complaint case before the Missouri Public Service Commission against Central Rivers Wastewater Utility, Inc. Central Rivers is an investor-owned utility serving approximately 241 customers in Clinton, Clay and Ray counties. The company’s service areas include neighborhoods in Kearney, Liberty, Cameron, and Richmond, Missouri.
After a review of Central Rivers’ own books and records, Public Counsel alleges two counts against Central Rivers. First, Public Counsel alleges that, beginning in 2006, Central Rivers charged unauthorized fees to customers in excess of its Commission-approved tariffs.
Public Counsel alleges the amount customers were overcharged totals of at least $57,477. Second, Public Counsel alleges that, since the year 2000, Central Rivers has consistently and systematically failed to return customer deposits to eligible customers. Public Counsel alleges that the amount owed to customers with related interest is at least $23,208. Aggregating both counts, Public Counsel assesses potential damages to Central Rivers’ past and current customers of at least $80,685.
Particular service areas for Central Rivers are the communities of: Berkshire Glen, Fox Run, Private Gardens and Bar-B Acres/Park Estates in Kearney, MO; Wilmar in Liberty, MO; Country Hill Estates in Cameron, MO; and Countryside Meadows in Richmond, MO.
“Regardless of their size, our investor-owned utilities in Missouri owe a duty to their customers to provide safe, reliable and affordable service. Customers have no choice but to use the utility in their service area, and when investor-owned utilities charge their customers unapproved fees and wrongly fail to return customer deposits, they violate the trust of their customers and must be held accountable,” said Acting Public Counsel Dustin Allison. “The Office of the Public Counsel will work expeditiously to get this money back where it belongs, in the hands of customers.”
The Missouri Public Service Commission is the state agency charged with regulating investor-owned utilities in Missouri. The Office of the Public Counsel represents the interests of the public before the Commission and on appeal in the courts.
The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Dec. 28, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking:
Record
Pts
Prv
1. Kentucky (65)
13-0
1,625
1
2. Duke
10-0
1,559
2
3. Virginia
11-0
1,457
5
4. Wisconsin
12-1
1,395
6
5. Louisville
11-1
1,327
4
6. Villanova
12-0
1,316
7
7. Gonzaga
12-1
1,249
8
8. Arizona
12-1
1,243
3
9. Iowa St.
9-1
1,005
12
10. Utah
9-2
956
14
11. Texas
10-2
903
9
12. Maryland
12-1
869
15
13. Kansas
9-2
775
10
14. Notre Dame
12-1
709
16
15. St. John’s
11-1
690
17
16. Wichita St.
10-2
630
11
17. West Virginia
11-1
584
18
18. Oklahoma
8-3
530
19
19. North Carolina
9-3
483
20
20. Ohio St.
11-2
435
21
21. Washington
11-1
253
13
22. Baylor
10-1
238
22
23. N. Iowa
11-1
216
23
24. Colorado St.
13-0
194
24
25. Georgetown
8-3
140
—
Others receiving votes: TCU 132, VCU 101, San Diego St. 40, Arkansas 27, George Washington 7, LSU 7, Old Dominion 7, Penn St. 5, UNLV 5, Indiana 4, Florida 2, Minnesota 2, Stanford 2, Army 1, California 1, Davidson 1.
Gov. Jay NixonGov. Jay Nixon on Monday announced pardons granted to eight men and one woman convicted of non-violent offenses. Each of the individuals has completed his or her sentence and has become a law-abiding citizen.
“The executive power to grant clemency is one I take with a great deal of consideration and seriousness,” Gov. Nixon said. “In each of the cases where I have granted a pardon, the individual has demonstrated the ability and willingness to turn his or her life around and become a contributing member of society, including two who served honorably in our nation’s military.”
Those granted pardons are:
* Alphonso Johnson is a union electrician and a minister who mentors troubled youth. In the late 1970s, he was convicted in St. Louis City of two misdemeanor stealing charges and served a 12-day sentence and a five-month sentence;
* Richard Owens served in the Missouri Army National Guard, the Georgia Army National Guard and the United States Army, and was decorated for service in Germany and Iraq before receiving a medical discharge. He joined the military after completing his probation for being convicted in Butler County of property damage and second-degree burglary for stealing a five-gallon water jug that was a quarter full of mixed change in 1993;
* Orlando Rivera was deployed five times with the U.S. Army to Iraq and Afghanistan, winning several medals, including the Bronze Star. He also has been awarded the Purple Heart four times. He was placed on probation in 2006 after being convicted in Webster County of possession of marijuana;
* Carol Shadden has been employed steadily in the restaurant industry, including in management positions, and has taken college courses. In 1987, she was convicted in Greene County of misdemeanor stealing for remaining on state assistance after she was no longer eligible and was given two years’ probation. She paid full restitution and successfully completed her probation;
* Joseph Frye received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and has been active in his community, including by serving as an alderman for the village of Hunnewell. He was discharged early from his probationary period after being convicted in Montgomery County of stealing and second-degree burglary in 1991for the theft of two aluminum storm doors and other miscellaneous items. He paid all court-ordered restitution;
* Egial Hopkins is retired from the health care industry and has long been involved with volunteer work. In 1970, he was placed on two years’ probation after being convicted in Clay County of forgery for writing $74 in bad checks. Prior to sentencing, he paid restitution in full;
* Steven Lusher has earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Missouri S&T, and has been a senior research specialist for several years. In 1989, he was convicted in Cole County of possession of marijuana and placed on five years’ probation;
* Curtis Mullins has earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work, and his employment has included working as a teacher, a juvenile officer and as the executive director of an adoption agency. In 1969, he was placed on probation for one year after being convicted in St. Louis City of stealing a diamond ring; and
* Bobby Covey has worked in construction and maintenance. In 1988, he was placed on five years’ probation after being convicted in Ray County of two counts of selling marijuana.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s chief of staff is stepping down next week to take a job with an auto industry group in Washington.
Brownback’s office announced Landon Fulmer’s departure Monday. Fulmer has been the Republican governor’s chief of staff since April 2012.
Fulmer will become vice president of state affairs with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. It represents 12 companies accounting for 77 percent of U.S. car and light truck sales.
Brownback said he is promoting Jon Hummell from policy director to chief of staff. Hummell will keep his duties as policy director until the position can be filled.
The governor’s office also said that Chuck Knapp will serve as chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer while remaining as operations director at the Department for Children and Families.
NEW YORK (AP) — Fiat Chrysler is recalling about 67,000 model year 2006 and 2007 pickups because of a problem that could prevent the cars from starting, or cause them to move when the ignition key is turned.
The company says a wire in the clutch ignition interlock switch could break. That could keep the truck from starting, or if drivers don’t follow recommended starting procedures, the truck could move when the ignition key is turned. Chrysler says one death is associated with the problem.
The company is recalling Dodge Dakota, Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, 3500 and Mitsubishi Raider pickups that were made between July 2005 and June 2006. Nearly 55,000 of them are in the U.S.
FCA US LLC, the former Chrysler Group LLC, will replace the switches at no cost to consumers.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Researchers are planning to measure ground water in western Kansas to check for dropping water levels.
