TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget director says Brownback doesn’t plan to divert funds from the state’s public pension system again to help close budget shortfalls.

Budget Director Shawn Sullivan told a legislative committee Friday that the diversion of nearly $41 million from the pension system for teachers and government workers to general government programs is a one-time event.

The Republican governor diverted the money to help close a projected $279 million shortfall in the current budget. The state also faces a $436 million gap in its budget for the fiscal year beginning in July.

The diversion sparked bipartisan criticism because the pension system’s benefits are only 60 percent funded through 2033. A 2012 law boosted contributions by both the state and workers to ensure that the system becomes fully funded.

————

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top aides to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback are urging legislators to study major changes in the pension system for teachers and government workers that include privatizing it.

Budget Director Shawn Sullivan and Secretary of Administration Jim Clark on Friday outlined potential ideas for a study during a meeting a joint study committee on pensions.

Brownback said last week that he is working on proposals to improve the long-term financial health of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. His comments followed bipartisan criticism of his decision to divert nearly $41 million from KPERS to general government programs to help close a projected shortfall in the current budget.

Sullivan and Clark urged legislators to launch a study of converting the state’s long-term pension obligations into annuities managed by private companies.

Hutchinson, Kan. – The Kansas State Fair announced in a media release today it has received Awards of Distinction representing Agriculture and Communications from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) headquartered in Springfield, Mo. 

The Kansas State Fair received the first place Agriculture Award of Excellence for the Fair’s program featuring Fair and Sponsor Joint Exhibit Program (Kansas Energy Expo).  They also received first place for Agricultural Photo Series – Photo series taken by Loribeth Reynolds from Hutchinson Community College as a participant of the Kansas State Fair’s Scholastic Press Corps Internship program.  In addition, the Kansas State Fair received third place for Special/Specific Agricultural Educational Event, Exhibit or Program for the Fairgoing Public (Kansas State Fair Duck Slide), Newly Established or Developed Program to Promote Agriculture (STEAM Ahead Initiative), and third place for Program Designed to Correct an Issue Related to Competitive or Non-Competitive Agriculture Program (sight/glare issues related to windows at the milking parlor).

There are a total of 14 Agriculture Award categories, each divided into five divisions by attendance. The Kansas State Fair’s 2014 marketing campaign, “Get On A Stick” garnered Hall of Honor Communications Awards in the following categories: First place, Outstanding Radio Ad; First place, Unique Advertising Specialties/Merchandise/Souvenirs and second place award for the Best Marketing Campaign. There are a total of 21 award categories for the Hall of Honor Communications Awards, each divided into five divisions by attendance. Judging of these awards are evaluated and judged by a team of industry leaders. These individuals are selected from the membership of the IAFE, which has over 1,200 members from around the globe.

 “It is always nice to have our industry recognize the Kansas State Fair on an international platform,” Denny Stoecklein, Kansas State Fair General Manager, stated. “We work hard to ensure the Kansas State Fair is an event Kansans are proud of and this international recognition is just icing on the cake.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents says it won’t recommend a proposed funding mechanism that would tie college budgets to specific performance-based benchmarks.

Instead, the board said it would recommend the Legislature delay considering any kind of performance-based budgeting model until the state’s financial condition turns around. It wants the model to be used as an incentive to qualify for additional funding, above what schools receive in their base budgets.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports state lawmakers had urged the board in August to develop a metrics model that could be considered by the Legislature in its next session.

A task force appointed to create a proposal offered its plan to the regents Thursday. It called for setting goals for each university and offering payments based on targets like the number of awarded certificates and degree

ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says it’s determined the North Korean government was behind a devastating hacking attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The FBI announcement Friday is the first official statement blaming the isolated country for the cyber-attack.

In the statement, federal officials say they found similarities between the tools used in the Sony attack and previous hacks linked to North Korea.

Administration officials had previously declined to openly blame North Korea but said they were weighing various options for a response.

The break-in resulted in the disclosure of tens of thousands of leaked emails and other materials and escalated to terrorist threats that promoted Sony to cancel the Christmas release of the movie “The Interview.” The comedy is about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Saying the word “Redskins” on the air isn’t obscene or profane — at least not according to the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC on Thursday dismissed a petition that called for one of the team’s flagship radio stations not to have its license renewed. The petition claimed repeated use of the word “Redskins” violates rules against indecent content.

But the FCC said that the law defines profanity as sexual or excretory in nature — meanings that don’t relate to the name of the football team.

Many Native American and other groups consider “Redskins” to be a racial slur and have demanded that owner Dan Snyder change the name. Snyder has vowed to keep it, despite mounting pressure over the past two years.

Thursday’s ruling affects the Snyder-owned station WWXX-FM.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmate, being held for crimes in NE Kansas, was formally charged on Thursday in connection with a July 2014 attack on a prison contract worker.

Steven Stumpner, 28, was charged with rape and aggravated sexual battery. The state alleges he forced a contract worker for the prison into sex without consent.

Stumpner is serving time in prison for two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of theft and battery of a correction’s officer. The first four counts are for crimes in Johnson County, while the final conviction is out of Pawnee County.

The case will move to a waiver status docket on Jan. 7.

DETROIT (AP) — Chrysler is recalling nearly 257,000 older Ram pickup trucks because the rear axle can seize or the drive shaft can fall off.

The recall covers Ram 1500 pickups from the 2005 model year.

Chrysler says in documents posted Friday by U.S. safety regulators that the rear-axle pinion nut can come loose. That can cause problems that make the trucks spin out of control.

The recall comes after an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that began in June.

The agency found 15 complaints, including seven drivers who reported that the wheels locked at speeds over 50 miles per hour. At the time, no crashes or injuries were reported.

Dealers will install a fix at no cost to owners. The recall will begin in February.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 20-year-old Lawrence woman charged with killing her 52-year-old roommate will go on trial in March.

Douglas County District Judge Paula Martin on Thursday set the new trial date for Sarah Gonzales McLinn, charged with first-degree murder in the January death Harold M. Sasko. Her trial was scheduled for Jan. 5 but attorneys sought the delay.

At a preliminary hearing in May, witnesses testified that Sasko was drugged with sleeping pills, bound and nearly decapitated at the home he shared with McLinn.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson is seeking a Hard 50 sentence for McLinn.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports (http://bit.ly/1DRklhn ) McClinn’s attorney has argued she is mentally ill and has never denied killing Sasko.

McLinn remains in the Douglas County Jail on a $1 million bond.