TOPEKA -Governor Sam Brownback issued a statement on education following the decision of a three-member panel from the Shawnee County District Court that Kansas isn’t spending enough money on public schools to provide a suitable education for every child.

“I am still digesting the full implication of the district court’s 116-page ruling. I continue to believe that restructuring the school funding formula and implementing education policy reforms is critical not only to getting more money into our classrooms but also improving student achievement. I will be working with legislative leadership to address the best path forward,” said the Governor.

The three judges on Tuesday did not set a specific figure but said evidence indicates the state needs to spend at least $548 million more a year.

MIAMI (AP) — Five men held for a dozen years without charge at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have been sent to the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan for resettlement.

The two men from Tunisia and three Yemenis are among dozens of men held at Guantanamo who have been cleared for release but cannot be sent home.

All five were captured in Pakistan and held in Guantanamo as suspected militants with ties to al-Qaeda. A government task force determined they no longer posed a threat.

A Pentagon statement Tuesday said the release of the five brings the Guantanamo prisoner population to 127. Nearly 30 prisoners have been resettled in third countries this year as part of President Barack Obama’s renewed push to close the detention center over opposition from Congress.

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Everything from tigers to taxes and wine to willingness is covered by new laws taking effect in the new year.

A New York law bans tiger selfies starting in February. They’ve been increasingly used by young men as social media profile photos. No photos with lions or other big cats either.

Wine gets a boost in the Bay State. Out-of-state wineries can ship bottles directly to consumers in Massachusetts.

California is trying to end any question over whether no really means yes. The new standard for sex between college students is “yes means yes”. That means active consent. Silence or lack of resistance isn’t enough.

California is also requiring more living space for egg-laying hens, breeding sows and veal calves.

Michigan is trying to cut down on meth manufacture by restricting the purchase of cough and cold medicines.

And school skipping students in Nevada could lose their driving privileges.

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — The mother of a man who died in a southwest Missouri jail after being strapped in a restraint chair for several hours has settled her lawsuit against Jasper County and other defendants.
An attorney for Jane Brown of Joplin says she received $250,000 in her lawsuit over the December 2012 death of her son, 43-year-old Richard Watson, in the Jasper County jail. Attorney Brandon Potter said Tuesday the rest of the settlement is confidential.
The Joplin Globe reports Watson suffered from physical and psychological issues. The lawsuit alleged Watson was placed in an emergency restraint chair after injuring his head in a fall and was left for at least 21 hours without proper food, water or his medications.

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A grand jury has indicted a Kansas City, Kansas man in the shooting of a suburban Kansas City police officer.

Thirty-one-year-old Omar Maria was indicted Tuesday on felony charges of assault on a law enforcement officer and armed criminal action.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Pleasant Valley Police Officer Jacob Baldwin was shot Dec. 13 after he stopped a car for a registration violation. Investigators say the vehicle’s driver jumped out and fired several shots at Baldwin’s car before the officer could get out of the vehicle.

Baldwin was hit in the face but was able to call for help. The suspect fled.

Maria was arrested the next day after a brief standoff Kansas City, Kansas. He’s being held in Leavenworth County on $1 million bail.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Volkswagen Group of America is recalling about 38,000 cars because a fuel leak in the engine may cause a fire.

The automaker said no injuries or accidents have been reported.

The recall covers 2014 to 2015 model years of the Volkswagen Beetle, Jetta, Passat and 2015 models of the Golf and GTI.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said drivers might smell gas inside their vehicles. Volkswagen is telling owners who smell gas or see the electronic power control warning light go on to immediately bring the vehicle to a Volkswagen dealer to have the fuel system inspected.

Volkswagen said that it would notify owners of the recalled cars. There is no cost to owners for the repairs.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon plans to deliver his annual State of the State Address on the evening of Jan. 21.
The Democratic governor will be making his seventh address to a joint session of the Republican-led House and Senate since first taking office in 2009. The speech will be used to outline the governor’s budget and policy priorities for the 2015 legislative session.
Nixon announced the date of his speech Tuesday. It’s the same date on which he delivered the speech in 2014.