Kansas transparency headlines
From Sunshine Review
This article is a list of transparency related news from Kansas.
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| Report It • | The Good • | The Bad • | The Ugly | |
Kansas think tank reveals transparency website
Kansans have a clear look at how their state and local tax dollars are spent. Its sponsor is the Kansas Policy Institute, "an independent non-profit organization that works to put citizens in charge of open, efficient government."
KansasOpenGov gives taxpayers an unbiased look at spending and other raw data. Kansans can participate in a forum in order to add their own thoughts and analysis. There are sources from all official State government agencies and departments that provided the information. The think tank is working on gathering data from school districts and many local government entities.[1]
Kansas appoints AFL-CIO board member to state Supreme Court
The Wichita native Babich taught in his hometown’s public schools for three decades. Recently, Babich retired as the President of the United Teachers of Wichita, having served on the Kansas NEA Board of Directors. Babich received USD 259’s Distinguished Classroom Teacher Award and was a Fulbright Scholar to Israel.
The State Supreme Court Nominating Committee's duty is to recommend people for Kansas Supreme Court and the Kansas Court of Appeals appointments. Babich joins three public members serving on the board for a limit of two terms.
The Committee requires the Governor to appoint one public member per congressional district, amounting to four, and the members may not hold any other public elected or appointed position at the time they are appointed. The other members of the Committee are elected to their position by their local Bar Association, just as the Chair is elected into position.
The Supreme Court Nominating Commission are exempt from conflict of interest statements, so other information about these members is not readily available to the public.[1]
Former Junction City, Kansas commissioner indicted
Wunder, 52, was charged for allegedly taking $19,000 in bribes. The indictment against Wunder was issued under seal by a federal grand jury in June and unsealed Wednesday. Because Wunder was defeated in a re-election bid in April, his service as commissioner for more than a decade was interrupted.[1]
The U.S. Attorney's office says the case is ongoing the date for Wunder's initial court appearance has not been set.[1]
Wunder is charged with:
- One count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, violate the Hobbs Act and structure financial transactions to evade federal currency reporting requirements.
- One count of structuring financial transactions to evade the Bank Secrecy Act requiring reports on transactions of $10,000 or more.
- Five counts of unlawfully using his position as a Junction City Commissioner to obtain money and other properties.
- Three counts of bank fraud.
- One count of perjury.[2]
Bill reopens crime victim records
"Saying they were fixing a mistake from earlier in the legislative session, the state House of Representatives passed a bill Monday to restore most access to public information on crime victims.
The 117-0 vote sends the bill to the governor's desk. The Senate unanimously approved the bill last week.
Earlier this year, the Legislature passed and the governor signed a bill containing an error that could have closed public access to virtually all information on crime victims."
Local businessman challenges USD 259 bond award
"A local businessman says he's growing increasingly frustrated in trying to find out why the Wichita school board awarded a multi-million dollar project to a Dallas based company over him.
The bid to install the synthetic turf is the first contract awarded for the new bond issue.
The CEO of ATG sports says he and his attorney already filed a formal protest and open records request last week but heard nothing."
Crop groups seek records investigation
"Two associations of Kansas crop growers have asked the Marion County Attorney to investigate alleged violations of state open-records and open-meetings laws by two local municipalities.
The city councils of Marion and Hillsboro met in a closed session last month to discuss whether to enter into a lawsuit against the manufacturers of atrazine, a herbicide used by corn and grain sorghum farmers."
Ag groups seek query of open records, meetings law violations
"Jere White, the executive director of Kansas' corn and grain sorghum associations, has asked Marion County Attorney Susan Robson to investigate alleged violations of the state's transparency laws.
Robson's office confirmed today it has received the request."
Sheriff denies C-J's request
"Shawnee County Sheriff Richard Barta on Friday denied a request of The Topeka Capital-Journal to make public all information related to a March 18, 2008, incident in which an off-duty Topeka police officer stands charged in the shooting of brothers Daniel and Devin Llamas.
The Capital-Journal on Thursday asked Barta and Topeka Police Chief Ron Miller to reveal investigatory records as a matter of significant public interest. Although an exhaustive probe has taken place in the year-old case, many issues remain unresolved, and the possibility arose this week that key facts could remain obscured indefinitely."
Kan. House advances bill on records exceptions
"The Kansas House has given first-round approval to a bill renewing 30 exceptions to the state's Open Records Act for five more years.
The action came on a voice vote Monday. Another, final vote is expected Tuesday.
The Open Records Act generally requires government agencies to keep the records they collect and compile accessible to the public. But it contains 47 exceptions allowing officials keep certain documents confidential."
Secrecy clouds search for Wichita superintendent
"The first time Wichita residents hear the name of their next school superintendent could be when school board members announce who they've decided to hire.
School board president Lynn Rogers said Tuesday night that the board has narrowed the field of candidates to three. He said the board won't decide whether to release their names until after a second round of interviews.
Whether the board will release the names after it has chosen its finalists will probably depend on whether the candidates are comfortable with it, Rogers said."
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