Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoes the latest bipartisan tax bills and proposes an alternative plan for the legislature to consider.

She says her plan will accelerate the complete elimination of food sales tax to July 1^st. Her plan will keep the current three tax brackets in place but lowers rates while increasing the standard deduction, personal exemption and child care tax credit for dependent care expenses. The plan immediately eliminates state taxes on all Social Security income. Governor Kelly says her plan would also cut property taxes for Kansans by exempting the first $125,000 of all homes from the statewide property tax levy.

She says she is committed to meaningful tax relief across the board, but they must cut taxes in a responsible way. Governor Kelly says her reasoning for the veto was it was too expensive so she is asking the legislature to pass this plan, which will continue the progress they've made for the state, without breaking the bank.

Snakes are emerging from their winter hibernation period. In their search for food and habitat, they could potentially end up in unwelcoming places.

K-State Wildlife Specialist Drew Ricketts says there are benefits to having snakes around.  Ricketts says it's important to be able to identify the different types of snakes.

Ricketts says if a home has a snake problem glue traps can be bought to help in the removal of snakes, but make sure they are the large glue traps or say for snakes on them. He says for those trying to catch a snake make sure to pin it down at the back of the head and then hold it behind the head.

 The Independence City Commission will meet Thursday night for their regularly scheduled meeting.

 One of the items on the agenda will be the approval of a change order for the Central Park Sports Complex. City Manager Kelly Passauer says construction on the project is coming along nicely.

Other items up for discussion this week include a declaration of Public Service Recognition Week and a street closure for an event at the public library on May 31^st. The Independence City Commission meets on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month at 5:30pm at City Hall. The public is invited to attend or to view the meeting remotely via the city website. Click on the camera icon for the meeting you wish to view.

 State Senator Virgil Peck announces that he will seek reelection.

 Peck says he will seek a second term in the Kansas Senate because there are still issues he wants to work on for the good of Kansas citizens. He says his prmamry issues include tax policy and protecting Kansans from an increasingly expensive and intrusive state government. The Havana Republican says voters from southeast Kansas want legislators who will protect conservative family values.

Peck has served as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Insurance and Vice Chair of the Assessment and Taxation Committee. He also serves on the Commerce Committee, Joint Committee on Kansas Security and as chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

Peck represents State Senate District 15 which covers Montgomery, Labette, Neosho, Chautauqua, and Elk counties.

 Students in Caney will be wearing hats to class next week for a good cause.

 Students in USD 436 will be wearing hats to school next week to benefit injured Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputy Justin Ward. Ward was seriously injured in a line-of-duty traffic accident on April 7^th and area communities have rallied to help the deputy and his young family. Next week, students at Caney Jr/Sr high can wear a hat to class for $3 for one day or $10 for the whole week. Lincoln School students can wear hats on Friday, May 3^rd, for $1. Donations will be collected in the main office.

 The U.S. Figure Skating Championships are coming to Kansas.

 In January 2025, U.S. Champion figure skaters will be crowned at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita. Competition will take place in women's, men's, pairs, and ice dance events at both the junior and senior levels.

This is the first time the U.S. Figure Skating Championships will be held in Kansas. Tickets for the event will go on sale on May 16 through Select-A-Seat.

 Authorities in Hutchinson are investigating after a pedestrian is hit by a train.

 Just before 2pm yesterday, Reno County EMS along with the Hutchinson Police and Fire Departments responded to reports of a person being struck by a train while walking near the tracks in the southwest part of the city. Upon arrival, officers found 61 year old Daniel Raya injured beside the tracks. Officers attempted life-saving measures but Raya was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.

 Governor Laura Kelly signs a bill to reform the Kansas Standard Asset Seizure and Forfeiture Act.

 The bill establishes new guidelines for asset forfeiture, improving due process for property owners, increasing governmental accountability, and not unduly interfering with federal assistance to local law enforcement in asset forfeiture.

For many Kansans whose property has been seized, the cost of recovering it is often greater than its value.  The bill also requires additional steps to initiate the civil asset seizure process and requires clear and convincing evidence in order to move forward with seizure.

Multiple rounds of severe storms are possible from early tomorrow morning through Saturday night for the KGGF listening area.

According to the National Weather Service, the most widespread severe weather is expected to occur on Saturday. Tomorrow morning and night, eastern Kansas and Oklahoma will see a marginal risk of severe weather. Better storm chances will be in western Kansas and Oklahoma. On Friday, the threat increases for the four states, with most of the listening area upgraded to the “slight” category of severe weather. If storms develop, large hail and damaging winds are possible, and a tornado can't be ruled out. Saturday will bring the biggest threat of severe weather from the afternoon through the evening, with multiple hazards possible. Stay tuned for later forecasts and count on KGGF to provide severe weather coverage if it's needed.

 The Oklahoma House of Representatives approves legislation restricting online access to pornography for people under the age of 18.

 The bill  holds commercial entities accountable for knowingly distributing obscene material or material promoting child pornography on the internet. It mandates that such entities must compensate individuals for damages and provide mechanisms for subscribers to block access to harmful content. Additionally, entities employing reasonable age verification methods are exempt from liability.

The measure passed the House 79-13 yesterday and now moves to the governor's desk for consideration. If signed , the measure would take effect November 1^st.

 Parsons Police are warning area residents of a Medicare scam circulating in southeast Kansas.

 The Parsons Police Department has received citizen reports of phony Medicare calls in and around the Parsons area. The callers try to obtain social security numbers, Medicare ID numbers and other identifying information from unsuspecting individuals.

PPD reminds residents that Medicare does not call you uninvited and ask you for personal or private information.You will usually get a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a government agency. Remember that calls requesting health insurance information should not be trusted.

Scammers can be very convincing, and they may know a little - or a lot - about you, especially if they have access to some of your personal information already.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is starting a field survey for bridge improvements on U.S. 166 in Labette and Cherokee counties.

The Labette County survey area includes four locations from the Montgomery/Labette county line east to Ness Road. The Cherokee County survey area includes three locations from SW 107th Terrace east to SW 10th Street. Surveyors will gather information necessary for detailed designs of proposed bridge improvements. The survey is based on the existing highway alignment and is expected to be finished by June 1st. Activities include the use of survey instruments on the ground to determine locations of existing features within the corridor. A member of the survey crew will contact property owners or tenants for permission to enter private property.

A new mode of transportation is coming to the City of Coffeyville.

The city commission approved a resolution to authorize a grant to support the Montgomery County Transportation Initiative. SEK-CAP Director of Transportation Scott Christiansen says it's a free service and available to anyone in the county.

Christiansen says they offer a three day a week service or a five day a week service.  Christiansen says they can travel county to county but cannot go to Oklahoma. SEK-CAP will be offering a three day a week service for this area. The City is providing $3,000 of the $9,800 needed.

The City of Independence has a unique way to improve things around town. City Manager Kelly Passauer says the system is called See, Click, Fix.

Passauer says whether using the app or going online there a many things that can be chosen to have looked at or worked on.

Passauer says when using the app it can pinpoint the location you're at and drop a pin for city workers to find the exact area needing to be worked on. A link to the website can be found here.

Independence High School receives high honors from U.S. News and World Report.  Independence Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Wilson says IHS is ranked as the 12^th best high school in Kansas.

Wilson says education is always one of the things families are looking at when moving into a new area.  IHS ranks fourth in the state on performance on state assessments and 2,281^st among all high schools in the nation. 

 The Coffeyville Police Department is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration for its 2024 National Prescription Drug Take Back Campaign.

 This Saturday from 10am to 2pm anyone can bring any unwanted, unneeded, or old prescription medications to the Coffeyville Police Department for disposal. This is a free event for communities nationwide and disposal can be done safely and anonymously. The Coffeyville Police Department is located at 1206 West 11^th Street and drop off will be on the east side of the building. Other collection sites include the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 300 East Main in Independence and the Cherryvale Police Department at 116 South Neosho Street in Cherryvale. You can also visit DEATakeBack.com for a site near you.

 The Bartlesville Fire Department responds to a call of a grass fire. 

 Bartleville Fire Chief David Topping says the grass fire got out of control.

Topping said the fire took place outside the city limits of Bartlesville, just outside of Oak Park.

 A Pittsburg man is under arrest after a wild ride on a stolen scooter.

 Early yesterday morning a Pittsburg Police officer noticed a man on a scooter. While the officer observed the man, he failed to negotiate a corner and wrecked at an intersection. The officer made contact with the driver, who was later identified as 32-year-old John D. Robertson Jr., of Frontenac. However, at the time of the initial contact, the driver provided a false name to the investigating officer.

While investigating the wreck, the officer discovered the scooter had been previously reported as stolen out of Pittsburg. The scooter was later towed away from the scene.

The suspect reported being injured in the wreck and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Once released, he was taken into custody and taken to the Crawford County Jail. Articles of contraband were located during the subsequent search of the driver incident to the arrest. Additionally, upon arrival at the jail, the driver’s identity was verified as being that of John Robertson Jr.

Robertson is currently being held without bond on multiple charges including felony possession of stolen property and felony possession of methamphetamine. The investigation is ongoing.

 **UPDATE** A School Resource Officer says the accusation stems from an incident in which the team allegedly killed a chicken on a school field before leaving for an away game last Saturday.

 A Kansas high school suspends it baseball season as the entire team and coaching staff are accused of animal cruelty.

 The Valley Center High School varsity baseball team is under investigation for animal cruelty. In a letter sent home to parents, the USD 262 school district said the incident involved the entire baseball team and coaching staff and it occurred on school property. The Valley Center Police Department is also looking into the accusations.

The district said it would make a decision on the remainder of the baseball season pending the outcome of the investigation. Valley Center is located north of Wichita.

 At last week's meeting of the Nowata County Commission, Sheriff Jason McClain asked for ARPA funds to get two 2017 Ford Taurus patrol vehicles for Nowata County.

 This week, McClain got his answer. County Clerk Kay Spurgeon calls for the vote.

The commission unanimously approved the purchase. Spurgeon also informed the commission about a pair of donations to help with meals at the county jail.

The Commissioners will meet again next Monday at 9 am at the Nowata County Courthouse Annex.

 A Great Bend man is dead following a weekend ATV accident.

 37 year old Wilbert Sanko was reportedly driving a 2014 Polaris RZR in a river bed about 8 miles southwest of Great Bend. At around 5pm on Saturday, the ATV entered a skid and flipped over, pinning Sanko beneath it. Witnesses began first aid until EMS arrived to transport him to KU Medical Center in Great Bend with serious head injuries.

His 33 year old passenger Cole Amick sustained minor injuries. Neither man had safety restraints at the time of the accident.

 The Fredonia Junior-Senior High School plant science class is holding a plant sale.

 4 inch, single pots plants are $5 each and four pack plants are just $3. There are a variety of tomato types for sale, as well as peppers, marigolds and zinnias. Plants can be purchased at the school Monday through Thursday between 8am and 4pm.

 Independence High School is listed as the #12 best high school in Kansas according to U.S. News and World Report.

 The rankings are based on the number of advanced placement classes that are offered and taken by students as well as student proficiency in math, reading, and science and graduation rates.

Independence ranks #4 in the state on performance on state assessments. IHS ranks #2,281 among all high schools in the nation.

The top school in Kansas is Sumner Academy of Arts and Science in Kansas City.

 The Caney Grocery is still in business.

 After a special council workshop last night, the decision was made by Caney council members to keep the store operating as normal, while looking at the numbers again in ninety days.

 City Administrator Kelley Zellner says the objective will continue as long as possible to make the store self sustaining.

 The city of Caney is designated to be in a food desert, with the nearest grocery store twenty minutes away, either in Independence, Coffeyville, or Dewey, Oklahoma. The city, however, is also tasked with keeping the store operating without using water funds, because using funds from the general fund is not an option. Zellner says Caney Grocery does play an important role in the town.

 Caney Grocery did show a plus in revenue seven months throughout 2023, but has only showed revenue one month in the 1^st quarter of 2024, although numbers through April look promising for a profit for the store. Zellner believes signage will make a difference for the store, not only with a new sign at 4^th Street on Highway 75.....

 Residents are urged to get in touch with their city council members to give input and to brainstorm on how to make Caney Grocery self sustaining.

 The store will once again be discussed during the council's next meeting, set for May 6^th.

 Coffeyville Municipal Light and Power earns national recognition. 

 The American Public Power Association has recognized CMLP for exceptional reliability. The power company boasts an average outage duration of only 9.39 minutes a year. The North American Utility average is 148 minutes.

The American Public Power Association represents not-for-profit, community owned utilities. Their stated purpose is to protect the interests of the more than 49 million people served by public power utilities.