By Steve Bell
Kansas City, MO – An investigation into out of court conversations about the Kansas school finance case by Senators and a Supreme Court justice widened this afternoon. House Speaker Doug Mays says he is likely to convene a special committee to look into the matter. Earlier, legislators said Attorney General Phill Kline is conducting an investigation. Justice Lawton Nuss took him off the school funding case yesterday after a reporter asked about reports that a justice had improperly discussed court business with legislators at lunch.
Governor Kathleen Sebelius apparently is also the subject of an ethics investigation - by the state ethics commission. It appears the governor sent out an e-mail soliciting campaign contributions, and the mailing lists included lobbyists. Such mailings are illegal in Kansas when the legislature is in session.
The Missouri Ethics commission can get back to business after more than a month of inactivity. Due to the expiration of half its members' terms, the group could not convene the required quorum. Governor Blunt finally filled two vacancies today, appointing Washington bank executive Brad Mitchell and St. Louis attorney John King.
The Kansas Senate Ways and Means Committee has approved a plan that would allow the move for free state parks in Kansas to proceed. The group would replace the money from park admission fees with lottery proceeds and dollars from the general fund.
Despite increased revenue and earnings up 61%, Cerner stock closed today at $42.58, down $4.52, or 10 percent. One analyst said, "It was a good quarter, just not good enough."
YRC Worldwide's board has authorized the buyback of as much as $100 million in common stock. Chairman Bill Zollars said the company believes its stock is undervalued, and intends to pay down $100 million of debt this year.
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon says he is preparing to sue Ameren over the Taum Sauk reservoir collapse. Nixon says the suit is based on the fact that the company emphasized profitability over safety.
Toby Young, accused of helping convicted murderer John Manard escape from prison, was charged with a new offense today. Leavenworth County prosecutors say Young also smuggled a cell phone into the prison, and Manard used it to lay the groundwork for his escape.