Daily Archives: Dec. 17, 2009

Kansas lauded for cockfighting law

Dec. 17, 20093:58 p.m.
The Humane Society of the United States is applauding Kansas’ new law on cockfighting as one of the years’s best legislative achievements for animal rights. The new law makes cockfighting a felony; previously it was a misdemeanor. Police said the lighter penalties weren’t enough to dissuade the leaders of underground cockfighting rings. Authorities used the new law, passed last spring, when they raided an alleged cockfighting ring in Douglas County this fall. One man was arrested and 169 birds were seized. The HSUS cited the new law in its list of the 12 best state legislative initiatives of the year.
By David Klepper | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments

Rep. Gene Suellentrop sworn in to Kansas House

Dec. 17, 20091:11 p.m.

TOPEKA – Wichita restaurant owner Gene Suellentrop is officially the state representative for the 105st District.

Thursday, in a quiet ceremony in the House chamber, Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh swore in Suellentrop.

Last week, the Sedgwick County Republican Party chose Suellentrop, 57, to replace former-Rep. Jason Watkins.

“Jason has done a lot for south central Kansas for jobs and economic development and I want to continue that,” Suellentrop said. “In order to pull out of this recession we are going to have to focus on jobs.”

Watkins, whose last day as an elected official was Sunday, has been named director of government relations for the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Suellentrop said running for the Legislature was not something he had thought about wanting to do, “but it was something I felt I probably needed to do in this time.”

Joining him at the swearing in ceremony was Suellentrop’s wife Chris and two of his children: daughter Sarah and son Matt.

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