Daily Archives: July 29, 2007

Open thread 7/29

July 29, 20071:05 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (91)

Minds may be made up on casino

July 29, 20071:04 a.m.

Are the multiplying pro- and anti-gambling ads changing many minds in Sedgwick County? Not a lot, based on a SurveyUSA Poll for KWCH-TV, Channel 12: 51 percent of those polled said they had been for a Sedgwick County casino and continue to be; 33 percent said they were against it, both earlier and now. Only 11 percent had moved from being for it to against it, and only 2 percent had flipped the other way. Still, in a close election, a few swayed votes on either side may be all it takes.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under gambling | Comments (31)

Tested now or later, funeral protest law still worthwhile

July 29, 20071:03 a.m.

It seemed like a good idea at the time: Spare the state the infuriating potential expense of being ordered to pay the Phelps clan’s legal bills by submitting the new funeral picketing law to a preventive test of its constitutionality. But the Kansas Supreme Court last week signaled Attorney General Paul Morrison that it has legal problems with his lawsuit, giving him until Aug. 24 to explain why it shouldn’t be dismissed. Even if the pretest strategy doesn’t work, the law remains worthwhile, whatever court fights it invites. The state that is the unwilling exporter of the Westboro Baptist Church’s troop funeral protests needs to be on record opposing and trying to limit them.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Kansas courts | Comments (48)

Wild West World signs still beckon

July 29, 20071:02 a.m.

Area drivers are still seeing Wild West World touted by six brown traffic signs that cost the state about $18,000. "Right now, the thought is we’re going to leave them up," Lee Holmes, state traffic signing engineer, told The Eagle editorial board, adding hopefully that the bankrupt theme park could be sold and reopened. The Kansas Department of Transportation budgeted money for the signs based on state travel and tourism officials’ approval, he said. Asked about other instances of obsolete KDOT signage, he recalled the Kansas International Museum debacle in Topeka. "The intention is to not have that happen," he said.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Wichita events | Comments (16)

Brownback still No. 3 for missing votes

July 29, 20071:01 a.m.

Kansas’ Sen. Sam Brownback missed 11 of 12 Senate roll call votes last week, maintaining his status as No. 3 among Senate vote missers (better than only South Dakota’s ailing Tim Johnson and fellow campaigner John McCain of Arizona). As of Friday, Brownback had missed 115 of 284 roll call votes this year, or 40 percent.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Presidential race | Comments (38)