Daily Archives: May 26, 2008

Remember the fallen

May 26, 20086:05 a.m.

memdayToday the nation pauses to honor the fallen — the courageous Americans who heard the call to serve, followed it into harm’s way, and gave their all in defense of freedom. Our thoughts today are of the 54 Kansans killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and of their loved ones, for whom loss is a daily companion. We also feel the immensity of the debt owed to all those in the armed forces who have died protecting America’s liberty and security, not just in this century but over the nation’s history. It is because of their selfless valor that Americans are able to live freely and peacefully.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Current Affairs | Comments (60)

Open thread 5/26

May 26, 20086:03 a.m.

thread

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (254)

Leasing turnpikes a good deal?

May 26, 20086:02 a.m.

turnpikeAs great as the Kansas Turnpike is to drive on, could that asset be doing even more for the state? What’s going on in other states may make Kansas leaders wonder. Citigroup and a Spanish partner Abertis won the bidding last week to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike for 75 years, in a $12.8 billion deal meant to spare the state from charging tolls on more roads and to help fund mass transit and road and bridge repairs. Gov. Ed Rendell called it “a very good deal for Pennsylvania drivers and taxpayers”; but first, state lawmakers must agree.

Similarly, Chicago leased its Chicago Skyway for $1.83 billion in 2005 and Indiana obtained $3.85 billion in 2006 on a lease of the Indiana Toll Road.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Kansas government | Comments (12)

East High an elite school

May 26, 20086:00 a.m.

Congratulations to Wichita East High School, which ranks No. 464 in America’s top 1,300 public high schools, according to Newsweek magazine. The rating was based on a formula involving Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2007, divided by the number of graduating seniors.

East was the only Kansas high school outside of the Kansas City area that made the list.

By Randy Scholfield | Filed under Education | Comments (32)