Daily Archives: Jan. 18, 2009

Mixed results on health report cards

Jan. 18, 20096:04 a.m.

It was encouraging that Kansas scored much higher this year on an annual oral health report card, though the state still scored low on access and policies — including Wichita’s time-warped refusal to fluoridate its drinking water. Nearly all U.S. cities Wichita’s size and larger have fluoridated water — and have for decades. Yet when asked by The Eagle about the issue, Wichita City Council member Paul Gray appeared completely ignorant of the significant public health benefits of fluoridation.
Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, Kansas didn’t do as well on a smoking report card. It reported F’s for the amount of smoke-fee air in the state, for money spent on educating current smokers, and for a lack of state programs to help people quit smoking.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Health and safety, Wichita government | Comments (20)

Open thread 1/18

Jan. 18, 20096:03 a.m.

By The Editors | Filed under Open thread | Comments (238)

On Sedgwick County bench, it’s men, 28; women, zero

Jan. 18, 20096:02 a.m.

With the addition of Sally Pokorny to the Douglas County District Court bench on Thursday, the 7th Judicial District’s judges became majority female – four women and two men. The 17th Judicial District, made up of six northwestern counties, is the only other Kansas court with a female majority. Then there is the state’s largest bench, Sedgwick County’s 18th Judicial District, which just gained two judgeships but lost its lone female judge in the November election.

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

Barfield appealing to the outraged vote

Jan. 18, 20096:01 a.m.

Wichita City Council candidate James Barfield apparently is appealing to the outraged vote. Speaking to some campaign activists last week, Barfield said that “a legalized gang” is operating at City Hall and claimed that Council members were in the pocket of developers, wichitaliberty.com reported. Barfield also said that he despises developers “who think they can come to the public trough.”

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Wichita government | Comments (15)

So they said

Jan. 18, 20096:00 a.m.

“We’ve got a governor who just lost her passion.” – Rep. Scott Schwab, R-Olathe, on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ State of the State address
“Green energy and curing cancer – outstanding articulations on the importance of motherhood and apple pie.” – Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt (in photo), R-Independence, saying Sebelius showed “weak leadership” in her speech
“I’m eager to work with the Legislature on any ideas that they may have.” – Sebelius, responding to GOP criticism
“Kansans were hot and mad and upset and strongly opposed.” – Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., telling his Senate colleagues that he had received 44 calls in favor of the financial services bailout and 2,000 against it

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Kansas delegation, Kansas government | Comments (5)