Government

Kansas City, MO – Thursday's Kansas City city council meeting included an example of cooperation, a small protest demonstration and an expression of indignation.

Cooperation between the city and Jackson County will give Sheriff's officers the power to make routine arrests for small offenses within the city limits where till now they had to call a Kansas City police officer to make the arrest, do the paperwork and follow through with court appearances.

Kansas City, MO – As the superstructure of Kansas City's new performing arts center begins to reveal its shape, the focus this week turns again to its parking facilities. Performing Arts Center development manager Ken Dvorak gave a city council committee a forecast on the parking garage yesterday.

Ken Dvorak: "That excavation will be complete in about a month or so. The construction documents: they're completed right now, out for review by the city, to the owner, to get owner comments, city comments back, and then put it out for bid in about two weeks."

Topeka, KS – Tuesday brought unprecedented developments in Kansas politics. The state saw Governor Kathleen Sebelius resign after she was confirmed by the U-S Senate as secretary of health and human services. And Tuesday night, Lieutenant Governor Mark Parkinson -- a former chairman of the state Republican Party -- was sworn in as the state's next Democratic governor. We get more from Statehouse reporter Joseph DiNitto.

Listen to the Statehouse News on the Kansas Public Radio website.

Kansas City, MO – Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has been confirmed as secretary of health and human services by a 65-31 Senate vote.

The governor's office has announced that Lieutenant Governor Mark Parkinson will be sworn-in as governor at 7 o'clock Tuesday evening in a ceremony in the North Wing of the Statehouse.

Kansas City, MO – The city council Finance and Audit Committee heard the results of Kansas City's first employee satisfaction survey since 1992 on Wednesday. Auditor Gary White read off the numbers.

Eighty-five percent of city employees are satisfied with their jobs. Seventy-five percent said the health benefits suit their needs. But the mayor and council got bad grades.