Opinions differ on the effects of the Wichita Boeing shutdown, the Missouri Legislature talks K-12 budgets, KU defeats K-State & more: A daily digest of headlines from KCUR.
Economists Disagree About Effects of Boeing’s Wichita Shut Down
Boeing confirmed it will shut down its Wichita plant. The move will end an 80-year connection between the aviation company and Kansas and cost the area 2,100 jobs. But some economists say it won’t be that big of a blow to the Wichita economy. Listen to more here.
End of Stimulus Funds Make Budget Cuts Likely
Missouri is facing a challenging budget year, with a major source of revenue running out and an economy that’s still struggling to recover from the recession. The state has used nearly $3 billion in federal stimulus money since the recession hit in 2008. But stimulus funds from Washington have dried up. That means as much as $700 million in budget cuts according to some lawmakers. Find out more from KCUR’s Elana Gordon here.
K-12 Funding Tops Opening Day Discussion In Missouri Legislature
The 2012 Missouri legislative session is underway, and much of the first-day talk revolved around the challenges facing the state’s public schools. In addition to Missouri’s K-12 schools not being fully funded, suburban school districts near St. Louis and Kansas City may be forced to accept thousands of transfer students from the inner cities, thanks to a State Supreme Court ruling. Opinions on how to accomplish that differed. Leaders in both chambers are again promising to balance the overall state budget without raising taxes. More from the Missouri Statehouse here.
Farmers Reconsider Commodities Market
In the aftermath of derivatives trader MF Global’s recent bankruptcy —in which $1.2 billion in customer funds, much of it from Midwest farmers, went missing — some observers are questioning whether farmers and other investors might reconsider their options. Havest Public Media has more here.
Overland Park Releases Tab For Aisha Khan Search
The Overland Park Police Department says its officers racked up nearly $36,000 in overtime searching for a college student who disappeared for five days last month. The department says 63 officers were involved in the search for Aisha Khan. The 19-year-old Johnson County Community College student disappeared on December 16th after leaving her sister a voicemail saying a man was harassing her on the Edwards campus of the University of Kansas. Khan was found unharmed five days later. Police have said no charges would be filed because college officials - not the family - reported the disappearance.
Sports: KU Beats K-State 67-49
The first of two showdowns between Kansas and Kansas State went to the home team last night, as the Jayhawks posted a 67-49 win over the Wildcats in Lawrence.
In women’s basketball, K-State upset eighth-ranked Texas A&M 71-69 in overtime. Kansas defeated number-23 Texas 72-67. Missouri was crushed by top-ranked Baylor 90-46, and UMKC posted a 68-57 non-conference win over New Mexico State.