A prayer group leader was accused of having his wife killed. The federal government announced that it would create 800 jobs here. Those and other top stories on this week's Saturday News Review.
Immigration Service To Bring 800 Jobs To Area
US Immigration Service spokesman Tim Counts said Tuesday the agency will bring 500 jobs to Overland Park, 300 to Lee's Summit over an unspecified period he referred to as a “slow roll-out.” Counts says the workers are needed because of President Obama's order allowing some young undocumented immigrants to stay in the US if they were brought here as children.
Twinkie And Wonder Bread Maker Announces Liquidation
The Bakers' union at the Wonder Bread plant in Lenexa led off a strike against the Hostess Company, which at one time was headquartered here. Out on the picket lines, they said the company insisted on big cuts to wages and benefits and they were unwilling to make any more concessions. Hostess delivered an ultimatum: back to work by Thursday night or we sell the company to the highest bidder.
The union didn't go back to work and on Friday Hostess told a bankruptcy court it will liquidate and look for a buyer.
Council Acts On Ambulance Response Times
Ambulance response times that didn't meet city standards especially in the Northland, prompted the Kanss City city council to tell the city manager and the fire department to get the problems fixed.
Next the council will set up an advisory board – including an emergency medical expert and council members -- for the ambulance service.
Kline Law License In Supreme Court's Hands
Former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline defended his law license before the state supreme court, and told reporters that he had never intentionally attempted to mislead any investigators. The ethics charges against Kline stemmed from his investigations of abortion providers. Kline said he was singled out for political reasons, but state disciplinary administrator Stan Hazlett said they were not. The court did not say when it might hand down its decision.
Prayer Group Member Accused Of Having Wife Killed
An already controversial south Kansas City religious group found itself in the midst of a bizarre murder case. Prosecutors said Tyler Deaton, a volunteer functionary at the International House of Prayer put out the hit order on his wife because he feared she would expose a “sexual group” involved in acts of abuse. Another prayer group member was charged with killing Bethany Deaton and trying to make it look like suicide.
Kansas Educators Ponder Cursive Writing, Science
The week's Kansas education controversy centered on curriculum. The state board of education pondered the teaching cursive of writing – some people consider cursive outdated in the computer-tablet age. Member Janet Waugh said older constituents still favor it.
It looked like cursive writing would stay, but science was slipping because of the emphasis on test scores in reading and math. A study showed more than half of Kansas teachers reporting less time spent on science and 5 percent said they gave science grades, though science was not taught.