Governor's mansion soiree with late-term abortionist causes uproar

A furor erupted this week after the pro-life advocacy group Operation Rescue posted photographs of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius hobnobbing with Wichita-based late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller and members of his staff during an April 2007 event at the governor’s mansion in Topeka.

At the time, Tiller was under investigation by the attorney general’s office for alleged violations of laws related to late-term abortions. Nineteen misdemeanor counts were ultimately filed, all of which are still pending.

The governor’s office conceded the event occurred, and explained that the evening was a prize on which Tiller successfully bid during an auction hosted by the Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus Political Action Committee. [ Read more...]

Kline suggests in motion that political considerations are influencing the judicial system.

Battleground in Planned Parenthood subpoena case shifts to high court

The battleground in Johnson County District Attorney Phil Kline’s effort to compel a district court judge to comply with a subpoena and testify at a criminal proceeding against Planned Parenthood will shift to the Kansas Supreme Court.

Johnson County District Court Judge Steve Tatum declined Kline’s request that Shawnee County Judge Richard Anderson honor a subpoena issued by Kline’s office. The judge filed a motion seeking to have the subpoena quashed after he was ordered not to testify by the Kansas Supreme Court.

Kline said the high court offered no legal basis for its silencing of Anderson. At the hearing last week, Kline told Judge Tatum that Anderson’s expected testimony would be “clearly relevant” in the criminal case against Planned Parenthood. [ Read more...]

Should a criminal defendant be able to sue a prosecutor in order to take back evidence?

Kline seeks dismissal of suit filed by Planned Parenthood

The legal odyssey between Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline and Planned Parenthood took yet another turn last week when an attorney for Kline announced that a motion had been filed with the Kansas Supreme Court seeking dismissal of a Planned Parenthood action against Kline.

Planned Parenthood filed the action last year, seeking the return of records legally obtained by Kline for use in a 107-count criminal case he filed against the abortion provider. Planned Parenthood is charged with making "false writings" - a felony -  and performing illegal late-term abortions.

Kline’s lawyer, Caleb Stegall, said during a press conference that oral arguments in the case were scheduled to be heard June 12. [ Read more...]

Speaker says coal plant, immigration reform could be revisited next year

Legislative session formally adjourns

A contentious legislative session ended anti-climactically Thursday when legislators chose not to mount an attempt to override a veto of a bill that would have allowed expansion of a coal-fired plant in Holcomb.

With the session - and Memorial Day - now in the rearview mirror, legislators who hope to stay in office can now focus on their re-election campaigns. All members of the House and Senate are up for re-election this year.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius expressed disappointment that no action had been taken to advance several economic development proposals. After Sebelius vetoed two previous bills that would have allowed the power plant expansion, legislators authored an economic stimulus package that contained not only the economic development proposals referenced by Sebelius, but the power plant expansion as well. [Read more...]

Calls former Bush press secretary a 'miserable creature'

Dole blasts McClellan

When former Kansas Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole read what former President George W. Bush press secretary Scott McClellan had to say about the president, he wasn't happy.

"There are miserable creatures like you in every administration who don't have the guts to speak up or quit if there are disagreements with the boss or colleagues," Dole wrote in a message to McClellan sent Thursday.

"No, your type soaks up the benefits of power, revels in the limelight for years, then quits and, spurred on by greed, cashes in with a scathing critique." [Read more...]

Popular conservative talker will return to the air in June

Capital-Journal radio gives Cates a new home

Popular Topeka radio talk show host Jim Cates will be back on the air in June after parting ways with the station he had called home for the past seven years.

Local listeners protested his treatment by KMAJ-AM, and advertisers pulled their spots in protest.

However, the Topeka Capital-Journal announced last week that Cates had agreed to do a live, two-hour broadcast on a new Capital Journal Internet radio venture. Beginning June 16, Cates will be broadcast from 8 to 10 a.m. weekdays, but the content of the show will be accessible 24 hours a day at cjonline.com. [ Read more...]

The Week on the Web

Not so supreme. If you thought Phill Kline's trials are only about abortion, you might be wrong. Denis Boyles looks at the bizarre consequences of allowing lawyers to pick justices for Kansas' high court without anything resembling a confirmation process for National Review Online.

Depends on what you mean by 'best'. Bottom Line Communications reports the May ratings for Kansas City area newscasts (KCTV over KMBC). That apparently inspired News 2K  to ask their readers to decide for themselves "which Kansas City TV station has the best newscast."

Kansas like you've never seen it. Dr. Bill, blogging at Flint Hills of Kansas, has good news for folks in Goodland: The National Geographic traveling exhibit of Richardson's work is in your neighborhood. Richardson has been photographing Kansas for his entire adult life. The full schedule is here, at the Flint Hills site.

After Goodland , the show will travel the state until November 24, when it closes in Courtland.

Richardson, a former newspaper photographer who runs the Small World gallery in Lindsborg with his wife, has shot three dozen pieces for National Geographic. It's just not possible to look at the state through a better set of eyes, so if you want to see Kansas at its best, go.

A Preview of the Coming Week

Poverty in Kansas, the state gaming commission and its casinos, more on Kline, and our usual assortment of columns, comments and late-breaking news.