http://kmuw.org en http://kmuw.org/post/wagle-wins-ks-senate-president-merrick-speaker <p>Kansas Republicans elected Susan Wagle Monday as the new president of the state Senate.</p><p>A veteran Wichita Republican, she is the first woman to lead either legislative chamber. Wagle defeated Steve Abrams of Arkansas City.</p><p>Johnson County Republican Ray Merrick is the new speaker of the Kansas House. Merrick won on a second ballot Monday over fellow Johnson County representative Arlen Siegfried.</p><p>When the session begins in January, Republicans will outnumber Democrats 32-8 in the Senate and 92-33 in the House.</p> Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:42:06 +0000 Associated Press 9335 at http://kmuw.org