The Thomas B. Fordham Institute says the Kansas is replacing some of the nation's strongest science standards for public schools with weaker, multi-state guidelines. The education think tank released its findings today.

Educators from 26 states, plus the National Research Council, worked together to develop the new standards. The Kansas Board of Education voted to adopt just this week.

A commission that evaluates medical transport services has placed the accreditation of EagleMed LLC of Wichita on hold. Eileen Frazer of the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems said her agency will look for trends as it investigates the third EagleMed helicopter crash since 2010.

The helicopter crashed Tuesday night near the Choctaw Nation Health Care Center in Talihina, Oklahoma. A patient in the helicopter died, but it was uncertain whether it was because of the crash or the patient's previous medical condition.

Many moons ago, I read somewhere about Google's way of treating its employees, which was almost like pampered children-- with free food, and weight rooms, and office compounds very much like amusement parks.

Kansas education officials are asking the state's attorney general for guidance about how to implement a new law about "innovative" schools.

Brad Neuenswander, the Deputy Commissioner for the state Department of Education, told the State Board of Education Wednesday the agency is trying to figure out how to implement a new law that creates a coalition of so-called "innovative districts."

During the spring and summer months, baseball receives a lot of attention in the United States. In 2013, fans have not just discussed the current Major League Baseball season, but because of the recently-released movie 42, have also discussed the 1947 Major League season when Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Kansas Department of Transportation has awarded nearly $18 million to 35 projects around the state through its transportation enhancement program.

Transportation Enhancement  is a federally funded program that provides cities, counties, and other groups with funding for transportation projects like bike paths, pedestrian traffic, bicycle safety education, historic restoration, scenic highway programs, and the conversion of abandoned railroad lines into trails, among other things.

Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick has named Wade Hapgood as his new chief of staff.

Hapgood replaces Christie Kriegshauser, who is leaving to join the Kansas Chamber of Commerce as vice president for political affairs.

Hapgood has been Merrick's legislative director since January. He was previously an aide to Merrick when the Stilwell Republican was House majority leader from 2007 through 2010. Merrick says he'll name a new legislative director soon.