Musical interests led Bill Rice into radio during the early 80s. While in college at the University of New Haven he spent most of his time at the student run station, acting as Station Manager, Jazz Director and Jazz Jock, Bottle Washer and Hall Monitor. Perplexed at being finally ejected - after all, he had graduated, they told him - Bill moved to Baltimore, where he landed his first real radio job at a little AM outfit. A short time later Bill went to work recording chamber concerts for broadcast at WBJC-FM, the NPR station in Baltimore. Heââ

Education
6:05 pm
Mon May 6, 2013

Brownback Continues Higher Ed Tour

Gov. Sam Brownback is continuing his statewide tour aimed at building support for protecting cuts to the Kansas higher education system.

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Medicaid
3:33 pm
Mon May 6, 2013

Advocates Seek Reduction In Medicaid Waiting-List Rolls

Advocates for Kansans with disabilities are urging legislators to adopt Gov. Sam Brownback's proposal to reduce the number of people on the waiting list for Medicaid services.

Currently, about 5,000 Kansans with developmental and physical disabilities are on the list. Brownback wants to spend $18 million to provide services to approximately 600 of them.

Advocates are using a video to help make their case to lawmakers. It features parents of disabled Kansans and some of the caseworkers who are trying to help them gain access to services.

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Community
9:38 am
Mon May 6, 2013

Kansas Lawmakers Host Legislative Forum Monday

South-central Kansas lawmakers are hosting a forum Monday evening.

The forum is open to the public and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Derby City Hall.

Democratic Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau of Wichita is the chair of the south-central delegation and will moderate the forum.

Kansas Legislators will return to Topeka on Wednesday for the closing days of their session.

Jazz
8:55 am
Mon May 6, 2013

What's On: May 12

Our focus on the B3 continues tonight when we hear from Don Patterson, Jimmy Smith and Papa John DeFrancesco.

Education
6:43 am
Mon May 6, 2013

Wichita Middle School Students Get Chance At Flight Over Wichita

A group of middle school students will get a chance to fly over Wichita this week to mark the end of their mentoring program.

The Flying Challenge program ends Thursday at the National Center for Aviation Training.

The program matches Airbus and Wichita State University engineering students with 80 students at Brooks Middle School in Wichita.

The students participate in a robotics lab, a paint lab, a radio-controlled airplane demonstration and this flight over Wichita,

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Community
6:32 am
Mon May 6, 2013

Wichita Fountains Could Dry Up This Summer

A drought-induced water shortage could force Wichita officials to idle the city's fountain systems this summer.

City Manager Robert Layton says water use across all city operations is under review.

City officials say Cheney Reservoir could dry up by mid-2015 if the drought continues, and the city would no longer have enough water to meet demand if that happens.

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2013 Legislative Session
5:57 am
Mon May 6, 2013

Kobach Office Could Get Expanded Power Soon

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach says he is close to winning legislative approval for new power for his office to investigate and prosecute election fraud cases. 

Secretary of State Kobach said Friday he's optimistic lawmakers will approve the bill when they reconvene this week to wrap up their business for the year.

The House and Senate have approved different versions of Kobach's bill, setting up negotiations over the final version. Lead House negotiator Lance Kinzer said Kobach's proposal is on track to pass.

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Commentary
5:00 am
Mon May 6, 2013

Book Review: Snapper

Credit npr.org
Brian Kimberling

Snapper is a collection of stories by Brian Kimberling.

Like making new friends later in life, we learn about protagonist Nathan Lochmueller through a series of stories and back-stories. 

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Joseph Lord is a Louisville native who was raised in Jeffersontown. He attended Western Kentucky University before covering public safety and later city government for The Anniston (Ala.) Star. He's also covered education for The Tribune and Evening News in southern Indiana and music and pop culture for Velocity, The Courier-Journal's weekly entertainment magazine. 

 
Most recently, Joseph has been a digital news reporter for The Courier-Journal.
 
Joseph, 32, and his wife, Brandy Warren, have two daughters and live in the St. Joseph neighborhood.

jlord@wfpl.org | Twitter

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