Kate Clause

The Kansas State Department of Education and the USDA are sponsoring a summer food program again this year, for children up to 18 years old.

Thirty-seven schools, community centers, and churches throughout Wichita will offer meals without reservations. Participants can go to any of the locations to get breakfast or lunch; some locations serve both daily.

The free meal program begins May 29 and runs through July 26. There are no requirements to get a meal. Adults can buy lunch for $3.50, breakfast for $2, or a snack for $1.

A new report from the Kansas Geological Survey shows oil production in Kansas last year was up over 2011, but natural gas production was down.

Officials with the survey report the nearly 44 million barrels of oil produced last year were the most since 1995. The oil had a value of $3.7 billion.

Wichita passenger rail supporters will get a jump on National Train Day this Friday during a press conference at Union Station building in Wichita.

Though National Train Day is on Saturday, organizers say the 4 p.m. press conference on Friday will provide "significant updates" on passenger rail advocacy in Kansas. Wichita officials say they'll release a major statement regarding rail.

Vice Mayor Pete Meitzner will lead the event; local business representatives who serve on his local Steering Committee will join him.

The man leading efforts to build a memorial honoring Dwight D. Eisenhower says conflicts about the design shouldn't derail the effort.

Retired Brigadier General Carl Reddel spoke yesterday at the Dole Institute in Lawrence, saying "it's about time that we do this." Reddel is the executive director of the memorial commission. He said the proposed $142 million memorial would celebrate Eisenhower's success as a general and a president.

The Maize School District has decided to stop doing random drug tests on students who participate in extra-curricular activities.

Maize's School Board recently voted to eliminate the testing after hearing reactions from school administrators and students. The suburb just west of Wichita had conducted the random tests on students from grades 7 through 12.

A spokeswoman says the district has spent almost $31,500 on the program since it began in 2007.

Updated 8:30am

Whoa! Those trees went fast!

Associated Integrated Marketing says that it's given away all of its free maple trees already. The company and community volunteers gave away hundreds of trees Friday morning in just over an hour.

If you missed the free trees  but still want to celebrate Arbor Day, the city of Wichita will host its Arbor Day event and tree fair Friday from 10 am to noon.

Senate committee to consider bonds for federal biosecurity lab in Manhattan; Doctor linked to Ft. Riley soldiers' overdoses remains jailed; New law creates registry for farmers' markets; Judge delays trial for vet accused of illegally possessing explosives; April showers reducing drought in some parts of the state.

Senate Committee To Consider Bonds For NBAF

Updated at 9:45 am

Kansas government jobs, but not benefits, up last year; Former cheerleading coach convicted on sex crimes;  Brownback calls KU an innovation institution; Lesser prairie chickens up for endangered species list; Shawnee to retry a capital murder case; ACLU demands records on a school assembly held in southwest Kansas.

KS Government Jobs Up Last Year, Though Most Lack Benefits

Brownback wants higher education funding left uncut; Bill signed establishing KU Med stem cell center; Warmer temps needed to assess wheat crop damage.

Brownback Wants Higher Education Funding Left Uncut

Kansas guns becoming immune to federal regulation; Brownback visiting universities with a funding push; June trial date set in Koch cyberattack case; Roberts poised to become oldest Kansas U.S. Senator.

Starting Thursday, Kansas Guns Are Immune To Federal Regulation