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Top Morning News 2.27.13

A Kansas Senate committee rejects Brownbacks third-grade reading plan; University of Kansas study shows DEA reduces risk of pre-term birth.

Senate Panel Rejects Kansas Reading Initiative

A Kansas Senate committee Tuesday rejected Gov. Sam Brownback's proposal to hold back third-graders who fail the state reading test.

Gov. Brownback wants to bar schools from promoting third-graders to fourth grade if they fail to read at a proficient level on state tests. The bill also included a grant system for early education programs aimed at boosting reading skills.

After the disappointing 6-5 vote, Brownback said, "It's early in the process. We'll work with legislators."

Sen. Jeff Melcher of Leawood supported the idea. He wanted to know how many resources are wasted by allowing a non-reading fourth grader to move on.

Committee chairman Steve Abrams of Ark City amended the bill to allow schools to give students a chance to take a second, alternative test to measure reading proficiency.

Prenatal DHA Lowers Risk Of Pre-Term Birth

Newly-published research from the University of Kansas shows that prenatal supplements with the omega-3 fatty acid called DHA reduce the risk of severely-premature birth and a low birth-weight child. 

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When she's not out making lattes in her mobile coffee bus Sunflower Espresso, Kate Hutchens is a fill-in host for KMUW. She has worked in broadcast journalism at KFDI, Oregon Public Broadcasting, and at KMUW as Morning Edition host, which she did until March 2017.