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Week In News: Budget Proposals, Bills And Bike Ordinances

Hugo Phan
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KMUW/File photo

So, we survived last weekend's ice storm. That was probably the biggest news. But here’s a look at some of the other stories that stood out last week:

One of the most prominent bills released so far in the 2017 session – now in its second week – would permanently exempt state universities and colleges from a law requiring them to allow concealed guns on campus beginning this summer. Rep. Stephanie Clayton, who introduced the legislation, says voters in her area of Johnson County don’t want guns on campus. But it faces tough odds in the Legislature: Republican Rep. John Whitmer called it “dead on arrival.”

 

Credit Stephen Koranda / KPR/File photo
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KPR/File photo

Lawmakers are also taking on the tall order of fixing the state’s budget shortfall. Gov. Sam Brownback released his own plan – which included hiking taxes for alcohol and tobacco, shifting money away from the state Highway Fund and delaying the payoff date for a deficit in the state’s pension plan – last week. But new legislative leadership and an aggressive group of newcomers are pushing back against many of Brownback’s budget proposals, which they say won’t fix structural problems with the state budget.

 

Credit Curt Clonts Facebook

Last month, the City of Wichita placed signs in College Hill Park prohibiting bicycle riding. The signs took many people who live in the area by surprise, but technically, bikes aren't allowed on interior walkways in any Wichita parks. (Confused? Don't worry--Abigail Beckman explains the whole thing.)

 

Credit Oliver Morrison / The Wichita Eagle
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The Wichita Eagle

In his last full day as president, Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 330 non-violent drug offenders. That brings the total number of prisoners whose sentences were commuted under Obama to nearly 1700 -- more than the 11 previous presidents combined.

Richard Reser was one of those 1700 prisoners. The Topeka man, now 71, was released after nearly 28 years served out of a 40-year sentence. He recently spent time with Wichita Eagle reporter Oliver Morrison, who produced this story as part of a new collaboration between the newspaper and KMUW.

KMUW News is a team of dedicated on-air and digital reporters working to tell the stories of Wichita and its residents.