KANU News Retention

[TAMA WAGNER]: A court has warned state officials to rethink the way Kansas pays for schools. The court determined there is no excuse that some children had better opportunities than others. This plan is an attempt to comply with the court order. It's based in part on a recommendation from the governor. It includes a uniform levy of 45 mills, but unlike the executive proposal, this one provides local flexibility, meaning school districts can make up the revenue lost by lowering the mill levy with local taxes. Representative Bill Reardon says this idea will attract more legislative support. [BILL REARDON]: But I think it has enhanced the bill considerably. Granted, we knew all along we have to raise the money to fund this. [TAMA WAGNER]: To pay for the $300 million plan, Reardon says they'll trot out the governor's idea, which uses video lottery revenues and repeals sales tax exemptions to pay for education. But that idea has limited support among lawmakers, and most agree a sales and income tax would have a better chance of passage. But all bets are off when it comes to the governor. It's unlikely Joan Finney will embrace the changes in this school funding plan. At the statehouse, I'm Tama

Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Senator Dick Bond denies his business interests have anything to do with the legislation he's pushing to ban casinos in Kansas. Bond is an official with the Kansas City bank that loaned $1 million to the Woodlands Racetrack to cover construction costs. Kickapoo tribal chairman Steve Kadue believes Bond's opposition to casinos is based on dollars, not public interests. [STEVE KADUE]: Well, one of the most dangerous elements in opposition to Indian casino gambling is the competing non-Indian gaming interests, i.e. persons who have political or private interests in the present state of Kansas horse and dog racing. [TAMA WAGNER]: A memo from Legislative Research indicates when new gambling sources like casinos are brought in, other gaming like parimutuel will lose. Senator Wint Winter chairs the senate committee currently considering Bond's bill. He says Bond is above such impropriety. The committee is expected to approve a bill banning casinos this week.

At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Kadue believes the legislature's efforts to change state law which currently allows casino gambling is unfair and discriminatory. But Senator Wint Winter urged Kadue to refrain from name calling. The tribal chairman took exception to the senator's suggestion. [STEVE KADUE]: Senator, I did not engage in name calling, and you have not for one day lived my life as a Native American person in the United States of America. [TAMA WAGNER]: Kadue is angry, in part, because Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan refused to sign the Kickapoo compact allowing casino gambling, which was ratified by the governor, until the legislature reviews the issue. But instead of continuing negotiations on the compact, the legislature has instead introduced three measures that could ban casinos. Senator Winters says in this situation, racism is not the issue. He believes the issue is that Kansans do not want more

gambling. Winter's commission is expected to pass a bill that would prohibit casinos this week. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Two days of hearings ended with Kickapoo tribal chairman Steve Kadue calling the legislative effort to change state law and ban casinos unfair, and even racist. Committee chairman Wint Winter denied racism had anything to do with the attempt to ban gaming, and urged the Kickapoo leader to refrain from name calling. But Kadue lashed back. [STEVE KADUE]: Senator, I did not engage in name calling, and you have not for one day lived my life as a Native American person in the United States of America. [TAMA WAGNER]: Kadue is angry because Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan refused to sign a Kickapoo compact ratified by the governor until the Kansas legislature reviews the issue. But the legislature has not furthered compact negotiations, and has instead introduced three measures that would ban casino gaming. The ban will likely be approved by the full Senate. Its future is

uncertain in the house. And whatever the legislature does, most agree the courts will ultimately determine whether casinos will open in Kansas. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Hearing are set to begin today on the Democrats' school finance proposal, and legislators can consider Finney the plan's first opponent. The governor says the house plan is too expensive, and it doesn't include a revenue package. [JOAN FINNEY]: And I am telling them now, once again, do not send me a bill providing for educational funding without telling me how it will be funded. [TAMA WAGNER]: The governor believes she has a better plan anyway. It includes a uniform mill levy, and also allows some local flexibility -- meaning school boards can increase their budgets by five percent if the expense is approved by voters. The proposal costs about $250 million. The legislature must come up with a new way to pay for public schools, because the court has determined there is no excuse that some children in

Kansas have better educational opportunities than others. At the statehouse, I'm Tamma Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: A Shawnee County district court judge has determined the way Kansas currently funds schools does not provide each child the same educational opportunity. The legislative plan to correct the problem could mean huge spending increases for some districts, but George Brown with the Kaw Valley district says it will mean major cuts for them. [GEORGE BROWN]: Under these proposals, USD 321 would stand to lose one million dollars. This would necessitate the layoff of over 1/3 of our employees, which would require the closing of two grade schools, the consolidation of St. Mary's High and Rossville High, both 3A schools. Needless to say, the present morale of staff, students, and patrons in our district is low. [TAMA WAGNER]: The wealth in Brown's district created by the Jeffrey Energy Center would be spread statewide. The court has determined equal spending would mean equal education. Hearings continue this afternoon on the proposed school finance formula. In Topeka, I'm Tama

Wagner. ***** [FRANK MORRIS]: Senator Doug Walker, Osawatomie, says his healthcare reform bill is a serious, specific plan -- not a goodwill gesture. [DOUG WALKER]: To support Senate Bill 553, you have to truly support healthcare reform, and not just the concept. Senate Bill 553 separates the true reformers from the reform demagogues. [FRANK MORRIS]: Walker says access to healthcare for all Kansans could be paid for by the state, chiefly with increased federal funds, state payroll tax, and an income tax. He says most companies and wage earners spend more on health insurance now than they would paying the additional taxes for the state-run system. [DOUG WALKER]: By going to a single-payer system, we should realize a 13 percent savings in all healthcare expenditures, by the reductions in paperwork and administrative costs. [FRANK MORRIS]: Senate president Bud Burke says bipartisan support for the concept of healthcare reform exists this legislative session. But, he says, the Walker bill will face significant changes in committee. From the

statehouse, I'm Frank Morris. ***** [FRANK MORRIS]: (?unclear?) says she gave up her job as a therapist at Lansing East prison out of frustration with a system that sets up a circle of delinquency for the women it is supposed to reform. [?unclear?]: This is a sexually charged environment. Sex is bartered for goods, favors, and treatment. And I want you to know that everyone will adapt to their environment. And in the long run, the only ones that are benefitting from this environment are the sex offenders and the guards. [FRANK MORRIS]: Secretary of Corrections Gary Stotts says there's been a problem at Lansing for years. He says the department of corrections unsuccessfully sought legislation to transfer maximum security women from Lansing to a prison in Topeka three years ago. Prison officials recently began separating male and female inmates for meals, recreation, and most programs. Stotts says officials are cracking down on sexual contact between guards and prisoners. But he says the ultimate solution, separate facilities for male and female prisoners, may require legislative action. Stotts will appear before the house Federal and State Affairs Committee again in three weeks

with a plan for ending the abuse at Lansing. For Kansas Public Radio, I'm Frank Morris. ***** [FRANK MORRIS]: Representative Kathleen Sebelius says her bill provides a policy for regulating as well as protecting the right of abortion. [KATHLEEN SEBELIUS]: There is concern about the issue when it involves minors, and there's concern about the late-term abortion situation. And this bill addresses both of those situations in a way that I think we can pass in the legislature and hopefully will make for reasonable public policy. [FRANK MORRIS]: The bill requires girls 15 year old or younger to get counseling before having an abortion. It prohibits aborting a fetus that could live outside the womb, unless it has a serious deformity or the woman's life is endangered. Sebelius says she wants a state policy on abortion before the U.S. Supreme Court tests Roe v. Wade, the decision ensuring abortion rights, this spring. The bill

faces house debate, an unreceptive senate, and a veto from Governor Finney. From the statehouse, I'm Frank Morris. ***** [FRANK MORRIS]: A strong contingent from Johnson County and a smattering of students and educators from across western Kansas testified against education funding plans in the second day of hearings on the emotional issue. Sublette high school student Melinda Rogge said current proposals would drain money from her school district. [MELINDA ROGGE]: Those of us with already above-average systems cannot be dragged down in order for others to be brought up to our level. [FRANK MORRIS]: Many opponents wore bright orange buttons which said, "NO to socialism, YES to local control." They say if the state controls education spending, schools will no longer be a source of local pride. Members of the Education Committee hope to reach agreement on a school finance proposal and advance it to the house floor by next month. If the legislature fails to reform Kansas's school finance formula this year, the system may be ruled unconstitutional. From the statehouse, I'm Frank Morris. *****

[TAMA WAGNER]: In the past, the courts have ended up with the reapportionment duties. But this time, house lawmakers believe they may have a winner. Legislators spent months redrawing legislative districts to compensate for shifts in the state's population. House apportionment chairperson, Representative Joan Adams. [JOAN ADAMS]: The task was harder, I think, than we originally thought, because there's so much population loss around the state, so a large number of the districts had to be changed. [TAMA WAGNER]: Population increases in urban counties, like Johnson, Sedgwick, Leavenworth, and Douglas have created district changes. Adams expects the measure to pass on Friday. The holdup could be in the senate. Senators have yet to reach a compromise on a reapportionment map. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [FRANK MORRIS]: Former KU basketball player Mike Maddox says he was an innocent victim of NCAA sanctions resulting from recruiting violations before he came to college. [MIKE MADDOX]: I was in the locker room when he called our team in, holding back the tears, trying

to tell us, especially the seniors on that team, that they wouldn't be able to compete in the NCAA tournament. We did not expect to be penalized for violations that we did not commit. [FRANK MORRIS]: Senator Wint Winter of Lawrence proposes to legislate changes in the way the association operates. His bill mandates harsh punishment for errant coaches and players, but eliminates institutional sanctions unless top administrators broke the rules. When it does discipline member schools, Winter says the association should follow constitutional due process procedures. NCAA chief executive Dick Schultz says the organization currently adheres to eight out of ten due process rules. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the NCAA a voluntary organization, which need not practice criminal law procedures. From the statehouse, I'm Frank Morris. ***** [FRANK MORRIS]: The bill limits gambling to state-run lottery games, but Senator Phil Martin says putting a constitutional amendment to a statewide vote is the only legitimate way to change the law. [PHIL MARTIN]: This statutory measure is the wrong

way to go. It's absolutely the wrong way to go. It guarantees a state supreme court challenge over the constitutionality of this statute. [FRANK MORRIS]: Martin predicts the measure will be overturned in costly state and federal court battles. But Senator Wint Winter says legislators are obliged to articulate, if not set, state policy. [WINT WINTER]: This is an issue that will have to be decided in the courts, no doubt. But it is absolutely correct that it cannot be said that it is not our job to state what the policy of this state is. [FRANK MORRIS]: The bill may not be tested in court. It faces a tough battle in the house. For Kansas Public Radio, I'm Frank Morris. ***** [INDIGENOUS DRUMMING AND SINGING] [INDIGENOUS DRUMMING AND SINGING] [FRANK MORRIS]: Some protesters like Hiawatha mayor Jim Scherer say casinos could bring economic development to some of the poorest areas of Kansas. [JIM SCHERER]: We need jobs. We don't need more money -- we need jobs. We need dignity for all the people. And we need to

get this casino bill, and we need to get everybody back to work, and get economic development going to Brown County. [FRANK MORRIS]: Kickapoo tribal chairman Steve Kadue says attempts to outlaw casino gambling, like the one tentatively approved by the senate yesterday, single out Native Americans. [STEVE KADUE]: We want the senators to get the message that this is wrong. That this is unconstitutional, it's- I have said before, it's rooted in racism. It's a bigotry- an act of bigotry. [FRANK MORRIS]: Senators opposed to Indian gambling say casinos attract organized crime and provoke a host of social ills. They also say casinos would cut revenue from state-run games. From the statehouse, I'm Frank Morris. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: With votes to spare, the Kansas house approved a map that will restructure legislative districts state wide. Representative Joan Adams calls the redistricting process grueling work, and says it took extensive public hearings to reach the bipartisan compromise. [JOAN ADAMS]: The result of all this hard work is a balanced,

fair, and equitable map that will take this body into the year 2000. [TAMA WAGNER]: Yesterday, Joan Finney threatened to veto that map. The Democratic governor admitted she wants a plan that will make it difficult for Neodesha Republican Rochelle Chronister to be reelected. Chronister campaigned against Finney during the last election. But today, Finney recanted that veto threat. [JOAN FINNEY]: I didn't threaten to veto it. Now, uh- I said it was in danger. [TAMA WAGNER]: Finney says she is concerned legislative deals were cut to build consensus on the reapportionment map, but today she admits she hasn't even seen the map. The state constitution requires legislative districts be reapportioned this session to ensure equal representation for all Kansans. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: The state constitution requires reapportionment to ensure fair representation state wide. But Joan Finney takes exception to the house plan. Instead, she wants a plan that will make it difficult for Representative Rochelle Chronister to be reelected. Some lawmakers

believe Finney is carrying out a vendetta by targeting Chronister, who, as the former head of the GOP, campaign for Mike Hayden during the last election. But for whatever reason, this is a first -- and that's okay with the governor. [JOAN FINNEY]: Aren't you aware that maybe I'm a little bit different? [TAMA WAGNER]: Members of Finney's own party were astounded. House majority leader Marvin Barkis called the Finney idea, "nuts." Legislators have worked for months to reach a compromise on the map, and many say a veto would create complete chaos this session. But Finney believes the creation of a new map would be in the public's best interest. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [MALE PROTESTOR]: We are mad as hell, and we're not going to take it any more! [CHEERING] We are mad as hell, and we are not going to take it any more! [TAMA WAGNER]: Colorful signs with slogans like, "I VOTE," and, "DON'T BALANCE THE STATE BUDGET WITH MY PAYCHECK," dotted throughout the crowd of protestors. The protesters object to a senate Ways and Means proposal to delete funds earmarked for state employee pay raises. Public workers do have a powerful ally, however. Governor Joan Finney

says she is on their side. [JOAN FINNEY]: I will stand by you and do what we can to see that you receive the increase in pay, which I have proposed and which is in the budget. [TAMA WAGNER]: Members of the senate Ways and Means Committee like Frank Gaines, an Augusta Democrat, believe it's too early in the process to determine whether state employees should receive pay raises. He says private sector businesses facing tough budget times do not give employee pay raises. Gaines believes the state needs to follow the lead of Kansas businesses. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Ignoring a gubernatorial threat to veto the reapportionment map, the house last week easily approved the package. Redrawing legislative districts can be politically divisive. Therefore, minority leader Jerry Karr says it's imperative the senate quickly pick up where the house left off, and get past reapportionment, so it can address the session's other issues. [JERRY KARR]: This is very important, because not only the school finance and the budget issues that are just

tremendous this year -- tight budget -- but also, I think it's very important because we've got more maps to draw. We've got to get a senate map so we can draw a state Board of Education map. We also need to get this behind us. because it's automatically tested by the courts. [TAMA WAGNER]: But senate majority leader Fred Kerr says Republicans and Democrat are miles apart on a senate map. Kerr says not to expect a debate on reapportionment any time soon. The state constitution requires reapportionment to ensure equal representation state wide. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Most lawmakers describe funding education as the session's most pressing issue. A Shawnee County district court judge has advised lawmakers to come up with a new school finance formula that allows children, rich and poor, an equal educational opportunity. House education chairman, Representative Rick Bowden says committee members are meeting at this hour. [RICK BOWDEN]: Get a bill out that's a fair bill, that addresses the concerns of the judge, that's fair to the students of the state, that provides a fair distribution of money to the students. [TAMA WAGNER]: But the school finance plan Bowden is considering does have opposition. The proposal includes a

statewide uniform mill levy, and a limit on per-pupil aid. Some legislators say that would devastate dozens of school districts in Kansas. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: It's taken months to get to this point, but house education chairman Rick Bowden believes the plan in hand will meet the court's direction to provide an equal educational opportunity to all Kansas children. The basic idea is sharing wealth state wide. But in doing that, some school districts will lose millions. And there's a hitch -- to offset property taxes and pay for education, the plan costs about $300 million. Representative Gary Blumenthal, a Johnson County Democrat, says for this plan to fly, districts who want to maintain the current level of excellence must convince their legislators to support a revenue increase. [GARY BLUMENTHAL]: And I don't know how we're going to satisfy the judge, I don't know how we're going to satisfy the needs of kids across the

state, if we're not willing to be responsible and address that. [TAMA WAGNER]: But the revenue package is not yet on the table for consideration. The school finance problem is far from solved, this is just the first attempt. Some house Republicans are working on another plan that they say will be less devastating to school districts. The current school finance formula is in jeopardy of being ruled unconstitutional. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Some AIDS activists believe nursing homes in Kansas are deliberately discriminating against some sick people by turning away AIDS-infected patients. The house Public Health and Welfare Committee is considering a bill aimed at eliminating the alleged discrimination. But John Grace with the Kansas Association of Homes for the Aging says the legislation is unnecessary, and it would be a duplication of regulation. [JOHN GRACE]: There are several state statutes that cover discrimination. There's the American With Disabilities Act that protects persons from discrimination, and nursing homes are included in both of these

coverage areas. [TAMA WAGNER]: Grace says his organization already encourages member homes to accept AIDS patients. He points out that homes in Wichita, Topeka, and Junction City have already complied. Grace also says not all nursing homes are equipped to care for many of the complications which result from the AIDS virus. The bill is expected to be sent to the full house for debate. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [FRANK MORRIS]: The plan relies on a 15 percent income tax surcharge and a minimum eight mill levy state wide. House Republican whip Mike O'Neal says the measure could work on existing revenue. [MIKE O'NEAL]: We achieve property tax relief by imposing additional income taxes. We reduce property taxes by about $100 million, and we increase income taxes by about $100 million. So we're still playing with essentially the same pool of money, we just distribute it differently. [FRANK MORRIS]: The plan allows school districts to set their mill levies and income tax surcharge as high as they wish. All local revenue would stay in the district. The Republican formula attempts to satisfy a judicial

request for equal educational funding by requiring districts to maintain at least 80 percent of the state average for per-pupil spending. The measure is expected to reach the house floor in the form of amendments to the Democratic school finance plan next week. From the statehouse, I'm Frank Morris. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: On the heels of the appointment of former Republican John Hennessy as Acting Secretary of Administration, a house committee unanimously adopted a measure that could force acting secretaries be confirmed while the legislature in in session. Under current law, the governor can appoint someone up to one year before seeking senate approval on the candidate. Critics call the provision a method to shelter controversial appointments. Committee chairman, Representative Gary Blumenthal. [GARY BLUMENTHAL]: And it is conceivable that one could- a governor could go throughout an entire session switching from acting secretary to acting secretary, and never having the benefit of confirmation. [TAMA WAGNER]: Hennessy replaces

acting secretary James Cobler. The Cobler confirmation was in doubt. Senate confirmations chairperson Sheila Frahm is supportive of the measure. Mary Holliday, the governor's appointment secretary, dismisses the committee message, and says it's often necessary to appoint an acting secretary to keep state government operating. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Because legislative salaries are tied to a federal pay plan, Kansas lawmakers will get a 5.8 percent raise in daily expense payments. The increase has caused quite a stir among some legislators, because it comes only two weeks after a senate committee stripped a 2.5 percent raise for state employees from the governor's recommended budget. Topeka Senator Alicia Salisbury denounced what she calls, a double standard. [ALICIA SALISBURY]: And my conscience will not permit me to accept any increase in expense payments unless a fair and equitable increase for state employees is passed by the legislature this session. [TAMA WAGNER]: Daily expenses will increase from the current $69 to $73 a day.

Ark City Senator Dick Rock says the public needs to know it's an expense, not a salary increase. Rock contends it's difficult for many lawmakers to break even while serving in the legislature. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Many legislators agree the debate will be long and emotional. At least two amendments from anti-abortion legislators are planned. The amendments are designed to toughen restrictions included in the bill. But abortion rights supporters called the bill on the floor a compromise, because it requires counseling for minors and limits on late-term abortions. The abortion rights forces believe the measure will be approved in the house, and say it has a good chance in the senate. But anti-abortion advocates contend they are in a win-win situation. If the measure does manage to pass the legislature, Tim Golba with Kansans for Life says the governor will likely veto. And he says it's doubtful the legislature will be able to muster up the votes to override. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Last week, Joan Finney threatened to veto a house reapportionment map. The state

constitution requires reapportionment to ensure fair representation for all Kansans. It had taken house leaders months to come up with the map at issue. The governor asked for a new map that would make it difficult for former Republican party chairperson Rochelle Chronister to be re-elected. Finney now acknowledges that action was a mistake. [JOAN FINNEY]: It was my fault, because I guess I was kind of tired. I didn't handle it very well. I was trying to draw attention to the fact that I'm hearing that deals are being cut. [TAMA WAGNER]: Finney believed a deal had been cut on a tax package. The governor now says the map is fine, and she plans to apologize to Representative Chronister. The governor doubts the incident has caused irreparable damage with the legislature. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Governor Joan Finney supports casino gambling. In fact, she's already entered into a compact agreement to bring Las Vegas-type gambling to Indian reservations in northeast Kansas. Senator Dick Bond does not support casinos, and he and other senators have decided to let Kansas voters decide. [DICK BOND]: I don't think anybody's trying to anger the governor, but I think there are

obviously more than 2/3 of the senators who believe that it's important for the public to be able to speak on the issue of whether or not they want an expanded lottery, i.e. casino gambling. Or do they want a a lottery as they thought they were passing it in 1986. [TAMA WAGNER]: Senator Ed Reilly criticized the senate action. The Leavenworth Republican believes the legislature is wasting its time. He says because Native Americans are governed by federal law, casino gambling is inevitable. The measure now goes to a house committee for consideration. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Following five hours of emotional debate Friday, the house gave tentative approval to a measure that abortion rights advocates call a compromise -- a compromise, because it requires counseling for minors and limits some late-term abortions. But anti-abortion legislators objected, because the measure essentially codifies Roe v. Wade. One of

the most emotional pleas came from anti-abortion legislator Darlene Cornfield, who described her own experience. [DARLENE CORNFIELD]: I still have nightmares, because I totally blocked it out. Because I just convinced myself that it wasn't a baby -- that it was just tissue up until 6 or 7 months, that it really wasn't a baby. [TAMA WAGNER]: Upon approval during final action, the bill will be sent to the senate, where it faces an uncertain future. If the measure does survive the upper chamber, it will meet another hurdle in the governor's office. Joan Finney is solidly anti-abortion, and many legislators believe she'll veto the bill. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: The first round of negotiations ended with a compact agreement. That compact has, however, been rejected by the U.S. Department of Interior, sending Finney and Kickapoo tribal leaders back to the bargaining table. The federal government rejected the earlier compact because it proposed to give the state too much revenue. An official in Washington

cited the Indian Gaming Act, which he says specifically says that gambling revenues should go to Native Americans. Department of Interior officials also say the ongoing dispute over who has authority in Kansas to enter into a compact did not play a role in the rejection. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [ROB HILTON]: Douglas County Sheriff Loren Anderson says officers arrested Marvin Schaal last night. The arrest was made just hours before the statute of limitations for prosecution in the Bread case was to run out. At the time of his death, investigators believe Bread was hit by a truck or van on a gravel road just east of Lawrence. Schaal is being charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident. Sheriff Anderson says Schaal has been a suspect in the case for more than a year. [LOREN ANDERSON]: We're sure, just as sure as -- I'd like to say 99 percent sure -- that we've got the exact sequence of events and know what happened. [ROB HILTON]: Anderson wouldn't specify why investigators believe Schaal killed Bread, but said the case is being treated as an accident.

Schaal was 17 at the time of Bread's death, but authorities are trying to prosecute Schaal as an adult. Sheriff Anderson says he hopes Schaal's arrest will help end concerns among some local Native Americans who believe authorities weren't taking Bread's death seriously. Bread was the fourth Native American to die due to unexplained circumstance between 1988 and 1990. The deaths attracted national media attention after Native Americans charged some law enforcement officials with racism and incompetence. For KANU, I'm Rob Hilton. ***** [GROUP SINGING 'JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN'] [GROUP SINGING 'JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN'] [TAMA WAGNER]: Hundreds of anti-abortion advocates sang, prayed, and lobbied state representatives in an effort to reverse last week's tentative approval of an abortion rights bill. Kansans for Life spokesperson Kevin Yowell believes their efforts have paid off, in part. [KEVIN YOWELL]: On Friday, those who favored this bill were very proud of the fact that they had a veto-proof majority. Today, they have to be disappointed that they have lost that veto-proof majority. [TAMA WAGNER]: The bill did lose

two votes over the weekend, but was still approved by a 2-to-1 margin. Abortion rights supporters call the measure, "middle ground," because it providees counseling for minors and limits some late-term abortions, while at the same time codifies Roe v. Wade. The measure is now headed to the senate. Its future in the upper chamber is uncertain. Should the bill survive the legislature, it will likely be met with a veto from anti-abortion Governor Joan Finney. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [FRANK MORRIS]: Under the new compact, tribes will pay the state only for policing reservation casinos. The Interior Department had rejected an earlier agreement in which Indian tribes were to give Kansas a percentage of gambling profits. Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Eddie Brown ruled such payments were prohibited under the Indian Gaming Act. Kickapoo tribal chairman Steve Kadue says Brown told him that Secretary of Interior Manuel Lujan would sign the modified compact. [STEVE KADUE]: This assessment issue is the only issue remaining in the compact, and he felt that it could be approved

very, very soon. [FRANK MORRIS]: Lujan had declined to approve the original compact because Kansas lawmakers had been excluded from negotiations. Kadue says the tribes are now considering donating a percentage of gambling profits to charity. From the statehouse, I'm Frank Morris. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: The dispute centers around who in state government has the authority to negotiate compacts with Indian tribes. The creation of a five member commission would solidify the legislature's role in compact negotiations. Seattle attorney Robert Pirtle, who's represented Indian tribes for the past 28 years, told committee members they need to resolve this dispute, because he says casinos in Kansas are inevitable. [ROBERT PIRTLE]: And, my conclusion is that with your lottery provision of the supreme court and your parimutuel wagering provision in the supreme court- in the constitution, I mean, as interpreted by the supreme court in each case, and the opinions of your attorney general,

casino gaming is clearly authorized, and the tribes of Kansas are entitled to do it. [TAMA WAGNER]: It's unlikely Joan Finney would support the legislative involvement in compact negotiations. The governor has long maintained it's her responsibility as chief executive officer to ratify compacts with tribal leaders. The bill remains in committee. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Advocates- ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Currently, after three years of service, most Kansas teachers are automatically given tenure. The bill under consideration would lengthen the 10 year probationary period, and would require teachers earn the tenure. Halstead superintendent Earl Guiot supports the measure, because he believes the current system allows incompetent teachers to remain in the classroom. [EARL GUIOT]: A loser to the students, a loser to the good teachers, a loser to the patrons of the community, the taxpayers of the district. Everyone seems to find it necessary to choose sides,

both among staff and community. And the loser's society in general, and we don't have the best possible teachers in the classroom. [TAMA WAGNER]: Opposed to so-called tenure reform -- some community college faculty and a teachers' union -- educators contend the bill will penalize all teachers. They say for economic reasons, school boards could routinely replace seasoned educators with inexperienced and cheaper teachers. The bill remains in committee. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner. ***** [TAMA WAGNER]: Hearing concluded last week on the house Democrats' plan to pay for public schools, but it will likely be March before the committee can get a bill to the full house. And there has been no discussion to date on how to fund that bill once it's through the process. But house Tax chairperson, Representative Joan Wagnon, is not concerned. [JOAN WAGNON]: Quite frankly, the tax committee could put together a tax package in fifteen minutes if we had the number and the consensus to do it. [TAMA WAGNER]: But getting the consensus to do it is always the hard part. It took much of last session to reach a tax compromise, only to have the measure vetoed by the governor. Wagnon says it will be equally challenging this session to create the right mix of sales,

income, and exemptions to attract support and meet with Joan Finney's approval. The legislature is under the gun to change the state's current school finance formula. A Shawnee County district court judge has encouraged the legislature to provide an equal educational opportunity to all children. If the legislature fails, the funding formula may be declared unconstitutional. At the statehouse, I'm Tama Wagner.