State
Appellate court to hear whistleblower case
The Kansas Court of Appeals will hear the case of Daniel Copp, a Kansas Department of Revenue whistleblower.
Copp, a temporary warehouse worker for the Revenue Department, was fired in 1999 for making public nonconfidential records. Copp revealed the long-term mishandling of tax payment and tax refund checks misdirected to the warehouse for storage or shredding.
He sued the state for wrongful firing under the Kansas Whistleblower's Act, though the state contended that Copp was only a temporary worker not entitled to job protection.
Copp and his attorneys appealed a district court case in July 2000, contending the judge erred when he granted the Revenue Department's request for summary judgment. In doing so, they argued, the court prevented Copp from proceeding with the discovery stage of the case.
Schools
Southwest student confesses to threat
A student at Southwest Junior High School confessed Wednesday to writing a note on a rest room wall that threatened violence at the school, authorities said.
"I'm sure everybody in the school community will be relieved, and it certainly makes me feel better," Principal Trish Bransky said.
She said the student, whose identity wasn't disclosed by the district, was suspended for five days pending an administrative review.
In 1999, a Lawrence High School senior was expelled for eight months after he confessed to writing a terroristic threat on an LHS rest room wall.
Lawrence Police spent the day at Southwest investigating the case. Tuesday, 19 percent of Southwest's students were absent. Attendance Wednesday was normal, Bransky said.
Leavenworth County
Petition opposing casino turned over to governor
Gov. Bill Graves has received a petition signed by 500 residents opposed to a casino in Leavenworth County, the Tonganoxie Mirror reported Wednesday.
State Sen. Bob Lyon, R-Winchester, and Tonganoxie resident Connie O'Brien, chairwoman of Stand Up For Leavenworth County, presented the petition to the governor, whose approval is needed for a casino for plans to advance.
The Delaware Indian Tribe, based in Bartlesville, Okla., is proposing a casino in southern Leavenworth County. The tribe has approached local governments, but ultimately approval of the Legislature and Graves is essential to move forward.
The Tonganoxie City Council is sponsoring a public hearing on the casino proposal at 7 p.m. April 17 at Tonganoxie High School. The hearing will consist of a presentation by tribe representatives and public comment.
fatality
Accident kills driver on U.S. Highway 59
A man died Wednesday evening at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center in Topeka, where he was transported by air ambulance after the car he was driving sideswiped a semitrailer on U.S. Highway 59.
According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, an adult male was traveling northbound on U.S. 59 when his car collided with a semitrailer. Officers are unsure how the accident happened, although it was reported that one of the vehicles crossed the center line.
Names were not released Wednesday night because the victim's family had not been notified, officers said. Sheriff's Lt. Kathy Tate said the victim was not from Lawrence.
The driver of the semi was unharmed, Sgt. Jeff Nelson said. The car was destroyed, and partial damage was done to the semitrailer.
The accident occurred about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on U.S. 59, north of County Road 458.
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