Wichita

More layoffs slated in aircraft industry

Cessna Aircraft Co. told employees Thursday it planned to cut 1,500 jobs in Wichita. Employees who will be laid off will receive 60-day notices this month and next.

Cessna warned workers last month that the business jet market was not recovering as hoped and more layoffs would be necessary. In October, the company reduced employment by about 800, laying off 400 and offering incentives for others to voluntarily quit or retire.

The Cessna layoffs will bring the total layoffs and furloughs for Wichita’s four major aerospace manufacturers to more than 10,000.

Boeing Wichita has cut nearly 5,000 jobs since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Raytheon Aircraft Co. will have laid off more than 2,200 employees by the end of this year. Bombardier Aerospace has laid off 875 employees with plans to lay off 50 more by the end of the year.

Kansas City, Mo.

Brownback’s in-laws fined for contribution

Sen. Sam Brownback’s campaign has been ordered to give the federal government $19,000 in over-the-limit contributions after the Kansas Republican’s parents-in-law were found to have violated federal election laws.

The Federal Election Commission found that John and Ruth Stauffer of Topeka funneled excessive campaign donations to Brownback in 1996, The Kansas City Star reported Thursday. The Stauffers have been ordered to pay a $9,000 civil penalty.

The FEC report detailed a series of transactions in July 1996. The money went to the GOP consulting firm Triad Management Services, which then distributed the money to obscure conservative political action committees. An almost exact amount ended up in Brownback’s campaign coffers.

A spokesman said Brownback was pleased the matter was now closed.