Two men killed in oil rig explosion

Lafontaine – A rig drilling for coalbed methane gas exploded Thursday, killing two men and seriously wounding another in northern Montgomery County, authorities said.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said.

The rig, about three miles southeast of Lafontaine, belongs to McPherson Drilling of Cherryvale.

The two men who were killed apparently were working on the pipe at the time of the explosion. A third man, who was farther away, received shrapnel wounds but is expected to survive.

The explosion killed Michael W. Holland, 29, of Altoona, and William Mac Sandborn, 29, of Eric, officials said. The injured man is listed as William Walter Kobert, 20, of Cherryvale.

Supreme Court to rule on school case today

Topeka – The Kansas Supreme Court plans to release on Friday its much-anticipated ruling on the legality of the state’s school finance formula.

Ron Keefover, spokesman for the justices, said the ruling would be released at 3 p.m. and posted on its Web site.

The court heard arguments May 11 on the Legislature’s attempt to correct flaws identified in a January ruling. The justices told legislators they must increase funding, particularly to programs aimed at poor and minority students.

This year, lawmakers approved a $142 million package relying on existing state revenues, while granting local school boards greater authority to raise property taxes. Critics contend the state can’t sustain the new spending in future years.

The ruling is the latest chapter in a lawsuit filed in 1999 on behalf of parents and administrators in the Dodge City and Salina school districts.