Sen. Pat Roberts (R)!(AP) Orman of Olathe takes step toward U.S. Senate race against Pat Roberts: Greg Orman, a 39-year-old Olathe businessman, filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, a step toward taking on Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts next year. A virtual political unknown, Orman, a Democrat, would be a long shot to unseat Roberts, who served eight terms in the U.S. House before winning a Senate seat in 1996. Mike Gaughan, Kansas Democratic Party executive director, said Orman would make a public announcement soon.(Topeka Capital-Journal) Federal grants awarded: The Topeka-based Disability Rights Center of Kansas will receive an $82,500 federal grant to investigate abuse and neglect of people with mental illness. The grant, announced this week by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., was awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Roberts’ office also has announced that more than $258,000 has been awarded to national scenic byways in Kansas. Two of the grants involve Flint Hills projects. The other grants are $20,000 for a wetlands and wildlife project in Barton, Reno, Rice and Stafford counties, and $76,638 for statewide byways wildflower and geology brochures. The funds were awarded by the Department of Transportation.