Health official says proposed smoking ban not dead yet (Lawrence Journal-World) Look for another fight over smoking. The state’s top health policy official says she will ask state legislators again next session for a statewide smoking ban in indoor public places. Kansas Health Policy Authority executive director Marcia Nielsen said the fact lawmakers won’t be facing re-election in 2009 may give a ban a better chance of winning approval. The proposal failed to gain any traction in this year’s legislative session.Regents adopt safety measure (Lawrence Journal-World) By September, new employees at Kansas University and the five other state universities will be subject to criminal background checks before they are hired. The new policy, approved by the Kansas Board of Regents, is modeled after a one used for years at KU Medical Center. The policy discussion began after reports in news media, including a Journal-World investigation that discovered a number of convicted felons working in one KU department.State delegation split on farm bill (The Associated Press) Kansas Democrats joined the vast majority of House lawmakers in supporting the latest farm bill, but the state’s Republicans said they could not support a measure that cuts direct payments and the crop insurance program. The $290 billion proposal passed on a 318-106 vote with enough bipartisan support to withstand a threatened veto from President Bush. Senate lawmakers are expected to pass the bill with a veto-proof margin.Court takes up gambling proposal (Lawrence Journal-World)With hundreds of millions of dollars riding on the outcome, the Kansas Supreme Court considers whether the new gambling law complied with the constitutional requirement that casinos be state-owned and operated.Vacation Kansas (Harris News Service) Officials hope to bolster tourism in Kansas this summer by drawing in budget-conscience visitors stung by rising gas prices. The state’s tourism division has launched new 30-second television commercials aimed at those who live within a day’s drive of Kansas attractions.State increases funds to clinics (Kansas Health Institute) Unable to agree on how to provide health coverage to Kansans who lack it, legislators instead increased funding for the state’s network of safety-net clinics.New laws to affect doctors, soldiers (Wichita Eagle) Doctors will face tighter scrutiny and deployed soldiers will get more help with custody issues under bills the governor signed into law.