Week in review: corruption, lost jobs, big brother and illegal libraries in Kansas
By Travis Perry │ Kansas Watchdog
OSAWATOMIE, Kan. — It has been a big week in Kansas. Depending on who you are and where you live, there’s a chance you’ve either lost your job, are seeing a draconian government crackdown or are being investigated for criminal activities – and you may not even know it yet.
Curious which one applies to you? Hit up our week in review to find out.
Kansas ranks among nation’s least corrupt states
Bet you didn’t see this one coming. A recent academic study pegged Kansas as the 10thleast corrupt state in the nation, based on an examination of convictions on federal corruption charges over the last few decades. Ranking that high feels pretty good, but want to make it even better? Check out where Missouri scored.
Prairie chicken killing jobs in western Kansas
Since March, the federal government has steadily repeated its mantra that their decision to protect the lesser prairie chicken won’t be that painful, but talking to real folks affected by the matter has proven otherwise. What’s more outrageous, though, is the science backing the official government action is shaky at best. here.
In these Kansas towns, driving a car makes you a potential criminal
Last April, Virginia Watchdog reporter Kathryn Watson was able to find out when and where police were tracking her movements using automatic license plate readers. However, when we tried to do the same Kansas law enforcement tossed up a huge road block, saying the data was exempt from state open records law. What was their excuse? Any information collected on driver’s whereabouts is considered “criminal investigation records,” whether or not you have yet to actually commit a crime. See how you’re a criminal and don’t even know it.
Leawood throws the book at Little Free Library
It’s not quite a book burning, but from the reaction of local residents, it might as well be. The City of Leawood is using the power of its municipal code to crack down on a Little Free Library a 9-year-old boy constructed with the help of his father and grandpa as a Mother’s Day gift. No, really, you have to read this to believe it.
Contact Travis Perry at travis@kansaswatchdog.org, or follow him on Twitter at @muckraker62. Like Watchdog.org? Click HERE to get breaking news alerts in YOUR state!
