Federal appeals court rules Obama unconstitutional
A federal appeals court ruled that a provision in last year’s health care reform law that requires citizens to buy health insurance is unconstitutional. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, located in Atlanta, ruled 2-1 Friday that Congress overstepped its boundaries in approving the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s so-called “individual mandate,” which levies financial penalties on people who do not have health insurance by 2014.

Shooting at Plaza (Victims ages 11-16)
At least three youths were injured in shootings late Saturday night on the Country Club Plaza, where a melee erupted in which Mayor Sly James was shoved to the ground. Police confirmed the shooting victims were two boys and a girl, ages 11, 15 and 16. Police were releasing few details, but said one victim was shot in the leg, and a bullet creased the cheek of a girl, witnesses said. They did not describe the third victim’s injury. The shooting occurred near 47th and Wyandotte streets, near the Cheesecake Factory.

Rep Lance Kinzer Discusses 2011 Legislative Session
In an interview with Jim Sullinger, Representative Lance Kinzer (R-Olathe) discusses the results of the 2011 Legislative Session.

Kansas GOP Welcomes and Supports Tea Party Agenda
Before the Kansas Republican Party committee meeting started, state party chair Amanda Adkins thanked each Tea Party protester outside the Old Town Hotel Conference Center in Wichita and invited them to come inside. That pretty much symbolized the tenor and effect of Saturday’s meeting, a welcome and invitation to grass roots conservative activists to come inside and join the party. Every major vote by the 165 delegates in attendance supported the tea party agenda. Delegates unanimously approved resolutions:
*Against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare
*Against a change in how the Electoral College functions

PV Heat Pump Program has a 20-year ROI
Prairie Village has begun installing an environmentally friendly means of climate control. The city will flip the switch this fall on a geothermal heat pump system to heat and cool City Hall, the Police Department quarters and the community center. Grants, energy rebates and local funds will pay for the $1.3 million project, which is expected to yield an estimated $53,000 each year in energy savings. That means it would take more than 20 years for the system to pay for itself in energy savings!

Stabbing in Fairway
Fairway police are investigating a stabbing near 53rd Street and Canterbury Road on Monday morning. One person was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police have not released any details on what happened.

Frontier Adds Two Non-Stop Destinations at KCI
Frontier Airlines soon will provide nonstop service to Las Vegas and Houston from Kansas City International Airport. In a Monday announcement, Frontier said the service — to begin Nov. 1 — will boost it to 18 nonstop destinations out of KCI.
Introductory fares begin at $59 each way between KCI (Code: MCI) and Houston’s Hobby Airport and $89 each way between KCI and Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport. The flights will use 99-seat Embraer 190 aircraft.

Progressive Paper Shuts Down
The Johnson County Sun has called it quits. Consider by many one of the most agenda driven papers ever in KC regarding the progressive movement has decided to stop the presses after more than 40 years of publishing.

Back to School
Counting down the days until the kids go back to school? Mind going in a million directions? (The car probably is, too!)?Well, take a deep breath.?This can be a stressful time of year for everyone.?But there’s help at hand.?Consider this a sort of guide — a few things to think about as you get ready for the start of a new school year.

Tribute to SPC Spencer Duncan of Olathe
SPC Spencer Duncan gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

Kansas Debt Clock

The Kansas “Drudge” Meadowlark
Click here to get an update on current news and information in Kansas courtesy the Kansas Meadowlark website.

The Times Public Service: Registered Sex Offenders
As a public service to the residents of Northeast Johnson County the Times offers Family Watchdog as a web generator to view if an offender lives near you.

AG lauds appeals court Obamacare Ruling

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has issued a statement on the decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to strike down as unconstitutional the so-called “individual mandate” provision of the federal health care law:

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FAA Funding

Additional spending cuts were part of the agreement to raise the national debt limit. If you want an idea of how difficult it will be for Congress to agree on them, you need look no further than the recent dispute over funding of the FAA.

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Is the Mission City Administrator on the Move?

City Administrator, Mike Scanlon, may be looking for greener pastures after nearly 8 years at the helm in Mission. Scanlon, the city administrator of Mission and the former city administrator of Merriam is rumored to be in the running for the city administrator’s job in Gardner, Kansas. Scanlon is known across the U.S. as the visionary behind the so-called “Driveway Tax.”

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Obamacare Grant

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback announced last week that he is rejecting a $31 million federal grant to design a state insurance exchange. Six states were awarded grants. Kansas has now joined Oklahoma in refusing the money.

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Mission City Administrator in Green Initiative Show

Mike Scanlon, the city administrator of Mission, appeared in the third episode of Imagine KC which focused on creating and sustaining vibrant activity centers, and the critical role these community anchors play in the Centers, Corridors and Conservation strategy for building a more green, vibrant and connected region. Stories explore a widespread desire to revitalize historic downtowns, develop more active centers in older bedroom suburbs and build new centers in emerging suburbs on greenfield sites. This episode demonstrates the defining characteristics of different types of centers by highlighting regional examples and showing how quality urban design principles have been, and continue to be the key to creating our most beloved community places.

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Roeland Park Mill Levy Increase Ill-Advised
By Currie Myers, Publisher

This week the Roeland Park city council will vote on its 2012 budget. A budget that may feature a 2.1 increase in the city’s mill levy.

With today’s economic conditions, it is concerning that cities cannot budget with less. Roeland Park leaders are calling for a $1.3 million increase over their 2011 budget. At a recent meeting, the council voted 5-3 to publish the budget. Opposed were council members Bill Art, Bob Meyers and Toni Hull.

We agree with Art, Meyers and Hull. Now is not the time to increase budgets or taxes on the people. Instead, now is the time to work within budgetary means and cut spending. Moreover, instead the city should go back to 20010 budget levels.

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