Kansas Engineers Hard At Work In Puerto Rico

Soldiers of the Kansas National Guard’s 242nd Engineer Company have kept busy over the past several weeks assisting authorities in Puerto Rico with recovery operations from Hurricane Maria. The unit’s first mission tasked 16 soldiers skilled in heavy hauling to support operations in Aguadilla on the western coast. Heavy rains during the hurricane caused water to overflow Guajataca Lake Dam and washed out the bottom of the earthen structure. Their mission, coordinated by t…

Kansas Church Loses Legal Battle Concerning Protests at Funerals

    A Kansas-based church has lost its legal battle to protest at funerals in Nebraska.     A Nebraska law enacted in 2006 prohibits protests near a cemetery, mortuary or church from one hour before the beginning of a funeral to two hours after.     Members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church challenged the law but have lost in lower courts.     The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday it would not take up the cas…

Convicted Oklahoma Murderer To Get Chance For Parole

    An Oklahoma man is among the latest inmates to get a chance at parole despite receiving a life sentence.          The Supreme Court said Monday it won’t get involved in the  case of Keighton Budder.     A federal appeals court had previously set aside Budder’s sentence for violent crimes he committed as a juvenile.     Budder was convicted of rape and other charges and received three consecutive life s…