Kansas

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback on Tuesday signed two bills banning late-term abortion and requiring parental consent for pregnant minors seeking abortion – a move that will likely encourage similar pro-life legislation in other U.S. states.

Brownback signed both bills at an afternoon ceremony surrounded by supporters that included pro-life advocacy groups and legislators. Both bills had previously passed with a 24-15 vote by the Kansas Senate on March 23.

“These bills establish that Kansas, in the heart of America, is a culture-of-life state – and we're not going back,” Brownback said before signing. more >>

More than 27,000 young adults from 50 countries are attending a four-day conference at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Mo.

The annual worship and teaching conference for young adults seeks to train and equip a generation to live the Gospel and to love God and people.

Attendees came from as far away as South Korea, China, and New Zealand this year to participate in the “One Thing 2010” event, which kicked off Tuesday. This year's theme is based out of Psalm 27:4 where King David declares that there is one thing that he desires of God, and that is to be near Him in His house and gaze at His beauty. more >>

Two Kansas churches sued the city for imposing a tax-like fee that levies charges on the number of trips attendees make to their places of worship.

First Baptist Church of Mission and the Archdiocese of Kansas City are both suing Mission, Kansas, to repeal the property tax attorneys say is disguised as a “driveway fee” to evade having to grant exemptions.

The “driveway fee” would cost the institutions over $1,000 in the coming year. The city council asserts that the fee is not a tax. However, others disagree. more >>

The Kansas Supreme Court decided to allow a 107-count criminal case to proceed against Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri after the case had been tied up for two years. The organization had been accused of conducting illegal late-term abortions.

“This is a huge victory for the cause of life,” said Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, in a statement. The pro-life group lobbied for the criminal case to move forward despite a subpoena tie up and a letter from the state’s attorney office pardoning the Planned Parenthood group involved.

“We asked people to call the Supreme Court,” reported Cheryl Sullenger, Operation Rescue’s senior policy advisor. Newman and his group circulated petitions and purchased radio spots, raising the public consciousness on the issue. more >>

The Wichita City Council in Kansas will continue having invocations before each meeting despite protests by a group of humanists.

"I can't agree with the statement that religion has no place. It has a place in our entire lives. It's not just here at city hall," said Councilwoman Sue Schlapp on Tuesday. "So I don't think I can exclude that from my daily life just because I walk into city hall."

Vickie Sandell Stangl, president of the Great Plains chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, brought her concerns before council members at their meeting Tuesday. more >>

The trial of the man accused of fatally shooting late-term abortionist George Tiller opened Friday without mention of the “a-word” in front of jurors.

Though the team defending Scott Roeder is expected to argue that the 51-year-old Kansas native believed he was preventing the further deaths of unborn children when he shot and killed Dr. George Tiller last year, District Judge Warren Wilbert has made it clear that the trial will not turn into a debate over abortion.

At one point Friday, Wilbert stopped defense attorney Mark Rudy from using the word “abortion” when cross-examining a witness who had not first used it himself. more >>