Posted on Sat, Apr. 11, 2009

e-mail	print	RSS	reprint
AIM	Digg it	del.icio.us	Facebook

New state program helps Kansans find out if they qualify for aid

BY JOHN HANNA

Associated Press

TOPEKA - State Treasurer Dennis McKinney has started a new program to help Kansans learn whether they qualify for income tax credits and other federal help.

McKinney calls the Internet-based initiative WE Connect Kansas.

Spokeswoman Tara Gillum said Friday that the program is modeled on one in California, where residents enter information about themselves on an Internet site to see whether they're eligible for federal assistance.

The Kansas version, at www.kansasstatetreasurer.com, went up Thursday.

"During these particularly difficult economic times it is important to connect hard-working Kansas families with resources that can help," McKinney said in a statement.

Power line fight

Two Topeka companies competing for the right to build the region's highest-voltage power lines have taken a small step toward resolving their dispute.

ITC Great Plains and Prairie Wind Transmission both want to build lines in south-central and southwest Kansas that could carry up to six times as much electricity as existing lines in the region.

The companies signed an agreement in March stating that each was qualified to build the lines and to do business in Kansas. The Kansas Corporation Commission, which regulates utilities, will review the agreement and plans to have a hearing on it Monday.

KCC spokeswoman Abbie Hodgson said Friday that larger issues, including where the lines are built and who will build them, would still remain to be settled by the commission.

Boost for sports

The Kansas Lottery is helping publicize the 2009 Sunflower State Games with a $2 instant scratch game that went on sale this week.

The Lottery ordered 300,000 tickets with prizes ranging from a free ticket to $10,000. The overall odds of winning are about 1-in-4.

There are four tickets worth $10,000, 10 worth $1,000 and 62 worth $100.

The Lottery is paying the Sunflower State Games a $9,000 licensing fee, and the money from ticket sales goes to the state.

The Sunflower State Games will be July 10-26 in Topeka. The games are amateur athletic competitions in numerous sports for athletes of all ages.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@