Topeka

Communities across Kansas will have special events this weekend to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.       One of the centerpiece events will be Saturday in Anthony, home of the state's official 9/11 memorial. A memorial in the town about 60 miles south of Wichita contains a stone from the Pentagon, steel from the World Trade Center and soil from Pennsylvania where an aircraft hijacked by terrorists was forced down by passengers.       Other events include activities at Topeka's Forbes Field to honor first responders and emergency personnel for their service.

Sumner County casino developers will pitch their projects to the Kansas Lottery next month. The Lottery Commission will meet in Topeka on September 8. The developers will give the details of their projects in an effort finalize contracts with the state. A contract is needed in order for the Lottery Review Board to consider the project. The review board reviews each project and eventually decide which casino will be built. There are three proposals for Sumner County. Global Gaming wants to build a casino at the Wellington exit of the turnpike.

A Topeka business owner has admitted to writing more than 5,000 insufficient fund checks in a check kiting scheme.   John Charles Humpage, III, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. He said that in 2008 he defrauded the Educational Credit Union, Kaw Valley State Bank and Alliance Bank. Humpage did business under various names including Humpco, Inc., Crescent Limousine, Yellow Cab of Topeka and Wire and Glass Lease, LLC. He carried out a scheme to defraud the banks by exchanging and cross-depositing insufficiently funded checks between two or more of his bank accounts.

Kansas legislators started heading to Topeka over the weekend to be ready when the 2012 session begins at two o'clock Monday afternoon. Governor Sam Brownback wants lawmakers to simplify the school funding formula.  That would give districts more freedom to spend the money as they wish, but also could eliminate extra funds that districts get for students with special needs. The governor has also suggested that lawmakers look at eliminating the state income tax.  Democrats such as Rep. Melody McCray-Miller of Park City say that would result in the increase of other taxes which would put a greater burden on those with less.  Meanwhile, Republicans such as Rep. Steve Huebert of Valley Center say cutting income taxes is doable, but eliminating them is not possible at this time.

by Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.) You may have to pop a few extra coins in the pop machine the next time you want a drink. Sen. John Vratil, R-Leawood, introduced a bill Tuesday to tax the sugar in your soda.  The tax would be a penny for every teaspoon of sugar, or about an extra dime for every 12-ounce can. Pop drinkers say that could add up in the grocery line, and a new tax would mean less buying and less drinking.  Debbie Davidson estimates her family of six drinks two two-liter bottles of pop a day. "We would cut down a lot because we wouldn't be able to afford it," says Davidson.

Wichita police arrest five people while investigating a neighborhood drug complaint.  It happened in the 600 block of N. Topeka late Wednesday. Police say the SWAT Team was used to issue a search warrant at the apartment because it was considered a high risk situation. When officers made entry into the home, they found fifteen people as well as several things that were illegal. "Once officers were able to get inside the residence," said WPD Spokesperson Lt. Doug Nolte, "there were several things which were identified as being illegal including some weapons and drugs.

Email Rodney at:  rprice@kwch.com Like Rodney on Facebook:  rPrice12 Follow Rodney on Twitter:  @RPrice_12 Rodney is a Storm Team 12 Meteorologist. He has earned both the National Weather Association's TV Seal of Approval and the American Meteorological Society's Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designation. Rodney is also KWCH's Storm Coordinator, directing the station's team of storm chasers as they track severe weather around the Sunflower State.

You could have money sitting in Topeka and not even realize it.  There are millions of dollars out there for Kansans to claim but the state is having a hard time tracking the owners down.  The state wants to give back money left in safety deposit boxes, lawsuit settlements and old bank accounts. Click To See If You Have Unclaimed Property Eyewitness News teamed up with the Treasurer's Office for an unclaimed property hotline Tuesday.  Between phone calls and people checking for themselves online, the state opened 910 potential claims.  The potential amount of money to be given back is $124,872.  The largest potential claim is worth $9,672.

A busy black Friday was just enough of a distraction for a man to steal hundreds thousands of dollars from a Topeka Walmart. Police say a video shows the man walking into a manager's office and walking off with between $200,000 and $500,000. Walmart says it is considering a reward to help catch the thief. Click here to see photos from the surveillance video.