The state of Kansas received some good financial news on Jeff Colyer’s first full day as governor. The Kansas Department of Revenue announced Thursday that tax collections for the month of January exceeded estimates by $165 million. According to the Kansas City Star, tax collections for the last fiscal year also surpassed expectations by $248.6 million. House Majority Leader Don Hineman said the good news is only partially based in reality, while part of it is only attributed to changes in tax policies that affected the timing of receipts. The state legislature still faces the challenge of devising a plan to adequately fund schools as the deadline from the state Supreme Court looms in April.
The White House is set to release a secret memo written by Republican staffers of Congress on Friday. According to The New York Times, President Trump wants the memo to be released because he believes it provides proof that law enforcement officials “acted inappropriately” while seeking information on Carter Page, one of Trump’s campaign advisers. Democrats and national security officers warn against its release, claiming it puts sensitive government information in jeopardy. A statement from the FBI — released Wednesday — says the memo omits information that affects its accuracy.Related:
Fire breaks out at the Top of the World
A student opened fire at a Los Angeles middle school Thursday morning. Two 15-year-old students were shot, one in the wrist and another in the head. According to BBC News, the student shot in the head is in “critical but stable condition.” Three other people sustained minor injuries, but were not shot. The suspect, a 12-year-old girl, is in police custody. This is the third shooting in a U.S. school in recent weeks.
Russia remains dubious of U.S. evidence of Iran’s “lawless behavior.” Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations traveled to view what the Pentagon claims to be remnants of an Iranian-made missile used by Yemeni rebels against Saudi Arabia, according to CBS News, but was unconvinced that Iran has supported and illegally transferred weapons to terror groups. The evidence is part of the U.S.’s efforts to persuade the U.N. Security Council to take action against Iran.
