49 News Now - An afternoon update of news and weather

As his Hamas rivals move toward a takeover of Gaza Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is declaring a state of emergency. He is also dismantling the coalition between his Fatah allies and their foes in Hamas. And he's fired the prime minister who is from Hamas. Abbas says he'll form a new government and he's considering early elections. Today the Hamas fighters overran two of the Fatah movement's most important security centers in the Gaza strip.

A Shawnee County judge has let a convicted child rapist walk free and now the community is taking action. This silent protest is in response to a decision handed down by District Court Judge Matthew Dowd. On May 25th, Dowd granted probation for Orlando Paul Cisneros, 38. Cisneros was convicted on 17 charges of rape and sodomy involving a 14-year-old girl. Had Dowd followed state sentencing guidelines, Cisneros could have served 13-years in prison.

The search for a new superintendent for USD 501 is on. The district and the firm hired to help find a new leader are holding meetings all day. They are gathering opinions from local leaders businesses and the public on what the district needs in a new superintendent. After that input is gathered the firm will put together a superintendent profile. You can offer your comments tonight at 7 at Topeka West High School.

The world's largest cereal maker has agreed to raise the nutritional value of cereals and snacks it markets to kids. Kellogg has avoided a lawsuit threatened by nutrition advocacy groups and parents worried about childhood obesity. The company says it won't promote foods in TV, radio, website or print ads that reach audiences under age 12 unless they meet certain health guidelines. Those guidelines include no more than 200 calories and 12-grams of sugar. Kellogg is also reformulating products to meet the criteria by the end of 2008.

Today in weather, humid and muggy condition today with highs in the 80sScattered showers through out the area for tonight with lows in the mid-60s. Will the rain stick around for the weekend? For more go to weather...


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