State officials have been turning the screws on adult businesses for the past two years. Now lawmakers are pushing a bill that would ban billboards promoting adult stores and products along state roads and place restrictions on signs outside stores that are located near highways.
In what is shaping up to be an unrelenting statewide campaign against adult retailers, two Kansas television stations are reporting that yet another store has been indicted on obscenity charges.
The Wichita City Council has placed new zoning restrictions on adult businesses that make it impossible for eight of the city’s 15 adult retail stores to continue operating legally. The businesses have two years to find new store space or get out of town altogether.
A group called Operation Southwind will deliver a petition in federal court this week requesting a grand jury review of seven adult retail stores. The group hopes a ruling in its favor will be the first step in ridding the state of sexually oriented businesses.
Following the lead of states such as Utah, Missouri and Oklahoma, Kansas legislators met Monday to discuss the merits of a state tax that could raise the cost of adult materials by up to 20 percent in that state.
