And now some good news

Whenever fundamentalists take over a school board, they're usually dumped the next year by fellow citizens who want to keep the science in science education or are just plain embarrassed by what's happened. While religious groups just bide their time until the next chance for a takeover, it's still good to see.

Conservative Republicans who brought international attention to Kansas by approving academic standards calling evolution into question lost control of the state school board in primaries.

As a result of the vote, board members and candidates who believe evolution is well-supported by evidence will have a 6-4 majority. Evolution skeptics had entered the election with a 6-4 majority.

Five seats were on the ballot this year. Three incumbent conservatives faced primary foes, and there was a contested GOP race for the seat held by a retiring conservative. A pro-evolution Democratic incumbent also had a challenger.