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Loud, boisterous rival protests of religious freedom among Catholics and satanists turn violent
The bullhorn-powered war of words between satanists and Catholics boiled over into brawling and a handful of arrests Friday during an extraordinary event at the Kansas Capitol that pushed boundaries of free speech and the separation of church and state.
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Civil rights • Voter rights • Anti-trans legislation • Abortion • Immigration • Municipalities’ local control • Kansas State Board of Education
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Kansas Legislature passes spending plan that would put state $460M in the hole within three years
The Legislature adopted a spending plan Thursday that fully funds public schools, raises pay for state employees, eliminates DEI initiatives, polices pronouns in emails, and puts the state on a course to face a budget shortfall within three years.

Kansas Legislature passes tax relief with talk of broken promises and out-of-control spending
Two tax bills will head to the Kansas governor’s desk after clearing the Senate Thursday, but Republicans and Democrats differed on whether the tax relief made good on their campaign promises to Kansans.

If you vote by mail in Kansas, you’ll have less time to return your ballot starting next year
Kansas will have one of the shortest mail-in voting periods in the country starting next year.

Kansas House backs antisemitism bill but refuses to condemn all racism and discrimination
House Republicans refused to consider a plea from Democratic Rep. Valdenia Winn to send a message that there is no place for racism in the state of Kansas.

Kansas Legislature overrides governor’s veto of bill to limit advance voting
The House and Senate on Tuesday overrode Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of legislation that could result in thousands of advance ballots being disqualified.

Kansas lawmakers want to loosen vaccine requirements amid a measles outbreak in the state
At least 10 Kansans under age 18 have tested positive for measles already this year. Kansas lawmakers are considering a bill that includes loosening vaccine requirements in child care regulations.

Lawrence school district facing underfunded special education, enrollment decrease
The Lawrence school district is bracing for another year of underfunded special education from the state while the federal government picks systems apart.

Kansas governor vetoes legislation that would disqualify slow-arriving mail-in ballots
Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday vetoed legislation that would eliminate a three-day grace period for advance mail-in ballots to arrive after Election Day.

Kansas government efficiency committee restricts access to public suggestions
The chair of the Kansas Senate Committee on Government Efficiency restricted access to public submissions to its suggestion portal until after this legislative session, despite state law that requires public records be made available as soon as possible.

Kansas senator seeks higher rent for Statehouse reporters who write ‘inaccurate’ stories
Sen. Virgil Peck wants to raise the rent of reporters who write “inaccurate” things about him from their Statehouse offices. He offered no evidence to support his claim.

Kansas House denounces satanic black mass as ‘despicable, blasphemous and offensive sacrilege’
The House approved a resolution that denounces the Satanic Grotto’s plans to hold a black mass at the Statehouse after members debated the balance between respecting First Amendment protections for offensive speech — and their own right to respond.

Kansas House members share family history while opposing resolution on immigration
House members shared personal family history Thursday as they discredited anti-immigrant rhetoric that echoed through committee hearings earlier in the legislative session.

Kansas Senate whittles down legislative budget, sends it back to House
The Kansas Senate on Tuesday approved a modified state budget, sending it back to the House so both chambers can agree on a shared plan.

Kansas House endorses plan to elect Supreme Court justices, placing question on August 2026 ballot
Kansas voters will decide next year whether to rewrite the state’s constitution to turn the Kansas Supreme Court into an elected office.

Kansas education commissioner: Kids need more time in school
Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson urged districts to cancel breaks or extend the school year to make up for snow days. He is also proposing half-day summer school for young students who are struggling in reading and math.
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