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Johnson County officers kill a stabbing suspect at Panasonic plant. Here’s what we know
The Panasonic plant in De Soto shut down after officers shot a person suspected of stabbing another. The suspect is dead, and the stabbing victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
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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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Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas AG aides attended ‘war games’ summit where group planned response to Biden win
Two top aides in Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office traveled last year to a summit where staffers of conservative attorneys general participated in “war games” to plan how they might respond to the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Kansas data doesn’t reflect reality as COVID-19 rips through schools
School districts across the state independently reported hundreds of infections of COVID-19 among students and staff in the first two weeks of school, while the state’s official ledger showed just two small outbreaks.
Thousands of Kansans face threat of eviction as pandemic exposes housing crisis
Estimates from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation indicate more than 27,000 Kansas are currently behind on their rent. Federal and state moratoriums have provided temporary relief for those who can prove they are unable to pay rent because of COVID-19 related circumstances, but the narrow scope has left many without protection.
Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector
Kansas education officials celebrate graduation rates but say work is far from over
Kansas education commissioner Randy Watson says graduation rates are at an all time high, including gains in every category of at-risk students, but there is still room for improvement.
ACLU, public defenders urge White House to shut down violent private corrections facility in Kansas
The violence and neglect suffered by inmates at a pre-trial detention facility in Leavenworth has become so severe the facility should be shut down, a group of civil rights leaders and public defenders wrote in a letter to officials in Kansas and Washington, D.C.
Kansas legislator navigates personal journey from hesitancy to acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine
Salina Rep. Steven Howe was among Republican conservatives in the Kansas House skeptical about COVID-19 vaccines, but encouragement of trusted friends and family convinced him to accept Pfizer’s vaccine in August.
Julie Denesha / KCUR
KU Health System is third local hospital network requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all workers
The KU Health System is requiring COVID-19 vaccinations of all employees, students, contractors and volunteers, becoming the third area hospital system to do so. It’s giving workers until Dec. 1 to get vaccinated.
Trust Women / Contributed Photo
Wichita’s Trust Women abortion clinic preparing for influx of patients from Texas
The number of telephone calls from out-of-state women seeking abortion services surged at the Trust Women clinic in Wichita following implementation of a Texas law prohibiting the procedure in most instances after six weeks of pregnancy.
Judge tosses lawsuit backed by Kansas AG challenging Biden’s ‘social cost of carbon’ calculation
A federal judge found a group of Republican attorneys general lacked the standing to sue President Joe Biden’s administration for taking steps to consider the “social cost of carbon” in federal regulations.
The Conversation
Do U.S. teens have the right to be vaccinated against their parents’ will? It depends on where they live
In some states, minors can legally decide for themselves whether they would like to get vaccinated. In Kansas, minors may consent to health care at the age of 16.
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Dillons, state of Kansas collaborating on COVID-19 vaccination incentive
Gov. Laura Kelly and the Dillons grocery store chain Tuesday launched a new COVID-19 vaccination incentive program in a dozen Kansas counties, delivering $50 per dose or a total of $100 for individuals 12 years or older who volunteer to accept shots.
Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3
Landing in the hospital with COVID-19 is getting more expensive; here’s why
If you come down with a nasty case of COVID-19, here are the key things to worry about — moneywise — as you brace for the financial fallout.
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Jeff Colyer diagnosed with prostate cancer, ends campaign for Kansas governor
TOPEKA — Jeff Colyer announced Monday he was ending his campaign for Kansas governor and […]
Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector
Incomplete data renders audit of Kansas mental health and substance abuse programs inconclusive
State legislative auditors say data gaps and broad definitions limited the conclusions and recommendations they could provide in a recent review of Kansas’ most common mental health and substance abuse programs.
Kansas mother grapples with ‘sucker punch’ of 4-year-old’s COVID-19 infection
Jenna Sutter Brown’s 4-year-old daughter couldn’t sleep last week. Hazel had bad congestion, a barking cough, a fever, and allergy-like symptoms. Her parents didn’t yet know the girl had COVID-19.
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