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Kansas governor doubtful GOP legislators can pull off congressional redistricting
Gov. Laura Kelly predicted Tuesday the 2026 Legislature wouldn’t muster enough political support to implement a new congressional district map splitting Johnson County and making it easier to defeat U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids in the midterm election.
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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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Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector
Kansas governor denounces effort to tie college athlete pay to transgender athlete ban
An effort to pass a bill allowing collegiate student-athletes to receive compensation for their name and likeness in exchange for pushing through a ban on transgender athletes in school sports drew scorn Thursday from Gov. Laura Kelly.
Racial disparities in infant mortalities persist despite record low rates in Kansas
Studies done in past years have demonstrated Black and Hispanic Kansas communities experience infant mortality at a much higher rate than their white counterparts.
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Kansas agencies to reopen June 13 with face masks required for visitors, employees
Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration revealed plans Wednesday for state agencies to return to normal operations on June 13.
Kansas Democrats launch nonprofit to drive turnout for progressive candidates, issues
Three Kansas Democrats formed the nucleus of a new nonprofit providing financial, strategic and logistical support for a year-round volunteer operation that reaches out to low-turnout voters in support of progressive candidates and issues.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Short-term health insurance expansion passed by Kansas Legislature raises bipartisan concerns
A bill passed by the Kansas Legislature last week will expand the usage period on short-term health insurance plans if approved by Gov. Laura Kelly.
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Kansas lawmakers make sexual extortion a crime, raise penalties for eluding police
A criminal justice bill passed by the House and Senate makes sexual extortion a crime, enforces stronger penalties for attempting to elude a police officer and allows a spouse to be charged with sexual battery.
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Kansas businesses angry about COVID-19 mandates can get in line for piece of $500M
The Kansas Legislature pushed to the finish line an extraordinary plan to redirect as much as one-half billion dollars in federal COVID-19 relief aid to Kansas businesses claiming damages from city, county and state public health mandates during the pandemic.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas Legislature wraps 2021 session with late-night property tax deal
In the final day, the House and Senate came together to tie up loose ends to school finance after negotiations with the governor’s office, and finalized the state budget by injecting cash into universities, increasing pay for judges and restricting the use of vaccine passports.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Revised Kansas budget includes $53M more for universities, $120M Docking rebuild, judicial raises
Lawmakers agreed to a budget deal Friday to inject cash into state universities, renovate the Docking State Office Building, increase pay for judges, restrict the use of vaccine passports, and leave the state with a $541 million reserve.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kelly, Senate endorse compromise on K-12 education policy, funding
A bipartisan education bill embraced by Gov. Laura Kelly appeared headed Friday for approval as the Legislature committed the state to limiting reliance on remote instruction in public schools and to expansion of student eligibility for private school scholarships.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Prayer service at Kansas Statehouse features apology to American Indians
Rep. Randy Garber delivered an apology to American Indians during a prayer ceremony Thursday on the south steps of the Kansas Statehouse, recognizing the country’s “long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies.”
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Kansas House adopts medical marijuana bill with bipartisan majority
Republicans and Democrats in the Kansas House banded together in bipartisanship Thursday to approve a medical marijuana bill creating a state-regulated system for growing, processing and distributing the substance to people with chronic health problems.
Kansas House panel passes more restrictive medical marijuana plan
TOPEKA — A medical marijuana proposal is headed back to the House floor for debate […]
Brian Grimmett/Kansas News Service
Evergy plans major coal shutdowns, including Lawrence plant, but environmental groups say it’s not fast enough
Environmental groups remain unimpressed by Evergy’s plans to close down coal plants in the next 20 years.
Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector
Democrat blasts Kansas rep for casting votes days after rant, altercation with student
A member of the Kansas House is calling on Rep. Mark Samsel, charged with misdemeanor battery for a physical altercation with a Wellsville student, to resign for behavior unsuitable for a state lawmaker.
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