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Kansas Legislature jolts to life with newcomers and generation of new policy agendas
The 2026 session of the Kansas Legislature burst to life Monday as Republicans and Democrats staked out public policy priorities, welcomed members to fill unexpired terms and awaited Gov. Kelly’s final State of the State speech.
Kansas Legislature jolts to life with newcomers and generation of new policy agendas
The 2026 session of the Kansas Legislature burst to life Monday as Republicans and Democrats staked out public policy priorities, welcomed members to fill unexpired terms and awaited Gov. Kelly’s final State of the State speech.
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Civil rights • Voter rights • Anti-trans legislation • Abortion • Immigration • Municipalities’ local control • Kansas State Board of Education
MORe KANSAS NEWS
Kansans resume changes to gender markers on driver’s licenses after two-year legal battle
Wednesday marked the first day in two years that transgender Kansans were able to change the gender markers on their drivers licenses after the Kansas Supreme Court denied Attorney General Kris Kobach’s appeal in a long legal battle.
One Kansas school district banned a book in 2024, per national report
The Gardner Edgerton school district was the only one in the state that banned a book during the 2024-2025 school year, according to an annual report cataloguing bans and restrictions across the country.
De Soto embraces ‘generation worth of improvements’ as Panasonic ramps up production
De Soto is moving forward with plans for major developments even though Panasonic may delay full production at its new electric vehicle battery plant.
Q&A: How new technology would fuel a different kind of nuclear power plant in Kansas
Increasing energy demands and the need to stabilize aging infrastructure are pushing countries around the world to consider building new nuclear power plants. Kansas may join the trend.
Kansas Republicans shift focus from gerrymandering to anti-trans law in quest for a special session
Republican legislative leaders are urging lawmakers to support their push for a special session where they can both ban Kansans from altering gender markers on their driver’s licenses and redraw congressional maps.
Kansas post-secondary schools see increased enrollment, plan for challenges ahead
University officials across Kansas celebrated a third year of growing enrollments on Wednesday, even though the future will present more challenges.
CoreCivic inks new contract with ICE while awaiting legal decisions on Kansas prison
CoreCivic signed a new contract valued at $60 million a year with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house migrant detainees at its Leavenworth facility, but the agreement won’t take effect until legal issues are resolved.
Jill Hummels/Kansas Reflector
Sierra Club report calls out Kansas utility Evergy for failing to meet climate goals
Big utility companies nationwide lost ground this year in their plans to meet minimum climate targets, and Kansas’ Evergy received an F for a “multi-year backslide” from renewable investments, a Sierra Club report said.
Kansas abortion restrictions go on trial, with OB-GYNs taking the stand
A trial that could determine whether state-imposed abortion restrictions can remain in Kansas began Friday with testimony from the abortion providers behind the challenge.
Kansas could get its second nuclear power plant — this time with a new, advanced design
A company cofounded by Bill Gates will explore building a reactor in Kansas. It would generate power without emissions, but environmental groups have concerns.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Kansas Legislature closer to special session for partisan remapping of U.S. House districts
Kansas Republicans’ goal of convening a special redistricting session in November prompted U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids to dust off the playbook used to fend off the last attempt to gerrymander her out of office.
Kansas utility regulators approve Evergy rate increase
Kansas utility regulators on Thursday approved Evergy’s request to increase rates by $128 million, which will raise the average residential electric bill about $8.47 each month.
Some Kansas foster kids suffer ‘extreme’ instability as state still fails to fix longstanding issues
Kansas kids in foster care still face severe placement instability despite some marginal improvements to the state system.
Federal government accuses Kansas town of ‘aggressive and unlawful’ interference with CoreCivic
The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday joined a private prison company in its legal fight with Leavenworth city officials, accusing the city of “aggressive and unlawful” interference with immigration enforcement.
Kansas sues social media app Snapchat for harming teenagers’ mental health and well-being
Kansas AG Kris Kobach filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the parent company of social media platform Snapchat, accusing the app’s creators of designing it “with manipulative features that prey on the mental health of our children.”
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