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Kansas Supreme Court chief justice to retire by early February
Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert will step down from her position at the start of the new year and retire within weeks, she announced Friday.
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Civil rights • Voter rights • Anti-trans legislation • Abortion • Immigration • Municipalities’ local control • Kansas State Board of Education
MORe KANSAS NEWS
Judge again blocks CoreCivic from opening Leavenworth prison as court skirmishes continue
A Leavenworth District Court judge reaffirmed his decision to bar CoreCivic from housing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement prisoners at its closed facility, rejecting the private prison company’s appeal to reconsider.
Evergy Kansas agreement raises residential base rates 9.6%, pending regulator approval
Evergy Kansas residential customers will see a rate increase of about $9 per month for the average home if the Kansas Corporation Commission accepts a unanimous settlement agreement filed Tuesday.
Kansas has worst policies in nation for contraceptive access, report finds
Kansas has the nation’s most restrictive policies for accessing contraceptives, resulting in health disparities for low-income and uninsured residents, a new report found.
Kansas lawmakers outline vision for finding solutions to water crisis, and paying for them
The leaders of the state’s new Water Program Task Force say they are committed to finding elusive solutions to the state’s long-simmering water crisis.
Kansas attorney general seeks removal of anti-discrimination text from school district contracts
The Kansas State Board of Education and AG Kris Kobach have been fighting about whether Kansas should drop a ban on discrimination against persons based on sexual orientation or gender identity from public school district contracts tied to federally funded nutrition programs.
Kansas regulators approve Evergy natural gas plants, solar plant despite rate concerns
The Kansas Corporation Commission gave Evergy the go-ahead to build two natural gas plants and a new solar plant, over the objections of multiple parties.
Kansas lawmakers extend deadline for Chiefs, Royals to accept stadium incentives
A bipartisan council of Kansas lawmakers voted Monday to extend by six months the deadline for the Kansas City Royals or Chiefs to accept economic development incentives from Kansas for construction of sports stadiums.
Kansas officials dash satanists’ plans for ‘witching hour’ protest at Statehouse
The group behind the black mass in March at the Kansas Statehouse — which drew thousands of counter-protesters and ended in multiple arrests — was denied a permit to hold another protest this summer.
How to pick the right fixtures and bulbs for wildlife-friendly outdoor lighting at home
Well-designed lighting lets people see at night while reducing the negative impacts of artificial light on pollinators and birds. It’s also better for human sleep.
Kansas law enforcement boasts lowest crime rates in more than 20 years
Kansas’ crime rate in 2024 reached its lowest mark in at least 20 years, according to recently released data. Violent crimes saw a five-year low in 2024, and property crimes maintained a downward trend.
Sen. Moran says he protected funding for Kansas hospitals. Health care advocates disagree
Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said he made changes to the Senate’s version of the Trump administration’s reconciliation bill to soften the blow of Medicaid cuts on Kansas hospitals. But health care advocates say it won’t be enough.
Kansas Black Hills Energy customers will see 9% rate increase, pending regulatory approval
Kansas Black Hills Energy customers may see their bills increase by nearly 9%, or about $5.96 per month for average residential use, if regulators approve a settlement agreement presented Monday.
ICE rushed no-bid contract to pay CoreCivic $4.2M per month to hold immigrants at Kansas prison
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement used the pretense of a national emergency to justify a secret, no-bid contract with CoreCivic that would pay the company $4.2 million per month to house detained immigrants at its vacant Leavenworth prison.
Leader of Kansas public defender office resigns in face of budget cuts, constitutional crisis
Heather Cessna is resigning as executive director of the state public defender’s office after years of warning apathetic legislators about the constitutional crisis they created by persistently underfunding her agency.
Kansas AG wants state education department to remove gender, sex language from lunch contracts
Kansas AG Kris Kobach encouraged the State Board of Education to remove sex discrimination language from the state’s lunch contracts, the latest in his offensive against gender and identity politics.
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