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Kansas primary yields second-highest voter turnout in history
The Aug. 4 primary election, which featured contentious races and a hot-button ballot question, had the second-highest primary voter turnout in Kansas history, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
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Civil rights • Voter rights • Anti-trans legislation • Abortion • Immigration • Municipalities’ local control • Kansas State Board of Education
MORe STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS
E-bike and e-scooter injuries are spiking. What’s Kansas doing to prevent it?
Although e-scooter and e-bike crashes have led some to advocate for statewide regulations, most regulations are decided on the local level.
Kansas Democrats face political consequences for embracing public uprising against data centers
Rep. Brooklynne Mosley never gets a clear answer when she asks proponents of data centers how closely they want to live near one. That’s because “everyone thinks it’s going to be in someone else’s backyard,” she said.
Kansas legislators share frustration over surging waitlist for services to people with disabilities
Kansas legislators object to diversion of $24 million to disability services for frail older people and people with brain injuries that had been earmarked for benefit of Kansans with intellectual or developmental disabilities stuck for years on a bloated waiting list.
Transgender men in Kansas ‘compliance crew’ use women’s bathrooms to protest state law
A group of transgender men are protesting by complying with state law, highlighting the confusion caused by the law that requires them to use the women’s restroom in publicly owned facilities.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Judge temporarily reinstates transgender Lawrence woman’s driver’s license
A Douglas County judge has temporarily reinstated a Lawrence transgender woman and Army veteran’s license that was invalidated by an anti-transgender state law.
Kansas State Board of Education starts work on technology use policies for public schools
The Kansas State Board of Education is pushing ahead with drafting recommendations for public school districts on use of technology in classrooms and crafting a potential mandate that local school boards implement policies controlling student access to computers.
Kansas City’s suburbs could decide the fate of the Kansas Republican supermajority
Kansas Democrats are trying — again — to break the Republican supermajority in the Statehouse. Most of the make-or-break contested races are in the Kansas City area.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board approves policy limiting staff social media use for district purposes
Lawrence school board members on Monday approved a policy change that will bar district staff from using social media for two-way communications with students or parents.
Three Kansas House incumbents — two Democrats, one Republican — fall in Tuesday’s election
Some Kansas House incumbents in southeastern Kansas lost their seats in Tuesday’s primary, more than 150 candidates faced no opponent, and a Tonganoxie seat may still be too close to call.
Masterson scores win in GOP primary for Kansas governor; Holscher prevails in Democratic race
Republican Ty Masterson rode President Donald Trump’s endorsement to victory Tuesday in a seven-candidate gubernatorial primary, while Democrat Cindy Holscher shrugged off Gov. Laura Kelly’s blessing of a rival candidate to win the party’s nomination.
Kansas Democrats, Republicans firm up teams for statewide office contests
Primary election results brought few surprises for statewide offices as most candidates ran unopposed. The lone exception was a skirmish between Democrats Jennifer Day and Samuel Lane.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Douglas County Democrats cheer amendment failure; Wikle to retain House seat
Attendees at the Douglas County Democrats’ watch party in downtown Lawrence celebrated the failure of a proposed constitutional amendment as well as local candidates’ successes. Rep. Suzanne Wikle will retain her house seat.
Douglas County voters: Here’s the info you need to cast your ballot in the Aug. 4, 2026 election
All registered Kansas voters can cast ballots in the Aug. 4 primary election. Here’s a guide to help Douglas County voters make informed decisions on county, state and federal races.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Lawrence schools to tighten student device policy, in line with state law
The Lawrence school district is shifting to a stricter personal electronic device policy that will require students to keep cell phones out of sight and inaccessible during the school day, bringing the district into compliance with a new state law.
Meet the candidates running for Kansas House District 10
Two Democrats are running to represent parts of central, eastern and southeastern Lawrence as the representative for House District 10. Here’s where they stand on some key issues.
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