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Kansas governor says ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ could cost state $150 million or more
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is expected to cost Kansas at least $150 million as provisions cutting health care programs go into effect, Gov. Laura Kelly said in an interview with Kansas Reflector.
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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
Panasonic’s vision for massive Kansas battery plant becomes reality with grand opening
Hundreds from around the world gathered Monday to celebrate the grand opening of the Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto and tour the 4.7 million-square-foot facility that claims the tag of the state’s biggest economic development project ever.
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 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.
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.
‘I would have died without it.’ Kansas teen copes with gender-affirming care ban
Kansas’ ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender minors takes effect next year. This family is trying to navigate the changes — and give their daughter a normal teen life.
Classified and certified staff in Lawrence school district combine under one union
One union, rather than two separate for classified and certified staff, will represent all unionized Lawrence school district employees moving forward.
Kansans can’t yet change gender markers on driver’s licenses, despite recent ruling
A Kansas Court of Appeals ruling Friday allows Kansans to change the gender markers on their licenses. But AG Kris Kobach instructed the state Department of Revenue not to make gender marker changes while the matter is in litigation.
Trans Kansans win court ruling to change the gender on their IDs
A Kansas Court of Appeals decision Friday reversed a district court order that prohibited transgender people from changing their driver’s licenses to reflect their gender identity.
Kansas Republican exploits fear of imaginary ‘axis of ballot harvesting’ to gain political advantage
As Kansas Rep. Pat Proctor launched his campaign to oversee state elections, he honed in on a signature phrase that would serve his interest of dismissing critics — and reporting by Kansas Reflector — while appealing to far-right voters.
Kansas task force debates use of graduation rate to gauge student success
Disagreement exists on the Kansas Legislature’s task force reworking the state’s public school finance formula about the importance of high school graduation rate as a measure of student success.
Kansas teachers left in the dark when reporting suspected child abuse, neglect
Teachers and school staff are the most frequent reporters of child neglect and abuse in Kansas, but minimal feedback, communication and transparency from the state foster care agency have left more questions than answers.
Kansans challenge constitutionality of state law nullifying end-of-life choices of pregnant patients
Three women and two physicians from Lawrence are plaintiffs in a Kansas lawsuit challenging constitutionality of a state law invalidating advance medical directives outlining end-of-life treatment for pregnant patients.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Students want KU to push back against state law requiring university to eliminate DEI programs
Some students at KU said they are worried about the impact of a new state law prohibiting state universities from funding positions or programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion starting Aug. 1.
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