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Kansas legislative leadership wobbly on redistricting as January session draws near
Kansas legislators’ messaging has teetered between confident and uncertain as they approach a possible attempt at drawing new Congressional lines in January.
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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
A Kansas lawmaker says this foster care contractor has made too many mistakes to continue
State Sen. Molly Baumgardner called on the Department for Children and Families on Tuesday to stop placing kids with one of its contractors and to claw back $12 million in tax dollars following several high-profile mistakes.
Lawrence school board braces to stand against ‘efforts to dismantle public education’
The Kansas Legislature likes to emphasize local control — right up until it doesn’t, Lawrence school board members agreed Monday.
Poll: 72% of Kansans back Medicaid reform stalled by GOP legislators since 2017
A majority of Kansans across the political spectrum endorse expansion of eligibility for Medicaid in a statewide survey that also indicated nine in 10 registered voters believe a candidate’s position on health care influenced votes at the polls.
Lawrence school board to get an earlier start on legislative priorities
The Lawrence school board on Monday will begin discussing the district’s legislative priorities earlier than usual.
Schmidt eager to alter selection of Kansas Supreme Court justices; Kelly prefers status quo
GOP gubernatorial candidate Derek Schmidt is eager to alter selection of Kansas Supreme Court justices; incumbent Gov. Laura Kelly prefers the status quo; and the Kansas attorney general candidates are split on direct election of justices.
November election to decide Kansas Supreme Court climate, constitutional amendments
In November, six of Kansas’ seven Supreme Court judges are up for retention votes, and two constitutional amendments will be decided.
Kansas Democrats float proposal to lower property taxes by reviving dormant fund
A three-part proposal to reduce property taxes could save Kansas homeowners millions, Democratic lawmakers said during a news conference Monday at the Statehouse.
ACLU of Kansas: Legislature needs to fix ‘endless probation’
An “endless probation” case is still dragging on in Kansas, with the defendant set to keep paying restitution for the next four decades, if legal reforms don’t address the situation.
Kansas voters to decide on a Republican-backed limit of the governor’s political power
Lawmakers have made a proposal to voters in Kansas: Give us more power. Take away clout from the governor.
Kansas pitches plan offering 9 hours of college courses to under-resourced high school students
Kansas Board of Education member Betty Arnold believes a program offering lower-income students nine credit hours of college courses while in high school can propel more toward two- or four-year degrees — on one condition.
More Americans got health insurance during the pandemic, but not in Kansas
New Census data shows that more Americans have health insurance now than before the pandemic thanks to special federal programs. But not so in Kansas, where insurance rates dropped significantly below the U.S. average for the first time in decades.
Open enrollment for Kansas schools raises concerns about equity, representation and funding, local leaders say
Open enrollment in Kansas public schools will worsen existing inequities and funding issues as well as diminish the importance of voters’ representation on local school boards, some local leaders say.
Kansas family struggles to adopt foster daughter, says system is broken
Nicole DeHaven broke down in tears while giving testimony about her foster care experience during a meeting Monday with state lawmakers.
Kansas legislators clash with Labor secretary over report on unemployment fraud, identity theft
Kansas’ IT system for unemployment claims could have been hacked by any fifth-grader, the chairman of an oversight committee said during a tense meeting Wednesday on security breaches.
More than 30,000 Kansans with suspended licenses could have kept driving legally last year
Kansas wants to to make it easier for some people with suspended licenses to get some driving privileges with restricted licenses. But more than 30,000 people are still missing out.
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