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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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Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service
A bill would let Kansas schools shift to online learning, but it may not get far
As a growing number of Kansas schools cancel classes because of COVID outbreaks or staff shortages, one lawmaker wants to let districts avoid shutdowns by using online learning.
Hands-free cellphone policy sorely needed for Kansas drivers, bill backers say
A bill under consideration in the Kansas Senate Transportation Committee would create a hands-free cellphone policy for Kansas drivers under 18, plus all drivers in a construction zone or school zone during designated hours.
Carter Gaskins / Lawrence Times file photo
Longtime Lawrence school board member explains how district’s budget crisis has unfolded
Lawrence school board Vice President Shannon Kimball took the board commentary portion of Monday’s meeting as an opportunity to provide some insight into the history of USD 497’s funding woes.
Kansas Republican defends gerrymandering and partisan politics as ‘just things that happen’
Rep. Steve Huebert during a four-hour House debate Tuesday defended an obvious attempt by Republicans to gain an upper hand in congressional races through redistricting as simply “a political process.” Lawrence reps are displeased.
Law enforcement officers, legislators resist Kansas House bill banning no-knock warrants
Advocates for Kansas legislation prohibiting no-knock search warrants on Monday triggered indignation and rebukes from legislators with experience as investigators, attorneys and judges in Kansas.
Clay Wirestone: Like Quantrill’s violent raiders, GOP legislators in Kansas aim to stifle Lawrence progressives (Column)
“(Legislators are) perfectly willing to exploit (Lawrence) for their own purposes. They just don’t want to allow its residents to choose U.S. representatives,” Clay Wirestone writes in this column for Kansas Reflector.
Kansas Republican senators approve map to split KC metro, splinter Democratic vote
Kansas Republican senators on Friday countered criticisms of their plan for the state’s congressional district boundaries, passing the controversial “Ad Astra” map that moves Lawrence into a rural district that stretches to Colorado.
Fact check: Kansas senators make false claims about COVID-19 deaths, vaccines, PCR test
Specific statements made this week by Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, Sen. Mark Steffen, R-Hutchinson, and Sen. Beverly Gossage, R-Eudora, are false.
Kansas Senate rejects bid to force health workers to treat patients regardless of COVID-19 vax status
The Kansas Senate defeated an amendment to a COVID-19 bill that would have forced thousands of health care professionals — physical therapists and athletic trainers, physicians and nurses, acupuncturists and contact lens distributors — to treat patients regardless of their vaccination status or infection experience.
Kansas Republicans introduce map to divide KC metro, place Lawrence in 1st District
A Kansas House committee has introduced four competing maps that would redraw the state’s congressional districts and attempt to lock down partisan advantages. In one map, Lawrence would move to the district that stretches to Colorado.
Kansas abandons efforts to trace contacts for COVID-19 infections
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced Tuesday it would stop contact tracing for COVID-19 at the end of the month because of a lack of cooperation and a surge in new cases.
Kansas bill promises speedy review of untested sexual assault kits
Kansas advocates say a bill approved by a Senate committee Thursday will ensure survivors who undergo sexual assault exams will have their evidence kits tested in a timely fashion.
Kansas House panel approves bill to extend executive orders on health care staffing shortages
A Kansas House committee approved legislation Thursday codifying temporary suspension of regulations on health care providers included in the governor’s recent executive orders, sending the bill to the full chamber for debate.
Kansas Board of Regents, Democrats praise governor’s proposal to freeze college tuition
Kansas college students could soon benefit from a continued effort to minimize rising college tuition, pending approval on a provision in the governor’s budget.
Kansas governor asks for simple food tax relief, resilience in State of the State speech
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday used her annual State of the State address to propose eliminating the sales tax on food with a simple 13-word phrase, freezing college tuition rates, investing in law enforcement, and funding a state water plan abandoned by previous administrations.
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