The Kansas Senate struggled with a series of amendments Monday before passing a bill defining wide religious and medical exemptions to federal COVID-19 vaccination mandates and extending state unemployment assistance to people fired for refusing inoculations.
On the to-do list for the Kansas Legislature’s special session will be laws making it easier for a person to claim a religious exemption to vaccination mandates, and they’ll likely consider granting unemployment benefits to anyone fired for refusing to be vaccinated or to undergo regular testing.
Kansas legislative staff released details Wednesday about how to participate in upcoming public meetings on redistricting.
Aaron Coleman For Kansas / Contributed Photo
Coleman tried to “shame” his brother for wanting to get baptized, according to an affidavit. Coleman then pushed his brother backwards, hit him in the chest and spit on him, the document says.
While guidelines for testimony and the redistricting process remain up in the air, advocates for fair maps in Kansas are advising residents to look at past frameworks when speaking to lawmakers at upcoming town halls.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Bipartisan proposals to cut or reduce the state sales tax on groceries will help Kansans who are forced to choose between food and other basic needs, an advocate says.
Eric Stafford, lobbyist for the Kansas Chamber, wants legislators to understand that businesses don’t want mandates “from either side.”
Daran Duffy wore the Star of David while complaining about COVID-19 vaccine mandates, inviting the wrath of one Democrat, who was cut off and told to be respectful.
Republican leaders announced Thursday they had gathered the signatures necessary to force a special session for the week of Thanksgiving to respond to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service
Kansas state Rep. Aaron Coleman could face a second legislative complaint after a domestic battery charge. And it appears less likely he’d emerge with a simple reprimand like he did last time.
