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Democrats’ vision for free community college would boost undocumented students
WASHINGTON — The massive economic policy package Democrats are trying to muscle through Congress could open the door to free community college for undocumented immigrants. But that lifeline for many people now denied access to higher education could also reignite controversies in Republican-leaning states over immigration and federal overreach. The provision on immigrants was included […]
Struggle over tax break for inherited farmland churns below surface in reconciliation bill
WASHINGTON — Agricultural groups and farm-state lawmakers notched a significant win when U.S. House Democrats chose not to touch a big tax break for inherited property, avoiding for now a confrontation. But opponents remain wary that the idea could come back at any time as Democrats shape their massive $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, and […]
Feds expand Pell Grant program for prisoners working on college degrees
WASHINGTON — Prison inmates around the United States are getting the chance to do something that was almost unheard of a generation ago: pursue a college degree while behind bars and with financial support from the federal government. Inmates in 42 states and Washington, D.C., can now get federal grants to work with colleges and […]
GOP furor over critical race theory hits college campuses
Professors say the Republican crusade to root out critical race theory is taking a toll on college campuses around the nation — places where academic freedom is supposed to encourage thought, discussion and analysis. Much of the critical race theory uproar to date has centered on teaching in K-12 schools. But several high-profile incidents, combined […]
Teachers come under pressure as politicians, parents battle over ‘critical race theory’
WASHINGTON — Teachers from Tennessee to Iowa are swept up in a wave of outrage led by GOP politicians nationwide over how schools teach kids about race in U.S. history. Conservatives have pilloried much instruction about systemic racism as “critical race theory,” even when that academic term has never been mentioned. A half dozen states […]
With ‘Amtrak Joe’ in the White House, states hope for a passenger rail renaissance
Stu Nicholson has been trying for decades without success to get Amtrak — or any other passenger rail service — to come to Columbus, Ohio. As director of All Aboard Ohio, a passenger rail advocacy group, Nicholson helped explore possibilities, like creating a new route from Chicago to Pittsburgh, with Columbus in the middle. But […]
Marshall seeks ties with farm-state Democrats on Senate agriculture panel
WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. Roger Marshall is vowing he’ll rely on the relationships he’s built with Democratic colleagues and the Biden administration to advance Kansas farming interests in his coveted new post on the Senate Agriculture Committee. That’s in stark contrast to the Kansas freshman’s recent history as an outspoken conservative who opposed the impeachment […]
Billions of dollars for Medicaid expansion dangled in front of holdout states
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats are trying again to entice a dozen holdout states — including Kansas — to expand Medicaid coverage with the prospect of billions of dollars in federal cash. The new offer, included in a massive $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that House Democrats are pushing through committees this week, could help […]
Buttigieg puts greenhouse gas reduction at center of Biden transportation policy
WASHINGTON — Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg offered an unapologetic defense of President Joe Biden’s vision for improved transportation and greenhouse gas reductions during a Senate hearing to consider Buttigieg’s nomination for U.S. transportation secretary on Thursday. “We need to build our economy back, better than ever, and the Department of Transportation can […]
Farmers likely to see more multinational trade deals crafted in Biden administration
WASHINGTON — American farmers who have gone through the drama and turbulence of trade and agriculture policy in the Trump administration can expect a far more sedate and multinational experience when President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January. On just the third day of his administration, President Donald Trump rattled world leaders and upended exports […]
Immigration agency cuts of 800 Kansas City jobs expected to trigger backlogs, delays nationwide
WASHINGTON — Members of Congress from the Kansas City region scored a victory last month when a federal immigration agency backed off plans that would have led to thousands of layoffs of government employees in the metro area. But their relief was short lived, as the agency now intends to furlough 800 of its local […]
Why D.C. lawmakers are voting remotely during the pandemic
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans have a new line of attack against some Democrats, accusing them of failing to show up for work. The criticism refers to 2020’s practice of proxy voting in the House, which enables lawmakers of either party to cast votes even when they are not at the Capitol. The emergency measure […]