Author
From Kansas to Michigan, the devilish conformity of our American suburbs
Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. This week, my son and I pointed our SUV […]
In my Kansas backyard, a parable for Texas school shooting
Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. My daughter came in from our backyard to tell […]
Screaming on the sidelines: Confessions of a semi-reformed sports dad in Kansas
Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. Any parent who has a child playing sports has […]
Small-town student journalists and advisers inspire giant admiration
Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. If you look at the city of Burrton on […]
Going plus-one: Republicans keep leapfrogging previous political barriers
Audio Astra reviews recent audio reporting on Kansas news, including podcasts and radio stories. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. This week’s Kansas Supreme Court’s decision permitting Republican-drawn legislative maps delivers so many different lessons. It just depends on who you are. A Black […]
Fentanyl’s poisonous toll aided by stubborn inaction from Kansas officials
Audio Astra reviews recent audio reporting on Kansas news, including podcasts and radio stories. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. Imagine a drug so deadly that a few powdered grains could kill you. A drug that puts you in the emergency room through contact […]
Be an environmental activist through your backyard gardening choices
Audio Astra reviews recent audio reporting on Kansas news, including podcasts and radio stories. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. I like to consider myself an advocate for the environment: someone who believes that climate change is a dangerous and advancing threat. I fret […]
Podcasts round up news from Kansas Legislature, school access, abortion rights
Audio Astra reviews recent audio reporting on Kansas news, including podcasts and radio stories. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. LGBTQ lawmakers challenge anti-trans bill April 4, 2022 Kansas Reflector staff delivers legislative roundup April 11, 2022 Looking ahead to veto override efforts […]
As pandemic concerns recede, how should Kansans celebrate the fall of COVID-19?
Audio Astra reviews recent audio reporting on Kansas news, including podcasts and radio stories. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. Years ago, my job as a news photographer at a daily newspaper dispatched me to each high school in the county for the same […]
Kansas Jayhawk basketball fans rally to welcome championship team back home
Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. When we think about “homecoming” at a college or […]
Audio Astra: Kansas schools somehow, if barely, made it through grueling 24 months
Audio Astra reviews recent audio reporting on Kansas news, including podcasts and radio stories. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. “School’s Out Forever” This American Life, March 11, 2022 Last week, “This American Life” released an episode titled, “School’s Out Forever.” Host and correspondent […]
Audio Astra: The best Kansas listening from the past few weeks
Audio Astra reviews recent audio reporting on Kansas news, including podcasts and radio stories. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. After a spring break hiatus, the Audio Astra column is back and — like a student returning to a stack of homework after a […]