Author

Tim Carpenter

Tim Carpenter

Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, told Americans for Prosperity supporters at an Olathe picnic the GOP-controlled Legislature had success against Gov Laura Kelly in the 2023 session. He mistakenly said reporters didn't write stories about Kelly's veto of a tax bill that included quicker elimination of the state sales tax on groceries. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Hawkins, Kobach celebrate GOP’s political stand against Democrats at state, federal levels

By: - June 3, 2023

Kansas' GOP attorney general, treasurer and House leaders assess 2023 legislative session in terms of grappling with Democrats at state and federal levels.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach encouraged lawmakers to pass legislation blocking foreign entities from buying Kansas agricultural land during a Thursday news conference. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas attorney general not planning lawsuit against Kelly on school bill veto

By: - June 3, 2023

Attorney Genera Kris Kobach said he didn't plan to file a lawsuit against Gov. Laura Kelly asserting she unconstitutionally deployed the line-item veto.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, said opening of a new laboratory and office building in the Innovation Park at University of Kansas will deliver return on public and private investment. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Marshall, Moran outline clash of perspective on federal debt-limit bill

By: - June 2, 2023

Kansas' Republican U.S. senators split on the federal debt-ceiling bill with Jerry Moran backing the bipartisan legislation and Roger Marshall opposed.

Gov. Laura Kelly and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, both Democrats, urged Kansans enrolled in Medicaid to take part in a renewal application process launched with lifting of a three-year pause in state eligibility assessments. Potentially 120,000 Kansans could lose KanCare coverage. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kelly, Davids urge 120,000 Kansans to take part in post-coronavirus Medicaid renewal process

By: - June 2, 2023

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, Gov. Laura Kelly ask Kansas Medicaid participants to take part in renewal process with end of 3-year pause in eligibility reviews.

Davids, Estes and LaTurner help carry debt ceiling bill, leave Mann alone in opposition

By: - June 1, 2023

Three of four U.S. House members from Kansas endorsed the bipartisan compromise debt-ceiling bill sent the U.S. Senate — only Rep. Tracey Mann voted "no."

Idea of lifting Brown v. Board of Education name from landmark 1954 case stirs Kansas dissent

By: - May 31, 2023

A Kansan who lived school segregation in Topeka doesn't support a plan to replace the Brown v. Board of Education label of landmark U.S. Supreme Court case.

A U.S. District Court grand jury indicted a 30-year-old Wichita man for threatening to injure or kill three Black people and to harm a white woman in 2022. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Wichita courthouse from U.S. Department of Justice)

Kansas grand jury indicts Wichita man for alleged hate crimes against Black people

By: - May 31, 2023

A U.S. District Court grand jury indicted a 30-year-old Wichita man for threatening to injure or kill three Black people and a white woman in 2022.

The decision of Michelle Dombrosky, an Olathe Republican on the Kansas State Board of Education, to abstain on major policy issues prompted the state board's attorney to urge policy revisions to affirm abstentions should be reserved for members with conflicts of interest rather than used as an alternative to registering dissent. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas education board’s attorney says abstention as substitute for ‘no’ vote an abdication of duty

By: - May 30, 2023

Attorney for Kansas State Board of Education warns GOP members about abuse of abstention as alternative to "no" vote to register opposition to policy.

YWCA of Northeast Kansas invites people to dedicate June to Racial Justice Challenge

By: - May 29, 2023

WYCA of Northeast Kansas is presenting a monthlong exploration of racism as a crisis through lens of mental health, music, housing and housing issues.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to stay focused on funding broadband service improves in Kansas, which ranked 51st nationally in terms of average download speed. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

U.S. Sen. Moran upset with Kansas’ last place score for internet download speed

By: - May 28, 2023

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran putting heat on U.S. commerce secretary to direct federal broadband funding to Kansas, which ranks 51st in average download speeds.

Artist Stan Herd is working on a earthwork portrait of the late Bob Dole for the 20th anniversary of the Dole Institute of Politics on July 22 in Lawrence. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Installation artist Stan Herd bringing to life image of the late Bob Dole on Lawrence hillside

By: - May 27, 2023

Kansas artist Stan Herd is creating an earthwork portrait of the late Bob Dole to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Dole Institute in Lawrence.

Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly praised a new Kansas law requiring special education services for children with dyslexia. That statute also replaced the toxic label of "emotional disturbance" with a more generic label of "emotional disability." (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Interest among Kansas GOP for lawsuit challenging line-item veto on K-12 bill may be waning

By: - May 26, 2023

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson skeptical lawsuit will be filed challenging Gov. Laura Kelly's line-item veto in K-12 education appropriations bill.