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. He has been recognized for investigative reporting on Kansas government and politics. He won the Kansas Press Association's Victor Murdock Award six times. The William Allen White Foundation honored him four times with its Burton Marvin News Enterprise Award. The Kansas City Press Club twice presented him its Journalist of the Year Award and more recently its Lifetime Achievement Award. He earned an agriculture degree at Kansas State University and grew up on a small dairy and beef cattle farm in Missouri. He is an amateur woodworker and drives Studebaker cars.

Natalie Ellis appears in ad to support Derek Schmidt

After Wichita mom stars in Schmidt attack ad, defenders of Kelly as ‘education governor’ pounce
By: - September 29, 2022

Democrat Laura Kelly responds to an attack ad from Republican Derek Schmidt on education policy, a key issue in the 2022 campaign for Kansas governor.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, campaigning against Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt, said her second-term agenda included end of state's food sales tax, tax relief for the elderly and back-to-school sales tax holiday. (Photos by Sherman Smith and Thad Allton/Kansas Reflector)

Kelly backs school sales tax holiday, tax relief for elderly and quicker end of 6.5% food tax
By: - September 29, 2022

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly unveils first plank of second-term agenda ahead of Nov. 8 showdown with GOP nominee Derek Schmidt.

Matt Fletcher, executive director of InterHab, said about 28,500 workers providing home or community-based care to people with disabilities in Kansas welcome bonuses made possible through $51 million in federal funding received by the state. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Bonuses flowing to Kansas workers providing direct care for people with disabilities
By: - September 28, 2022

Kansas is dedicating $51 million in federal funding to bonuses for 28,500 workers providing home or community care to people with disabilities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Michael Skillman, owner of Victory Excavating in Coffey County, to remove debris dumped in at least 3.7 acres of wetlands near the Neosho River in violation of the federal law. (Getty Images)

EPA orders Kansas company to stop polluting wetlands, remediate 3.7 acres
By: - September 27, 2022

EPA demands repeat Clean Water Act polluter clean up illegal dump on at least 3.7 acres of wetlands near Neosho River.

Former Gov. Mike Hayden, a Republican who also served as Kansas House speaker, endorsed Democratic Gov. Laura's Kelly's reelection over Republican nominee Derek Schmidt, the state's attorney general. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Gov. Laura Kelly's YouTube post)

Former Kansas GOP governor Hayden endorses reelection of Democrat Kelly
By: - September 27, 2022

Former GOP Gov. Mike Hayden endorses Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's reelection in her contest against Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Kansas GOP congressional candidate Amanda Adkins raised an alarm about federal funding for more IRS agents, while opponent U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids challenged Adkins' opposition to a potential ban on abortion in the United States. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Adkins taps into anxiety of IRS audit surge, criticizes Kansas Democrats’ focus on abortion
By: - September 27, 2022

GOP congressional candidate Amanda Adkins stokes fear of IRS audits, while U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids questions Adkins' position on abortion rights.

The campaign for Kansas governor takes form of a stage debate with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican gubernatorial nominee Derek Schmidt, but also features more than 40 commercials designed to disparage. (Jill Hummels for the Kansas Reflector)

Kansas ads in governor’s race: Often misleading, disparaging with a partisan dash of truth
By: - September 26, 2022

Kansas governor's race roils with aid of more than 40 candidate and special-interest group ads banking on distortion, exaggeration to win votes.

An organization filed an ethics complaint against Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, accusing him of misconduct by participating in a 2020 lawsuit questioning election procedures in four swing states that helped President Joe Biden defeat former President Donald Trump. This 22-foot marble sculpture dominates the lobby of the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Legal advocacy group files ethics complaint against Schmidt tied to 2020 election lawsuit
By: - September 23, 2022

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt expects an ethics complaint questioning Schmidt's role in a 2020 election case to be dismissed.

Thad Snider election denier

Kansas election conspiracy theorists seek 2020 redo, ban on electronic voting machines in 2022
By: - September 22, 2022

Kansas secretary of state's office pushes back against federal lawsuit filed by conspiracy theorists alleging voter fraud in 2020 and 2022.

Gov. Laura Kelly, center, holds a slim lead in the campaign against Republican nominee Derek Schmidt, second from left, in the gubernatorial race to be decided in November. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas poll: Gov. Laura Kelly holds narrow lead in gubernatorial race against Derek Schmidt
By: - September 21, 2022

A new poll of Kansas voters indicated Gov. Laura Kelly holds a lead over GOP nominee Derek Schmidt in the race for governor.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, campaigning against Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt, said her second-term agenda included end of state's food sales tax, tax relief for the elderly and back-to-school sales tax holiday. (Photos by Sherman Smith and Thad Allton/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas recovers 80% of jobs lost to COVID-19, jobless figure ticks up to 2.5%
By: - September 20, 2022

GOP gubernatorial candidate Derek Schmidt says Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly damaged the state's job market by fumbling the COVID-19 response.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Manhattan Republican seeking reelection to a third term against Demorat Mark Holland of Kansas City, Kansas, said potential voters he met on the campaign trail were anxious about border security and inflation. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran recoils from politics as a game, but eager for reelection in Kansas
By: - September 19, 2022

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Manhattan Republican seeking reelection, says Kansas voters he met on the campaign trail were anxious about border security and inflation.

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