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.

A Phillips County jury awarded landowners $134,000 after a prominent Kansas hog producer illegally installed pipe on their property to transfer liquified waste from a confined-animal facility so it could be sprayed on fields from irrigation pivots. A judge hasn't set punitive damages against Terry Nelson and Julia Nelson of northcentral Kansas. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Kansas farmer loses appeal in bizarre trespass, nuisance case tied to disposal of hog effluent

By: - September 28, 2023

Kansas Court of Appeals affirms $178,000 judgment against farmer who trespassed on neighbors' property to build a pipeline to dispose of hog manure.

Enrollment in the Kansas Board of Regents system of public universities and colleges this fall grew by 2% despite the 12.5% enrollment collapse at Emporia State University. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas public university, college enrollment grows despite 12.5% plunge at Emporia State

By: - September 27, 2023

Enrollment at Kansas public universities and colleges increased this fall by 2%, while Emporia State University endured a 12.5% enrollment collapse.

Christine Osterlund, deputy chief of operations for Kansas' Medicaid program, joined U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids and Gov. Laura Kelly at a news conference to raise awareness about a challenging application process for thousands of Kansans who might lose KanCare coverage. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Estimated 12,000 Kansans mistakenly kicked off Medicaid due to eligibility processing glitch

By: - September 27, 2023

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says an estimated 12,000 Kansans were mistakenly disenrolled from Medicaid due to a processing error.

Attorney General Kris Kobach recommended Tuesday the 2024 Kansas Legislature adopt a bill prohibiting foreign individuals, corporations or governments from owning Kansas parcels of land bigger than 10 acres and preventing leases by foreign entities of 10 acres of more for two years. He said land ownership by China and other nefarious countries was a security threat. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas attorney general proposes statewide limits on foreign ownership, leasing of land

By: - September 26, 2023

Attorney General Kris Kobach proposed an outright ban on foreign individuals, companies or governments buying parcels of Kansas land bigger than 10 acres.

Topeka Rep. Fred Patton submits letter of resignation, stepping down Oct. 16

By: - September 25, 2023

A Topeka member of the Kansas House plans to resign in October to give his replacement one year of experience before standing for election in 2024.

Voters fill out ballots

Ten Kansas advocacy groups rebuffed by Wyandotte County election commissioner

By: - September 25, 2023

Wyandotte County election commission declines to speak with 10 advocacy organizations about offering election materials in languages other than English.

Blake Flanders, president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents, said a University of Kansas labor study indicated colleges and universities in the state needed to do more to serve growing demand in the workplace for graduates with bachelor's degree. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Labor study: Kansas faces shortfall of 34,000 college-educated workers through 2030

By: - September 25, 2023

A new University of Kansas economic study indicated Kansas was on pace to fall 34,000 short in terms of college-educated workers through 2030.

Rep. Jason Probst, D-Hutchinson, said a state audit showing 30% of 18,000 executive branch employees were working remotely in April illustrated why state policy should reflect evolving sentiment about being anchored to the office of a state agency, board or commission. Other state legislators raised concerns about worker productivity, IT security and vacant office space. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Popularity of remote work by Kansas executive branch employees raises interest in policy reform

By: - September 23, 2023

Kansas Legislature's auditors say 30% of 18,000 executive branch workers have remote work assignments and up to 45% were eligible to work from home.

Members of the bipartisan special legislative compensation committee, comprised mostly of former House and Senate members, expressed support for a new base salary of $45,000 annually. The committee has yet to resolve differences on how to handle legislator pension benefits and other details of a proposal to be submitted to the Legislature. (Screen capture of the Kansas Legislature's YouTube channel)

Kansas special committee leans harder toward raising legislators’ annual base salary to $45,000

By: - September 22, 2023

A special committee studying compensation for the Kansas Legislature warms to idea of $45,000 base salary, but has other compensation issues to resolve.

Jon Rolph, chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents, led colleagues and higher education officials through a discussion Wednesday to reduce requests for $570 million in new state funding to a more palatable amount. The full board is expected to vote Thursday on a unified higher education budget proposal. (Screen capture from the Kansas Board of Regents livestream)

Kansas Board of Regents sculpt $300 million plan for boosting state aid to public higher education

By: - September 21, 2023

The Kansas Board of Regents is working to pare down more than $500 million in budget requests by the state's 32 public colleges and universities.

U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kansas, sided with some of the House's most conservative members on a series of votes against U.S. funding of Ukraine's war against Russia. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

GOP advocacy group pressures Kansas’ Estes, Mann to support new Ukrainian aid package

By: - September 20, 2023

A conservative GOP organization is lobbying Kansas U.S. Reps. Estes and Mann to support a new round of military aid to Ukraine in the war against Russia.

Corn, soy and wheat farmers are struggling with inflation and the economic effects of the war in Ukraine. (Jill Hummels for the Kansas Reflector)

Marshall expresses irritation with possible change to temporary visa program for farm workers

By: - September 19, 2023

GOP U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Senate agriculture committee member, objects to proposed reform of a temporary visa program for farm workers.