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.

The Kansas Supreme Court issued an opinion Friday overturning a Kansas Court of Appeals decision in businessman Gene Bicknell's legendary tax case. The Supreme Court said Bicknell was a resident of Florida, which has no state income tax, during the period in which Kansas officials claimed he owned millions of dollars in state income taxes on sale of a company comprised of Pizza Hut franchises. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Former pizza magnate Bicknell prevails in tax appeal to Kansas Supreme Court
By: - May 20, 2022

Businessman Gene Bicknell, fighting with Kansas officials for more than a decade in an income tax dispute, wins decisive decision from Kansas Supreme Court.

Kansas Supreme Court disbars former Shawnee County prosecutor for unethical conduct
By: - May 20, 2022

Kansas Supreme Court disbars former Shawnee County prosecutor who engaged in misconduct to win a double-murder trial later reversed on appeal.

A legal challenges filed in Shawnee County urges the state to reconsider plans to reduce the Docking State Office Building to three floors and renovate the structure for office and meeting spaces with a budget of $120 million. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)

Kansas preservation group raises objections to Docking building reconfiguration
By: - May 19, 2022

Just when Kansas officials assumed the future of Docking State Office Building was in hand, historic preservation group seeks new evaluation of plan.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran voted for the $40 billion supplemental military and humanitarian aid package for Ukraine, while U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall was among 11 senators to vote against the legislation. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from C-SPAN channel video)

Moran supports, Marshall opposes $40 billion aid package to defend Ukraine’s democracy
By: - May 19, 2022

Kansas' six-person federal delegation in D.C. split 3-3 on legislation to authorize $40 billion in new humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine.

Kansas is set to receive $69 million in small business investment aid through the federal American Rescue Plan. Republican U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, left, and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, right, voted against the bill. Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, center, voted for it. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas prepares to distribute $69 million in federal small business economic aid
By: - May 19, 2022

Kansas is among five states receiving a new round of small business economic aid, and is expected to have access to $69 million to promote job growth.

Members of the State Finance Council, including Gov. Laura Kelly, Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Ron Ryckman, voted to obligate state taxpayers to financial settlement of two lawsuits. One case involving the Kansas Department for Children and Families required payment of $250,000 to settle. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

State Finance Council approves payment of $255,000 to settle lawsuits against Kansas
By: and - May 18, 2022

Kansas political leaders endorse $250,000 settlement in lawsuit against state agency and foster care provider and award $5,000 to injured prison inmate.

Kansas Supreme Court affirms constitutionality of congressional redistricting map
By: - May 18, 2022

The Kansas Supreme Court issued an opinion in the legal feud over a new congressional redistricting map drawn to benefit the Republican Party.

The Shawnee Heights school board voted against requests to block student access to "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas, "Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe and three other books subject to formal challenges on Tuesday. (Clay Wirestone/Kansas Reflector)

Shawnee Heights school board votes against banning five challenged books
By: - May 17, 2022

The Shawnee Heights school board serving a district near Topeka rejects complaints about five books challenged for racial or sexual content.

Jeanna Repass, of Overland Park, is seeking the Democratic Party's nomination for secretary of state. She asserted Secretary of State Scott Schwab and former Secretary of State Kris Kobach politicized the office. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Repass campaign photograph)

Johnson County Democrat running for Kansas secretary of state
By: - May 17, 2022

Jeanna Repass of Overland Park is seeking the Democratic nomination for secretary of state, arguing the office had become politicized by Republicans.

Supreme Court of Kansas explores constitutionality of revised congressional redistricting map
By: - May 16, 2022

Kansas Supreme Court conducts oral argument in the challenge of district court ruling a new congressional redistricting map was unconstitutional.

Gov. Laura Kelly and Lt. Gov. David Toland, both Democrats, filed for re-election Monday at the secretary of state’s office in Topeka. Kelly’s likely opponent is GOP Attorney General Derek Schmidt. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly files for re-election to second term in Kansas
By: - May 16, 2022

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly makes it official -- she is an official candidate for re-election with filing of documents Monday in Topeka.

The Kansas Supreme Court issued a ruling Wednesday in the appeal of district court ruling that a new U.S. House redistricting map was unconstitutional. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Supreme Court website)

Kansas Supreme Court set for high-stakes oral argument on legislative, congressional maps
By: - May 15, 2022

Kansas Supreme Court conducts oral arguments on lower court finding congressional map is unconstitutional and to review new legislative district maps.

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