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.

Kansans create special chamber of commerce to advance business of medical cannabis
By: - October 4, 2021

TOPEKA — Advocates of legalizing marijuana sales formed the Kansas Cannabis Chamber of Commerce to move the political, business and health debate forward in a state bordered by dispensaries in Colorado, Oklahoma and Missouri and a renewed push to open markets in Nebraska. The Kansas House overwhelmingly approved a bill during the 2021 session that […]

Ian Camacho, research director for Look Ahead America, said he would have preferred more than five people attend a rally at the Kansas Capitol on behalf of "political prisoners" charged after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)

Tiny rally at Kansas Capitol seeks big change in treatment of Jan. 6 ‘political prisoners’
By: - October 2, 2021

Modestly attended event at Kansas Capitol suggests little organized support exists for "political prisoners" who invaded U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

The administration of Gov. Laura Kelly reached agreement with a coalition of advocacy groups to bring state agencies into compliance with federal law requiring people on public assistance receive voter registration information. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas strikes deal to bring state into compliance with federal voter registration law
By: - October 1, 2021

Kelly administration works to get voter registration information to people on public assistance and comply with federal law neglected by previous governors.

Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes calls for comprehensive national investigation of boarding schools used to forcibly assimilate Indigenous children and where some could be buried, including the Shawnee Mission in Fairway. (Screen capture from Shawnee Tribe video/Kansas Reflector)

Shawnee chief seeks inquiry to determine if children buried at Kansas boarding school
By: - October 1, 2021

The Shawnee Tribe chief calls for comprehensive national investigation of board schools where Indigenous children may be buried in unmarked graves.

Enrollment at the public universities, community colleges and technical colleges under direction of the Kansas Board of Regents increased overall enrollment 1% in the fall semester following a massive decline in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas public college, university enrollment increase of 1% obscures bleak five-year trend
By: - September 30, 2021

Kansas Board of Regents reports 1% increase in student enrollment for fall 2021, a respite from savage 14,000-student loss in first year of pandemic.

Brandi Turner, the diversity, equity, inclusion officer at the Kansas Department for Children and Families, says the quest to undermine structural racism in the state's foster care system could trigger sharp reaction among people having their values debunked. (Screen capture DCF forum/Kansas Reflector)

New coalition working to stifle institutional racism in Kansas foster care system
By: - September 29, 2021

The state of Kansas is working collaboratively with a series of organizations to address racism in the foster care system.

The death of a 17-year-old male at a Wichita juvenile facility triggered a KBI investigation and fresh demands to end incarceration of juveniles in Kansas. This statue of "Justice" sits in the lobby of the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Wichita death spurs call for alternative to incarceration of teenagers
By: - September 29, 2021

KBI is investigating the death of a 17-year-old male at the Wichita juvenile detention facility prompting call to end incarceration of youth.

House Speaker Ron Ryckman, an Olathe Republican, endorsed the Legislative Coordinating Council's formation of a special legislative committee to consider ways of thwarting Biden administration mandates tied to the COVID-19 mandate. (Screen capture from LCC meeting/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas legislative leaders create special committee to rebuff federal COVID-19 mandates
By: - September 27, 2021

Kansas legislative leaders launch special committee to study how to thwart Biden administration COVID-19 mandates in what could lead to a special session.

data management system for government nutrition education programs that led to formation of Canopy, a company to commercialize the web-based tool. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)

KSU spins off business to advance software system used by USDA, 37 states
By: - September 26, 2021

Kansas State University's development of data management software used by USDA and 37 states to monitor nutrition programs leads to creation of new company.

Ryan Vincent, executive director of the Kansas House Resources Corp., said the agency has assisted 7,800 Kansas households struggling financially in the COVID-19 pandemic by granting $41.5 million in rental, utilities and internet assistance. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Rental housing program delivers $41.5 million in aid to struggling Kansas households
By: - September 25, 2021

TOPEKA — Olathe residents Sheryl and Gary Evert were among thousands of Kansans struggling to pay their rent during the COVID-19 pandemic. They eventually sought assistance under the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance program authorized by Congress and financed through federal coronavirus relief legislation. Under KERA, the Kansas Housing Resource Corporation, or KHRC, has granted $41.5 […]

Allison Garrett, president of Emporia State University since 2016, has been selected as the next chancellor of higher education in Oklahoma. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)

Emporia State president chosen to lead Oklahoma’s higher education system
By: - September 25, 2021

Emporia State University's president has been selected to serve as the next chancellor of Oklahoma's system of higher education.

University researchers working to produce a detailed map of Kansas' broadband access, quality and affordability are encouraging parents of school-age children to participate in a 10-minute survey to assist with the project. (Getty Images)

Survey seeks input on digital divide from Kansas parents of school-age children
By: - September 24, 2021

TOPEKA — University researchers working on a project to document the availability and quality of internet connections across Kansas have homework for K-12 parents. The assessment of broadband access and affordability funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce began in March, with researchers documenting unmet needs and developing a map of internet speeds by ZIP […]

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