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.

U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kansas, introduced a bill challenging federal restraint of ranch and energy producers in Kansas following federal listing of the Listing lesser prairie chicken as threatened in Kansas. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of U.S. House channel)

Kansas congressional delegation’s partisan division mirrors policy gap on debt, budget

By: - May 16, 2023

Kansas' GOP delegation in D.C. views federal debt negotiations as chance to force spending reform, while lone Democrat seeks solution that avoids default.

Brandon Woodard

Kansas, Montana lawmakers object to pronounced riptide of LGBTQ+ ‘erasure’ legislation

By: - May 15, 2023

Lawmakers from Kansas and Montana objected to state legislatures advancing bills designed to undermine rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Kansas Action for Children health policy adviser Heather Braum says an anti-vaccination bill vetoed by Gov. Laura Kelly would have triggered an irresponsible change in state law placing the life of children in jeopardy. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas Action for Children sounds alarm on anti-vax, food security and child care bills

By: - May 15, 2023

The nonprofit Kansas Action for Children says the 2023 Legislature followed the wrong policy path on food stamp, child care and anti-vaccination bills.

Gov. Laura Kelly says the new Amelia Earhart statue in the U.S. Capitol will be an inspiration for all, and particularly young girls, for years to come. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from U.S. House live video)

Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes massive bundle of tax legislation touted by GOP lawmakers

By: - May 12, 2023

Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a bill loaded with special-interest tax cuts mostly beneficial to businesses and urged lawmakers to focus relief on regular Kansans.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, endorsed a pair of bipartisan bills to modernize the federal system of classifying and declassifying U.S. government information. He said the "broken" system undermined national security. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from a U.S. Senate YouTube channel)

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran seeking overhaul of U.S. document classification system

By: - May 12, 2023

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, urges Congress to modernize federal law on handling classified and unclassified federal information.

Kelly relies on executive power to scuttle deal on COVID-19 lawsuit filed by Wichita business

By: - May 11, 2023

Six Republican legislators on the State Finance Council wanted to settle a COVID-19 lawsuit filed in Wichita, but Gov. Laura Kelly rejected the deal.

Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill in Shawnee on Thursday legalizing use of fentanyl test strips and increasing criminal penalties for manufacture and trafficking of fentanyl-laced drugs. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas governor signs bipartisan bill decriminalizing use of fentanyl test strips

By: - May 11, 2023

Gov. Laura Kelly signs bill legalizing fentanyl test strips to curtail overdoses and increasing penalties for making and selling opioid-laced substances.

Kansas State Board of Education members Deena Horst of Salina and Danny Zeck of Atchison listen as state Department of Education members outline details of Senate Bill 113, a K-12 education funding and policy bill on the desk of Gov. Laura Kelly. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Provision of Kansas K-12 funding bill slices state aid to about 100 public school districts

By: - May 10, 2023

A bill on Gov. Laura Kelly's desk reforming K-12 public school spending tied to enrollment could lead to reduction in appropriations to 100 districts.

Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stilwell, said it "sucks" new state government hires, including legislators, only had the option of enrolling in Tier 3 of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System rather than more lucrative Tier 1 and Tier 2 formats available before 2015. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Rep. Sean Tarwater’s assessment of KPERS option for new government workers: It ‘sucks’

By: - May 9, 2023

Rep. Sean Tarwater says KPERS Tier 3 option available to newer legislators and other state government hires, to use his terminology, "sucks."

Wulf James appears on the Kansas Reflector podcast to talk about the Kansas State Library

Kansas State Library offers bestseller ebooks, obscure ag reports and view through a glass floor

By: - May 8, 2023

Kansas State Library, based in renovated space at the Capitol, offers a journey into state government's obscure past and access to modern library tools.

Gov. Laura Kelly said the Kansas Department of Transportation would draft a regulation requiring trains operating in Kansas to maintain two-person crews in the cab rather than drop to a one-person crew and rely more on technology for emergency braking. (Jill Hummels/Kansas Reflector)

Kelly moving ahead with Kansas mandate for two-person engine crews on trains

By: - May 5, 2023

Gov. Laura Kelly vowed to offer a regulation mandating railroads operate trains with two-person crews in the cab rather than dropping to a lone engineer.

Election worker Virginia Engroff watches voters fill out advanced ballots

U.S. District Court drops gavel on Kansas’ unconstitutional attack of advance mail-in voting

By: - May 4, 2023

A U.S. District Court judge found unconstitutional key provisions of a 2021 Kansas law aimed at deterring distribution of applications for advance mail-in ballots.