Author

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.
Schmidt, Kelly ring up intriguing campaign narratives about Kansas’ sales tax rate
By: Tim Carpenter - May 14, 2022
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt, candidates for governor, offer dueling narratives about the state's sales tax.
Kelly uses veto authority to reject infectious disease, Medicaid and election bills
By: Tim Carpenter and Noah Taborda - May 13, 2022
Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed three bills passed by the GOP-led Legislature on response to infectious disease, no-bid Medicaid contracts and election law.
Davids, Moran taking part in U.S. supply-chain, domestic manufacturing reform negotiations
By: Tim Carpenter - May 13, 2022
GOP Sen. Jerry Moran and Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, of Kansas, are negotiators on federal bill addressing manufacturing, supply-chain issues.
Gov. Laura Kelly tips hat at influence of Flint Hills grassland on Kansas beef industry
By: Tim Carpenter - May 12, 2022
The beef industry is the largest sector of the Kansas agricultural economy, and Gov. Laura Kelly moved her office outdoors to experience that reality.
Moran, Marshall vote against Senate abortion bill they view as immoral, horrific
By: Tim Carpenter - May 12, 2022
Kansas' two Republican U.S. senators, Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran, vote against advancing a bill creating a right to abortion in federal law.
Kelly goes shopping for sweet food sales tax repeal, settles for gradual reduction
By: Tim Carpenter - May 11, 2022
OLATHE — Gov. Laura Kelly took a trip to a Hy-Vee store to sign a bipartisan bill Wednesday phasing out over three years the state’s 6.5% sales tax on groceries, but would prefer the Legislature reconsider her proposal to promptly wipe out the state tax on groceries. The Republican-led Legislature is sitting on a large […]
Marshall supports permanent Schedule I listing of fentanyl-related substances
By: Tim Carpenter - May 11, 2022
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall endorses permanently listing fentanyl and fentanyl analogs as Schedule I drugs on par with cocaine, LSD and meth.
Kobach seeks injunction for U.S. airmen with religious objections to COVID-19 vaccination
By: Tim Carpenter - May 10, 2022
GOP attorney general candidate Kris Kobach represents three dozen U.S. military personnel who object on religious grounds to COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
Kansas legislative leaders argue district court erred by ruling congressional map unconstitutional
By: Tim Carpenter - May 10, 2022
GOP members of Legislative Coordinating Council urge Kansas Supreme Court to reverse lower court finding new congressional maps are unconstitutional.
KSU researching ‘virtual’ fencing’s influence on grassland conservation, cattle business
By: Tim Carpenter - May 9, 2022
Kansas State University researchers are part of a study of electronic collars on cattle to steer them from fragile water resources, protect nesting birds.
Former Kansas Gov. Parkinson claims to have ‘Forrest Gumped’ his way to state’s top political job
By: Tim Carpenter - May 9, 2022
Former Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson outlines his political career in a Kansas history journal, including his brief, productive stint as Democratic governor.
Marshall demands special parental warnings on television shows exploring gender issues
By: Tim Carpenter - May 7, 2022
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, along with four Senate GOP peers, seek overhaul of TV parental guidelines to pinpoint content on gender dysphoria.