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.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Derek Schmidt recommended the Legislature adopt an exemption from the state's 6.5% sales tax for purchases of diapers and feminine hygiene products. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Schmidt seeks passage of state sales tax exemption for diapers, feminine hygiene products
By: - September 6, 2022

Attorney General Derek Schmidt, GOP candidate for governor, seeks an exemption from the state's 6.5% sales tax for diapers and feminine hygiene products.

Chris Mann, Democratic nominee for attorney general against GOP nominee Kris Kobach, examines his career, motivation for seeking public office and plans to reshape the attorney general's office. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas attorney general candidate emerges from tragedy with refined sense of public service
By: - September 6, 2022

Democratic attorney general candidate Chris Mann says the state's top law enforcement office office shouldn't be undermined by raw politics.

Richard Linton, inaugurated as 15th president of Kansas State University, said he would strive to inspire students, faculty and staff to build upon a land-grant mission christened in 1863 during the Civil War. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas State Youtube channel)

Linton discovers magic in Virginia Tech class, sparks journey to Kansas State presidency
By: - September 3, 2022

Richard Linton, inaugurated as 15th president of Kansas State University, vowed to enrich its land-grant roots and build deeper partnerships with Kansans.

Hiawatha Sen. Dennis Pyle, left, an independent candidate for governor, said Republican nominee Derek Schmidt was insufficiently eager for passage of a state law forbidding transgender individuals designated as male at birth from taking part in female sports programs. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Pyle impatient with Schmidt’s 100-day deadline for transgender sports ban in Kansas
By: - September 2, 2022

Independent gubernatorial candidate Dennis Pyle says 100 days far too long to wait for Legislature to ban transgender individuals from female sports teams.

The Kansas Department of Revenue said state income and sales tax revenue during August surpassed expectations by $11 million to record the 25th consecutive month in which revenue topped the official projection. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas sales, income tax revenue exceeds projection for 25th consecutive month
By: - September 2, 2022

The Kansas Department of Revenue reported state income and sales tax revenue surpassed expectations by $11 million in August.

Gov. Laura Kelly, who is running for reelection in November, placed the state's first legal sports bet Thursday by placing $15 on the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl in February. (Submitted)

Kelly drops first legal sports bet in Kansas with $15 on Chiefs to win Super Bowl
By: - September 2, 2022

Gov. Laura Kelly betting the legalizing sports gambling in Kansas can contribute to job growth, economic development and deliver new state revenue.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Derek Schmidt joined former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gains in Overland Park to push for approval by the Kansas Legislature of a state law requiring public educational institutions to allow participation in sports programs based on the biological sex of the athlete at birth. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Schmidt, college swimmer embrace restrictions on participation in sports by transgender athletes
By: - September 1, 2022

Kansas GOP gubernatorial candidate, former University of Kentucky swimmer slam Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of transgender sports bills.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, campaigning against Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt, said her second-term agenda included end of state's food sales tax, tax relief for the elderly and back-to-school sales tax holiday. (Photos by Sherman Smith and Thad Allton/Kansas Reflector)

Kelly, Schmidt agree to take part in two debates, one forum in governor’s race
By: - September 1, 2022

Attorney General Derek Schmidt, GOP nominee for governor, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly plan to take part in three campaign events, including two debates.

A new study led by a Kansas State University researchers show reintroducing bison to grasslands increases plant diversity and drought resilience. The image is of a bison herd grazing on the Konza Prairie Biological Station in Kansas. (Barbara Van Slyke submitted photo)

Kansas research shows reintroducing bison on tallgrass prairie doubles plant diversity
By: - August 31, 2022

Decades of research at Kansas State University indicates reintroduction of bison on tallgrass prairie aids plant diversity and drought resistance.

Republican governor candidate Derek Schmidt criticized Gov. Laura Kelly's decision early in the COVID-19 pandemic to temporarily close public school buildings and shift to an online instructional format. Kelly is seeking reelection to a second term. (Submitted)

Schmidt condemns Kelly’s disruption of in-person instruction early in COVID-19 pandemic
By: - August 30, 2022

GOP gubernatorial candidate Derek Schmidt criticized Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's closure of K-12 public school buildings early in COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall endorsed fellow Republican Kris Kobach in the campaign for attorney general in a reversal from 2020 when Marshall sponsored this Senate advertisement claiming Kobach shouldn't be elected because everything he touched "seemed to go up in flames." (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Marshall's 2020 commercial)

Kansas GOP endorsement flurry emphasizes symbiotic relationship between Schmidt, Kobach
By: - August 30, 2022

Kansas GOP wave of endorsements aims to blend factions in support of AG nominee Kris Kobach and governor nominee Derek Schmidt.

Garden Plain Republican Sen. Dan Kerschen, chair of the Legislature's special committee on water, takes in presentations Monday on impact of irrigation with the Ogallala Aquifer and sedimenation of reservoirs designed to prevent flooding and provide drinking water. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Western Kansas’ economy threatened by reliance on irrigating crops with Ogallala Aquifer
By: - August 29, 2022

Kansas officials point to threat of excessive irrigation of crops from Ogallala Aquifer and nitrate infestation, sedimentation of reservoir surface water.

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