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.

Kansas unemployment dropped to 3.3% in December, the lowest rate since the April 2020 surge to 12.6% at outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It remained under 4% throughout 2021. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas unemployment settles at 5.9% in September, half April tally driven by COVID-19
By: - October 16, 2020

TOPEKA — Kansas has recovered nearly half of 144,000 jobs lost during March and April when the COVID-19 pandemic led to a statewide economic collapse depriving people of the accustomed level of job opportunity, officials said Friday. The September unemployment rate in Kansas was pegged at 5.9%, a decline of 1 percentage point from August […]

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roger Marshall endorses reforming Social Security benefits for people 10 years or more away from retiring, while Democratic Senate candidate Barbara Bollier opposes cuts to Social Security. (Submitted)

Marshall advocates financial reform of Social Security; Bollier objects to benefit cuts
By: - October 16, 2020

TOPEKA — There was no surprise Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roger Marshall was asked during a campaign stop at a southeast Kansas senior center about potential of the Social Security system running out of money. “Is there anything you plan to make sure it stays there. I’m worried,” a man said during the Sept. 4 […]

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, right, and University of Kansas chancellor Doug Girod, center, talk Thursday during a ceremony to celebrate $7.8 million in federal funding for construction of a $24 million campus building to support growth of technology and bioscience companies working collaboratively with KU researchers. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Public-private coalition financing $24 million KU bioscience, tech research expansion
By: - October 15, 2020

LAWRENCE — Light shovel work and bipartisan speeches marked launch of a $24 million public and private partnership to significantly expand the bioscience and technology business innovation center at the University of Kansas that has been at maximum capacity for a couple years. The administrations of President Donald Trump and Gov. Laura Kelly celebrated awarding […]

GOP 2nd District Republican Jake LaTurner again fails to substantiate claim Democratic candidate Michelle De La Isla "defunded" Topeka Police Department while serving on the city council and as mayor. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

LaTurner, De La Isla clash on Medicaid, Dreamers and reject idea of defunding police
By: - October 14, 2020

Kansas 2nd District congressional candidates LaTurner and De La Isla say in debate they oppose defunding law enforcement officers.

State and federal agencies reported the Kansas unemployment rate dropped in November to 3.6%, a reduction from 3.9% in September and October. Joblessness at outset of the COVID-19 pandemic was 12.6% in April 2020. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Report: Kansas obesity rate at 10.6% for youth ages 10 to 17
By: - October 14, 2020

Kansas' obesity rate among youth 10-17 years old is an impressive 10.6%, but the state's adult rate is more than three times higher.

Second District Democratic congressional candidate Michelle De La Isla's participation in a Topeka march has been used by GOP nominee Jake LaTurner in a commercial that falsely depicts her as an advocate for defunding the Topeka Police Department. To De La Isla's left is the front row is Topeka Police Chief Bill Cochran. (Submitted)

Democrat De La Isla pounces on LaTurner ad as ‘what people hate’ about DC politics
By: - October 13, 2020

Attack ads in Kansas' 2nd and 3rd congressional district campaigns are inspiring complaints about fairness and accuracy.

Kansas unemployment dropped to 3.3% in December, the lowest rate since the April 2020 surge to 12.6% at outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It remained under 4% throughout 2021. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas labor department digs out of help-line quagmire, reduces claim backlog
By: - October 13, 2020

Kansas' labor secretary Ryan Wright juggling unemployment spike, applicant backlog, hotline staffing and fraud as COVID-19 stretches state agency.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Bollier reported raising $13.5 million in the third quarter for the largest single-quarter fundraising total of any candidate in Kansas history. She is running for the open seat in Kansas against GOP nominee Roger Marshall. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Bollier raises Kansas record $13.5 million in third quarter
By: - October 12, 2020

Kansas U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Bollier raises $13.5 million in third quarter amid campaign against GOP nominee Roger Marshall.

Sen. Carolyn McGinn, in a July 2020 campaign ad, plans to seek selection by Republican colleagues to the leadership position of Senate majority leader. The Sedgwick farmer is chair of the Senate's budget committee. (Submitted)

Republican Carolyn McGinn to seek Senate majority leader post
By: - October 10, 2020

TOPEKA — Republican Kansas Sen. Carolyn McGinn plans to be a candidate for Senate majority leader following the November election. She said in a letter to GOP Senate candidates that she would compete for the slot created by retirement of Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning of Johnson County. Republicans elected to the Senate will meet […]

Senate President Susan Wagle embraces gerrymandering to benefit GOP in Kansas
By: and - October 9, 2020

TOPEKA — Democrats blasted Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle on Friday for recent comments she made about the desire to redraw legislative and congressional district boundaries in Kansas to favor Republicans. Wagle, a Republican from Wichita who is retiring from the Legislature after withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race, told a gathering of Republicans last […]

Gov. Laura Kelly signals new wave of broadband development in Kansas
By: - October 8, 2020

Gov. Laura Kelly is expanding role of the Kansas Department of Commerce in expanding delivery of broadband services in the state.

Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said the spread of COVID-19 provided extra incentive for people to get an influenza vaccination. He expects Kansas hospital resources to be stretched this fall and winter from exposure to the flu and coronavirus. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas health organizations seek reversal of decline in child vaccination
By: - October 8, 2020

A trio of Kansas health organizations are concerned with reduction in child immunizations and wellness visits to clinics amid COVID-19.

RETURN TO HOME