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.

Rep. John Barker, R-Abilene, introduced a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution approved by the Legislature for inclusion on November statewide ballot. The measure will be decided by a majority voting. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas voters to decide constitutional amendment question on election of county sheriffs
By: - April 27, 2022

Legislature grants November voters chance to decide if sheriffs are elected instead of appointed to 4-year terms. (Riley County lone exception.)

Rep. Emil Bergquist, R-Park City, said changes in voter security would be effective making elections safer, but skeptics viewed it as another top-down government mandate. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)

Legislature passes bill mandating Kansas counties use watermarked paper ballots
By: - April 27, 2022

Legislature sends Gov. Laura Kelly a bill requiring an array of changes to improve public confidence in the voting system in Kansas.

Kansas Senate overrides veto of legislation creating parental bill of rights for K-12 education
By: - April 26, 2022

Kansas Senate votes to override Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of educational bill of rights legislation, moving the political drama to the Kansas House.

Sen.Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, failed to convince enough Senate colleagues to support his motion to pull from committee a proposed constitutional amendment making religious leaders required reporters of child abuse. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Legislature deflects Democrats’ maneuvering on clergy reporting mandate, food sales tax
By: and - April 26, 2022

Kansas Democrats turn to obscure procedure to force votes on a measure requiring priests to report child abuse and to slash the state's food sales tax.

Rep. Tatum Lee, R-Ness City, said she was honored to join Monday anti-vax activists at the Kansas Capitol to press for bills limiting local and state government authority during disaster emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been linked to the death of 8,597 people since early 2020. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas activists opposed to COVID-19 mandates greet legislators with rally at Capitol
By: and - April 25, 2022

Kansans opposed to COVID-19 mandates were at the Capitol to urge legislators to pass bills aimed at limiting government reach in health emergencies.

Kansas Public Employees Retirement System trustees James Zakoura and Lynn Rogers are working with the nine-member board to decide whether the expected 7.75% annual return on investment should be lowered because it no longer reflects the market conditions. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

KPERS weighs cutting anticipated investment return rate despite political pressure to delay
By: - April 22, 2022

KPERS weighs cutting 7.75% anticipated rate of return due to poor market trends, but skeptical Senate GOP leaders urged trustees to make a case for change.

A national survey indicated 36.1% of long-term care facilities in Kansas were experiencing staffing shortages that worsened since 2020. The state ranked fourth worst in terms of the staffing shortfalls. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Report: Kansas’ shortage of long-term care facility staff fourth worst in nation
By: - April 22, 2022

Kansas ranked No. 4 worst in the U.S. in terms of labor shortages at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas talks about her Senate career, relationship with the late U.S. Sen. Bob Dole and erosion of a commitment to bipartisanship during an appearance at the Dole Institute of Politics in Lawrence. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)

U.S. Sen. Kassebaum looks in mirror, sees GOP moderates like herself no longer viable in Kansas
By: - April 21, 2022

Former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum speaks on the value of bipartisanship, rise of news echo chambers and the late U.S. Sen. Bob Dole's humor and leadership.

Rep. Mari-Lynn Poskin, an Overland Park Democrat, said a new law allowing 15-year-olds with instructional permits to drive to religious activities but not comparable school gatherings raised interesting legal questions. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

New driving privilege for 15-year-olds opens preferential path to religious activities
By: - April 20, 2022

Gov. Laura Kelly signs bill enabling 15-year-olds with a restricted driver's license to pilot vehicles to any type of religious activity.

Gov. Laura Kelly got the attention of Republican legislators by vetoing bills imposing a school sports participation ban on transgender girls or women as well as a bill imposing a parental bill of rights in terms of K-12 public education (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Democrat Kelly dangles vetoes in front of GOP legislators eager for fresh fight
By: - April 19, 2022

TOPEKA — The legislative process in Kansas is a numbers game that folks conveniently boil down to the trifecta of 63, 21 and one. This odd set of figures represents the narrowest margin in which bills can be passed in the House and Senate — 63 in the House and 21 in the Senate. The […]

Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bipartisan bill removing regulatory hurdles in Kansas to advanced practice registered nurses working more independently of physicians, including prescribing of medication. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)

Kelly signs bill expanding authority of Kansas advanced practice RNs
By: - April 18, 2022

Gov. Laura Kelly signed bipartisan legislation removing regulatory hurdles to advanced practice registered nurses operating more independently.

Former Kansas State University president Jon Wefald died Saturday in Minnesota at age 84. This student residence hall on the K-State campus in Manhattan is named in his honor. (Submitted by Kansas State University)

Former Kansas State president Jon Wefald, 84, passes away in Minnesota
By: - April 18, 2022

Former Kansas State University president Jon Wefald, a fan of Wildcat football, dies in Minnesota at age 84.

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