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.

Joseph Rupnick, chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, said the Kansas State Board of Education ought to strongly urge local school boards to abandon offensive Native American mascots and branding as soon as possible. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Board of Education livestream)

Kansas council asks Board of Education to urge removal of offensive mascots, branding
By: - October 12, 2022

The Kansas State Board of Education is expected to vote in November on a recommendation school districts abandon offensive Native American mascots, imagery.

Former Gov. Jeff Colyer, who endorsed GOP gubernatorial nominee Derek Schmidt, speaks during the Kansas GOP's bus tour in Topeka with U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., by his side. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)

Roger Marshall, Laura Kelly stumble while wading into former Kansas governors’ loyalties
By: - October 11, 2022

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and GOP U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall earn fact-check fixes for comments on loyalties of former Govs. Jeff Colyer and Sam Brownback.

Kirk Thompson, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, was joined by Attorney General Derek Schmidt, left, and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, right, to talk about a $3 million federal grant to improve KBI tracking of crimes and arrests in support of local law enforcement agencies. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Antiquated KBI crime-tracking IT system to be modernized with $3 million federal grant
By: - October 11, 2022

KBI to use $3 million federal grant to overhaul the agency's computer network for tracking crimes and arrests in support of law enforcement agencies.

A former interim president of Emporia State University asked the Kansas Board of Regents to rescind dismissal of 33 faculty under a new policy streamlining layoffs. ESU students responded to the firings with vigils and protests in September. (Mason Hart for Kansas Reflector)

Former interim Emporia State president condemns mass firing of tenured faculty
By: - October 10, 2022

Former Emporia State University interim president Ed Flentje says firing of 33 faculty will brand ESU a "pariah institution" in higher education.

New polling says 72% of Kansans support expansion of Medicaid eligibility. In the governor's race, Democrat Laura Kelly backs reform adding more than 120,000 lower-income Kansans to the health program, while Republican Derek Schmidt stands opposed to broad enrollment growth. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Poll: 72% of Kansans back Medicaid reform stalled by GOP legislators since 2017
By: - October 10, 2022

Seven of 10 Kansans and Gov. Laura Kelly want to expand Medicaid, while Attorney General Derek Schmidt and GOP legislative leaders oppose reform.

Gov. Laura Kelly and Attorney General Derek Schmidt, candidates for governor in November, have offered statements affirming racial bias existed in the state's law enforcement system. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Schmidt blasts Kelly’s justice commission despite his affirmation of racial bias by Kansas police
By: - October 7, 2022

Derek Schmidt — who is attacking the governor for acknowledging systemic racism — told the governor's Commission on Racial Equality and Justice that racial bias "obviously" exists among Kansas police.

Derek Schmidt and Laura Kelly pose for photo after debate

Schmidt eager to alter selection of Kansas Supreme Court justices; Kelly prefers status quo
By: - October 6, 2022

Two of the candidates for Kansas governor and two for attorney general clash on the process of filling vacancies on the Kansas Supreme Court.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt, left, the Republican nominee for governor, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, right, complete preparations for the Wednesday debate hosted by the Johnson County Bar Association. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas governor frontrunners Schmidt, Kelly counterpunch through debate in Johnson County
By: - October 5, 2022

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the Republican nominee for governor, meet for their second debate of the 2022 campaign.

Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, said the average number of children adopted in Kansas averaged 1,000 during the past four years. That represented an increase from an average of 733 adoptions from 2011 to 2018. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas adoptions average 1,000 over past four years, a surge of 270 per year
By: - October 5, 2022

Kansas increased child adoptions to an annual average of 1,000 during the past four years, a significant increase from an average of 730 from 2011 to 2018.

Kansas typically didn't get media coverage consistent with reporting on Democratic candidates. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Former Gov. Colyer claims Kansas media biased against Republicans: ‘We don’t get a fair hearing’
By: - October 4, 2022

Former GOP Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer says political coverage in the state favors Democrats and claims about partisan threats to democracy are exaggerated.

New research published by the University of Kansas suggests two prominent federal surveys undercount the number of U.S. residents with disabilities and results in misdirection of health care resources. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

KU researchers suspect two federal surveys undercount people with disabilities
By: - October 4, 2022

KU researchers say shortcomings in two federal surveys relied on to assess frequency of disability and allocate health care services led to big undercounts.

The Kansas Department of Revenue reported the state took in $96 million or 11% more in state tax revenue in September than anticipated. State officials said a 40% surge in corporate income tax revenue was a sign of business optimism for the rest of 2022. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas officials optimistic about September’s 40% surge in corporate tax revenue
By: - October 3, 2022

Kansas surpassed tax revenue estimates in September with a surge in corporate tax collections indicative of optimism about bottom-line results through 2022.

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