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.

Intensive care unit nurse Caitlin Beatty, who works in a COVID-19 unit at University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, Kansas, says suffering of extremely ill coronavirus patients was heartbreaking for families and devastating to health professionals working to save lives. She fears too many people ignore advice of public health officials in terms of diminishing spread of the virus. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)

Delta, omicron variants of COVID-19 slicing a wide swath into lives of Kansans

By: - December 24, 2021

Delta variant of COVID-19 escalated hospitalizations in Kansas, while swiftly spreading Omicron has yet to leave its fingerprints on medical facilities.

Dozens of Schmidts endorsed the reelection of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly rather than election of Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the leading Republican in the 2022 governor's race. (Photos by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Governor candidates Kelly, Schmidt mark holidays by offering tax gifts to potential voters

By: - December 23, 2021

Gov. Kelly champions sales tax exemption on food purchases, while Attorney General Schmidt seeks sales tax break for farmers rebuilding from wildfires.

Gov. Laura Kelly recommended the 2022 Legislature authorize a one-time $445 million tax rebate that would provide 1.2 million resident Kansas taxpayers a $250 rebate drawn from the state treasury. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kelly recommending one-time $445 million tax rebate to 1.2 million Kansas taxpayers

By: - December 22, 2021

Gov. Laura Kelly proposed a $445 million one-time tax rebate to 1.2 million Kansans, a follow up to her plan to repeal 6.5% sales tax on food.

The image from video shot from an airplane illustrates the scope of Dec. 15 wildfires that burned about 400,000 acres in Kansas. On Jan. 4, the Kansas State Wildcats will wear special wildfire stickers on their helmets during the bowl game against LSU. (Screen captre/Kansas Reflector)

KSU football team to honor losses suffered in devastating wildfires

By: - December 21, 2021

Kansas State will wear stickers on their helmets at the Jan. 4 bowl game to recognize destructive wildfires that burned 400,000 acres in the state.

A pair of Kansas lobbyists are working to start a construction contractor association to finance work to convince the 2022 Legislature to invest an extra $315 million over seven years to tackle deferred maintenance on academic buildings in the Kansas Board of Regents system of public universities. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)

Lobbyists form contractor alliance to seek $315 million for university building repair backlog

By: - December 21, 2021

Kansas Board of Regents seek $25 million raise in annual state aid for campus buildings, but construction industry lobbyists push $45 million per year plan.

Lt. Gov. David Toland recommended and the SPARK executive board approved a plan to invest federal relief funding in a $100 million grant program to improve business infrastructure and $50 million to directly aid low-income children undercut academically during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)

SPARK executive board earmarks $154 million for Kansas economic development, education

By: - December 20, 2021

Kansas panel endorses use of federal aid on $100 million in grants to build commercial infrastructure and $50 million to help children undercut by COVID-19.

Gov. Laura Kelly and legislators on State Finance Council approve overhaul of the Docking state office building, left in the photo, and construction of KDHE lab in Topeka. The council also approved new spending on "24/7" state worker wages and for COVID-19 testing. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas legislators, governor approve Docking overhaul and construction of KDHE laboratory

By: - December 17, 2021

Gov. Kelly and legislators on State Finance Council pass Docking overhaul, KDHE lab project, wage hikes at "24/7" agencies and funding of COVID-19 testing.

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)

Unemployment rate in Kansas falls slightly to 3.6% in November

By: - December 17, 2021

Kansas unemployment rate reverses course on five-month rise by settling at 3.6% in November, lowest figure since 3.5% in May.

Former Wichita hospital nurse Brian Wilhite, a veteran of the Kansas Army National Guard, says he contracted COVID-19 in 2020 while employed at Via Christi Health but has encountered a state law inhibiting his ability to claim workers' compensation benefits tied to permanent disability. He said he nearly died after exposed to the virus and was unlikely to return to work as a nurse. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Workers’ compensation law offers bleak future for Wichita nurse who nearly died of COVID-19

By: - December 17, 2021

Experiences of a former school paraprofessional, hospital nurse and farm truck driver raise questions about the fairness of Kansas law on workers' compensation.

Gardner Edgerton school board’s swing to political right provokes superintendent’s quick exit

By: - December 15, 2021

Political conflict in the Gardner Edgerton school district about COVID-19 led to overhaul of the school board and resignation of the superintendent.

Mischel Miller, director of teacher licensure and accreditation at the Kansas State Department of Education, said the agency was considering ways of altering substitute teacher license requirements to help alleviate a shortage of part-time educators amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)

Shortage of substitute teachers in Kansas opens door to temporary change in license rules

By: - December 14, 2021

Kansas education officials considering adjustments to substitute teacher license regulations to help address shortage of part-time classroom instructors.

The Kansas Chamber's political action committee endorsed state Sen. Kellie Warren for attorney general. She is among three GOP candidates in the race. The PAC hasn't previously offered endorsements in primary elections. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)

Kansas Chamber PAC wades into attorney general primary for first time

By: - December 14, 2021

A Republican state senator from Johnson County seeking the nomination for attorney general receives endorsement of the Kansas Chamber's political action committee.