Author

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.

Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Kansas Health System, answers questions during a virtual media briefing Friday. (Screenshot by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas governor tests negative for coronavirus after House speaker says he caught virus

By: Sherman Smith and Tim Carpenter - August 7, 2020

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday following disclosure by House Speaker Ron Ryckman that he had been hospitalized for a week with coronavirus in July. A political firestorm erupted on Thursday following Ryckman’s disclosure that he tested positive for the coronavirus on July 13. He was criticized for delaying for […]

Gov. Laura Kelly and Jurgen Richt, a Kansas State University professor, on Thursday discuss COVID-19 research being conducted at the university's Biosecurity Research Institute in Manhattan. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas State biosecurity researchers deliver tutorial to Gov. Laura Kelly on COVID-19

By: Tim Carpenter - August 6, 2020

Kansas State University researchers explain to Gov. Laura Kelly research at Biosecurity Research Institute on COVID-19, other lethal pathogens.

The Kansas Supreme Court issued an opinion Friday overturning a Kansas Court of Appeals decision in businessman Gene Bicknell's legendary tax case. The Supreme Court said Bicknell was a resident of Florida, which has no state income tax, during the period in which Kansas officials claimed he owned millions of dollars in state income taxes on sale of a company comprised of Pizza Hut franchises. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas attorney general asks feds to ease driver’s license reinstatment

By: Tim Carpenter - August 5, 2020

Attorney General Derek Schmidt endorses federal reform to reduce impediments to renewal of a driver's license not tied to motorist safety issues.

Salina Rep. J.R. Claeys, right, defeated in Tuesday's Republican Party primary incumbent Sen. Randall Hardy by nearly 3,000 votes as part of a conservative surge against moderates. No Democrat filed in District 24. (Kansas Reflector)

Kansas primary undercuts GOP moderates in Legislature; rogue Democrat clings to victory

By: Tim Carpenter - August 5, 2020

GOP's moderate wing in Kansas Senate takes beating in primary, while Dem House candidate who called for GOP to die of COVID-19 clings to one-vote lead.

U.S. House, 2nd District: LaTurner crushes U.S. Rep. Watkins in GOP primary

By: Tim Carpenter - August 4, 2020

U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins, crippled by voting fraud charges, loses GOP primary to Jake LaTurner, who will meet Democrat Michelle De La Isla in November.

Salina Republican Tracey Mann, upper right, defeated Bill Clifford, of Garden City, in the 1st District primary Tuesday, while Garden City Democrat Kali Barnett, lower left, prevailed in a primary campaign against Christy Cauble Davis, of Cottonwood Falls. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)

U.S. House, 1st District: GOP candidate Tracey Mann prevails in bitter primary feud

By: Tim Carpenter - August 4, 2020

Former Lt. Gov. Tracey Mann wins 1st District GOP primary for U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall's seat, setting a November showdown with Democrat Kali Barnett.

Kansas election offices have been flooded with advance voting ballots as COVID-19 and competitive races prompted people to express themselves in a safely before Election Day on Tuesday. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas voters pivot to advance by-mail voting amid COVID-19

By: Tim Carpenter and Noah Taborda - August 4, 2020

TOPEKA — Six times the number of advance by-mail ballots have been returned to local election offices in Kansas compared to the 2016 and 2018 primary elections with the surge in popularity tied to competitive races and the pandemic. Secretary of State Scott Schwab, who serves as the state’s top elections officer, said 159,000 voters […]

A joint House and Senate budget committee Monday was given an update on the state's troubled unemployment system and debated the allocation of $60 million in federal CARES Act funding for broadband service improvements. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

House, Senate members dive into unemployment, broadband shortcomings

By: Tim Carpenter - August 3, 2020

Kansas legislators explored shortcomings of the unemployment system derailed by COVID-19 and implications of investing $60 million in broadband expansion.