Briefs
House lawmakers advance proposal to study Kansas legislative salaries, potentially increase pay
TOPEKA— House lawmakers advanced a legislative pay adjustment proposal in an attempt to remedy years of stagnant wages and make legislative careers more accessible. During a Wednesday House hearing on the proposal, Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat, said most people couldn’t afford to make a career in the House or Senate due to the […]
Marshall irritated by regulators’ action in bank failure; Intrust, UMB facing downgrade
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, said he was disappointed President Joe Biden allowed a financial bailout of a failed California bank.
States to receive $2.5B from feds for electric vehicle charging infrastructure
The federal government will send $2.5 billion over the next five years to states, local governments and tribes to build electric vehicle charging infrastructure, Biden administration officials said Wednesday. The new Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grant program, which was authorized by the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, will spend $2.5 billion over five years to build […]
Moran, Marshall support bipartisan measure repealing Cuba trade restrictions
Kansas Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, both Republicans, support bipartisan Senate legislation repealing the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba.
Kansas political duo — Ron and Susan Estes — vote for bills on transgender athletes, parental rights
GOP state Rep. Susan Estes and U.S. Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas support bills restricting transgender athletes and affirming parents' role in public education.
Kansas expands by 32% number of adult, child psychiatric beds during past four years
Gov. Laura Kelly said the number of psychiatric hospital beds for adults and children in Kansas increased 32% in the past four years to nearly 1,000.
Kansas secretary of state appoints new election commissioner for Sedgwick County
Kansas secretary of state selected an economic development administrator to fill a vacancy as elections commissioner in Sedgwick County.
Kobach aids cause of Kentucky photographer opposed to working same-sex ceremonies
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach waded into a Kentucky appeals case involving a photographer who doesn't want to work same-sex weddings.
Kansas House agrees to raise legal smoking age to 21
TOPEKA — The Kansas House passed legislation Thursday to raise the legal age for tobacco products from 18 to 21. House Bill 2269 — which applies to the sale, purchase or possession of cigarette and tobacco products — would bring Kansas into compliance with federal law. The House granted initial approval after a brief debate, […]
Kansas governor touts improved credit rating, warns flat tax could damage score
TOPEKA — The state’s credit rating has improved again, Gov. Laura Kelly announced this week, but her administration warns that a Senate-approved flat tax plan would damage that score. S&P Global changed Kansas’ credit outlook from stable to positive, recognizing passage by the Republican-controlled Legislature of several of the Democratic governor’s financial initiatives. They include […]
Kansas Senate supports elimination of state, local food sales tax
TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate voted to remove all state and local sales taxes on food next year, in a last-minute reversal of an earlier proposal to curtail sales tax reductions for unhealthy food. Senators voted to eliminate the food sales tax Thursday during a Senate debate, advancing an amended version of Senate Bill 248 […]
Cargill meatpacking plant in Kansas part of federal investigation into illegal child labor
TOPEKA — Federal authorities have fined a cleaning company nearly $400,000 for illegally employing minors and making them work in dangerous conditions at a Dodge City meatpacking plant. The fine was tied to a U.S. Department of Labor investigation that involved at least 102 children, ages 13-17, at meatpacking plants owned by multiple companies in […]