Briefs

The Kansas Supreme Court dealt with a decision by the Kansas Court of Appeals by focusing on jurisdictional issues without defining boundaries of the Kansas Open Records Act as it pertained to public access to audio records of district court proceedings. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Former Kansas Supreme Court Justice Lockett dies after contracting COVID-19

BY: - December 2, 2020

Retired Kansas Supreme Court Justice Lockett, appointed by Democratic Gov. Carline, dies at age 87 after contracting COVID-19.

Kansas insurance commissioner Schmidt files for re-election in 2022

BY: - December 2, 2020

Republican Vicki Schmidt, Kansas' insurance commissioner, files for re-election to regulatory post — nearly two years before next election.

Gov. Laura Kelly renewed an appeal for a new emergency federal COVID-19 package despite state tax revenue surpassing projections for November. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas tax revenue narrowly tops November target, governor seeks new federal aid

BY: - December 1, 2020

Gov. Kelly urges Congress to adopt emergency aid package for state and local governments, despite November uptick in Kansas tax revenue.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said state law forbids his office from filing an ouster lawsuit against Rep. Michael Capps, a Wichita Republican implicated in a mayoral campaign scandal. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas law forbids attorney general from seeking ouster of Rep. Capps

BY: - December 1, 2020

Kansas AG says state law forbids lawsuit to seek ouster of Wichita state Rep. Michael Capps for false attack ad against Democratic mayor.

Kansas post-election audit shows no signs of foul play in record-breaking election

BY: - November 30, 2020

TOPEKA — Kansas election officials say the record-breaking 2020 general election avoided any major issues or discrepancies despite unpredictable circumstances amid COVID-19. The Kansas State Board of Canvassers — composed of the governor, secretary of state and attorney general — met Monday to certify election results in a year that saw historic turnout. This year, […]

Gov. Laura Kelly's chief counsel is departing for job at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, and his replacement will be attorney working in the Kansas Department of Labor. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas’ unemployment rate dips to 5.3% in October, down from April high of 11.9%

BY: - November 20, 2020

Good news in Kansas unemployment report for October: Jobless rate falls to 5.3% to continue a sixth-month trend during COVID-19 pandemic.

The Kansas Department of Corrections led by secretary Jeff Zmuda says a fifth inmate who contracted COVID-19 has died. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas Department of Corrections reports 11th inmate death from COVID-19

BY: - November 18, 2020

TOPEKA — An 81-year-old inmate of the state-run prison in Lansing has died from COVID-19. He is the 11th person to die from COVID-19 while in state custody and the fifth at the Lansing Correctional Facility. Carol Pitts, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Corrections, said the man was transported to a hospital after […]

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, praised nomination of Kansas solicitor general Toby Crouse for appointment to the U.S. District Court in Kansas. His nomination was affirmed 50-43. (Image from C-SPAN2/Kansas Reflector)

U.S. Senate confirms Kansas solicitor general to federal bench

BY: - November 17, 2020

The U.S. Senate votes to confirm the nomination of Kansas solicitor general Toby Crouse of Overland Park to a vacancy on the federal district court.

The Kansas Department of Corrections led by secretary Jeff Zmuda says a fifth inmate who contracted COVID-19 has died. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas Department of Corrections reports 10th inmate death from COVID-19

BY: - November 17, 2020

TOPEKA — An inmate at the state-run prison in Ellsworth died Sunday after contracting COVID-19. The 68-year-old man is the 10th inmate in state custody to die from the virus, and the third from the Ellsworth Correctional Facility. Carol Pitts, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Corrections, said the man had been transported on […]

Kansas Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran released a statement to constituents saying President Donald Trump has the right to wage a legal fight for a fair counting of votes in the presidential election, but should offer presumed Democrat Joe Biden the national security briefings and other support common to transition to a new president. (Submitted)

U.S. Sen. Moran preparing for GOP re-election bid in 2022

BY: - November 12, 2020

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, the Kansas Republican, is letting it be known he's ready to run for re-election in 2022.

Gov. Laura Kelly directed flags in Kansas be flown at half-staff until sundown Monday in honor U.S. military personnel killed in a suicide bombing attack at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Flags to fly at half-staff to mark Leavenworth County deputy’s death

BY: - November 11, 2020

U.S. flags in Kansas are to be flown at half-staff until sunset Thursday in honor of the late Leavenworth County Deputy Corporal Daniel Abramovitz.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt signed onto a brief with more than a dozen attorneys general in a Texas lawsuit questioning swing-state vote counts in the election President Donald Trump lost to President-elect Joe Biden. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas AG wades into Pennsylvania ballot-deadline conflict

BY: - November 10, 2020

Kansas' GOP attorney general seeks U.S. Supreme Court clarity on whether constitution lets Pennsylvania to extend mail-in ballot deadline past Election Day.