Business
Kansas state officials announce grants for mental health hospital beds
TOPEKA – Millions of dollars in grant money has been set aside to boster the state’s mental health services as officials respond to a shortage of resources for those struggling with mental illness. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services distributed $65.4 million from the state’s federal COVID-19 recovery funds to strengthen behavioral health […]
‘Political punishment’: Kansas governor ditches last-minute funding for historic site
TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly struck out several provisions from a wide-ranging budget bill, drawing fire from Legislature Republicans who said her rejection of funding for a historic site reeked of “political punishment.” Kelly announced the signing of Senate Bill 25 Monday. The 36-page budget bill passed both chambers with bipartisan support, garnering a 91-29 […]
New report estimates rise in Kansas employment, GDP over coming months
TOPEKA — The unemployment rate in Kansas is expected to decrease in 2024, with the state poised to add thousands of new jobs, according to new employment predictions. Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research released an updated Kansas Employment Forecast in May. Since 2020, employment rates have been on the rise. […]
EPA again proposes power plant carbon rules
The Obama administration’s 2015 Clean Power Plan — intended to cut carbon emissions from power plants — was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Trump administration’s much-criticized replacement, the Affordable Clean Energy rule, derided as a “tortured series of misreadings” of the U.S. Clean Air Act, was also tossed by a federal court. […]
Fast federal response to pandemic key to US economic recovery, economists say
The public health emergency declaration ended on Thursday, and with it some of the policies that helped the U.S. recover from the many of the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Although COVID-19 is still a public health threat, the national economic crisis it created has subsided with the U.S. economy back to its pre-pandemic […]
Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes massive bundle of tax legislation touted by GOP lawmakers
Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a bill loaded with special-interest tax cuts mostly beneficial to businesses and urged lawmakers to focus relief on regular Kansans.
Kansas governor signs juvenile justice measure, medical student assistance bills
TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law a juvenile justice reform measure and a bill that provides funding for medical school students — as long as these students don’t perform abortions. Kelly announced the signing of House Bill 2060 Friday. The bipartisan legislation, passed 32-3 in the Senate and 83-39 in the House, expands […]
Kelly relies on executive power to scuttle deal on COVID-19 lawsuit filed by Wichita business
Six Republican legislators on the State Finance Council wanted to settle a COVID-19 lawsuit filed in Wichita, but Gov. Laura Kelly rejected the deal.
New law provides tax exemptions for suicide prevention and senior services organizations
TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly approved tax breaks for suicide prevention and senior assistance organizations, legislation meant to bolster resources for vulnerable people across the state. Kelly announced the signing of bipartisan House Bill 2002 Wednesday. The bill, which passed the Senate 37-0 and the House 122-0, creates sales tax exemptions for the Kansas Suicide […]
Kelly signs bill to bolster health care workforce, reduce sports medicine barriers for visiting athletes
TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly has signed legislation meant to help patch up the state’s health care workforce shortages and provide more care options for out-of-town athletes. Kelly announced the signing of Senate Bill 131 Tuesday, a bipartisan bill that passed the House 118-4 and the Senate 38-2. The bill smooths over the licensing process […]
Rep. Sean Tarwater’s assessment of KPERS option for new government workers: It ‘sucks’
Rep. Sean Tarwater says KPERS Tier 3 option available to newer legislators and other state government hires, to use his terminology, "sucks."
Budweiser? Pfft. Dominion? Eh. Kansas should look beyond corporations to put people first.
Between conservatives’ outrage after Budweiser partnered with a transgender influencer, liberals’ indignation after Dominion voting systems settled with Fox News, and Kansas legislators trying desperately to hand out tax breaks to big business, I have to wonder — since when have we given corporations so much power over how we feel and act? The success […]