Politics + Government
FDA panel backs COVID-19 booster shots only for elderly and high-risk Americans
WASHINGTON — A federal health advisory panel wrestled Friday with whether to widely authorize a booster dose of Pfizer’s two-shot COVID-19 vaccine for most Americans, ultimately recommending that a third dose be offered only to older or higher-risk individuals. The Biden administration had hoped that states could begin rolling out a wide national booster shot […]
The big ask: Higher education seeks $161 million budget increase from lawmakers
Kansas Board of Regents outlines for governor and legislators a $161 million budget request tied to tuition, scholarships, inflation and IT upgrades.
As Afghan refugees head to Kansas, lawmakers choose scaremongering over hospitality
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall and U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner want you to know they’re deeply concerned about the nearly 500 Afghan refugees who might be headed to Kansas. They want you to be too, which is why they’re dropping scary sounding words. Terrorism. Taliban. Biden. MEASLES. The lawmakers had made much of the rushed U.S. […]
Republican AGs urge Biden administration to give up on vaccine requirements
WASHINGTON — More than 20 Republican state attorneys general are threatening to sue the Biden administration over its mandate that large employers require their employees to either be vaccinated against the coronavirus or undergo weekly testing. In a Thursday letter, the 24 AGs, including Derek Schmidt in Kansas, pushed the administration to remove the requirement […]
Judge won’t block new Kansas voting law
TOPEKA — A Shawnee County judge Thursday allowed Kansas to continue enforcing a controversial election law, rejecting arguments it will inhibit voter registration and education efforts. District Judge Teresa Watson denied a request by four voting advocacy groups to temporarily block the law while a lawsuit filed before the statute took effect July 1 plays […]
Kansas special education council approves new target metrics for children with disabilities
TOPEKA — The Kansas council providing special education policy guidance to the state board of education approved Thursday a target high school graduation rate of 80.5% for children with disabilities in 2020, increasing by 0.5% each year through 2025. The Kansas State Special Education Advisory Council is entering a new cycle of the state performance […]
Kansas Board of Regents takes step toward evaluation of campus health clinics
Kansas Board of Regents takes step toward launching external task force study of health, financial and liability issues of operating campus health clinics.
How U.S. House Democrats would expand Medicare and Medicaid and lower prescription drug costs
WASHINGTON — New Medicare benefits for older Americans, like dental care. An expansion of eligibility for Medicaid for low-income people in Republican-controlled states that have declined to take that step. And potentially an historic effort to rein in prescription drug prices — if congressional Democrats can work through objections from moderates in their party. The massive […]
Dairy farmer asks U.S. Senate to fix ‘broken’ milk pricing system
A Granville, Iowa, dairy farmer appealed to a U.S. Senate subcommittee Wednesday to help fix a “broken” milk-pricing system she said has worsened conditions in an era of financial uncertainty. Christina Zuiderveen, managing partner of Black Soil Dairy LLC and an industry leader, said the federal milk marketing orders system “promised dairy producers that if […]
Gymnasts urge U.S. Senate to investigate Larry Nassar sexual abuse after botched FBI inquiry
WASHINGTON — Olympic gold medalists including Simone Biles and Aly Raisman on Wednesday detailed for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee the failure of the FBI to investigate dozens of complaints of sexual abuse committed by Larry Nassar, the disgraced team doctor for USA Gymnastics and a former Michigan State University physician. The gymnasts also urged […]
Progressives beware: Don’t let values become casualties of the pandemic
The transition from summer to fall has been a challenging one for those of us with a progressive bent. Many of us feel fed up with the pace of our battle against COVID-19. Many of us blame those who refuse to get vaccinated or take basic safety precautions. You could watch the frustration seep through […]
Kansas cold case task force lays groundwork for sharing DNA database hits
TOPEKA — Members of a task force developing protocol for newly discovered DNA evidence in closed cases is backing a recommendation laying out a process to ensure defense counsel is made aware when a match is found in DNA registries. Following an August meeting of the Alvin Sykes Cold Case Task Force to discuss possible […]