Politics + Government
Conflict emerges prior to launch of August public hearings on redistricting in Kansas
GOP's decision to compress Kansas public town hall meetings on redistricting into five days in August irritates Democrats.
AG candidates angling for traction with lights, sirens of law enforcement endorsements
Kansas' GOP candidates for attorney general banking on endorsements from law enforcement to kickstart campaigns.
House Dems to unveil revamped voting rights bill named for the late John Lewis
WASHINGTON — House Democrats plan this week to unveil a new version of legislation named after the late Georgia civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis that could protect voting rights across the United States. During a Friday news conference, House Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina said that House Democrats are expected to introduce […]
‘It’s a tinderbox situation’: Western governors ask Biden for better wildfire prevention
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden met virtually with governors from Western and Midwestern states on Friday to discuss how federal intervention can best aid states battling wildfires, amid complaints from states about federal forest management. “We’ve got big, complex wildfires burning across multiple areas,” Biden said. “We’re in for a long fight this year, and […]
National parks refine ticketed-entry systems to manage visitor boom
WASHINGTON — Watching the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain at Maine’s Acadia National Park is a gorgeous view — so breathtaking that on some days, as many as 500 cars could be found vying for the scenic overlook’s 150 parking spots. That competition has become more manageable since Acadia officials began using a reservation system in May, […]
GOP senators from Kansas take alternate routes on infrastructure bill
U.S. Sen. Moran votes against procedural motion on $1 trillion infrastructure bill, while U.S. Sen. Marshall declines to cast a vote.
Kelly recommends mask policies, COVID testing and community partnerships for Kansas schools
TOPEKA — New guidance Friday from Gov. Laura Kelly ahead of the start of classes recommends schools actively plan vaccination clinics, implement universal masking policies and create a robust testing plan for faculty and students. The updated guidance also requests that students in classrooms and school other settings maintain 3 feet of physical distance, but […]
Federal eviction ban expires Saturday after attempt to extend it fails
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats unsuccessfully scrambled on Friday to extend federal legal protections against eviction that will expire on Saturday. The end of the eviction moratorium jeopardizes housing security for millions of Americans who are struggling both to pay their rent and to access billions of dollars in slow-moving federal rental assistance funds. Top Democrats in […]
Kansas A.G. subpoenas reporter’s notes from book on wrongful murder conviction
TOPEKA — The Kansas Attorney General’s Office issued a subpoena commanding a journalist to turn over information he gathered while writing a book and news stories about a Jefferson County man who served 16 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. After Kansas Reflector published this story, the attorney general’s office filed a […]
Kansas congressional delegation’s five Republicans join effort to overturn Roe v. Wade
Five of six Kansas members of Congress endorse legal brief outlining why U.S. Supreme Court should overturn Roe v. Wade abortion decision.
Kansas shelters grapple with capacity crisis as pandemic-related pet returns increase
TOPEKA — An influx of returned pets adopted during the pandemic is pushing pet shelters across the state beyond capacity. For some shelters, this is business as usual during the summer months, but others are attributing the influx of pets to owners returning animals as they return to work in the office or face financial […]
Klobuchar: Senate Dems ‘very close’ to a deal on revised voting rights bill
WASHINGTON — Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Thursday that lawmakers attempting to negotiate a compromise elections overhaul bill are “very close to an agreement” on legislation, as Democrats struggle to respond to restrictive voting laws passed in Republican-led states. Klobuchar, the chairwoman of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, has been meeting with other Senate […]