Politics + Government

Kansas Republicans admonish Black lawmaker. His response: ‘not my job to protect your feelings’

BY: - May 31, 2023

TOPEKA — Republican legislative leaders warned a Black Democrat against indecorous behavior weeks after he made a speech that called out vote trading, while couching his argument in slavery terms. In response, the Democrat said his job was to advocate for Black Kansans, not protect his colleagues’ feelings. Rep. Ford Carr, a Wichita Democrat, delivered […]

OPINION
Women face numerous economic obstacles, including pay inequality, access to affordable child care, limited family leave and entrepreneurship restrictions. (Getty Images)

Family-forward policies will strengthen Kansas economy and communities

BY: - May 31, 2023

Kansas is expected to add more than 11,000 new jobs in 2024. The unemployment rate in Kansas is projected to reach 2.6% in 2024, according to the new Kansas Employment Forecast released this month by Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research. Under these economic conditions, Kansas businesses will be competing to attract and […]

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters

New work requirements for some SNAP recipients included in debt limit deal

BY: - May 30, 2023

WASHINGTON — The holiday weekend debt ceiling deal struck by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy preserves in part new work requirements for some food stamp recipients but now with exceptions for certain populations, including veterans. The agreement released late Saturday night showed concessions from both sides — from GOP members, who wanted […]

Debt limit deal hits turbulence in Congress as leaders prep for vote

BY: and - May 30, 2023

WASHINGTON — Congress began moving the bipartisan debt limit package forward Tuesday, though frustrations with provisions in the bill could make for narrow passage in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Conservative Republicans and progressive Democrats both aired their disappointment with the agreement forged over the weekend, but only GOP lawmakers are looking to possibly […]

The decision of Michelle Dombrosky, an Olathe Republican on the Kansas State Board of Education, to abstain on major policy issues prompted the state board's attorney to urge policy revisions to affirm abstentions should be reserved for members with conflicts of interest rather than used as an alternative to registering dissent. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas education board’s attorney says abstention as substitute for ‘no’ vote an abdication of duty

BY: - May 30, 2023

Attorney for Kansas State Board of Education warns GOP members about abuse of abstention as alternative to "no" vote to register opposition to policy.

OPINION

Kansas City mayor blunders in advising against engagement with ‘bonkers attacks’

BY: - May 30, 2023

I don’t look to start beefs for the sake of starting beefs, but Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas wrote a couple of tweets the other week that bothered me. “In recent days, you may have noticed that certain statewide candidates have started posting bonkers attacks on large swaths of Missourians — typically Black people, […]

States see record low unemployment across the U.S.

BY: - May 29, 2023

Across much of the country, the jobs market is as strong as it’s ever been, and Black women, young people and people with disabilities are among the workers benefiting, recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show. Twenty states reported an unemployment rate under 3% in April, while 15 states saw record lows, led by […]

YWCA of Northeast Kansas invites people to dedicate June to Racial Justice Challenge

BY: - May 29, 2023

WYCA of Northeast Kansas is presenting a monthlong exploration of racism as a crisis through lens of mental health, music, housing and housing issues.

OPINION

Byzantine checkout process at retail, restaurants, drives this Kansas opinion editor to distraction

BY: - May 29, 2023

I went to a big box on Saturday to buy three items: a USB flash drive, a bottle of Sprite and a bag of Twin Snakes gummies. Finding the items took mere seconds. Completing the purchase, on the other hand, took what felt like ages. Civilizations rose and fell in the time it took to […]

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to stay focused on funding broadband service improves in Kansas, which ranked 51st nationally in terms of average download speed. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

U.S. Sen. Moran upset with Kansas’ last place score for internet download speed

BY: - May 28, 2023

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran putting heat on U.S. commerce secretary to direct federal broadband funding to Kansas, which ranks 51st in average download speeds.

Biden, McCarthy say they have brokered a debt limit deal to avert U.S. default

BY: and - May 28, 2023

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced a deal in principle Saturday night that would stave off a first-ever default on the nation’s debt as long as it can clear both chambers of Congress before June 5. The agreement would address the nation’s debt limit and include a “historic” reduction in spending, McCarthy said, though […]

OPINION

Grim realities of Kansas generations past collide with climate crisis facing us all today

BY: - May 28, 2023

When I was growing up, I remember my parents heading off to visit the graves of family members at this time of year, taking flowers to set alongside headstones. I usually chose not to go with them, seeing it as something relevant to older folks, but not to me. Now I wish I would have […]