Politics + Government
As food insecurity rates rise amid COVID-19, Kansas advocates call for assistance
TOPEKA — Haley Kottler sees firsthand desperation of young families struggling to put food on the table as the economy wilts under the COVID-19 pandemic. She understands the lifeline offered by the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that delivers food benefits nationwide. “Families often depend on school lunches, […]
Kansas delegation beats drum for jobless aid, liability cloak, ‘sound’ tax reform
Kansas congressional delegation anxious to push bills on unemployment benefit, business liability protection and tax reform for recording industry.
‘Mask it or casket’: Democratic House candidate hopes GOP stricken by COVID-19
Kansas House Democratic candidate Aaron Coleman says GOP politicans shouldn't wear masks so they get sick and do poorly in November elections.
‘14,000 attempts’: Balky technology, expiring benefits worry workers, state leaders
Congress is continuing to squabble over whether to extend a federal supplement to unemployment insurance and, if they do, by how much. But as they argue over whether to continue the supplement at its current $600-per-week level or some fraction of that, out-of-work Americans are left to worry whether they can survive on state benefits […]
Kansas secretary of state says no to Trump’s proposed delay of November election
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said Thursday there was no reason to delay the November election, contrary to a suggestion made by President Donald Trump on Twitter. Trump said, without evidence, that mail-in voting in this year’s election would be historically fraudulent and inaccurate. His proposed solution was to delay voting until people are […]
‘A lot of anger’: Kansas authorities on alert for threats to health officers
TOPEKA — Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary Lee Norman says he is used to “looking over my shoulder,” behavior the lieutenant colonel in the Kansas Army National Guard learned while serving as senior medical commander in a combat zone. Norman again finds himself under threat of attack. Public health officials across the the […]
Kansans take partisan view of U.S. House package aiding child care industry
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House stepped in to try to rescue the nation’s child care system from collapse under the weight of the pandemic. The chamber approved a pair of bills Wednesday that backers say are needed to fully reopen the economy and shore up the child care industry in the longer term, while skeptics […]
Avalanche of Kansas ads in GOP primary races ignore restraint
The GOP U.S. Senate and congressional primaries in Kansas prompted a record number of campaign commercials spewing high doses of venom.
Protesters demand more transparency from Kansas Department for Children and Families
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A dozen protestors stood in the rain on Wednesday calling for change to be made at the Kansas Department for Children and Families. They said a lack of transparency has cost the lives of children, including Adrian Jones, Evan Brewer and, most recently, 3-year-old Olivia Jansen. Olivia’s body was found in […]
Affidavit: Rep. Steve Watkins lied about address change, not voting
A Shawnee County sheriff’s detective in her affidavit report says U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins lied to her when he claimed he didn’t actually vote in a local election and wasn’t responsible for listing a UPS store as his home address. Video surveillance and a review of mail-in ballots provide the basis for three felony charges […]
Kansas officials endorse expenditure of $254 million in federal COVID-19 aid
The State Finance Council agreed to invest $254 million in federal COVID-19 aid in education, public health and economic development initiatives.
Local control takes shape as school districts across Kansas plan for reopening
Many of Kansas’ largest public school districts are pushing their start date until after Labor Day to provide additional preparation time in light of a surge in COVID-19 infections — but smaller and mid-size districts are taking more immediate measures or offering hybrid learning opportunities. School boards are making these decisions in the wake of […]