News
States still lag in getting assistance to struggling renters, federal data shows
WASHINGTON — State and local officials disbursed $1.5 billion in rental assistance during June — more than during the entire previous five months — to help households falling behind on rent and utilities, according to U.S. Treasury data released Wednesday. That progress in getting slow-moving federal dollars to struggling renters comes as the Biden administration […]
Kansas governor: ‘We’re trying everything we can’ to get people vaccinated from COVID-19
TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday reaffirmed the state’s commitment to convincing the unvaccinated half of the state’s population to get a life-saving shot. Only 51.4% of eligible Kansans — those ages 12 and above — are fully vaccinated from COVID-19, despite the widespread availability of three safe and effective vaccines and the emergence […]
Aggressive, destructive species of crayfish in Kansas likely spread by anglers
Large, aggressive crayfish species capable of outmaneuvering native aquatic animals identified for first time in the wild in Kansas.
Kansas kicks 7K off unemployment benefits for failing to meet new work search requirement
TOPEKA — About 7,000 Kansans lost unemployment benefits this week because they did not meet a deadline to sign up for a new state program designed to help people find a job. Legislators inserted the work search requirement into House Bill 2196 earlier this year. Mike Beene, director of workforce development at the Department of […]
Stone-Manning nomination set to advance to U.S. Senate after emotions run high at committee vote
In a contentious meeting that distilled a weeks-long fight, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee deadlocked 10-10 along party lines Thursday on approving Tracy Stone-Manning’s nomination as head of the Bureau of Land Management. That means an extra procedural vote will be forced before the full U.S. Senate takes up the nomination of […]
Attorney general to appeal emergency-power decision, warns of ‘legal anarchy’
Kansas attorney general appealing court ruling that state's emergency-power law unconstitutional, claims action can lead to "legal anarchy."
U.S. House passes PFAS bill regulating ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Wednesday passed bipartisan legislation that would regulate toxic chemicals found in drinking water, as well as designate two types of those toxic chemicals as hazardous substances that would spark federal cleanup standards. The bill, H.R. 2467, also known as the PFAS Action Act of 2021, passed 241-183, with 23 Republicans […]
U.S. Senate Republicans block advance of bipartisan infrastructure plan, but talks continue
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats’ attempt to start debate on a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan was blocked by Republicans on a party-line vote Wednesday, as lawmakers hustle to wrap up negotiations over drafting that legislation. In the 49-51 test vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., switched his vote to “no,” a procedural move that allows […]
Salina native Adrianna Franch competes in Tokyo for U.S. women’s soccer team
TOPEKA — Kansas’ first-ever women’s soccer Olympian is going for gold this summer in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Adrianna Franch, a Salina native, was named to the 18-player U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team roster last month for the pandemic-delayed Olympics. She will back up starting goalie Alyssa Naeher as Team USA seeks to reclaim […]
Trio of Kansas GOP lawmakers seek more time to critique prairie chicken listing
Kansas congressional members seek more time to rebut federal proposal to list lesser prairie-chicken under endangered species act.
COVID-19 surge: Unvaccinated frustrate Sebelius, socialist ‘lunacy’ irritates Colyer
Former Democratic Gov. Sebelius ready to restrain unvaccinated, while former GOP Gov. Colyer refers to the notion as "crazy socialist idea."
Democrats unite around ‘climate corps’ that could employ youths, prevent fires
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pledged on Tuesday to include a Civilian Climate Corps in a $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill later this year, as a broad swath of Democrats rallied around a framework of employing thousands of young people to do conservation work. Schumer, D-N.Y., appeared with a handful of congressional Democrats, led by […]