News
Kansas congressman introduces bill to block federal listing of lesser prairie chicken
Listing lesser prairie chicken as threatened in Kansas leads GOP U.S. Rep. Ron Estes to introduce bill challenging restraints on ranch, energy producers.
Future of U.S. election law at stake as Supreme Court hears North Carolina case
WASHINGTON — North Carolina Republicans appeared to have at least three of the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative justices on their side Wednesday in a case that could determine the future of elections nationwide, and leave decisions about federal elections in the hands of state legislatures and beyond the reach of state courts. The Supreme Court […]
Kelly vs. Schmidt postmortem: Incumbency, cash and Brownback’s legacy pivotal in close race
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's centrist appeal, spending advantage and leveraging of Brownback legacy too much for GOP nominee Derek Schmidt to overcome.
‘Worth the wait’: U.S. Senate Democrats celebrate a 51-seat majority with Georgia win
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer jubilantly announced Wednesday that the Georgia runoff election victory will next year end an evenly divided U.S. Senate, giving Democrats more subpoena power in committees and a quicker turnaround in approving federal and judicial appointments. Schumer, a New York Democrat, congratulated Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock for winning a […]
Kansas town’s library lease renewed after months of debate about LGBTQ content
ST. MARYS — The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library’s lease is safe for another year, following community uproar and legal pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas. The Saint Marys City Commission voted to extend the lease, without restrictions, during a meeting Tuesday night. The lease renewal was up for debate because the library […]
Talks over protecting Dreamers pick up in Congress, but agreement still elusive
WASHINGTON — In a last-minute push, U.S. senators are working on a bipartisan agreement to create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people who were brought to the United States as children. But the success of any major immigration deal appears unlikely, as a lame-duck session of Congress dwindles into its last days. Democrats are […]
Kansas secretary of state searching — again — for a Sedgwick County election commissioner
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican, is responsible for appointing a new election commissioner for Sedgwick County.
Kansas House Republicans push message of GOP unity, plan on wielding veto override
TOPEKA — Kansas House Republicans outnumber Democrats by a large majority and are planning to fight Gov. Laura Kelly on legislation when they feel it’s necessary. House Democrats say they’ll use a strategy of brain over brawn. In the House, Republicans outnumber Democrats 85-40, retaining enough seats during the November election to keep a GOP […]
Kansas House Democrats pick Vic Miller for minority leader
TOPEKA — Vic Miller told fellow House Democrats on Monday they can overcome their “numbers problem” by sticking together and being smarter than their Republican rivals. The caucus narrowly selected Miller, a Topeka Democrat, as the minority leader for the upcoming session. Miller beat out Lenexa Democrat Brandon Woodard in a 21-19 vote. In his […]
Ahead of the Kansas legislative session, abortion rights once again under discussion
TOPEKA — Kansas Republicans haven’t discussed new abortion legislation yet, but they do plan to address the subject when the legislative session starts in January. During Monday’s GOP caucus meeting to nominate new House of Representatives leadership, House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins said he hadn’t had any discussions about a potential 15-week abortion ban that […]
Kansas’ IT chief, administration secretary to resign both posts in January
The secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration and chief information technology officer will step down in January to resume her teaching career.
House Republicans nominate Hawkins, Croft to lead chamber for next two legislative sessions
Kansas House Republicans put exclamation point on 2022 elections by nominating GOP colleagues to lead the chamber in the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions.