News
Kansas State University simplifies inquiry of religious beliefs for anti-vax employees
TOPEKA — Kansas State University has simplified its religious exemption form, based on new guidance from the federal government, for employees who don’t want to get a required COVID-19 vaccine. The change follows criticism leveled by lawmakers on a “government overreach” committee who complained about the university’s approach to “playing God” and interrogating employees for […]
Rabbi, Democratic legislator urge Kansas GOP to denounce COVID-19 critiques tied to Holocaust
Kansas Democrats and Johnson County rabbi urge Kansas GOP to denounce comparisons of COVID-19 mandates to slaughter of Jewish people in Holocaust.
Federal vaccine rule for private businesses to kick in on Jan. 4
WASHINGTON — Many private employers beginning in January will have to ensure their workers either are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or that they will undergo weekly testing and wear a face covering, under a new federal rule announced Thursday by the White House. The policy from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is set to […]
Kansas foster care system isn’t following family first imperative, advocates, parents argue
TOPEKA — In 21 years working with incarcerated mothers and grandmothers, Dani Hulings has seen how the Kansas foster care system can often shut out parents and their families from the placement process. Hulings, a coordinator for the Offender Family Reintegration Services at the Topeka Correctional Facility, meets with approximately 67 of these mothers as […]
Seven of 10 Kansas school board candidates backed by 1776 PAC win
TOPEKA — Seven of 10 local school board candidates in eastern Kansas won election Tuesday after endorsed by a political action committee fearful an academic curriculum referred to as critical race theory could be introduced in the state’s classrooms. Preliminary counts showed candidates backed by the 1776 Project PAC performed well in the Olathe, Lansing […]
Kansas health officials launching COVID-19 vaccination program for children ages 5-11
Gov. Laura Kelly endorses COVID-19 vaccination of children 5-11 in line with FDA, CDC guidelines and denounces onslaught of coronavirus misinformation.
Kansas senator disappointed by inaction on foster care audits
TOPEKA — Sen. Richard Hilderbrand expressed frustration Wednesday with the failure to translate audits findings about the foster care system into corrective actions. The chairman of the joint foster care oversight committee was responding to an overview of a decade’s worth of audits that were presented to his panel. “As a legislator, we see audits […]
Report allows Kansas residents to see what contaminants are in their drinking water
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas and Missouri residents may be drinking unsafe amounts of arsenic, nitrates and other chemicals — even if their provider is meeting federal drinking water requirements, according to data published Wednesday by an environmental group. The Environmental Working Group released its most up to date tap water database, compiling testing information […]
COVID-19 vaccines for kids 5 to 11 get final endorsement by CDC
WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has signed off on giving Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to all kids ages 5 to 11, a final decision that means those children can begin receiving shots as soon as Wednesday. Vials of the pediatric version of the vaccine have already been shipped to states, so they […]
‘Go to the source’: Kansas State Huck Boyd lecture focuses on indigenous voices in the media
MANHATTAN — Manhattan community members and Kansas State University affiliates gathered in the K-State Student Union Tuesday to hear about indigenous experiences from indigenous people. “Nothing about us without us,” said Debra Bolton (Ohkay Owingeh/Diné/Ute), director of intercultural learning and academic success at Kansas State University during the lecture on Tuesday. She was talking […]
Revised voting rights bill named for John Lewis wins over one GOP senator
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Tuesday she would join Senate Democrats in backing a compromise voting rights bill, marking the first time this year a Republican has signed on to a measure that likely still lacks enough GOP support to become law. Murkowski, of Alaska, joined Democrats Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Richard J. Durbin of […]
Former U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore dies after battling cancer, Alzheimer’s disease
Former U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, a Democrat who served as Johnson County district attorney, died Tuesday after battling cancer.