News
Kansans caravan in mourning for COVID-19, demand legislators reject ‘politics of austerity’
TOPEKA — A caravan of cars circled the state Capitol building in mourning Monday for more than 1,400 Kansans who have lost their lives to COVID-19 and to demand state legislators act to curb the growing number of people who are facing utility shutoffs. A line of six cars adorned with signs and messages of […]
Kansas Chamber, hospitals make plea for voluntary mask use
TOPEKA — Groups representing Kansas businesses and health care providers launched a campaign Monday to convince Kansans to adhere to public health guidelines and mandates by appealing to their sense of personal responsibility. The marketing effort complements the drumbeat of pleadings by Gov. Laura Kelly and her administration on the importance of wearing a face […]
GOP legislators: Kansans choosing jobless benefits cheat system, guilty of ‘complacency’
TOPEKA — The pandemic’s building strength in Kansas exacerbates the threat to public health and further diminishes the survivability of businesses and the availability of good jobs. It also generates political frustration at the Capitol as hundreds of millions of dollars flow to the unemployed and the state trust fund built by employers to cover […]
With Washington at standstill, states face loss of federal help amid ‘worst part of the crisis’
WASHINGTON — The number of coronavirus infections across the country is swelling at a perilous time for state governments, just weeks before federal support rushed through Congress in the pandemic’s early stages is set to end. The expiring provisions from the $2 trillion CARES Act and subsequent executive orders will mean reductions in unemployment benefits […]
Kansas schools seek balance between best practices for education, safety
TOPEKA — As Thanksgiving approaches and COVID-19 case numbers rise, Kansas school officials are contemplating how to best alter plans to protect students and faculty. School boards and districts across the state are instituting new safety precautions as concerns grow over how long schools can remain open for face-to-face learning. Teacher staffing in Kansas is […]
Kansas higher education leaders believe pandemic experience justifies risk of in-person instruction
Kansas higher education officials are relieved to get through the fall semester with COVID-19 and plan to resume in-person instruction in 2021.
Farmers likely to see more multinational trade deals crafted in Biden administration
WASHINGTON — American farmers who have gone through the drama and turbulence of trade and agriculture policy in the Trump administration can expect a far more sedate and multinational experience when President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January. On just the third day of his administration, President Donald Trump rattled world leaders and upended exports […]
Gov. Laura Kelly pitches flexibility, necessity of mask mandate to Kansas health officials
TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday promoted the flexibility of her new statewide mask mandate in allowing county officials to best address the needs of their constituents as they work to curb the spread of COVID-19. There is growing concern among health experts that rapidly rising case numbers in tandem with Thanksgiving travel could […]
CDC publishes research showing Kansas mask mandates helped drive down COVID-19 infections
TOPEKA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published new research with input from Kansas health officials that reaffirms mask mandates helped slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state’s largest counties. The study separately examines trends in 25 counties that did not oppose Gov. Laura Kelly’s July 3 recommendation to wear masks […]
Gov. Kelly strikes COVID-19 deal with GOP legislators: Here’s what you need to know
Kansas governor and legislative leaders unite behind plan shifting $38 million in COVID-19 disaster aid and to bolster state's dwindling unemployment fund.
Kansas’ unemployment rate dips to 5.3% in October, down from April high of 11.9%
Good news in Kansas unemployment report for October: Jobless rate falls to 5.3% to continue a sixth-month trend during COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. trade ambassador Lighthizer: Trump shifts policy for benefit of American workers
Former aide to U.S. Bob Dole serving as President Trump's trade negotiator says trade with China is forever changed for benefit of working Americans.