News
‘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 […]
Kansas executive order extends option to renew driver’s licenses online
Gov. Laura Kelly renews executive order allowing people under 65 to apply for driver's license renewals online.
Employee at Topeka women’s prison dies from COVID-19
A facility maintenance supervisor for the state-run women’s prison in Topeka has died after being infected with COVID-19. The Kansas Department of Corrections said Richard Rose, 74, died on Saturday. He was a 17-year employee at the agency. Rose is the third staff member and the first at Topeka Correctional Facility to die after being […]
Democrats see opportunity for Senate seat in Kansas GOP primary battle
National Republican and Democratic groups are pouring millions of dollars into the Kansas Republican Senate primary, an effort to influence the race before the general election battle. The money comes as some see vulnerability in the traditionally deep-red state. The last time Kansas sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate was in 1932, the same […]