Kansas Reflector Podcast
Kansas Reflector Podcast
The Kansas Reflector Podcast, hosted by senior reporter Tim Carpenter, presents voices from the people and politics of Kansas.
Sarah Gonzales-McLinn on killing Sasko and her request for clemency
The jury that convicted Sarah Gonzales-McLinn of first-degree murder in 2015 didn’t know about the months of abuse that preceded her grisly crime. She received a Hard 50 sentence, but later accepted a plea deal to reduce her incarceration to a minimum of 25 years in exchange for giving up the right to appeal. Now, […]
The longest serving lawmakers in the Kansas House and Senate
Sen. David Haley and Rep. Barbara Ballard — the Kansas Legislature’s longest serving current senator and representative — talk about career, race and partisan politics. Read more Longest-serving members of Kansas Legislature talk about career, race and partisan politics Auto-generated transcript of this episode
ACLU of Kansas priorities for the 2023 legislative session
Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, outlines key pieces of the organization’s 2023 agenda as the session gets underway. Read more ACLU of Kansas prepared to challenge Legislature’s attacks on trans kids, voting rights Auto-generated transcript of this episode
Kansas Chamber priorities for the 2023 legislative session
Kansas Chamber president Alan Cobb and lobbyist Eric Stafford outline key pieces of the business organization’s 2023 agenda ahead of the new session. Read more: Kansas Chamber’s legislative script dives into tax, regulation, workforce and legal issues Auto-generated transcript of this episode
Kansas Reflector’s year in review: 2022
The year 2022 was like few others in Kansas politics. Journalists at the Kansas Reflector began by covering a breakneck legislative session. Toward the end of the year, we followed a bitter midterm election contest. And in the middle of it all, August, we saw a landmark vote on abortion rights. Our staffers make sense […]
Preserving the Kansas water supply
For generations, the aquifer that supplies western Kansas with water has been in decline, largely due to over pumping for crop irrigation. Parts of the state have just 10 or 20 years of water left. Rep. Lindsey Vaughn, who served as the ranking Democrat on the Kansas House Water Committee, joins the Kansas Reflector podcast […]
Historic preservationists sound alarm on demolition of Docking
The iconic high rise Docking State Office Building, which now sits largely unoccupied, could soon be demolished. Work to take the building to the ground could begin as early as January 2023. On the other hand, a preservation group called Plains Modern has gone to court to halt full-scale demolition. Read more: Historic preservationists pressing […]
What Kansans can learn from challenged books in their local libraries
Libraries hold a conflicted place our collective imagination. To many of us, they’re magical. We were first exposed to worlds of imagination and ideas on the shelves of our local libraries. To others, these buildings serve as indispensable community gathering spots, places to learn and meet and share. But to a small and vocal group, […]
Kansas cities want these things from the Legislature next year
Spencer Duncan, director of government affairs at the Kansas League of Municipalities, talks about the league’s policy agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Read more: Kansas coalition of cities flex muscle at Capitol to influence tax, water, housing reform Auto-generated transcript of this episode
KASB lobbyists on special education funding, vouchers, trans sports, parental bill of rights
Leah Fliter and Scott Rothschild of the Kansas Association of School Boards dive into K-12 education issues likely to be on the agenda during the 2023 legislative session. Read more: Kansas education policy reform in upcoming legislative session likely to mirror 2022 bills Auto-generated transcript of this episode
Oversight committee examines Kansas foster care problems and looks for solutions
A joint committee of the Kansas House and Senate convened for two days to explore concerns about the state’s foster care system. During 15 hours of testimony and questioning, a diverse collection of foster parents, academics, lawyers, contractors, state officials and others delved into their experiences with a system responsible for 7,000 children in need […]
Kansas Reflector staff recaps and analyzes election results
Senior reporter Tim Carpenter leads a discussion with editor in chief Sherman Smith, opinion editor Clay Wirestone and reporter Rachel Mipro about campaigns for governor, Congress, attorney general and the Statehouse, as well as votes on constitutional amendments and judicial retention. Read more: Kansas voters deliver thundering midterm message: Underestimate women at your peril Auto-generated […]