Kansas Reflector Podcast

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Kansas Reflector Podcast

The Kansas Reflector Podcast, hosted by senior reporter Tim Carpenter, presents voices from the people and politics of Kansas.

Jade Piros de Carvalho, director of the Kansas Office of Broadband Development, hopes to secure internet services for rural areas within a few years. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas Office of Broadband Development unveils access plan

HOSTED BY: - September 4, 2023

Jade Piros de Carvalho, director of the Kansas Office of Broadband Development, discusses the state’s five-year action plan to expand internet services in rural areas.  The ambitious $451 million initiative seeks to deliver high-speed connectivity to tens of thousands of Kansans left behind by an internet revolution intersecting commerce, education, health care and entertainment.   […]

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Emily Wales, CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, says the organization is struggling to provide care to an influx of out-of-state patients. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)

Abortion provider on reproductive rights and restrictions in Kansas

HOSTED BY: - August 28, 2023

Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, says providing reproductive health care in the state has been complicated by the loss of federal abortion rights and decades-old state restrictions. Her organization has been flooded with an influx of out-of-state visitors seeking care denied to them in their own states. Keep reading: Kansas […]

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Judith Deedy smiles

Kansas school board races impacted by national groups

HOSTED BY: - August 21, 2023

Judith Deedy, from Game On for Kansas Schools, and Lauren Tice Miller, a Shawnee Heights school board member, discuss this year’s election cycle for public school board races. The two say they are concerned about a wave of misinformation being promoted by outsider groups, such as Moms for Liberty. Keep reading: ‘A new type of […]

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Eli Woody appears for an Aug. 11, 2023, recording of the Kansas Reflector podcast.

Eli Woody launches campaign to challenge U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner

HOSTED BY: - August 14, 2023

Eli Woody, a former educator and political newcomer, is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner for a shot at the 2nd District seat. Woody, a Democrat, discussed his campaign goals of focusing on education, reproduction rights and gun reform. Keep reading: Democrat Eli Woody tying 2nd District campaign to issues germane to Kansans — not […]

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Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on forming a PAC for moderates

HOSTED BY: - August 7, 2023

The Democratic governor talks about her Middle of the Road political action committee, the youth vote, economic development, new agency leadership, attacks on LGBTQ equality and Medicaid unwinding. Keep reading: Gov. Laura Kelly forms PAC to support moderate GOP, Democratic legislative candidates Auto-generated transcript of this podcast

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Topeka’s 785 Magazine examines city’s secrecy and unsheltered crisis

HOSTED BY: - July 31, 2023

Kerrice Mapes, owner and founder of 785 Magazine, talks about independent journalism, a worsening crisis with Topeka’s unsheltered population, and the mysterious unraveling of Stephen Wade’s reign as city manager. Keep reading: ‘A seat at the table’: Topeka business leaders ask for more input on unsheltered crisis Auto-generated transcript of this episode

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Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Shawnee Democrat, discussed legislation passed by the Republican-dominated Legislature during a July 19, 2023 Kansas Reflector podcast. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector)

The influence of national hate groups in Kansas laws

HOSTED BY: - July 24, 2023

Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Shawnee Democrat, discusses model legislation, including anti-LGBTQ bills, passed by the Republican-dominated Legislature. Keep reading: Kansas lawmaker denounces influence of national far-right groups on state laws Auto-generated transcript of this episode

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Marty Hillard appears for a July 12, 2023, recording of the Kansas Reflector podcast in downtown Topeka.

Marty Hillard is finding joy in Topeka

HOSTED BY: - July 17, 2023

Marty Hillard — an advocate against police brutality, a musician, and director of community engagement at Kansas Children’s Discovery Center — is “resolute in finding joy, in as many experiences as possible for all of the years that I was sort of lost in my indignation.” Keep reading: Topeka musician navigates society through lyrics, activism […]

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Todd Thornburg appears for a July 6, 2023, recording of the Kansas Reflector podcast.

A Kansas lawyer’s dream of being a judge

HOSTED BY: - July 10, 2023

Todd Thornburg, deputy chief counsel for the Kansas Department of Labor, has Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. As a five-time finalist for a judicial seat in Shawnee County, he says he will never give up on his dream of becoming a judge. But as his peers continue to make him a finalist, the governor keeps picking […]

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The case for making it easier to grow industrial hemp in Kansas

HOSTED BY: - July 3, 2023

Kelly Rippel, cofounder of Kansans for Hemp and a member of the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s hemp advisory panel, says changes in state and federal policies could help build a more vibrant market for growing hemp in Kansas for industrial purposes. Keep reading: Kansas hemp advocates eager to widen cultivation of plant with wild variety […]

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Fury with the Catholic Church over lack of justice for sexual abuse in Kansas

HOSTED BY: - June 26, 2023

Mike Foreman, who was sexually assaulted at age 11 by a priest from Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Overland Park, talks about the Catholic Church’s lack of empathy in rejecting his appeal for justice. Keep reading: ‘Evil snake’: Mike Foreman’s quest for justice after sexual assault by Kansas Catholic priest Auto-generated transcript of […]

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Mental illness can happen to anyone, writes Rebecca Phillips, but too often we hear about it exclusively when something bad happens. (Getty Images)

Kansas foster care providers working to address children’s mental health needs

HOSTED BY: - June 19, 2023

Pam Cornwell, trauma services clinical director for Saint Francis Ministries, and Matt Arnet, KVC Health Systems director of outpatient mental and behavioral health services, discuss mental health challenges of foster kids. Keep reading: Kansas foster kids suffer from shortage of mental health providers, high caseloads Auto-generated transcript of this episode

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