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.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach said during the Kansas Reflector podcast the job of attorney general was a better fit for him than serving as governor. The Republican, elected in November, also addressed his legislative agenda and other key issues in the interview. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kris Kobach outlines priorities as Kansas’ top legal officer

HOSTED BY: - April 17, 2023

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, who took office in January, talks about mass shootings, abortion, election rules, drugs, retail crime, transparency, transgender athletes and endangered birds. Keep reading: Auto-generated transcript of this episode

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Clay Wirestone, Rachel Mipro, Tim Carpenter and Sherman Smith record a podcast April 7, 2023, at the Kansas Reflector office in Topeka

Takeaways from the 2023 Kansas legislative session

HOSTED BY: - April 10, 2023

Kansas Reflector staff talk about taxes, LGBTQ attacks, abortion, public education and other prominent topics from this legislative session. Keep reading: Statehouse scraps: Kansas session shuts down for spring break with ridiculous all-night marathon Auto-generated transcript of this episode

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A Kansas Reflector reporter examines ‘unfolding environmental disaster’ in Leavenworth County

HOSTED BY: and - April 3, 2023

A Leavenworth county landfill has, in the words of a county commissioner, threatened an “unfolding environmental disaster” for Kansas. Neighbors, the landfill’s owner and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment have become entangled in a fiery dispute that has at times involved real flames. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone talks to reporter Allison Kite about […]

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How the Kansas Legislature responded to last year’s abortion vote

HOSTED BY: - March 27, 2023

Chloe Chaffin, program lead for Loud Light and the chapter president of Washburn Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, and Leslie Butsh, field director with the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, discuss the state of reproductive rights this legislative session. Keep reading: Kansas activists discuss abortion rights, Legislature’s response to amendment vote Auto-generated transcript […]

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Brian Jordan, executive director of the Kansas Association of School Boards, appears for a March 3, 2023, podcast recording at the Kansas Reflector office in Topeka

Engaged Kansas coalition encourages local public service

HOSTED BY: - March 20, 2023

Brian Jordan, of the Kansas Association of School boards, joins Brenden Wirth and Joel Leftwich, both of the Kansas Farm Bureau, to talk about Engaged Kansas — a new effort to encourage civic-minded folks to enter public life through service on the 6,000 positions on city councils, county commissions and school boards. The nonpartisan, nonpolicy […]

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Sen. Cindy Holscher appears at a desk in front of a microphone and behind a soundboard

Kansas senator, advocate talk medical marijuana

HOSTED BY: - March 13, 2023

Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, and George Hanna, co-director of the Kansas National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana, express frustration with hurdles to legalizing medical marijuana in Kansas — but still hold hope that the Legislature can pass a bill. Keep reading: ‘A little bit nerve-wracking’: Supporters of medical marijuana hold hope for Kansas […]

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Kansas State University president Richard Linton, a true believer in the land-grant mission of public universities, said a cadre of new campus buildings should expand relationships with students, researchers and businesses in the state. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

K-State president building relationships with $125 million campus project

HOSTED BY: - March 6, 2023

Kansas State University president Richard Linton, a true believer in the land-grant mission of U.S. universities, says a cluster of new campus academic and research buildings should serve to improve the quality of life for Kansans across the state. Keep reading: Kansas State University president reimagining land-grant mission one scoop at a time Auto-generated transcript […]

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LGBTQ activists in Kansas embrace love to fight hate

HOSTED BY: - February 27, 2023

Jae Moyer, of Mainstream Coalition, and Melissa Stiehler, of Loud Light, discuss the state’s political climate toward the LGBTQ community. Keep reading: ‘They call us gay for a reason’: Kansas LGBTQ activists talk about embracing a policy of love Auto-generated transcript of this episode

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Michelle Milburn and Mark Horst sit next to a soundboard and microphone for a podcast recording

Kansas solar industry wants to make it easier to generate electricity and transfer power to the grid

HOSTED BY: - February 20, 2023

Mark Horst, owner of King Solar in Yoder, Michelle Milburn, of Stanion Wholesale Electric, and Jessica Lucas, lobbyist for the Clean Energy Business Council, say Kansas should end the utility monopoly on power purchase agreements with businesses, churches, schools and others who want electricity from solar systems on their property but lack investment capital to build. Opening […]

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GOP-led attacks on public schools in Kansas

HOSTED BY: - February 13, 2023

Marcus Baltzell, spokesman for the Kansas National Education Association, and Leah Fliter, a lobbyist for the Kansas Association of School Boards, talk about legislative attempts to undermine K-12 education. Keep reading: Kansas education advocates see vouchers and hostility as attempts to undermine public schools Case for Kansas school vouchers riddled with misleading statistics, cherrypicked data […]

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Kansas judge wants lawmakers to tackle domestic violence

HOSTED BY: - February 6, 2023

Sedgwick County District Judge Phil Journey’s ideas for cutting domestic violence in the state include informing victims about protection orders and temporary housing assistance, preparing officers to determine the most-likely aggressor in a case, and staggered sentencing. Keep reading Sedgwick County judge offers Kansas legislators package of bills to stem domestic violence Auto-generated transcript of […]

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Sarah Gonzales-McLinn on killing Sasko and her request for clemency

HOSTED BY: - January 30, 2023

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, […]

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