Podcasts Archive • Kansas Reflector
Clay Wirestone Tim Carpenter Sherman Smith Noah Taborda Lily O'Shea Becker Margaret Mellott Rachel Mipro Allison Kite Shelton Brown C.J. Janovy
https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cropped-Asset-42sm-32x32.png
Kansas Reflector
Kansas Reflector staff dive into primary election storylines

Kansas Reflector opinion editor Clay Wirestone hosts a conversation with editor in chief Sherman Smith, senior reporter Tim Carpenter and intern Grace Hills on the multitude of stories that emerged from the primary election — from the 2nd District congressional races to incumbents losing Statehouse races and implications for November. Keep reading: Kansas primary voters […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

The Marion County Record raid: one year later

Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector editor in chief, and Marisa Kabas, founder of The Handbasket, talk about changes in Marion one year after police raided the newspaper office, and how the raid impacts journalism.

READ MORE // LISTEN

Matt Kleinmann runs for 2nd District nomination

Matt Kleinmann grew up in Overland Park and played basketball at the University of Kansas. He faces former U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda in the Aug. 6 Democratic primary in the 2nd District. In today’s podcast, Kleinmann tells senior reporter Tim Carpenter about his goals. Keep reading: Democrat Matt Kleinmann’s campaign for Congress aims to build […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Misogynist attacks on presidential candidate Harris have lengthy history

Political rhetoric targeting the legitimacy of female candidates for office has been central to U.S. politics for more than a century, according to researchers and authors Mary Banwart and Teri Finneman. But cracks in that gender-based foundation emerged with the campaigns of Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Sarah Palin. Keep reading: Critics of Kamala Harris […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Nancy Boyda makes her pitch for 2nd District seat

Former U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, a Democratic candidate who seeks to reclaim the 2nd District seat in Congress, sees herself as “a strong, independent, moderate woman” appealing to Kansas voters who want difficult challenges resolved in Washington, D.C. Keep reading: Nancy Boyda doesn’t see herself as a ‘good party Democrat’ but thinks she’s what Congress […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas political scientist examines 2nd District, presidential options

Bob Beatty, a political science professor at Washburn University, says former Attorney General Derek Schmidt had taken control of the Republican primary in the 2nd congressional district and that large numbers of potential voters remain disappointed with the presidential options of Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden. Keep reading: Derek Schmidt reaps advantages of […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Advocates want higher standards for Kansas nursing homes

One-fourth of Kansas long-term nursing homes rank at the lowest level in terms of resident care, with for-profit facilities faring worse, in federal ratings. Dan Goodman, executive director of Kansas Advocates for Better Care, and Libby Hastings, the organization’s communications coordinator, say federal lawmakers should intervene. Keep reading: One-fourth of Kansas nursing homes labeled ‘problem’ […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Michael Ogle on his 2nd District congressional campaign

Michael Ogle, a Kansas National Guard veteran from Topeka, attempts to persuade Republican primary voters to support his campaign for the U.S. House. Keep reading: Kansas GOP candidate in 2nd District fighting for enrichment of ‘American exceptionalism’ Transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

Taxes, Chiefs and Royals: Breaking down the Kansas Legislature’s special session

Kansas legislators returned to Topeka for a special session originally meant just to tackle a tax cut plan. But an incentive package for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals ended up getting more attention. Kansas Reflector reporters Tim Carpenter and Alison Kite break down the one-day special session, and the build up to it, in […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Annual report on Kansas kids points to policy needs

Kansas Action for Children vice president Adrienne Olejnik and data and policy analyst Ryan Reza talk about the 2024 Kids Count report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which shows Kansas slipping in the overall ranking. Keep reading: Kids Count report shows Kansas children struggling with poverty, reading and math Transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

New Kansas literacy program to better prepare future educators

Cindy Lane, the new director of the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy, and Blake Flanders, president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents, speak about the imperative that Kansas better equip current and future educators to teaching reading instruction to students. Keep reading: Kansas relying on Blueprint for Literacy to build reading skills among public […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

New Kansas LGBTQ+ youth shelter almost ready to open doors

Braided Haven board member Darin Stephens and executive director Kathleen Marker discuss the need for an LGBTQ+-specific shelter and the inspiration for the project. After years of work, the organization is planning to open both a drop-in center and a shelter. Keep reading: Braided Haven, a Topeka center and shelter for LGBTQ+ teens, to start […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Making the case for Sarah Gonzales-McLinn

Advocates for Sarah Gonzales-McGlinn are asking the public to contact Gov. Laura Kelly in support of her clemency application. Gonzales-McGlinn was convicted of killing Lawrence businessman Hal Sasko, but her supporters say that she was a victim of sex trafficking. Former reporter Dave Ranney and Michelle McCormick, executive director of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

How a data-driven system could prepare Kansas students for workforce needs

Kansas businesses have more jobs than workers, and state universities are exporting 57% of graduates. A workforce pathway system could serve both students and businesses, says Torree Pederson, president and CEO of the Kansas City-based nonprofit Aligned. Keep reading: Nonprofit leader envisions way to marry Kansas workforce needs with education opportunities Transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

Brown v. Board: Celebrating 70 years of desegregated schools

National Park Service rangers Lawson Nwakudo and Jeff Tully discuss celebrations May 17 and May 18 of the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that “separate but equal” public schools were a violation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Keep reading: Topeka celebrating 70th anniversary of landmark Brown v. Board of […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Legislature ends session — and prepares for an encore

Kansas Reflector opinion editor Clay Wirestone talks with editor in chief Sherman Smith about an overstuffed veto session yielding drama aplenty — not that any of the drama was required — and the prospects of Gov. Laura Kelly calling lawmakers back for a special session to address tax cuts. Keep reading: Kansas GOP leaders follow […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

United Kansas Party chairman on merits of fusion voting

Jack Curtis, founding chairman of the United Kansas Party, says many right- and left-leaning independent voters in Kansas feel the Republican and Democratic parties don’t represent their interest. The United Kansas Party would seek to initiate a process of cross-party nominations. Keep reading: Fledgling newcomer to Kansas party politics working to create powerful kind of […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas community advocates: Legislative inaction on gun violence must end

LaTonya Boyd, along with Courtland Davis, director of operations at the YWCA Northeast Kansas, and LaRonna Lassiter Saunders, a civil rights advocate and attorney, discussed the nuances of Kansas gun violence. In an average year, 456 people die and 655 are wounded by guns in Kansas, according to Everytown statistics. Approximately 135 people in the […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas advocates talk financial empowerment for women, gender pay gap

YWCA Northeast Kansas CEO Kathleen Marker and Fatima Perez-Luthi, the founder and CEO of The Grind Coaching and Consulting and manager of a local financial literacy program, talk about financial empowerment for women, looking at workplace trends and gender-based discrimination. Keep reading: Kansas women ‘still have a lot of barriers to break down’ for workplace […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas advocates talk crisis pregnancy centers, racial disparities in maternal health care

Sharla Smith, the founder of the Kansas Birth Equity Network, Sapphire Garcia-Lies, the founder and executive director of Kansas Birth Justice Society, and Abriona Markham, executive director of Topeka Doula Project, discuss the need to improve health outcomes for mothers of color, along with their view on maternity bills under debate in the Legislature. Keep […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

A Kansas judge’s inside view of NRA corruption

Phil Journey, a two-term national board member of the National Rifle Association, offers an insider perspective of financial misconduct threatening the future of the prominent gun-rights lobbying and educational organization. Keep reading: NRA insider Phil Journey shines a light on corruption at influential gun-rights organization Transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

How early childhood office could give Kansas kids a crucial boost

A task force appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly last year recommended consolidating services for early childhood development into a single office, and there’s a new piece of legislation that would do just that. Children’s advocates Monica Murnan and David Jordan explain the proposal and how it could help. Keep reading: With early childhood office, lawmakers […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Transgender advocates on the Kansas Legislature’s ongoing attacks

The Kansas Legislature has renewed its attack on transgender rights with a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for those who are younger than 18. A committee led by Rep. Brenda Landwher, a Wichita Republican, has advanced the bill — after debate on the issue was compromised by preferential treatment of out-of-state interests, transparency concerns, […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Sierra Club lobbyist on plastic bags and other environmental issues

Sierra Club lobbyist Zack Pistora condemns legislation that would ban plastic bag bans, and gives an overview of other environmental measures up for debate under the dome. Keep reading: Environmental advocate condemns Kansas lawmakers’ attitude toward plastics, lack of energy policy Transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas coalition proposes conservation initiatives

Sean Miller, a Statehouse lobbyist working with the diverse Kansans for Conservation, says the coalition proposes the state — without raising taxes — dedicate about $50 million annually to voluntary conservation programs to protect and upgrade water and land resources. Keep reading: Diverse coalition favors plan diverting $50 million in Kansas revenue to water, land […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Surveying the landscape for Kansas news outlets for 2024

Kansas public television saw its funding threatened after a state senator took offense and media outlets across the country have faced a challenging economic and political landscape. Just last summer, a police raid on the Marion County Record newspaper made international headlines. Emily Bradbury, the executive director of the Kansas Press Association, and Max Kautsch, […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Voting-rights groups call out latest round of restrictive election legislation

Davis Hammet, president of the voter advocacy group Loud Light and Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas warned of creeping attempts to restrict Kansas voters during a Kansas Reflector podcast, referencing multiple election bills heard in recent weeks. Keep reading: ‘Kansans aren’t having it’: ACLU, Loud Light talk state […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

A new chapter in squabbles over Kansas library collections

Kansas Sen. Cindy Holscher and Kansas Library Association president Sean Bird talk about challenges to books in public and school collections. Holscher has introduced a bill establishing statewide requirements for consideration of requests to prohibit, ban or restrict access to library books and other media. Keep reading: Kansas Senate bill offers boundaries for challenges aimed […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas child advocates on Statehouse obstacles to progress

Kansas Appleseed child welfare advocate Adina Morse and John Wilson, president and CEO of Kansas Action for Children, talked legislative priorities for the state’s child welfare system, including the ripple effect of the state’s scarce mental health resources combined with the lack of cohesive alternatives for children who are experiencing behavioral problems. Keep reading: Kansas […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids on the fight for reproductive health care

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, agonizes over the demise of Roe v. Wade and attempts by politicians to interfere with health care decisions of women. Keep reading: Davids finds poignancy in 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and 2022 reversal of landmark ruling Transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

A Kansas Republican voice against Trump, political violence and election denial

Republican Rep. Stephen Howe of Salina marked the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol with a forceful opinion column condemning political violence and supporting the peaceful transition of power. The column was thoughtful, thorough and unexpected in today’s divided political climate. Howe talks about his thoughts on the topic, […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Chamber on legislative priorities for the upcoming session

Alan Cobb, president and CEO of the Kansas Chamber, along with Eric Stafford, the organization’s vice president of government affairs, joined the Kansas Reflector Podcast to discuss legislative policy priorities. The organization supports a single-rate state income tax and proposals to invest state tax dollars in private K-12 education. Keep reading: Kansas Chamber: Drop the […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Twelve months of breaking news and in-depth reports: Kansas Reflector’s 2023

A tumultuous legislative session. A police raid on a small-town newspaper. Pitched political battles over Medicaid expansion, and so much more. The year of 2023 may not have seen a major election, but that was about the only news that didn’t happen this past year in Kansas politics. This retrospective edition of the Kansas Reflector […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas invests $62M in affordable, quality housing

Rural, urban housing advocates are hopeful the 2022 Kansas Legislature’s $62 million investment will make a difference for people and communities. Keep reading: Infusion of state funding chips away at Kansas’ significant affordable housing shortage Transcript of this podcast

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas’ recent history of failing to pay for disability services

Rocky Nichols, executive director of the Disability Rights Center of Kansas, and Sara Hart Weir, executive director of the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, talk about the state’s history with Medicaid-funded disability support services. The two have both spent years advocating for increased support and funding for Kansans with disabilities, but have seen little government action […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas governor on her push for Medicaid expansion

Gov. Laura Kelly has conducted a whistlestop tour of the state to examine the advantages of Medicaid expansion. She talks about what she learned on the road, and how her tour might jumpstart debate at the Statehouse during the 2024 legislative session.

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansans call for farm bill debate on conservation, nutrition, equity

Kansas Rural Center policy analyst Paul Johnson and Kansas Farmers Union executive director Nick Levendofsky want 2024 debate on the federal farm bill to emphasize crop subsidies, food nutrition and environmental conservation. Keep reading: Kansas advocates plant seeds of new farm bill addressing needs of diverse agricultural economy Auto-generated transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas governor hires special adviser on water

Gov. Laura Kelly hired Vijay Ramasamy as a special adviser on water to assist with the Ogallala Aquifer and other issues. Ramasamy says his job “is to make water central to a lot of our conversations.” Keep reading: Governor’s new adviser on Kansas water crisis working to influence policy talks Auto-generated transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

Fort Hays affiliates with tech schools, with supporting rural Kansas as a goal

Fort Hays State University, North Central Kansas Technical College and Northwest Kansas Technical College have decided to face the challenges of declining rural population and businesses struggling to find workers — all at the same time. The regional university and two tech colleges have joined forces with a strategic affiliation initiative that aims to not […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Marion County Record’s Eric Meyer on the raid of his newsroom

It’s been nearly three months since the law enforcement raid on the Marion County Record newspaper. Since then, the town’s police chief has resigned, and reporters have kept digging into the situation. Kansas Reflector opinion editor Clay Wirestone leads a conversation with Marion County Record editor and publisher Eric Meyer, and Kansas Reflector editor in […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

In a new poll, Kansans speak. What do they have to say?

Kansas Reflector opinion editor Clay Wirestone joins senior reporter Tim Carpenter in talking about Fort Hays State University’s annual Kansas Speaks poll. The new results show how Kansans are feeling about Medicaid expansion, marijuana, abortion, climate change and guns, among other issues. Keep reading: Kansas Speaks poll proves majorities support bold change, but GOP leaders […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas advocates discuss community-based option for children in care

In the upcoming legislative session, Kansas child advocates want lawmakers to pass a new option for youths who are about to age out of the system. Under the SOUL initiative, youths could choose their own community of supporting adults. Keep reading: Foster care advocates say ‘innovative new option’ will help Kansas kids as they age […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Departing Kansas Rep. Fred Patton takes stock of service

Outgoing state Rep. Fred Patton spent years serving at the Statehouse and on a school board. Years juggling complex issues of deep public interest left him a changed person. Not the kind of overwhelming personal transformation associated with huge egos and bright lights of the nation’s political epicenter in Washington, D.C. No, Patton’s realm was […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Steve Morris on the need for moderate voices in the Kansas Legislature

Over the past few years, moderate Republicans have seen their numbers dwindle at the Kansas statehouse, as increasingly ideological lawmakers took charge. A new organization, with former Senate President Steve Morris as a founding board member, hopes to change that equation. Keep reading: Kansas political moderates create educational nonprofit to put spotlight on 2024 elections […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson on the 2024 race and abortion politics

GOP strategist and ad maker Rick Wilson was one of the first prominent Republican voices to oppose Donald Trump, all the way back in 2015. He’s now part of the Lincoln Project, a right-leaning pro-democracy group. Wilson is raising the alarm about the stakes of the 2024 presidential election, when Trump and current President Joe […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas counties rebuff GOP lawmakers’ opposition to property tax relief fund

Bruce Chladny, executive director of the Kansas Association of Counties, and Miami County Commissioner Rob Roberts say the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund would reduce residential property tax bills. But the Legislature hasn’t funded the program since 2003, and Republican leaders have no interest in reviving it now. Keep reading: Kansas counties eager for […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

‘Quindaro, the vision’: Kansas ACLU spokesman talks historic site as blueprint for future

During a Kansas Reflector podcast, Mark McCormick, deputy executive director of strategic initiatives at the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, talks racism in the state as seen through the lens of his recent report on Quindaro, “Same Water Comin’ Round: Quindaro as a Vision for Kansas.” Keep reading: ‘Quindaro, the vision:’ Kansas ACLU report […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Office of Broadband Development unveils access plan

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. […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Abortion provider on reproductive rights and restrictions in Kansas

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas school board races impacted by national groups

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

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

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on forming a PAC for moderates

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

READ MORE // LISTEN

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

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

READ MORE // LISTEN

Marty Hillard is finding joy in Topeka

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

A Kansas lawyer’s dream of being a judge

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

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

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

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

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Treasurer Steven Johnson on his first five months in office

Steven Johnson, who took office as state treasurer in January, talks about environmental, social, and corporate governance, administering an anti-abortion program, private school scholarships, unclaimed property, short-term investments and legislative experience. Keep reading: Kansas’ largess could generate $300 million in interest revenue from short-term investments Auto-generated transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

Inside the Kansas Reflector’s church and state series

Opinion editor Clay Wirestone leads editor Sherman Smith and reporter Rachel Mipro in a discussion of Kansas Reflector’s six-part church and state series, which examined the influence of religious views on state government. Keep reading: Conservative sanctuary LGBTQ targets Private education Abortion rights Systemic racism Statehouse spiritual Commentary guide Auto-generated transcript of this podcast

READ MORE // LISTEN

YWCA of Northeast Kansas invites community to challenge injustice

YWCA of Northeast Kansas’ monthlong exploration of social justice anticipates some people might feel uncomfortable before talking more comfortably about the issue in terms of disability rights, housing, music and mental health. Allison Marker and Romae Isom of the YWCA talked about their effort on the Kansas Reflector podcast. Keep reading: YWCA of Northeast Kansas […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Child care, family leave at top of list for women’s advocates in Kansas and beyond

Wendy Doyle, president and CEO of United WE, a nonpartisan nonprofit that advocates for women in business and civic leadership, said her women’s bill of rights would include family leave, lowering barriers for women to open businesses and ensuring affordable child care. Doyle and Jen Earle, CEO of the National Association of Women Business Owners, […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

How the Kansas Legislature impacted the lives of kids this year

Kansas Action for Children’s Heather Braum, Daniel Klaassen and Erin Melton delve into legislation impacting the welfare, education and health of Kansas families. Keep reading: Kansas Action for Children sounds alarm on anti-vax, food security and child care bills Auto-generated transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

A celebration of books and services with the Kansas State Library

Wulf James on the Kansas State Library, which offers a journey into state government’s obscure past and access to modern library tools. Keep reading: Kansas State Library offers bestseller ebooks, obscure ag reports and view through a glass floor An auto-generated transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

Scott Schwab on election security and changes in state law

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab talks about the integrity of state elections, the new presidential primary, advanced voting, and administrative cleanup. Keep reading: Kansas secretary of state convinced complaints about elections drive county clerks to retire Auto-generated transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

Progeny leaders on systemic problems with juvenile justice

Four members of Progeny, a Wichita-based youth advocacy group, talk about the groundbreaking 2016 juvenile justice reform bill, what still needs to be done to help at-risk youths, and how Kansas lawmakers approach the issue. Keep reading: ‘It’s set up to fail’: Kansas youth justice leaders discuss state’s lack of progress Auto-generated transcript of podcast

READ MORE // LISTEN

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

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

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

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Engaged Kansas coalition encourages local public service

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas senator, advocate talk medical marijuana

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

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

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

LGBTQ activists in Kansas embrace love to fight hate

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

READ MORE // LISTEN

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

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

GOP-led attacks on public schools in Kansas

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas judge wants lawmakers to tackle domestic violence

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

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, […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

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

READ MORE // LISTEN

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

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, […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

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

READ MORE // LISTEN

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

READ MORE // LISTEN

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

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 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

The impact of the February 2021 natural gas price hike on Kansas consumers

In February 2021, it got really cold in Kansas. It was about 15 degrees below zero for more than a week. Natural gas prices shot up, in terms of BTUs, from $2.54 on Feb. 1 to $622 by Feb. 17. Then, as if the market had been manipulated again, it dropped back to $2.46 by […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Political scientists discuss Kansas Speaks survey

The new Kansas Speaks survey of public opinion generated by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs is out. It checks the pulse of Kansans on dozens of issues — a list that ranges from views on public officials, the economy, abortion, election security, housing, marijuana to health care. Here to mine some of the numerical […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Treasurer Lynn Rogers interested in banking duties, not Congress

Democrat Lynn Rogers says the Kansas State Treasurer’s Office has the ability to help Kansans in their day-to-day lives by providing economic recovery loans, administering the college savings plans, and returning unclaimed property. He hopes to hang onto the job of treasurer by defeating Republican state Rep. Steven Johnson, a farmer from Assaria, in the […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Tiffany Muller on big money politics, threats to democracy, and returning to Kansas

Tiffany Muller returned to Kansas, where she made history in 2004 by becoming the first openly LGBTQ public official in Kansas, to campaign on behalf of Democrats. Muller — now president of End Citizens United, an organization that wants to get big money out of politics — says Republican candidates Kris Kobach and Derek Schmidt […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

USDA official sees rural Kansas as ‘the best-kept secret out there’

Kansas is known for sunflowers, bison, farms and rural communities. But as our country and state grow ever more closely connected and urbanized, what does that mean for small towns and communities across the Sunflower State? Christy Davis, the Kansas director for USDA Rural Development, helps us answer that question. Read more: ‘It means community’: […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

New deal to transfer Kansas community college credits to private colleges

Matt Lindsey, president of the Kansas Independent College Association, and Heather Morgan, executive director of the Kansas Community College Association, talk about a new transfer agreement among 39 colleges in those organizations. The agreement guarantees students earning a two-year degree at a community college the opportunity to enroll at one of the independent colleges as […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

How transgender hate in governor’s race and schools harms Kansas kids

Republican Derek Schmidt’s gubernatorial campaign has embraced anti-transgender hate speech, and the Gardner Edgerton School District has entertained a discriminatory policy. D.C. Hiegert, an American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas legal fellow focusing on LGBTQ issues, and Brenan Riffel, a Kansas Reflector columnist and University of Kansas graduate student, talk with opinion editor Clay Wirestone and […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran on veterans, 988 hotline, abortion and staying in office

Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran says he has grown more knowledgeable during his quarter-century of service in the nation’s capital — while his disdain for the game of politics has deepened. He faces a challenge from Democrat Mark Holland in November. Moran talks about expanding health care benefits for military veterans suffering from toxic exposure, […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Lottery director talks launch of sports gambling

Stephen Durrell, executive director of the Kansas Lottery, discusses the introduction of legal sports gambling in Kansas. Online and in-person sports wagering is available at casinos in Mulvane and Kansas City, Kansas, while online bets through apps are being handled at Pittsburg and Dodge City casinos. Read more: Opening of Kansas sports betting reveals appeal […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Chris Mann’s path from police officer to candidate for Kansas attorney general

Chris Mann, the Democratic nominee for Kansas attorney general, talks about his background as a police officer, crime victim, prosecutor and defense lawyer. He is running against Republican Kris Kobach. Read more: Kansas attorney general candidate emerges from tragedy with refined sense of public service Auto-generated transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas entrepreneur Joe Spease on the power of hydrogen

Joe Spease, CEO of WindSoHy in Overland Park, outlines the potential for using “green hydrogen” to fuel vehicles and generate electricity, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Read more: Energy entrepreneur: Kansas wind power, underground storage fuels optimism of hydrogen’s potential Auto-generated transcript of this episode

READ MORE // LISTEN

Democrat Mark Holland on why he wants to be a U.S. senator

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Mark Holland wants to change arc of Kansas political history with straight talk on health care, election fraud and abortion. The former mayor of the Unified Government of Kansas City, Kansas, faces incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran in November. Read more: Kansas Democrat Mark Holland not interested in being footnote […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

What we learned from the Kansas abortion vote and primary results

The Aug. 2 election was a political earthquake in Kansas. The headline was a 59-41% vote against a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the Legislature to ban abortion. But there were a host of other high-profile races as well. Read more: These four dumb responses totally misread the stunning Kansas abortion rights vote Auto-generated […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas political ads for the Aug. 2 primary

It’s primary time again in Kansas, and the television ads are assaulting viewers with images, ideas and ideology of candidates. Bob Beatty, political science professor at Washburn University and the state’s foremost chronicler of Kansas political ads, joins Tim Carpenter to march through some of the season’s campaign ads. Read more: Kansas primary delivers advertisements […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on her time in office and reelection campaign

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is seeking a second term as the state’s chief executive. The former state senator from Topeka is traveling the state to make her case for reelection. She joins Tim Carpenter on the Kansas Reflector podcast to discuss her work as governor the past four years and her approach to the fall […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kelly Sommers on the role of Kansas nurses in abortion services

Kansas voters are already casting advanced ballots on a constitutional amendment that would remove the right to abortion access in Kansas. The Aug. 2 election will be the first time voters in any state make their voices heard on reproductive rights following the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Kansas Reflector editor in […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Examining the Kansas political issues of this summer of discontent

Now is the summer of our discontent. The end of Roe vs. Wade has shaken the nation. Kansas has been gripped by an amendment vote on just that subject scheduled for next month. Political candidates circle one another like irritable peacocks, knowing that weeks or months of conflict await. Nationally, inflation has stressed households and […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Young Kansas House Democrats running unopposed

The 2022 election cycle for the Kansas House is unique in the sense that 55 of the 125 seats are already decided. That is because only one candidate filed to run for election to the state Legislature in those districts. Three young Kansas House Democrats — Christina Haswood, Brandon Woodard and Rui Xu — who […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Gun laws, education and civic engagement with Kansas Reflector interns

You may have noticed two new names making regular appearances on Kansas Reflector story bylines recently — Margaret Mellott and Lily O’Shea Becker. They joined Kansas Reflector this summer as interns and are tackling topics ranging from gun laws to teachers leaving the field to youth civic engagement. Mellott, a recent graduate of Emporia State […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas certification for community health workers

Health care is often a difficult system to navigate, with concerns of costs, access or finding the right fit to address your intimate needs. The challenges are amplified for uninsured patients or those who don’t speak English as a primary language, but a new Kansas certification will establish the widespread practice of community health workers, […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Paul Buskirk seeks Kansas Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate

The U.S. Senate Republican and Democratic primaries are less than two months away and the eight candidates in the running must bear down to lock away votes in those competitive primaries. The incumbent, Kansas Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, is a known commodity, but the six Democrats in the contest are still introducing themselves to […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansans for Constitutional Freedom opposing abortion amendment

Kansas voters head to the polls Aug. 2 to nominate Republicans and Democrats for all sorts of political offices in preparation for the November general election. Another issue on the August ballot is a proposed amendment to the Kansas constitution. The amendment embraced by a conservative state legislators and lobbyists would essentially reject a 2019 […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

How the Kansas Legislature impacts Kansas children

Kids can make the most hardened person smile. In the Statehouse in Topeka, there is a lot of debate about policy and funding aimed at Kansas children. Influencers in this process include Kansas Action for Children, a nonprofit that works to improve the health, education and welfare of the state’s vulnerable youths. Jessica Herrera Russell […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Secretary of State Scott Schwab talks Kansas elections

Scott Schwab has served as the Kansas Secretary of State since 2019. Before election to be the state’s top elections official, the Republican served in the Kansas house for 15 years, representing part of Johnson County. Schwab joins senior reporter Tim Carpenter for the Kansas Reflector podcast to break down recent election law, the safety […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

The state of Kansas water, now and in the future

Parts of western Kansas have just a decade or two of water left. One city’s drinking water was contaminated with uranium. For years, the state hasn’t been paying its bills to the federal government to store drinking water in dams in eastern Kansas. Last year, a state House committee started studying the water situation. They […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Bob Beatty on the legacy of former Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson

As a politically active college student in Wichita, Mark Parkinson audaciously ran for a seat in the Kansas House at age 20. He didn’t win, but he learned the value of sweating through a door-to-door campaign. He went on to serve in the Kansas House and Senate, lead the Kansas Republican Party and made friends […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Improving postpartum health outcomes in Kansas

The birth of a child is a blend of anxiety and joy, but it can also give rise to a feeling of malaise in mothers that often dissipates in a couple of weeks. A longer-lasting form of this condition is referred to as postpartum depression. Prompt treatment can help moms manage symptoms and bond with […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Inside the special report: Kansas Reflector editors and columnist talk TEFFI

Few in the Kansas Legislative or investment world understood what a TEFFI was when lawmakers approved a bill last year allowing the launch of a so-called technology-enabled fiduciary financial institution. Founder Brad Heppner’s vision includes investments in rural Kansas and attracted support from local and state officials. But a three-month Kansas Reflector investigation spearheaded by […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Looking ahead to veto override attempts

The legislative process in Kansas is a numbers game that often boils down to the trifecta of 63, 21 and one. These figures represent the narrowest margin a bill can clear the House and Senate respectively, and the one reflects the governor’s power to veto a bill. Legislators do have recourse when the governor rejects […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Reflector staff delivers legislative roundup

The Kansas Legislature is in the middle of a three week break with senators and representatives having wrapped up a whirlwind regular session on Friday, April 1. What bills made it through? What bills did not? To break it all down on the Reflector Podcast is editor in chief Sherman Smith, senior reporter Tim Carpenter […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas LGBTQ lawmakers challenge anti-trans bill

In the closing hours of the Kansas legislative session, a familiar proposal resurfaced that would ban transgender athletes from participating in school sports. After two years of debate, battle lines are clearly drawn on the issue. Republicans who support the bill say it will protect girls and women from having to compete with boys and […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids on Ukraine, infrastructure, redistricting

There is never never a shortage of issues to talk about in Washington, D.C., politics. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat from Kansas City, Kansas, is running for reelection in 2022. She joins Tim Carpenter on the Reflector Podcast to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine, national and state infrastructure, redistricting and more. Read more […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Steven Johnson campaigns for state treasurer

Rep. Steven Johnson, an Assaria Republican, talks about his campaign for the Republican nomination for state treasurer and his pitch to the state GOP convention. Read more.

READ MORE // LISTEN

Haley Kottler on latest attempt to restrict programs for Kansans in need

On Thursday, when the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 501, a measure that would restrict access to an array of public assistance programs, such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The bill’s main advocate wasn’t a Kansas legislator: It was the Florida-based Opportunity Solutions Project, the […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Rep. Jo Ella Hoye on gun control laws in Kansas

There’s a push in the Kansas Legislature to require state courts and law enforcement agencies to temporarily take custody of firearms from people convicted of domestic battery. A bill in the Senate would close a loophole in a 2018 law banning convicted domestic abusers from buying firearms in Kansas, which mirrors federal standards, but that […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

First responder mental wellness efforts in the Kansas Legislature

The daily duties of a first responder leaves many scars, physical and even more so mental. The trauma from these sights and experiences last a lifetime and require years of healing. An effort is ongoing in Kansas to help destigmatize first responder wellness and guarantee workers compensation for those with diagnosed post traumatic stress disorder. […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

The state of public education in Kansas

There is a newfound emphasis by legislators on education policy. There is a sense looking at the list of education bills that some state lawmakers feel they need to micromanage classrooms, from preschool through high school. To help with insights into this legislative evolution are Lauren Tice Miller, a Shawnee Heights School Board member and […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Defense attorney crisis in Kansas

The Kansas legal system is in a bind financially and ethically. While 85% of adult criminal cases in Kansas require appointed counsel, there’s a real lack of state funding, there’s a massive caseload and there’s high defense attorney turnover. It all calls into question whether the state is meeting its constitutional requirement to provide for […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Widowed Kansas teacher’s COVID-19 story and message to Kansans

One year ago, the day after Valentine’s Day, Travis Zirkle lost his husband Jeff Wallace to COVID-19. Travis believes he brought the virus home from school where he’s a special education teacher. In the year since, Zirkle, a Barnard resident, has grappled with grief, while also becoming an outspoken advocate for vaccination. Kansas Reflector opinion […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Efforts to limit single-use plastic bags

Plastic bags used to haul away purchases from groceries and other retail stores have a 15 second lifespan in terms of how typical customers make use of them. Multiply that usage by 1 million bags a minute worldwide and the plastic starts to pile up. Consider these easy come easy go bags take 10 or […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Millennials in Kansas Legislature unite with counterparts in business

The DC-based Millennial Action Project is working to engage young policymakers across the country — including members of the bipartisan Future Caucus in the Kansas Legislature. The organization recently gathered Kansas lawmakers, along with young entrepreneurs in the state, for a discussion at Iron Rail Brewery in Topeka. The voices in this week’s Reflector Podcast […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Chamber 2022 legislative agenda

One of the loudest lobbying voices in the Capitol is the Kansas Chamber. The statewide business organization strives to influence public policy, and its political action committee works to influence outcome of elections. The state chamber of commerce annually issues a legislative agenda that touches on taxation, health care, workforce development, the legal system, government […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Interfaith Action identifies priorities for 2022 legislative session

The Kansas Legislature returns Monday to the statehouse for the start of a new session where lawmakers will entertain a variety of policy ideas and the weeks and months ahead. Kansas Interfaith action, a multifaith advocacy organization, is among the groups hoping to influence those debates. On the Kansas Reflector podcast, editor in chief Sherman […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Reflector staff on top issues from 2021 news

Kansas Reflector editor in chief Sherman Smith, senior reporter Tim Carpenter and opinion editor Clay Wirestone talk about six topics — taxes, COVID-19, abortion, foster care, marijuana and critical race theory — that dominated the news in 2021 and implications for 2022. Read more: Hot topic opinions. Year in Review. Most-read stories.

READ MORE // LISTEN

Gov. Laura Kelly on reelection and 2022 legislative session

Gov. Laura Kelly is entering the fourth year of her governorship of Kansas, and faces a reelection challenge in 2022. The Democrat vowed, when sworn into office after the 2018 election, to stabilize the state government’s budget, bring coherence to K-12 public school funding, restore credibility to the state’s transportation program after years of broken […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Name Change Project

For transgender Kansans, changing their names and identity documents to reflect their true selves can be an arduous and expensive process. A new program from Kansas Legal Services aims to change that for moderate- and low-income Kansans. Tori Gleason, a health care provider in Western Kansas, and Ellen Bertels, founder of the Kansas Name Change […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Lee Norman on managing the pandemic and being fired

Lee Norman was prepared for the possibility that a new and deadly virus could induce a global pandemic long before many people were familiar with the threat that became known as COVID-19. But he was caught off-guard by the governor’s decision to fire him as secretary of the Kansas Department for Health and Environment after […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas advocates talk Build Back Better bill

There’s a messy debate raging in Washington, D.C., around the Build Back Better bill, which is President Joe Biden’s economic growth package. It’s a profound investment in America’s future, Democrats argue. Republicans, on the other hand, generally view it as a budgetary albatross. On this Kansas Reflector Podcast, David Jordan, president of the United Methodist […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas special session 2021: What should have been the focus?

The Kansas special legislative session last week only lasted one day but still elicited many strong responses and wild speeches. The new law provides moral, religious and medical exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine requirements and ensure unemployment compensation for anyone who is fired because of their vaccine status. Considerations of such action were criticized by Democratic […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Rick Serrano: Buried truths and the Hyatt skywalks

People living in the Kansas City area in the summer of 1981 can recall the harrowing collapse of two overhead walkways inside the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Those platforms were full of partygoers attending an evening dance in the lobby below. The tragedy killed 114 people and injured more than 200. On the 40th anniversary of […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Cutting the food sales tax

If you go to the grocery store in Kansas, you will see the total cost of your shopping being a little larger than in many other states. That’s because Kansas is one of seven states with a full tax on groceries and at a rate of 6.5%, has the second highest tax in the nation. […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Hunger in southeast Kansas

According to Kansas Appleseed, one in six residents of southeast Kansas is food insecure and a stunning one in four children in the region is food insecure. That’s the topic of the advocacy group’s new report, “Hunger in Southeast Kansas.” Kansas Reflector opinion editor Clay Wirestone is joined by two members of the Kansas Appleseed […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Sedgwick County commissioner Lacey Cruse on homelessness

Sedgwick County Commissioner Lacey Cruse lives in the poorest zip code in the state of Kansas. Immense challenges of homelessness as well as mental illness and substance abuse are visible from her front porch. Cruse joins host Tim Carpenter to discuss how she believes Sedgwick County and the city of Wichita can do a better […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Seaman High School name controversy

Students at Seaman High School just north of Topeka ignited intense community conversation last year when their research revealed the school districts namesake had been an exalted cyclops in the Ku Klux Klan. Now, animosity over critical race theory has inflamed debate about whether to change the district’s name. Joining host Sherman Smith on the […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Education at Fort Hays State University

Leading a public university during a devastating pandemic and demographic shifts slashing the number of college aged people is a mind boggling challenge. In addition to the evolving economy, emerging technology and politicization of government spending on higher education, the challenges are great. One of the six people entrusted to manage a state university in […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Improving broadband in Kansas

The difference between the haves and have nots in the world of broadband services — think of it as the digital divide in the world of high-speed internet — can be felt in business education, health care and at home. Without it, you might have difficulty listening to this very podcast. Joining senior reporter Tim […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Cannabis Chamber of Commerce pushes for marijuana policy reform

When entrepreneurs wanted to convince politicians to be more pro-business, they formed a chamber of commerce to champion their ideas. Now, advocates of the nation’s growing marijuana industry have done the same. Heather Steppe, president of the new Kansas Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, talks with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Tim Carpenter about efforts to reform […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas unemployment modernization and fraud update

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Kansas Department of Labor has been overwhelmed by unemployment claims, both real and fraudulent. The beleaguered unemployment insurance computer system and the record volume of activity created drastic delays and invited criminal actors to submit false claims. A recent audit estimated the state paid out $700 million dollars […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Economic fallout of 2021 deep freeze

In February the Midwest was gripped by a deep freeze from winter storm Yuri, resulting in electrical outages for many. The cost of the storm are still being sorted out. On this episode of the Kansas Reflector podcast, Allison Kite looks into the economic fallout from this winter’s deep freeze for Kansas residents who could […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked economic upheaval that places more Americans at risk of being homeless, exacerbating the issue existing long before the current health crisis. A surge in evictions during 2020 prompted a federal order to temporarily halt such ousters, enabling many Americans to stay in their home, but the pandemic created poignant challenges […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas housing issues through the voices of a renter and advocate

Lack of affordable or permanent housing is not a new issue to Kansas, but amid the pandemic thousands of Kansas have come face to face with the threat of eviction. Estimates indicate 27,000 Kansas renters are currently behind on their rent and about 14,600 renters are at risk of eviction. COVID-19-related moratoriums and relief programs […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Urban heat islands in the Kansas City metro

When extreme heat descends on the Kansas City metro, you can feel it radiate off of buildings and dark pavement. Built-up areas, like downtown, become nearly unbearable — superheating well beyond the outlying areas. It’s called the urban heat island effect, and Kansas City, dominated by highways and parking lots, gets hit hard. On this […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Mattivi touts federal prosecutor experience in campaign for Kansas attorney general

Tony Mattivi, a retired assistant U.S. attorney, is the latest entrant in the quest to find a replacement for Attorney General Derek Schmidt. He joins a GOP field that already includes Kris Kobach, the former secretary of state, and Sen. Kellie Warren, of Leawood. Mattivi sits down with Tim Carpenter to discuss how his experience […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Derek Schmidt campaigns for governor

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is working hard to return to an office in the Capitol where he previously served as a state senator. Now he is campaigning for the Republican Party’s nomination for governor in 2022. Schmidt joins senior reporter Tim Carpenter on the Reflector podcast to discuss the campaign and a potential shot […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Laura Howard on foster care improvements and remaining work

The Kansas foster care system has been the subject of numerous heartbreaking stories as a surge in the number of children entering foster care strained the capabilities of the system and placed children’s safety in jeopardy. While progress has been made in recent years, a lot of work remains. Laura Howard, secretary of the Department […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Journey along the civil rights trail

Selma, Memphis, Little Rock, Montgomery and Topeka: The city names alone are a roadmap of the nation’s struggle for equality in terms of voting rights, educational opportunity, and jobs. These landmark cities are also on the U.S. civil rights trail. Joining Tim Carpenter on the Kansas Reflector podcast is Lee Sentel, Alabama’s tourism director and […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Commission on Racial Equity and Justice 2021 interim report

In June of 2020, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and outcry for social and racial progress, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly established the Commission on Racial Equity and Justice. The first year of work was spent focusing on law enforcement and policing with more than 60 recommendations for different levels of government […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Voices from the Frito-Lay picket line in Topeka

Since July 5, more than 500 workers on strike have been posted across from a Frito-Lay plant in Topeka demanding higher wages and more limited hours. Union members rejected a contract offer from Frito-Lay with an annual 2% wage increase because for many workers that would be less than 50 cents per hour. Additionally, many […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Jeff Colyer campaigns for Kansas governor

In 2018, Republican Jeff Colyer fell 172 votes short of beating Kris Kobach in the closest statewide GOP primary election in Kansas history. He is confident he would have beaten Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat seeking re-election in 2022. Now Colyer is competing against Attorney General Derek Schmidt in the Republican gubernatorial primary for the […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

The riverkeeper’s appreciation for the Kaw

The Kansas River, or the Kaw, as some say, is a little-known treasure to most Kansans. Riverkeeper Dawn Buehler — advocate, scientist, educator and investigator — speaks to the environmental importance and recreational opportunities offered by this waterway. Read more about one of Kansas’ last wild places.

READ MORE // LISTEN

Political scientists examine mass exodus from Legislature since 2010

In 2010, the Capitol in Topeka was abuzz with 125 representatives and 40 senators eager to take on the state’s political challenges. This 165-person group included Sen. Laura Kelly, now the governor, and Sen. Jeff Colyer, who made it to the governor’s office a step ahead of her. Another half-dozen or so individuals moved on […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

What the Kids Count report means for Kansas

Advocates worry a decade of progress improving the lives of Kansas children could be undermined by COVID-19 if policymakers can’t sustain recovery from the pandemic. Even before COVID-19 infected the world, Kansas trailed more than 20 states in terms of child well-being based on a series of metrics tracked annually by the Annie E. Casey […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Food insecurity in southwest Kansas

A new report by the Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice is re-examining barriers to food access faced by many southwest Kansans. For example, participation in the the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has decreased even though the need has increased in Stevens, Seward, Grant, Ford, and Finney counties. Jami Reever, executive director of the […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

A sneak peak at the Kansas Capitol tour, reopening June 14

Most years, the Kansas Capitol would attract more than 6,500 visitors to see the state history contained there. But with a pandemic raging last year, activity grinded to a halt. Now, the Kansas Historical Society plans to reopen the Statehouse for tours on June 14. Joe Brentano, the Capitol Visitor’s Center coordinator, has given these […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

KDHE secretary Lee Norman update on Kansas health amid COVID-19

On Saturday, March 7, 2020, at the Capitol, Lee Norman confirmed the unsettling but inevitable news that Kansas had its first case of the novel coronavirus. Since then, more than 311,000 Kansans have been infected. Overall, more than 5000 infected Kansans have died. Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, has been […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Veto session: Business relief, taxes and medical marijuana

After four months of the legislative session, the Kansas Legislature reached bedrock and key areas of public policy. The evidence emerges in the most simplistic forms in the snappy yes or no votes of bills and amendment resolutions, and also in poignant and sometimes lengthy speeches on the House and Senate floors. Senior reporter Tim […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

The agenda for veto session at the Kansas Statehouse

The Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature covered Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s desk with a pile of bills that turned out to include an unusual amount of veto bait. In all, she vetoed eight bills and line-item vetoed more than a dozen provisions of a massive budget bill. House and Senate Republicans are licking their chops. They say […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

The Kansas Legislature through voices of prayer

The House and Senate frequently begin their work on behalf of Kansans standing side-by-side with heads bowed in prayer. In these moments, religious leaders and sometimes legislators urge all 165 members to follow the Good Word and to go about their political objectives as instruments of peace. The elected are directed repeatedly to sow love […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Energy policy observers examine Kansas securitization plan

A bill overwhelmingly passed by the Kansas Legislature and signed by Gov. Laura Kelly allows investor-owned utility companies to issue ratepayer-backed bonds to retire expensive power plants and transition to alternatives, such as wind or solar power. The bonds also enable utility companies to deal with price shocks on natural gas from February’s cold snap. […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Don’t Tread on Me license plate sparks debate over flag ties, meaning

A seemingly innocuous bill approving a series of new distinctive license plates sparked debate last week in the Kansas Legislature. That’s because one plate included would be based on the Gadsden flag — a design critics say has ties to slavery. Cristopher Gadsden designed the yellow Revolutionary War symbol bearing a hissing snake and the […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Political science professors evaluate Legislature, candidates for governor

Political scientists Bob Beatty, of Washburn University, and Michael Smith, of Emporia State University, consider the work of the House and Senate this legislative session, as well as the performance of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Republicans who want to take her job in 2022. Read more about the governor’s […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

A week of election reform debate in the Kansas Legislature

It has been about four months since Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab expressed confidence in state elections. Still, some legislators are considering significant changes to the election system. Voting rights activists say these measures under review by Republican-led committees could cut thousands of ballots in future elections or make access to voting harder. Republican […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Wind energy in Kansas and unprecedented regulatory legislation at the statehouse

Republican governors Sam Brownback and Jeff Colyer praised it. Democratic governors Kathleen Sebelius, Mark Parkinson and now Laura Kelly concurred. What were they excited about? They were pointing to wind farm development in Kansas. The state is a hotspot for wind power. On highways through blustery hills and flatlands of Kansas, you can’t miss these […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Freshman Sen. Ethan Corson on his first legislative session

Kansas voters overhauled the Kansas Senate in 2020, filling more than 1/3 of the 40 seats with newcomers. The chamber has 15 new members, a dozen of whom are Republicans and three who are Democrats. One of those freshman senators is Ethan Corson, D-Prairie Village, who had never before held elective office, but was no […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Reflector staff breaks down 2021 legislative session so far

In response to the pandemic and other policy desires, the 2021 Kansas legislative session has been packed with action on several fronts. It’s a long process and the Legislature has weeks left to discuss and amend favored bills, but some measures have already been approved. On this episode of the Kansas Reflector podcast, editor in […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Voices from the debate over Kansas’ transgender sports bill

Last week, the Kansas Senate Education Committee held a hearing on a bill forbidding any team designated for females to be open to students of the “male sex.” Champions of Senate Bill 208 said it would preserve hard-fought opportunities won by feminists for equal participation in athletics and guarantee a level playing field for girls […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

KNEA, KASB reps talk K-12 public education proposals

No Kansas legislative session is without a debate about the academics, leadership and financing of Kansas public education. This session is no exception. The conversations are made more compelling by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has interrupted in-class teaching, much to the dismay of lawmakers who questioned the wisdom of teaching the state’s 400,000 or so […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Treasurer Lynn Rogers’ first month on the job

In December 2020, Gov. Laura Kelly appointed then-Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers to fill the vacancy of state treasurer left by U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner. Unlike his predecessors, Rogers does not see his new role as a stepping stone for future political positions. Rogers joins Tim Carpenter to discuss his first month in the role of […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas’ unfunded brain injury program

For years, Kansas declined to include children with brain injuries and some adults with comparable problems in the state’s Medicaid program. Finally, in 2019, the federal government prodded the state into expanding coverage to these vulnerable populations. Here’s the problem: The governor’s budget didn’t include the $8 million needed to finance the brain injury program […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Missing and murdered Indigenous people top of mind for Kansas lawmaker

As of Jan. 7, 2021, there are over 696 missing American Indian or Alaskan Native, including three in Kansas, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. A 2020 report using data from the Sovereign Bodies Institute, a nonprofit, Indigenous-led research organization, shows 2,306 Native American women and girls in the U.S are missing […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

League of Kansas Municipalities reps discuss how cities have managed COVID-19

League of Kansas Municipalities representatives have seen first hand how more than 600 cities in Kansas have interacted with other levels of the government during the COVID-19 pandemic. Erik Sartorius, executive director, and Trey Cocking, deputy director, can point to positive efforts in which information about emergency equipment, coronavirus testing and distribution of vaccine was […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Gianfranco Pezzino: COVID-19 from a public health perspective

Gianfranco Pezzino served as Shawnee County’s health officer for 14 years before stepping down abruptly from the position in December. In the middle of the battle against COVID-19, Pezzino found politics overruling science. On this episode of the Kansas Reflector podcast, senior reporter Tim Carpenter sits down with Pezzino to discuss Kansas’ response to the […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Rep. Aaron Coleman on calls for resignation, policy goals

Aaron Coleman defeated Stan Frownfelter, an entrenched incumbent, for a seat in the Kansas House representing the 37th District. He did it at the age of 20 while championing a Green New Deal reform agenda. But that accomplishment is overshadowed by controversy. On this episode of the Kansas Reflector podcast, Coleman joins senior reporter Tim […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Gov. Laura Kelly on re-election, 2021 legislative session

Gov. Laura Kelly announced in December she would pursue a second term in 2022. Amid the pandemic and with several policy goals yet to be achieved, the Kansas governor said running for re-election was a no-brainer. “I’m not done yet. When I ran in 2018, I ran because the state was in such and shape. […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Hensley remembers good and bad from 44-year legislative career

After 44 years at the state Capitol, 2020 will be the last for Sen. Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat. The longest-tenured legislator, who took office in 1977, has worked with 10 different governors and around 150 different state senators. On the Kansas Reflector podcast, senior reporter Tim Carpenter sits down with Hensley to reflect on […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas attorney general weighs in on election lawsuits, criminal justice reform

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, now in his third term, makes his presence felt. He will be relied upon during the upcoming legislative session, but beyond that, he has weighed in on several notable legal issues, like the election and Kansas proof of citizenship laws. On this edition of the Kansas reflector podcast, senior reporter […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Pat Roberts, Senate colleagues reflect on the Kansas congressman’s career

After nearly 40 years as a congressman, U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts announced early last year he would not pursue reelection in 2020. Capping off the longest tenure of any Kansan in the nation’s capital Sen. Pat Roberts delivered a final speech on the Senate floor Thursday. In what he dubbed his “adios amigos” speech, Roberts […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas civil rights advocates on capital punishment

Kansas law allows capital punishment, but no one has been put to death in the state since 1965. At El Dorado Correctional Facility, 10 men are currently on death row, set to die by lethal injection. The majority are white and all are convicted killers. On this Kansas Reflector podcast, Cheryl Pilate, a criminal defense […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas legal leaders pitch Veterans Treatment Courts

According to a report from the US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, nearly 8% of inmates serving time in state and federal prisons and local jails are veterans. Despite making up a sizeable portion of the criminal justice system, diversion options specific to veterans are few and far between. In 2008, Judge Robert […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Sparks fly as Kansas legislators debate pandemic recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic has left Kansas embroiled in economic chaos. Tens of thousands out of work, severely delayed payment of unemployment claims, and a wave of fraudulent jobless claims are among the turmoil the state has suffered over the past nine months. This past week a joint House and Senate committee charged with working on […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Political scientists dissect 2020 election results

Bob Beatty and Amber Dickinson, political science faculty members at Washburn University in Topeka, say President Donald Trump easily won confidence of Kansas voters, no amount of money would have altered the outcome for Senate candidate Barbara Bollier, and rural backing carried state Treasurer Jake LaTurner. Read more about their election recap.

READ MORE // LISTEN

What happened and what’s left in the 2020 general election

Election Day 2020 has come and gone, but many races are still too close to call across the country, including here in Kansas. A week removed, counties now must canvass election results and cure provisional ballots in order to certify results. Davis Hammet, president of Loud Light, a youth-focused organization fostering increased civic engagement in […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Annual survey sheds light on where Kansans stand on major issues

How strong is president Donald Trump’s support in Kansas? Is it time to join neighboring states by passing a law legalizing recreational marijuana? What do Kansans think about the Black Lives Matter movement? The Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University recently released its annual survey report on how Kansans view significant […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas City woman fights wrongful convictions, corruption in criminal justice system

The KC Freedom Project is a ministry fighting to exonerate individuals who are wrongfully convicted or accused. The organization is also actively involved in calling out corruption within the Kansas City community, be it in the police department or the prosecutor’s office. Latahra Smith founded KC Freedom Project using skills she acquired investigating and clearing […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas community colleges combat decreased enrollment amid COVID-19

After the Great Recession in 2008, community colleges nationwide saw an influx of nontraditional students and an increase in overall enrollment. Amid COVID-19, the opposite has occurred, and Kansas community colleges are facing a 14.1% decline in enrollment since last fall. Carter File, Hutchinson Community College President, has seen a 3.6% decrease in overall enrollment […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Sarah Smarsh humbled by attention, finds ‘perfect model’ in Dolly Parton

Kansas writer Sarah Smarsh’s 2018 book, “Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth,” was a New York Times best-seller and a finalist for the National Book Award. It earned her high-profile invitations, such as introducing civil rights icon Dolores Huerta at the 2019 Obama Foundation Summit in […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas resident, Brennan Center attorney address false claims of voter fraud

President Donald Trump, former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and race-baiting think tanks like the Heritage Foundation use the myth of voter fraud to justify laws and tactics that make it more difficult to vote. Research and court records show voter fraud is extraordinarily rare, but Kobach and Trump have influenced public opinion by […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Advocates of elderly, disabled argue for deeper COVID-19 cluster report

Four of five COVID-19 fatalities in Kansas were people at least 65 years of age, but that group is a mere 11% of the population. Vulnerability of medically challenged people in large residential facilities makes public disclosure of outbreaks a “life or death” public service. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment offers a weekly […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Finney, Haley optimistic for marijuana reform in 2021

Despite action to legalize medical marijuana in more than three dozen states, law enforcement and factions of the medical community have succeeded in deterring comparable reform in Kansas. That could be about to change. Rep. Gail Finney and Sen. David Haley are optimistic the 2021 Legislature can advance a bill legalizing medical marijuana, something they […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

De La Isla reflects on Black Lives Matter, health care, COVID-19

Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla, the Democratic nominee for the 2nd District seat in Congress, says the police department is full of heroes, “but for us to say with a straight face that there is no room for improvement is crazy.” Her campaign is focused on expanding access to preventive health care, and she […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Sen. Pat Roberts reflects on career in politics, military, journalism

Retiring U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts shares personal insights into his 40-year career as an elected official in Washington, D.C., which was preceded by service in the U.S. Marine Corps and work as a journalist and congressional aide. Highlights from the conversation: “I have to admit that the state of politics — and going through a tough […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

KU professor reflects on reopening of K-12 schools

Dorothy Hines, assistant professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas, says K-12 students can explore COVID-19’s impact on their lives through TikTok, Instagram and other social media. And, she said, children returning to school buildings that were suddenly locked down in March as COVID-19 took hold need to know they are […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Children’s advocates reflect on investments in quality-of-life programs

John Wilson, president of Kansas Action for Children, and Melissa Rooker, executive director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, outline concerns for more than 100,000 children living in poverty in Kansas. Wilson says thousands of kids would suffer protracted harm if spending were slashed on programs that feed, house, educate and promote quality […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Political scientists reflect on primary results, prospects for November

Election analysts from Kansas universities say U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Bollier needs to clearly define herself or risk Kris Kobach’s fate. “Can she develop a message to get that kind of Trump voter to also vote for her?” said Patrick Miller, a political science professor at University of Kansas. “What I’ll be interested in seeing going […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Lee Norman reflects on management of pandemic

Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, says boozy environments harbor perils of COVID-19 for anyone rejecting advice to social distance, wash hands and wear a mask. “They just immerse in virus when they do that,” Norman said. “There’s usually music. When people speak loudly, there’s airborne droplets. And they’re very […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Susan Wagle reflects on her ‘most difficult year’

Senate President Susan Wagle, a Republican with 30 years of experience in the Kansas Legislature, has never been mistaken for a shrinking violet. She took on an otherwise all-male Republican field to make the case she was best suited to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, the dean of Kansas politics. As the primary campaign […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kris Kobach warns GOP voters not to be fooled by general election oddsmakers

Former Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s loss to Democrat Laura Kelly in the 2018 governor’s race has given rise to the view of Kobach as a hardcore conservative unwilling or incapable of moving to the center to broaden his appeal. It is part of the calculus of influential Republicans who have embraced U.S. Rep. Roger […]

READ MORE // LISTEN

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, commerce secretary David Toland plan recovery from COVID-19

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and David Toland, secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce, are working to retool state government’s investment strategy to expand the economy. It’s a difficult task made more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kelly says Kansas is better positioned to handle the economic fallout because of actions she took early in […]

READ MORE // LISTEN