Category: News
Mark Janus testifies in support of Kansas public employees
When Mark Janus began work as a child support specialist for the state of Illinois, no one ever asked him…
Push for more computer science in Kansas classrooms
The Kansas Department of Education is revamping computer science education standards and in doing so, hopes to meet the workforce…
Newspapers oppose online legal notices to save taxpayers’ money
Rep. Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican, says he loves newspapers, but it’s time to change state policy requiring cities, counties,…
Windfall tax bill SB 22 headed to Governor’s desk
Lawmakers adopted a bill that would allow taxpayers to keep the savings garnered by last year’s federal tax cuts. Under…
Are subsidies the ‘fix’ for economic challenges?
Government subsidies for a small portion of employers is the preferred attempt at economic development among many elected and economic…
House committee strips Medicaid expansion funding from budget proposal
The Kansas House Appropriations committee stripped $14 million from Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposed budget today. During a tense debate, a…
Utility Companies Battle Electricity Rates Proposal
Kansas electricity rates are the highest in the region, but legislation intended to determine the reasons and possible solutions faces…
ACLU wants proof of citizenship removed from voter registration
Legislation introduced by Rep. Brett Parker, (D) Overland Park, on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) would make…
Panel Debates Consequences of Medicaid Expansion
Medicaid expansion could jeopardize the state’s budget, according to House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins. “I would like to hear from…
NCTQ: Better teacher prep programs would produce more effective teachers
For every four elementary teacher candidates, only two will demonstrate a reasonable grasp of the content they will teach. The…
Panel Debates Medicaid Expansion
The 14 states that didn’t implement Medicaid expansion are the fiscally responsible ones, Michael Cannon, Cato Institute director of health…
Johnson County legislator wants to repeal Right-to-Work
Right-to-Work provisions in the Kansas constitution give workers the right to decide whether to join a union and pay dues,…
Cities want to regulate placement of political signs
Political signs are ubiquitous during election seasons. For some an eye-sore, others a treasured first amendment right. A bill in…
School districts demand $270 million more than Gov. Kelly proposes
Governor Laura Kelly and the Department of Education say about $90 million more is needed to comply with the Supreme…
Red Flag Act could strip gun rights, some fear
A bill that its sponsors say will prevent gun violence in Kansas isn’t likely to receive a committee hearing in…
30 percent of Kansas rural hospitals in danger of closing
One in five rural hospitals across the nation are in danger of closing, according to a recent survey by Navigant,…
Legislator wants to force banks to make subprime loans
Remember the subprime loan fiasco associated with the 2008 housing crisis and the resultant economic recession? HB 2254 submitted by…
Cato: Spending more on schools doesn’t improve achievement
A recent study from Cato Institute contradicts two common beliefs about the Kansas education system. The authors of a 50-state…
Occupational license for eyebrow threading?
Arif Karowalia is always looking to hire people to do eyebrow threading at his three Kansas salons, but state licensing…
Wichita Eagle warns average ACT scores will likely dip
The average ACT score of Kansas high school students is likely to drop this year, the Wichita Eagle reports in…
Lawmakers, Governor Draw Battle Lines on KPERS Repayment
With unanimous consent in both the Kansas House and Senate, a bill that will repay $115 million to Kansas’s public…
$15 Minimum wage proposed for Kansas
Kansas House Bill 2022 proposes to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour in Kansas by 2021. The bill…
Hope scholarship would help bullied students
Bullies started targeting Claire Tietgen at school when she was a first grader. Since that time, she’s transferred to eight…
State budget doesn’t comply with statute
Governor Laura Kelly believes her budget “…restores fundamental principles of Kansas fiscal responsibility” but the state budget she submitted doesn’t…