Blaise Mesa
Reporter, Kansas City BeaconBlaise Mesa is based in Topeka, where he covers the Legislature and state government for the Kansas City Beacon. He previously covered social services and criminal justice for the Kansas News Service. He also worked as a reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal.
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Kansas lawmakers say that requiring driver's licenses to list legal status would reduce noncitizen voting — something that is exceedingly rare. One study says suspected cases happen just 0.0001% of the time.
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The Unified Government passed an ordinance on a 7-3 vote to divert sales tax revenue to help finance the new Chiefs stadium in Kansas City, Kansas. Multiple residents expressed concerns about the city’s inability to adequately fund government functions while giving away millions to billionaires.
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Kansas is one of 12 states that haven’t passed Erin’s Law. Advocates want that to change.
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Four economists say the state relied on exaggerated numbers to make the Kansas City Chiefs deal, the largest public subsidy of a stadium in American history, look better. State officials say football teams bring in real value as millions flock to the stadium projects.
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Democrats have proposed reducing child care costs, making housing more affordable and raising the minimum wage. Republicans want to pass property tax reform, cut waste and address rural health care costs.
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Under pressure from President Trump, some Kansas Republicans want to gerrymander congressional maps in order to oust Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids. But Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins said he's about 20 votes short.
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These state hospitals can’t find full-time staff. Contract nurses are needed to serve patients, but expenses keep going up.
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Kansas got $451 million from a Biden administration grant for "Broadband Equity, Acess and Deployment." But after the Trump administration told states to rethink how to spend the money, Kansas rolled back its proposal.
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Kelly, a Democrat, said that she has repeatedly asked the Republican attorney general to sue on behalf of Kansas but he has refused. Meanwhile, Kris Kobach argues that he is in charge of the state's prosecution or defense.
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Shawn Koch saved hundreds of threatening emails from her ex, Christopher Koch. He threatened to kill her, get her fired, keep their children from her and ruin her life.