Dylan Lysen
Social Services and Criminal Justice Reporter, Kansas News ServiceAs the Kansas social services and criminal justice reporter, I want to inform our audience about how the state government wants to help its residents and keep their communities safe. Sometimes that means I follow developments in the Legislature and explain how lawmakers alter laws and services of the state government. Other times, it means questioning the effectiveness of state programs and law enforcement methods. And most importantly, it includes making sure the voices of everyday Kansans are heard. You can reach me at dlysen@kcur.org, 816-235-8027 or on Threads, @DylanLysen.
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Officials unveiled a new nonprofit organization to lead the charge in Kansas City’s preparation to host the men’s FIFA World Cup in 2026. Kansas and Missouri are spending money on the event, which is expected to bring fans from around the world to Kansas City.
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Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto leaves the state’s tax policy largely unchanged, unless lawmakers make an unlikely return to Topeka for a special session. Both Kelly and Republican leaders called for tax cuts this year but did not land on an agreement.
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Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a plan for hundreds of millions of dollars in tax relief over her objection to a dramatic shift to a flat income tax rate. But her veto also halts two tax-relief proposals she championed.
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Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s rejection of the bills sets up another veto override fight with the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature. Lawmakers already overrode her veto to a bill banning transgender girls from playing girl’s sports.
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Would this $300 million tax cut in Kansas help the rich most? The governor will decide on a flat taxThe Kansas Legislature recently approved a tax plan that sets a 5.15% income tax rate for almost all Kansans. Critics argue the plan mostly benefits the richest Kansans while also putting the state’s revenue stream in peril.
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The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature passed a bill into law that bans transgender girls and women from participating in girls and women’s sports. The lawmakers had failed twice in past years to override vetoes by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
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The House tax package slims down the cost to the state to roughly $500 million a year while providing relief in several different areas. The plan competes with the Senate’s proposals that would reduce state revenue by more than $1 billion.
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Gov. Laura Kelly rejecting the bill sets up a showdown with the Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature. The original vote on the bill fell two votes shy of a veto-proof majority.
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The Kansas House approved a bill that would create an independent commission that sets the compensation package for lawmakers. Supporters argue the commission could increase pay to help more everyday Kansans to run for office.
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The Kansas Senate has passed several GOP-backed bills that would lower the state’s tax revenue by more than a billion dollars. But Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has already expressed skepticism.