Kansas budget

A bill in the Kansas Legislature that would cut millions from the state’s wildlife department comes after a lawmaker threatened to defund the state agency for considering deer-baiting restrictions.

There aren’t enough child care openings for Kansas families, and the ones that do exist can cost more than a home mortgage.

A Republican lawmaker sparked ethics concerns after he threatened to cut at least a million dollars from the agency if it bans deer baiting. And he said another lawmaker that owns a hunting lodge would help him.

A plan to provide most Kansas state employees a 5% raise costs about $11 million more than expected and is creating a potential for state agencies to shut down next year.

Gov. Laura Kelly shot down a proviso in the state budget bill allocating $250,000 for the Quindaro Ruins Archaeological Park in Kansas City, historically an important stop on the Underground Railroad. One of the site’s top supporters, Kansas City Democrat Rep. Marvin Robinson, broke party lines to help Republicans override Kelly's veto of a transgender athlete ban.

In both Kansas and Missouri, lawmakers are focusing heavily on the state budget, education issues, and targeting the rights of transgender residents.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly laid out her Kansas spending priorities in a budget plan presented to the Republican-led Legislature Thursday.

One notable inclusion is the extension of postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months, which advocates hope will reduce pregnancy-related complications. But the budget does not include school funding, which lawmakers are still debating.

Kansans can expect lawmakers to address some contentious issues including COVID-19 policies and Critical Race Theory.

Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's call to eliminate the state's grocery tax comes just days after her likely opponent in next year's election did the same.

Governor instead working on motivating Kansans to take advantage of state's plentiful supply of vaccines.

Kansas lawmakers flexed their veto-override power while Missouri Republicans saw a split in ranks over Medicaid.