Kansas Legislature

Olathe this week became just the second Johnson County city to opt in to a new Kansas law allowing extended alcohol sales 23 hours a day during the tournament. Even so, many local bars won't be participating.

Many college educators fear the changes will mean broad censorship of classroom discussions involving race, gender or sexuality.

The Kansas Supreme Court chief justice announced the raises last week after the Legislature adjourned the 2026 session without appropriating money for them.

It’s getting more difficult to find an attorney in rural Kansas as people retire, so the state is offering incentives to attract a new generation of lawyers. Still, filling the civic leadership roles left by veteran lawyers will not be easy.

As many attorneys in rural areas reach retirement age, there aren’t enough new ones that want to take on the jobs. A Kansas law will offer incentives to hopefully get a new generation of lawyers to fill the roles.

When a Kansas City opera held auditions of older dogs for a new production, canine owners around the metro answered the call. Meet the working dogs trying out for a critical role in “Of Mice and Men." Plus: We'll take a tour of the Kansas Statehouse and a new mural depicting 13 women’s civil rights advocates.

Kansas lawmakers have promised for years to fix sky-high property tax bills. But the 2026 session ended with both Democrats and Republicans disappointed and vowing to try again next year.

Property taxes dominated the conversation in this year's Kansas legislative session — but infighting mean that lawmakers left without delivering any of their promised reforms. However, the GOP-dominated legislature managed to pass some big bills, sometimes over the veto of Gov. Laura Kelly.

Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed dozens of bills, but Republicans overrode a majority to force the measures into law — including restrictions on student protesters, funding for anti-abortion centers, and more power for landlords.

Kansans hoping for a break on their property taxes will have to wait. The legislative session adjourned with Republicans unable to compromise on property tax reform. Sherman Smith, editor-in-chief of the Kansas Reflector, joined KCUR’s Up To Date to provide an overview of the session.

The Kansas Legislature approved a provision to clamp down on public school protests by requiring students to receive parental permission before participating, and hitting districts with penalties as high as $100,000 per day for failing to enforce restrictions.

Gov. Laura Kelly criticized the proposed raise for state legislators, who got a 93% pay increase just two years ago. “The 1% pay increase for state employees in this budget is nothing but an afterthought," Kelly said.