Kansas Legislature

Of the seven races a Democratic campaigning organization has targeted to hold or flip in Kansas, six are in the Kansas City area.

Johnson County judge Christopher Jayaram ruled the state’s abortion restrictions, including mandatory waiting periods, violated Kansans’ right to bodily autonomy and “infringe upon a woman’s fundamental rights.” The controversial case was made even more so by the timing of the decision.

A new law passed by Republicans in the Kansas Legislature repeals a three-day grace period for mail-in ballots that were postmarked by Election Day. Civic groups sued, calling it a “deliberate and unconstitutional assault on Kansans’ fundamental right to vote.”

New analysis from Ballotpedia suggests that Republicans in Missouri and Kansas could see the 2026 midterm elections break their state legislative supermajorities.

Both Kansas and Missouri cleared a path for cities to let bars serve alcohol into the wee hours during the World Cup. But some bar owners say the demand for early-morning drinking isn’t high enough to justify the extra staff and safety concerns.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach promptly joined the Trump administration in a lawsuit seeking to prohibit Kansas universities, colleges and state officials from enforcing a 2004 law that gives in-state tuition rates to certain Kansas students without lawful immigration status.

Three Republican candidates and three Democratic candidates for Kansas governor did not participate in the forum.

During the recent Kansas legislative session, GOP lawmakers passed a bill overturning a policy that allows thousands of young Kansans to pay for and earn a college education. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bill, but Kansas may get sued by the Trump administration.

A state lawmaker said the Unified Government’s ordinance to support the Chiefs deal exerts too much power over Kansas negotiations. County leaders believe he’s mistaken.

Some jurisdictions have weakened their public health authorities in response to criticism of lockdowns, school closures, mask mandates, vaccine requirements and other COVID-era restrictions.

The deadline to file as a candidate for governor of Kansas was Monday, June 1. A last-minute filing shook up the Democratic field, while there's a clear frontrunner among the seven Republicans in the running.

Gov. Laura Kelly declared an emergency May 12 after health officials learned about the exposure. The three patients, who are all asymptomatic, remain in voluntary isolation at home.