Kansas Republicans

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.

Many pension-holding public employees in Kansas haven't seen cost-of-living adjustments in decades. Without lawmakers' support, years of higher inflation mean many retirees are seeing the value of their payments vanish. Plus: Climate change is making farming riskier and crop insurance more expensive.

Thousands of retired public employees in Kansas have never seen an increase to their pension pay, and inflation is eating away the value of those payments. Advocates argue the Legislature owes them a boost.

New laws that went into effect this month in Kansas could have a significant impact on the lives of residents. But some may still face the scrutiny of a court challenge.

A suspicious white powder was sent in letters to dozens of GOP legislators and public officials in Kansas over the last few days. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said that while the substance has not been identified, testing has shown that it is not a risk to public safety.

Former President Trump announced his indictment Thursday evening and is due in federal court in Miami on Tuesday to be arraigned. While many Democrats are celebrating the indictment, GOP politicians in Missouri and Kansas are supporting Trump.

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.

Forces pushing rural decline are much bigger than state incentives and small-town organizing.

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.

The Kansas legislature has adjourned after an eventful session in Topeka, which included numerous anti-trans bills, and a large number of vetoes and Republican overrides.

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.

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.