Kansas State Legislature
This Friday, May 28, 2021 photo shows a sign directing visitors to a meditation room through double doors to a hallway in the basement of the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. The room once was located on the second floor, but Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly moved it to the basement to create more space for her staff, and the room's location has become a point of dispute between her and Republican lawmakers. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Plan would return Kansas Statehouse prayer room to 1st spot

By John Hanna May. 29, 2021 03:04 PM EDT

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, right, R-Andover, confers with Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, before the start of the Legislature's last day in session for the year, Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Masterson and other Republicans have pushed a resolution through both chambers calling for Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to end extra unemployment benefits. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Kansas House weighs in on Gaza war with pro-Israel statement

By John Hanna May. 26, 2021 05:05 PM EDT

Kansas governor OKs extra funds for courts, higher education

May. 21, 2021 05:36 PM EDT
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Budget legislation signed Friday by Gov. Laura Kelly increases funding for Kansas courts, provides extra dollars for higher education and...

Rep. John Carmichael, right, D-Wichita, confers with Rep. Fred Patton, R-Topeka, during talks between House members and senators on a bill providing up to $500 million in compensation to small businesses harmed by coronavirus pandemic restrictions, Friday, May 7, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Patton is the House Judiciary Committee chair and backs the bill, while Carmichael considers it unnecessary. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Kansas governor vetoes GOP COVID relief plan for businesses

By John Hanna May. 21, 2021 03:06 PM EDT

Kansas governor signs legislation keeping cocktails to go

May. 19, 2021 06:07 PM EDT
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — People will be able to get beer and cocktails to go in Kansas after the coronavirus pandemic thanks to a measure signed into law Wednesday...

In this Monday, May 17, 2021, photo, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly tours a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for students aged 12 through 15 set up in a gym at Topeka High School in Topeka, Kan. The Democratic governor is under increasing pressure to end an extra $300 a week in benefits for unemployed workers, with critics of the aid arguing that businesses are having problems hiring enough workers because of it. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Kansas governor pressured to end extra $300 in jobless aid

By John Hanna May. 19, 2021 04:32 PM EDT

In this photo from Friday, April 16, 2021, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly answers questions from reporters following an event at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Kelly has announced that state government agencies will resume normal operations starting the week of June 13, 2021, after months of having many employees work remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Governor: Kansas agencies resuming normal operations in June

By John Hanna May. 12, 2021 03:24 PM EDT

Kansas lawmakers want to keep cocktails to go after pandemic

By John Hanna May. 10, 2021 12:21 PM EDT
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The state that made saloon smasher Carrie Nation famous is moving to allow people to get beer and cocktails to go after the coronavirus...

Plan ties Kansas school tax to break for closed businesses

By John Hanna May. 08, 2021 05:57 PM EDT
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A measure approved by Kansas lawmakers ties the renewal of a tax that's crucial to funding public schools to a proposed tax break for...

New plan keeps Kansas governor in decisions on COVID funds

By John Hanna May. 08, 2021 05:04 PM EDT
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature backed off its effort to remove Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly from final decisions on how...

Kansas state Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, holds his 18-month-old daughter, Astra, during a break in the House's work, Friday, May 7, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Lawmakers are working late as they tried to finish their business for the year. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Kansas plan could give $500M in COVID relief to businesses

By John Hanna May. 08, 2021 05:00 AM EDT

Kansas state Sen. Kellie Warren, R-Leawood, talks to reporters about COVID-19 legislation during a break in the Senate's session, Friday, May 7, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Warren is chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is pushing for a ban on COVID-19 vaccine passports and limits on tracing the contacts of people with the coronavirus. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Kansas legislators approve COVID-19 relief for businesses

By John Hanna May. 07, 2021 03:38 PM EDT

Kansas state Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, holds his 18-month-old daughter, Astra, during a break in the House's work, Friday, May 7, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Lawmakers are working late as they tried to finish their business for the year. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Kansas lawmakers pass funding hike, school 'choice' proposal

By John Hanna May. 07, 2021 12:14 PM EDT

Kansas state Sens. Molly Baumgardner, left, R-Louisburg; Renee Erickson, center, R-Wichita, and Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, huddle during talks with the House over the final version of school funding and education policy legislation, Thursday, May 6, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Their talks are under way even though Republican legislative leaders and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly have not struck a deal on education issues. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
GOP drops 'choice' plan in Kansas school funding debate

By John Hanna May. 06, 2021 10:47 PM EDT

Kansas state Sen. Kellie Warren, R-Leawood, speaks during a Senate debate on legislation dealing with COVID-19, Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Warren is the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is pushing a proposal to set aside up to $2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds to compensate businesses hurt by the pandemic. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
GOP lawmakers in Kansas push COVID-19 relief for businesses

By John Hanna May. 04, 2021 04:10 PM EDT

Kansas governor vetoes measures to tighten election laws

By Andy Tsubasa Field And John Hanna Apr. 23, 2021 04:24 PM EDT
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed two Republican-backed election bills on Friday, including one that would have limited most individuals to...

Editorial Roundup: Kansas

By The Associated Press Apr. 20, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Kansas City Star. April 13, 2021. Editorial: KS lawmakers neglect schools, health care to focus on trans athletes, license plates ...

Charley Crabtree holds one of his hats at his home in Lawrence, Kan., Thursday, April 8, 2021. Crabtree was looking to help voters in nursing homes get absentee ballots delivered on time last year, so he picked up about 75 from at least 10 locations in his hometown of Lawrence. Republicans who control the Kansas Legislature want to make what he did a crime punishable by up to six months in jail. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Kansas fight shows how election 'reforms' may favor one side

By John Hanna And Andy Tsubasa Field Apr. 14, 2021 03:18 PM EDT

Editorial Roundup: Kansas

By The Associated Press Apr. 13, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Kansas City Star. April 9, 2021. Editorial: Who does this and keeps his job? Kansas Senate leader Suellentrop, leave or be ousted ...

Editorial Roundup: Kansas

By The Associated Press Apr. 06, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Kansas City Star. April 5, 2021. Editorial: Fighting Kansas school mask mandates is ludicrous, and now is the absolute wrong time ...