Anthony Hensley
State Rep. Ron Howard wears a mask in the style of the character Bane during a swearing-in ceremony Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Topeka, Kan. (Evert Nelson/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP)
Kansas lawmakers open session clouded by COVID, DC violence

By John Hanna And Andy Tsubasa Field Jan. 11, 2021 05:43 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2020, file photo, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly walks toward a news conference at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Kansas' coronavirus positivity rate has climbed above 20%, even as one top GOP lawmaker pushed back against Democratic Gov. Kelly's call for a statewide mask mandate to curb the spread of COVID-19. (Evert Nelson/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP, File)-
Kansas sets new COVID marks; governor to push mask mandate

By John Hanna Oct. 26, 2020 03:37 PM EDT

Dr. Lee Norman, the head of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, answers questions from reporters about the coronavirus pandemic during a news conference, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Kansas is reporting another record seven-day spike in new coronavirus cases, and Norman says it's a sign that there's community spread in even the state's "frontier" counties. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
COVID-19 has Kansas lawmakers pondering broader oversight

By John Hanna Sep. 24, 2020 05:27 PM EDT

Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, answers questions during an Associated Press interview, Friday, June 26, 2020, in his Statehouse office in Topeka, Kan. Hensley suggests Republican legislative leaders are trying to score "gotcha points" by criticizing Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's budget-balancing plans. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Top Democrat in Kansas Senate tests negative for coronavirus

Aug. 11, 2020 05:25 PM EDT

Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., R-Olathe, speaks with reporters following a meeting of legisative leaders with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, Friday, June 26, 2020, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Ryckman says a plan from Kelly to erase a budget shortfall that arose amid the coronavirus pandemic merely pushes the state's financial problems off a year. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Governor tests negative; Kansas COVID-19 cases jump past 30K

By John Hanna Aug. 07, 2020 12:20 PM EDT

Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, answers questions from reporters following a meeting of legislative leaders with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly about the coronavirus pandemic, Thursday, July 2, 2020, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Wagle opposes an order Kelly issued to require people to wear masks in public, saying the governor should have launched a public information campaign instead. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
COVID-19 spike in Kansas casts doubt on allowing local rules

By John Hanna Jul. 10, 2020 12:25 PM EDT

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, left, confers with Clay Britton, her chief attorney, before a meeting with legislative leaders about an executive order she issued to require people to wear masks in public, Thursday, July 2, 2020, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Kelly says she's worried that if the state doesn't reverse a recent surge in reported coronavirus cases, the state won't be able to reopen K-12 schools in August. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Kansas newspaper's post equates mask mandate with Holocaust

By John Hanna Jul. 04, 2020 04:29 PM EDT

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly answers questions from reporters following a meeting with legislative leaders about budget issues, Friday, June 26, 2020, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. The Democratic governor is locked in a partisan dispute with the Republican-controlled Legislature over her plan to close a projected shortfall tied to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Kansas governor, GOP scrap again over COVID-19 budget plan

By John Hanna Jun. 26, 2020 03:07 PM EDT

Parking is available outside the Lawrence Cancer Center at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kan., Tuesday, May 12, 2020. Kansas legislators are considering proposals to prevent medical providers from being sued if they put off non-emergency care to handle coronavirus patients. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Kansas lawmakers look to prevent lawsuits over coronavirus

By John Hanna May. 12, 2020 11:50 PM EDT

In this photo from Wednesday, May 6, 2020, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly answers questions about the coronavirus pandemic during a news conference at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Kelly's top Republican critic in the Legislature has launched a new effort to curb the governor's power during emergencies. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
GOP critic moves to curb Kansas governor's emergency power

By John Hanna May. 07, 2020 06:00 PM EDT