CoreCivic received its final approval to reopen in Leavenworth as city commissioners acknowledge it would be fiscally irresponsible to deny the permit because they'd end up in court. The company didn't indicate when it would begin holding ICE detainees. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/11/l...

CoreCivic will reopen its Leavenworth private prison to house ICE detainees after the city commission approved a permit. Angry protesters gathered outside.

A Kansas judge said refused to accept fears about "lesser angels" in the state and declined to pause enforcement of a new state law that invalidated driver’s licenses and criminalizes bathroom use for transgender residents #ksleg kansasreflector.com/2026/03/10/j...

Video from today's protest outside the Kansas Senate chamber #ksleg www.facebook.com/reel/1641580...

Clergy-led activists block entry into Kansas Senate in protest over bathroom law | via @anna-writes.bsky.social #ksleg

I'm in Leavenworth to cover what is expected to be a final vote (other things could happen) on reopening CoreCivic's private prison as an ICE detention center. Expecting a late night but I'll update here and on TikTok when it's over. Last time it was after midnight!

Proposed constitutional amendment would put abortion back on the Kansas ballot | via @crazeywriter.bsky.social #ksleg

Kansas Air Guard deploys for war with Iran as 5 Kansas congressional members vote to sidestep War Powers Act. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/09/k... @kansascarpenter.bsky.social

A former Native American boarding school historical site represents "painful memories" as a tribe attempts to obtain ownership from the state of Kansas. #ksleg kansasreflector.com/2026/03/09/k...

Conservative groups escalate Title IX complaint against Kansas school district over trans policies | via @gracefromkansas.bsky.social #ksleg

Kansas Senate reverses self to kill budget proviso using safety net funds for property tax cuts | via @kansascarpenter.bsky.social #ksleg

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Sen. Roger Marshall clashed at an event honoring wounded officers, with Marshall's office claiming Kelly politicized it. www.cjonline.com/story/news/s...

Kansas House introduces bill to create state sports authority to own stadium for Chiefs and prevent project bonds from being subject to federal income tax. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/06/k... @kansascarpenter.bsky.social

Kansas ‘lemonade stand law’ could boost kid businesses with tax breaks and licensing exemptions #ksleg kansasreflector.com/2026/03/06/k...

Kansans won’t know until at least Tuesday if a judge will delay implementation of the state’s new “bathroom law,” but a concession by Attorney General Kris Kobach means key components of the law can be delayed until March 26. #ksleg via @crazeywriter.bsky.social kansasreflector.com/2026/03/06/k...

A Kansas athletic trainer lost his medical license for accessing private medical files of patients who had breast augmentation. www.cjonline.com/story/news/s...

I'll be in court this afternoon with @crazeywriter.bsky.social for a hearing on whether to temporarily pause enforcement of the new anti-trans law. The court has provided a Zoom link where the public can follow along at www.dgcoks.gov/district-court #ksleg

The Trump administration has indicated DOJ is sharing voter data with DHS. Oklahoma has been sued by DOJ for not turning over its full voter data.

Homeland Security under Noem refashioned the SAVE program into a citizenship verification tool and have been urging states to feed their voter rolls into it. What Mullin has to say about that (if anything) is something I'll be watching.

Mental health impacts and the risk of violence from being constantly outed will likely be the result of an anti-trans Kansas law, experts say. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/05/n...

Proposed Kansas Senate budget challenges state's 'wine and cheese crowd.' kansasreflector.com/2026/03/04/k... @kansascarpenter.bsky.social

Kansans on food assistance won't be able to buy candy or soda after a waiver was approved this week by the USDA. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/04/k...

Kansas Senate engages in rough-and-tumble debate on plan to grant $50M low-interest loan to Wichita company. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/04/k... @kansascarpenter.bsky.social

Kansas Senate votes to clamp down on public school protests by requiring students to get parental permission to participate and by imposing penalties on districts, including a fine equal to the superintendent's salary #ksleg #ksed via @kansascarpenter.bsky.social kansasreflector.com/2026/03/03/k...

Attorneys will argue Friday in court over whether a judge should delay enforcement of a state law that invalidates driver’s licenses and birth certificates for those who changed their gender marker and restricts bathroom use based on sex assigned at birth. #ksleg kansasreflector.com/2026/03/03/k...

Douglas County District Judge James McCabria just set oral arguments for Friday on whether to issue a temporary restraining order for anti-trans law #ksleg

“I’m caring about my grandchildren, my children. What about their future? What do they have to look forward to?” Garden Plain resident Jennifer Bugner said. “Not a whole lot if we keep going like this.” www.kansas.com/news/politic...

New — I spoke to eight trans people in Kansas about the new state law that invalidated their driver’s licenses overnight, what’s it’s like to live there right now, plus details of two DMV emails exclusively obtained by The Handbasket that shed light on the law’s chaotic and cruel rollout:

Kansas SNAP data won't be shared with foreign governments, the main issue that stopping the state from sharing the info with the USDA. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said today that the state reached agreement and also won't lose any money for withholding data. kansasreflector.com/2026/02/27/k...

Kansas Court of Appeals upheld an injunction that keeps CoreCivic from housing prisoners while it works through a permitting process with Leavenworth city officials. kansasreflector.com/2026/02/27/k...

it's not the main thing in the article, but i really appreciate how clear @journalist-sherman.bsky.social is about the facts of trans identity here. not "trans activists maintain" or any kind of distancing framing like that, simply saying what is true.

Two transgender men from Lawrence are suing the state over a new law that invalidates driver’s licenses and restricts bathroom use based on sex assigned at birth, citing numerous constitutional rights and fear of violence. #ksleg kansasreflector.com/2026/02/27/t...

Trans Liberty PAC issued a statewide evacuation warning for trans people. “Please publish whatever you get from us. There needs to be a record that we existed and strove for peace and joy as long as we could.” #ksleg kansasreflector.com/2026/02/26/t...

“This state has done nothing but break my heart. If this state was a romantic partner, I would definitely call this an abusive relationship at this point.” | #ksleg with @crazeywriter.bsky.social kansasreflector.com/2026/02/26/t...

Just when I’ve been feeling proud of my home state and how leaders treat and support its residents. Each part of @kansasreflector.com ‘s coverage of this is to be commended. I appreciate someone trying to save us from ourselves.

follow @kansasreflector.com. support local news. This is a national disaster and they are covering it.

Best thread that shows how absolutely rushed this KS bill was. They wanted as little public scrutiny as possible.

this tells you what a railroad of a bill it was.

The Kansas Court of Appeals determined the state suffered no harm from changed gender markers. Kansans have been allowed to modify their driver’s licenses since at least 2002. There were just 380 changes from 2011 to 2022, and nobody raised concerns before Kobach filed his lawsuit. #ksleg

As transgender Kansans grapple with a challenging new reality today, and the rest of the nation watches what’s happening in the Sunflower State, here’s a thread of @kansasreflector.com stories and opinion pieces about SB 244. (1/15) #ksleg #trans #lgbtq

Senate bill would uncork round-the-clock drinking in Kansas during FIFA World Cup | via @gracefromkansas.bsky.social #ksleg

Kansas House's budget bill doesn't include funding for state employee raises. kansasreflector.com/2026/02/26/k... @kansascarpenter.bsky.social

U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann votes against bipartisan aviation safety bill crafted in wake of Kansas-to-D.C. jet crash in 2025. kansasreflector.com/2026/02/25/u... @kansascarpenter.bsky.social

CoreCivic is closer to reopening its Leavenworth prison facility to house ICE detainees. Commissioner Holly Pittman is concerned the city would violate property rights if they don't approve the company's special use permit. Still one more step before it's final. kansasreflector.com/2026/02/25/a...

The Legislature has dramatically shifted the property tax burden from businesses to homeowners over the past 30 years. Story via Dale Hogg #ksleg kansasreflector.com/2026/02/25/k...

Kansas Court of Appeals checks out constitutional challenge to state ban on multiple political parties nominating same person. kansasreflector.com/2026/02/24/k... @kansascarpenter.bsky.social

Trump in State of the Union speech touts US ‘turnaround for the ages,’ attacks Democrats | via @jennifershutt.bsky.social #ksleg

We've invited all of the candidates for governor to join us on the podcast and share their views. So far, we have published profiles from those interviews of Democrats Corson and Holscher, as well as Republicans Schwab, O'Hara and Colyer. #ksleg

Kansas House passes election bills targeting noncitizens, advanced voting | via @anna-writes.bsky.social #ksleg

I checked in with Texas government entities and others about the implementation of the state's bathroom bill, which isn't as far-reaching as the one passed in Kansas. It went into effect Dec. 4, and many are still working out how to comply. kansasreflector.com/2026/02/23/h...