De Soto's huge new Panasonic plant isn't at full production after political issues popped around EV batteries. Co. officials said they will shift much work to supplying data centers and AI systems, including making data center batteries in Kansas. kansasreflector.com/2026/06/17/p...

I've been a little lax about posting stories. This is from last week and involves a judge refusing a requested injunction from the No Labels Kansas party - although there is some question the men requesting it are formally affiliated with the national No Labels party.

I spent time in Galena, Kansas, talking with residents about a landfill - built on top of a Superfund site - that could be putting contaminants in the air. 2 residents proposed a class action lawsuit, and others are asking state/federal authorities to intervene. kansasreflector.com/2026/06/15/s...

Kansas legislators push back against federal energy regulators ending competitive bids | via @crazeywriter.bsky.social #ksleg

Covered VP JD Vance at a Kansas City event today where he spoke about the importance of manufacturing, tax cuts and how "crazy" Democrats are. kansasreflector.com/2026/05/18/v...

Measles is back in Kansas, hopefully NOT leading to an outbreak like last year. However, vaccination rates (reported only through 2023-24 school year) are down in the state. kansasreflector.com/2026/05/13/m...

Former Coldwater, KS, mayor Joe Ceballos has been ordered to appear at an ICE detention center in Wichita, the beginning of deportation procedures. He pled guilty to three counts of election crimes and hoped to avoid deportation. kansasreflector.com/2026/05/12/i...

3 Kansans are being watched for Andes hantavirus symptoms after close contact with someone who was a passenger on the MV Hondius. At least 11 passengers from the ship were infected, and 3 have died. Public health officials say little to no risk for most people. kansasreflector.com/2026/05/12/t...

A bit of a surprise from Kansas utility regulators today when they approved just part of a 133-mile Evergy transmission line, sending the power company back to the drawing board on areas where the line goes through prairie grasslands. kansasreflector.com/2026/05/12/k...

Kansas state employees are reaching out to oppose dropping Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas from their health insurance plan to go with Aetna only. Right now, they can choose from both companies. kansasreflector.com/2026/05/08/s...

Leavenworth had its first oversight meeting of CoreCivic's prison. They mostly went over details, outlining requirements set for CoreCivic to follow. The prison warden said they only have about 250 detainees now, although #ICE budget requests may push that higher. kansasreflector.com/2026/05/06/c...

Kansas City pastor Adam Hamilton has entered the U.S. Senate race as a Democrat, challenging Sen. Roger Marshall to take an early retirement. kansasreflector.com/2026/04/30/k...

Kansas is attempting to attract lawyers to rural communities and is offering resources to people who are representing themselves, all part of an Access to Justice initiative. kansasreflector.com/2026/04/27/a...

Sandy Spidel Neumann is one of eight Democratic candidates running to unseat Sen. Roger Marshall. She contends her business background, a focus on business principles, integrity and accountability would make a difference in Washington. kansasreflector.com/2026/04/27/d...

A 345kV transmission line that regulators say is needed to maintain utility reliability (think Winter Storm Uri, which caused all sorts of problems!) is getting push-back from ranchers and landowners. kansasreflector.com/2026/04/22/k...

Joe Ceballos, a former Kansas mayor and immigrant, pleaded guilty to lesser charges after he was accused of voting illegally. The lesser charges can help him avoid deportation, his attorney said. kansasreflector.com/2026/04/20/f...

A state audit found that Kansas may have paid as much as $1.2 million to people living out of state while they filed for food assistance benefits. However, federal rules limit what the state can do to require being notified of when people move. kansasreflector.com/2026/04/17/f...

We've started a series of 5 stories digging into processes that occurred at the Kansas Legislature this year. @timcarpenter.bsky.social has the first story on "calling the question." I had no idea what that was when I first heard it -- Tim explains it well! kansasreflector.com/2026/04/13/k...

Kansas Republican legislators overturned a veto to put in place a 25-foot boundary around law enforcement/emergency personnel when they're working. Senate leader says that means what happened in Minnesota won't happen in Kansas. kansasreflector.com/2026/04/10/l...

The Kansas Legislature is back and working quickly to overturn vetoes and pass some last-minute bills. Check out the website to keep up! They're still attempting to pass property tax relief, but one bill failed. kansasreflector.com/2026/04/09/k...

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a few bills today, including one that offers incentives for attorneys to practice in rural areas and another that strengthens laws around sexual extortion. kansasreflector.com/2026/04/06/k...

Kansas missed revenue projections in March, continuing a monthslong trend that puts the state $175 million below forecasts for the fiscal year - and will deplete state reserves. kansasreflector.com/2026/04/06/k...

A federal grant to Climate + Energy Project launched a program to help people struggling to pay utility bills. But the Trump admin stopped the flow of funds. Dorothy Barnett is hopeful the program can continue in some fashion. kansasreflector.com/2026/04/02/k...

Transparency is important. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/31/r...

Tyranny of the minority -- that's what one Kansas Senator called a bill that passed both houses (but not with enough votes to overturn a veto, so we'll see) because 10% of the voters can petition against a property tax increase and stop it. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/31/t...

The Legislature overrode the governor's veto on health care sharing ministries plans, so people enrolled in these nonprofit plans to share medical costs will get a tax deduction. Thanks to @anna-writes.bsky.social for updating this story! kansasreflector.com/2026/03/27/k...

I didn't know what health care sharing ministries were when I started this story. It's an interesting concept. The Kansas governor vetoed tax deductions for people using the plans. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/27/k...

Former Kansas high school wrestling coach accused of recording kids as they showered | via @crazeywriter.bsky.social #ksleg

Evergy and former employees settled in a class action lawsuit about whether the company adequately monitored and managed its 401(k) retirement plan. Employees allege failure to do so cost "tens of millions of dollars." kansasreflector.com/2026/03/25/k...

Fierce blowback to parole decision in 1978 murder case could uproot Kansas’ system | via @anna-writes.bsky.social #ksleg

Interesting to see how this plays out if it moves forward. Seems like one of those local control issues. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/19/k...

The Kansas Senate took a first vote on two abortion bills, one that requires Kansas Department of Health and Environment to share "junk" science about reversing chemical abortions. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/19/k...

Hold on for a ride! The KS Senate is hearing 60 bills today. Here's a story on one -- this bill protects Kansas law enforcement for their work with ICE in detaining immigrants. It includes making sure they have protection from civil judgements. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/18/b...

Are young people learning toward communism and socialism? The data is murky but the Kansas Legislature thinks so --- and they're considering a 100-question civics test before graduation. (Good news -- you could take it repeatedly to pass) kansasreflector.com/2026/03/18/k...

Landlords who neglect property so badly that it becomes uninhabitable may be held accountable if a new proposal advances in the Senate. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/17/p...

Students are standing up for their First Amendment rights. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/16/s...

Dozens oppose Kansas bill inflating enforcement powers of ICE and other federal agents | via @kansascarpenter.bsky.social #ksleg

Kansas Democrats are challenging Republicans for breaking protocol for when bills are dead and won't be heard for the year. Sen. Dinah Sykes is calling them "zombie" bills that are coming back to life. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/12/k...

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.

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!

Kansas Republican Sen. Mike Thompson has put forth a proposal that would change the state constitution to say life begins at conception. If it passes the House and Senate with two-thirds vote, the issue would be put on the ballot. kansasreflector.com/2026/03/10/p...

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...

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 Medicaid practices jeopardize vulnerable mental health clients and networks, therapist says | via @crazeywriter.bsky.social #ksleg

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...

Kansas will be back in court over laws that invalidate driver's licenses of trans people and restrict bathroom use to sex assigned at birth. kansasreflector.com/2026/02/27/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...

After six years working in the foster care world, this is such important legislation!