14:42News StorySen. Pat Pettey, D-Kansas City, Kansas, questioned wisdom of a Senate amendment forbidding KDHE from expanding a list of required child vaccinations, including a possible COVID-19 shot. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Sen. Pat Pettey raised concerns during Senate debate Wednesday with jettisoning “what really works to help students learn” in favor of requiring high schoolers to pass a 60-question civics test before they receive a diploma.Pettey, a Democrat and retired teacher from Kansas City, lectured Ellinwood Republican Sen. Alicia Straub about the Kansas State...…14:42News StorySen. Pat Pettey, D-Kansas City, Kansas, questioned wisdom of a Senate amendment forbidding KDHE from expanding a list of required child vaccinations, including a possible COVID-19 shot. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Sen. Pat Pettey raised concerns during Senate debate Wednesday with jettisoning “what really works to help students learn” in favor of requiring high schoolers to pass a 60-question civics test before they receive a diploma.Pettey, a Democrat and retired teacher from Kansas City, lectured Ellinwood Republican Sen. Alicia Straub about the Kansas State...WW…

16:31News StorySenate President Ty Masterson addresses reporters following the decision by Senate Republicans to strip Sen. Gene Suellentrop of his majority leader title. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Senate Republicans ousted Gene Suellentrop from his majority leader title in a secret meeting Friday after he refused to resign over his late-night drunken escapade through Topeka.Senate President Ty Masterson said he personally asked Suellentrop to resign, but the Wichita Republican refused. The 29-member caucus forced Suellentrop out of the leadership role by a 22-4 vote, leaving...…16:31News StorySenate President Ty Masterson addresses reporters following the decision by Senate Republicans to strip Sen. Gene Suellentrop of his majority leader title. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Senate Republicans ousted Gene Suellentrop from his majority leader title in a secret meeting Friday after he refused to resign over his late-night drunken escapade through Topeka.Senate President Ty Masterson said he personally asked Suellentrop to resign, but the Wichita Republican refused. The 29-member caucus forced Suellentrop out of the leadership role by a 22-4 vote, leaving...WW…

11:49News StorySenate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop, right, had a blood alcohol level of 0.17 after his arrest on March 16. He faces a felony charge for fleeing police and misdemeanors for DUI and reckless driving. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop reeked of alcohol, struggled to speak or walk, and threatened the Kansas Highway Patrol officer who stopped him in the early hours of March 16 for driving the wrong way on Interstate 70 in Topeka.The details of the arrest were made available Thursday following the release of his charging affidavit...…11:49News StorySenate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop, right, had a blood alcohol level of 0.17 after his arrest on March 16. He faces a felony charge for fleeing police and misdemeanors for DUI and reckless driving. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop reeked of alcohol, struggled to speak or walk, and threatened the Kansas Highway Patrol officer who stopped him in the early hours of March 16 for driving the wrong way on Interstate 70 in Topeka.The details of the arrest were made available Thursday following the release of his charging affidavit...WW…

10:47News StoryRep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, introduces legislation Wednesday during a meeting of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. His bill would make it illegal to disclose a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Rep. Brandon Woodard introduced legislation Wednesday that would make it a crime to disclose a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity.The Lenexa Democrat, one of three openly LGBTQ state lawmakers, said the bill was to ban transgender girls and women from high school and college sports.“This legislation is...…10:47News StoryRep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, introduces legislation Wednesday during a meeting of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. His bill would make it illegal to disclose a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Rep. Brandon Woodard introduced legislation Wednesday that would make it a crime to disclose a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity.The Lenexa Democrat, one of three openly LGBTQ state lawmakers, said the bill was to ban transgender girls and women from high school and college sports.“This legislation is...WW…

12:27News StoryGov. Laura Kelly tours a vaccine clinic March 15 in Topeka. The governor says the state is at a crossroads as the Delta variant causes a surge in COVID-19 cases. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly announced Friday the state will make COVID-19 vaccines available to all adults starting next week.The accelerated rollout comes just days after the state opened up vaccines to critical workers and individuals with health conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus. This policy shift reflects an expected increase in vaccine production and an effort to...…12:27News StoryGov. Laura Kelly tours a vaccine clinic March 15 in Topeka. The governor says the state is at a crossroads as the Delta variant causes a surge in COVID-19 cases. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly announced Friday the state will make COVID-19 vaccines available to all adults starting next week.The accelerated rollout comes just days after the state opened up vaccines to critical workers and individuals with health conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus. This policy shift reflects an expected increase in vaccine production and an effort to...WW…

16:53News StorySen. Mark Steffen, R-Hutchinson, testifies in support of his bill to prohibit employers from mandating COVID-19 vaccination for their employees. (Lucas Lord for Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Sen. Mark Steffen pushed colleagues Thursday to support his legislation banning employers from requiring workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, saying lawmakers should reject the idea that society is more important than the individual.would prohibit employers from taking adverse action against employees who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine, and would impose a $1,000 fine for employers who...…16:53News StorySen. Mark Steffen, R-Hutchinson, testifies in support of his bill to prohibit employers from mandating COVID-19 vaccination for their employees. (Lucas Lord for Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Sen. Mark Steffen pushed colleagues Thursday to support his legislation banning employers from requiring workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, saying lawmakers should reject the idea that society is more important than the individual.would prohibit employers from taking adverse action against employees who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine, and would impose a $1,000 fine for employers who...WW…

TOPEKA — Kansas authorities have investigated a report that an unnamed Saint Francis Ministries employee picked up a boy from a foster parent and sexually assaulted the child in a motel room.According to a complaint filed with the Kansas Department for Children and Families, after the man abused the boy, a woman arrived at the motel and took the boy for a bike ride before delivering the child to his mother.Kansas Reflector learned of the allegation through an open records request for complaints involving foster children under the care of Saint Francis.DCF and Saint Francis declined to...…TOPEKA — Kansas authorities have investigated a report that an unnamed Saint Francis Ministries employee picked up a boy from a foster parent and sexually assaulted the child in a motel room.According to a complaint filed with the Kansas Department for Children and Families, after the man abused the boy, a woman arrived at the motel and took the boy for a bike ride before delivering the child to his mother.Kansas Reflector learned of the allegation through an open records request for complaints involving foster children under the care of Saint Francis.DCF and Saint Francis declined to...WW…

18:17News StorySen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, spearheaded legislation through her committee this week to alter restrictions on property tax increases for local governments. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate on Thursday passed legislation to require local governments to notify residents by mail and hold public hearings before increasing property tax collections.The tax bill removes a controversial lid on yearly mill levy increases and instead establishes a “revenue neutral rate,” which adjusts the effective tax rate to account for increases in assessed property value....…18:17News StorySen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, spearheaded legislation through her committee this week to alter restrictions on property tax increases for local governments. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate on Thursday passed legislation to require local governments to notify residents by mail and hold public hearings before increasing property tax collections.The tax bill removes a controversial lid on yearly mill levy increases and instead establishes a “revenue neutral rate,” which adjusts the effective tax rate to account for increases in assessed property value....WW…

TOPEKA — A former candidate for the Topeka City Council who can be seen in a video that shows the fatal shooting inside the U.S. Capitol says he has notified the FBI of his involvement in the breach.Will Pope also says he didn’t damage any property and that he entered the building with rioting supporters of President Donald Trump because he wanted to exercise his First Amendment rights.“I’ve reported myself to the FBI and remain loyal to the United States of America,” Pope said in a text message after hanging up on a phone call.Pope appears for a few seconds, , in a graphic video posted by...…TOPEKA — A former candidate for the Topeka City Council who can be seen in a video that shows the fatal shooting inside the U.S. Capitol says he has notified the FBI of his involvement in the breach.Will Pope also says he didn’t damage any property and that he entered the building with rioting supporters of President Donald Trump because he wanted to exercise his First Amendment rights.“I’ve reported myself to the FBI and remain loyal to the United States of America,” Pope said in a text message after hanging up on a phone call.Pope appears for a few seconds, , in a graphic video posted by...WW…

18:06News StoryGov. Laura Kelly and legislators on the State Finance Council agreed Thursday in a virtual meeting to increase spending on COVID-19 testing to $80 million and earmark an additional $15 million for testing depending on demand statewide. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly and legislative leaders approved Thursday a plan to boost COVID-19 testing in Kansas by 8,000 tests per day with up to $105 million in federal aid.The final distribution from $1 billion in CARES Act funding also includes $30 million to stabilize operations at the Kansas Department of...…18:06News StoryGov. Laura Kelly and legislators on the State Finance Council agreed Thursday in a virtual meeting to increase spending on COVID-19 testing to $80 million and earmark an additional $15 million for testing depending on demand statewide. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly and legislative leaders approved Thursday a plan to boost COVID-19 testing in Kansas by 8,000 tests per day with up to $105 million in federal aid.The final distribution from $1 billion in CARES Act funding also includes $30 million to stabilize operations at the Kansas Department of...WW…