13:13News StoryHouse Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, center, D-Wichita, opposed a House resolution passed by the Republican majority urging rejection by the Legislature of any mask mandate issued by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — The Kansas House worked to get in front of any effort to extend statewide COVID-19 mask mandates Tuesday by adopting a resolution urging legislators to reject a planned move by Gov. Laura Kelly to renew an executive order advising Kansans to wear a face covering.Kelly irritated some Kansans, especially Republican politicians, by...…13:13News StoryHouse Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, center, D-Wichita, opposed a House resolution passed by the Republican majority urging rejection by the Legislature of any mask mandate issued by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — The Kansas House worked to get in front of any effort to extend statewide COVID-19 mask mandates Tuesday by adopting a resolution urging legislators to reject a planned move by Gov. Laura Kelly to renew an executive order advising Kansans to wear a face covering.Kelly irritated some Kansans, especially Republican politicians, by...WW…

16:33News StoryScott Schneider, a lobbyist with the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association, said the 2021 Legislature needed to develop mechanisms for county and state governments to compensate businesses forced to close or reduce services during the COVID-19 pandemic.(Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Senate Republicans picked up the torch Thursday of an effort to force counties placing COVID-19 restrictions on businesses to reimburse owners for payment of local property taxes and to require the state to establish a $100 million claims fund for benefit of businesses shut down...…16:33News StoryScott Schneider, a lobbyist with the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association, said the 2021 Legislature needed to develop mechanisms for county and state governments to compensate businesses forced to close or reduce services during the COVID-19 pandemic.(Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Senate Republicans picked up the torch Thursday of an effort to force counties placing COVID-19 restrictions on businesses to reimburse owners for payment of local property taxes and to require the state to establish a $100 million claims fund for benefit of businesses shut down...WW…

11:42News StoryFormer Gov. Jeff Colyer, a Republican candidate for governor in 2022, denounced Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of $500,000 for stem-cell research into potential treatments for COVID-19. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Former Gov. Jeff Colyer moved closer Friday to declaring a candidacy for the Republican Party’s nomination for governor in 2022 in what could be a competitive race against three-term Attorney General Derek Schmidt.Colyer assumed the governorship after resignation of Sam Brownback, but failed in August 2018 to win the GOP nomination in an extremely...…11:42News StoryFormer Gov. Jeff Colyer, a Republican candidate for governor in 2022, denounced Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of $500,000 for stem-cell research into potential treatments for COVID-19. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Former Gov. Jeff Colyer moved closer Friday to declaring a candidacy for the Republican Party’s nomination for governor in 2022 in what could be a competitive race against three-term Attorney General Derek Schmidt.Colyer assumed the governorship after resignation of Sam Brownback, but failed in August 2018 to win the GOP nomination in an extremely...WW…

12:17News StoryThe Kansas Supreme Court issued an order suspending District Court Judge William Cullins from work as a judge for one year for making racist and sexist remarks in the courthouse that created a hostile working environment. He will be given an opportunity to reduce the sanction by engaging in professional counseling and training. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court suspended a district court judge in south-central Kansas on Friday for a maximum of one year for violations of the judicial code of conduct for unprofessional behavior punctuated by...…12:17News StoryThe Kansas Supreme Court issued an order suspending District Court Judge William Cullins from work as a judge for one year for making racist and sexist remarks in the courthouse that created a hostile working environment. He will be given an opportunity to reduce the sanction by engaging in professional counseling and training. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court suspended a district court judge in south-central Kansas on Friday for a maximum of one year for violations of the judicial code of conduct for unprofessional behavior punctuated by...WW…

12:51News StorySen. Bud Estes, a Dodge City Republican state senator and former Kansas House member, has died at age 74 following a lengthy illness. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Dodge City state Sen. Bud Estes will be remembered as a kind and thoughtful citizen-legislator in Topeka and dedicated public servant for constituents in southwest Kansas, politicians of both political parties said Saturday.Estes, 74, served in the Kansas House before elected to the Senate in 2016. The senator was re-elected in November with nearly 70% of the vote while battling a longstanding...…12:51News StorySen. Bud Estes, a Dodge City Republican state senator and former Kansas House member, has died at age 74 following a lengthy illness. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Dodge City state Sen. Bud Estes will be remembered as a kind and thoughtful citizen-legislator in Topeka and dedicated public servant for constituents in southwest Kansas, politicians of both political parties said Saturday.Estes, 74, served in the Kansas House before elected to the Senate in 2016. The senator was re-elected in November with nearly 70% of the vote while battling a longstanding...WW…

11:11News StoryRep. Shannon Francis, a Republican from Liberal, is convinced the Kansas Legislature should pass a resolution urging Congress to pass a law allowing states to move to year-round daylight saving time. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — State Rep. Shannon Francis is an early-to-bed, early-to-rise guy frustrated with the necessity to flip his clock back and forth for daylight saving time and feels Congress should do something to synchronize schedules across the country.Francis is working to build support in the — it doesn’t carry force of law, but serves as a...…11:11News StoryRep. Shannon Francis, a Republican from Liberal, is convinced the Kansas Legislature should pass a resolution urging Congress to pass a law allowing states to move to year-round daylight saving time. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — State Rep. Shannon Francis is an early-to-bed, early-to-rise guy frustrated with the necessity to flip his clock back and forth for daylight saving time and feels Congress should do something to synchronize schedules across the country.Francis is working to build support in the — it doesn’t carry force of law, but serves as a...WW…

16:58News StoryGov. Laura Kelly said the Kansas Department of Labor’s computer system would be shut down from Saturday until 7 a.m. Tuesday to install more sophisticated security measures to thwart a surge in fraudulent claims for benefits. (Screenshot/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said the Kansas Department of Labor’s computer system handling unemployment claims will be taken offline from Saturday until Tuesday to install security upgrades to counter fraudulent activity.Kelly said recent expansion in first-time job claims was likely tied to criminal enterprises attempting to...…16:58News StoryGov. Laura Kelly said the Kansas Department of Labor’s computer system would be shut down from Saturday until 7 a.m. Tuesday to install more sophisticated security measures to thwart a surge in fraudulent claims for benefits. (Screenshot/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said the Kansas Department of Labor’s computer system handling unemployment claims will be taken offline from Saturday until Tuesday to install security upgrades to counter fraudulent activity.Kelly said recent expansion in first-time job claims was likely tied to criminal enterprises attempting to...WW…

3:33News StorySen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican, took aggressive positions on COVID-19 as a member of the Reno County Commission before assuming office in the Kansas Senate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Tonya Ferguson accepted an invitation from a newcomer on the Reno County Commission to outline at a public meeting in November how essential oils extracted from plants could come in handy during the COVID-19 pandemic.The appearance by a wellness advocate for products sold by the Utah company doTERRA International stood in contrast to the commission’s traditional...…3:33News StorySen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican, took aggressive positions on COVID-19 as a member of the Reno County Commission before assuming office in the Kansas Senate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Tonya Ferguson accepted an invitation from a newcomer on the Reno County Commission to outline at a public meeting in November how essential oils extracted from plants could come in handy during the COVID-19 pandemic.The appearance by a wellness advocate for products sold by the Utah company doTERRA International stood in contrast to the commission’s traditional...WW…

8:45News StoryTrey Cocking and Eric Sartorius, of the League of Kansas Municipalities, say legislative priorities of the state’s 600 cities include COVID-19 regulation, property and sales tax reforms and Medicaid expansion. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — League of Kansas Municipalities representatives Trey Cocking and Erik Sartorius have reserved seats to observe how more than 600 cities in the state interact with other levels of the government hierarchy during the COVID-19 pandemic.These city government advocates can point to exemplary collaborative efforts in which information about...…8:45News StoryTrey Cocking and Eric Sartorius, of the League of Kansas Municipalities, say legislative priorities of the state’s 600 cities include COVID-19 regulation, property and sales tax reforms and Medicaid expansion. (Submitted/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — League of Kansas Municipalities representatives Trey Cocking and Erik Sartorius have reserved seats to observe how more than 600 cities in the state interact with other levels of the government hierarchy during the COVID-19 pandemic.These city government advocates can point to exemplary collaborative efforts in which information about...WW…

14:17News StoryA Shawnee County Election Office volunteer drops a ballot into a dropbox on Oct. 20, 2020. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed two bundles of election reform measures Friday that would have restricted advance voting, eliminated emergency powers to alter voting procedures, added a new crime for turning in others’ ballots, and strengthened penalties for existing election crimes.Kelly also vetoed a bill allowing teenagers to carry concealed firearms after obtaining a state permit. It also would have automatically enabled people with...…14:17News StoryA Shawnee County Election Office volunteer drops a ballot into a dropbox on Oct. 20, 2020. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed two bundles of election reform measures Friday that would have restricted advance voting, eliminated emergency powers to alter voting procedures, added a new crime for turning in others’ ballots, and strengthened penalties for existing election crimes.Kelly also vetoed a bill allowing teenagers to carry concealed firearms after obtaining a state permit. It also would have automatically enabled people with...WW…