Politics & Government

Activists urge lawmakers to move ahead with police body camera bill

Lawmakers hear testimony on a bill that would require police officers to wear body cameras. Supporters say it’s an essential tool to increase transparency, but some legislators are worried about the costs to local police departments.

Politics & Government

Capitol Beats: 'Do you want to get that?'

Check this spot on Sundays for a few quick hits about what’s driving the debate in the Legislature.

Politics & Government

Wichita council withdraws support for driver’s permits for illegal immigrants

A proposal to grant illegal immigrants the opportunity to obtain driver’s permits lost the support of the Wichita City Council on Tuesday.

Prairie Politics

Appropriations chair Ryckman steps down as Kansas House majority whip

Rep. Ron Ryckman Jr. has stepped down as majority whip in the Kansas House, citing his recent appointment as appropriations chair.

Politics & Government

City Council member Lavonta Williams to run for mayor

City Council member Lavonta Williams, who represents District 1 in northeast Wichita, has filed paperwork for mayor.

Election

10 candidates file for Wichita mayor’s race

With several last-minute filings, there will be 10 candidates for the Wichita mayor’s race.

Politics & Government

Brownback plan would encourage urban growth

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s prescription for reviving rural Kansas came in the form of tax breaks and paying off student loans.

Education

Joshua Blick files for District 4 seat on Wichita school board

One more candidate has filed to run for the Wichita school board, meaning two of three incumbents will have opponents in the April 7 general election.

Politics & Government

Scientists to legislative panel: Fracking isn’t direct cause of Kansas earthquakes

The increased number of quakes is likely connected to the reinjection of salty wastewater from oil and gas drilling.

Politics & Government

Kansas Senate bill would let any legal gun owner secretly carry without permit

The state Senate is poised to pass a bill that would allow any Kansan who can legally own a gun to carry it concealed in public.

Politics & Government

Gov. Sam Brownback’s push to change Kansas Supreme Court seen as linked to school finance

Democratic lawmakers and education advocates say Gov. Sam Brownback’s push to change the way the state’s Supreme Court justices are selected is actually a veiled attack on public education.

Prairie Politics

Rep. Mike Pompeo targets Obama, government spending at Kansas GOP convention

U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo questioned the sincerity of President Obama’s recent exhortations about the importance of the middle class while attending the Kansas Republican Party’s annual convention in Topeka on Friday.

Prairie Politics

Kansas Republicans, Sen. Jerry Moran preparing for 2016 election

Kansas Republicans just had a clean-sweep election in 2014. But they’re already preparing for 2016, when in addition to the presidential race U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and members of the Kansas Senate and House will be up for re-election.

Politics & Government

Kansas governor won’t disclose other appeals court hopefuls

Gov. Sam Brownback’s office is refusing to disclose the names of potential candidates who were passed over by him for a seat on the Kansas Court of Appeals.