Latest Kansas State Legislature News
GOP leader questions plans to put Afghan evacuees in Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Republican lawmaker in Kansas said Wednesday that he's concerned about President Joe Biden's plan to resettle almost 500 Afghan evacuees in the state because he doesn't know how well they're being vetted. Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson...
Judge won't let lawmakers, hunters join DNR board lawsuit
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin judge declined to let Republican legislators and a hunting group join a lawsuit seeking to remove the state Department of Natural Resources policy board’s leader from his post. Dane County Circuit Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn denied...
Lawmaker accused of kicking boy pleads guilty to 3 charges
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas legislator accused of kicking a high school student in the testicles pleaded guilty Monday to three lesser misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and was placed on a year's probation under a deal with the local prosecutor. Republican Rep....
Former Kansas legislator charged with COVID relief fraud
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted former Kansas state Rep. Michael Capps on 19 counts alleging that he tried to defraud federal, state and county government organizations out of more than $450,000 in coronavirus relief funding. The U.S....
Legislative districts overpopulated in 4 Kansas urban areas
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Population shifts left Kansas legislators in four urban areas with too many people in their districts and lawmakers from most rural areas with too few, according to new figures from the Legislature's research staff. The numbers...
GOP claims Kansas governor is spending COVID funds illegally
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republican legislators in Kansas are accusing Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's administration of illegally spending at least $86 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds by not getting their approval first. Kelly's office on Tuesday did not...
Democrat leaving Kansas House joins national atheists group
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A Democrat who has announced that he's stepping down from the Kansas House will serve as state policy director for a national group that defends the rights of atheists and fights to keep religion out of government. American Atheists on Monday...
Kansas redistricting to focus on Democrat, cut rural clout
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Ten years of population shifts will boost the clout of the Kansas City and Wichita areas in Kansas politics and fuel a fight over redrawing the district of the only Democrat representing the state in Congress. The Republican-controlled Legislature...
Kansas lawmaker: Man pretending to be on team visiting homes
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House member said Monday that someone has pretended to campaign for him door-to-door in his Kansas City district, prompting him to file a police report. Democratic state Rep. Aaron Coleman said he believes the “imposter” wants to force...
Kansas lawmakers begin town hall meetings on redistricting
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators on Monday began five days of town hall meetings on redrawing the state's political boundaries, ahead of the release of census data they need to do the job and with Republicans facing accusations that they're rushing the hearings. ...
