A rush to finish early. Education Department warning. ‘Claim sharks’ bill.

By Clay Wirestone | opinion editor

TOPEKA — The Republican-led Kansas Legislature accelerated the pace of the session in 2026, with bills speeding through, debate ending abruptly on the chamber floors and little or no time allowed for constituents to submit diverse opinions for hearings.

In the end, lawmakers left town a month sooner than usual.

Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, said procedural steps taken this year weren’t always about issues or bill substance, and there was no need to move quickly.

“In many of these instances, they have the votes to support the things they want to do,” he said. “They’re doing it hastily just to be able to be out of there in X days. It is an active choice to decide to approach the process, and it is not ordained by the rule, by the law, by the Constitution or by God. It is simply the way they have chosen to approach the question.”

Republican leaders imposed a breakneck schedule that would allow them to hit the campaign trail sooner. Senate President Ty Masterson is seeking the GOP nomination for governor, while House Speaker Dan Hawkins wants the party’s nomination for state insurance commissioner.

TOPEKA — The U.S. Department of Education told four Kansas school districts on Friday their gender-inclusive policies violate federal student protections.

Kimberly Richey, assistant secretary for civil rights in the department, said Kansas City, Kansas Public School District, Olathe Public Schools, Shawnee Mission School District and Topeka Public Schools “have allowed ‘gender ideology’ to run amok in their schools.”

TOPEKA — After lawmakers on April 9 sustained Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto on the bill that would have allowed legally questioned for-profit consultants to charge veterans for help filing their disability claims, Veterans of Foreign Wars lobbyist Jim Karleskint was beaming.

A few hours later, so was La Cygne Republican Rep. Rick James. For a different reason.

TOPEKA — A state audit found that as much as $1.2 million in food assistance payments could have been made to people living outside Kansas, although that would account for less than 1% of state spending on the program. 

By Austin McCoy

The CBS television show “It’s What’s Happening Baby” aired a music video featuring Martha and the Vandellas performing their hit song “Nowhere to Run” to kick off its national broadcast dedicated to Detroit on June 28, 1965.

The National Guard’s top general told Congress on Friday that it would follow the Constitution and the law when he was asked about the possibility President Donald Trump would order troops to polling places for the midterm elections.

WASHINGTON — Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly’s legal team is urging a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that allows the former Navy captain to keep his retirement rank and pay while his First Amendment case against the Pentagon moves forward. 

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