By Clay Wirestone | opinion editor
Good morning! Here I am again, on the mend at home after trips last week to St. Louis and Hutchinson. I look forward to a Topeka jaunt Friday for a chat about the legacy of Emporia’s William Allen White. For now, though, let’s turn to the news.
Anna Kaminski / Kansas Reflector
Kansas political battles await after 5 Republicans decline to seek reelection to Board of Education
TOPEKA — In an extraordinary turn of events, five Republican incumbents on the Kansas Board of Education due to stand for reelection this year decided to step aside.
Fourteen candidates filed by the June 1 deadline to campaign for state Board of Education seats up for grabs in 2026. Every two years, five of 10 state board positions appear on Kansas ballots. While Republicans prepare for contested primaries Aug. 4 in three of five district races, Democrats fielded a single candidate in all five districts.
The openings were created by pending departure of three-term incumbent Jim Porter of Fredonia and two-term member Michelle Dombrosky of Olathe, who accepted an offer to be lieutenant governor running mate for GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlotte O’Hara. The one-term incumbents declining to seek reelection were Danny Zeck of Leavenworth, Cathy Hopkins of Hays and Dennis Hershberger of Hutchinson.
Three of the five state Board of Education members not up for reelection until 2028 are Democrats, so this election cycle could reset the partisan balance for the next two years. A current GOP majority on the board oversees the Kansas Department of Education and maintains constitutional supervision of K-12 education policy and standards applicable to 475,000 public school students.
Anna Kaminski / Kansas Reflector
Kansas surgeon running for U.S. Senate focuses campaign on gun policy, affordable health care
TOPEKA — Kevin Latz, a pediatric surgeon, said he has “spent way too many hours in the operating room taking bullets out of children.”
But he is also an outdoorsman, citing one of his proudest moments as a father when his daughter shot her first turkey last winter. These experiences informed one of his top policy priorities as he runs for the U.S. Senate. Latz said he wants to push for a federal gun purchasing waiting period, mandatory firearm safety training and a moratorium on the purchase of weapons at gun shows.
Tim Carpenter / Kansas Reflector
OPINION
Who is pushing the constitutional amendment to change Kansas Supreme Court judicial selection?
By Amii Castle
On Aug. 4, Kansans will again vote on another proposed state constitutional amendment.
This time, we will vote whether to change the way in which we select our Kansas Supreme Court justices — changing from a nonpartisan, merit-based process to a popular election, one that could include the usual campaigns, yard signs and fundraisers.
Trump administration swiftly moves ahead on plans to restrict voting by mail in the states
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will allow states to access federal citizenship data by June 30 and plans to monitor the flow of mail ballots for signs of voter fraud, according to a court document.
High-potency cannabis fuels state debates over psychosis and addiction risks
A growing body of research suggests that frequent use of high-THC cannabis increases the risk of cannabis use disorder, psychosis and other mental health problems for users, particularly adolescents and young adults. In response, lawmakers in some states this year have moved to impose stricter potency caps, while others have scaled back or rejected such measures amid industry opposition and uncertainty over research findings.
Trump administration $100,000 visa fee for highly skilled foreign workers struck down
WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Massachusetts Monday struck down the Trump administration’s efforts to require a $100,000 visa fee for highly skilled immigrant workers, finding the policy is an unlawful tax.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
6:30 p.m. June 12, Kansas Museum of History in Topeka. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone will join a panel discussion: "From the Desk of William Allen White: What Can Journalism Today Learn from the Sage of Emporia?"
5:30 p.m. June 16, Bradbury Alumni Center at Washburn University in Topeka. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
6 p.m. June 24, Groover Labs in Wichita. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
6 p.m. June 25, Clint Bowyer Community Building in Emporia. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
7 p.m. June 27, Park City Senior Center. Host: Park City Community Pride.
2 p.m. Sept. 27, Red Rocks Visitor Center in Emporia. Host: Red Rocks.
If you're interested in having us talk in your town, email Sherman Smith at [email protected].
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