By Anna Kaminski | reporter

Good morning, and happy Friday. Read on for the latest work from editor-in-chief Sherman Smith on U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall’s misuse of public funds. Morgan Chilson, senior reporter, writes about the special sales tax and revenue district that will help fund the forthcoming Kansas City Chief’s stadium. We’re following the money today, tomorrow and onward.

Have a good weekend.

Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector

Adam Hamilton says reporting on Roger Marshall’s use of taxpayer dollars warrants ethics inquiry

LAWRENCE — Democrat Adam Hamilton says reporting by Kansas Reflector and MS NOW warrants an ethics investigation into whether his opponent, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, misused government resources to support his campaign.

The reporting looked at audio recordings, photos, videos, screenshots of text messages and calendar items from 2020 — when Marshall first ran for his Senate seat — that appear to show the senator and his top aide repeatedly using congressional staff and government resources in questionable ways.

Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector

Kansas funding for new Chiefs stadium moves forward, setting sales tax revenue district

TOPEKA — State officials answered a key question this week underpinning the complex financing of the Kansas City Chiefs stadium, outlining boundaries of a district that will use sales taxes and revenue to fund part of the deal that includes public and private monies.

STAR bonds, or sales tax and revenue bonds, were approved by the Kansas Legislature in 2024 to provide partial funding for the $3 billion domed stadium planned in Wyandotte County, as well as an additional $1 billion for a Chiefs headquarters and training facility in Olathe and a mixed-use district.

Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids deplores ‘for-sake-of-headlines’ ICE raids in Kansas

TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids said September raids in southwest Kansas by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement damaged the beef and dairy industries and demonstrated federal agents should work collaboratively with local law enforcement on immigration cases.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported the three-day Operation Safe Community by ICE resulted in the arrest of 104 people.

Election analyst: Candidate quality key to Roger Marshall’s slide, Adam Hamilton’s rise in Kansas

TOPEKA — A pair of Washington political analysts traveled to the Lawrence building honoring the legacy of Republican Robert Dole — undefeated in nine consecutive campaigns for Congress — to explain the stunning reality of Kansas joining the list of states with competitive U.S. Senate races.

'Red cup' and 'almost Friday': Instagram accounts showcase teen drunken debauchery in Kansas

OPINION

By Eric Thomas

Come along with me down a rabbit hole.

“What will we see?” you ask.

This rabbit hole serves up a social media torrent of college bar fights and late-night make-out sessions. Endless memes about college football and Kansas campus life.

Trump: Execution of Fort Hood shooter will not be livestreamed

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump Thursday announced that the execution of a man convicted of the Fort Hood shooting will not be livestreamed, a reversal after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that Nidal Hasan’s death by firing squad would be public.

Trump immigration policies could turn away much-needed foreign doctors, critics say

As the nation’s physician shortage worsens, some fear the Trump administration’s immigration policies will dissuade or prevent doctors who earned their medical degrees in foreign countries from practicing in the United States.

KANSAS REFLECTOR PODCAST

A Kansas opinion editor on why commentary matters

In conversation about his new book with Kansas Reflector editor-in-chief Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector opinion editor Clay Wirestone explores his writing process, explains his voice as an opinion writer and offers insight into the evolution of opinion writing in Kansas and beyond.

Follow Kansas Reflector wherever you get your podcasts. Browse all episodes.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.

  • 5:30 p.m. Oct. 19, Frank Carlson Library in Concordia. Host: NCK Voters.

  • 6 p.m. Dec. 3, Prairie Star Restaurant in Manhattan. Host: League of Women Voters of Manhattan and Riley County.

If you're interested in having us talk in your town, email Sherman Smith at [email protected].

Thanks for reading Read & Reflect. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.