By Anna Kaminski | reporter
Good morning, and happy Friday!
In Topeka, freelancer Maya Smith wrote about a woman who survived the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse. The woman relayed to the audience the importance of “owning our stories.”
And in Olathe, Grace Hills, another freelancer, covered Democratic voters’ uncertainty with Gov. Laura Kelly’s heir apparent. Senior reporters Tim Carpenter and Morgan Chilson have dispatches connected to Washington and Texas, respectively. Carpenter writes about a Great Bend attorney’s confirmation to a federal judgeship, and Chilson writes about a fearsome screwworm that has appeared in a Texas calf.
Read on, and have a great weekend.
Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector
Epstein survivor, advocates hold human trafficking awareness event in Topeka
TOPEKA — As survivor and advocate Lisa Phillips shared her story of sexual abuse by financier Jeffrey Epstein to a large crowd, she asked the audience to “bear with her” as she spoke.
A crowd member shouted from their seat that she was in a safe space.
Phillips spoke alongside other anti-human trafficking advocates during a conversation about trafficking and support for survivors at Washburn on Tuesday night.
Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector
Democratic voters weigh Gov. Laura Kelly’s endorsement of Kansas senator in gubernatorial primary
OLATHE — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly took her endorsement of Ethan Corson on the road Tuesday, speaking to a largely undecided crowd at a “Women for Ethan” event in Olathe ahead of the three-way Democratic primary for governor.
“The people of Kansas have put their trust in me to always have their best interest in mind,” Kelly said. “Now I’m asking you and all Kansans, trust me one more time.”
While nearly all attendees Kansas Reflector spoke to were undecided in the August primary, they said the Democratic governor’s backing of Corson gave his campaign weight. June Fischer, from Shawnee, is strongly leaning toward voting for Corson.
Kansas Reflector screen capture
U.S. Senate confirms first of three Kansas nominees for federal district court judge
TOPEKA — The U.S. Senate confirmed on a party-line vote one of three Kansans nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as judges in U.S. District Court.
Nominee Jeff Kuhlman, an attorney from Great Bend, was confirmed 52-46 by the U.S. Senate. Two others nominated to fill openings on the federal bench, Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Tony Mattivi and Kansas Solicitor General Anthony Powell, were forwarded to the full Senate for consideration. The Senate has yet to vote on their nominations.
Invasive pest that threatens livestock, pets found in Texas calf as Kansas tracks situation
TOPEKA — Scientists identified a case of New World screwworm in a Texas calf, ramping up concerns nationwide about stopping the invasive parasite that can destroy livestock herds.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health is educating state ranchers and others about the pest, which was previously eradicated in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s.
OPINION
Enacting term limits could stifle growing Congressional tenures, especially in Kansas
By Eric Thomas
Last week, my column aimed to answer, “How unusual is it that one party would dominate the US Senate on behalf of a state?”
(Here’s the upshot: the Republican streak in electing US senators in Kansas has been nearly unbelievable.)
While wading through the data needed to answer that question, I grew curious about term limits.
Trump picks acting AG Blanche to stay on full time
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer, to fill the top role at the Department of Justice on a permanent basis, he said Wednesday night.
Trump revealed Blanche as his choice at an outdoor event at the White House, saying “we are going to make him permanent attorney general” and adding that he expects Blanche’s nomination process to “go very quickly.”
Treasury’s Bessent mum on Trump’s IRS immunity deal
WASHINGTON — The day after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Trump administration’s “anti-weaponization” fund was dead, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent evaded questions on Capitol Hill Wednesday about whether President Donald Trump, his family and the Trump Organization would be absolved from future tax enforcement, another part of the president’s IRS settlement.
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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