By Sherman Smith | editor-in-chief
Good morning! Opinion editor Clay Wirestone has some thoughts about Roger Marshall's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week.
We're also reporting on the Kansas State Board of Education's decision not to suspend the license of a teacher who, according to state officials, abused her son, how a Barton County couple used state funds to help restore a barn, and the latest from Washington.
Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector
OPINION
Roger Marshall’s glass jaw shatters as string of embarrassing stories wallop Kansas senator
By Clay Wirestone
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, has taken it on the chin repeatedly over the past week.
He wants another term in the Senate, but first he has to make it through an increasingly fraught election season.
Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector
Kansas Board of Education censures teacher, parent in alleged corporal punishment case
TOPEKA — The Kansas State Board of Education rejected conclusions of child abuse investigators, a professional practice commission and attorneys with the Department of Education to protect the teaching license of a mother accused of physically abusing her son.
The incident prompting regulatory intervention occurred in December 2022 at the Child Development Center on McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita. The center’s staff called the mother, who held a Kansas teaching license since 2020, to the school because her preschool-age son was throwing objects at a teacher. Educators testified the mother — unidentified because of redaction of state documents chronicling the case — watched video of the child’s conduct before declaring, “You’re going to learn how to act in the car.”
Dale Hogg for Kansas Reflector
A heart of stone: Barton County couple revive 126-year-old barn with help of state grant
Jim and Katie Homolka used a $25,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce to breathe new life and purpose into their limestone barn, built in 1900, in northeast Barton County.
Looking at their property and all of its possibilities, Kate said it is a shame the program wasn’t renewed to help similar sites.
“It’s very sad that a lot of history is going to be lost,” she said.
Trump’s Canadian trade war stirs up trouble for Republican candidates
President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war with Canada is creating headaches for Republicans ahead of November’s midterms as high prices remain a top concern among voters.
Responding to Trump’s increased tariffs, Canadian officials have said they’re deliberately targeting goods from states where there are close elections. And GOP candidates in Kansas, Maine and Ohio among others have been forced to balance supporting Trump with defending local manufacturers.
Trump administration aims to exclude many noncitizens from the census
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration wants to overhaul the U.S. census to exclude noncitizens who don’t have a green card from the country’s next population count in 2030, according to a Wednesday notice in the Federal Register.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
3 p.m. Sept. 26, Washburn Library in Topeka. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone will participate in the panel “Why UPK: University Press of Kansas Celebrates 80 Years.” Host: Kansas Book Festival.
2 p.m. Sept. 27, Red Rocks Visitor Center in Emporia. Host: Red Rocks.
7 p.m. Sept. 29, Raven Book Store in Lawrence. Book release event for opinion editor Clay Wirestone’s “Opinionated.” Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will moderate.
6 p.m. Oct. 12, Riverbank Brewing in Council Grove. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone talks about his book and the latest news. Host: Flint Hills Books.
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].
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