By Sherman Smith | editor-in-chief
Good morning! We were busy tracking and reporting results on election night, but the work didn't stop there. We have more election coverage for you today, from legislative races to the State Board of Education to Opinion editor Clay Wirestone's assessment of the "hell no" vote.
In other news, CoreCivic announced it was selling its Leavenworth prison to ICE, which could allow the company to escape the city's oversight.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Three Kansas House incumbents — two Democrats, one Republican — fall in primary election
TOPEKA — Rep. Henry Helgerson’s lengthy career in the Kansas Legislature will come to an involuntary end after losing the Democratic primary election as three Kansas House incumbents fell short in campaigns for reelection.
Helgerson, the most prominent fiscal conservative among House Democrats, was ousted Tuesday by Brandon Whipple, a former Wichita mayor who previously served in the House. Elsewhere in Wichita, Democratic Rep. Ford Carr, a two-term incumbent, lost the primary to Bonita Gooch, owner and publisher of the Community Voice. Whipple faces GOP nominee Zachary Werhan in November, but Gooch has a clear path in the general election because no Republican filed in her district.
In southeast Kansas, retired pastor Dan Muter of Pittsburg dispatched Mulberry Republican Rep. Ken Collins, who has served in the House since 2019. Muter’s opponent in the fall will be Democrat Avery Rowland of Girard.
Baya Burgess/Kansas Reflector
OPINION
Witless whining on social media confirms that Kansas Republicans can’t take ‘no’ for an answer
By Clay Wirestone
Four years ago, Kansans said “hell no” to a constitutional amendment clearing the way for extremists to ban abortion.
On Tuesday, Kansans said “hell no” again, this time to a constitutional amendment clearing the way for a conservative revamp of the state Supreme Court — banning abortion and gutting public education.
Somehow, that message hasn’t been received.
Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector
CoreCivic sells Kansas prison, leaving Leavenworth with oversight and financial questions
TOPEKA — CoreCivic on Wednesday announced the sale of its Leavenworth prison to the federal government, likely negating months of negotiations and a legal battle city officials pursued to ensure the humane treatment of immigrants detained there.
Nashville-based CoreCivic announced in a news release that it sold two facilities, Leavenworth’s Midwest Regional Reception Center and the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, Minnesota, to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. CoreCivic will continue to operate both facilities.
GOP candidates for Kansas State Board of Education advance in three contested primary races
TOPEKA — Unofficial GOP primary results as of Wednesday morning place an attorney, a retired superintendent and a former Kansas Board of Education member one step closer to overseeing K-12 public schools.
Price tag for Trump’s D.C. deployment of National Guard: $1.4B more through 2029
WASHINGTON — The deployment of National Guard troops hailing from all across the country to Washington, D.C. is expected to cost taxpayers more than $1.4 billion in additional funds through 2029.
Trump urges US Senate to pass bill making daylight saving time permanent
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is urging Republican senators to “release their holds” and pass a measure making daylight saving time permanent nationwide.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
6 p.m. Aug. 12, Celtic Fox in Topeka. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will answer audience questions about Kansas Reflector reporting on the primary and general elections. Host: Capital Area Democratic Women's Club.
2 p.m. Sept. 27, Red Rocks Visitor Center in Emporia. Host: Red Rocks.
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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