By Sherman Smith | editor-in-chief
Good morning! Reporter Anna Kaminski was in Overland Park last night for the first Republican debate since the field of gubernatorial candidates was finalized. She wrote about the name-calling — like “angry elf” — and their comments on data centers, the Kansas City Chiefs deal, and property taxes.
In other news, our intern, Baya Burgess, went to Emporia to talk to high schoolers about why they want to become teachers. And senior reporter Morgan Chilson is writing about legislators’ concerns with competitive bidding on transmission projects.
Kansas Reflector
Insults fly as Kansas GOP gubernatorial candidates compete for dominance during debate
OVERLAND PARK — Name-calling and infighting dominated a Republican gubernatorial debate Friday that was preceded by campaigns trying to convince opponents to drop out of the race.
Senate President Ty Masterson called businessman Philip Sarnecki an “angry elf.” Sarnecki blamed Masterson for the state’s budget issues. Former Johnson County commissioner Charlotte O’Hara and Secretary of State Scott Schwab stayed out of the line of fire, focusing on their policy priorities.
The candidates are among seven Republicans seeking to replace Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly when she completes her second term in January.
Baya Burgess/Kansas Reflector
Educators inspired by Kansas high school students hoping to become teachers
EMPORIA — Teacher Sheila Peterson says this era of education is a renaissance.
Peterson, an acclaimed North Dakota teacher, flew to Kansas for the Kansas Future Teachers Academy at Emporia State University and to work with Kansas high schoolers who want to become teachers. She left feeling hopeful.
“It was a partnership, you know, in those classrooms,” she said in an interview before leaving ESU on Wednesday. “It was so good for my soul, and I’m so inspired.”
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas legislators push back against federal energy regulators ending competitive bids
TOPEKA — Two Kansas legislators asked federal energy regulators to ensure competitive bidding occurs on transmission projects, objecting to policies that handed a south-central Kansas project to investor-owned utility Evergy without a formal bidding process.
Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins and Rep. Leo Delperdang, Republican chair of the House Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications, submitted a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, expressing concerns about maintaining competition and avoiding monopolies.
Kansas anti-abortion PAC endorses GOP candidate Ty Masterson in gubernatorial primary
TOPEKA — The political action committee of Kansans for Life waded Friday into Kansas Republican gubernatorial primary by endorsing Senate President Ty Masterson.
Republicans push $70B for immigration enforcement through US Senate, with no limits on ICE
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate approved a nearly $70 billion package early Friday, moving Republicans one step closer to funding immigration and deportation activities for the next three years without negotiating new constraints on federal agents with Democrats.
US Senate blocks Trump’s SAVE America Act, thwarting restrictions on voting
The U.S. Senate rejected the SAVE America Act on Thursday, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump’s efforts to impose voting restrictions ahead of the November midterm elections.
U.S. mortgage rates are staying high — and the Fed can do very little about it
OPINION
By Michael Highfield
As a professor of finance, I have been asked why mortgage rates are rising even though the Fed has been keeping rates steady after a series of cuts in 2024 and 2025. The central bank actually has little control over the cost of home loans — and Americans may be stuck with high rates for a long time.
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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