By Sherman Smith | editor-in-chief
Good morning! We hope to see some of you tonight in Council Grove, where we will be talking about our work and taking questions. Ask us anything! (Within reason.)
Illustration by Eric Thomas for Kansas Reflector
OPINION
Our pledge to the people of Kansas: We don’t use artificial intelligence to write stories or columns
By Clay Wirestone
Let’s get straight to the point.
Kansas Reflector has not and will not run stories or columns created by artificial intelligence. We help people understand the world in which they live through journalism written by other people. Different outlets may make different choices, but we want our readers to know that the words they read and images they see come from their fellow Kansans.
I’m stating this so bluntly now because States Newsroom, our parent organization, released its official AI policy last week. From one perspective, the policy simply codifies current practices. From another, it takes a stand against the waves of meaningless slop flooding social media platforms and websites.
It says: “States Newsroom does not publish stories or commentaries generated by AI. We do not publish any images, videos or audio clips created or altered by AI. If the use of AI is the point of a story in question, AI-generated content may be used, but will be prominently labeled and explained.”
There you have it.
Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom
Big changes arrive July 1 for student borrowers, including in loan repayments
WASHINGTON — The federal student loan system is set to see a dramatic overhaul beginning this summer, and critics warn it likely will make loans more expensive and difficult to obtain for borrowers — driving them to private lenders or altering their plans for higher education.
Among the major changes are new loan limits for graduate and professional students, a restructured repayment system where new borrowers will have only two plans to choose from and the elimination of a key loan program for graduate and professional students that allowed for unlimited borrowing.
The provisions — most of which will take effect July 1 — stem from congressional Republicans’ mega tax and spending cut bill that President Donald Trump signed into law last year.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
7 p.m. May 11, Books & Brews, Riverbank Brewing in Council Grove. Hosts: Flint Hills Books and Riverbank Brewing.
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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