By Sherman Smith | editor-in-chief
Good morning! Former Republican legislators explain how the proposed constitutional amendment would open the door for slashing public school funding. We’re also reporting on Kris Kobach telling cities they can’t ban the harmful and discredited practice of conversion therapy, the new president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents, and the latest from Washington.
Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch
OPINION
Judicial selection amendment could ravage rural Kansas communities. School funding is at stake.
By John Doll and Mary Jo Taylor
As former elected officials with 16 years of experience in the Kansas Legislature and more than 50 years working with parents and children in our public schools — from Belle Plaine to Stafford and from Haviland to Garden City — we want to highlight how Kansas school children and rural communities could be affected by the constitutional amendment on the ballot Aug. 4.
This amendment would establish direct elections of Kansas Supreme Court justices, without any limits on campaign funding, conflicts of interest, or political activity by the justices.
Discussions about changing judicial selection in Kansas started about 15 to 20 years ago because of court decisions requiring the Legislature to adopt constitutional funding for schools. The debate heated up again recently because the current school finance formula is set to expire next year.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas attorney general asks three cities to undo conversion therapy bans
TOPEKA — The Kansas attorney general demanded three cities repeal their bans on conversion therapy for minors following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that found such bans violate the First Amendment.
Attorney General Kris Kobach sent letters Thursday to city officials in Lawrence, Prairie Village and Roeland Park, requesting they respond within 60 days to indicate whether they nullified their bans on conversion therapy.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas Board of Regents names Jennifer Bonds-Raacke as new president, CEO
TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents on Tuesday selected Jennifer Bonds-Raacke to lead the state’s top public higher education organization as president and CEO.
Bonds-Raacke had served as the vice president for academic affairs at KBOR. She fulfills the Regents’ goal to bring an “experienced, credible and inclusive leader” to the leadership role, chairwoman Alysia Johnston said.
Number of unauthorized immigrants hit new high of nearly 16 million in 2024, report says
WASHINGTON — The unauthorized U.S. immigrant population grew to its highest level ever by mid-2024, increasing to 15.8 million after hovering at about 11 million since 2010, according to data released Wednesday by a nonpartisan think tank that tracks migration.
Fauci pleads the Fifth to COVID questions by US Sen. Rand Paul at intense hearing
WASHINGTON — Anthony Fauci, one of the nation’s most visible public health officials during the coronavirus pandemic, declined to answer questions from a U.S. Senate committee in a tense and confrontational hearing Wednesday, citing his Fifth Amendment rights.
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.
If you're interested in having us talk in your town, email Sherman Smith at [email protected].
Thanks for reading Read & Reflect. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.