By Sherman Smith | editor-in-chief
Good Morning! We're still catching up on loose ends from the legislative session, and opinion editor Clay Wirestone has some thoughts on that. Our latest podcast episode, hosted by reporter Anna Kaminski, examines the Legislature's decision to join a federal voucher program. And the former mayor of Coldwater, who was charged with election fraud after voting without citizenship, entered a plea deal.
We're also reporting on the new University of Kansas union contract, teachers leaving the profession, a new state revenue forecast, and refunds for the president's illegal tariffs.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
OPINION
Why didn’t the Kansas Legislature fix property taxes? Because GOP leaders were too cheap.
By Clay Wirestone
Surprise!
I’m back with an extra-special, bonus installment of Statehouse Scraps.
No, the Kansas Legislature didn’t come back into session for extra days of loosey-goosey lawmaking and overripe overrides. But we ended up having too many dangling threads of stories to neatly trim off last week. I’ll keep this column galumphing along for long enough to sort through remaining odds and ends.
Things happened, sure. But the things that didn’t happen matter, too. If that sounds too much like a riddle, keep reading.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas opts into voucher-style program, which critics say will help private schools
TOPEKA — Kansas and 28 other states have opted to participate in the Trump administration’s school voucher-style program, which supporters say will benefit both public and private schools.
But in Leah Fliter’s opinion, that’s likely not how it will play out.
Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector
Former mayor of Kansas town pleads guilty to misdemeanor election crimes, hopes to avoid deportation
TOPEKA — A former Kansas mayor and immigrant charged with voting illegally pleaded guilty to lesser charges Monday, a move expected to allow him to remain in the United States.
Former Coldwater Mayor Joe Ceballos reached a plea agreement with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office to drop the severity of charges related to voting illegally from six felony counts to three counts of disorderly election conduct, each a class B nonperson misdemeanor, court documents said.
Kansas Board of Regents affirms union contract for University of Kansas faculty, academic staff
TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents voted unanimously Monday to approve the initial three-year contract with University of Kansas faculty and academic staff following nearly two years of wrangling.
Kansas survey points to softening of teacher interest in exiting the profession
TOPEKA — The latest statewide survey of Kansas educators revealed a higher level of teacher engagement in the classroom and moderation of desire to walk away from the profession.
Kansas revenue forecast shows sliding income tax collections and budget shortfalls
TOPEKA — Kansas revenue forecasters expect income tax collections to fall below previous predictions for this year and next, complicating a budget outlook that shows the state plunging deep in the red for the next five years.
Show me the money: Businesses line up for $166B in refunds from Trump’s illegal tariffs
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection tariff refund system went live Monday, marking what small business advocates call a “complex” first step for entrepreneurs to recoup $166 billion in import taxes accrued under President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs, which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in February.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
11 a.m. April 25, West Wyandotte Public Library in Kansas City, Kansas. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone joins a panel discussion on the constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices.
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?"
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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