By Sherman Smith | editor-in-chief
Good morning! We have been busy this week moving to our new office space. While we enjoyed our time in the Columbian Building over the past five-plus years, we are excited to announce our newsroom and podcast studio are now in the First Presbyterian Church on the west side of the Statehouse.
Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector
Kansas governor vetoes bill requiring daily recess, annual fitness test of public school students
TOPEKA — Senate President Ty Masterson says the Kansas Legislature justifiably flexed its political muscle to approve a bill mandating public schools administer fitness tests to students in first through 12th grades and require 30 minutes of unstructured recess for elementary students.
Gov. Laura Kelly disagreed enough with Masterson, and a majority of his colleagues in the House and Senate, to veto House Bill 2763. It mandated the Kansas State Board of Education initiate this year the physical fitness test and implement by 2027 the directive on recess.
“This veto by Laura Kelly is absurd,” said Masterson, who seeks the Republican nomination for governor in a bid to fill Kelly’s shoes in January. “When I’m governor next year, this bill will become law.”
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OPINION
Family caregivers across Kansas nurture those in need. They should be taken care of, too.
By Rebecca Phillips
There has been a lot of discussion about family caregivers in America. Comments have been made that caregivers shouldn’t be paid and provide caregiving for free.
There are so many who take care of their disabled or senior loved ones. My mother, in her semi-retirement from the medical field, works part-time for Home Instead. She provides caregiving for clients in need. Her clients love her. I can see why.
Caregiving is essential for families in need. I grew up in an upper middle-class home where my father worked hard as a professor to provide for our family. My mom stayed at home to care for my sister and me while having a home medical transcription business. Both my parents cared for my younger sister and me.
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U.S. senator from Kansas seeks to exempt Moroccan phosphate fertilizer from import tariff
TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas endorsed federal legislation to end U.S. tariffs on phosphate from Morocco that were imposed five years ago in response to a domestic fertilizer manufacturer’s complaint about unfair competition from subsidized, low-price imports.
“Kansas farmers are getting hit by a fertilizer market that’s working against them,” Marshall said. “Phosphate is a critical nutrient for crop production, and right now farmers are paying prices that threaten their bottom line.”
US Supreme Court limits use of race in congressional district remaps, diluting Voting Rights Act
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court delivered an opinion sharply weakening a major portion of the federal Voting Rights Act. Even before the decision, Republicans and Democrats across the country were scrambling to get ahead of the court’s anticipated ruling.
Americans’ air conditioning costs expected to rise again this summer
After facing costly heating bills this winter, consumers shouldn’t expect relief for the summer months, according to new projections for household utility costs.
Suspect charged with attempt to assassinate Trump intended mass casualties, prosecutors say
The suspect in the attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night was prepared for a mass casualty event, prosecutors said in a document filed in federal court early Wednesday.
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?"
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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