‘Wanton abuse of power.’ Face punching. Coordinated lawsuits.

By Clay Wirestone | opinion editor

TOPEKA — Federal immigration officials subjected southwest Kansas to a “wanton abuse of power,” Gov. Laura Kelly said, and she pledged to union members that she would work to restore immigrants’ sense of belonging and security.

Kelly spoke at a United Food and Commercial Workers member meeting Monday in Dodge City, highlighting the importance of immigrants in Kansas. The union’s local chapter is based in Bel Aire and represents 14,852 members in meatpacking, grocery, food processing, healthcare, retail, and other industries.

On Sept. 22, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrived in Garden City, Liberal and Dodge City, as well as smaller surrounding towns, to detain immigrants who didn’t have proper documentation, ultimately arresting about 110 people. No comprehensive list of those arrested has been released.

“Under no circumstances should you have been subjected to the wanton abuse of power you experienced two weeks ago,” Kelly said. “I wanted to come that week to assure you that your governor and your state law enforcement officials were with you. I didn’t come then because after several calls with Martin (Rosas) and others, I believe my presence would have put all of you in more jeopardy.

“But I’m here now to listen and to do whatever I can, whatever my administration can, to restore your sense of belonging, your sense of security, and your pride in being a candidate,” she added.

By Clay Wirestone

Visualize a clenched fist, fingers tight and knuckles braced, pulled back to strike.

Visualize that fist taking an unexpected turn, avoiding an opponent and instead circling back to slam into its owner’s face. I won’t describe the sights and sounds that follow, just know that the fighter for some unholy reason keeps clenching that fist and striking his own face, over and over and over.

Visualize U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall’s recent moves in his re-election campaign.

TOPEKA — A nationwide campaign to dismantle access to in-state college tuition for children of immigrants is “as much a threat to rule of law as what we see in the streets,” said an attorney for a Latino civil rights organization.

TOPEKA — Mail-in ballots arriving three days after the November general election will still count in Kansas, an appellate court ruled, citing the need to make sure no votes are lost.

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly issued the anticipated endorsement Wednesday of a fellow Kansas Democrat campaigning for U.S. House and unexpectedly ventured into the Iowa gubernatorial contest to oppose one of her “constituents.”

TOPEKA — The state of Kansas collected $147 million more in taxes than anticipated during the first quarter of the fiscal year as income, sales and excise revenue exceeded expectations by a combined 6.1%, state officials reported.

The Department of Homeland Security obtained tens of millions of unspecified records as part of a sweeping nationwide effort to find voter fraud, according to internal DHS reports, and weighed using undercover agents to investigate voter registration efforts by nonprofit groups.

As they await a federal decision on a potential nationwide ban on telehealth abortions, anti-abortion activists plan to push more states to require women to visit a doctor’s office, get an ultrasound or wait before they can get abortion pills.

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