Kansas Special Legislative Session on Tax Cuts Set to Begin in June
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that she will call a special legislative session on tax cuts beginning June 18.
The move comes after the Democratic governor vetoed three Republican plans to cut taxes this year, setting up a high-stakes election-year tussle with the GOP-controlled Kansas Legislature. “I am committed to working with the Legislature to deliver responsible, sustainable tax cuts for all Kansans,” Kelly said in a statement. “A special session provides the opportunity for bipartisan collaboration on comprehensive tax relief that does not threaten Kansas’ solid fiscal foundation. By working together, we can swiftly come to a compromise to put more money back into Kansans’ pockets.”
Lawmakers this month sent Kelly a proposal to cut income, sales and property taxes by a total of $1.45 billion or more over three years. She vetoed the measure after the Legislature adjourned, blocking lawmakers from attempting to override her.
Kelly and Republican leaders have agreed on eliminating state income taxes on retirees’ Social Security benefits, which kick in when they earn $75,000 a year. They also agree on reducing a state property tax for schools and eliminating the state’s already set-to-expire 2% sales tax on groceries six months early, on July 1. But almost half of the cuts in the latest bill were tied to changes in the personal income tax. The state’s highest tax rate would have been 5.57%, instead of the current 5.7%.
GOP leaders have grown increasingly frustrated as they’ve made what they see as major concessions, including giving up on moving Kansas from three personal income tax rates to one.
All 40 Senate seats and 125 House seats are on the ballot in this year’s elections, and Democrats hope to break the Republican supermajorities in both chambers. Both parties believe voters will be upset if there is no broad tax relief after surplus funds piled up in the state’s coffers.
(Additional reporting...)
Special Legislative Session Date Announced
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) – Kansas lawmakers will return to Topeka on June 18th for a special session on tax cuts. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly says they need only a few days to pass a bill. Kelly called the special session after vetoing the latest attempt by lawmakers to cut taxes. The governor supports cuts but says that bill would have put the state nearly $1.3 billion underwater by 2029. Meanwhile, Republican Senate President Ty Masterson says Kelly is playing political games by calling lawmakers off the campaign trail ahead of November’s elections. He also indicated Republicans might pursue other legislation unrelated to tax cuts.
Hear what the governor says about tax cuts and Medicaid expansion.)
(Earlier reporting...)
Special Session Looms in Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Kansas lawmakers have been at odds with the governor over the size and scope of tax cuts. With no deal reached during the regular session, Governor Laura Kelly said she'd call lawmakers back to Topeka. But when will that special session begin? "Very soon," Kelly told KPR on Tuesday. "We're just right now talking with legislative leadership to find out what date works best for the majority of legislators so that we've got a full house." The governor said she could announce the dates of the special session as early as today (WED). "We have to come up with something that is sustainable over the long haul, or I just won't sign it... and we can keep coming back for special sessions," she said. " I don't think they want that. I certainly don't want that." Kelly says the last tax cutting proposal she vetoed would have put the state $1.3 billion underwater by 2029. The extra legislative session could cost taxpayers as much as $84,000 per day.
(-Related-)
Kansas Governor Will Keep Pushing for Medicaid Expansion
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Kansas Governor Laura Kelly will soon call lawmakers back to Topeka for a special session to discuss a new tax relief plan. She vetoed two earlier plans, saying they were too expensive. Kelly could announce the dates of the special session as early as today (WED). Meanwhile, the governor says she's not done trying to convince lawmakers to expand KanCare, the state's version of Medicaid. "By not doing it, we have left over $7 billion of Kansas taxpayer money back in Washington, D.C. that's been distributed to New York and Illinois and California and other states," she said. "We're now an island. Every state around us has now expanded Medicaid." Kansas is one of just 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income Kansans.
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Bird Flu Outbreak in Iowa Leads to the Culling of 4 Million Chickens
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP/KNS/KPR) - More than 4 million chickens in Iowa will have to be killed after a case of bird flu was detected at a large egg farm. Officials in Iowa announced Tuesday that crews are in the process of killing the chickens after the disease was discovered in Sioux County, Iowa. This is the latest incident in an outbreak that is also affecting dairy cattle. The virus has been confirmed in cattle on dairy farms in nine states, including Kansas. Health and agriculture officials have said the risk to the public remains low.
Last week, the virus was confirmed at an egg farm west of Minneapolis, Minnesota, leading to the slaughter of nearly 1.4 million chickens there. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 92 million birds have been killed since the outbreak was first detected. Although bird flu has become somewhat common among poultry, its spread to cattle has added to worries about the disease.
(-Related-)
Kansas Dept. of Agriculture to Host Livestock Industry Workshops
MANHATTAN, Kan. (KNS) - The nation's livestock industry is concerned about the recent reports of avian influenza and dairy famers are especially concerned. The Kansas Department of Agriculture will present a series of workshops to talk about such concerns. Eight workshops are scheduled this summer across Kansas. The first one will be held Thursday in Manhattan. The workshops are free, but registration on KDA’s website is required. Justin Smith, animal health commissioner for KDA, says eight workshops are scheduled this summer across Kansas. He says the workshops are split into two parts - an afternoon session for county officials and an evening session for veterinarians and farmers. Smith says they’ll discuss things like highly pathogenic avian influenza, or the bird flu, and how to manage it, as well as other types of emergency management for livestock. He says they’ll also leave room to hear from attendees. “We want these regional meetings to be a conversation. So we'll get feedback from them about what you know is concerning to them and and what we need to be addressing," he said.
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Haskell Regents Oppose Development Near Wetlands, Seek Return of Hundreds of Acres to School Property
UNDATED (KNS) – The Haskell Indian Nations University regents are opposing development near the wetlands south of Lawrence. The Kansas News Service reports that the Haskell National Board of Regents fears damage to the wetland habitat. It also wants a ground-penetrating radar study to search for the remains of Native American children who died while fleeing forced boarding and cultural assimilation in the 1800s. Brittany Hall, president of the regents, said “...that was the time where children were taken away from their homes. They were stolen. They were not given a choice.” In addition, the Haskell regents are asking Baker University to return hundreds of acres of wetlands to the university. The federal government gave Baker University hundreds of acres of Haskell land for free in the 1960s. Baker declined to comment on the idea of returning the land.
Baker University trustees voted against selling part of the Baker Wetlands. But developers are still pursuing a separate 177 acre commercial and housing project that abuts the Baker Wetlands. The Army Corps of Engineers is considering a permit application.
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Kansas State Troopers Report 21 DUI Arrests, 3 Deaths over Memorial Day Weekend
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – Over Memorial Day weekend, the Kansas Highway Patrol says it arrested 21 people for driving under the influence. State troopers say they issued 840 speeding tickets, 565 warnings and 92 safety belt citations to motorists in Kansas during the long holiday weekend. KSNT reports that the highway patrol also assisted with a triple fatality crash. Three people were killed in a non-DUI crash Saturday in Morris County. All three crash victims were residents of Minnesota.
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Ascension Health Providers Continue to Deal with Effects of Cyberattack
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) – Health providers say care at Ascension hospitals and clinics in Kansas is still impacted by a cyberattack that hit the health nonprofit three weeks ago. The Kansas News Service reports that nurses say they’re still locked out of many systems, including one that reduces medication dosing errors. Lisa Watson is in the nurses' union at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita. She says the prolonged outage makes it harder for nurses to care for patients, adding that “...we are put in a situation where the double checks are gone. And this is a recipe for disaster.” Ascension did not respond to a request for comment. In a recent news release, a spokesperson said access to some network systems could begin to be restored this week. Ascension has not said whether hackers obtained patients’ private health information.
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Another Lawsuit Filed in Connection with Marion County Raid
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) – Another lawsuit has been filed in connection with a raid by law enforcement in Marion, Kansas last summer. KMUW reports that former vice mayor Ruth Herbel has named several past and current city officials in her federal suit. She also is suing former police Chief Gideon Cody. Herbel’s home was searched along with the Marion County Record newspaper in August. Cody said at the time that police were investigating possible identity theft. A warrant for the search was later ruled invalid, and Cody resigned in October. Herbel and her husband are seeking damages in excess of $75 thousand dollars.
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Orange Maggots Swarm into Northeast Kansas Farm Fields
MANHATTAN, Kan. (KSNT) – An insect expert with Kansas State University is warning farmers to be on the lookout for a new threat that is devouring crops in northeast Kansas. Anthony Zukoff, an entomologist with K-State, says the soybean gall midge is currently causing problems for farmers in Nemaha and Marshall counties. The pest can make life difficult for soybean farmers, potentially devastating production. KSNT reports that the soybean gall midge appears as a tiny fly which lays eggs in soybean fields. The eggs lead to maggots which begin feeding on soybean stems. Zukoff says any farmer who sees bright orange maggots should reach out to a local extension agent for help. Zukoff also encourages people concerned with the spread of the soybean gall midge to follow the Soybean Gall Midge Alert Network for updates on the problem.
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New Policy Loosens Reporting Requirements for Chemical Spills in Kansas
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS/KMUW) - A new Kansas policy loosens the requirements for reporting pollutant spills to state health officials. Industry leaders praised the change, but the policy change is concerning to others, including some Wichita residents who live in areas impacted by pollution. They worry the change could allow small spills to go untreated. (Read more.)
Historically, the state has required spills of any size to be reported to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). But in 2021, the legislature directed the KDHE to set minimum quantities on spills that must be called in. This spring, the agency finalized the new standards, which are the same as the federal government's. The move away from reporting every spill frustrates some people living in areas impacted by pollution, like Aujanae Bennett. "It is going to be detrimental to the health of the community," she aid "What they've done is best for the corporations, not for the communities." But the KDHE says the new regulations are in line with the Environmental Protection Agency, and won't threaten anyone’s health. Responsible parties still have to clean up spills too small to be reported. (Read more.)
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Program Provides Free Meals for Kids Through Summertime
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS/KMUW) - Some schools and other sites across Kansas will offer free meals for kids this summer. The free meals are part of an annual program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For kids who rely on free meals at school, summer can be a hungry time. But again this summer, hundreds of sites across Kansas are serving free meals to anyone 18 or younger. Adrea Katzenmeier with the Wichita school district says the summer food program ensures that children won’t go hungry. Many sites serve breakfast and lunch. “That’s what we’re about, we’re about feeding kids. Some kids don’t have food at home, and this gives them the opportunity to have free food.” The meals are free for any child, and there’s no qualifying paperwork. To find a site in your area, call 866-3-HUNGRY, or text “food” to 3-0-4-3-0-4.
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Fifth Grader's Fundraiser Cleared His School of Meal Debt; School Names Award for Him
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. (AP) – As the school year drew to a close, Daken Kramer worried about children who owed money for meals at his school. So the enterprising fifth grader decided to do something about it.
Daken, 11, posted a video last month challenging friends, family, and even strangers and businesses to pay off the meal debt at Thomas Ultican Elementary School in Blue Springs, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. He was apparently convincing: He raised $7,370 — more than double his original goal of $3,500. It paid off all the debt at his school and provided nearly $4,000 to reduce meal debt at Blue Springs High School, as well.
Daken, in a phone interview Wednesday, said he simply wanted to do something nice.
“It was my last year," the soon-to-be middle schooler said. “I just wanted to do something kind to say thank you to the school.”
Nearly 30% of the 15,000 students in the Blue Springs School District are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, according to state data. Even at that lower cost, some students at the district's 20 schools can't keep up. Overall, the district has a meal debt of around $235,000.
Nationally, the School Nutrition Association's 2024 survey of member school districts found that the median district meal debt as of November was $5,495, up from $5,164 a year earlier. The survey found that debt amounts can reach up to about $1 million for some districts.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal aid provided free school meals nationwide, but that ended in 2022. Daken's mom, Vanessa Kramer, said she learned that the pandemic-era program was the only time some students in the district got breakfast.
“That kind of stuck with me because I grew up in a food-insecure home,” Vanessa Kramer said. “There were a lot of times that even as a high schooler, I was getting a peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
Daken's video was posted April 12 on his mom's Facebook page.
“Daken wanted to do something special as a thank you to his school, and has VERY high hopes for this project. I’m so proud of him for wanting to help others,” Vanessa wrote at the time.
When his efforts made the local news, donations began to pour in from across the country.
“Great job Daken looking out for the less fortunate in your community — you saw a problem and rose to the occasion to help,” wrote a New Jersey donor who gave $100. “You are a great leader and a role model.”
His school agreed. During fifth grade graduation May 21, Daken's teacher, Kristi Haley, announced that an annual award will be named after him — the Daken Kramer Legacy Award — to honor students who go above and beyond.
“It's your heart, your drive, your determination and your grit to help others that inspires us," Haley said at the ceremony.
“It was amazing," Daken said. "It definitely made me feel special.”
Eight states — California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Vermont — make school meals free to all students regardless of income, even after the pandemic. Vanessa said that it would be great if Missouri joined them and that if not, maybe her son's act of kindness can inspire others.
“I'm trying to teach my kids that if the people who have the power to make a difference won't, it's OK to step up and be that person that will make a difference,” Vanessa said.
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Kansas Becomes First in the Nation to Adopt New Option for Teens in Foster Care
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Hundreds of Kansas foster children face aging out of the state’s care at age 18 without a family or a safety net. That can lead to issues like homelessness. A new state law aims to help by letting teenage foster children choose a relative or close friend to serve as their permanent custodian. (Read more.)
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Body of Newborn Infant Found at Recreation Area in Northwest Missouri
MARYVILLE, Mo. (AP) — Police are investigating after the body of a newborn infant was found at a recreation area in northwest Missouri. The body of the newborn was found Saturday at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park in Maryville. Police Chief Mike Stolte said a park employee found the remains while performing routine maintenance in a remote area of the park. Police say the cause of death has not been determined. No additional information has been released.
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KU Rewards Athletic Director Goff with Long-Term Contract and Large Raise
LAWRENCE, Kansas (AP) — University of Kansas athletic director Travis Goff has signed a seven-year contract extension that keeps him with the Jayhawks through 2031 and includes a hefty raise starting at $1.3 million a year.
The school announced Goff's new deal Wednesday. Goff had originally signed a five-year contract that paid him $700,000 a year. Goff's title will also change to Director of Athletics/Vice Chancellor of Athletics, according to the university's release.
Goff's base salary will increase by $40,000 a year the next three years of the deal, then go up by $50,000 a year after that until he will earn $1.570 million by the end of the agreement.
“Travis has proven to be among the most respected athletic directors in the country and terrific fit for KU at this moment in our history,” said Douglas A. Girod, chancellor of the University of Kansas.
Goff, a graduated of Kansas, became head of the Jayhawks athletics in April 2021. Before that, he served in athletic administration at Northwestern and Tulane.
Goff thanked Girod for his continued trust. “I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to continue leading Kansas athletics through a pivotal time,” he said.
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Remembering the First U.S. Monkey to Fly into Space: Miss Able, from Southeast Kansas
UNDATED (KPR) - This week marks the 65th anniversary of the U.S. launching a Kansas-born monkey into space. On May 28, 1959, the U.S. Army launched Miss Able, a rhesus monkey, and Miss Baker, a squirrel monkey, into orbit. Miss Able was born on Monkey Island, at the Ralph Mitchell Zoo in Independence, in southeast Kansas. The two monkeys were placed aboard a Jupiter missile for their mission. Both primates survived the flight, but Miss Able - the Kansas-born monkey - died a few days later during an operation to remove an infected electrode. Dozens of non-human primates flew in the U.S. space program, but the first monkeys sent into space by the U.S. were Miss Able and Miss Baker, 65 years ago this week.
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