Takeaways: Update: The 2024 veto session has ended. Read this story to see what passed and what didn’t. Gov. Laura Kelly’s vetoes of bills that would restrict gender-affirming care for children and abortion rights are setting up override votes that will test the unity of conservatives in the Legislature. One part of the Kansas legislative […]
Blaise Mesa
Blaise Mesa is The Beacon’s former Kansas Statehouse reporter. He covered the Kansas Statehouse for The Beacon from 2023 to 2026 after reporting on social services for the Kansas News Service and crime and local government for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He has a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism with a concentration in radio from Columbia College Chicago.
Posted inKansas State Government
A Kansas grandmother couldn’t adopt her grandchild. The case points to larger issues in foster care
Takeaways: Mindy Mathes was thrilled when a foster agency picked her and her husband to adopt their granddaughter. The girl had been weathering the chaos of the Kansas foster care system, living in multiple homes before finding people to call family. At the Mathes home, she’d have stuffed animals — unicorns and a beloved Grinch […]
Posted inKansas State Government
Will Gov. Laura Kelly sign or veto tax cuts? Here’s what else passed
Takeaways: Kansas lawmakers approved new tax cuts, bans on gender-affirming cares and some new crimes this year. The Republican-controlled Legislature can expect Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to veto some of the most controversial bills, setting up override votes. Legislators finished the regular session and will take a few weeks off before returning for veto session. […]
Posted inEducation, Kansas State Government
A hiring freeze for Wichita schools? Kansas Senate action could spare USD 259
Takeaways: Kansas lawmakers amended a bill Monday to prevent a possible hiring freeze at the Wichita school district. The bill adjusts how schools get funding. Current state law allows districts to use enrollment numbers from either of the past two academic years. Schools take the higher number because more students mean more state tax dollars. […]
Posted inState Government
Kansas may ban gender-affirming care for minors. Doctors cite physical and mental costs of waiting
Takeaways: Iridescent Riffel wishes she could have started gender-affirming treatment when she was younger. Riffel, a transgender Kansan, said she wasn’t in a welcoming home, so she delayed her transition until she felt more safe. She went through an unwanted puberty while she waited. “I didn’t really want to grow facial hair,” she said. “A […]
Posted inHealth, Kansas State Government
Kansas may ban gender-affirming care for minors. Doctors cite physical and mental costs of waiting
Takeaways: Iridescent Riffel wishes she could have started gender-affirming treatment when she was younger. Riffel, a transgender Kansan, said she wasn’t in a welcoming home, so she delayed her transition until she felt more safe. She went through an unwanted puberty while she waited. “I didn’t really want to grow facial hair,” she said. “A […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, DIY Democracy
Wichita’s noise ordinance struck down by Kansas Supreme Court over First Amendment issue
Takeaways: An ordinance used to convict a Wichitan protesting police brutality was ruled unconstitutional Friday by the Kansas Supreme Court. The ordinance criminalizes “noisy conduct tending to reasonably arouse alarm, anger, or resentment in others.” That’s just too broad, the state’s high court ruled. “We conclude the noisy conduct provision within is unconstitutionally overbroad because […]
Posted inHealth, Kansas State Government
Kansas lawmakers could again debate medical weed. Here’s why it has failed before
Takeaways: Yet another spring in Topeka and more seemingly serious talk about legalizing medical marijuana in Kansas. Lawmakers and supporters of pulling Kansas cannabis regulations in line with a national trend and the laws of neighboring states say things look different this year — perhaps. But this process is wearing on advocates who say the […]
Posted inState Government
Kansas lawmakers could again debate medical weed. Here’s why it has failed before
Takeaways: Yet another spring in Topeka and more seemingly serious talk about legalizing medical marijuana in Kansas. Lawmakers and supporters of pulling Kansas cannabis regulations in line with a national trend and the laws of neighboring states say things look different this year — perhaps. But this process is wearing on advocates who say the […]
Posted inState Government
Kansas has considered ending taxes on period products since 2022. Why has nothing passed?
Takeaways The 2022 gubernatorial election in Kansas was close. Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican challenger Derek Schmidt rarely found common ground. But they agreed on at least one thing: ditching the sales tax on diapers and period products — like tampons and menstrual cups. They both liked the idea because it helped young women, families […]