Author: David Hicks
Education establishment appears eager to water down new cellphone ban in schools
In his end-of-the-year message to his membership of school superintendents, G.A. Buie, Executive Director of the United School Administrators of…
Four JOCO school districts unite, prepare to sue state over perceived lack of special education funding
The four largest school districts in Johnson County, Blue Valley, DeSoto, Olathe, and Shawnee Mission, are joining forces with the…
Leavenworth School District closes an intermediate school to balance budget
Leavenworth USD 453 will close an estimated $2.55 million budget gap next year by closing Warren Intermediate School for 5th-…
Blue Valley Schools, with bloated management payroll, will trim hourly workers pay and benefits in plan to address $10 million shortfall
Blue Valley USD 229 in Johnson County had 15 administrators making at least $200,000 yearly, and $67 million in operating…
Olathe, Shawnee Mission School Districts choose different paths in response to federal allegations of FERPA, Title IX violations
Last month, the U.S. Department of Education concluded an eight-month investigation by citing four Kansas school districts; Kansas City, Olathe,…
KJI attorney Samuel MacRoberts delivers PELA lecture on free speech and the First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom…
Governor Kelly vetoes bill requiring passage of civics test for high school graduation
While agreeing that a student’s “educational journey” should include Civics, an understanding of our democratic process, Governor Laura Kelly nonetheless…
Governor Kelly’s veto pen ends hope for property tax relief this year
Like most Democrats and some Republicans, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly claims to support property tax relief, but her veto of…
Kansas has more than 5,000 KPERS ‘millionaires’ collecting government pensions
The list of Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) ‘millionaires’ — those who will accrue $1,000,000 in benefits in the…
U.S. Department of Education cites four Kansas school districts for civil rights and parental notification violations
Concluding an eight-month investigation, the federal Department of Education has found the Kansas school districts of Kansas City, Olathe, Shawnee…
HB 2043 remains last shot at property tax reform in 2026
After failing to follow the Senate in passing its version of a constitutional amendment limiting property tax assessments, the Kansas…
Audit shows Kansas may have paid up to $1.2 million in SNAP benefits to out-of-state recipients
Legislative Post Audit, the auditing arm of the Kansas Legislature, estimates between $700,000 and $1.2 million in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition…
Kansas Legislature overrides governor’s vetoes on welfare fraud, freedom of speech on campus, juvenile justice reform, informed consent, among others, in busy end of session
Kansas lawmakers passed into law several pieces of legislation over the vetoes of Governor Laura Kelly in a customary rush…
Olathe USD 233 eliminating mental health professional staff
The jobs of the six mental health therapists who see about 1,000 students in Olathe USD 233 are being eliminated…
Tumbleweed Event Center owners, state fire marshal differ on events leading to its closure.
Salina business owners Jerry and Jenni Jones and Jesse and Amber Bradley opened their Tumbleweed Event Center in Salina in…
7 national organizations join the Cozy Inn First Amendment case against Salina as city appeals recent loss in court
Seven national organizations have filed court briefs in support of Salina’s Cozy Inn restaurant in its ongoing First Amendment lawsuit…
Government as protector, producer and predator: PELA lecture series examines benefits of limited government
If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls…
Beer tax break for American brewers acts like a tariff on foreign-made beer
Support for a proposal to reduce the excise tax on American-made beer but not on foreign-made beer provides an interesting…
Expatriates hopeful American action in Iran will lead to a free Iran
What does the United States military action currently underway in Iran mean to you? For Americans, it might be payback…
Freedom From Taxes Fund envisions eliminating property and income taxes by removing some sales tax exemptions
When fully implemented, the Freedom from Taxes Fund in HCR 5034 would have fewer sales tax exemptions in Kansas, and…
Democrats, up to half of House Republicans reject 3% assessment limit
A public opinion survey shows that 66% of Democratic voters want a 3% assessment limit to protect them from unaffordable…
Sports authority bill features passionate testimony on both sides in legislative hearing
A bill to authorize a sports authority to own the new home of the Kansas City Chiefs in Wyandotte County…
“Bell-to-Bell, No Cell”: House agrees with Senate cellphone ban in K-12 schools, governor’s signature likely
Cellphones and other digital devices in all Kansas K-12 schools are about to go the way of the apple on…
County sheriffs would get expanded powers in ICE detainment as House committee considers HB 2771
County sheriffs in Kansas would be able to detain an inmate for 48 hours at the request of Immigration and…