July 16, 2024

Keeping Media and Government Accountable.

Author: Ellen Hathaway

3-legged stool scheme sets up a $1 billion income tax hike

Governor Kelly and her tax council say a balanced 3-legged stool theory, with equal amounts of income, sales, and property tax…

Read More

City Council considers sweetheart deals for Riverfront Partners

The Wichita City Council is considering a private development agreement with Riverfront Partners for mixed-use development north of the new…

Read More

Wichita city council approves property tax increases in Delano TIF

The Wichita city council unanimously approved an emergency measure today to expand the Delano TIF district, so the city can…

Read More

Tax Foundation recommends Kansas changes to spur economic growth

The Kansas Chamber partnered with the Tax Foundation to produce a Kansas tax reform guide to spur economic growth in…

Read More

Blue Valley schools a nightmare for students with dyslexia

A mother still in scrubs after her shift stood before the Blue Valley Board of Education in a faltering voice,…

Read More

Audit: No accountability of at-risk spending by districts

A Legislative Post Audit of the at-risk spending by school districts in the state of Kansas found that most at-risk…

Read More

McKinsey invitation-only workshops focus on growing government

McKinsey & Company recently completed a series of workshops across the state as part of the firm’s $800,000 contract to…

Read More

Wichita proposes a convention center despite ‘overbuilt buyers market’

Downtown boosters want a new and much larger convention center as the centerpiece of the Wichita Riverfront Legacy Masterplan, but…

Read More

City officials not ruling out a tax increase for Wichita riverfront plan

City officials acknowledge that upwards of $1 billion in public money will be needed for the Wichita riverfront development plan,…

Read More

City of Wichita prompts closing of Sedgwick County Soccer Association

The Sedgwick County Soccer Association has closed after decades of league play in Wichita, according to a message sent to…

Read More

Disinformation targets Julia Lynn, other female GOP senators

Parts 1 and 2 of this investigative series disputed the Topeka Capital-Journal’s misleading conflict of interest allegations against Senator Julia…

Read More

Media carries water for faux conflict of interest claims against Republican Senator

So far, not one newspaper or television station in Kansas fact-checked the Topeka Capital-Journal’s conflict of interest allegations against Republican…

Read More

Audio disputes Cap-Journal claims about Senator Lynn

The Topeka Capital-Journal recently made conflict-of-interest allegations against Kansas Senator Julia Lynn (R-Olathe) centered largely on Lynn’s vote against a proposed…

Read More

Derby dinosaur park attendance much lower than STAR bond target

After two full summers of being in business, the Derby dinosaur park is attracting roughly 45,000 visitors annually according to…

Read More

Wichita riverfront plan pushes city-owned apartments, office space

The architectural firm designing the Wichita Riverfront Legacy Master Plan seems to be proposing the City of Wichita as the…

Read More

Commerce department excludes business owners from economic development committee

Despite saying business leaders would be included, every member of a Department of Commerce steering committee for Kansas Framework for…

Read More

Emporia school bond levy increase is understated…again

USD 253 officials told the Emporia Gazette the incremental cost of the proposed Emporia school bond issue is now just…

Read More

School districts suing Juul can’t document vaping incidents

More Kansas school districts are suing vaping manufacturers Juul, but some can’t document the number of vaping incidents that occurred…

Read More

NCTQ: Kansas doesn’t evaluate teachers or principals on student performance

A new study from the National Council of Teacher Quality (NCTQ) says Kansas is one of several states that no…

Read More

Kelly administration ignores questions about McKinsey consulting contract

Governor Laura Kelly decried the use of no-bid contracts earlier this year, but now her administration won’t answer questions about…

Read More

Kansas trails the nation in handling dyslexia in education

Kansas is one of seven states that has no legislation regarding dyslexia in Kansas schools. Legislation regarding dyslexia ranges from…

Read More

Standards-referenced grading de-emphasizes effort, diminishes transparency

Wichita USD 259 is changing grading for K-5 students for the 2019-2020 school year to a system called Standards Reference…

Read More

Kiplinger: Kansas is 10th least friendly state for taxes

While Governor Kelly’s tax council is exploring options to raise taxes to pay for explosive state spending, the Kiplinger financial report shows…

Read More

Kansas #43 in 2Q personal income growth

Data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows Kansas ranked #43 among the states and the District of Columbia…

Read More