Author: Patrick Richardson
Study says privatizing Kansas Turnpike could generate $1 billion
With the state facing an approximately $1.5 billion budget deficit next year, legislators are looking at unpalatable options to fill…
KPI: Johnson County should fix flawed COVID policy metrics
The COVID policy metrics being used to make public health decisions and to decide when — or if — to…
JoCo commission approves property tax hike despite opposition
(Update – the original version of this story referenced a 5.3% property tax increase for 2021; a tiny quarter-mill reduction…
Emporia drops COVID shutdown prosecution against restaurant owner
In a victory for common sense, the City of Emporia dropped their prosecution of a local restaurant owner after he…
Public outcry over Johnson County’s 5% property tax increase
Residents gave Johnson County commissioners an earful at the August 12 public hearing on the county’s 2021 budget proposal, which…
Justice Institute stops mandatory contact tracing in Riley County
A letter from the Kansas Justice Institute to the Riley County Board of Health brought a swift victory for liberty,…
Gov. Kelly shuts down legislator’s COVID transparency inquiry
For the second time in less than a month, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly shut down a discussion and refused to…
A guy named ‘Bill’ decides which Kansas businesses are essential
A spreadsheet obtained in an Open Records request details a pattern of arbitrary and questionable decision-making by a guy named…
Kelly claims credit for foster care ideas after vetoing them
Not only is Kansas Governor Laura Kelly accepting credit for an idea in a bill she vetoed, but the Kansas…
Kansas AG says counties can opt out of Kelly’s school mask order
In another apparent abuse of the rule of law, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly insists — contrary to the advice of the top…
Governor Kelly ignores Majority Leader’s COVID transparency request
Don’t expect additional COVID transparency from the State of Kansas any time soon. Kansas House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, (R-Wichita),…
State Board of Ed slaps down executive order delaying school opening
In a stunning rebuke Wednesday, the Kansas State Board of Education declined to ratify Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s executive order…
Executive order keeping schools closed flies in face of actual science
Despite compelling evidence that the spread of COVID-19 in schools is unlikely, and that closing school — and keeping them…
Kansas school shutdown extension likely hurts students
Despite recommendations from pediatric experts and others saying schools be opened, Democrat Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday she would…
Bari Weiss’ unconscionable treatment at NYT no surprise
Bari Weiss is a self-described “left-leaning centrist,” who the Washington Post says, “portrays herself as a liberal uncomfortable with the excesses of…
Wichita Eagle climate change reporter fails objectivity test
In December of last year, the Sentinel raised concerns about the objectivity of a new climate change reporting position for…
Kansas has 9th highest state and local sales tax rate
According to the Tax Foundation 2020 mid-year sales tax ranking, Kansas has the ninth-highest combined state and local sales tax…
Gov. Kelly on no-bid contracts: do as I say, not as I do
Despite roundly criticizing the use of no-bid contracts in previous administrations, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly finally admits she hired an…
Whistleblower claims mostly true, but not improper
The Kansas Adjutant General’s office has responded to allegations made June 29 by a whistleblower, confirming that many of the…
Whistleblower alleges serious fraud, abuse at state agency
A whistleblower complaint by a former Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) employee alleges serious misconduct by the division management.…
Media crucified Brownback, but glosses over Kelly’s budget tricks
When Republican Governor Sam Brownback used budget tricks to avoiding spending cuts, media pounded him on the front page and…
Michigan decision rejects county’s ‘Dark Store’ appraisal theory
For years, Johnson County, and others, have — illegally, according to courts — been attempting to use a different method…
Employee Retention tax credit available for those who didn’t get PPP
Employers who either were unable to get a Paycheck Protection Loan, or for whatever reason were not eligible, may qualify…
Kansas stalls while Texas acts on Supreme Court Janus decision
While Kansas still hasn’t reacted to the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court Janus decision, Texas is making it clear that public…