September 28, 2023

Keeping Media and Government Accountable.

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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),…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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