Author: Dave Trabert

COVID testing levels have little relationship with positive cases
A statistical analysis of COVID testing and cases by Kansas Policy Institute shows one positive case for roughly every ten…

COVID cases trending down in many counties but Kelly extends lockdown
Kanas Governor Laura Kelly yesterday extended her statewide lockdown order through May 3, even though many counties have decidedly downward…

COVID cases trending down, states without lockdowns do better
COVID-19 cases are trending downward in Kansas and the states that aren’t on mandatory lockdowns have fewer cases and deaths…

State unemployment site down; Kelly to extend economic shutdown
Despite mounting frustrations over the inability to file unemployment claims on the Kansas Department of Labor website and massive unemployment…

Kansas, Missouri far below national average on COVID-19 cases
Many media reports on COVID-19 cases focus only on the total number of cases in each state, but the population…

Kansas waives penalty, interest on 1Q 2020 estimated tax payments
The Kansas Department of Revenue this morning announced the waiver of penalty and interest for the first quarter 2020 estimated tax…

Wichita Eagle and KC Star: ‘do as we instruct, not as we do’
A commentary from Kansas Policy Institute CEO Dave Trabert Within the last few days, the McClatchy-owned Wichita Eagle and Kansas…

Kansas estimated tax payments due April 15, other states delay to July
Missouri and Colorado extended the due date for the 1st quarter 2020 estimated tax payments from April 15 to July…

Pelosi coronavirus stimulus bill would cripple private business with union giveaways
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s coronavirus stimulus bill is loaded with union giveaways that would cripple private employers that accept stimulus funding…

Nancy Pelosi’s coronavirus ‘stimulus’ wish list
Here’s a list – not everything, mind you but just a very short list – of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s…

Democrats delay coronavirus stimulus bill with “ideological wish list”
Reports coming out of Washington show House and Senate Democrats are holding the big coronavirus stimulus bill hostage in hopes…

Coronavirus statistics update
Update May 3 at 9:00 am: Final results for May 2 Kansas has 1,591 cases per million of population vs.…

Covid-19 coronavirus statistics encouraging so far
While caution must be exercised to control the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, the statistics on the number of severe…

State budget boosts SGF spending $1 billion over 2 years
The Kansas legislature approved revisions to the state budget for this year and next year last night and then quickly…
Local government entities continue fighting Truth in Taxation property tax law
In testimony Monday on Truth in Taxation before the House Taxation Committee, Sedgwick County Commissioner Jim Howell urged legislators to…

Gov. Kelly allows restaurants to remain open during coronavirus scare
Update 8:35 am. Johnson County says its 15-day closure of restaurants and bars will remain in place. Kansas Governor Laura…

Grocers, supply chains working to keep up with demand for toilet paper, staples
Grocers and their supply chain partners are scrambling to catch up with increased demand for food staples, toilet paper, other…
Kansas Reading Readiness Act to benefit students below grade level
Students in the 3rd and 4th grades who are struggling to read would benefit from the provisions of House Bill…
Senate approves Truth in Taxation property tax bill
This week’s unanimous (39-0) approval of Senate Bill 294 was a huge win for taxpayers frustrated by the lack of…

Missouri passes Kansas on Nation’s Report Card
The 2019 results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card, shows Missouri…
Sentinel welcomes new investigative reporter
The Sentinel is pleased to welcome Patrick Richardson to the team as a freelance investigative reporter. Patrick has been a…

Sentinel acquired by Kansas Policy Institute
Special to The Sentinel After two years of operating as an independent entity, The Sentinel has become a subsidiary of…
Mama Mia! USD 500 Super is the (pension) spiking queen!
USD 500 superintendent Cynthia Lane collected a number of laurels from the education lobby during her years while leading what…

Shocker: Lawrence Paper Misleads on Property Tax Increase
Carrying the water for government, the Lawrence Journal-World claims that the Lawrence school district is reducing property taxes. That claim…