Matthew Kelly

Kansas AG Kobach offers to delay enforcement of anti-trans law until March 26 While arguing against a temporary restraining order, the attorney general offered to halt enforcement of the law for the next three weeks.

While arguing against a temporary restraining order, the attorney general offered to halt enforcement of the law for the next three weeks. A ruling on the restraining order is expected as soon as Tuesday.
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Kansas SNAP recipients won’t be able to buy candy, soda with benefits for long State records show that roughly 188,000 Kansans receive monthly SNAP benefits. Starting next year, Kansas will enforce new restrictions.

Starting next year, Kansas will enforce new restrictions, joining 21 other states that prohibit the purchase of soda and candy with federal food assistance benefits.
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Kansas Senate proposes harsh crackdown on student protests during school day The proposed crackdown on free assembly during the school day comes amid backlash over a series of student walkouts in Olathe.

Kansas Senate proposes harsh crackdown on student protests during school day. A story via @bymatthewkelly.bsky.social

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Without sports authority, KCK Chiefs deal will fall through. Bill yet to be seen Some lawmakers are losing patience over the delay of a sports authority bill that must be finalized for the stadium project to move forward.

The Chiefs' move to Kansas hinges on the creation of a sports authority.

But with less than month left in the annual legislative session, no bill has been introduced outlining the terms of that arrangement, reports @bymatthewkelly.bsky.social #ksleg #moleg www.kansascity.com/news/politic...

Kansas must establish sports authority to finalize KCK Chiefs. Bill yet to be seen Some lawmakers are losing patience over the delay of a sports authority bill that must be finalized for the stadium project to move forward.

Kansas must establish sports authority to finalize KCK Chiefs. Bill yet to be seen
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Kansas ICE prison still can’t open without permit, Court of Appeals rules Approval of the zoning permit by the Leavenworth City Commission could render the Kansas Court of Appeals ruling moot in a matter of days.

Approval of the zoning permit by the Leavenworth City Commission could render the Kansas Court of Appeals ruling moot in a matter of days.
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Kansas governor reaches deal with Trump admin, agrees to hand over SNAP data Gov. Laura Kelly said she had secured an agreement with USDA that protects Kansans’ private data from being shared with foreign governments.

Gov. Laura Kelly said she had secured an agreement with USDA that protects Kansans’ private data from being shared with foreign governments.
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Popular KC-area pastor considers independent Senate run to unseat Roger Marshall Adam Hamilton, the founding pastor of the nation’s largest United Methodist church, is embarking on a listening tour across Kansas.

Popular KC-area pastor considers independent Senate run to unseat Roger Marshall

Story w/ @kacen.bsky.social
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Lawsuit seeks to halt enforcement of Kansas anti-trans driver’s license, restroom law ACLU attorneys are asking a Douglas County judge to temporarily halt enforcement of the law while the court weighs its constitutionality.

BREAKING: ACLU attorneys are asking a Douglas County judge to temporarily halt enforcement of Kansas’ new anti-trans driver’s license and restroom law while the court weighs its constitutionality.
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Schools, cities across KC metro scramble to comply with Kansas bathroom law The law, which also requires trans Kansans to replace their driver’s licenses, puts Kansas at the forefront of policing transgender identity.

The law, which also requires trans Kansans to replace their driver’s licenses, puts Kansas at the forefront of policing transgender identity.
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@bymatthewkelly.bsky.social is doing really strong reporting on this. Here’s their story on the (astounding) way this legislation was forced through.
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Kansas informs trans residents their driver’s licenses become invalid on Thursday Some transgender Kansans said they had received the letters from the Department of Revenue. Others hadn’t by Wednesday evening.

(Gift Article)

Some transgender Kansans said they had received the letters from the Department of Revenue. Others hadn’t by Wednesday evening.
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Should Kansas ban mail-only elections? How JoCo & WyCo House members voted Kansas House Bill 2503 would eliminate a democratic mechanism that local governments have had at their disposal since 1983.

HB 2503, which passed the House 72-50, would repeal the Mail Ballot Election Act, eliminating a democratic mechanism that local governments have had at their disposal since 1983.
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Kansas Republicans pass anti-trans bathroom bill into law over Gov. Kelly’s veto Under the law, trans Kansans who updated the gender marker on their driver’s licenses and birth certificates also must surrender them for replacement.

Under the law, trans Kansans who updated the gender markers on their driver’s licenses and birth certificates also must surrender them for replacement.
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Controversial school meal income verification proposal divides Kansas Republicans The wide-ranging education bill passed by the Kansas Senate would make a number of major changes to free school meal eligibility standards.

Controversial school meal income verification proposal divides Kansas Republicans
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Kansas governor vetos anti-trans bill, says bathroom usage shouldn’t be policed Republican supermajorities in the Legislature could attempt to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto as soon as next week.

Kansas governor vetos anti-trans bill, says bathroom usage shouldn’t be policed. A story via @bymatthewkelly.bsky.social
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Missouri House passes permanent ban on gender-affirming care for minors The vote marked Missouri’s first major attempt this year to remove an expiration date added by Democrats in 2023.

New: Missouri House passes permanent ban on gender-affirming care for minors

First story from @jackharvel.bsky.social, The Star's new Missouri politics reporter. #moleg #mogov www.kansascity.com/news/politic...

CoreCivic doubles down on argument that it can operate ICE prison without permit Despite scoring an initial zoning victory, CoreCivic argued in court that it should be allowed to open an ICE prison without local approval.

Despite scoring an initial zoning victory, CoreCivic argued before the Kansas Court of Appeals that it should be allowed to open an ICE detention center in Leavenworth without local approval.
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Trump aims to ‘nationalize’ voting. Do candidates for Kansas election chief agree? All four candidates for Kansas secretary of state expressed confidence that elections in the Sunflower State are free and fair.

All four candidates for Kansas secretary of state expressed confidence that elections in the Sunflower State are free and fair.
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Kansas Democrat bucks impeachment effort against Kristi Noem. Here’s why Of the 213 Democrats in the U.S. House, 182 have signed onto the articles of impeachment against the DHS secretary. Sharice Davids has not.

Of the 213 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, 182 have signed onto the articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Sharice Davids of Kansas is not among them.
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Kansas ICE prison one step closer to reopening after 5-1 vote in Leavenworth The Leavenworth Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve CoreCivic’s zoning application came after a tense public hearing.

The Leavenworth Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve CoreCivic’s zoning application came after a tense public hearing.
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How Kansas GOP used infamous ‘gut and go’ to avoid public input on bathroom bill The gut and go maneuver — also known as hog-housing and radiator capping in other states — is expressly banned in the Missouri Constitution.

How Kansas GOP used infamous ‘gut and go’ to avoid public input on bathroom bill. The latest via @bymatthewkelly.bsky.social

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Kansas lawmakers vote to police bathrooms in public buildings — without comment The restrictions on restroom usage would apply to all buildings owned by the state of Kansas, local governments and school districts.

The restrictions on bathroom usage would apply to all buildings owned by the state of Kansas, local governments and school districts.
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KC leaders react to second fatal shooting in Minneapolis: ‘Federal assault’ Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot by a Border Patrol agent after being pepper sprayed, wrestled to the ground, and struck by officers.

KC leaders react to second fatal shooting in Minneapolis: ‘Federal assault’ A story from @bymatthewkelly.bsky.social
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Lawrence bar where 2 teens were shot known for underage drinking, students say The Hawk has faced fines and a four-day liquor license suspension in the past for serving alcohol to underage patrons.

Lawrence bar where 2 teens were shot known for underage drinking, students say. A story via @bymatthewkelly.bsky.social

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Kansas won’t follow Trump admin’s scaled-back childhood vaccine schedule Kansas is the latest in a string of at least 20 states to opt out of new childhood immunization standards set by the Trump administration.

Kansas is the latest in a string of at least 20 states to opt out of the Trump administration’s new childhood immunization standards, which reduce the number of recommended vaccines.
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Bill seeks to let Wichita exempt groceries from local sales tax. It faces challenges “I just think it’s good public policy to not tax food at all.”

Allowing Wichita to exempt groceries from its potential new citywide sales tax would require changes both to state law and to the bylaws of the interstate agreement that governs Kansas sales tax policy.
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‘Degrade our society’: Cleaver condemns reported plans for ICE warehouse in KC A Washington Post report identified Kansas City as one of seven cities where the Trump administration wants to open new ICE mega-detention facilities.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reportedly plans to renovate industrial warehouse space in Kansas City to incarcerate thousands of immigrants arrested by federal authorities.
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W/ @bymatthewkelly.bsky.social

What happens if Chiefs' STAR bond plan fails? Here's what we know Officials say taxpayers won’t be on the hook if the stadium development fails to flourish. Experts say the reality is more complicated.

The Kansas Department of Commerce is defending its plan to heavily subsidize the Kansas City Chiefs’ next stadium against critics who say the deal’s terms could potentially leave the state in a financially precarious position.
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