ANALYSIS: The state-run K-12 school system in Kansas is essentially a monopoly. School choice — and the competition it brings — could improve school efficiency and quality. By Paul Soutar.

Moving Kansas schools from monopoly to a free-choice future

Kansas spent more than $5.6 billion on K-12 education in the last school year. That's a great deal of money to spend in a state with a very small population of taxpayers. [Read more...]

JOBS & MONEY: As of May 1, Kansas had gained 2400 government jobs and lost 26,500 private jobs

Most recent stats show fewer private sector jobs, more state hiring

Kansas continues to lose jobs in the private sector as the number of government employees grows. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Kansas lost another 10,500 private sector jobs in April but added 800 state and local government jobs. [Read more...]

Rumors of tax increases, instead of spending cuts, stir discontent. Kent Eckles: 'It is going to get really ugly.'

Kansas' record unemployment rate spells yet more trouble for the state general fund

The Kansas Department of Labor’s updated estimate of the unemployment rate is ramping up concerns for the economy.[Read more...]

POLITICS: 'I failed to reach internal benchmarks necessary for us to be successful.'

Thornburgh backs out of governor's race

Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh has pulled out of the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, yielding the race for the Republican nomination to Sen. Sam Brownback. [Read more...]

ABORTION: Both late-term abortionists are on the GOP rolls. 'Mod' Republican: 'The reason why we have a Democratic governor is because the majority of the people in Kansas are more in the middle.'

Carhart, Tiller at home with 'moderate' Republicans

Despite strong support demonstrated by and for the Democratic community, both the late George Tiller and LeRoy Carhart are registered as Republicans — though decidedly of the "moderate" variety. [Read more...]

Rep. Mike Kiegerl: 'The Nebraska law is just as restrictive as the Kansas law but Tiller was protected in Kansas.'

Carhart in Kansas? Only if the laws continue to be unenforced

The murder of late-term abortion clinic operator George Tiller has left members of the pro-life and pro-choice community wondering whether the easily obtained, controversial abortion procedure offered at Tiller’s clinic would now cease to be offered in Kansas. The issue has divided the state for decades. [Read more...]

HEALTHCARE: Roberts says Democrats are keeping health plan details under wraps to hide massive costs

Budget Office: Millions would lose coverage under Kennedy health proposal

Millions of Americans would lose their current insurance plan while helping to foot a $1 trillion bill, if a health care reform bill cosponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy becomes law. [Read more...]

The number of uninsured Kansans rose to more than 12 percent under Sebelius. Now a Democratic health care plan in Washington threatens to drive that number up.

Kansas' lawmakers weigh in on health plan shortcomings

President Barack Obama has been pushing for health care reform since his presidential campaign ended in victory, and now two Democratic senators have come up with a $1 trillion healthcare proposal intended to help Obama keep his campaign promises. [Read more...]

STEM CELLS: Opponents expect a rubber-stamp group to quickly take its place

Obama disbands bioethics council critical of embryonic stem cell research

A bioethics council formed by President Bush to provide advice to his and future administrations on bioethical issues such as cloning and embryonic stem cell research was disbanded without warning by President Obama last week. [Read more...]

AMENDMENT TWO: Gun rights groups want to know. Amicus Brief could force high court decision.

Does the Second Amendment apply to states?

The Kansas State Rifle Association and other gun rights groups are hoping the U.S. Supreme Court will confirm, once and for all, that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments. [Read more...]

STUPID GREEN STUFF: Federal 'greenhouse gas' regs would push up costs for agriculture, industry, shipping and motoring

Waxman-Markey bill draws local criticism

State Republican legislators are demonstrating their opposition to a piece of Democrat-endorsed federal legislation aimed at combating climate change by regulating "greenhouse gas" emissions. [Read more...]

COMMENT: The state Legislature has riddled the Kansas open-government statute with hundreds of loopholes. Why should it be necessary to sue county officials to force them to comply with the law? It shouldn't, says Dave Trabert.

Open records law needs a legislative overhaul

“An open and transparent government is essential to the democratic process. Under Kansas law, citizens have the right to access public records and observe many meetings where decisions are made that affect our state.” [Read more...]

COMMENT: When you run the 12 o'clock whistle, you run the world — so long as your world is a small town. When the world is really the world, every citizen should be a whistleblower. Main Street Money's Bill Wyckoff explains.

My life as a whistleblower

Growing up in a small town is always one big 24/7 adventure. [Read more...]

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