Good early afternoon everyone:
Hope you’re having a great holiday weekend. Lots of little interesting things to catch up on following a week dominated by the Supreme Court hearing on the school finance case and several gubernatorial candidates naming running mates. Let’s go around the horn:
Sports leagues fight for their cut from sport wagering
One of the major issues confronting the Kansas Legislature next year will be how – or if – to authorize sports betting following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision giving the states the right to decide the issue. One of the major decisions will be just how much – if anything – should go to the professional sports leagues for a so-called “integrity fee.” It will likely be one of the most difficult issues to decide. Here’s a very interesting piece from the Orange County Register that nicely frames the issue. It’s also worth noting that the National Football League now wants in on the action, something that wasn’t known when Kansas lawmakers considered the legislation earlier this year. And let’s not forget the PGA.
Brownback settles into new job
Former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback was back in the spotlight last week when the new ambassador at large for religious freedom spoke at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington. Here are reports from The Associated Press and McClatchy.
Also a report on Brownback’s speech from the National Catholic Reporter. Brownback also said this week that he believes North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson will be released from a Turkish jail where he’s being held on accusations of spreading the Christian faith in the largely Muslim country. Here’s a dispatch from CBN News.
Farewell Mr. Hensley
Longtime state Sen. Anthony Hensley, the chamber’s minority leader since 1997, is retiring from teaching after 43 years. Here’s the report from The Associated Press.
Gubernatorial candidate running mates
There are a lot of reasons candidates pick running mates: Geography, fundraising, political balance. The AP’s John Hanna takes a thorough look at the running mates and what they mean for the Kansas governor’s race with seven of the eight major candidates having now made their picks. Still waiting to hear a choice from Republican Jim Barnett of Emporia, who has scheduled an announcement for this Thursday, May 31.
Congressional candidate reveals arrest
While last week’s Democratic congressional candidate forum at Kansas City, Kan. Community College, generated no heat, Sharice Davids revealed a little about her past.
Davids, running for the Democratic nomination in the 3rd Congressional District, told the couple hundred people attending the forum that she had been arrested late last year as part of a civil demonstration.
“I participated in an act of civil disobedience in Washington, D.C. at the end of last year to help be a voice and exercise my privilege as a citizen,” Davids said to applause.
“I was arrested standing in solidarity with folks who want a clean Dream Act. We need to protect Dreamers.”
Authorities arrested nearly 200 protestors who were among 2,000 who rallied at the Capitol on Dec. 6 to urge Congress to protect young, undocumented immigrants – known as Dreamers – whose work permits were being revoked by the Trump administration.
Davids was in good company. Among those arrested for staging the sit-in on the Capitol steps and refusing to move were Democratic U.S. Reps. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and Judy Chu of California. Here’s a report on the protest from NBC News.
No-bid contract controversy continues
The flare-up over the Revenue Department’s no-bid information technology contract that led to layoffs doesn’t appear as if it’s going to subside any time soon. Last week, Democratic House and Senate leadership indicated they want more answers about how the state uses no-bid contracts after the Wichita Eagle reported that state agencies had used them more than 1,000 times since 2011. To be continued.
State pulls grant from Pretty Prairie
A curious story from Mary Clarkin at the Hutch News about the state rescinding a $600,000 water quality grant to the town of Pretty Prairie. Local officials compare the decision to a punch in the gut. Here’s the piece.
A rural hospital success story
Politico has a nice little story about the revival of Kearny County Hospital and its innovative Chief Executive Officer Ben Anderson. The story says the hospital cares for twice as many patients as it did six years ago and is expanding while other hospitals in southwest Kansas are cutting service. Local leaders call it a huge success. Here’s the report. It’s worth a read.
Moran in Manhattan
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran met with constituents and local leaders in Manhattan on Saturday when he was asked if he had second thoughts about voting for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. (Won’t spoil it for you with the answer).
Moran also voiced concern about President Trump’s threats to pull out of international trade agreements and talked about Fort Riley potentially housing the 16th Armored Brigade Team, now stationed at Fort Carson, Colo. The brigade, with 4,000 soldiers, may be moved to Fort Riley, Fort Bliss, Texas or Fort Hood in Texas. It may also stay in Colorado. Here’s the account from the Manhattan Mercury.
Utility merger
Maybe the biggest story of the week was the Kansas Corporation Commission’s decision to allow Westar Energy to merge with Great Plains Energy, the parent company of Kansas City Power & Light. In case you missed this major decision affecting thousands of ratepayers in Kansas, here’s a roundup of the news: Reports from the Topeka Capital-Journal, the Wichita Eagle, the Lawrence Journal-World, Kansas News Service and KSNT.
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