The Associated Press reports that a federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Hazleton, Pa., may not enforce its crackdown on illegal immigrants. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia said that Hazleton’s Illegal Immigration Relief Act usurped the federal government’s exclusive power to regulate immigration. The city of Hazleton’s attorney is Kris Kobach, the Republican candidate for Kansas secretary of state. Kobach said the city will appeal the case and is ready to take it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. Kobach faces Democratic Secretary of State Chris Biggs in the November election.

The Kansas Republican Party is measuring for drapes in the governor’s office for its nominee Sam Brownback.
In a news release, the GOP cites a election strategy memo from the Democratic Governors Association and notes that nowhere in the group’s memo are Kansas or Democratic candidate Tom Holland mentioned.
Conceding Kansas to the GOP “validates the strong, bi-partisan support the Republican nominees have received for their vision to get our state growing again,” said Kansas GOP Chair Amanda Adkins.

Wink Hartman of Wichita, who lost the Republican Party primary race in the 4th Congressional District, said he will not run as a Libertarian in the November general election. Hartman had been considering the idea but decided against it. The race features Republican Mike Pompeo and Democrat Raj Goyle.