WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Bill to limit diversity, equity and inclusion activities at universities may get new attention at Kansas Statehouse

A bill that would create questions about how University of Kansas officials can address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion may get a second life in the Kansas Legislature this session. Lawmakers in both houses last year passed a provision, as part of the governor’s budget, that would place significant limits on how KU and other state universities can interact with individuals on the issues of ...

As politicians begin to debate tax changes, a look at how Kansas' tax rates stack up

With the release of Gov. Laura Kelly’s recommended budget on Thursday, we are fully in political debate season. No doubt, taxes will be at the center of many debates that take place at the Statehouse between now and its spring adjournment. Politicians will produce a lot of words in those debates — imagine that — but whether there is a lot of actual data behind the arguments remains to be seen. In that ...

Governor's recommended budget includes $75M for KU Cancer Center

The University of Kansas’ top legislative priority received a boost on Thursday, as Gov. Laura Kelly has included $75 million of funding for a new cancer research center in her recommended budget. The new cancer building would be located on the KU Medical Center campus in Kansas City, Kan. KU leaders have said the funding is their top legislative priority of the session. The new research center is expected ...

Plans filed for new downtown development; former J-W site would house KC barbecue restaurant, unique courtyard event space

Maybe award-winning barbecue has been the long-missing ingredient in an effort to convert the former Journal-World printing complex on the north end of downtown into a major new commercial area. We are about to find out. Kansas City’s popular Q39 barbecue restaurant has signed on to be an anchor tenant for a large redevelopment of the former Journal-World buildings that currently sit vacant at Sixth and ...

Lawrence has nearly $2B in retail sales in 2023, but city's growth since pandemic has been slower than average

Even if we are browsing through the clearance items at the Goodwill store, all of us Lawrence shoppers can feel like we are almost part of an exclusive club — the $2 billion club. Lawrence fell just short of posting $2 billion in total retail sales in 2023, which would have made it just one of six communities in the state to do so. Now that the Kansas Department of Revenue has released its final sales tax ...

Property tax relief, Medicaid expansion among the big topics on local legislators' minds as session nears

Parades should be just swell in 2024. The same might be said for community chili suppers and other such gatherings. And, oh my, how pretty the state’s roadsides will be with red and blue signs that contain what surely will be the 2024 Word of the Year: Elect. Yes, this year is not just an election year, but rather the deluxe model of election years. In addition to the presidential election, it also is an ...