Local Columns

Opinion: Legislative resolutions for the new year

The start of a new year is a time for many to set their intentions by making annual resolutions. The Kansas Legislature also has this opportunity as it begins its 2025 session with a new slate of legislators following the November election. The question remains will this new beginning bring ...

Opinion: America’s libertarian moment is coming

America will soon be plunged into a libertarian moment. Are you prepared? Libertarianism is a political ideology — a belief system — that contrasts sharply with both liberal and conservative. It is also America’s third largest political party: the only one besides Democrats and ...

Opinion: Statehouse substance vs. signaling

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson recently affirmed that, with the Republican legislative majority even stronger after the 2024 elections, the leadership will bring back the push to ban transgender surgery on those under 18 years old. The last effort to do so ended with a veto from Gov. ...

Opinion: The glass wall: Women in policing

On the morning of his federal trial this week for raping and terrorizing vulnerable Black women in the Kansas City, Kansas, neighborhoods he patrolled for 35 years, ex-cop Roger Golubski fatally shot himself. His story, much like last year’s Marion police newsroom raid, is another national ...

Opinion: Urgency for state water conservation

Throughout 2024, parts of Kansas have been in abnormally dry or drought conditions. Some places, like those that use Cheney Reservoir west of Wichita as a water source, have even had water conservation restrictions in place for several months. Changes in rainfall have been commonplace for the ...

Opinion: ‘Career readiness’ is too dominant

With the election of three new members this year, the Kansas State Board of Education is expected to be more conservative on issues like the recognition of trans students, books in the school library, and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Yet for all the publicity these issues receive, ...