Local Columns

Opinion: Map fight is about Johnson County

It’s not about defeating Sharice Davids. After all, a Democrat occupying one of the four congressional seats is nothing new. It’s not about appeasing Trump. Republicans’ penchant to gerrymander predates his involvement. It’s about Johnson County. For decades, JoCo ...

Opinion: A sunny day and a better day in Kansas

On Sept. 21, the day before the autumn equinox, about 20 people gathered in Memorial Park in Winfield, Kansas, to mark the conclusion of a local celebration of “Sun Day.” It was a hot Sunday afternoon, and downtown Winfield was pretty quiet. But that didn’t defeat the spirit that was felt ...

Opinion: Free speech isn’t what many think it is

In today’s polarized political climate, few constitutional provisions are invoked as frequently — and are as misunderstood — as the First Amendment. From social media bans to campus protests, Americans often claim their “free speech rights” are being violated. But what does the First ...

Opinion: Mid-decade redistricting in Kansas

When Kansas Congresswoman Sharice Davids took office in 2019, her Missouri counterpart Emanuel Cleaver II offered to show her around. Apparently wanting to check any potential condescension by the older Cleaver, Davids — a former MMA fighter — responded by offering to show Cleaver how to ...

Opinion: A race to the gerrymandered bottom

Poor Elbridge Gerry. He wasn’t even a fan of this. Toeing his party’s line, he approved a newly drawn Boston district that was lampooned as a mythological menacing-winged dragon, or salamander. While a salamander-shaped district helped his party hold onto the legislature, this Bill of ...

Opinion: Mixed emotions about wind turbines?

West of Salina, on the way to Colorado, I saw them for the first time, towering over the plains, their immense blades turning in slow rhythmic circles. I was excited to see them, their sheer size awe inspiring. My excitement, however, mixed with concern as the giant machines changed ...