We need a political revolution in Kansas against the Plutocrats and those determined to destroy our state government.
"I will tell the people what's going on at the statehouse. I'm going to treat the capitol as a borderline crime scene. ... If businesses don't have to pay taxes, the burden should not be on those trying to feed themselves." - The Valley Falls Vindicator & Oskaloosa Independent, March 3, 2016.
Across Kansas the top 1% are looting and on-the-loose, pitting us against each other. Communities in Jefferson County need to democratically prepare themselves for food and energy autonomy.
- MICHAEL CADDELL, Publisher, Producer Radio Free Kansas
After a long, steady drop in COVID case numbers, the pandemic has taken a turn for the worse. Positive cases and hospitalizations are climbing again in Kansas. Now, the contagious delta variant, and a lack of people who are vaccinated, are bringing Kansas back to a situation not seen since early this year. Health experts continue to urge people to get the COVID vaccine. The Kansas News Service’s Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on the skyrocketing numbers.
Who can tell you to mask up in Kansas? There's no easy answer. School districts and government officials are once again looking at mask requirements as COVID cases rise. Kansas lawmakers approved a bill earlier this year that clamped down on the ability of the governor and local governments to respond to the pandemic, but then a court struck that law down. The issue is now on appeal. Abigail Censky of the Kansas News Service reports on the legal limbo.
Electric farm truck
There’s good reason a Chevy Bolt EV, Tesla or electric Ford F-150 could show up in the farm store parking lot next to a line of gas and diesel trucks. Rural areas of Kansas are a good fit for electric vehicles because the longer distances driven by residents mean more savings compared to internal combustion vehicles. But as Brian Grimmett of the Kansas News Service reports, there are some obstacles to rural EV adoption.
No more MD
A Johnson County doctor surrendered his medical license after pleading guilty to asking drug companies for kickbacks. Dr. Steven M. Simon admitted that in 2017 he told a drug company that he would stop prescribing the company’s drugs unless the manufacturer paid him for speaking engagements. Simon got more than $1 million from drug companies, according to records. Dan Margolies reports for KCUR on the developments.
Over the next few weeks, we'll be introducing our readers to members of the Kansas News Service team.
Meet Abigail Censky
"I joined the Kansas News Service as the Politics Correspondent earlier this year. It’s my job to bring what’s going on in statewide politics to our audience in a way that’s clear, thought-provoking, and hopefully not headache-inducing.
"That could mean covering the daily grind of the legislature in Topeka or traveling across Kansas to speak with people who are being impacted by policies.
"When I’m not working, I prefer to be far away from my phone, basking in the sunshine with my partner and my senior dog."
Find more of Abigail's work here, and follow her on Twitter @AbigailCensky.
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