May 3, 2021 2:01 p.m.
A state lawmaker in Kansas was charged with misdemeanor battery violation and briefly detained after reportedly ranting to students about God, sex and suicide while substitute teaching.
The incident occurred Wednesday. State Rep. Mark Samsel (R) was arrested Thursday and was subsequently released on bond, the Franklin County, Kansas sheriff’s office said in a statement on Friday.
The Kansas City Star subsequently reported more detail of the alleged incident, which occurred when Samsel was substitute teaching at a high school in Wellsville, Kansas.
According to video from parents and students obtained by the paper, Samsel followed a student around the room and put his arms around the student.
Abigail Censky, Stephen Koranda, Kansas News Service
Topeka Kansas lawmakers return to the Statehouse next week for a showdown with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly over issues at the heart of both culture wars and taxes.
While legislators took a break, Kelly vetoed a range of high-profile bills. Now the conservative Republicans who control the Legislature face the challenge of overrides with slim margins to pull that off.
Republican Senate President Ty Masterson blasted the governor for striking down bills ranging from tax cuts to restrictions on transgender athletes.
“Republicans will respond to the governor’s veto-a-rama with a veto-override-a-rama when we return in May,” Masterson said in a statement.
Originally published on April 27, 2021 12:44 pm
TOPEKA, Kansas Kansas lawmakers return to the Statehouse next week for a showdown with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly over issues at the heart of both culture wars and taxes.
While legislators took a break, Kelly vetoed a range of high-profile bills. Now the conservative Republicans who control the Legislature face the challenge of overrides with slim margins to pull that off.
Republican Senate President Ty Masterson blasted the governor for striking down bills ranging from tax cuts to restrictions on transgender athletes.
“Republicans will respond to the governor’s veto-a-rama with a veto-override-a-rama when we return in May,” Masterson said in a statement.
Kansas Governor Vetoes Election Reform, Gun Bills
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday vetoed election reform legislation and a bill that would have let more people carry guns.
Kelly, a Democrat, vetoed two bills that would have changed election laws, such as requiring counties to verify signatures on early voting ballots and making it illegal for any person to knowingly alter a postmark on a mail-in ballot.
The bills were House Bill 2183, which the state House passed 80–42 and the state Senate passed 27–11, and House Bill 2332, which the state House passed 83–38 and the state Senate approved 27–11.
Kelly alleged the bills would have suppressed votes.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes transgender athlete ban on school sports teams for girls, women Share Updated: 2:03 PM CDT Apr 22, 2021 KMBC 9 News Staff Share Updated: 2:03 PM CDT Apr 22, 2021
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Show Transcript New Tonight. The Kansas Senate has passed a bill banning transgender athletes from girls and women s sports LGBT. Our rights advocates say the bill is an attack on transgender Children and will likely increase bullying. Governor Kelly calls it regressive, stopping short of saying she would veto the bill, which now goes to the Kansas House.
TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE Share Updated: 2:03 PM CDT Apr 22, 2021 KMBC 9 News Staff