Page 18 - Fred Patton News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

For the first time in nine years, the annual legislative session won't include Pat Myers.  His fate was not in the hands of voters, who picked and chose which legislators to send to Topeka. Nor is he a lobbyist or reporter, who come and go in the halls of the capitol, with new faces seemingly cropping up every session. Instead, Myers is one of the army of staffers who are hired on a temporary basis to help serve as vital cogs in the machine that is the state legislature. Serving in a variety of roles, he found himself gravitating towards work as an office assistant for several members, most ...

Lawyers and legislators are split on whether to do away with assurances that Kansans will have their trial handled in an efficient manner, with concerns that provision will make it more difficult for the state's court system to recover from the blow caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kansas is one of at least a dozen states that have provisions in their state law enshrining a defendant's right to a speedy trial. Under current law, a case must be brought to trial within 150 days, or 180 days if someone is out on bail. Otherwise, those cases must be dismissed and can't be brought again.

Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector Rep. Boog Highberger, D-Lawrence, addresses colleagues without his jacket Thursday to make a point about rules that maintain a dress code but don't include a mask mandate. (Pool photo by Evert Nelson/Topeka Capital-Journal) TOPEKA — Rep. Boog Highberger took his jacket off before addressing colleagues Thursday on the House floor. “Don’t we have any rules around here?” he asked. The Lawrence Democrat was trying to make a point with his flagrant violation of House decorum. “You know how shocked you were when I just took my jacket off here at the podium?...

During the first week of the Kansas legislative session, the No. 1 priority for the Legislature is to extend the state's COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration before it expires Jan. 26. The urgency has been underscored by the speed lawmakers are moving with to pass two bills  ― for some, maybe a bit too fast. "I've not seen, and I don't think we've seen before, a bill that moved with such expediency," said Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City. "I daresay it is abnormal and it lends a certain question as to how fairly it can be deliberated and considered. This is a very crucial issue in te...

Kansas Legislature gavels in for 2021 session Kimberly Donahue © Provided by Topeka WIBW-TV The Kansas Senate convenes for the 2021 session on Monday, January 11. TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Monday marked the return of lawmakers to the Kansas statehouse for the 2021 legislative session. The new session marks new leadership in the Senate with Andover-area Republican Sen. Ty Masterson taking over the role of Senate President and McPherson Republican Rick Wilburn as Vice President. Lenexa Democrat Sen. Dinah Sykes will serve as Senate Minority Leader, overtaking the role held by Ant...