Kansas
GOP leadership of Kansas Legislature vote to form elite budget-writing committee • Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — Top leaders of the Kansas Legislature authorized on a party-line vote Wednesday the formation of a special committee responsible for developing a state government budget plan before start the 2025 session in January.
The 23-person committee, with 16 Republicans and seven Democrats, would meet five times between the Nov. 5 general election and the Jan. 13 launch of the annual session. The objective would be to produce a legislative draft of the budget before Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly outlined her priorities in the State of the State speech and in written budget recommendations.
The Legislative Coordinating Council, with support of only Republican House and Senate members, embraced the departure from precedent in Kansas.
For years, the Legislature has used a governor’s budget to initiate work on spending bills. Under the alternative inspired by House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson, both Republicans, the recommendations from Kelly would be relegated to the backburner.
Hawkins said the modified process would give members of the Republican-led Legislature an additional three weeks to compare agency budget requests with last session’s spending bills. No longer would the Legislature’s existing budget committees sit on their hands for weeks waiting for a governor’s budget reports, he said.
“Everybody wants more time to dive into these budgets,” Hawkins said. “This is an opportunity for us to really work hard on doing good budgeting instead of just accepting the governor’s budget.”
Kelly said there was no merit to the GOP’s overhaul of the budget process while House Minority Leader Vic Miller, D-Topeka, questioned the wisdom of appointing an elite contingent of “super legislators” with power to carve the base budget.
Masterson challenged Miller’s suggestion Republicans were creating a two-tier system relative to legislative input on the budget.
“I just disagree with that comment on some type of super legislators,” said Masterson, who argued the special committee’s budget would be vetted by both chambers of the Legislature before sent to the governor.
Miller said the regular House and Senate budget committees could perform extra scrutiny of the state budget if GOP leaders stopped declaring “pro forma” days at the Capitol. In 2023, the Legislature was given seven days off in January but were paid by virtue of the pro forma designation. There were nine such days in January 2024, he said.
He said it would be fair to describe the pro forma concept as an opportunity for elected officials to “get paid for not doing anything.”
In addition, Miller questioned why the draft of the 2025 budget would be shaped by eight Senate Republicans, eight House Republicans, three Senate Democrats and four House Democrats who may or may not return to the Legislature in January. Committee appointments haven’t been made public, but all House and Senate seats are up for reelection Nov. 5.
Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat who voted against the special committee plan along with Miller, said the Legislature should certainly dig deeper into nuances of state spending. But she expressed concern the expanding budget process could potentially burden legislative staff.
Eventually, Republicans plan to introduce a bill that would make the special budget committee a permanent fixture in state law.
Rep. Blake Carpenter, R-Derby, said it was best to not think about the budget reform in context of the Kelly administration. A future Republican governor would operate with the same limitations imposed on Kelly, he said.
“If we put politics aside for a second, it’s not about the person that’s in the governor’s office,” he said. “Don’t look at the person. Don’t look at the party. It’s the right thing to do.”
Kansas
Farmer receives support from community after Kansas wildfire destroys home
KISMET, Kan. (KWCH) – Last month, wildfires in southern Kansas raged, destroying farmer Randall Thorp’s property, tools and 960 acres of land.
As he handles the massive cleanup project, he knows he is not alone.
“It’s about the greatest show of love I’ve ever seen,” Thorpe said. “I didn’t realize that I would have all this support in my greatest time of need.”
The two main contributors to Thorp’s optimism are the community around him and his faith.
“I’ve seen a lot of darkness that, because of my faith in Jesus, I can see the light in my heart,” Thorp said. “And that’s what keeps me going.”
Throughout the past few weeks, friends, family and neighbors have come to his property to help sort out and clean up the debris.
“I come out here and I’m by myself and I find it hard to do anything, but when a group of people all shows up and they’re wanting to work, then I’m ready to get to work with them, and they’re all ready to help me,” Thorp said.
Even with all the uncertainty following the fire, Thorp has been able to feed the 150 cattle he has, a number that is now growing since it is calving season. Friendly helpers are providing free hay for his animals to eat.
There’s a long way until things will be back to normal, but Thorp is determined to get there.
“You know, I can see some light at the end of the tunnel, but I’ve got to stay strong and keep it going and make it through,” Thorp said.
The powerful show of dependability from fellow Kansans is something he will never forget.
“I’ve been shown lots of love,” Thorp said.
You can still donate to Thorp’s GoFundMe here.
Copyright 2026 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
Kansas
Kansas City International Airport reopens after ‘threat’ prompts FBI, cops to swarm terminal
Kansas City International Airport in Missouri was partly evacuated over a “threat” Sunday afternoon but has since resumed “normal operations,” officials said.
“The security incident at [Kansas City International Airport] is now clear and normal operations are resuming,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X.
“I want to thank law enforcement including the FBI for their timely response. The safety of our passengers, airport staff, and crew members is always our number one priority.”
Airport representative Jackson Overstreet told The Associated Press in an email that the threat was reported at 11:50 a.m. local time, at which point an entire terminal was evacuated.
He said planes that landed after the threat were being held on the taxiway until it could be fully investigated.
FBI rep Dixon Land said the bureau was “aware of the incident” and worked with “law enforcement officials to determine the credibility of a threat.”
Passenger Logan Hawley, 29, told the outlet he was getting ready to board a flight to Texas when he saw police and K-9 units swarming the terminal.
“Suddenly there was an airport worker saying ‘immediately evacuate,’ people got up fast and rushed out of there,” Hawley said.
Roughly 2,000 people were ushered out of the terminal and onto the tarmac, he said.
Photos and video from the airport circulating online show large groups of passengers being led onto the tarmac or funneling out of the terminal.
With Post Wires
Kansas
Kansas family stranded in Iran with critical medical need makes it home through congressional intervention
SHAWNEE, Kan. – A Kansas family said a call to their congresswoman’s office helped bring their daughter and son-in-law home after they were stranded overseas with an unmet critical medical need.
Janet Fulgham said her daughter Laura and Laura’s husband Adam had been traveling in the UAE when an attack on Iran disrupted their plans to return home.
With their trip delayed and Laura facing a medical need that could not be met there, Fulgham said she contacted the office of Rep. Sharice Davids.
Fulgham said Davids’ office worked with the State Department to flag the emergency and secure a flight for the couple.
“The first thing that went through my mind was her medication. It is such a big part of her life. And then how do we get them out safely? How on earth do we get them out?” Fulgham said.
She said the experience prompted her to share a message with other families.
“Very often things are out of your control. But what I want everyone to know is, no matter what state you’re in, there are services to the American public that we may not know about,” Fulgham said.
Davids, who represents Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District, said the situation reflects the real-world impact of international crises.
“This is one of those areas where you really see how much we’re talking about real people. You know, Laura and Adam are real Kansans who are stuck in a situation that they did not ask to be in. I’m just so relieved and glad that they’re back home,” Davids said.
Fulgham said the relief of her daughter’s return is tempered by awareness of others still waiting.
“Happiness and my delight that they’re home. Mixed with my total exhaustion. But then there’s so many other parents and friends and family members who are waiting for their loved ones. It’s hard to really celebrate when you know there’s such a big need,” Fulgham said.
Davids is expected to visit the family later this week. Her office said it is still working to help other Kansas families who remain stranded.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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