Chillin' in the Statehouse

The Chillin' in the Statehouse team is back with more news on abortion and its connection to elections, some concerns about delivery of election mail, plus suspicious packages sent to the state's top election official, and concerns with continued struggles in the Kansas foster care system.

It's the start of another football season, but it's also election season. The Chillin' in the Statehouse team has the scoop on top targets for Democrats and Republicans in trying to break versus hold on to the legislative supermajorities. There are also some updates in the ethics investigation of Kansas Republicans involving campaign finance allegations, and there were some ethical accusation made by a recently deceased former Commerce Department official.

Stepping outside the Kansas Statehouse and into courthouses, the Chillin' in the Statehouse team brings you up to date on various legal cases touching on government and politics.

The temperatures seem to have cooled off in the past week. Is it because primary election season is over? Well, Chillin' in the Statehouse is here to break down the highlights of an election that coincided with the Olympics — though maybe our performance is more deserving of a bronze than gold.

Government and politics news hasn't been very chill the last couple of weeks, but the Chillin' in the Statehouse team is here to discuss an assassination attempt, a presidential candidate dropping out, the Kansas delegation endorsing the vice president and the governor's PAC opposing the House Democratic leader — plus some toll road and bike lane news.

Chillin' in the Statehouse takes you to the courthouse for an update on several legal cases. From the Kansas Supreme Court reaffirming its landmark abortion ruling to U.S. District Court cases affecting gun shows, student loans and transgenders students, The Topeka Capital-Journal's Jason Alatidd and Jack Harvel and the Associated Press' John Hanna have you covered.

In a one-day special session, the Kansas Legislature passed a substantial tax cut compromise and an incentive package designed to entice the Kansas City Chiefs or Royals to move from Missouri to Kansas. Gov. Laura Kelly has already signed both into law.

With two members of the Chillin' in the Statehouse team back from well-earned vacations, we're ready for the long awaited special session. Tax cuts are the stated priority for politicians, but there is a major lobbying effort underway for lawmakers to enact a subsidy package designed to lure the Kansas City Chiefs (or the Royals) to move from Missouri to Kansas.

It's pretty chill here at the Kansas Statehouse, but we know it's going to get busy again when Gov. Laura Kelly calls a special session on tax cuts. Is there room for compromise between the governor and Legislature, the House and Senate, and Republicans and Democrats? Can Kelly get House Democrats on the same page as her, or was a Democratic meeting at a Topeka chili parlor a reflection of internal party politics? Is communication clear, or is there room for different interpretations, like Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's comments?

Session is over! Or is it? Jason Alatidd and Jack Harvel of The Topeka Capital-Journal and John Hanna of the Associated Press recap a busy veto session — where a tornado warning interrupted the last day of the Kansas legislative session as lawmakers tried another go at cutting taxes, but didn't take up a plan designed to lure the Kansas City Chiefs to move to Kansas. Both of those issues could come back up during a likely special session.