From The Newsroom: The Topeka Capital-Journal

Republicans in the Kansas Legislature failed to get enough petitions to call a redistricting special session in November. That means the debate over gerrymandering the congressional maps will have to wait until January — as will potentially amending Senate Bill 180 to make it explicitly ban gender marker changes on driver's licenses. When lawmakers do return to Topeka, they won't be staring down a looming budget hole, as was previously forecasted.

The Chillin' in the Statehouse crew is back with another episode on gerrymandering and food stamps. While Senate Republicans have the signatures to call a redistricting special session, House Republicans are not yet there. Meanwhile, it's looking like the federal government shutdown will mean no November SNAP benefits, or at least delayed or partial payments.

The Chillin' in the Statehouse team is back with another episode featuring one Snap lawsuit, another SNAP lawsuit, and the latest developments in gerrymandered redistricting efforts in Kansas.

Attorney General Kris Kobach is suing Gov. Laura Kelly, setting up another legal battle featuring Kobach versus Kelly. This time, it's over SNAP data demanded by the USDA. The Chillin' team breaks it down ahead of a likely court hearing this coming week. We also have news on the Republican rebrand for the One Big Beautiful Bill.

With K-State and KU playing on Saturday, it's the start to football season. It's also political football season. The Chillin' team has several issues teed up, from gerrymandered redistricting and education cut scores to SNAP data plus candy definitions and DOGE cuts — and even a little Taylor Swift.

The Aug. 4, 2026, primary election is still a year away, but several candidates have already announced campaigns for statewide office in Kansas. Some races have a large field of candidates, especially in the Republican primary for governor. Others have yet to see a candidate filing, like Democratic primaries for treasurer and insurance commissioner.

After a short hiatus due to scheduling conflicts and technical difficulties, the Chillin' in the Statehouse team is back together to start the new fiscal year — just in time for your Fourth of July road trip. While we focus on the animal stories we've been itching to share and some recent green energy political ads, we also acknowledge new Kansas laws going into effect, the One Big Beautiful Bill advancing in Congress, and some developments on the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals stadium subsidy debate.

Even with the Legislature adjourned, it's been a busy month of May in the Statehouse — and especially in courthouses. The Chillin' team has an update on legal affairs from a multitude of cases, as well as a story we've been itching to share about screwworms.

Chillin' in the Statehouse is back to talk about revenue estimates, government spending, a looming budget hole, and what lawmakers did about tax cut promises.

In August 2026, Kansas voters will decide whether to amend the state Constitution on how Supreme Court justices are selected. If the Republican-backed amendment is approved, justices will be directly elected, like in Wisconsin where a high-profile election brought big spending with contributions from billionaires like Elon Musk and George Soros.