My Fellow Kansans

Rural Kansas has a storied past. But as once-thriving towns continue to shrink — does it have a future? That depends on who you ask. In season two of My Fellow Kansans, host Jim McLean explores rural Kansas to discover what the future holds for rural communities across the state.

Battles over a Republican tax cut proposal and Medicaid expansion persisted through the last day of the Kansas Legislature's 2019 session … and remain unresolved. On ​Statehouse Blend Kansas, Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning tells host Jim McLean he plans to address healthcare and tax policy next session, when maybe he'll be Senate President. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas wherever you listen to podcasts.

All Kansas lawmakers really had to do to end the 2019 legislative session was pass a budget. They did that, with gusto. But also without passing Medicaid expansion. On Statehouse Blend Kansas , host Jim McLean talks with freshman Rep. Brandon Woodard about some of the other things left on his to-do list for next year. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas wherever you listen to podcasts.

Things got a little chippy during the final week of the regular legislative session, but Kansas lawmakers came away with a school funding plan and a permanent commerce secretary. On Statehouse Blend Kansas, Sec. David Toland talks with host Jim McLean about moving on to reinvigorating the state's economic development efforts. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Kansas Senate has agreed to give school districts raises. The House has not. Instead, negotiators are headed to the bargaining table with a stack of new requirements for reporting how schools spend their money. On Statehouse Blend Kansas , Jim McLean talks with Rep. Kristey Williams, who is leading the charge for more accountability from districts. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas wherever you listen to podcasts.

As the first Kansas legislative session with Democrat Laura Kelly as governor proceeds, social media has caused a bit of trouble for the new administration. On Statehouse Blend Kansas, Washburn University political scientist Bob Beatty and host Jim McLean discuss why Republicans are so quick to pounce on the missteps. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas wherever you listen to podcasts.

The last season of My Fellow Kansans ended with Democrat Laura Kelly elected as governor. In this episode of Statehouse Blend Kansas , she talks with host Jim McLean a few months into her term about how her agenda is faring in the Legislature. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas wherever you listen to podcasts.

Roundtable discussions on Medicaid expansion dominated a short week at the Kansas Statehouse. On the sidelines, host Jim McLean spoke heard diverging views of the costs and benefits from Sara Collins, healthcare economist with the Commonwealth Fund, and Michael Cannon, health policy director for the Cato Institute. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas for more dispatches from the legislative session.

We've reached the mid-point of the 2019 legislative session, my fellow Kansans. Lawmakers have given some proposals a green light to proceed and thrown up stop signs in front of others. And, talking to host Jim McLean, the new KDOT secretary Julie Lorenz has a smile on her face. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas for more dispatches from the legislative session.

Rep. Don Hineman got a new assignment this year to figure out how to sustain rural Kansas. He tells host Jim McLean there's three things it'll take for sure: speedy broadband, more housing, and good health care. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas for more dispatches from the legislative session.