Transparency works: 52% of local entities won't increase property tax - The Sentinel
The transparency focus of Truth in Taxation legislation prompted over half of all Kansas taxing authorities to not increase tax revenue.| The Sentinel
The transparency focus of Truth in Taxation legislation prompted over half of all Kansas taxing authorities to not increase tax revenue.| The Sentinel
The federal government has formally warned the State of Kansas that continuing to refuse to comply with data requests will result in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) being withheld. On August 20, 2025, the United States Department of Education gave Governor Laura Kelly’s administration and the Kansas Department for Children and Families 30 […] The post Kansas could lose $10.4 million in SNAP funding per quarter if it fails to turn over enrollment data to f...| The Sentinel
Explaining it away as a “perfect storm” of “staff turnovers,” Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Janet Stanek on August 26, told members of the legislative budget committee the federal government would be “clawing back” some $11 million in overpaid Medicaid funds. The state reimburses schools for the cost of providing Medicaid services to […] The post State overpaid Medicaid reimbursements to school districts by $11 million since 2016 appeared first on The Sen...| The Sentinel
Despite a raucous audience alternating between boos and cheers, and so large the venue had to be moved to another location, Johnson County Commissioners ignored the majority of public feedback and voted overwhelmingly to impose another 6% tax increase on county residents. The Johnson County Post reported commissioners voted 6-1, with only Michael Ashcraft dissenting, […] The post “We are cutting back, why aren’t you?” Johnson County Commission ignores taxpayer concerns, approves 6% ta...| The Sentinel
In 2023, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) saw over 40% of its districts receive a grade of “D” or “F” from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Today, Houston is no longer independent, having been taken over by the state, and the results have been stunning. Of the 121 failing schools (56 received an “F”) […] The post Texas takeover of failing Houston school district results in student achievement gains after just two years appeared first on The Sentinel.| The Sentinel
Eighteen states, mostly in the Northeast, have deregulated their electric grid to some degree — meaning consumers can choose where they buy their power, rather than being forced to purchase from a monopoly such as Evergy. This is particularly relevant as Evergy Kansas — the largest investor-owned utility in the state — was granted a […] The post Electric deregulation like at least 18 states have done, would reduce residential and commercial rates appeared first on The Sentinel.| The Sentinel
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Guaranteeing Fair Banking for all Americans,” which aims to eliminate so-called “debanking,” where individuals are targeted to lose banking services based on vague factors such as “reputational risk.” In a July white paper, think tank America First Policy Institute noted that the practice began in 2011. […] The post Executive order prohibiting debanking signed by President Trump appeared first on The ...| The Sentinel
The Leavenworth County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to raise property tax by 5%, or about $2 million, for the coming year, but blamed the state legislature and the federal government for their inaction to curb rising property taxes. Commissioner Vanessa Reid was the lone “No” vote, while Chairman Mike Smith joined his colleagues Jeff […] The post Leavenworth County Commissioners will raise property tax 5%, blaming it on state, federal government appeared first on The Sentinel.| The Sentinel
Last year, 22% of 8th-graders were proficient in English Language Arts (reading) on the Kansas state assessment. This year, 46% are proficient as a result of new proficiency standards approved by seven of the ten state school board members. Department of Education officials say they didn’t reduce rigor, but what else explains the skyrocketing proficiency […] The post Seven members of Kansas Board of Education vote to reduce proficiency standards appeared first on The Sentinel.| The Sentinel
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has moved to block Kansas Governor Laura Kelly from joining a lawsuit against the Trump administration. According to a release from Kelly’s office, “Kansas joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general and governors for the commonwealths of Pennsylvania and Kentucky in suing the Trump Administration over its unprecedented and unlawful […] The post Attorney General Kobach says Kelly has no authority to join lawsuit against President Trump appeared first o...| The Sentinel
Did you ever have to settle squabbles coming from the back seat of the car, with kids saying ‘she’s looking at me’ or ‘he started it’? That’s how I felt listening to the August 6 discussion among Leavenworth County Commissioners about setting the date for its revenue-neutral hearing. The entire unfortunate exchange is covered here. […] The post Leavenworth County property tax discussion is a good reminder that elected officials must be leaders appeared first on The Sentinel.| The Sentinel
Even approving the date of a county budget hearing was ensnared in the contentious issues of property tax increases and spending priorities in Leavenworth County, as two commissioners faced off in a tense debate in a recent meeting. With only four of five members present, the commissioners deadlocked 2-2 over approving an August 20th date […] The post War of words between Leavenworth County commissioners Culbertson and Reid over property tax increase appeared first on The Sentinel.| The Sentinel
Truth in Taxation hearings in Johnson County start on August 20.| The Sentinel
Attorney says the alleged killer should have been imprisoned for crimes committed in Anderson County.| The Sentinel
The audit found multiple shortcomings with the Dept. of Education, and KSDE hasn't said if district officials are complying with state law.| The Sentinel
Holding Media & Government Accountable.| The Sentinel
Parents won't know that one-third of students are reading below grade level with the new performance level descriptors.| The Sentinel
Both laws are designed to ensure better outcomes, but state and local bureaucracies don't want to follow them.| The Sentinel
Harwood falsely said a Safe & Secure Schools Grant to private schools violates the constitution.| The Sentinel
Commerce Secretary David Toland complains about being audited rather than resolve the discrepancies.| The Sentinel
Property owners should have received their revenue-neutral rate notices by now, showing proposed tax increases for each taxing authority.| The Sentinel
Wyandotte County Commissioners have multiple opportunities to avoid a tax increase.| The Sentinel
Open enrollment gives students better opportunities to learn, but education officials say it creates too much work for them.| The Sentinel
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly sent her children to a private school but she won't give that opportunity to less fortunate parents and students.| The Sentinel
Many Kansas legislators are unwilling to vote on school choice despite 150,000 kids having a limited ability to read.| The Sentinel
The federal grants on hold in Johnson County total $2.8 million, but those districts have $237 million in cash reserves left over from prior years.| The Sentinel
Governor Kelly won't respond to questions about state subsidies and hiring delays at the Panasonic electric battery plant.| The Sentinel
About 11% of Kansas students scored a "3" or better on advanced placement exams, while the national average is more than 22%.| The Sentinel
The state school board wants to protect its authority but parents and legislators are disturbed by persistently low student achievement.| The Sentinel
Lansing board member Amy Cawvey proposes a contract revision to comply with guidance from AG Kris Kobach.| The Sentinel
KSDE won't say why it is changing contract language to include gender identity in the anti-discrimination section of its lunch funding contract with school districts.| The Sentinel
KSDE attributes the miraculous ump to "fixing a misaligned system, not reducing rigor."| The Sentinel
Kobach says Governor Kelly's 2019 Executive Order referencing gender no longer applies..| The Sentinel
Political horse-trading and 2026 election aspirations scuttled major property tax relief.| The Sentinel
Prairie Village officials say there would be no tax increase, but they provide nothing to substantiate the claim.| The Sentinel
85% of respondents say Prairie Village residents should be allowed to vote on the project, and 68% are unwilling to pay higher taxes for it.| The Sentinel
Legislators know that many students are not getting the education they deserve, but won't vote on ESAs out of self-interest.| The Sentinel
The LPA audit confirms that KSDE and school officials ignored the 2019 audit, which found willful noncompliance with state law.| The Sentinel
Kansas school board chair Kathy Busch wrote a guest column for the Kansas City Star, in which she makes multiple contradictory claims about funding and student achievement.| The Sentinel
KSDE proposed performance level descriptors like Identified Need and Working Toward Expectations in February instead of Levels 1 and 2 in February.| The Sentinel
The free legal hotline is provided by School Boards for Academic Excellence.| The Sentinel
The proposed education tax credit would be $8,000 per student for those attending an accredited private school.| The Sentinel
U.S. government data shows Kansas and other states not expanding Medicaid have much lower costs.| The Sentinel
Kirsten Workman's research shows Second Step is not effective in improving outcomes and pushes equity concepts over character building.| The Sentinel
