While Kansas does not have an official “none of the above” option, primary voters making other choices besides Biden and Trump in the primaries spell trouble for each candidate. Mark Joslyn reviewed these election returns in last week’s column.
Smith: Eclipse Watch Parties Show How Campus Has Changed
The difference between the 2017 and 2024 solar eclipse watch parties at Emporia State shows just how much campuses and other workplaces have changed, wrote Michael Smith in last week’s column.
Middlewood: How Will Kobach’s Lawsuit Against Student Loan Forgiveness Play with Millennials?
The Millennial Generation is now the largest age cohort in the U.S. They also have the most unfavorable views of the economy, lower homeownership rates, and 43% of student loan debt. Kansas AG Kris Kobach has joined his counterparts from other states in suing to block student loan debt forgiveness. How will this play with Millennials, asked Alex Middlewood in last week’s column?
Heidbreder: A State Income Tax Primer
The Kansas Legislature is considering a bill to cut income taxes. In last week’s column, Brianne Heidbreder put the legislation in context, reviewing the politics and policy of income taxes in Kansas and neighboring states
Fox: Primaries vs Caucuses
Primaries are relatively “tame,” even boring compared to caucuses. Yet the benefits of the primary still make them the preferred choice, wrote Russell Fox in last week’s column.
Smith: The Case for college
Americans are losing faith in college education. A recent Gallup poll found that only 36% of respondents have “quite a lot” or “a great deal” of faith in higher ed, with a sharp partisan divide. In last week’s column, Michael Smith argued that this distrust is misplaced–for many, college remains a bargain and a ticket to a better life.
Joslyn: Partians Differ on Causes of Homelessness
Most Kansans have noticed the rising homelessness in the state and want something done about it. But policymakers are first going to have to confront a sharp partisan divide over the causes, wrote Mark Joslyn in last week’s column.
Middlewood: The Kansas Legislature vs the Separation of Powers
The separation of powers among three branches goes back to the U.S. Founding. Yet numerous, recent examples show the Kansas Legislature trying to push that boundary, wrote Alex Middlewood in last week’s column.
Fox: Constitution Isn’t Clear Regarding Transgender Students and Parental Notification
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and journalist Dion Lefler recently had a dustup over what the law does–and does not–say on the topic of teachers informing parents that their children are using Transgender pronouns. In fact, court rulings have gone both ways, and the Constitution isn’t clear on the topic, wrote Russell Fox in last week’s column.
Fiander: World Cup Means Economic Development for Kansas
The World Cup has been called “the largest event in human history.” In 2026, some of the games will be played in Kansas City. Yet the games will be played in Missouri, so why should Kansas help pay for it? In last week’s column, guest columnist Bill Fiander argued that these World Cup games also promise major economic development opportunities to Kansas.
Insight Kansas 