KS - February 27 2025

Wichita Schools Await Mail-In Ballots in Razor Thin Bond Vote Count

Other Kansas Districts Push Voter Turnout for Bonds

GOP Seeks Elected Kansas Supreme Court

KDOT Upbeat on Heartland Flyer Rail Extension

Kansas Sets Statewide Tornado Drill for March 5

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1. Wichita Schools Await Mail-In Ballots in Razor Thin Bond Vote Count

Wichita Public Schools Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said every vote must be counted before the district can respond to the results of Tuesday night’s special election on a $450 million bond issue. Currently, the “no” votes lead the “yes’s” by 295 votes, 13,883 to 13,588, or 50.5% to 49.5%, As of Wednesday afternoon, the Sedgwick County Election Office said 27,591 votes had been cast in the election with all precincts reporting. The election office sent out 10,148 mail-in ballots, and 6,492 have been returned. The other 3,656 ballots had to be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, and must be received by the election office by Friday. Election Commissioner Laura Rainwater said there were also 550 provisionals from early voting, election day, and mail. Those will be addressed during the canvass next Thursday.
Source: KWCH

2. Other Kansas Districts Push Voter Turnout for Bonds

There are several school districts with bond votes coming up in the next few months. Many are looking at how they can increase voter participation. Given the low voter turnout in USD 259’s bond election, districts are working to raise awareness for their projects. On April 8, Haysville USD 261 voters will decide on a nearly $80 million bond. KSN also heard back from the Goddard School District, USD 265. The district will have a kick-off informational meeting for the public on March 31, and we will learn more about their efforts then. The vote for USD 265 is on May 13.
Source: KSN

3. GOP Seeks Elected Kansas Supreme Court

Senate Republicans are pursuing a ballot question to make the Kansas Supreme Court an elected office, dismantling a decades-old merit-based nomination system for justices that voters put in place after a notorious scandal. The move is largely a response to a high court decision establishing the right to terminate a pregnancy and three decades of court-imposed compliance with a constitutional mandate to provide suitable funding for public schools. If adopted with two-thirds majorities in both the Senate and House, Senate Concurrent Resolution 1611 would place a loaded question before voters on the 2026 general election ballot. The question would ask voters to replace the current nominating commission, “whose membership consists of a majority of lawyers,” with direct election of justices. The seven justice seats would be divided among the 2028, 2030 and 2032 elections, and terms would last six years. Republicans and special interest groups that align with Republicans favor the change, which they say would shift power from an elitist organization to the people. Opponents raise concerns about reshaping the court through partisan politics and the dark money that dominates political campaigns.

The system was put in place following a 1950s political scandal known as “the triple play.” Gov. Fred Hall, viewed as liberal Republican for the era, was defeated in the 1956 primary after a single two-year term. Democrat George Docking won in the general election. Chief Justice Bill Smith, a supporter of Hall who was prepared to retire, decided to step down before Docking took office so that Hall could resign and take his seat. Smith and Hall resigned on the same day, allowing Lt. Gov. John McCuish to be sworn in as governor and appoint Hall to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. Hall resigned from the court the following year so he could run again for governor, but again lost in the GOP primary.
Source: Kansas Reflector

4. KDOT Upbeat on Heartland Flyer Rail Extension

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) remains optimistic about the rail line extension from Oklahoma to Kansas. KDOT told legislators Wednesday that the Heartland Flyer is still set to start operations in 2029. The extension will introduce multiple stops between Oklahoma City and Newton. Many legislators asked KDOT about federal funding for the project, expressing concerns that potential spending cuts could leave them without the necessary money. However, the state insists there are no pauses in the project’s timeline.
Source: KWCH

5. Kansas Sets Statewide Tornado Drill for March 5

The National Weather Service plans a tornado drill in Kansas for Severe Weather Preparedness Week. In Wichita, the drill will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 5. During the drill, a test will be broadcast over NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radios, and local officials may also sound their warning sirens. Some areas in Kansas will hold their drills at 11 a.m.
Source: KSN

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Sources

1. https://www.kwch.com/2025/02/26/wichita-superintendent-awaiting-final-results-bond-issue-before-addressing-next-steps/ (KWCH)
2. https://www.ksn.com/news/local/school-districts-working-to-raise-awareness-for-bonds-after-usd-259s-low-voter-turnout (KSN)
3. https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/26/kansas-senate-republicans-take-up-plan-to-rewrite-constitution-to-elect-supreme-court-justices/ (Kansas Reflector)
4. https://www.kwch.com/2025/02/26/kansas-confident-heartland-flyer-extension-despite-concerns/ (KWCH)
5. https://www.ksn.com/weather/weather-stories/tornado-drill-to-be-held-in-kansas-for-severe-weather-preparedness-week (KSN)