KS - January 14 2025

1. Kansas Legislature Opens 2025 Session in Snowy Capital
2. Garden City Reports Four Fentanyl Overdoses in 24 Hours
3. Kelly Praises Unions at Statehouse Labor Rally
4. Kansas Allows Credit Card Surcharges
5. Kansas May Drop FAFSA Graduation Requirement

GET THE CITIZEN JOURNAL APP - FREE!

1. Kansas Legislature Opens 2025 Session in Snowy Capital

Kansas lawmakers returned to a snowy capital city on Monday for the start of the 2025 legislative session. In a largely ceremonial first day at the Statehouse, the 125 representatives in the House and 40 senators in the Senate were sworn in. "Today marks the first day of the 2025 legislative session," Gov. Laura Kelly said in a tweet. "I look forward to collaborating with the legislature this year to make progress and continue moving Kansas forward." In the House, which had a full gallery of public onlookers, Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert administered the oath of office in groups of 10. Legislators raised their right hands as they swore to support the constitutions of the United States and of Kansas, and to "faithfully discharge the duties" of their office. In the Senate, which also had a full gallery, Justice Dan Biles swore in 40 senators in groups of five.

Article Source: Topeka Capitol-Journal

2. Garden City Reports Four Fentanyl Overdoses in 24 Hours

It’s a problem that first responders in big cities and small towns alike are fighting: drug overdoses. Over the weekend, the Garden City Police Department (GCPD) responded to four overdoses within 24 hours. Fortunately, none of the individuals involved died; however, Erinn Reyes, a public information officer with GCPD, noted that there are likely more overdoses that went unreported. Callie Dyer from LiveWell Finney County emphasized that the fentanyl epidemic is not new to the county. The organization has had an overdose task force since 2017. Overdose deaths peaked in Kansas six years later, with 738 reported fatal overdoses in 2022, 412 of which involved fentanyl. In Garden City, Reyes said most investigators are finding fentanyl in counterfeit prescription drugs. The department can typically predict periods of increased overdoses by studying overdose trends along the East Coast that often extend westward into rural Kansas towns, including Garden City.

Article Source: KWCH

3. Kelly Praises Unions at Statehouse Labor Rally

Gov. Laura Kelly praised labor unions for contributing to unprecedented economic growth in Kansas and touted her administration’s economic development gains in a speech at an annual labor rally Tuesday at the Statehouse. The rally, billed as Solidarity Day, packed the first floor rotunda with representatives from a range of unions. Labor leaders encouraged workers to talk to lawmakers about policies that include prevailing wage requirements, private school vouchers and tax relief. The Democratic governor touted her administration’s ability to secure economic development projects with good-paying jobs, including Panasonic’s vehicle battery plant in De Soto. She said her administration developed a comprehensive economic development plan to prepare the state for long-term success with investments in workforce development and infrastructure.

Article Source: KS Reflector

4. Kansas Allows Credit Card Surcharges

The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office issued an alert to residents to be aware of a recent change in Kansas law that could affect their daily spending habits. As of January 1, the Consumer Protection Division of the Sedgwick County DA’s Office advised that merchants in the state can legally add a surcharge to credit card transactions, “as long as clear notice is provided to the customer before the sale.” The DA’s office explained that a state law was amended “to allow any person or retailer offering sales, services or lease transactions to impose a surcharge on credit card payments, as long as the amount of the surcharge is disclosed through a ‘clear and conspicuous notice to the customer at the point of entry or the point of sale and in advance of such transaction.’”

Article Source: KWCH

5. Kansas May Drop FAFSA Graduation Requirement

Kansas education officials will hold a public hearing next month to discuss eliminating a newly established graduation requirement for high school seniors. The Kansas State Board of Education (KBOE) will hold a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 900 Southwest Jackson Street in suite 102 to discuss high school graduation requirements. Specifically, board members will focus on the removal of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from the list of requirements high school seniors must fulfill in order to graduate in Kansas. The KBOE previously voted at 8-2 to make changes to the minimum graduation requirements for high school students under K.A.R. 91-31-35 in May 2024. The amendments included a new requirement that Kansas high school seniors must either complete a free FAFSA form or obtain a waiver to avoid completing one. The changes were set to take effect for high school students in 2028. Parents, students and school administrators gave feedback to the board following this decision, prompting the KBOE to reexamine the addition of the FAFSA requirement. The KBOE is now looking to remove the FAFSA graduation requirement.

Article Source: KSNT

Sponsors (click me!)

Sources

1. https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2025/01/13/kansas-legislature-swears-in-165-lawmakers-for-2025-session/77674914007/

2. https://www.kwch.com/2025/01/13/we-know-theres-probably-more-garden-city-police-report-increase-fentanyl-overdoses/

3. https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-governor-praises-unions-touts-economic-development-in-labor-rally-speech/

4. https://www.kwch.com/2025/01/13/kansas-merchants-can-legally-add-surcharge-credit-card-transactions/

5. https://www.ksnt.com/news/kansas/public-hearing-set-for-removal-of-kansas-high-school-graduation-requirement/