Morgan Chilson
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crazeywriter.bsky.social
Morgan Chilson
@crazeywriter.bsky.social
A justice-loving journalist at Kansas Reflector
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Check out Capitol Conversations - Kansas interactions among legislators.
In the Special Committee on State Budget meeting on Nov. 25, 2025, Sen. Pat Pettey (D-Kansas City) brought up federal discussions about failing to list nurses as professionals. Chairman Rick Billinger...
TikTok video by Kansas Reflector
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December 2, 2025 at 7:24 PM
CoreCivic lost a battle to begin immediately housing ICE detainees in Leavenworth, Kansas, and now may consider going through the city's development process. kansasreflector.com/2025/12/01/c...
CoreCivic may capitulate to Kansas city's permit demand after latest loss in prison fight • Kansas Reflector
CoreCivic is looking at all options, including applying for a special use permit from the city of Leavenworth, a spokesman said.
kansasreflector.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I forgot to post this last week! Follow the science. . .
December 1, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Topeka's St. Francis health system and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas haven't reached contract agreement, which could leave patients out of network. Matt All, head of KS BCBS, talks about health care challenges that need to be addressed, mostly cost control. kansasreflector.com/2025/12/01/k...
Kansas Blue Cross, Topeka hospital system struggle to reach agreement • Kansas Reflector
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and Topeka’s St. Francis hospital have failed to reach a contract agreement.
kansasreflector.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by Morgan Chilson
DEAN: What's the tariff on bananas?

LUTNICK: Generally 10%

DEAN: Walmart has already increased the cost of bananas by 8%

LUTNICK: If you build in America, there is no tariff

DEAN: We cannot build bananas in America
June 5, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Reposted by Morgan Chilson
NEW: ProPublica has found multiple cases of women with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.

Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother, was told by doctors there was no emergency before preeclampsia killed her.
“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas.
Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
www.propublica.org
November 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Interesting story today by @anna-writes.bsky.social that highlights research on Medicaid spending and says, "Nearly two-thirds of responding state Medicaid directors thought a budget shortfall was '50-50,' 'likely,' or 'almost certain.'
kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansa...
Kansas spends more money on Medicaid with fewer enrollees, reports say • Kansas Reflector
Medicaid spending is increasing in Kansas as enrollment declines, and the same trend appears across the country, according to a brief released Thursday.
kansasreflector.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
As the Kansas City Chiefs come down to decision-making time on whether their new stadium will be in Kansas or Missouri, one economist who has studied sporting venues extensively says they are not an economic catalyst.

kansasreflector.com/2025/11/11/c...
Chiefs weigh stadium in Kansas, but economist doubts economic gains  • Kansas Reflector
The Kansas City Chiefs may be considering Kansas for a new stadium, but one economist says the economic benefits to stadiums are over sold.
kansasreflector.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Great questions and interesting conversations.
Senior reporter @crazeywriter.bsky.social and I had a fun time with the folks in Hiawatha last night. Sign up for our free daily newsletter (kansasreflector.com/subscribe/) to find out about upcoming town halls and other staff events #ksleg
November 8, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Kansas utility regulators today passed a large-load tariff that is expected to. help spread out costs of meeting data center and other big power user needs so that the costs don't hit residential and small businesses. kansasreflector.com/2025/11/06/n...
New Kansas rules set guidelines for data centers, big power users to protect smaller customers • Kansas Reflector
New Kansas businesses with demanding electricity requirements will be subject to a large-load tariff after the KCC approved it Thursday
kansasreflector.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Reposted by Morgan Chilson
The IRS is reportedly not offering its Direct File program next year. Here’s a look back at how TurboTax owner Intuit spent two decades fighting to prevent Americans from filing their taxes online for free:

(Published 2019)
Inside TurboTax’s 20-Year Fight to Stop Americans From Filing Their Taxes for Free
Using lobbying, the revolving door and “dark pattern” customer tricks, Intuit fended off the government’s attempts to make tax filing free and easy, and created its multi-billion-dollar franchise.
www.propublica.org
November 5, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Former U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts said the get-the-work-done approach he admired, which brought a stalwart Republican like himself together with dedicated Democrats, should serve as a salve for partisan wounds inflicted by political champions of division.
Retired U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts yearns for days when bipartisanship wasn't a nasty word • Kansas Reflector
Former U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican, speaks with the Kansas Oral History Project about people and policy defining his political career.
kansasreflector.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Kansans and others can find out starting Saturday what the costs will be on their health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Some Kansans are already seeing health insurance go up $700 a month -- unsustainable for many people. kansasreflector.com/2025/10/31/r...
Rising health insurance costs hit Kansans amid Congressional battle over subsidies • Kansas Reflector
Kansans purchasing health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplace are likely to see their premiums increase in 2026
kansasreflector.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Kansans are feeling the fear and anxiety around the federal government shutdown, whether they are missing SNAP payments or paychecks as furloughed federal employees. Businesses, too, are being impacted. kansasreflector.com/2025/10/29/h...
‘Hope for the best’: Government shutdown strains Kansas food resources, local businesses • Kansas Reflector
Kansans are scrambling to pay bills and feed their families as they miss federal government paychecks and food assistance payments.
kansasreflector.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:13 PM
The Kansas abortion trial with wide-reaching implications for state lawmakers and health care providers wrapped Friday with arguments over the two sides’ differing definitions of pain, humanity and consciousness.

kansasreflector.com/2025/10/23/k...
Kansas navigates post-Dobbs world with state abortion restrictions in limbo • Kansas Reflector
The Kansas abortion trial with wide-reaching implications for state lawmakers and health care providers wrapped Friday with arguments over the two sides’ differing definitions of pain, humanity and co...
kansasreflector.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:03 PM
@journalist-sherman.bsky.social jokingly called this my "opus" but talking with Southwest Power Pool expert was really fascinating - our energy use in the area will double in the next 10 years! kansasreflector.com/2025/10/21/k...
Kansas region expects, plans for near doubling of energy usage through next decade • Kansas Reflector
Southwest Power Pool experts project energy usage to grow by 96% during the next decade in its 14-state region.
kansasreflector.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Morgan Chilson
Kansas Legislature's committee hearing prompts heated debate on biased testimony on election reform. kansasreflector.com/2025/10/16/p... @kansascarpenter.bsky.social
Personal attacks derail interim Kansas legislative committee hearing on election reform • Kansas Reflector
Kansas Legislature's committee on election transparency engages in lights-out argument about partisanship in crafting the list of invited speakers.
kansasreflector.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:37 PM
More Kansas parents of kindergarteners used vaccine exemptions for their children last school year, a trend that a leading Kansas doctor expects to see continue if we continue the "unfortunate melding" of science and politics. kansasreflector.com/2025/10/15/k...
Kansas reports rise in vaccine exemptions for public school kindergarteners • Kansas Reflector
More Kansas families with kindergarteners last year claimed state vaccine exemptions than in previous years.
kansasreflector.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Next-gen nuclear energy is emission-free, but it costs a lot of $$$. TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates, is building its new Natrium plant in Wyoming and exploring the idea of one in Kansas. I talked with one of their leaders about what new nuclear is. kansasreflector.com/2025/10/06/q...
Q&A: How new technology would fuel a different kind of nuclear power plant in Kansas • Kansas Reflector
A TerraPower leader talks about the next generation of nuclear power plants and how they differ in design from Kansas' Wolf Creek.
kansasreflector.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Kansas is out of compliance with a federal rule ensuring there's no conflict of interest among providers supporting Kansans with intellectual & developmental disabilities. But changes could disrupt care for vulnerable people, advocates told legislators. kansasreflector.com/2025/10/01/k...
Kansas disability service providers say conflict of interest rule could cause 'massive' problems • Kansas Reflector
Complying with a federal policy designed to avoid conflicts of interest could cause “massive system disruption” for Kansans who have IDD.
kansasreflector.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Morgan Chilson
Kansas cancer survivor fears for health care as Congress weighs premium tax credit extension kansasreflector.com/2025/09/30/k...
Kansas cancer survivor fears for health care as Congress weighs premium tax credit extension • Kansas Reflector
Dawn Wheeler, a small business owner in Edwardsville, receives treatment for her metastatic breast cancer almost weekly.
kansasreflector.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:17 PM
A Kansas judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by AG Kobach trying to force the state to turn over food program personal data to the federal government. Kansas leaders have been concerned they might violate privacy regs and have held off. kansasreflector.com/2025/09/30/k...
Kansas judge dismisses Kobach's lawsuit over governor's refusal to give food program data to feds • Kansas Reflector
A Kansas district court judge dismissed a case filed by AG Kris Kobach that challenged the right of Kansas to withhold personal SNAP data.
kansasreflector.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Allowing ACA Marketplace credits to expire, as currently proposed, will make ACA health plans unaffordable for a lot of Kansans (and millions nationwide). Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and others urge Dems and Republicans to work together. kansasreflector.com/2025/09/24/k...
Kansas governor says health care cuts will have 'disastrous effects' if Congress can't reach deal • Kansas Reflector
Gov. Laura Kelly warned Wednesday that the loss of Affordable Care Act Marketplace tax credits will have "disastrous effects" on health care unless they are restored by Congress before enrollment begi...
kansasreflector.com
September 24, 2025 at 9:16 PM
The federal government has entered the fight between the city of Leavenworth and private prison CoreCivic, accusing Leavenworth of interfering with federal immigration work and violating the supremacy clause. kansasreflector.com/2025/09/23/f...
Federal government accuses Kansas town of ‘aggressive and unlawful’ interference with CoreCivic • Kansas Reflector
The U.S. DOJ joined CoreCivic in its legal fight with Leavenworth, accusing the city of “aggressive and unlawful” interference.
kansasreflector.com
September 23, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Greatly enjoyed this conversation with KU Prof John Head about environmental & ag crises, how we shift our culture to be more interconnected with the world -- all from a perspective of his international law background. There's a podcast and an article. kansasreflector.com/2025/09/22/k...
Kansas law professor calls for cultural shifts to address environmental crises • Kansas Reflector
People must reconsider their connection to other species and KU professor and international law expert John Head
kansasreflector.com
September 22, 2025 at 5:11 PM