News & Commentary

“As you see Kansas become one of the last remaining states in the region where no marijuana, medical or recreational, there’s a significant concern that the Kansas Highway Patrol will continue to focus its traffic enforcement efforts on out-of-state vehicles," Sharon Brett says.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas issued a statement in support of the library Wednesday, urging that the library continue to be funded and that the commission abandon the ban of these materials. The ACLU condemned the actions of the commission and said it will monitor the situation.

“And the St. Mary’s commission’s insistence on banning items containing content they don’t like could have constitutional implications when it comes to library patrons’ rights to free expression and the right to receive information.”

Kansas officials are warning voters to be wary of text messages directing them to incorrect polling places on Election Day.

The unsolicited text messages, which arrived Sunday night and appeared to target Democrats and unaffiliated voters, mirror similar misinformation campaigns in other states.

The ACLU of Kansas has gotten over 25 calls about the text messages Monday, said Sharon Brett, the group's legal director.

Kansas’ top elections official warned voters Monday that text messages from outside the state were giving them incorrect information about where to vote, but groups involved in the texting said they weren’t trying to confuse or mislead people.

“Vote no simply leaves things as the status quo, it makes no changes to the Constitution,” Executive Director of ACLU of Kansas Micah Kubic said. “Right now, voters in local counties can choose whether they want to elect or appoint a sheriff and 104 of the 105 counties have done so."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas has criticized the amendment, saying it is partisan and poses a threat to Kansas democracy.