Latest news with #DanHawkins
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kansas Republican accuses governor, DCF of SNAP cover-up
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A Kansas Republican lawmaker is accusing Governor Laura Kelly and a state agency of 'a massive cover-up of waste, fraud, and abuse' in connection to a federal food program. Kansas Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins issued a press release on Aug. 7 regarding the recent announcement from the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) withholding information from the federal government. The information in question is related to users of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Hawkins accuses Kelly and DCF Secretary Laura Howard of hiding information related to the program from the federal government, allegedly due to errors within the Kansas SNAP program. He said the Kansas House Select Committee on Government Oversight found in April 2025 that Kansas is operating its SNAP program with an error rate of 12%. 'The actions of Governor Kelly and Secretary Howard are truly shocking,' Hawkins said. 'For years, they've made repeated SNAP payments in error, using taxpayer dollars to make payments to those who are not eligible for the program. They've repeatedly ignored requests from multiple federal administrations to correct their actions. Now they are refusing to release information to the USDA that would allow the federal government to investigate unlawful activity in a program that is funded with federal tax dollars. The Kelly Administration's handling of this situation stinks to the high heavens. Governor Kelly and her Administration are clearly involved in a cover-up that is not only embarrassing for our state but likely fleecing federal taxpayers of their hard-earned money.' Hawkins ends his letter by calling on the USDA and other federal agencies to force Kelly's office to cooperate with previous calls to divulge information related to the SNAP program's users in Kansas. He said he will be contacting Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and the Kansas House Select Committee on Government Oversight to investigate the situation. Howard announced in late July the DCF would not be cooperating with a federal request to send over SNAP information in order to protect the personal information of those who use it in Kansas. The DCF reported the original request included sensitive information for any Kansan who lived in a household that applied for and/or received SNAP benefits from Jan. 1, 2020 through to July 30, 2025. 'DCF is committed to the security of Kansans' personal information and maintaining confidentiality consistent with state and federal law,' Howard said in a July 30 press release. 'This demand for personal information goes beyond the scope of administering the program and puts in jeopardy the privacy of hundreds of thousands of Kansans who depend on SNAP to put food on their tables.' 27 News has reached out to Kelly's office for a response to Hawkins' letter. More information will be added here or in a later story as additional details are made available. Why legalizing weed in Kansas isn't working For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas tax collections better than expected in 2025, exceeding $10 billion
House Speaker Dan Hawkins converses with Minority Leader Brandon Woodard before a rules debate on Jan. 23, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Kansas brought in more than $10 billion in tax revenue in the most recent fiscal year, which is about the same as the previous year's totals but better than state analysts predicted. Tax revenues in fiscal year 2025 were about $249 million, or 2.5%, above what state analysts predicted when they revised their forecast in April. In weighing all of the state general fund's revenues, expenditures and transfers from the past year, total receipts to the state general fund were about $10.02 billion, exceeding estimates by about $132 million, or 1.3%, but dwarfing the previous year's total by about 1.2%. Around $124 million was transferred out of the general fund into the state's rainy day fund, a move that is required under law but was an unexpected transfer to state analysts. The receipts were a glimpse at the end of the first full year of tax cuts passed during a special session last year, which promised $1.2 billion in tax relief over three years. The 2025 Legislature similarly passed tax relief measures that promised to lower individual and corporate income taxes, but only if the state exceeds revenue estimates and maintains its rainy day fund. The Legislature also passed legislation that will modestly reduce property taxes by eliminating statewide tax levies. Those recent cuts have yet to go into effect. Gov. Laura Kelly attempted to veto the income tax cut legislation in April, but both chambers overrode the veto almost along party lines. Kelly warned at the time of a serious 'financial predicament ahead,' referring to 'bizarre and irresponsible budget gimmicks' from the Republican-led Legislature. When combining the Legislature's 2025 spending plan with income tax cuts and 2024 relief efforts, the state is expected to be $461 million in the red by fiscal year 2028. 'Ultimately, this will lead to a historically large budget deficit, rivaling the worst of the Brownback years,' she said in an April 18 statement following the release of updated revenue estimates. House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican running for state insurance commissioner in 2026, pushed back against Kelly's warnings. 'Governor Kelly's repeated vetoes of tax cuts and her sky-is-falling rhetoric look especially foolish now,' he said in a statement Thursday. Hawkins credited the Republican supermajorities in both chambers with saving Kansas taxpayer dollars and energizing the economy. 'Moving forward, we will continue with the budgeting reforms we implemented this year to reduce wasteful spending and ensure a strong financial future for our state,' he said. At the time Republicans passed tax cuts and the budget, Democrats criticized them for failing to deliver on meaningful property tax relief, a major campaign topic for 2024 candidates of both parties.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas committee wants stadium deal done by end of the year
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Chiefs and Royals will get another year to consider a deal with Kansas using Sales Tax and Revenue or STAR Bonds if they cross the state line. Legislators do not want that process to go beyond this calendar year. Construction on Kansas City Buc-ee's delayed Monday's unanimous vote of the eight-member Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) was to be expected, although Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins was critical of Democrat, Gov. Laura Kelly and Lt. Gov. David Toland. During the meeting, Hawkins said that previously, he's been of the opinion that extending the STAR Bond offer was not a good idea. But on Monday he said sometimes you don't know everything. 'Sometimes you find out things that really kind of take you back,' Hawkins said. 'For instance, when you find out that one of the teams went from November to February without ever getting a response from the administration, from the Department of Commerce.' Department of Commerce Director of Marketing and Communications Patrick Lowry expressed disdain for Hawkins comments. 'This is categorically false. Communication and negotiations between the Commerce Department and both the Chiefs and Royals have been ongoing since the legislature approved the STAR Bonds statute to include stadiums for professional teams. During the period from November 2024 to February 2025, there have been countless meetings with both teams to discuss numerous deal points as part of making proposals and counterproposals,' Lowry said. After the meeting, State Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes said she's had five updates either through the Commerce Department or from individuals. Sykes, a Democrat, said she believed Hawkins' statement was political. 'I think they're having conversations, Whether or not the teams are liking what they're getting as the offers and as they're negotiating. I mean these are businessman that we are talking to, so they're looking at the best interests for themselves,' Sykes said to reporters after meeting. The Royals sent out a statement following Monday's decision: 'We are again grateful to Chairman Masterson and the members of the Legislative Coordinating Council for the dedicated time and energy they have put forth. We also appreciate their recognition of the diligent work that goes forward on multiple fronts in this complex process.' 'Our focused discussions continue as we seek the best option for the future generational home of the Kansas City Royals. The extension of the Kansas STAR Bond legislation enables us to continue our pursuit of the right choice for our fans, our organization and our regional community.' The Chiefs also released a statement: 'We are grateful to the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council for extending the dates of the STAR Bond legislation. We continue to have fruitful conversations with community leaders and public officials, and this legislation allows us to further evaluate our potential options for a stadium in Kansas. As we have said from the beginning, the Chiefs are committed to making the best long-term decision for our fans, our franchise, and all of Chiefs Kingdom.' Second person dies in Independence farmhouse fire that killed 13-year-old girl Republican State Senate President Ty Masterson said a similar statement Monday that he told to our John Holt on Friday, June 27. He believed Gov. Kelly's administration was more interested in getting the Royals than the Chiefs while everyone else has the opposite priority. Masterson said if Kansas can get both teams though, that'd be great. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
4 The People: Kansas stadium discussions; downtown security plans
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri lawmakers will likely be going back to Jefferson City for a special session in less than a month to try to keep the Chiefs and the Royals in their state in the next decade. Kansas Republican Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins joins us to tell us what leaders in his state are trying to do to take one or both teams. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri The agreement that the Kansas Legislature passed in June of 2024 ends June 30, 2025. The language of the bill passed says that , but Hawkins says at least at this time, they don't plan on extending it. Business owners and residents in downtown Kansas City, Missouri have spoken out about crime in the last month. Downtown Council Vice President Sean O'Byrne joins us to explain how they're trying to . O'Byrne confirmed that his entity wants three armed security guards to roam Grand from 6th Street on the north to 14th Street on the south from 2 p.m. to midnight. He's also in support of a modular jail the city could build in about six months. FOX4's also following the federal investigation into who were shot and killed after an event at the Capital Jewish Museum Wednesday night. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were soon identified as the victims. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Milgrim grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas. She began working for the embassy in 2023. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Metro
25-05-2025
- General
- Metro
I never cried after my near-death crash - then I found a box
I briefly woke up from a coma in the ICU and heard two nurses discussing something about the World Trade Centre and a plane. Then everything went hazy and I passed out again. When I finally woke up, I was told I was at Central Middlesex Hospital and I'd missed one of the biggest moments in recent history – because I almost died. Nine days earlier, on September 2, 2001, I'd put on the first ever gig by British rock band The Darkness at the club night I used to run in Kings Cross. I'd organised it as I knew their guitarist Dan Hawkins – I was simply putting my mate's new band on as a favour. I was driving home to Staines in my 1968 Morris Minor when, at 4:44am, my mate James and I were hit head-on at 99mph by teen joyriders being chased by police. I was in a coma for two weeks. Luckily for us, not only were the police already there, there was a fire station nearby and we were cut out of the car in four minutes. I was told by doctors that if they hadn't been so quick, we would have died. We were literally bleeding to death in a car that resembled a crushed bean can. We were rushed to hospital and both put on life support. We had broken almost every bone and both had serious head injuries. Initially, they thought they might have to amputate my right arm and right leg, but luckily I got to keep both. It's a miracle we survived. In fact, my wife Helen was told to prepare for the worst – but James and I pulled through. We were both in hospital for six months and I had more than 80 hours of operations. The first to save my leg took eight hours. Even The Darkness came in and visited me in hospital but I can't remember it – I wish I could, but I've got huge amounts of amnesia both before and after the crash. I do have a vivid memory of screaming in pain during my first physio though. I don't get any flashbacks. My brain saved me from PTSD by immediately erasing the crash, my rescue, and being in the ICU. My wife and brother went through it, not me. They still have nightmares to this day. I was out of action for a year and was lucky not just to have support from family and friends, but The Musicians' Union too. I was signed to Sony as a solo artist at the time, having created and written the songs for Sophie Ellis-Bextor's band theaudience in 1996. As I was incapable of playing any instruments, I couldn't earn a living and the Musician's Union gave me essential financial support, since it took years for compensation from the accident to come through. But my career took a new turn. Once my injuries had healed enough, a friend of mine, BBC Radio London's Gary Crowley, invited me to go onto his show to talk about the latest music releases. I'd done stuff like that before as a guest on shows and I really enjoyed it. Gary said I was a natural and encouraged me to do a post-grad degree in Broadcast Journalism, which I did in 2004 at the University of Westminster. After that, I got a job producing music programmes at the station. I'm now the station's travel presenter and Brentford FC commentator and I love my job. But I remain a musician at heart. So it was serendipitous that during a clear-out in the Covid lockdowns, my family found The Box – a gruesome keepsake of the night of the crash, containing photos, police statements, and court reports – and asked if I'd like to see it. It was the first time I cried over the whole event. I've still not seen the photos of my beautiful car, crumpled to nothing, and I don't want to – everything else inside the box was bad enough. But among the paperwork, there were two blood-splattered mini-discs that had been in the car. One wouldn't play, but the other was full of demo songs with me singing. I had no idea where I'd recorded or what they were about, bar vaguely being about love and capitalism. Then last year, my old friend Nigel Butler, who's now a top record producer, agreed to work on them. I was chuffed since he's worked with everyone, from One Direction to Aerosmith. He isolated my vocals and turned it into a solo album called 'When Lord God Almighty Reads The News', which is out on green vinyl on June 6, the day before my 60th birthday. I'm in esteemed company. Scottish indie label Last Night From Glasgow, who just released an LP by Peter Capaldi, are putting it out. So far, the singles have had lots of play on BBC 6 Music but it's strange to hear yourself, from the past, singing songs you don't remember writing. People are often filling in the gaps for me before and after the crash, as I don't remember much of 2001 at all. More Trending After all, memory is a shared experience and songwriting is a precious part of that – these songs are almost a time capsule from that year. But I'm so proud of this record. It's proof good things can come out of the worst situations and that you've got to cherish life. View More » These songs and I both survived that crash – I know I'm lucky to be alive. So I absolutely cherish every moment. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: I've been prevented from divorcing my abusive estranged husband for 20 years MORE: My cousin sent a text that devastated me – I wish he'd called MORE: This Japanese walking trend can make you live longer — it's a shame it's so annoying
