I write news stories of public interest.https://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mkptcxpnwk2fAdam Hamilton, a Kansas City-area pastor, will run for U.S. Senate as “an independent-minded Democrat,” putting to bed months of speculation that he would challenge U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall as an independent. | #ksleg via @anna-writes.bsky.social https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/30/kansas-pastor-enters-u-s-senate-race-as-democrat-wants-to-give-roger-marshall-an-early-retirement/30 Apr 2026 14:31 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkptcxpnwk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mkgvvzaoqc2bSen. Cindy Holscher positioned herself as the anti-establishment Democratic candidate for governor at a Sunday night debate while her opponent, Sen. Ethan Corson, touted his endorsements #ksleg https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/26/kansas-democrats-running-for-governor-clash-on-corecivic-party-establishment-in-forum/27 Apr 2026 01:23 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkgvvzaoqc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mk73ziy5rk2nUpdate: Derek Helms, agency spokesman, said the total amount being sought is $67,476,025. #ksleg [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Apr 2026 22:51 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk73ziy5rk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mk6hsz4et22uThe Kansas Department of Labor is notifying more than 8,500 individuals that they received overpayments for unemployment insurance, including some issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, and must repay the funds. #ksleg https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/23/kansas-sending-letters-telling-people-to-repay-unemployment-claims-dating-to-covid-19-pandemic/23 Apr 2026 16:50 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk6hsz4et22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mk2azokjj22oI repeat: Self-sabotage https://www.thewrap.com/media-platforms/journalism/mcclatchy-content-scaling-agents-roiling-newsrooms/ [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Apr 2026 00:38 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk2azokjj22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjzzr4kqwc2hView from my back deck21 Apr 2026 22:28 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzzr4kqwc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjzpbjdnzs2sSome of my award-winning photos in this year's Kansas Press Association contest ... (1/) #ksleg21 Apr 2026 19:20 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzpbjdnzs2shttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjzovgz3ik2s“I love that I get to work with these talented journalists every day, challenging and inspiring one another as we cover the news. The awards recognize our shared commitment to lift up voices, speak truth to power and practice journalism as a public good.” #ksleg https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/21/journalists-of-the-year-kansas-reflector-sweeps-category-in-state-press-association-awards/21 Apr 2026 19:13 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzovgz3ik2shttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjxlxst2kk2kKansas revenue forecasters expect income tax collections to fall below previous predictions for this year and next, complicating a budget outlook that shows the state plunging deep in the red for the next five years. #ksleg https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/20/kansas-revenue-forecast-shows-sliding-income-tax-collections-and-budget-shortfalls/20 Apr 2026 23:16 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjxlxst2kk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjmskx34x22iAs the military’s lead logistics planner for a hypothetical war with Iran, Chris Carmichael reached a simple conclusion: “You really shouldn’t start a war with Iran." #ksleg https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/16/kansas-congressional-candidates-with-military-experience-criticize-trumps-handling-of-iran-war/16 Apr 2026 16:14 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjmskx34x22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjmjq5a2xc2cLatest story in our weeklong series looks at ways the Legislature avoids public input: Last-minute hearings. Taking action on bills not on the agenda. Using gut-and-go. Declare an "emergency" | #ksleg via @crazeywriter.bsky.social https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/16/brazen-offenses-kansas-lawmakers-undermine-public-input-in-legislative-process/16 Apr 2026 13:36 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjmjq5a2xc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjjv7dkjzc2aDay three in our series: Republicans routinely brushed aside concerns about the projected costs of policies as a way of hushing objections, undermining the work of nonpartisan budget analysts and distorting the findings of a 2023 audit #ksleg https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/15/kansas-republicans-flout-fiscal-notes-in-rush-to-pass-costly-contentious-bills/15 Apr 2026 12:24 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjjv7dkjzc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mji3lkcoms2bFifth graders know about water, and they want answers. How does Kansas share water from the Ogallala Aquifer with other states? How is Kansas addressing the water crisis? Will the next governor continue Kelly’s work? #ksleg via @gracefromkansas.bsky.social https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/14/are-you-smarter-than-a-fifth-grader-on-water-issues-kansas-governor-faces-students-questions/14 Apr 2026 19:12 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mji3lkcoms2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjhyxwnfrc2wUpdated with quote from governor, via @gracefromkansas.bsky.social: “I mean, part of the problem is that legislators are out there promising the moon to people when it comes to property taxes. The fact of the matter is the state has very little control over property taxes.” #ksleg [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 Apr 2026 18:26 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjhyxwnfrc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjhoqmn3zk2kThe Legislature’s last-ditch attempt to make good on campaign promises to deliver property tax relief devolved into finger-pointing between candidates for governor and infighting among Republicans as lawmakers passed a bill that nobody seemed excited about. #ksleg https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/14/the-people-of-kansas-lost-last-ditch-attempt-at-property-tax-relief-devolves-into-finger-pointing/14 Apr 2026 15:23 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjhoqmn3zk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjhhsdu7nk24Second story in our series: As Republicans grew fragile about criticism, Rep. Paul Waggoner, R-Hutchinson, emailed a voting rights advocate to tell her to "know when to shut up" and ask that her husband testify instead. #ksleg via @anna-writes.bsky.social https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/14/kansas-lawmakers-complaints-of-attacking-motives-test-open-democratic-debate/14 Apr 2026 13:18 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjhhsdu7nk24https://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjhcvpci6k2qIt shouldn't be this difficult to read a newspaper story, as a subscriber. This is self sabotage.14 Apr 2026 11:51 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjhcvpci6k2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjf5rhxfcs2nKansas lawmakers may have failed to deliver much in the way of property tax relief, but if you invest in silver and gold, guess what | #ksleg via @kansascarpenter.bsky.social https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/13/kansas-legislature-creates-state-capital-gains-tax-exemption-for-investors-in-gold-silver/13 Apr 2026 15:14 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjf5rhxfcs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mjex7d3jqc2zThis week, we are rolling out a series of stories that examine how legislative leaders advance their agenda by exploiting process. First up, @kansascarpenter.bsky.social looks at how Republicans "call the question" to silence debate on high-profile bills #ksleg https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/13/kansas-legislatures-gop-supermajority-leans-into-rule-that-skirts-debate-muffles-dissent/13 Apr 2026 13:16 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjex7d3jqc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/journalist-sherman.bsky.social/post/3mj7z3n2jo224Kansas public school students raising their voices in protest during school hours will need parental permission to leave school grounds to attend a rally or protest event after legislative action Friday. | via @crazeywriter.bsky.social #ksleg https://kansasreflector.com/2026/04/11/kansas-students-to-face-punishment-for-protests-after-lawmakers-override-veto/11 Apr 2026 14:06 +0000at://did:plc:pakdjf77ph2wzbduumxuwdat/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj7z3n2jo224