Category: News

Saturday events

Democrats meet Saturday

The Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democratic Breakfast will meet at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at Las Islas Sports Bar and Grill, 4929 State Ave. Guest speakers will be Vicki Hiatt, Kansas Democratic Party chair; and Hank Chamberlain, Democratic National Committee member. Lauren Martin, 3rd District chair, will speak in favor of voting no on the two constitutional amendments and voting to retain all judges on the ballot. There also will be information presented about the possibility of passing medical marijuana in the next legislative session. Those attending the breakfast may start gathering at the restaurant at 8:15 a.m., with the program starting at 9:15 a.m. The cost of the breakfast is $10 per person, or $7 for students and those on a limited income. Those attending do not have to buy a breakfast to listen to the program. A sponsor will pay the cost of students attending the meeting for the first time.For more information, email [email protected].

BPU employees to compete in lineman’s rodeo Saturday

Six linemen from the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities will compete against hundreds of other utility workers at the annual International Lineman’s Rodeo through Oct. 15 at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, Bonner Springs. An annual trade show and expo will be held in Overland Park, Kansas, in conjunction with the event. The lineman’s rodeo features linemen competing in events based on traditional lineman tasks. BPU will be represented by one team and three apprentice linemen. Matt Campion, Jake Janes, Trenton Overton, Josh Cook, Garrett Gilbert and Dawson Crouss will be competing against more than 900 linemen representing more than 200 teams from private and municipal utilities. Last year’s BPU team placed fourth in the municipality division. The rodeo competition will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Ag Hall, near 126th and State. An awards banquet will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Overland Park Convention Center. The International Lineman’s Rodeo was first held in 1984 and was created to maintain a focus on safety and safe work practices, and to recognize the technical craft skills of utility linemen. For more information, see www.linemansrodeokc.com.

Exhibit celebrates 150th anniversary of KCK at Wyandotte County Museum

The Wyandotte County Museum is featuring an exhibit celebrating the 150th anniversary of Kansas City, Kansas. On Oct 22, 1872, Kansas City, Kansas, was formally incorporated, but at that time it was far from the Kansas City, Kansas, of today. “The Original Kansas City, Kansas,” exhibit will feature a series of early maps, facts, and images from the city’s earliest years. It will provide visitors with a glimpse several important stories related the cities early development and growth. “The Original Kansas City, Kansas” exhibit will be on display at the Wyandotte County Museum from Oct. 1 until Feb. 18, 2023. The Wyandotte County Museum, 621 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs, will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. There is no charge for admission.

Candidate meet-and-greet session planned

On Saturday, Oct. 15, a meet-and-greet session with candidates is planned from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Beatrice Lee Community Center, 1310 N. 10th St., Kansas City, Kansas. This event is sponsored by Unity with Purpose and the Kansas City, Kansas, Branch of the NAACP.

Renaissance Festival continues, with ‘Haunted Huzzah’

The 45th annual Kansas City Renaissance Festival continues Saturday, Oct. 15, at the festival grounds, near 126th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs. The theme of this weekend is “Haunted Huzzah.” The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and on weekends through Oct. 16. Tickets may be purchased at the box office or online at www.kcrenfest.com.

Free Halloween movies at Legends

Free Halloween movies to be shown each Saturday in October at Legends Lawn
The Legends Outlets will be showing free outdoor Halloween movies at 7 p.m. each Saturday in October at the Legends Lawn. The Lawn is located on the west side of the shopping center, 1843 Village West Parkway, which is near I-70 and I-435 in Kansas City, Kansas. On Oct. 15, the movie will be “Halloweentown.” Those attending may bring lawn chairs or a blanket.

Send information about upcoming events happening in Wyandotte County to [email protected].

Democrats to meet Saturday

The Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democratic Breakfast will meet at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at Las Islas Sports Bar and Grill, 4929 State Ave.

Guest speakers will be Vicki Hiatt, Kansas Democratic Party chair; and Hank Chamberlain, Democratic National Committee member.

Lauren Martin, 3rd District chair, will speak in favor of voting no on the two constitutional amendments and voting to retain all judges on the ballot.

There also will be information presented about the possibility of passing medical marijuana in the next legislative session.

Those attending the breakfast may start gathering at the restaurant at 8:15 a.m., with the program starting at 9:15 a.m.

The cost of the breakfast is $10 per person, or $7 for students and those on a limited income. Those attending do not have to buy a breakfast to listen to the program.

A sponsor will pay the cost of students attending the meeting for the first time.

For more information, email [email protected].

Trio of Kansas Supreme Court justices up for retention defend independent judiciary

Each affirms judiciary supports functioning democracy by adhering to rule of law

by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Overland Park — Kansas Supreme Court Justice Melissa Taylor Standridge said the legislative and executive branches of government were distinct from the judicial branch because judges and justices were required to cast aside personal politics when making decisions.

“We are very different,” she told an audience Thursday night. “The first two branches of government cater to the people. Who do we cater to? The rule of law. Our own personal beliefs don’t matter. You can say that’s why we wear black robes because we leave everything behind. We have to make unpopular decisions sometimes.”

Standridge was joined at Johnson County Community College by Chief Justice Marla Luckert and Justice Evelyn Wilson, all of whom will be on the Nov. 8 ballot to determine whether they retain their jobs.

Six of the state’s seven state Supreme Court members face retention votes in a politically charged atmosphere given the statewide vote in August rejecting an abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution drafted in response to a 2019 decision by the state’s highest court. The decision said the constitution guaranteed people bodily autonomy and, therefore, a right to abortion.

Some Kansas political activists have advocated defeat of justices in anticipation replacements would be opposed to abortion rights.

“Unfortunately, in recent years, there’s been more of a tendency for some factions to want to look at whether decisions came out the way they wanted them to look,” Luckert said.

Wilson, Luckert and Standridge devoted half of the “nonpartisan, educational” discussion to details of their educational, professional and legal backgrounds. Each justice touched on the value of an independent judiciary dedicated to fairness and impartiality in district court and appellate cases.

The forum also carved into three methods relied upon in Kansas to select justices or judges. It includes direct election and merit selection of district court judges, depending on jurisdiction. Spots on the Kansas Court of Appeals for nearly a decade have involved nominations by the governor followed by Kansas Senate confirmation. Supreme Court openings are filled through a merit-based evaluation of applicants by a nine-member commission with the final selection made by the governor.

The Supreme Court selection process in Kansas is distinct from the federal model in which the U.S. president nominates a person to the U.S. Supreme Court subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Some Kansas politicians want to amend the Kansas Constitution to give the Kansas Senate veto power over a governor’s picks for the Supreme Court.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly appointed Wilson and Standridge in 2020 to the state Supreme Court, while Republican Gov. Bill Graves appointed Luckert in 2002. Wilson and Luckert both served as district court judges in Shawnee County ahead of their appointments to the high court. Standridge served on the Kansas Court of Appeals for 13 years, writing more than 1,000 opinions, prior to shifting to the state Supreme Court.

Luckert said the merit-selection system to fill vacancies on the state Supreme Court was the most democratic in terms of allowing anyone with basic qualifications to apply.

She also said Kansans benefit from stability in the judiciary. A revolving door of judges and justices would inject turmoil into many facets of life, she said.

“People make life-and-death decisions based on the things we decide,” Luckert said. “Continuity of decision making and precedent is important to all kinds of aspects of the way our economy functions and the way our society functions.”

No state Supreme Court justice has been shown the door by voters in more than 60 years.

Much of the fervor in 2022 has centered on the state court’s decision three years ago that affirmed the Kansas Constitution guaranteed women bodily autonomy and access to abortion services. Kansas legislators and lobbyists who objected to the decision crafted the constitutional amendment to effectively nullify the court’s perspective on abortion rights, which took on greater significance after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade that provided a national right to abortion for 50 years.

Kansans swarmed the polls in August to take part in the vote on the abortion amendment. It was rejected by a margin exceeding 170,000 votes.

In the past, capital punishment and school funding inspired organizations to seek ouster of Supreme Court justices.

Former Justice Carol Beier, who is part of Keep Kansas Courts Impartial, said voters in November should retain all six sitting justices whether appointed by a Republican or Democratic governor. Former Gov. Sam Brownback, speaking in August to the Wichita-based Culture Shield Network, said the vote was an opportunity to move the system toward appointment of more justices opposed to abortion.

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

See more at https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/14/trio-of-kansas-supreme-court-justices-up-for-retention-defend-independent-judiciary/