Laura Kelly

TOPEKA — State office buildings around the Kansas Statehouse and state social services offices in Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas, are closed to the public Tuesday and Wednesday because of security concerns ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration.

Gov. Laura Kelly's decision to close state office buildings near the Statehouse came after her office restricted access and increased security at the Statehouse through this week. Those steps followed an FBI warning about possible armed protests in Washington and state capitols.

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly is restricting access to the Kansas Statehouse due to the possibility of an armed protest, telling state lawmakers Thursday that an event is planned for Sunday with “other potential gatherings” next week.

The Democratic governor's chief of staff, Will Lawrence, sent a memo Thursday to the Republican-controlled Legislature's top Republican and Democratic leaders announcing that access to the building will be restricted from Friday through Jan. 22. The memo said there will be an increased law enforcement presence at the Statehouse.

TOPEKA — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly outlined a proposed annual budget Wednesday that includes a tax increase and two other major initiatives likely to be rejected by the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature.

TOPEKA — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday received the first of two COVID-19 vaccine shots while some top Republican officials passed, for now, because not all health care workers and nursing home residents have received theirs.

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly says Kansas is embarking on its first assessment of housing needs across the state in nearly three decades and expects to have a report by the end of next year.

Kelly announced Monday that the state has hired RDG Planning & Design to develop initiatives to guide the state’s housing development efforts. The planning and design firm is based in Omaha, Nebraska, but has worked in Kansas communities including Chanute, DeSoto, Dodge City, Scott City and Dickinson County.

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly plans to get a COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday as part of a larger program to give shots to selected Kansas officials so that state government can continue to operate during the pandemic.

TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is running for reelection in 2022, a spokeswoman said Friday.

TOPEKA — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly gave Kansas' top economic development official a second job as the state's next lieutenant governor, and the state Republican Party immediately previewed possible attacks against their ticket in the 2022 elections.

TOPEKA — Kansas on Wednesday reported spikes in COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations as dozens of nursing homes experienced outbreaks and the state prepared to see that health care workers received the first available vaccines.