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Seg. 1: Kansas' Aging Inmates| Seg. 2: Civil Discourse In Topeka

Segment 1: One proposed bill in Kansas legislature would allow state prisoners expected to die to be released  sooner.

Although the bill would extend Kansas' current 30-day compassionate release statute to 120 days, State Representative Highberger, said that it would only be "a drop in the bucket" for easing the state's prison overcrowding problem. We learned how the stalemate between abortion rights and Medicaid expansion may have resulted in other potential prison reform legislation being overlooked.

Segment 2, beginning at 28:22: How state legislators in Kansas are working to bridge political divides in Topeka

Kansas lawmakers are taking strides to improve civility in Topeka.  Working from the premise that getting to know someone can make it easier to work with them Rep. Wolfe Moore and Rep. Steven Johnson set about introducing fellow House members to each other.  They explained how they are doing this and what results they are seeing.

  • Steven Johnson (R-District 108), state representative from Assaria, Kansas
  • Kathy Wolfe Moore (D-District 36), state representative from Kansas City, Kansas

Copyright 2021 KCUR 89.3. To see more, visit KCUR 89.3.

Steve Kraske is an associate teaching professor of journalism at UMKC, a political columnist for The Kansas City Star and has hosted "Up to Date" since 2002. He worked as the full-time political correspondent for The Star from 1994-2013 covering national, state and local campaigns. He also has covered the statehouses in Topeka and Jefferson City.
Chelsea Engstrom