Latest news with #DanHawkins
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
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas House speaker launches campaign for insurance commissioner with pro-Trump rhetoric
Rep. Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, announced his run for state insurance commissioner on May 13, 2025, which was followed up with a fundraising event in Downtown Topeka. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Longtime Republican legislator Dan Hawkins declared Tuesday his intention to run for Kansas insurance commissioner in an announcement laced with pro-Trump sentiments. Hawkins, an insurance agent from Wichita, followed the announcement with an event in downtown Topeka attended by fellow legislators, government officials and lobbyists, the early supporters of a nearly two-year campaign. He is the first candidate for insurance commissioner to announce he will seek the office in 2026. 'As I considered my next steps and how I can continue to serve my fellow Kansans, it became clear that my decades of experience helping individuals and small businesses navigate the complexities of the insurance industry could be especially beneficial to people across the state,' he said in a statement. Hawkins, 64, was first elected to the House in 2012, and he has served as House speaker, the chamber's top leadership position, since 2023. During the most recent legislative session, Hawkins led a supermajority of House Republicans who were set on enacting conservative legislation. They successfully overrode a flurry of vetoes by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Hawkins is a husband, father and grandfather. He is a graduate of Emporia State University and a veteran of the Kansas National Guard, and he has been in the insurance business for three decades, specializing in employee benefits. While in public office, Hawkins has been a staunch opponent of Medicaid expansion, the state-level process that would allow low-income adults to be covered under the public insurance program. His campaign for insurance commissioner is rooted in conservative Republican values. The first words that appear on his campaign website are: 'PRO-LIFE. PRO-GUN. PRO-TRUMP.' He characterized the hallmark of his time as House speaker as leading 'the charge to stop Laura Kelly's radically liberal agenda.' Hawkins will seek the GOP nomination in the 2026 primary. His current term as a legislator expires at the end of 2026. The insurance commissioner oversees the Kansas Insurance Department, which regulates insurance companies that operate in the state. Hawkins said creating a 'competitive insurance environment' in Kansas would be his objective if elected. He believes deregulation would increase consumers' options, lower costs and make insurance issues easier to navigate. 'No Kansan should be denied coverage,' he said. 'Just like President Trump has made it his mission to make life miserable for foreign cartels, it will be my job as insurance commissioner to do the same for any insurance company that does not follow the law.' In a statement of substantial interest filed April 22, Hawkins reported that he receives commissions from six insurance companies, ranging from medical to dental to life insurance. He is on the payroll at his own insurance agency, the Hawkins Group, and at Conrade Insurance Group, which is based in Newton. Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, is Hawkins' campaign treasurer. 'One only needs to talk with Dan for a few minutes to see his love for our state and its people,' Eisenhower said in a statement. 'The insurance industry can be very complex and confusing and it's important that Kansans have an advocate in the insurance department.' Hawkins' announcement is the latest in a trickle of candidacy declarations. Current Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt hasn't said whether she will seek a third term. She is expected to join a crowded governor's race. Most recently, former Gov. Jeff Colyer, who filled former Gov. Sam Brownback's position in 2018 after Brownback left for a post in the first Trump administration, filed paperwork assigning a treasurer to a gubernatorial campaign but hasn't made a formal announcement. Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab and conservative podcaster Doug Billings have also declared intentions to run as Republicans. Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican, and Lt. Gov. David Toland, a Democrat, also are widely expected to run for governor.
