Derek Schmidt

Concealed carry applications in Kansas dropped during the 2016 fiscal year.

Between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016, about 5800 people applied for a Kansas license to carry a concealed firearm.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt says that’s a "steep decline" from the previous fiscal year, when the state received almost 10,000 applications. It's the third year in a row that the number has dropped.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has asked the state Supreme Court to reconsider its opinions in a group of DUI cases in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.

A settlement has been reached in a claim against e-book publishers and Apple Inc. Kansas consumers will be able to receive refund checks or account credits.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt on Monday released information about the price-fixing case against Apple. Kansas and 32 other states sued Apple for its participation in a conspiracy with publishers to charge more for electronic books than the market rate.

Apple appealed the case, but when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear it, the settlement became final.

Discussions about criminal conduct crossing the U.S. border with Mexico were held last week between attorneys general of several states and Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Schmidt met with Mexico's federal attorney general and a member of the country's Supreme Court, along with other Mexican legal authorities.

Talking points included human trafficking, drug trafficking and other criminal conduct that affects the state of Kansas. The purpose was to identify cooperative efforts in combating such crimes.

Recent regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency that would extend the organization’s power to protect water resources have been put on hold. A number of states, including Kansas, have asked the EPA to reconsider the new rules.

The "waters of the U.S." rules were announced back in May. They would significantly broaden the definition of what water sources the federal government can deem protected from pollution and development. The EPA says the regulations are necessary to ensure clean drinking water.

Funding for the entire Kansas court system has been in jeopardy. But Attorney General Derek Schmidt has now obtained a court order that prevents the judiciary from having its funding cut off, at least for a while.

First, some background: The Kansas Legislature passed a law that took power away from the Kansas Supreme Court by changing the way local chief judges are selected. The Supreme Court used to make those decisions but under this law, that power was transferred to local judges.

Funding for the entire Kansas judicial system is now in legal limbo.

A Shawnee County judge has struck down a law that changes the way chief judges are selected. But that law was tied to other legislation that said all funding for the judicial branch of government would be stripped away if the first law was struck down.

The Kansas Legislature passed a law that took administrative power away from the state supreme court.