Kansas Board of Regents Considers Tuition Hikes for Public Universities
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The price tag of a college education will go up for most Kansas students this year. Five of the six major state universities have proposed raising tuition. The Kansas Board of Regents votes Thursday on the plan. Proposals range from a 2.8% increase at K-State to a 6% jump at Fort Hays State. Emporia State is the only university that has not proposed a tuition hike. Leaders say they’ll use one-time state funding and cash reserves to balance their budget. Other university administrators say raising tuition will help offset inflation and make up for tuition freezes imposed during the pandemic.
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Kansas Plan to Lure Professional Sports Team Could Inflate STAR Bond Debt Past $1 Billion
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - A proposal is now in place, but some state lawmakers are wondering whether Kansas can really afford to lure the Chiefs and the Royals to relocate from Missouri to Kansas. Some wonder whether the state biting off more than it can chew. The state could soon issue about $700 million in STAR bonds for construction of a new sports stadium. Kansas already has more than half a billion dollars in STAR bond debt. The state has issued STAR bonds for 23 projects since 1998. Those bonds are paid off with the sales tax revenue each project generates. Some lawmakers are concerned that a new stadium for the Chiefs or Royals would be much more costly than any existing project. Representative Henry Helgerson, a Democrat from Sedgwick County, was one those vopicing concerns during Tuesday's special legislative session. “If we spend this money on the Chiefs, you will have a billion dollars less to spend for schools, or for property tax reduction," he said. Children’s Mercy Park is the biggest project so far, receiving $150 million in STAR bonds. State officials say 80% of its STAR bond projects are on track to be paid off on time.
So far, no project has come close to the estimated $700 million in bonds it would take to construct a new sports stadium for the Chiefs or Royals. Republican State Senator Virgil Peck, from Montgomery County, says lawmakers weren’t given enough time or information to weigh the financial impact of building a new professional sports stadium. “I'm not voting 'no' to the Kansas City Chiefs. I’m voting no to the rapidity of the process that we went through today," he said Tuesday.
Want to learn more? KMBC TV reports on the history of STAR Bond projects in Kansas.
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Some Kansas Lawmakers Say Property Tax Relief Isn't Sufficient
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP/KPR) - The Kansas Legislature approved major tax cuts during its special, one-day session. Yet, some lawmakers were frustrated by the lack of serious property tax relief. The Legislature cut income and property taxes by a total of $1.23 billion over the next three years. But many lawmakers say not enough was done to reduce property taxes. Under the measure approved this week... the owner of a $250,000 home will save about $76 a year.
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Kansas Turnpike Moving to Cashless Toll System Beginning July 1
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KNS) – The Kansas Turnpike will soon be going cashless. Starting July 1, drivers on the highway from the Oklahoma border to Kansas City will no longer need to pull over to pay their toll. The Kansas News Service reports that the Kansas Turnpike Authority offers K-Tags, which are small stickers for vehicles that allow drivers to be charged automatically when they go through a cashless toll. Drivers without K-Tags will be identified by their license plate and will receive a bill in the mail. Rachel Bell of the Kansas Turnpike Authority says the new system is safer, and drivers who use cashless tolling in Texas and Colorado wanted it in Kansas too. “We do hear from customers who say 'when can we have a system like theirs, where everybody keeps moving?'”, she added. Bell says drivers can learn more about cashless tolling by visiting DriveKS.com.
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Farm Bill Proviso May Increase Awareness of "Forever Chemicals"
UNDATED (HPM) - The U.S. Senate’s version of the Farm Bill includes money to help farmers whose land was contaminated by “toxic forever chemicals” called PFAS. It would replicate a program in Maine put in place in 2022. More than 70 farms in that state were found to be contaminated by PFAS-tainted biosolids fertilizer. Sarah Alexander leads the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. She says the proposed $500 million fund could encourage states to test biosolids for PFAS and address contamination on farms. “They're going to be offered an opportunity to have their farm bought at fair market value, so that they can start over somewhere else. And then other farmers have been able to get that direct income replacement and pivot their businesses," she said. Two years ago, the state of Michigan shut down a farmer who used fertilizer tainted with PFAS, leaving the century farm on the brink of bankruptcy. “We're hopeful that having a safety net in place will allow states to start being a little more proactive," Alexander said. The Farm Bill is still in its early stages, but Alexander believes PFAS relief has "universal support.” The current farm bill expires in September.
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New Move from Some Livestock Industry Groups to Revive Meat Labeling Requirements
UNDATED (HPM) – Some livestock groups want all meat products to clearly disclose where the livestock was born, raised and processed. As Harvest Public Media reports that they’re hoping Congress will reinstate mandatory labeling in the upcoming farm bill. The USDA recently finalized a rule that only allows meat from livestock born, raised and processed in the U.S. to be labeled a “Product of USA”. But that label is voluntary. Some in the livestock industry say country of origin labels on meat products should be required. That's something Congress halted in 2015. Tim Gibbins of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center supports mandatory labels. “One of the main purposes of a representative democracy is to enforce antitrust laws so that markets are open, fair and competitive… country of origin labeling is a first step in ensuring competition in markets,” he explained. Others argue the costs of the mandate would outweigh any benefits. There is currently no provision in either the House or Senate version of the Farm Bill. (Read more.)
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Celebrations Scheduled for Return of Sacred Boulder to Kaw Nation
UNDATED (KCUR) – Celebrations for the return of a giant, sacred boulder to a Native American tribe in Kansas are scheduled for this weekend (Saturday, June 22). KCUR reports that the Sacred Red Rock’s traditional name is Iⁿ‘zhúje‘waxóbe. In March, the 24-ton quartzite boulder was moved to land the Kaw Nation owns near Council Grove. Now, Tribal Council Vice Chair Jim Pepper Henry says it’s time to welcome the stone. “We're bringing the stone back to our motherland, so it's a way for our people to reconnect with the stone and have the stone in our stewardship on our tribal lands in Kansas,” he explained. Lawrence residents first took the boulder in 1929, for a monument to the city’s white founders. That was despite the Kaw Nation’s centuries-long relationship with it. The City of Lawrence formally apologized to the tribe in March of 2021 and pledged to return the stone. It was moved from a park in Lawrence in August 2023, and it was moved to Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park in Council Grove, Kansas on March 20 of this year.
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Kaw River Roots Festival in Downtown Lawrence
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - Downtown Lawrence will be buzzing with the sounds of folk, bluegrass, and old-time music this weekend at the 4th Annual Kaw River Roots Festival. Grammy winning singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tim O'Brien is the headliner at this year's festival. His band will be featured Saturday night and festival co-producer Mike Hannah says O’Brien’s band is always a crowd pleaser. “To have him and his band headlining on the main stage is going to be really special," he said.
Also among this year’s highlights: the return of Kansas favorites Split Lip Rayfield after a five year hiatus. More than 20 acts will appear on three stages Friday and Saturday followed by a Bluegrass Brunch on Sunday. Hannah says the music will be non-stop. “If you want to see a lot of bands in a short amount of time and not have to pay a lot, this is the kind of music festival you want to go to," Hannah said.” The Kaw River Roots Festival will be held at Abe and Jake’s Landing in Downtown Lawrence. Find more information on this weekend’s festival at kawriverroots.com.
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2 "Weak" Tornadoes Touched Down in Southwest Kansas
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Two tornadoes touched down in southwest Kansas this week but neither caused any damage. The National Weather Service says the tornadoes touched down Tuesday - one about 16 miles northwest of Kalvesta, in Finney County, and the other one near the town of Ensign, in Ford County. KSNW TV reports that both twisters were rated EFU, the weakest level on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, because no damage could be detected by weather survey teams.
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