Governor Kelly Discusses Outlook for Political Future
UNDATED (KNS) – Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is offering some insights on what's next for her political career. The Kansas News Service reports that Kelly is entering her last two years as the top Democrat in a state where politics are mostly dominated by Republicans. Some Democrats are wondering if the 74-year-old might challenge Republicans in any other offices. But she says that will not be the case. Kelly told KCUR News that “...I have really enjoyed being governor, and I will enjoy the last two years and give it my all, but it is really time for me to move on.” Republican success in the election means Kelly will face an expanded GOP supermajority in the state Legislature.
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Kansas Lawmakers to Review Zoning as Part of State Housing Shortage
UNDATED (KNS) – Kansas lawmakers want to address a housing shortage in the state and create more affordable homes. The Kansas News Service reports that some believe revising state laws on local zoning could be part of the answer. Advocates argue state zoning and development laws restrict what communities can do. And they say that stifles creative development. Christina Ashie Guidry of United Community Services in Johnson County says the state currently prohibits cities from requiring affordable housing in development projects. She says allowing cities to be more flexible will help, adding “...that makes sense when our different localities are in different positions as far as needing affordable housing." Lawmakers plan to review state zoning restrictions in the spring.
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KS Department of Labor Says Online Unemployment Site Overhaul Complete
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – Kansas labor officials say a new unemployment insurance website is up and running. The Kansas News Service reports that the site update is part of an overhaul of the Department of Labor’s computer systems, which originally dated back to the 70s and had a lot of problems. Those problems came into focus in 2020, when the unemployment site was flooded with applications. Labor Secretary Amber Shultz says the new system has more modern features, is more secure and easier to use. “We have implemented a foundation that is scalable, nimble and will serve Kansans for decades to come,” she added. Shultz says the department saw a large volume of calls the first couple days after the new site launched. But now, she says about 97% of people are able to complete their application fully online. The overhaul cost the state about $43 million.
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Farmers Begin Discussion on Ogallala Aquifer Level Action Plans
LIBERAL, Kan. (KNS) – Farmers met this week in southwest Kansas to discuss what action is needed to extend the life of the Ogallala aquifer, which powers the state’s economy. The Kansas News Service reports that farmers gathered by the hundreds in Dodge City, Garden City, Ulysses and Sublette to brainstorm the best way to address falling groundwater levels. A state law passed last year requires all five groundwater management districts, or GMDs, in western Kansas to submit an action plan by July 1, 2026. Bret Rooney, a farmer in Haskell County, says he was pleasantly surprised that his fellow farmers agreed action is needed to control the rapid loss of water. “There was a lot less negativity regarding the scenarios and what it is we're trying to accomplish at the GMD level. So I was looking to see what my neighbors were thinking about that,” Rooney commented. A common concern was the need for flexibility in water usage in situations like drought.
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Venezuelan Nationals Accused of Stealing from People in Kansas and Missouri
RICHMOND, Mo. (KMBC) - Two men from Venezuela have been arrested and charged with using a skimmer to steal money from a bank's ATM in Richmond, Missouri. KMBC TV reports that 24-year-old Darwin G. Moreno-Conde and 44-year-old Yorbin Allen-Hernandez - who are both illegally in this country - used the skimmer to steal nearly $7,000 from at least 45 victims. Authorities say the two men specifically targeted Bank Midwest ATMs in Richmond, Lee's Summit, Raymore and Liberty, Missouri, as well as a bank ATM in Edwardsville, Kansas. Court records show that an immigration judge in Detroit has already ordered one of the men to be deported. The other man is due before an immigration judge in Dallas in August.
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Former City Manager in Liberal Arrested, Charged with Rape and Battery
LIBERAL, Kan. (KPR) – The former city manager of Liberal has been arrested and charged with rape and battery. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says Russell “Rusty” Varnado was taken into custody this week on a warrant for rape, sexual battery and lewd and lascivious behavior. The Liberal Police Department asked the KBI to assist in the investigation in August when the allegations first surfaced. Authorities accuse Varnado of committing the crimes between March and August, when Varnado worked as city manager. Following the allegations, the 37-year-old Varnado was fired. No further details have been released.
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Multi-Million Dollar Entertainment Complex Could Be Coming to Olathe
OLATHE, Kan. (KCUR) – The Olathe City Council Tuesday opened the door for the development of a $320 million entertainment complex. Kate Mays reports that it could potentially receive millions of dollars in public tax incentives. The proposed district, located at 119th Street and Renner Boulevard, would have sports facilities, an amusement park, shops, and a medical center. It’s all designed to be accessible for people with disabilities. A development company run by Lamar Hunt Jr. is behind the project. To help with financing, the Kansas Department of Commerce approved a maximum of $65 million in STAR bonds, which the state uses to attract major destinations like stadiums. The Olathe project requires further approvals before construction starts– which could be as early as next summer, with an anticipated opening in 2026.
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Johnson County Commission Votes to Direct Millions of Dollars Toward Housing and Homelessness Projects
JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. (Johnson County Post) – The Johnson County Commission voted Thursday to put millions of dollars toward efforts addressing homelessness and housing affordability. The Johnson County Post reports that commissioners approved more than $6 million in federal funds to go towards a handful of initiatives aimed at addressing affordable housing and homelessness. The vast majority of that money will go towards two initiatives: a Habitat for Humanity project to build new homes for low-income residents, and to construct housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Johnson County will also spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on two shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness. The federal funding being used for these efforts was originally slated to help convert a Lenexa hotel into a low-barrier homeless services center. But that project was scuttled after the city denied a permit for it earlier this year.
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Opening Date Announced for New Wichita Emergency Winter Shelter
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) – An emergency winter shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Wichita will open December 2nd. KMUW reports that the shelter is located in a former elementary school in downtown Wichita. The city purchased the building in September. In the past several months, the city put about $2 million dollars worth of renovations into the former school, including adding ADA accessible showers and a fire suppression system. The shelter has capacity for 260 single men and women. Sally Stang is the city's housing and community services director. She says the shelter will be open to almost anyone who needs it. "They're not having background screenings. There's no requirement for anybody to have income to be able to come in. People can come in if they're under the influence so long as they're not a threat to themselves or someone else," she explained. In the next several days, the city plans to turn the building over to the nonprofit organization that will operate the shelter.
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What's the Deal with All the Food Recalls Lately?
UNDATED (HPM) – From processed meats to produce, millions of pounds of food has been pulled off of shelves across the country due to health concerns in recent months. Harvest Public Media reports that food contamination is one reason behind recalls. Listeria in deli meat, and E. coli in carrots, are just a few examples of recent bacteria outbreaks that have sickened people and in certain cases, caused deaths. Byron Chaves, professor and food safety extension specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, says there are many reasons why food gets contaminated. "It could be the ingredients. It could be a food contact surface. It could be, sometimes in retail spaces, it could be a worker that is sick, and maybe there is a lack of protective mechanisms to prevent contamination," he explained. Chaves says most contaminated food does not make it to the store - but it does happen. For him, this is where regulations, safety education and awareness is important.
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KCK Mayor Will Not Seek a Second Term
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCUR) – After just one term, Unified Government Mayor Tyrone Garner said Tuesday that he won’t run for reelection next year. KCUR reports that the former Kansas City, Kansas, police captain said in a statement that he’ll spend his last year in office on property tax reduction, police reform and reducing the BPU PILOT fee on residents’ utility bills. Garner ousted former UG mayor David Alvey with 51 percent of the vote in 2021. He is the first African-American to be mayor of KCK. Garner is the third Unified Government mayor in a row to only serve a single term. Wyandotte County and the city merged in 1997. In the last year, Garner has suggested that it might be time to break up the Unified Government, saying that the government might be bankrupt by 2026. He also made a pitch for the Royals to move to KCK.
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State Representative Receives Award from National Nonprofit Group
UNDATED (KNS) – A national nonprofit is recognizing a state representative from central Kansas for bringing young lawmakers together behind bipartisan legislation. The Kansas News Service reports that Tori Blew went right from Fort Hays State University to the Statehouse in 2017. At the time, she was the youngest Kansas state representative at the age of 23. Now, the Republican from Great Bend has won an annual Rising Star Award from the Future Caucus. It’s a nonprofit that aims to bridge political divides among Gen-Z and Millennial lawmakers. Blew says she’s trying unique ways to nip polarization in the bud. “We've done bowling, we've done axe throwing, but in the end it's just to break the ice and get to know each other as colleagues versus an ‘R’ and a ‘D’ behind our names,” she explained. Blew will represent the 33rd Senate District in central Kansas after winning that seat in the election.
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Kansas Participates in CDC Initiative on Antibiotic Use
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – This week is “Use Antibiotics Wisely Week” in Kansas, part of a national initiative to fight antibiotic resistance. The Kansas News Service reports that health experts say if the medications are wrongly prescribed, they can cause bacteria to mutate and become resistant to antibiotics. Kellie Wark with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says doctors need to be more selective when prescribing antibiotics and patients should ask if they’re needed. She says people should also ask their veterinarians if an antibiotic is necessary when one is prescribed to their pets. “There’s a lot of inappropriate prescribing that’s not just happening in humans but also in animals as well,” she cautioned. Wark says antibiotic resistance can lead to dangerous infections that are hard to treat.
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Native American Art & Fashion on Display at the Spencer Art Museum
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - A Native American art and fashion exhibit at the University of Kansas is taking some visitors by surprise. The exhibit, called "Native Fashion," can be seen at the Spencer Museum of Art until January 5th, 2025. KPR Commentator Rex Buchanan was elated with the show, calling it the "most compelling show he's ever seen at the Spencer." Hear his thoughts.
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Remembering the Kansas Connection to the Nuremberg Trials, 79 Years Ago this Week
UNDATED (KPR) - On November 20 1945, the Nuremberg Trials began. For nearly a year, judges representing the victorious Allied countries of World War II listened to testimony about war crimes and crimes against humanity. A Kansas man played a key role leading up to those trials. John Meyer grew up in Phillipsburg, in north-central Kansas, and served in the Big Red One during the war, where he received several medals. As the war in Europe came to an end, Meyer helped with the construction of the Palace of Justice, where the Nuremberg Trials were held. Meyer was put in charge of mocking up a miniature of the courtroom to allow designers and architects to work out where to put everyone - judges, lawyers, defendants, witnesses, interpreters and members of the media. (Learn more.)
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KU Fans Don Holiday Sweaters at Allen Fieldhouse
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - Kansas Jayhawk basketball fans will try to break their own world record this month. Two days after Thanksgiving, at KU's home game against Furman University, fans at Allen Fieldhouse will wear their holiday sweaters in an effort to update their entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. Nine years ago at Allen Fieldhouse, a Guinness record was set for the largest gathering of people wearing holiday sweaters: 3,473. Jayhawk fans will try to break that record November 30th when they take on Furman. KU Athletics has given its approval to the idea and there are hopes that the holiday event might become an annual ritual. The top-ranked Jayhawks, currently 5-0, have a neutral court game next Tuesday in Las Vegas before returning home.
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