Report: Detained Immigrants Living in “Unhealthy” Conditions
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (The Reflector) — Immigrants detained in the federal prison in Leavenworth say they are being held in “unsanitary and unhealthy” conditions — and even those who have won their immigration cases are being deprived of basic needs. That's according to a report in the Kansas Reflector.
The news outlet interviewed detainees and their attorneys and found many immigrants at Leavenworth face “unsanitary and crowded living quarters, extended lock-downs, delayed and costly medical treatment, restricted contact with their families, and no access to religious services.”
Attorneys and advocates also claim that a “significant number” of people remain imprisoned at Leavenworth despite having won their immigration cases. Some cannot return to their countries of origin because they could face torture or violence upon their return.
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Kansas Lawmakers Release Millions for State Employee Salary Adjustments
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector / TCJ) — Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Legislative leadership have voted unanimously to release $36.2 million to provide funding necessary to implement pay raises for state employees. The Kansas Reflector reports that the 2025 Legislature authorized $40 million for compensation adjustments under the state pay plan. The State Finance Council, which includes the governor, voted to release enough of the money to implement the salary changes in conjunction with the new fiscal year. State budget director Adam Proffitt said there would be a "little bit of money that will go back during the next budget cycle to the state general fund."
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the funds will be divvied up according to a pay plan that's based on the market rate for jobs.
- For employees earning 10% or below the market rate, their pay will increase to bring them to 10% below market rate, or by 2.5%, whichever is greater.
- Classified employees earning between 10% below the market rate to employees making 10% above the market rate would receive a 2.5% pay increase.
- Classified employees earning more than 10% over market rate will receive a 1% pay increase.
- Classified employees whose roles aren't represented in the market survey will receive a 2.5% pay raise.
- All unclassified employees whose jobs aren't included in a market survey will be compensated in a merit pool.
- All executive branch agencies, legislative branch agencies, judicial branch and state board of regents and universities will receive a 2.5% increase sum equivalent to the total 2.5% of the salaries of all benefits-eligible unclassified employees to be distributed as a merit pool.
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Kansas Legislators Close to Halting Use of SNAP Benefits on Candy and Soda
UNDATED (KC Beacon) – Kansas lawmakers are close to banning candy and soda from being purchased with food stamps. The Beacon reports that Republicans hope this encourages healthy eating. But opponents say it won’t work.
Kansas is seeking a waiver from the federal government allowing the state to ban candy and soda purchases with food stamps. Republicans say the food assistance program is about supplementing nutritious food, not junk food that is linked to obesity and diabetes. Republican state senator Renee Erickson pushed for the ban because she wants Kansans eating healthier, saying “...it’s a nutrition program to help folks subsidize their nutritional ability to purchase those types of food, and pop and candy do not fit in that category.”
Karen Siebert with the food bank Harvesters opposes the ban. Under the ban’s definition, people could still buy snack cakes, chips and other unhealthy items. She says the state needs to incentivize people to buy healthier items. “If you have more money, you can eat healthier,” she argues. A Feeding America study says 71% of people want to eat healthier but can’t afford it, though Kansas lawmakers are unlikely to increase food stamp funding.
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Poll Shows Majority of Americans Concerned About Funding Cuts to Medicaid
UNDATED (KNS) – A majority of Americans say they are afraid proposed federal cuts to Medicaid will make it harder to access health care. The Kansas News Service reports that a new poll by KFF, a health policy research organization, found 71% of Americans are worried the proposed cuts will have negative impacts on hospitals and nursing homes. Federal lawmakers are considering a budget bill with large cuts to the health care program for low-income citizens and people with disabilities. April Holman with Alliance for a Healthy Kansas says many rural hospitals in the state rely on Medicaid funding, adding that “...if they see more uncompensated care from more people who are not insured, it could mean the end to those hospitals. So I think that it’s very, very precarious right now.” The U.S. House narrowly passed the bill last month. It is now in the U.S. Senate.
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Annual Report Shows Percentage of Kansas Kids in Poverty Dropped in 2023
UNDATED (KCUR) – Fewer Kansas children lived in poverty in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic years. KCUR reports that data from the annual child wellness report known as Kids Count indicates federal policies like the child tax credit lessened the blow of the worst economic effects of the pandemic. Jessica Herrera Russell is senior communications manager for Kansas Action for Children. She says proposed federal budget cuts could limit families’ access to support like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. “Sick parents aren't going to be able to consistently work. Hungry kids aren't going to be able to learn. So this is where we really need to make sure that we ensure that everybody who is eligible is able to get help,” she explained. Herrera Russell says 3,000 Kansas children lost health insurance from 2022 to 2023.
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Teen Killed in Eastern Kansas UTV Crash
ANDERSON COUNTY, Kan. (KAKE) — A teenager from eastern Kansas was killed in a crash late Saturday night near Garnett. KAKE TV reports that a Polaris Ranger UTV, driven by 16-year-old Wyatt Whitham of Kincaid, was traveling southbound on NW Marshall Road about two miles west of Garnett when it struck an embankment and overturned on the driver's side. Whitham was pronounced dead at the scene. One other passenger had minor injuries, while another passenger was not injured. The Kansas Highway Patrol says Whitham and the other two passengers were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
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Lawrence School Board Considers Raising Student Meal Prices
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) — The Lawrence school board will vote Monday on whether to raise the price of student meals for the third consecutive year. The board will vote on a measure that would increase prices by ten cents. Currently, lunch prices for elementary, middle, and high school students paying full price are $3, $3.20 and $3.25, respectively. The increase would not apply to free and reduced price lunches. Federal law requires local school districts to annually adjust their meal prices to align with USDA standards.
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USA Today Poll: Emporia Has 2nd Best Main Street in America
EMPORIA, Kan. (USA Today) — The city of Emporia already gets high marks for its award-winning tap water, but a recent poll by USA TODAY suggests the seat of Lyon County also has one of the nation's most charming main streets. Emporia's Main Street came in at #2 in USA Today's Reader's Choice Awards. The only main street ranked higher was in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which came in at Number 1.
In February, Emporia took First Place in the Best Municipal Water category at the 35th Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting held in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. This marked the second time Emporia has won Gold for its quality drinking water.
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Missouri House Considers Stadium Bill
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KPR) — The Missouri House meets on Monday to discuss state funding for new stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals. The Senate passed Governor Mike Kehoe’s stadium funding bill last week. If approved, the plan would use tax money generated at the stadiums, along with local funding, to pay for up to half of cost of building new homes for the teams. The funding package is meant to counter an offer from Kansas to pay for up to 70% of new stadium costs for the teams. That offer expires at the end of this month.
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Number of Kansas Children in Foster Care Drops
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — Kansas officials say about 2,000 fewer children are currently in foster care compared to 2019. That’s about a 23% decrease. The Kansas Department of Children and Families shared the latest data with state lawmakers. Secretary Laura Howard indicated that the drop stems from federally funded programs that help families whose children may otherwise be taken into foster care. “You know, starting in 2020, each year, we’ve had more exits than entries,” she said. The programs offer mental health services, help with substance use disorders and lessons on parenting skills. About 5,600 children were in the Kansas foster care system as of this March. Howard says about 60% of children enter foster care as a result of abuse or neglect.
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Pork Producers Hope to Recover from Recent Record Losses
UNDATED (HPM/KPR) — Industry experts predict U.S. pork producers could be profitable this year as they dig out from record losses in 2023. Lee Schulz, an economist with the agriculture analytics and tech firm Ever.Ag, says producers’ costs are higher than they were in 2020. But with hog prices on pace with inflation and forecasts for higher consumer demand this year, pork producers could come out ahead. “If this proves true, this will be the quickest turnaround in pork producer profitability ever." Schulz says. "I pause because the reason is it says much more about how bad the situation was in 2023 and, 2024, it didn't get that much better, than it says about 2025.” The pork industry faces a wild card with fluctuating tariffs and trade tensions, especially with China.
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Kansas Farmers Object to Report Criticizing Herbicides
UNDATED (KNS/KPR) — In another instance of the Trump administration clashing with farmers, one of the largest Kansas farm groups is pushing back on a federal health report that criticizes herbicides.
The report detailed factors associated with chronic disease in children, including chemicals used to grow food and ultra-processed food. But that rubbed farmers the wrong way. The Kansas Farm Bureau and other agriculture groups say the report paints farmers in a bad light.
Greg Doering of the Farm Bureau says the report names chemicals needed in no-till farming to solve other environmental problems like erosion. Doering says the Farm Bureau wants to be more involved in federal discussions about food supply safety.
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KU Health Takes New Approach to Decrease Number of Gunshot Injuries in KC Area
UNDATED (KCUR) — The University of Kansas Health System is taking a more active approach to drive down the number of gunshot injuries in the Kansas City area. KCUR reports that the hospital is teaming with charities, faith-based organizations, and law enforcement for what’s called the “Thrive” initiative.
Olivia Desmarais with KU Health System, says it’s focused on after-school programs, food insecurity, and arranging transportation and safe housing. "If we are addressing their social determinants of health, they are going to feel more safe and secure in the community and they'll be less likely to either be re-victimized or retaliated against for their injury," she explained.
Desmarais says patients aged 12 to 24 who are victims of gun violence are immediately connected with a program case worker. Gunshot injuries represent about 12 to 15% of all patients at KU Health System.
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Flint Hills Trail Now Fully Accessible to Cyclists
UNDATED (KNS/KPR) — Cyclists can now ride nearly 100 miles of uninterrupted trail in eastern Kansas. The 93-mile Flint Hills Trail runs from Osawatomie to Council Grove. A new bridge near Ottawa now allows cyclists to safely cross train tracks that previously forced them to take a detour on county roads. Jeff Bender of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks says many locals are regular users of the trail, and it attracts travelers on longer journeys. “Actually walking across the country or riding a bicycle across the whole country or across the state," Bender said. "It’s amazing the variety of folks that you run into.” Next, officials hope to work on another 27 miles westward to Herington.
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A New Miss Kansas Crowned for 2025
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) — There's a new Miss Kansas. KWCH TV reports that Emily Rugg was crowned over the weekend during the 2025 Miss Kansas pageant at Pratt Community College. Twenty-one women competed in various categories. Katelyn Andrist was named first runner-up, followed by Kristen Stokes as second runner-up. Victoria Grace Pedruzzi placed third, and Alyna Chavez rounded out the top five as fourth runner-up.
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