Hundreds Rally Against Trump Policies at Kansas Capitol
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) — Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the state capitol in Topeka on Labor Day to protest Trump administration policies. The event was organized by the group 50501. KSNT reported turnout to be around 500 to 600. Demonstrators called for an end to cuts in Medicaid and other social programs, for fully funding schools and housing programs, and for an end to the administration’s anti-illegal immigration policy.
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Lawrence Seeks Public Input on 2026 Budget
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LT) — The public is getting a chance to weigh in on the city of Lawrence’s proposed 2026 budget. The budget would increase taxes for most property owners, due to a rise in assessed valuations. The city commission will accept public comments at its meeting Tuesday at City Hall. The meeting begins at 5:45 p.m. The Lawrence Times reports the commission will consider the budget for final approval at its meeting on September 16.
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Funeral for Slain Police Officer to Be Held Wednesday
UNDATED (KCUR) — A funeral for the Kansas City, Kansas police officer who was killed in the line of duty will be held Wednesday. KCUR reports that funeral services for Officer Hunter Simoncic will be held at Children's Mercy Park, near the Legends Outlets at 10 a.m. The public is welcome. Simoncic was killed a week ago when a 31-year-old KCK man fleeing police is said to have intentionally hit the officer with his truck. Dennis Mitchell the Third has been charged with capital murder and is being held in the Wyandotte County jail. Police say that if you attend, you should use State Avenue because Village West Parkway and France Family Drive will be closed to public traffic.
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Financial Services Executive Philip Sarnecki Announces Run for Governor
UNDATED (KNS) — Financial services executive Philip Sarnecki has joined the list of Republicans running for Kansas governor. The Kansas News Service reports that Sarnecki, from Bucyrus, is one of nine Republicans seeking to replace Democratic Governor Laura Kelly in 2027. Sarnecki had a career as a wealth management executive and business owner. In a campaign video, he promised he will prioritize cutting taxes and the cost of living, saying “...too many of our young people can't afford to buy homes and too many of our kids have to leave Kansas to find opportunities.” The GOP primary crowd includes former Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, and Senate President Ty Masterson. (Read more about the candidates for the 2026 Governor's Race.)
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Cross-Country Runner Remains in Serious Condition, Weeks After Heat Stroke Collapse
UNDATED (KCUR) — A Kansas college cross-country runner remains in serious condition in the hospital after collapsing three weeks ago from heat stroke. KCUR reports that there were warnings that conditions were dangerous. 19-year-old Delia Montes, a freshman cross-country runner at Dodge City Community College was passed out in a field in 101 degree heat. Documents obtained by KCUR and The Midwest Newsroom show that her coaches, campus security and the Ford County sheriff searched at least two hours before she was discovered in a milo field. College documents also reveal that the day before Montes collapsed, a soccer player was rushed to the hospital at 2:00 pm after collapsing in 100 degree heat. She was treated and released. Dodge City Community College insists the practices were held within heat guidelines set by the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. (Read more.)
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Generous Rainfall Gives Some Parts of Kansas Drought Relief
LIBERAL, Kan. (KNS) — Kansas is getting some rare relief from drought after some places in the state experienced their wettest summer in decades. The Kansas News Service reports that at this time last year, only 8% of the state was facing no dry conditions. But right now, 80% of Kansas is without any dry conditions, which the state hasn’t experienced since September 2016. The tenfold change in dry conditions is because of high amounts of rain this year. The National Weather Service reports some southern Kansas towns like Wichita and Sedan had their top ten wettest summers. Soil moisture is mostly in good condition, along with crop conditions for most of the state.
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Octogenarian Charged in Fatal Wichita Crash
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) — An 80-year-old woman has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder after a fatal crash in Wichita left two people dead Saturday night. The woman was driving a truck that crashed into two other vehicles at the intersection of Central and Webb. Two women in one of the cars that was hit were killed. KWCH reports the two women were a mother and her adult daughter. Police say speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash.
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Republican-Led States Hit Hard by Cancellation of Federal Health Grants
UNDATED (KNS) — Red states like Kansas have lost more of their federal health grants related to the COVID-19 pandemic than blue states have. The Kansas News Service reports that the Trump administration says the grants aren’t needed anymore because the pandemic is over. It axed about 700 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants - billions of dollars for vaccination programs, community health workers and more. Kansas lost about $12.5 million. A new analysis from KFF News finds the cuts are hitting red states like Kansas harder than blue ones. That’s because the red states didn’t sue, whereas two dozen blue states saw much of their funding restored after a court injunction.
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Federal Crackdown on Ticket Scalping Linked to Law Sponsored by Kansas Senator Jerry Moran
UNDATED (KNS) — Federal regulators are cracking down on ticket scalping to big time events like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, thanks to a law from a Kansas senator. The Federal Trade Commission recently filed a lawsuit against a ticket broker accused of illegally buying and reselling tickets at an inflated price. Republican U.S. Senator Jerry Moran sponsored the 2016 law. It prohibits people from circumventing purchasing rules, like limits on how many tickets someone can buy. Moran says he’s happy to see the FTC tackling the issue. “They found some culprits. And I hope we return to the days when the price on a ticket is the price you pay,” he said. The broker allegedly bought hundreds of thousands of tickets to resell for millions of dollars in profits.
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Weed Control Field Day Highlights Non-Chemical Methods for Weed Management
UNDATED (HPM) — Farmers spend a lot of time trying to control weeds, and many of those who don’t use chemicals - or are trying to use less - see potential with new tools. Harvest Public Media reports that the Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day is an event designed to raise awareness about some of these new approaches to the problem of weed control. Sam Oschwald Tilton is the founder and lead organizer of the annual event, which was in-person in Iowa for the first time. He estimates half of the nearly 200 attendees use organic methods, whether they are certified or not. “But there's plenty of farmers that have issues with herbicide resistance. And so one thing I love about this event, it brings together all type of farmers, different scales, different crops and different growing philosophies,” he explained. Throughout the event, farmers gathered in demonstration fields to see different types of equipment in action, including simple tools on two wheels, a propane-powdered flame weeder, and multi-row tractor attachments. The Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day rotates to a new state each year. (Read more.)
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Restored Constitution Hall in Topeka to Reopen
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — Topeka’s historic Constitution Hall will reopen next month after years of restoration. The Shawnee County Historical Society says the official re-opening will take place on September 27 with a program about the underground railroad. Constitution Hall is one of the state’s most historically significant buildings. The simple, two-story structure was built in 1855. It’s where the Topeka Constitutional Convention was held and later served as the temporary state capitol. A $3.7 million grant in 2022 helped pay for the restoration.
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Annual Pooch Plunge Event Scheduled for Tuesday
LAWRENCE, Kan. (Lawrence Times) — On Tuesday, the City of Lawrence will hold its annual dogs-only pool party at the city's Outdoor Aquatic Center. The Pooch Plunge is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 2 at the Outdoor Aquatic Center (727 Kentucky Street). The pool closes to humans after Monday, September 1. The Lawrence Times reports that the water will be treated to make it safe for dogs to swim. Entry is $5.00 per dog. Proof of rabies and Bordetella vaccinations is required. For more information, visit the Pooch Plunge Facebook page.
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