Kansas Board of Regents Proposes $4.6 Million Budget Cut
TOPEKA, Kan. (LT) — The Kansas Board of Regents has voted to cut the state’s higher education budget by $4.6 million. The Board of Regents has authority over 32 universities, community colleges, and technical colleges in the state. The final $1.1 billion budget proposed by the board includes $5.5 million for the Blueprint for Literacy program, which aims to improve reading skills for K-12 students. The Lawrence Times reports the budget also includes $15 million to fund energy research programs at the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University.
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KU Cancels Kansas Relays; Event Began in 1923
LAWRENCE, Kan. — The University of Kansas is canceling the historic Kansas Relays, a track-and-field event first held in 1923. It’s historically been a three-day event held every April that attracts some of the country’s best runners. KU athletic director Travis Goff told the Lawrence Journal-World the move is part of a broader effort to reduce expenses for the athletic department. Goff said it’s possible the Relays could resume at some point, perhaps as an event that is held every few years.
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Kansas Prison Officials Ban Newspapers, Say They Could Be Used To Smuggle Drugs
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) — The Kansas Department of Corrections says it had to cancel inmates’ newspaper subscriptions because the papers could be used to smuggle drugs into prisons. The DOC abruptly canceled the subscriptions last month. A spokesperson told the Kansas Reflector the papers could be soaked in synthetic drugs and either smoked or eaten by inmates. But the spokesperson declined to confirm whether there have been any investigated cases of this happening in state prisons.
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Senator Jerry Moran Says Supplemental Funding Application Period Now Open for Rural Hospitals
UNDATED (KNS) — Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran says applications are open for rural hospitals facing challenges following the cuts to Medicaid in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Kansas News Service reports that Moran says he tried to counteract the financial losses with an emergency fund for hospitals at risk of closure. $50 billion will be available to all states to try and make up the $137 billion rural hospitals will lose over the next decade. Half of that fund will go to states equally. The other half will be distributed to specific rural health clinics through grants from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Funds from the program will be allocated to approved states over five years, with $10 billion available each year.
Kansas clinics must submit detailed rural health transformation plans for improving access to care by November 5th.
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K-State Considers 'Reduced Credit Bachelor’s Degree' Program
MANHATTAN, Kan. (KSNT) — Kansas State University is asking the Board of Regents for permission to implement a new Reduced Credit Bachelor’s Degree program. It would allow K-State to award degrees to students who complete 90 credit hours instead of the usual 120. It would be the first such program in the state. KSNT reports that about 60 colleges nationwide have implemented reduced credit programs. Supporters say they are a less expensive option for students. Critics say it would give students an incomplete education.
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Kansas Lawmaker Proposes Abolishing Vehicle, Property, Income Taxes
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) — A Kansas lawmaker is proposing a constitutional amendment that would eliminate vehicle, property, and income taxes in Kansas. Under the proposal by Republican representative Blake Carpenter, those taxes would be replaced by raising sales taxes and by eliminating some tax exemptions. KSNT reports Carpenter presented his proposal at a legislative committee meeting on taxation on Wednesday. Carpenter says his plan would end vehicle taxes in six years, property taxes in 13 years, and income taxes in about 40 years. Some lawmakers were skeptical of the plan, saying it would take too much power away from the legislature. Others worried sales tax increases would hurt Kansans in the short term.
(–Additional reporting–)
Lawmaker Proposes Elimination of State Property and Income Taxes
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) — A Kansas lawmaker is pitching an idea that he says could eliminate state property and income taxes over time without cutting services. The Kansas News Service reports that Republican Representative Blake Carpenter of Derby has proposed a citizens board that would review and eliminate some sales tax exemptions. Up to $2 billion a year collected from those taxes would go into an investment fund, and the state would use the interest to fund public services. It's a long-term strategy similar to Norway's sovereign wealth fund, which earns interest from oil and gas revenues. Carpenter says Kansas should regularly review sales tax exemptions. "When a tax exemption goes on, and it's not given a sunset, I mean, that's as good as being immortal almost, because it's going to last on the books for a very, very long time," he explained. His proposal would require a ballot measure to amend the state constitution.
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Pioneer Communications Ending Email Service for Western Kansas Customers
LIBERAL, Kan. (KNS) — A rural telecommunications company in western Kansas will discontinue the email many farmers and businesses use. The Kansas News Service reports that the move marks the end of an era for many rural Kansans. Pioneer Communications is a local company in western Kansas that provides internet, TV and phone services in the rural area. The company said in a news release that it will no longer support its email service for customers because it’s increasingly challenging to maintain. That leaves many farmers and rural residents looking for a new and non-local email service. The company is reminding rural users their email is likely connected to their banks, healthcare portals and workplaces. Users will have until next June to transfer their emails.
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Audit Shows Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Incentive Could Cost up to $1 Billion
UNDATED (KNS) — A new audit shows a Kansas tax incentive for affordable housing could cost the state up to $1 billion by 2040. The Kansas News Service reports that lawmakers approved the tax credit in 2022 to incentivize building more rental units for low-income residents. The audit shows the state can award up to $100 million of tax credits until 2028. Those credits can then be claimed annually for 10 years, for a total of $1 billion over that time. The audit appeared to confirm some lawmakers’ concerns that it cost the state too much. Some lawmakers were also surprised that the credit is only for building rentals. Republican Senator Caryn Tyson says that was not clear. “When the legislation was debated and passed, it was not mentioned that it was rental either,” she added. Lawmakers pared down the incentives earlier this year because they were too costly.
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Judge Rules Pro-Palestine Student Organization Can Participate in Mizzou Homecoming Parade
UNDATED (KCUR) — A U.S. District judge on Friday ruled that a pro-Palestine student group at the University of Missouri can participate in the school's annual Homecoming parade next weekend. KCUR reports the judge determined that University of Missouri system president Mun Choi violated the First Amendment rights of Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine when he denied the group’s parade application. The court found Choi’s explanation that their participation would be a safety concern was not legitimate. Ahmad Kaki, who represented the group in court, said the students were denied because of their views on Israel and Palestine. “The Constitution protects them from having their speech restricted by the government, and that's exactly what the University of Missouri attempted to do,” Kaki explained. The University of Missouri declined to comment on the ruling.
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Guard Charged with Killing Wyandotte County Jail Inmate
UNDATED (KCUR) — A guard in the Wyandotte County jail has been charged with killing an inmate by kneeling on his back. KCUR reports that court records show Richard Fatherley has been charged with second degree murder and, in the alternative, involuntary manslaughter. Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree says Fatherley was issued a summons rather than being arrested. Dupree says Fatherly cooperated with Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents and is not a flight risk. He is accused of killing 50-year-old Charles Adair, who was in jail for not paying traffic tickets. The coroner’s report revealed a guard was kneeling on Adair’s back in something police call prone restraint. The KBI says Adair was uncooperative with jail guards.
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Human Remains Identified as Kansas City Woman Missing Since 1984
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (WDAF) – Human remains discovered in 1988 have now been positively identified as a 19-year-old Kansas City area woman, who disappeared in 1984. While the investigation into the woman's death continues, authorities say the remains have been positively matched to Kimberly L. Carter, a mother of three who was last seen in 1984. In 1988, a human skull was found by construction crews working in eastern Independence, Missouri.
WDAF TV reports that police were able to recover nearly 40% of a human skeleton. Those remains were taken to the University of Missouri’s Department of Anthropology for analysis. Later, they were returned to the Independence, Missouri, Police Department. As an investigator began reviewing the case, it was discovered that no modern technology had been used to help identify the individual. Advanced DNA testing was later used to make a positive ID.
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Judge Convicts Kansas Man of Receiving Child Pornography
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KPR) – A federal judge has convicted a Kansas man of receiving child sexual abuse materials. Prosecutors say 50-year-old Frank Castro, of Kansas City, Kansas, was found guilty of receiving child pornography. In September 2020, Castro used social media to exchange messages with another man in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, that man, Antonio Galicia, offered to send Castro a video Galicia made of himself sexually abusing a young child. Galicia then used an app to send Castro the video file. Castro knowingly accepted and viewed the video. Later, while the Milwaukee Police Department was investigating Galicia for a series of child sex crimes, officers found evidence of the video transmission to Castro and passed the information on to the FBI. Castro is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2025, and faces up to 25 years in prison.
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Wyandotte County DA to Seek Death Penalty for Man Accused of Killing KCK Police Officer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — The Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday it intends to seek the death penalty against the man accused of killing Kansas City, Kansas Police Officer Hunter Simoncic last month.
WDAF TV reports that Dennis Edward Mitchell III is charged with capital murder, one count of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, two counts of theft and one count of criminal possession of a weapon. He is accused of killing Officer Simoncic on August 26th of this year after a chase, in which Mitchell allegedly abandoned one vehicle and then entered another before continuing to drive away from police. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation later discovered both vehicles were reported stolen. As the chase progressed, Simoncic was attempting to deploy stop sticks a few blocks away. Mitchell is accused of driving toward the officer and over the median, hitting Simoncic before leaving the scene. Simoncic, who was 26 years old and had joined KCKPD in November 2023, was taken to KU Medical Center for treatment, but died of his injuries.
Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree is also seeking the death penalty in the case of Shawn Harris, the man accused of killing Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Deputy Elijah Ming. Mitchell is next scheduled to appear in court on October 21.
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Kansas Native Gary Woodland Inducted into KU Athletics Hall of Fame
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) — Topeka native and former Kansas Jayhawks golfer Gary Woodland is the latest inductee to the KU Athletics Hall of Fame. His crowning achievement took place when he won the 2016 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in California. Woodland, now 41, turned professional after completing his KU career in 2007. In addition to winning the Open, Woodland has captured three PGA Tour events. A year ago, Woodland underwent brain surgery after he revealed a diagnosis of a brain lesion. This year, he’s competing again and in February received the PGA Tour’s courage award.
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KPR Seeks New Kansas Statehouse Bureau Chief
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — Kansas Public Radio is seeking a new Statehouse Bureau Chief. This position works primarily at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka and is primarily responsible for reporting on state government. This includes, but is not limited to, covering the Kansas Legislature, the governor, attorney general, supreme court, the state's congressional delegation and statewide elections.
(Click here for more details.)
Best radio and multimedia news job in Kansas? Maybe. Must apply online.
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