Kansas Senator Limits Attendance at His Public Events
UNDATED (KWCH) — If you want to attend one of Senator Roger Marshall’s town halls, you’ll need an invitation. Citing fears of political violence, the Kansas Republican says his events in Kansas won’t be open to the general public for the time being. KWCH reports Marshall’s events will be limited to “specific locations and individuals, for safety’s sake.” Marshall says the limitations will remain in place “until political tempers die down.” The senator has been criticized in the past for not making himself available to voters. But Marshall insists he’s “got [his] finger on the pulse of Kansans and what they’re thinking.”
==========
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids Urges Passage of Bipartisan Budget as Lawmakers Discuss Possible Redistricting
UNDATED (KNS) — U.S. Representative Sharice Davids of Kansas is urging Congress to pass a bipartisan budget to avoid a government shutdown. Democratic leaders want to reverse cuts that Republicans made to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Critics say the cuts could end health coverage or raise costs for millions of people. Davids says restoring health care funding is worth fighting for. The Kansas News Service reports that she told KCUR the consequences of a government shutdown would be “catastrophic.” “We could see things like flight delays, we could see delays in social security and Medicare...there's so many functions of the federal government that impact the everyday lives of so many Americans,” she added.
Lawmakers need to reach a deal by October 1 to avoid a shutdown.
In the meantime, Kansas lawmakers are speaking out about the possibility of drawing a new congressional map before the 2026 elections, and that could affect the district Davids represents.
A new map that favors Republicans would likely involve carving up Johnson County, the state’s most populated area. Even some Republicans seem hesitant about the idea, and supporters of redistricting don’t have a wide margin for dissent. Johnson County lies in the state’s 3rd Congressional District, which Davids represents. Like other Kansas Democrats, she says state lawmakers should hold public hearings if they’re going to change the map. “If they think this is such a good idea, then they should be public about it. And don't be having meetings behind closed doors,” she said.
Republican Senate President Ty Masterson says he will soon ask lawmakers to call a special session to consider new maps.
==========
Report: 108,000 Kansas Could Lose Healthcare if Congress Doesn’t Act
UNDATED (Kansas Reflector) — A new report predicts more than 100,000 Kansans who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace could lose coverage if Congress does not extend tax credits for the program. In the report, the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and REACH Healthcare Foundation say more than 200,000 Kansans are currently enrolled in the ACA Marketplace.
But if the tax credits end, rates could increase by 77% over the next ten years. As a result, the report says, 108,000 Kansans would lose their coverage. The Kansas Reflector reports Kansas governor Laura Kelly called on Congress Wednesday to extend the tax credits before the next enrollment period begins on November 1. If Congress fails to act, Kelly says the effects would be “disastrous.”
==========
USDA Secretary Promises to Resume International Food Aid Programs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (HPM) — The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture promised Thursday to restart U.S. food aid programs. Harvest Public Media reports that such a move would be a sharp reversal. One of President Trump’s first executive orders shut down distribution of American international food aid. Dismembering the decades-old USAID program left grain rotting in ports and cut off a lucrative market for US farmers. Farmers will see excess grain piling up with no place to go this fall. Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins, speaking in Kansas City at a forum put on by Agri-Pulse Communications, said the new food aid initiative will advance an “America First Agenda”.
"Today, I'm proud to announce that USDA will purchase 417,000 metric tons of commodities from American farmers immediately to support these programs," she said, adding that corn, wheat and soybeans would be included. However, she offered no other details about how the program would work, or who would staff it. USDA fired all the people who administered USAID.
==========
Police Search for Suspects Who Stole Hard Drive From Salina ATM
SALINA, Kan. (JC Post) — Police are searching for suspects after an ATM machine was tampered with in Salina. Police say the hard drive was removed from the machine at Solomon State Bank on Sunday. The hard drive is valued at $1,500. But the Junction City Post reports the real motive for the theft may have been an attempt at so-called “jackpotting.” That’s when malware is installed on an ATM’s hard drive, forcing the machine to dispense large amounts of cash. It’s believed that tampering also occurred at an ATM at the Exchange Bank in Salina.
==========
State Board of Education Takes First Steps in Search for New Commissioner
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) — The Kansas State Board of Education launched its search for a new education commissioner Thursday. The Kansas News Service reports that the board voted to look for a search firm to help guide the process. Board members Cathy Hopkins, Danny Zeck and Michelle Dombrosky will serve on a subcommittee to develop a request for proposals. Board member Melanie Haas says some members may want to save money by not using a search firm. But she says that would be a mistake. "The money that we will spend to hire that firm is going to be critical to making sure that we have a positive outcome in this process," she explained. Some members want to widen the scope of the search to consider CEOs from fields outside education. Education Commissioner Randy Watson announced his retirement earlier this month.
==========
KCK Board of Public Utilities Removes President
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (WDAF) — The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities has voted to remove and censure its president. WDAF reports the BPU board removed and reprimanded David Haley after an ethics investigation. Haley, who is also a Kansas state senator, was accused of using his public office for private gain. The investigation found Haley listed his long-term domestic partner as his wife when he enrolled in the BPU health insurance plan, which was not allowed. But Haley says the BPU human resources office told him it was OK to list his domestic partner as his spouse.
==========
Topeka Zoo Cheetah Euthanized
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW-TV) — A cheetah at the Topeka Zoo has been euthanized after it was found the animal was suffering from a broken spine. Animal care staff at the zoo noticed the cheetah named Leopold was limping on September 18. WIBW-TV reports a subsequent CT scan revealed a fractured vertebra, which could not be surgically repaired. Zoo officials say the animal may have been injured when he became “visibly excited” by activity outside his enclosure. Leopold was eight years old.
==========
Kansas Health Officials Warn of Dangers of Synthetic Drug 7-OH
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is alerting Kansans to the dangers of a product known as 7-OH that is widely sold in smoke shops, gas stations, and convenience stores. 7-OH is an unregulated synthetic drug, a highly potent opioid-like compound. The Health Department says the product is highly addictive, and using it “in combination with alcohol or other sedatives can cause severe respiratory depression, and in some cases, even death.” Health officials say the product can be “extremely harmful, even in small doses,” and urge consumers to avoid all products containing 7-OH.
==========
Kansas Counties Brace for Corrections Budget Shakeups Following State Funding Cuts
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) — Sedgwick County will have less money for community corrections under new cuts to state funding. The Kansas News Service reports that the county says the cuts could hinder its ability to supervise people on probation. The Kansas Department of Corrections plans to cut the county’s funds by nearly 40 percent over the next three years. Some other counties like Johnson and Butler are set to receive an increase. State officials say the changes aim to make counties more equitable. But Sedgwick County Corrections Director Steven Stonehouse says the cuts could lead more people to reoffend. “Using drugs again, associating with people they’re not supposed to, breaking their curfew. As that happens, they’re putting themselves in (riskier and riskier) situations that lead to offenses,” Stonehouse explained. The county commission is asking the Kansas Legislature to intervene. Sedgwick County commissioners also want a third party to research and develop a new funding formula.
==========
Kansas to Give Voter Information to Texas
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) — If you’re a registered voter in Kansas, election officials in Texas will be taking a look at your registration information. Kansas secretary of state Scott Schwab says he’s swapping voter info with the Lone Star State to “improve the accuracy of voter registration records.” Schwab is a Republican who is also running for governor. The Kansas Reflector reports Texas has agreements with eight other states besides Kansas to share voter info. The states say they've agreed to share the data while “adhering to strict confidentiality and cybersecurity protocols.”
==========
Kansas Board of Regents to Study Reduced-Credit College Degrees
UNDATED (KNS) — The Kansas Board of Regents is convening a task force to study the pros and cons of reduced-credit bachelor’s degrees. The Kansas News Service reports that the move comes as Kansas State University is proposing a 90-credit-hour degree in un-crewed aircraft systems, or drones. It would require the Regents to waive a policy mandating 120 credit hours for an undergraduate degree. Regents president Blake Flanders says any reduced-credit program should not erode the value of a traditional bachelor's degree.
"If we're thinking about, 'Well, let's just skinny-down or gut the systemwide general education and get all of our savings out of those credits,' I think this board would believe that would be a huge mistake," he explained.
A growing number of universities are creating three-year degree programs with fewer credit hours to save students time and money, and to get them into the workforce faster.
==========
Wichita City Council Faces Opposition to Anti-Camping Ordinance
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) — Wichita police and housing officials pushed back against a call by some city council members for stricter enforcement of a ban aimed at reducing homeless encampments. KMUW reports that a request by Mayor Lily Wu for a status report on enforcement of the city’s camping ban came with a clear message from Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan. “Enforcement is not the answer to this problem. And we’ve seen around this country, time and time again...too often...tragedies that have occurred because of confrontations between police and unhoused citizens,” he said. Earlier this year, the council updated Wichita’s camping ordinance to allow citations for camping in certain areas. The ordinance doesn’t allow citations for homeless people who are camping when no shelter beds are available. Since April, the department has not issued any citations in the 184 encampment cases it has handled.
==========
Soybean Farmers Scramble to Find Customers for Crop
UNDATED (HPM) — Soybean producers across the country are getting ready to export their crop. But China, their biggest customer, hasn't placed a single order for the upcoming market year. Where does that put America's farmers? Harvest Public Media reports that China buys over half of all exported American soybeans. Its absence has sent soybean farmers scrambling for options for the beans they just can’t sell. One option is storing the beans until spring. Farmers like Caylor Rosenau from North Dakota say that tactic carries its own set of issues. "I've talked to many neighbors now, and they've said, you know, if we get filled up, our bins get filled up with beans and corn, we can't store both of them," Rosenau said. Producers could choose to sell to local crushers, which process the beans into oil and meal to then sell to other countries directly. But Rosenau says it’s a band-aid to a problem where the only cure might be a deal with China. (Read more.)
==========
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.
==========
Frozen Shrimp Sold in Kansas Recalled Due to Possible Contamination
UNDATED (KPR) — Frozen shrimp sold at Dillons supermarkets in Kansas has been recalled for potential contamination. Kansas is one of 31 states where the shrimp was sold in the Kroger chain, which includes Dillons. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said three varieties of shrimp sold at those stores may be contaminated with cesium-137, a radioactive isotope used in industrial equipment. It’s the second recall of frozen shrimp products with elevated levels of the isotope in less than two months. This latest recall affects shrimp sold under the AquaStar and Kroger brands. The FDA says no illnesses have been reported so far.
==========
This summary of area news is curated by KPR news staffers. Our headlines are generally published by 10 am weekdays and are updated through 7 pm. This ad-free news summary is made possible by KPR members. Become one today. And follow KPR News on X (formerly Twitter).