Federal Officials: Russian Spies Tried to Hack into Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - A federal indictment made public Thursday accuses four men, with ties to Russian spy outfits, of trying to gain control of U.S. nuclear power plants — including the one in Kansas — through cyber sabotage. Prosecutors contend the defendants targeted both software and hardware to cripple critical infrastructure in the U.S., including the Wolf Creek nuclear generating station near Burlington, Kansas. The U.S. Justice Department describes a pair of concerted attacks that involved, among other tactics, planting malware on more than 17,000 devices. According to the indictment, that alleged hacking had some success that gave saboteurs unauthorized access to networks and computers across the energy sector. ( Read more.)
(Additional reporting...)
Russian Officials Charged in Years-Old Energy Sector Hacks; Wolf Creek Nuclear Plant Targeted
WASHINGTON (AP/KPR) — The Justice Department says four Russian government officials have been charged in hacks that targeted critical global infrastructure including the U.S. energy and aviation sectors between 2012 and 2018. Officials said Thursday that Wolf Creek nuclear power plant, near Burlington, Kansas, saw its business network get compromised. Though the intrusions date back years, the indictments come as the FBI has raised fresh alarms about Russian hackers scanning the networks of energy firms in the U.S. for vulnerabilities that could be exploited amid Russia's war against Ukraine. The four indicted Russians include an employee at a Russian Ministry of Defense research institute and three officials with Russia's Federal Security Service, which conducts domestic intelligence and counterintelligence.
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Kansas City Lands $800 Million Meta/Facebook Data Center
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KPR) – Missouri Governor Mike Parson has announced that Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, will locate a nearly one million-square-foot data center in Kansas City, investing more than $800 million and supporting up to 100 jobs. The data center, a first of its kind in Missouri, is expected to be operational in 2024. “We’re proud to welcome Meta to Kansas City, Missouri, for this historic, cutting-edge development that will positively impact our state’s economy for years to come,” Parson said. Meta’s data center will be located in Kansas City’s Golden Plains Technology Park, a 5.5 million-square-foot data center campus. Company officials say the site will be supported by 100% renewable energy. Company officials say Kansas City's central location was one of the factors it considered in choosing to locate its new data center. Meta plans to use Missouri's Data Center Sales Tax Exemption Program, an economic development tool that incentivizes the location and expansion of data centers in Missouri by offering tax breaks.
(Additional reporting...)
Facebook Parent Company Announces New Data Center in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP/KPR) — Meta, the parent company of Facebook, plans to build an $800 million data center in northern Kansas City. Company officials, along with state and local politicians, announced Thursday that the company hopes to open the 1 million-square-foot data center by 2024. It is expected to bring 100 jobs to the area. It will be located in the Golden Plains Technology Park along the border of Platte and Clay counties. The announcement said Meta chose the location for its data center partly because of Kansas City's central location, which offers improved network connectivity between coastal data centers and stronger security. Missouri landed the data center by offering a package of tax breaks under the state's Data Center Sales Tax Exemption Program, an economic development tool that incentivizes the location and expansion of data centers.
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Kansas Senator Pushes NATO for More Support of Ukraine
UNDATED (KNS) - Kansas Republican Senator Roger Marshall says NATO needs to send more troops to NATO countries bordering Ukraine as that country tries to fight off a Russian invasion. Marshall says those troops should be stationed outside Ukraine. "We need a force, I would say of 100,000 NATO troops… that would border Ukraine or Russia," he said. "We need NATO troops ahead of American troops.” In an interview with KCUR Radio, Marshall said that he does not want to see the troops in Ukrainian territory but says the country needs more support. He’s calling on the U.S. to send over more weapons, water and fuel. He says European nations should also be tougher on Russia and he wants sanctions increased. Marshall recently returned from the Ukrainian border and says he sees a pathway for the country’s victory over Russia.
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Kansas Senator Voices Concerns About SCOTUS Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson
UNDATED (KNS) - Kansas Republican Senator Roger Marshall did not say whether he would vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, but he says he has major concerns about her. Marshall says the Supreme Court nominee has a track record of being soft on child pornography cases, and that has him concerned. “She certainly has a very tall hill to climb in my eyes," he said. That’s echoed by Missouri GOP Senator Josh Hawley and other Republicans. They have trouble supporting her because Jackson advocated for less severe penalties for sex offenders and child pornographers. Articles by ABC News and the Washington Post say that criticism takes the judge's past comments and prison sentences out of context. Democrats say her sentencing record is similar to that of other judges. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Jackson would become the first Black female justice to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Voters Will Decide on Constitutional Amendment Curbing Kansas Governor's Power
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - A proposed constitutional amendment in Kansas that would limit the power of the governor is heading to a statewide vote. This week, the Senate approved the proposal to give the Legislature more oversight. The amendment would allow the Kansas Legislature to overturn state rules and regulations with a simple majority vote. That would give them oversight of everything from environmental rules to cosmetology regulation. Democratic opponents say the amendment is not needed because the Legislature can already make laws that the executive branch must follow. But Republicans say they want to stop bureaucrats in state agencies from setting policies on their own. Senator Kellie Warren says those kinds of changes should be overseen by lawmakers. “That’s where the policymaking belongs," she said. "That’s what this constitutional amendment would do: restore it to the Legislature.” Voters will consider the amendment during the November election this year.
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Kansas Senate Rejects Pair of Constitutional Amendments
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - The Kansas Senate has rejected a pair of constitutional amendments that would have made it harder for lawmakers to raise taxes and changed the way state supreme court justices are selected. Several Republicans voted with Democrats to scuttle the proposed constitutional changes. One amendment would have required lawmakers to muster two-thirds majorities to increase existing taxes or impose new ones. Supporters billed it as a way to control spending. But opponents worried it would lead to budget shortfalls and hinder the state’s ability to respond to emergencies. The other amendment would have scrapped the nonpartisan commission that has helped governors select supreme court justices since the 1950s. Supporters said allowing the state Senate to confirm nominees would be a more democratic process. An amendment that would give Kansas voters the responsibility for picking justices remains an option.
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Kansas Senate Approves Bill to Limit Powers of Government Health Officials
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - The Kansas Senate has approved a pair of bills backed by Republicans to limit what government officials can do to fight contagious disease outbreaks. Lawmakers who believe that public health orders issued by state and local authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic went too far are pushing both bills. One would prohibit mask orders and lessen the authority of local governments to limit business operations and public gatherings. No limits could be placed on religious gatherings. A second measure would dramatically reduce the authority of the state’s top health officer. They could make recommendations but no longer lead the state’s response to disease outbreaks. Democratic Senator Pat Pettey says it’s irresponsible to tie the hands of officials who will be the first line of defense against the next pandemic. “We are being so shortsighted about our future in our reaction to our past," she said. The measures now go to the Republican-controlled House, where they are also likely to pass.
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Legislation Blocks Kansas Medical Board from Disciplining Doctors for Off-Label Use of Drugs to Fight COVID
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The Kansas Senate has narrowly approved legislation to block the state medical board from disciplining doctors who treat COVID-19 patients with drugs not approved for that use. The bill requires pharmacists to fill the off-label prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin even if they have concerns about their safety. Republican Senator Caryn Tyson supports the bill. She says people in her southeast Kansas district have been frustrated by their inability to get prescriptions for ivermectin - a drug typically used to treat parasitic infections in livestock. “Where I live, the newspaper ran an article giving directions on how to take horse medicine because we couldn’t get it from the doctors," she said. Several moderate Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the bill, which now goes to the Kansas House.
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Kansas Senate Approves Measure Allowing Public School Students to Transfer to other Districts
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The Kansas Senate has approved a plan to allow K-12 students to transfer to any public school district with enough space to take them. Supporters call the plan “open enrollment.” It’s a push by Republican lawmakers to let families move children out of the local public schools they’d normally attend. But critics say it could burden some districts that are struggling with teacher shortages. Democratic Senator Cindy Holscher, of Overland Park, says the plan doesn’t provide for transporting students, so wealthier families are more likely to take advantage of the option. “This bill creates two tiers: We have children who, their parents have the means to get them maybe an hour away to another school, but there are a number of children in districts who don’t have that advantage," she said. The Republican-controlled House is considering a similar measure. If passed, open enrollment would go into effect in the fall of 2023.
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Kansas Senate Approves Parental Control Bill
TOPEKA, Kan (KNS) — The Kansas Senate has approved a bill to give parents more control over what their children are taught in public schools. The bill requires school districts to share all teaching materials with parents, and establish procedures for addressing their complaints. Opponents say the goal is actually to stop teachers from addressing difficult but important topics, particularly race, gender, and sexuality. The bill now goes to the Kansas House, which has been considering a similar but more restrictive measure. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly has criticized the bill but stopped short of saying she'll veto it.
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Kansas Lawmakers Close to Approving New Districts
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators are close to approving plans for new House and Senate districts that have bipartisan support even though they’re expected to preserve Republican super-majorities. The House on Wednesday added proposed boundaries for its members’ districts to a Senate-passed bill that revised senators’ districts. House members passed the legislation, 112-9. Legislative leaders plan to have House and Senate negotiators next week add a plan for new State Board of Education districts. The package would then face an up-or-down vote in each chamber to send it to Democratic Governor Laura Kelly. Republicans have majorities of 29-11 in the Senate and 86-39 in the House.
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Missouri State Senators Finally Reach Compromise on Redistricting Maps
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri senators have approved new congressional district boundaries after months of Republican infighting. The GOP-led Senate on Thursday voted 22-10 in favor of the proposal. The measure now heads back to the House for consideration. Senate Republicans have been fighting over demands to shore-up Rep. Ann Wagner's suburban St. Louis district for the GOP and a long-shot call to split Kansas City to give Republicans a chance at winning seven of the state's eight districts. Republicans currently hold six U.S. House seats. The redistricting plan that won Senate approval is projected to continue that while slightly strengthening Wagner's district.
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Trans Athletes Ban Wins Veto-Proof Majority in Kansas Senate
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans in the Kansas Senate have approved a ban on transgender athletes in girl's and women's school sports with enough votes to override an expected veto from Democratic Governor Laura Kelly. The 27-12 vote Tuesday sent the measure to the House. Conservatives had exactly the two-thirds majority they would need for a veto override. LGBTQ-rights advocates argue that the bill represents discrimination and targets transgender youth already vulnerable to bullying and suicide. Supporters of the bill argue they're protecting fair competition and preserving college scholarship opportunities for girls and women. Eleven states have bans, but Republican governors in Indiana and Utah vetoed similar measures this week.
(-Related-)
Vetoes in Some States Reveal Lack of GOP Unity on Transgender Sports
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Republican governors in two states this week rejected legislation to ban transgender players from girls sports. The vetoes show there are some remaining fractures among GOP leaders over how to navigate gender’s reemergence as an issue. Still, those decisions to buck the party’s conservative wing could prove short-lived against a fired-up GOP base. Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb vetoed bills passed by state lawmakers that would ban transgender girls from participating in gender-designated youth sports. Their opposition puts them at odds with some of their high-profile counterparts in states such as Iowa, Florida and South Dakota, where politically ambitious governors have leaned into the debates.
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Kansas House Wants Age Limit for Tobacco, Vaping Set at 21
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House has passed a Republican bill that would increase the age to purchase or possess cigarettes and tobacco products from 18 to 21. The GOP-controlled House voted 79-43 for the bill this week. The legislation also applies to electronic cigarettes and vaping products, and would prohibit them in school buildings. It would also make purchasing any tobacco or vaping product a misdemeanor that can be punished with a $200 fine for those under 21. Federal law in 2019 changed to prohibit those under 21 from legally buying cigarettes, cigars or any other tobacco products in the United States.
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Kansas Lawmaker Agrees to Counseling to Avoid Domestic Battery Charge
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 21-year-old Kansas legislator has agreed to undergo mental health counseling and a domestic violence assessment to avoid being prosecuted on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. The charge against freshman Democratic Rep. Aaron Coleman of Kansas City in Johnson County stemmed from a fight in October with his younger brother. Coleman also agreed to submit to drug or alcohol testing if asked. Coleman signed the diversion agreement with the Johnson County District Attorney’s office last week, and it was filed in district court Monday. In a separate case over a November traffic stop in Douglas County, records say Coleman pleaded no contest last month to a traffic charge.
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Kansas Senate Okays Bill Limiting Voter Drop Boxes
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - The Kansas Senate has approved legislation that opponents say could make it harder for some Kansans to vote. The bill approved by the Senate and now on its way to the House would restrict the use of drop boxes used for absentee and mail ballots. Sparsely populated rural counties would be limited to one. Urban counties could have one for every 30,000 registered voters. Several of the state’s largest counties would lose boxes. The measure would also change the deadline for mail-in ballots to 7 pm on Election Day. Currently, they can arrive up to three days later. Republican Senator Rob Olson says the bill will help restore voter confidence. "I think we’ve got a good election system, I think we’re making it better," he said. Maybe so, but Republican Secretary of State Scott Schwab says Kansas elections are already secure. And Democrats say Republicans are fueling a false narrative about election problems for political reasons.
(Additional reporting...)
GOP Push Against Ballot Drop Boxes Hits Rural Places, Too
LECOMPTON, Kan. (AP/KPR) — As Republicans question the security of ballot drop boxes, plenty of places stand to lose them, including small communities in Republican-leaning Kansas. A proposal approved in the GOP-controlled Kansas Senate would cut the number of drop boxes statewide by more than 40% from the 2020 elections. The proposal likely would hit small towns on the outskirts of more populated places and some villages dotting rural vistas. Nineteen counties with fewer than 5,000 registered voters had two more more boxes in 2020. Under the bill, 48 of the state’s counties would have to cut back on their drop boxes. They would lose 80 of the 191 boxes deployed two years ago.
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Kansas Lawmaker Apologizes for Equating Gavel with Tomahawk
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House member has apologized after he asked a Native American lawmaker whether she used a tomahawk rather than a gavel to quiet the House. Rep. John Wheeler, a Republican from Garden City, made the comment Wednesday to Rep. Ponka-We Victors-Cozad, a Democrat from Wichita. When Victors-Cozad used a gavel to quiet the House, Wheeler turned around and said he was “checking to see if that was a tomahawk.” Wheeler said he was joking but immediately apologized when some lawmakers voiced disapproval. He said he would apologize personally to Victors-Cozad and two other Native American members of the Legislature.
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Man Convicted in Shooting that Killed 1, Wounded NFL Player
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A jury has convicted a man of killing a college football player in Kansas and wounding another man who went on to play in the NFL. Twenty-one-year-old Francisco “Franky” Mendez was found guilty Friday of first-degree murder in the April 2019 shooting death of Dwane Simmons, a Washburn University football player. Mendez was also convicted on four counts of attempted murder for shooting at four other Washburn players. One of them, Corey Ballentine, had been drafted hours before the shooting by the New York Giants. He was shot but recovered and currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons. The three other players were not injured.
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Pandemic Relief Money Spent on Hotel, Ballpark, Ski Slopes
WASHINGTON (AP) — An Associated Press review finds that state and local governments have spent nearly $1 billion worth of federal coronavirus aid on projects that have little to do with combating the pandemic. The spending runs the gamut. In Broward County, Florida, $140 million will help to build an upscale hotel. In Dutchess County, New York, $12 million is being used to renovate a minor league ballpark. Alabama plans to spend $400 million building new prisons. When congressional Democrats passed their $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan a year ago, they characterized it as “emergency funding” that would keep front-line workers on the job, open schools and ramp up vaccinations.
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Dodge City Bishop Resumes Duties After Abuse Investigation
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City will resume his duties after an investigation into sexual abuse allegations. Bishop John Brungardt voluntarily stepped down after the allegation was lodged last year. The Kansas City Star reports that Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann said Wednesday the Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated the allegations and prosecutors chose not to file charges. He says church authorities also investigated and determined the evidence did not support the allegations. An allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was filed against Brungardt in February 2021. Naumann said Brungardt consistently denied the allegations and cooperated with the investigations.
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White House Releases Report on Native American Voting Rights
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The White House says local, state and federal officials must do more to ensure Native Americans have equal access to voting. The Biden administration released a report Thursday that reiterated the persistent, longstanding and deep-rooted barriers to voting in tribal communities. Native Americans and Alaska Natives vote at lower rates than the national average but have been a key constituency in tight races and states with large Native populations. Absent action from Congress, Biden is seeking changes at the local and state levels. The White House report builds on other work by Native American voting rights advocates.
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UMKC to Pay Ex-Professor Fired Amid Business School Scandal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri-Kansas City has agreed to pay a former professor $625,000 to settle a whistleblower lawsuit. The Kansas City Star reports the payment will settle a lawsuit against the school brought by former UMKC professor Richard Arend. The university also issued a statement with Arend giving him credit for bringing to light that the business school knowingly submitted false data to the Princeton Review, which then ranked UMKC higher than it deserved. In 2015, auditors found that officials with the Henry W. Bloch School of Management used false data when applying for rankings. Days later, the Princeton Review stripped the school's Top 25 our rankings issued in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
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Kansas Geological Survey: Groundwater Levels Fall Across Western, Central Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - Average groundwater levels across western and central Kansas fell by more than a foot in 2021. That's according to the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS), which helps measure water wells every January. The KGS says the greatest declines were in the southwest part of the state. The KGS, based at the University of Kansas, and the Division of Water Resources (DWR) of the Kansas Department of Agriculture measure about 1,400 wells every year to monitor the health of the High Plains aquifer and other aquifers in western and central Kansas. Those measurements showed an overall average decline of 1.01 feet last year. Most parts of the region saw below-average precipitation for the year, especially during the summer growing season for agricultural crops.
“The key takeaway is that 2021 started off very dry and, outside of the month of May, which is the last month most folks in western Kansas saw any measurable precipitation, dry conditions continued right into the summer and fall months,” said Brownie Wilson, KGS water-data manager. The 2021 decline followed an overall drop of 0.93 feet in 2020, which was another abnormally dry year. Dry years lead to increased pumping demands, primarily for irrigation, which in turn typically cause greater declines in water levels. “The entire state is currently in some stage of drought and even with recent snowfalls, I bet it remains that way,” Wilson said.
The High Plains aquifer is a network of water-bearing rock that extends into eight states. In Kansas, the aquifer comprises three components — the Ogallala aquifer, the Great Bend Prairie aquifer and the Equus Beds. Of these, the Ogallala aquifer underlies most of western Kansas and consists mainly of the Ogallala Formation, a geologic unit that formed from sediment eroded off the uplifting Rocky Mountains.
The Kansas Geological Survey is a research and service division of KU. KGS researchers study and provide information about the state’s geologic resources and hazards, including groundwater, oil and natural gas, rocks and minerals, and earthquakes. ( Read more.)
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K-State Introduces New Men's Basketball Coach
MANHATTAN, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas State introduced Jerome Tang Thursday as its new men’s basketball coach. Tang had been an assistant coach at Baylor since 2003 and had the responsibility of rebuilding a program that had been devastated by a murder scandal. As Baylor rose to become a basketball powerhouse, fewer players looked to transfer away from the school in Waco, Texas. "The national average for transfers is 43%. At Baylor, it was 16%. Two reasons: We told the truth in recruiting and we loved our guys," he said. Last year, Tang helped Baylor win the NCAA national championship. He says he plans to keep up intensive recruiting efforts at K-State. Tang takes over for Bruce Weber who resigned after 10 seasons at K-State.
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Last 4 Midwest Region Teams Playing Tough Defense in Tourney
CHICAGO (AP) — The NCAA Tournament returns to Chicago this weekend, and the Midwest Region semifinals feature four teams that know a little something about defense. Ochai Agbaji and No. 1 seed Kansas take on Nate Watson and Providence Friday night at 6:30 pm, followed by Iowa State and Miami in a matchup of double-digit seeds. The Cyclones lead the Sweet 16 in scoring defense, field-goal percentage defense, steals and turnovers forced. The Hurricanes had 22 steals in their first two NCAA games. Kansas is allowing 34.2% shooting in the NCAA tourney, and Providence is allowing 54 points per game.
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Athletes Who Transferred from KU Team Could Meet in NCAA Sweet 16 and Elite Eight
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — There will be quite a reunion at the Sweet 16 in Chicago this week. It perfectly demonstrates the transient nature of college basketball these days. Two former players for top-seeded Kansas, Charlie Moore at Miami and Tristan Enaruna at Iowa State, will be playing each other. The winner could potentially face the Jayhawks in the Elite Eight. Kansas guard Jalen Coleman-Lands could be playing the Cyclones, his own former team. They are just a few of the many players in the Sweet 16 whose previous teams are also playing in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
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AP Source: Chiefs Agree with Valdes-Scantling on 3-Year Deal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed with wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a $30 million, three-year contract to help replace the departed Tyreek Hill, a person familiar with the contract told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical. The move came one day after the Chiefs traded Hill, a three-time All-Pro and one of the league’s most dangerous downfield threats, to the Dolphins for a package of five draft picks. It also comes less than a week after the Chiefs landed JuJu Smith-Schuster with a club-friendly one-year deal in the hopes that he’ll bounce back from a shoulder injury.
(–Related–)
KC Sends Tyreek Hill to Miami for Picks; WR Gets Record Deal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have traded wide receiver Tyreek Hill to Miami for a package of draft picks and the Dolphins are giving the three-time All-Pro a $120 million, four-year contract extension. The Chiefs will get the Dolphins’ first- and second-round picks and their fourth-rounder in this year’s draft, and fourth- and sixth-round picks next year. Hill’s agent said the extension from Miami includes $72.2 million guaranteed. The value surpasses the five-year contract that Davante Adams signed with Las Vegas, which includes $67.5 million guaranteed.
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Chiefs Bring Back Nnadi, 3 Other Free Agents for Next Season
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing back four of their own free agents, They've signed defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, center Austin Reiter, quarterback Chad Henne, and tight end Blake Bell for the upcoming season. Nnadi has started 52 of the 64 games he’s played since the Chiefs selected him in the third round of the 2018 draft. Henne will continue to back up Patrick Mahomes, while Reiter has provided security behind Creed Humphrey. Bell helped the Chiefs win the Super Bowl during the 2019 season, then spent a year in Dallas before returning to Kansas City last season. He appeared in 16 games and had nine catches for 87 yards while mostly serving as a blocking tight end.
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These area headlines are curated by KPR news staffers, including J. Schafer, Laura Lorson, Kaye McIntyre, and Tom Parkinson. Our headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays, 11 am weekends. This news summary is made possible by KPR listener-members. Become one today!