New Kansas License Plate Design Winner Announced
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) – Governor Laura Kelly on Monday announced the new Kansas standard license plate design. After a week-long voting process, Kansans chose a design featuring the Kansas Statehouse dome within a cutout of the state and a yellow, white, and blue gradient background. It received over 140,000, or 53%, of the total votes out of the nearly 270,000 votes received from Kansans in all 105 counties.
(–Additional reporting–)
Kansans Choose New License Plate Design
UNDATED (KNS) – Kansas residents have settled on a new license plate design after Governor Laura Kelly put the options up for a vote. The Kansas News Service reports that the new license plate’s background is a gradient of blue, white and yellow. It’s designed to resemble the shape of the state and features the Kansas Statehouse dome in the bottom left. After a design released in November faced backlash from the public, Kelly unveiled five license plate designs for Kansans to vote on. The winning design received 53% of the vote, while the initial failed design received only 5%. A release from the Governor’s office says this is the first time the state allowed public input on the standard tag.
In a Landslide, Kansas Picks a New License Plate. It Recalls Sunsets and Features the Capitol Dome
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The next standard Kansas license plate will have bands of light gold and blue that recall a prairie sunset and an image of the Statehouse dome following an online vote, Governor Laura Kelly’s office announced Monday.
It was the landslide favorite among five possible choices made public by the state last week, according to Kelly’s office. But the voting did not completely quiet the hubbub because some lawmakers and social media users didn’t like any of the five.
The Democratic governor halted work on an earlier design that had been criticized as ugly, uninspired, too closely resembling a New York plate and reminding people of the University of Missouri's black and gold colors.
Kansas residents cast about 270,000 votes online over five days last week, the governor's office said. The winning design received about 140,000 votes, or 53% of the total. The other four split the rest, with the runner up receiving only 19%. Only votes from people listing Kansas ZIP codes were accepted.
The state's current plate is light blue and features part of the state seal. The new design also has “to the stars” in blue script at the bottom, a reference to the state's motto, “Ad astra per aspera,” or, “To the stars through difficulties.”
"It’s great to see Kansans’ passion for representing our great state,” Kelly said in a statement. “Now, we can move forward on a design that received majority support and get clearer, safer license plates on the streets as soon as possible.”
The previous, much-maligned design released by the state Department of Revenue was mostly gold with numbers and letters in dark blue. The winning design will have its numbers and letters in black to make it easier for law enforcement to read.
Kansas residents will receive the new plates when they go to renew their annual vehicle registrations and will pay 50 cents for the single required plate that goes on the back of a vehicle. They can also buy one of dozens of specialty plates for an extra $45. The state budget sets aside up to $9.8 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to pay for producing the plates.
The Department of Revenue, which licenses drivers, has said the current plates have deteriorated over their 16 years of use, making them harder to read. But with the first design, the governor immediately faced the prospects that an upset, Republican-controlled Legislature would overturn her decision.
Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, told reporters that the new design, depicting the Statehouse dome, was his favorite of the five.
Others, including Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, touted designs that weren't eligible, including one with wheat fields and sunflowers.
"The new proposed license plates are an improvement," Kobach wrote. “But what about something like this?”
Last week, some social media users said that they didn’t like any of the designs — and some tweeted alternative options.
Kelly said designs circulating on social media and sent to her office are “beautiful works of art” but don't follow guidelines meant to make plates easier to produce and national standards meant to promote readability.
“Kansans will notice that license plates across the country are moving to simpler designs," Kelly said in her statement. "Our number one priority with these license plates is safety.”
State Rep. Nick Hoheisel identified the eventual winner as his favorite of the five, but he made it clear by words and emojis in a tweet that he was not enthusiastic about the options.
"Can we at least replace ‘to the stars’ with the Latin version?" he said.
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Judge Turns Down ACLU of Kansas Request to Eliminate Waiting List for Larned State Hospital
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KNS) – A federal judge has denied a request from the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas to eliminate a long wait list for Larned State Hospital. The Kansas News Service reports that the hospital is the only place in Kansas where mentally ill inmates can receive treatment to stand trial.
The ACLU of Kansas filed the 2022 case against the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, which oversees the hospital. The organization wanted the judge to rule the waitlist is unconstitutional and order a plan to eliminate it. The group argues the wait keeps people who have not yet been convicted of a crime in jail for months. But the federal judge ruled a preliminary injunction was not necessary because the plaintiffs would not suffer irreparable harm. The case is expected to continue.
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Johnson County DA: No Charges Against Kansas Officers Who Killed Suspect in August Incident
OLATHE, Kan. (KMBC) — Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe has determined that police acted lawfully in killing a suspect who fatally shot a 29-year-old officer during an attempted arrest in a convenience store in Mission in August. The District Attorney’s report says Fairway, Kansas Officer Jonah Oswald was shot while trying to arrest auto-theft suspect 40-year-old Shannon Wayne Marshall. Marshall was then fatally shot by a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper.
KMBC TV reports that the DA’s legal analysis determined that the two officers’ use of force was justified under Kansas law and that no criminal charges will be filed against either officer. The incident happened on August 6th when Lenexa police responded to a report of a stolen car near Interstate 35 and 95th Street. Police chased the suspects vehicle north on I-35 until the two suspects crashed the car and ran into a QuikTrip store at I-35 and Lamar Avenue. Officers entered the QuikTrip where they arrested a female suspect, 33-year-old Andrea Cothran.
Body camera video shows Marshall refusing to exit the gas station bathroom and surrender. As officers attempted to take him into custody, Marshall put his hand through a stall door, now holding a gun, and allegedly shot Officer Oswald. The Johnson County prosecutor said a Mission officer briefly exchanged gunfire with Marshall, and the Kansas trooper ultimately shot and killed Marshall. An autopsy determined Marshall was shot six times, and a toxicology report was positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine and norfentanyl. The report did not indicate how the decision will affect the case against the second suspect, Andrea Cothran, who is charged with first-degree murder in Oswald’s shooting.
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Lawrence Shelter Workers Unionize and Release Bargaining Terms
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LJW) — Workers at the Lawrence Community Shelter recently voted to unionize and have now announced their bargaining demands. The demands include a pay raise to $30 an hour, which is about an 85% pay raise. The Lawrence Journal World reports that the current pay rate for hourly workers is $16.25 for day staff and $17.25 for workers on the overnight shift. The workers say their demands will help improve services at the shelter and support the homeless community.
They have named their recently formed union Lawrence Community Shelter Workers United, and is part of Communications Workers of America Local 6400. That group also represents various public and private sector employees in the area, including hourly staff in the Lawrence school district. In addition, the shelter workers are seeking job security, paid time off and health care, dental and vision insurance. The staff is also demanding a higher standard of living for the shelter occupants that will include “adequate and nutritional food, funding for access to programs for residents outside of the shelter, adequate medical care, and an increase in safety measures.”
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Douglas County Planning Commission Splits on Plan for Large Solar Facility North of Lawrence
LAWRENCE, Kan. (Lawrence Times) — The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission split its vote four-to-four Monday night on whether to recommend a permit for development of a massive solar energy facility north of Lawrence. Commissioners heard from city officials, representatives from the energy companies involved in the project and nearly 50 citizens speaking both for and against construction of the facility. The Lawrence Times reports that the hours-long meeting continued until into early Tuesday morning. The Commission formally accepted an application for a conditional use permit for the Kansas Sky Energy Center. The region's major power supplier, Evergy, is proposing to build the facility on 1,105 acres just north of Lawrence and west of Lawrence Regional Airport. It would operate more than 237,000 solar panels to generate 159 MW of electricity. Evergy officials say that's enough energy to power several thousand homes.
Lawrence City Planner Mary Miller outlined the project and told the commission that city staff recommended approving the permit. Nearly 50 people spoke during the public comment period with about 30 of them speaking against the permit. They argued that the land the developers want to use for the solar project is valuable for agriculture, and that the massive project would interfere with food production. The commissioners also discussed possible negative impacts on traffic in the area, possible herbicide use, noise thresholds, and wildlife corridors where animals can pass through the facility. Other speakers defended the project because of concerns over the effects of climate change and the need for renewable energy sources to help relieve the climate crisis. They said the need to create large-scale solar energy projects, like the Kansas Sky Energy Center would create a more livable environment for future generations. The Douglas County Commission will make the final decision on whether to approve the project.
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Mennonites Rally in Wichita for Gaza Ceasefire
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) – Dozens of Mennonites rallied in downtown Wichita Tuesday calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Kansas News Service reports that the demonstration, held outside the offices of Republican U.S. Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran, was part of a national effort to pressure politicians. Similar rallies took place in Topeka and Kansas City.
“We had a specific message as Christians to demand that we have peace," said Ann Fetters, who is with the group Mennonite Action. She added that she doesn't want her taxes funding a war she does not support. "We wanted to tell our Congressional representatives to support a ceasefire.”
Both Marshall and Moran have both voiced support for Israel following the October 7th attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 Israelis. Since then, Israel’s military response has resulted in the death of more than 19,000 Gazans, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
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Homelessness Surges in US; Homeless Rate in Lawrence Increases at Quadruple National Average
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LJW) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has just released its 2023 Homeless Assessment report, which provides a snapshot of the total number of people in the country currently experiencing homelessness. The new report shows that homelessness in the U.S. hit a new record. There were more than 653,000 homeless people counted during the annual January "Point-in-Time" census. That is the highest number since HUD started the annual headcount in 2007. The Lawrence Journal World reports that the homeless population in Lawrence this year increased more than four times faster than the national rate. Lawrence and Douglas County’s homeless population grew 51% from a year ago, making it the fastest-growing location in Kansas. Nationwide, the rate of people experiencing homelessness grew by about 12% in the last year. The USDA report indicates that Lawrence is likely in the top 10% of fastest-growing homeless populations in the country. The HUD report also reveals other noteworthy statistics:
• Black individuals continue to experience homelessness at rates far greater than average. Black individuals made up 37% of all people experiencing homelessness, even though the Black population is just 13% of the total U.S. population.
• The Asian population had the fastest growth rate of homelessness of any racial or ethnic group in the country. There was a 40% increase in the number of Asian or Asian Americans who were homeless in the last year.
• In terms of total numbers, Hispanics had the largest increase in homelessness during the last year. The number of Hispanics counted in the 2023 survey was about 39,000 higher than what was counted in the 2022 survey. That was a 28% growth rate.
• 72% of people experiencing homelessness lived in households that did not have children present.
Elsewhere in Kansas, Topeka and Shawnee County saw an increase of 11.5%. Johnson County's homeless poulation grew by up 10.8% and the Kansas City, Missouri / Kansas City, Kansas Metro area had a homeless population increase of up 11.3%.
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Kansas High School Coach Arrested After Allegations of Crimes Involving Minors
ALMA, Kan. (WIBW) - A Kansas high school wrestling coach has been arrested following multiple accusations of crimes against children. The Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office was called to the USD 329 district office Monday. The Sheriff’s Office said that evidence had been obtained on the scene which led to the arrest of 30-year-old Tyler Douglass, of Alma. WIBW TV reports that he was taken into custody and booked into the Wabaunsee County Jail on charges of contributing to a child’s misconduct and furnishing alcohol to minors. Douglass had been coaching at Wabaunsee High School since Dec. 2021. Anyone with information about the incident should report what they know to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office at 785-765-3323.
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Authorities Request Help in Locating Inmate Missing from Johnson County Detention Center
OLATHE, Kan. (WDAF) — Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a man who walked away from the Johnson County Work Release Center Monday. 52-year-old Clifford Leon Evans is serving a sentence for possession of opiates at the Department of Corrections Adult Residential Center. WDAF TV reports that he was placed on escape status after he didn't return to the facility from his work assignment. Anyone who sees Evans or has information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Johnson County Department of Corrections.
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Kansas School District Changes Dress Code Policy After Complaints over Forced Haircuts for Native Boys
GIRARD, Kan. (KNS) — A Southeast Kansas school district has changed its dress code policy after facing backlash for allegedly forcing a Native American student to cut his hair. Members of the Girard School District voted unanimously to remove a dress code policy that stipulates boys’ hair cannot “touch the collar of a crew neck t-shirt … or extend below the earlobes.” Female students were not subjected to the same mandate. The change comes after national attention to the story and legal warnings from the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas. In November, the ACLU sent the school district a letter notifying board officials that the policy violated religious freedom for the 8-year-old Native American boy, a member of the Wyandotte Nation and a student at R.V. Haderlein Elementary. The ACLU said the district’s rule raised first amendment and civil rights concerns. KCUR reports that many men in the Wyandotte Nation follow a spiritual and religious practice of growing their hair, only cutting it when in mourning. The student began growing his hair out after he attended the Wyandotte Nation’s annual gathering and saw this cultural tradition in practice. For the child’s safety, the family has chosen not to be identified publicly. After asking for a religious exemption to the policy and attempting to contact the district supervisor, the mother cut the boy’s hair. She told the ACLU that she was afraid that her child would be suspended from school. After the meeting, the ACLU said the board had responded appropriately by changing the policy.
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Emergency Room Visits for Respiratory Illnesses Rising in Kansas
UNDATED (KNS) – State of Kansas health data shows emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses are rising in Kansas as vaccination rates remain low. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory to health care providers across the nation alerting them to low vaccination rates for Influenza, RSV and COVID-19.
“There are the viruses circulating in the community at a pretty high extent and so it is vitally important – you still have time to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Dana Hawkinson, who is the medical director of infection and prevention at the University of Kansas Health System.
State and federal reports show only about 16% percent of Kansans have updated COVID booster shots and 22% have current flu vaccines.
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Kansas Researchers Working to Make Controlled Burns Safer
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KNS) — Researchers at Kansas State University and the University of Kansas are cooperating on a new project to make controlled burns of prairie and woodlands safer. They are building an online tool that shows landowners how fires are likely to behave by considering the property’s vegetation, the day’s weather conditions and other factors. Audrey Joslin, geography professor at Kansas State, says the scientists will also be looking for ways to mitigate the impact of smoke from the fires. “Wind conditions change day to day and make a huge difference in how fast fire spreads and where it spreads,” Joslin said. The overall goal is safer controlled burns that also pump less smoke into the air. Landowners in the Gypsum Hills region of in Clark, Comanche and Barber counties in south central Kansas and in Paola in Miami County are collaborating on the project. Controlled fire can help native plants and animals. And prevent dangerous wildfires. It can also help ranchers by keeping grasslands healthy.
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Texas Cattle Company Charged with Operating Ponzi Scheme
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A cattle company based in Texas has been accused of using $191 million in investor funds in a Ponzi scheme. WIBW reports that the scheme also allegedly paid an undisclosed amount in sales commissions to the company owners and others. The company has a location in Herington, Kansas.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced on December 14 that a temporary restraining order, asset freeze, and appointment of a receiver have been ordered for Agridime LLC. The company is based out of Fort Worth, Texas. The restraining order also includes a temporary freeze on emergency relief.
The order was issued in response to an alleged $191 million cattle Ponzi scheme perpetrated by the company's owners, Josh Link of Gilbert, Arizona, and Jed Wood of Fort Worth, and various company managers.
The SEC has alleged that the defendants took millions in investor funds to make Ponzi payments and pay undisclosed sales commissions to themselves and others.
The SEC’s complaint was filed on December 11 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and was unsealed on Wednesday. It alleged that Agridime raised at least $191 million from more than 2,100 investors in at least 15 states. The company offered and sold investments related to the supposed purchase of cattle.
Court records indicated that Agridime told investors it would use funds to acquire, feed and raise cattle on a network of ranches. The complaint alleged the defendants did not purchase enough cattle or generate sufficient revenues from operations to deliver the promised results. Since around December 2022, the defendants used at least $58 million to make payments to previous investors and more than $11 million to pay undisclosed sales commissions to Wood, Link, Link’s wife and other sales representatives.
The SEC's complaint charged the defendants with antifraud and registration violations of federal securities laws. The SEC has also requested permanent injunctions and civil penalties.
The court is set to hear a motions trial on December 20 for the preliminary injunction.
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Canadian Company Announces Major Sustainable Aviation Fuel Refinery Plant in Southeast Kansas
INDEPENDENCE, Kan. (Montgomery County Chronicle) — A Canadian company has confirmed that it will invest millions in southeastern Kansas. The Montgomery County Chronicle reports that Azure Sustainable Fuels, based in Calgary, Alberta, will spend $900 million to build a refinery and provide clean-burning fuel for the aviation industry. The plant will be built south of Cherryvale in Montgomery County.
The Azure refinery will use soybean oil, processed from a neighboring soybean processing plant, as a primary feed stock in the production of sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF. The global aviation industry has set a target date of 2030 to decarbonize its fuel emissions — shifting from traditional, crude oil-based fuel to sustainable aviation fuel.
Once completed, the plant is expected to have more than 150 employees. Construction is slated to begin in early 2025. The facility is currently expected to begin fuel production in 2027.
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Hunter Renfroe and Kansas City Royals Finalize $13 Million, 2-Year Contract
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Hunter Renfroe and the Kansas City Royals finalized a $13 million, two-year contract Tuesday, filling the biggest offensive hole for a club that has spent heavily in free agency in an attempt to go from worst to first in the AL Central.
The power-hitting outfielder, who turns 32 next month, will get a $5.5 million salary from Kansas City for the upcoming season. Renfroe's deal also includes a $7.5 million player option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout.
“They talent they've brought through the minor leagues and who they have in the major leagues right now is pretty spectacular,” Renfroe said, “and the guys they added this offseason made it a no-brainer for me. The way the Central is now, there is no doubt that we can contend in it.”
The Royals lost 106 games last season, when injuries punched holes in their lineup and their pitching staff was among the worst in baseball. General manager J.J. Picollo has spent heavily over the past few weeks in an attempt to build depth and remake both their rotation and the bullpen, landing a pair of starters along with some impact relievers.
The Royals signed right-hander Seth Lugo to a $45 million, three-year deal and fellow starter Michael Wacha to a $32 million, two-year pact, which filled two glaring holes in the rotation. They also signed left-hander Will Smith to a $5 million contract to close out games, and right-handed reliever Chris Stratton to a $4 million deal to hold onto leads.
Utility man Garrett Hampson was added for $2 million, and the Royals swung trades with Atlanta to land right-handed reliever Nick Anderson and right-handed starter Kyle Wright, who will be ready in 2025 after rehabbing from shoulder surgery.
“When we left Nashville (and the winter meetings), I'll say there was some disappointment because I didn't feel like we were making headway like we wanted to,” Picollo said. “But we look up 10 days after the winter meetings end, and you look at our team now versus 10 days ago — it's vastly different. It's a much deeper team. It's a more experienced team.”
Renfroe has primarily played right field, but he also can play center field and first base. He hit .233 with 20 homers and 60 RBIs this past season, when a hot start turned into a tough finish, while splitting time with the Angels and Reds.
He has a career .239 average with 177 homers and 454 RBIs in eight big league seasons, including time with San Diego (2016-19), Tampa Bay (2020), Boston (2021) and Milwaukee (2022). He also has 65 outfield assists.
“He's going to be a run-producer,” said Royals manager Matt Quatraro, who was on the Rays staff when Renfroe played for Tampa Bay. “He's going to try to execute every time he gets up there. That's one of the things Hunter won't say about himself, but he is one of the most competitive guys I've ever been around.”
The Royals designated right-hander Max Castillo for assignment to create space for Renfroe on the 40-man roster.
Castillo was acquired from Toronto on Aug. 2, 2022, along with infielder Samad Taylor in the trade that sent second baseman and outfielder Whit Merrifield to the Blue Jays. The 24-year-old Castillo was 0-3 with a 6.69 ERA in four starts and eight relief appearances with the Royals, including 0-1 with a 4.43 ERA in seven relief outings this year.
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Ayoka Lee's Record Double-Double Sparks No. 12 Kansas State Past Oral Roberts, 102-59
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Ayoka Lee posted her school-record 53rd career double-double to spark 12th-ranked Kansas State to a 102-59 rout of Oral Roberts on Monday night.
Lee had her record double-double in the books by early in the second quarter, scoring 24 points and grabbing a career-high 21 rebounds, two shy of the school record, to move into third all-time. Lee hit 11 of 17 shots from the floor but was just 2 of 7 from the free-throw line. She also blocked five shots while pulling down 15 rebounds off the defensive glass.
Jalei Oglesby's jumper with 12 seconds left pulled Oral Roberts within 19-17 after one quarter. The Wildcats doubled up the Golden Eagles in the second, going on a 30-15 run through the period to take a 49-32 lead at the break.
Gabby Gregory scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished three assists for Kansas State (11-1). Zyanna Walker and Gisela Sanchez collected 14 and 13 points, respectively, off the bench.
Ruthie Udoumoh led Oral Roberts (6-4) with a double-double, posting 15 points and 10 rebounds. Taleyah Jones and Hannah Cooper each added 10 points.
K-State will host Southern on Wednesday.
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Chiefs Put Struggling Wide Receiver Skyy Moore on Injured Reserve with Knee Problem
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs placed wide receiver Skyy Moore on injured reserve Monday, ending what had been a disappointing second season for the 2022 second-round draft pick.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said earlier in the day that Moore had some swelling in his knee, which caused him to play limited snaps during Sunday's 27-17 win in New England. But in the time that he was on the field, Moore once again fumbled the ball away after a catch, only to be bailed out by a defensive holding penalty that gave Kansas City the ball back.
The Chiefs, who improved to 9-5 with the win over the Patriots, were hopeful that Moore could improve upon a rookie season in which he caught 22 passes for 250 yards but began to show promise late in the season and into the playoffs.
Instead, Moore caught just 21 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown while ceding playing time to other wide receivers.
The Chiefs have struggled to get consistent production from their pass-catchers all season, although rookie Rashee Rice has emerged as a potential star. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has had crucial dropped passes and has failed to produce a return on the $11 million he is making this season, while Kadarius Toney continues to make costly mental mistakes in games.
The latest involving Toney, whose offside penalty cost the Chiefs a go-ahead TD the prior week against Buffalo, came when his dropped pass was intercepted by the Patriots on Sunday. The same thing happened to him in Week 1 against Detroit.
Reid said that Richie James, who has been excellent as a punt returner, could see more playing time at wide receiver after playing just a couple of snaps in New England. The Chiefs also get Justyn Ross off the exempt list this week; he had been there after a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy, and he could take Moore's place on the 53-man roster.
“We’ll have to see on Ross just to where that goes,” Reid said. "I’ll get with (General Manager Brett) Veach today, and we’ll go through all of that. Richie, though, has got to play more than two snaps, so that’s my responsibility on that. I didn’t have him in on enough stuff. He’s a good football player, though.”
The Chiefs play the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday. They are two games back of Baltimore for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
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