Kansas City Set Record for Homicides in 2023 with 185 Murders
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KC Star) - Violence hit record levels in Kansas City in 2023. Police say a man shot to death on New Year's Eve became Kansas City's 185th murder victim of the year. The Kansas City Star reports that the victim was identified Monday as 45-year-old Terry E. Anthony. 2023 is now the deadliest year on record in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Kansas Court Case Online System Back Online
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) – The digital portal that provides access to Kansas court case information is back online following an October cyberattack. The Kansas News Service reports that Kansans can once again access court case information and pay fees online using the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal. That service, and several other court systems, were inaccessible for months after the cyberattack. That forced courts across the state to operate using hard-copy, paper filings. The Kansas Judicial Branch says some information on the portal is temporarily outdated as courts digitize records from the past few months. It’s one of the last court systems to be restored following the October incident, which officials say was a sophisticated foreign cyberattack.
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State Senator Proposes Bill to Curb Conflict-of-Interest Issues for State Officials
UNDATED (KNS) – A Kansas state Senator is proposing a bill he says would curb the appearance of conflicts of interest among state officials. The bill would bar legislators from working in the executive branch and prevent lieutenant governors from serving as cabinet secretaries. Democratic Senator Tom Holland says he’s concerned that Lieutenant Governor David Toland is also serving as the secretary of commerce.
“When the Commerce department puts together economic development deals, is it good policy, or is there also the appearance of a conflict of interest by maybe those deals being crafted to benefit the Governor politically?” Holland asked.
The bill would also impact Republican Senator J.R. Claeys, who is a senior advisor to Attorney General Kris Kobach. Claeys denies that the dual roles create extra potential for conflicts. It’s one of several bills that have been pre-filed ahead of the Kansas legislative session beginning next week.
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Crews Head Out to Measure 1,400 Water Wells in Western Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - Crews are heading out to western Kansas to measure more than 1,400 water wells that are tapped into the High Plains Aquifer, which includes the Ogallala Aquifer. Every January, crews from the Kansas Geological Survey and the state's Division of Water Resources take measurements and determine whether water levels are up or down. Rex Buchanan has been helping measure those wells for more than 20 years. He says the long-term forecast for the aquifer remains bleak due to decades of widespread irrigation. "It's one thing to pump so much that you can't irrigate anymore, but now the declines in places are so great that people can't even produce enough water for domestic wells," he said. "So, that makes it really hard to live in a place when you can't even have enough water for household use," Buchanan said.
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If Irrigators Cut Back on Pumping, They May Save the High Plains Aquifer
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - Recent research by the Kansas Geological Survey indicates farmers and ranchers could prolong the life of the High Plains Aquifer simply by reducing irrigation by 20%. Rex Buchanan is a former director of the Survey and one of those who helps measure water wells in the aquifer each January. "With a relatively small cutback, you can extend the life of the aquifer sufficient that your kids and grandkids can still maybe be able to irrigate," he said. "Whereas, if you pump it all now, that option goes away." Buchanan doesn't expect to find significant water declines in the aquifer this year compared to last January, but he says the long-term trends are not good, especially in the southwestern part of the state. This week marks a new year of measuring water wells in the High Plains Aquifer, which includes the Ogallala.
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States, Congress Wrestle with Cybersecurity at Water Plants
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The hacking of a municipal water authority in a small Pennsylvania town is prompting new warnings from U.S. security officials as states and the federal government are wrestling with how to harden water utilities against hackers. Officials say the danger is hackers gaining control of automated equipment to shut down pumps that supply drinking water or contaminate drinking water by reprogramming automated chemical treatments.
The efforts took on new urgency in 2021 when the federal government's leading cybersecurity agency reported five attacks on water authorities over two years, four of them by ransomware and a fifth by a former employee. Potentially hostile geopolitical rivals such as Iran and China are viewed by U.S. officials as a threat to municipal water treatment plants.
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Lawrence City Engineers: Homeless Encampments Threaten the Kansas River Levee
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LJW) - Engineers with the City of Lawrence say homeless encampments along the Kansas River have damaged the levee slopes and those encampments must be removed to protect the integrity of the levee. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that homeless residents living in tents along the river have been told to move away from the levee slope near the city-sanctioned homeless camp in North Lawrence.
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Abortion Remains Hotly Contested in Kansas Heading into 2024 Legislative Session
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) - From an influx of patients to evolving state restrictions, 2023 brought changes to abortion access in Kansas - and more could be on the way in 2024. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Kansas became a hub for people who can’t access abortions in their home state. In 2023, patients from across the South and Midwest continued to seek abortions at Kansas clinics, making it increasingly difficult for Kansans to access abortions locally. Abortion rights groups continued to work in 2023 to keep abortion as accessible and affordable as possible in a rapidly evolving policy landscape.
Abortion opponents in the Kansas Legislature worked to restrict reproductive care in new ways, with mixed results. And as lawmakers prepare to head back to Topeka next week for a new legislative session, Republicans have a veto-proof super-majority - but remain constrained by the Kansas Constitution’s firm protections for abortion rights. (Read more.)
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New Wichita Ordinance to Fine Landlords for Retaliatory Evictions & Rent Hikes
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) – Wichita’s city council passed an ordinance Tuesday to fine landlords for retaliating against tenants who complain about housing conditions. KMUW reports that the ordinance will allow tenants to file complaints about retaliation with the city. Retaliation can include an eviction or rent increase within six months of a complaint about housing conditions. If a municipal court judge finds retaliation took place, landlords could receive a fine of up to $2,500. Alvin Mitchell says he experienced a retaliatory eviction last year. He’s hopeful the new ordinance will help family and friends in similar circumstances. "I’m glad they passed it," Mitchell said. "We needed that 'cause I felt like there’s a lot of that going on. It’s just not right." The ordinance was based on one Topeka passed last year. Landlords can continue to pursue evictions for nonpayment of rent or other lease violations.
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Committee Plans to Honor Workers Killed During Construction of the Kansas Statehouse
TOPEKA, Kan. (TCJ) - Construction of the Kansas Statehouse started in 1866 and was completed by 1903. During construction, at least eight workers were killed, mostly by falling off the roof, dome or scaffolding. Now, the Kansas Capital Preservation Committee hopes to recognize those who gave their lives building the Capital Building. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that plans are underway to build a monument to honor them. Details have yet to be finalized, including the location of such a monument.
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New Year's Eve Earthquakes Rattle Parts of Central Kansas
OTTAWA/MARION COUNTY, Kan. (KAKE) - Two earthquakes rattled parts of central and north-central Kansas on New Year's Eve. According to the Kansas Geological Survey, a magnitude 4.0 quake struck Ottawa County just after 10:30 am Sunday. KAKE TV reports a magnitude 2.0 quake hit Marion County later in the afternoon, just before 5:30 pm Sunday. There have been no reports of injury or serious damage.
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New Year Means New Laws Take Effect in Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - New laws are taking effect in Kansas in this new year. The state sales tax on groceries drops from 4% to 2% today (MON). Collectively, Kansans will save more than $150 million on grocery bills this year.
2024 also marks the start of school choice in Kansas, which allows students to enroll in any public school district in the state. While this new law doesn’t take effect until June, parents can start looking now to see if they want to switch their children to a different district, maybe to one with better graduation rates or higher ACT scores. Districts can deny students entry if they don’t have the space.
Learn more about school open enrollment in Kansas.
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KC Chiefs Look Ahead to Playoffs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KPR) - The Kansas City Chiefs are the AFC West champions, again. Now, the Chiefs are looking ahead to the playoffs, even though one game remains in the regular season. Kansas City will host at least one playoff game. It will take place on the weekend of the 13th and 14th of this month. The Chiefs, a No. 3 seed, will have their playoff opponent confirmed after this weekend’s results. The Chiefs final regular-season game will be Sunday at 3:25 in Los Angeles against the Chargers.
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Chiefs Hoping Bumpy Regular Season Preps Them for Another Playoff Push
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Clark Hunt tends to remember the euphoria that comes when the Kansas City Chiefs have hoisted championship trophies.
The team's chairman admittedly forgets about the challenges along the way.
But there's a good chance Hunt will remember the bumps that Kansas City overcame on the road to an eighth consecutive AFC West title, if only because they have been so pronounced: Injuries to key players, penalties at crucial times and dropped passes that have plagued their wide receivers all made it a chore just to reach the playoffs yet again.
“I tend to forget how hard certain seasons have been,” Hunt said after a 25-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday that clinched the division and secured the No. 3 seed. “You sort of block out the tough parts of the season.
“There definitely was some adversity this year,” Hunt continued. “Every year is different, and we've had adversity in some other years where we've won the West as well. I do think adversity can be beneficial by the time you get to the playoffs, because the playoffs are never going to be easy."
Especially this season. The Chiefs won't have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, as they've had in past years. In fact, they might well have to hit the road for the divisional round for the first time with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, assuming they get past a wild-card game that will take place at Arrowhead Stadium in a couple of weeks.
At least they can rest some of their starters as they have in the past. The Chiefs made their visit to the Chargers this Sunday meaningless with their win over Cincinnati, though coach Andy Reid could be tempted to play them all in an attempt to build on some of the positive momentum that they generated against the Bengals.
“I kind of just let Coach Reid make all of those decisions and then I roll with it,” Mahomes said. "If he wants us to get out there and kind of build off this momentum we have, I’ll be ready to go. And if he wants to give us some rest then I’ll get that rest, prepare for whoever we’re going play and be ready to go in the playoffs.”
WHAT’S WORKING
The Chiefs' pass rush has been hit or miss all season, but it spent Sunday hitting Bengals quarterback Jake Browning. They had six sacks, including four on the final Cincinnati drive, when Browning was trying to rally his team for a tying touchdown.
“I was just chilling back there watching them,” Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed said.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Kansas City needs more production from its tight ends, which sounds bizarre when Travis Kelce is on the field. But he had only three catches for 16 yards, and fellow tight end Noah Gray had three for 17. It's not entirely their fault, though Kelce had a drop on Sunday. He was open deep downfield more than once and Mahomes failed to spot him.
STOCK UP
Chiefs safety Justin Reid has been consistently good all season, but he was excellent against Cincinnati. Reid had two of those late sacks on consecutive plays while blitzing from the defensive backfield, and he was second on the team with eight total tackles.
“We were executing really all game and in the biggest moments your biggest players — in every situation — your players have to make plays,” Reid said. “Everyone played their role to give me enough time to get home.”
STOCK DOWN
Left tackle Wanya Morris has taken some rookie lumps the past couple of weeks. The Raiders' Maxx Crosby roughed him up in a loss to Las Vegas, and the Bengals' Trey Hendrickson got around him Sunday for a strip-sack that led to a Cincinnati touchdown.
INJURIES
Kadarius Toney was inactive because of a lingering hip injury, and with Skyy Moore already on injured reserve, the wide receiver group is getting thin. Justin Watson was briefly knocked out of Sunday's game with a chest injury, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling proved once again that he cannot be trusted with another egregious dropped pass.
KEY NUMBER
9 — While the Chiefs have won eight straight division titles, they also have qualified for the postseason in nine straight years. That is second only to the Patriots, who made the playoffs 11 consecutive years with Tom Brady at quarterback.
NEXT STEPS
The Chiefs visit the Chargers in Los Angeles next Sunday before returning home for the wild-card round of the playoffs.
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Purdue Remains No. 1 in AP Top 25, KU at No. 2
UNDATED (AP) – Purdue remained atop the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the third straight week while Gonzaga dropped to No. 24 after a loss to San Diego State but managed to keep alive its streak of 142 consecutive weeks in the poll. The Boilermakers picked up three first-place votes and had 49 of 63 from the national panel of voters. Kansas was second with five first-place votes and Houston remained third with the other nine first-place votes. UConn and Tennessee each moved up one spot to round out the top five following Arizona’s loss to Stanford on Sunday. The Wildcats fell from fourth to 10th.
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