MANHATTAN, Kansas — Fall has brought a resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) nationwide, including Kansas and other states along the Central and Mississippi flyways. This resurgence aligns with the peak migration of wild waterfowl, which continues to be the primary source of the spread of this virus to backyard and commercial poultry flocks.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture reminds poultry owners that the fall bird migration significantly increases the threat of exposure to susceptible birds in Kansas. Anyone involved with poultry production, from the small backyard chicken owner to the large commercial producer, should review their operating practices to assure the health of their birds. Find guidance on biosecurity measures to protect your birds from the spread of HPAI on the KDA Division of Animal Health website at agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza.
This virus is primarily being transmitted by wild waterfowl such as ducks and geese which are migrating through this region. The best thing poultry owners can do to protect their birds is to eliminate possible exposure to wild migratory birds and their habitat. This can take many forms, including cleaning your boots/clothing after walking near ponds and lakes populated with wild birds, keeping your poultry in an enclosure which wild birds can’t enter, and staying away from sick or dead wild birds.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease that can infect chickens, gamebirds, turkeys, and other birds and can cause severe illness and/or sudden death in infected birds. Attentively monitor your birds for symptoms of HPAI which include: coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, and other signs of respiratory distress; lack of energy and appetite; decreased water consumption; decreased egg production and/or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs; incoordination; and diarrhea. Avian influenza can also cause sudden death in birds even if they aren’t showing other symptoms.
If these symptoms are observed in your birds, immediately contact your veterinarian. If you don’t have a regular veterinarian, contact KDA’s Division of Animal Health office toll-free at 833-765-2006.
HPAI is not a food safety concern; birds and eggs from infected flocks do not enter the food system. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 °F is recommended as a general food safety precaution. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk for HPAI is low.
For more information about HPAI, including current status of the confirmed cases as well as more information about biosecurity for your flock, go to KDA’s avian influenza webpage at agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza or call KDA at 833-765-2006.
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on an amendment to the Federal Fiscal Year 2027-2030 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) document.
The STIP is a project-specific publication that lists all KDOT-administered projects, regardless of funding source, and includes projects for counties and cities as well as projects on the State Highway System. The list of projects being amended to the STIP can be viewed at ksdot.gov.
The approval of the STIP amendment requires a public comment period, which concludes Nov. 5. To make comments on the amendment, contact KDOT’s Division of Program and Project Management at 785-296-2252.
This information is available in alternative accessible formats. To obtain an alternative format, contact the KDOT Division of Communications, 785-296-3585 (Voice/Hearing Impaired-711).
On November 3, 2026, an election for city, school and federal and state candidates will be held.
The ballot will also include the following constitutional amendment question about who is eligible to vote in Kansas.
And for Uniontown’s School District citizens, a question on voting for at-large positions on the U.S.D. 235 School Board.
The following was submitted by Bourbon County Clerk Ann Clark, with information that tells who the candidates are, where you can vote, when advance voting starts and ends, when early voting begins and ends, and a special notice that some voting places have changed.
Please read the information and be prepared to let your vote count.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT QUESTION
Explanatory statement. This amendment would clarify that only a person who is a citizen of the United States is eligible to vote in this state. “A vote for this proposition would clarify that only a person who is a citizen of the United States is eligible to vote in this state. “A vote against this proposition would make no change to the constitution of the state of Kansas, and the language concerning voter qualifications would remain the same. “Shall the following be adopted?“§ 1. Qualifications of electors.Every(a) No person shall be deemed a qualified elector unless such person:
(1) Is a citizen of the United States who;
(2) has attained the age of eighteen years; and who
(3) except as provided in subsection (b) or (c), resides in the voting area in which he or she such person seeks to vote shall be deemed a qualified elector.
(b) Laws of this state relating to voting for presidential electors and candidates for the office of president and vice-president of the United States shall comply with the laws of the United States relating thereto. A citizen of the United States, who is otherwise qualified to vote in Kansas for presidential electors and candidates for the offices of president and vice-president of the United States may vote for such officers either in person or by absentee ballot notwithstanding the fact that such person may have become a nonresident of this state if his or her such person’s removal from this state occurs during a period in accordance with federal law next preceding such election.
(c) A person who is otherwise a qualified elector may vote in the voting area of his or her such person’s former residence either in person or by absentee ballot notwithstanding the fact that such person may have become a nonresident of such voting area during a period prescribed by law next preceding the election at which he or she such person seeks to vote, if his such person’s new residence is in another voting area in the state of Kansas.”
The full list of candidates on the ballot is as follows:
UNITED STATES SENATE
Adam Hamilton, Democratic. Box 6, Stillwell, KS 66085
Roger Marshall, Republican,
David C Graham, Libertarian, Overland Park, KS
UNITED STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Don Cover, Democratic, 9305 70th Road, Galesburg, KS 66740
Juan C. Luengo, Democratic,14904 S Summit St, Olathe, KS 66062
Steven Johnson, Republican,10197 S Hopkins Road, Asaria, KS 67416
Eric Lund, Libertarian, Paola, KS
COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE
Dinah Sykes, Democratic
Daniel Hawkins, Republican, 9406 W Harvest Lane, Wichita, KS 67212
Rick Koehn, Libertarian, Cimarron, KS
KANSAS HOUSE OF REPRESENATIVES
Rick James, Republican, LaCygne, KS 66040
Rob Hodgkinson, Libertarian, Fort Scott, KS
MEMBER STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Heather Guernsey, Democratic, 18725 Ford Road, Chanute, KS 66720
Destry Brown, Republican, 2108 Jayhawk Rd, Fort Scott, KS 66701
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
Eric S. Rosen,
Larkin E. Walsh
COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE
Lesley Ann Isherwood
Amy Fellows Cline
Kim R. Schroeder
Lori Ann Bolten Fleming
Jacy Hurst
DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
Amy L Harth
COUNTYCOMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1
Clint L. Walker (Democratic) 1999 105th St. Mapleton, KS 66754
Mike Hueston (Republican) 351 N Bourbon, Mapleton, KS 66754
COUNTYCOMMISSIONERDISTRICT 3
Joe Allen (Republican) 1025 260th Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
COUNTYCOMMISSSIONER DISTRICT4
Gregg Motley, Republican 1904 Jayhawk Road, Fort Scott 66701, 66701
DRYWOOD TOWNSHIP CLERK
Laura Krom Republican, 2361 Fern Road, Fort Scott, KS 66701
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP CLERK
No Candidate Filing
MARION TOWNSHIP CLERK
Brent M. Smit, Republican 763 95th Street, Redfield, Ks 66769
Michael Ramsey, Republican, 1270 Highway 3, Uniontown, Ks 66779
MARMATON TOWNSHIP CLERK]
No Candidate Filing
MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP CLERK
No Candidate Filing
OSAGE TOWNSHIP CLERK
No Candidate Filing
PAWNEE TOWNSHIP CLERK
No Candidate Filing
SCOTT TOWNSHIP CLERK
Donald Banwart, Republican, 982 Highway 69, Fort Scott, KS 66701
TIMBERHILL TOWNSHIP CLERK
Jennifer Epting Williams, Republican, 530 N Washington, Mapleton, KS 66754
WALNUT TOWNSHIP CLERK
No Candidate Filing
USD 235 QUESTION
CHANGE IN METHOD OF ELECTION TO ELECT AT-LARGE FOR MEMBER POSITIONS The Uniontown School District;
Unified School District No.235
Bourbon County, Kansas
Shall the following change in the Method of Election be adopted?
“Shall Unified School District No. 235, Bourbon County, Kansas change the method of election from the current three member district method under which the school district is divided into two member districts, in which three board members are elected from each member district is divided into two member districts, in which three members are elected from each member district and one board member is elected at-large, to the election at large for member positions method of electing school bord members under which:
The school district is not divided into any member districts, and all board members are elected at large.
“Shall a change in the method of election as described in the ballot title above, be approved?”
To vote in favor of the method of election change, make a cross or check mark in the square to the left of the word
Yes; to vote against it, make a cross or check mark in the square to the left of the word no.
VOTING PRECINCTS IN BOURBON COUNTY– PLEASE NOTE THAT THE POLLING PLACES HAVE CHANGED!!
It is hereby noted that the polls are open between the hours of 7:00 am to 7:00 pm at the following location:
1st,4th, 5th.and 6th Wards and Scott D1, D2 and D4 Townships at Community Christian Church, 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott
Freedom, Fulton, and Osage Townships at Fulton Community Building, 408 W. Osage, Fulton
2nd, 3rd, and 7th wards, Drywood Township, and Scott D3, and D5 Townships at Grace Baptist Church, 502 S. Margrave, Fort Scott
Franklin, Mapleton, Millcreek and Timberhill Townships and Mapleton City at Mapleton Community Building, 565 Eldora, Mapleton
East Marion, Marmaton, Pawnee, West Marion, and Walnut Townships and Bronson, Redfield, and Uniontown Cities at Uniontown City Hall, 206 Sherman, Uniontown
Voter Registration And Voting
You may register to vote at the office of the County Clerk during their regular business hours, or online
Deadline to Change Party: K.S.A. 25-3304(b) The deadline for party affiliation changes is October 14, 2026 at the end of the business day. Party affiliation changes will be accepted and processed after December 1, 2026. If you still desire to update or change your party affiliation, you may do so December 1, 2026, by filling out a new voter registration.
Closing of Registration Books: Pursuant to K.S.A. 25-2310 & K.A.R. 7-23-4 Notice is hereby given that on the 14th day of October 2026, registration books for the City/School General Election closed at the end of the business day. The books will remain closed until the day following the General Election.
Advance Voting by Mail; K.S.A. 25-1123 Any registered voter was eligible to vote by Advance Ballot, beginning Thursday, October 15, 2026. The last day to request an advance ballot by mail is Wednesday, October 28,2026
Apply for Advance Ballot: K.S.A. 25-1122 € (4). Applications for advance Ballots are available at the Bourbon County Clerk, Election Office or by calling 620-223-3800 Ext:100. A printable application for an Advance Ballot is available on the county website www.bourboncountyis.org or Kansas Secretary of State website www.kssos.org.
Returning Advance Ballots: K.S.A. 25-1132
In Person: ballots must be returned by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day to any polling location within the County or to the County Election Office, Courthouse, 210 S National Ave. Fort Scott, KS 66701.
By Mail: Ballot must be postmarked on or before Tuesday November 3, 2026 (Election Day) and received in the County Election office by Friday, November 6th, 2026.
Early Voting: Voters can vote in advance in the Commission Room at Bourbon County Courthouse beginning Monday, October 19th, 2026, through Monday, November 2, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon)
Important Note: Per K.S.A. 25-2908 All Voters must provide Valid Photo Identification (Drivers License, Military ID, Kansas College ID, Kansas ID or other qualifying ID card) to Vote. For a list of accepted identification and additional information go to www.gotvoterid.com or call 1-800. 262.vote (8683).
Public Demonstration: K.S.A. 25-4411(b) & 25-4610(b) A Public Demonstration of the Clear Ballot Election Software will be held Friday October 30th, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the Bourbon County Courthouse.
CANVASS: KSA 25-3101, 3104, 3107 Monday November 9th, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission Room of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
While deer can be spotted near roadways any time of the year, motorists should be especially vigilant in the fall for deer crossing roadways due to the “rut,” or mating season, a time when deer are frequently on the move.
“When a deer enters the roadway, drivers may be tempted to swerve. That can lead to a loss of control, leaving the roadway or a collision with oncoming traffic,” said Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. Chad Crittenden. “Drivers are often safer when they brake firmly and stay in their lane.”
That’s why the Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and AAA Kansas are working together to raise awareness and help drivers avoid collisions with deer.
“Deer are focused on mating and not paying attention to hazards like vehicles,” said Levi Jaster, KDWP Big Game Coordinator. “Bucks are looking for does, and with crops out of the fields and leaves off the trees, deer have fewer places to stay concealed. That means motorists are more likely to encounter deer on or near roadways, especially at dawn and dusk.”
One person was killed and 692 people were injured in the 10,742 deer-vehicle crashes on Kansas roadways in 2025. Across the state, 40% of all single-vehicle crashes in 2025 involved a collision with a deer.
Andrew Booth, Kansas Turnpike Authority Safety Coordinator, encourages motorists to stay focused, reduce distractions and drive at a safe speed to increase safety when deer are near the roadway.
“In the event a driver hits a deer, help is available by dialing *KTA (*582) when traveling on the turnpike or *47 to reach the Kansas Highway Patrol,” Booth said.
Shawn Steward, Public Affairs Manager for AAA Kansas, said that besides the inconvenience of vehicle damage, the cost of repairs may put a serious dent in your wallet.
“AAA insurance statistics show the average claim in Kansas for an animal strike in 2025 was almost $7,900 – up 42% in the past five years,” Steward said. “This is largely due to advanced vehicle technology such as cameras and sensors.”
Roadway safety officials suggest drivers:
Be watchful at dawn and dusk; deer are more active and seldom travel alone.
Reduce speeds near wooded areas and water sources.
Always wear a seat belt and use appropriate child safety seats.
Use bright headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The deer’s eyes often reflect.
Do not swerve. This can cause motorists to veer into oncoming traffic, run off the road, hit objects or overturn.
If you strike a deer, move the vehicle to the roadway’s shoulder and call law enforcement: KHP dispatch at *47, turnpike users at *582 or local law enforcement at 911.
Contact your insurance company to report damage.
Statewide vehicle-deer statistics compiled by KDOT for the past five years, along with county-level data, are available on the KDOT website.
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Transportation has launched a new Plow Locations Tool that displays active snowplow locations on state highways across Kansas.
The new tool is hosted on KanDrive.gov, the agency’s 24/7 resource for highway and weather conditions. To see where plows are working, users should:
Go to KanDrive.gov or download the KanDrive app.
At the top left corner, go to the “What are you Looking for?” menu.
Click the orange “Plow Locations Tool.”
The Plow Locations Tool displays active plow locations and indicates both the direction of travel and the path taken over the last two hours. The map data refreshes every 60 seconds.
“We’re committed to providing Kansans with timely and reliable information during winter weather events,” said Secretary Calvin Reed. “This new tool helps travelers see where crews are actively working while also providing a better understanding of the effort required to keep highways open and safe during a storm.”
In addition to seeing active plow locations, KDOT will have 12 trucks across the state equipped with cameras showing dashcam images on KanDrive. On the map, each plow appears as orange arrow icons pointing in its direction of travel. The 12 plows with cameras appear as blue truck icons, and clicking one shows its most recent dashcam images.
“Behind every plow shown on the map is a KDOT employee working to improve travel conditions,” Reed said. “This tool gives the public a real-time view of that work and another resource to help them make informed travel decisions.”
KDOT maintains about 9,500 miles of Kansas highways totaling more than 25,000 total lane and ramp miles. During storms, crews prioritize high-volume highways while working continuously to clear lower-volume routes. The agency has about 590 dump trucks statewide and eight tow plows that clear a path up to 24 feet wide.
TOPEKA – Kansas has taken new steps this year to protect children online and strengthen accountability for platforms and offenders, even as the State Child Death Review Board’s 2026 Annual Report underscores the continued need for prevention and early intervention.
The Board’s report, which examines deaths of Kansas children from birth through age 17, provides additional context for those efforts. It found that 31 children died by suicide in 2024, compared with 24 in 2023, for a rate of 4.5 deaths per 100,000 children, above the national rate of 2.1. Over the five-year period from 2020 through 2024, 130 Kansas children died by suicide.
Among the circumstances the Board identified in those deaths:
54% had communicated suicidal thoughts or intentions beforehand.
39% experienced a known crisis within 30 days of their death.
18% faced issues or barriers to mental health services.
12% had experienced bullying, including four cases involving cyberbullying.
“Behind every number in this report is a child whose life ended too soon, leaving family, friends and an entire community forever changed,” said Sara Hortenstine, the Board’s executive director. “While we cannot change what has happened, we can honor the lives lost by learning from them. My hope is that those lessons continue to shape how we protect children and help make Kansas a safer place for every child.”
The Board emphasized that youth suicide often involves multiple contributing circumstances. However, the findings point to the value of recognizing warning signs, responding during periods of crisis, and addressing barriers to care, including risks that can arise through online interactions.
Recognizing that online safety is one part of the broader effort to protect children, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office has taken additional steps to address online exploitation and strengthen protections for minors as technology continues to change how children communicate and interact.
In April 2026, Caleb’s Law was signed into law, expanding Kansas’ sexual extortion statute and strengthening criminal penalties in certain cases involving minors and dependent adults. Named in memory of Caleb Moore, a 14-year-old from El Dorado who died by suicide after being targeted in an online sextortion scheme, the law creates the offenses of aggravated sexual extortion causing great bodily harm and aggravated sexual extortion causing death. It also requires the Attorney General’s Office to prepare educational materials on sexual extortion and to work with the State Board of Education and law enforcement to inform schools, students, parents and guardians, and the public.
In August, Attorney General Kris Kobach announced Kansas’s participation in a multistate settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc., requiring new child-safety measures on Instagram and Facebook. The agreement includes stronger age-verification measures, parental controls, daily usage limits, nighttime restrictions, and additional safeguards addressing bullying and content related to suicide and self-harm.
Kobach also announced a $9.8 million settlement with Roblox, intended to raise the standard for platforms that market to children. Roblox will underwrite a $500,000, three-year multimedia public-awareness campaign on online child safety designed to reach a Kansas audience. Roblox has also agreed to implement or continue safety measures that include age-assurance so users see only age-appropriate content and chat features; expanded parental controls; protections that limit chat between users under 18 and unknown adults; and stronger chat-moderation tools to prevent off-platforming.
“Children should be able to navigate the digital world without becoming targets of exploitation or abuse,” Kobach said. “Through Caleb’s Law and our efforts to hold companies like Meta and Roblox accountable, we are working to protect Kansas children from online threats, strengthen accountability, and give parents additional tools to keep their children safe.”
Overall, the report found that 387 Kansas children died in 2024, compared with 360 in 2023. The state’s overall child mortality rate remained above the national average.
The State Child Death Review Board is a multidisciplinary, multi-agency volunteer board organized by law within the Attorney General’s Office to examine trends and patterns that identify risk factors in the deaths of children from birth through age 17. The 2026 Annual Report is available at ag.ks.gov/scdrb.
Individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
TOPEKA—District Judge Mark A. Ward will retire October 9 after serving 19 years in the 6th Judicial District, which is composed of Bourbon, Linn, and Miami counties.
Ward has served as a district judge since 2007.
He graduated from Pittsburg State University and earned his law degree from Washburn University School of Law. Before becoming a judge, Ward was general counsel for the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office, county attorney for Bourbon County, an adjunct professor at Pittsburg State, and in private practice.
Ward said he became interested in the law after being a member of his high school debate team. After law school he worked as an attorney for 26 years. He then applied to serve his community as a district judge in his hometown of Fort Scott, where he still serves today.
“I’ve found that serving as a judge is a rewarding career and encourage any eligible attorney to consider this honorable profession,” he said.
Chief Justice Lawton Nuss assigned Ward to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to hear a case on the court’s September 2019 docket. He has also served on numerous committees and civic organizations.
Ward is an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Fort Scott and said he plans to travel, golf, and enjoy life on the lake in his retirement.
The Kansas Drive To Zero Coalition is expanding its efforts to engage communities and strengthen transportation safety across the state through a new community recognition program and webinar series.
The Drive To Zero Community Award will recognize city, county and tribal governments for their efforts to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities.
“Communities across Kansas are taking meaningful steps to improve safety on their roads, and we want to recognize and share those efforts,” said Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. “The Drive To Zero award and webinar series provide opportunities for communities to learn from one another, share successful strategies and continue building a culture of safety across the state.”
Applications for the award will be accepted from Nov. 2 through Dec. 18. Award recipients will be recognized during the 2027 Kansas Transportation Conference, March 9-10 in Wichita. Visit www.ksdot.gov/DTZ-Community for more information about the award.
The Kansas Department of Transportation administers the award program with support from the League of Kansas Municipalities, Kansas Association of Counties, Kansas Department of Commerce and AAA Kansas.
The coalition also has launched a webinar series to help communities strengthen local transportation safety efforts and advance the coalition’s vision of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
Upcoming webinars will feature lessons learned from transportation safety projects, funding opportunities, the Safe System Approach, behavioral safety initiatives and other resources that can help communities develop and implement effective transportation safety strategies.
The next webinar, “Building an Authentic Commitment to Safety,” will be held Oct. 13 from noon to 1 p.m. Community partners and others interested in learning more about local transportation safety efforts can register at https://kutc.ku.edu/drive-zero-webinar-series.
The Drive To Zero Coalition encourages communities and transportation partners across Kansas to participate in the new programs and use available resources to help make transportation safe for everyone.
For the latest updates on road closures and conditions, visit KanDrive.gov, call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside Kansas. Travelers who need assistance on the highway can dial *47 for the KHP or *582 while on the Kansas Turnpike. If it’s an emergency, call 911.
TOPEKA—The 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by videoconference at 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 7, to review applications for a district judge vacancy.
The judicial vacancy will be created when District Judge Mark Ward retires October 9.
The 6th Judicial District is composed of Bourbon, Linn, and Miami counties.
Applicants
Joshua Albin, Andover, attorney, Adams Jones Law Firm, P.A.; city attorney, Burden
James Crux, Pittsburg, Bourbon County attorney
Madeline Jensen, Spring Hill, assistant county attorney, Bourbon County
Jacklyn Paletta, Paola, municipal judge, Louisburg; county counselor, Linn County, Pascolo Law LLC
Terra Tecchio, Ft. Scott, attorney, Tecchio Consulting, LLC and Baseley Law Office
Public access
The meeting is open to the public. It will be by videoconference and livestreamed on the Kansas judicial branch YouTube channel.
To comment:
Call 1-845-361-8917
Enter Conference Code 3872788
Press #
Accommodation
Any person with a disability who requires accommodation to access the nominating commission meeting should notify the judicial branch ADA coordinator as early as possible: ADA@kscourts.gov, 785-296-2256, TTY at 711.
Eligibility requirements
To be considered for district judge, a nominee must be:
at least 30 years old;
a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least five years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school; and
a resident of the judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.
Appointment process
The nominating commission seeks nominations and then meets to interview the nominees. Interviews are open to the public. The commission selects three to five people whose names are submitted to the governor to fill the position according to statutory qualification and residency requirements.
The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint.
Term of office
After serving one year in office, a new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.
Nominating commission
The 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Larkin Walsh as the nonvoting chair; Mark McCoy and Zackery Reynolds, Fort Scott; Patton Apple and Ronald Wood, Louisburg; Todd Schneider, Mound City; and Mary Stephenson, Paola.
MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Conservation is pleased to announce the availability of funds in the form of cost share assistance and incentive payments to assist commercial feedlots and dairy operations with livestock water efficiency technology. The Kansas Livestock Water Efficiency Project is part of the state’s ongoing effort to encourage water conservation and to seek solutions for water challenges in the state.
This initiative is designed to enhance and/or upgrade current large-scale livestock watering systems in commercial feedlots and dairies by providing cost share assistance for practices such as upgrading to high efficiency livestock waterers, water controls, and water recycling systems.
KDA–DOC will accept applications from Wednesday, October 14, 2026, to the close of business Friday, November 6, 2026. Equipment purchases and subscriptions made before application approval by KDA–DOC are not eligible for this initiative. Eligible applicants must hold a current water right for stock water with the state of Kansas.
Funding is provided through appropriation from the State Water Plan Fund and the program is administered by KDA–DOC in consultation with the State Conservation Commission.
Applications for this irrigation technology cost share funding must be made through KDA–DOC. Find more information about the project including the application and more details about funding eligibility at www.agriculture.ks.gov/DOCLivestockWater or email Jake Dooling at Jacob.Dooling@ks.gov.
TOPEKA—The Kansas judicial branch has launched a text messaging service to remind people of their upcoming court hearings to reduce missed court appearances.
Carrie McGinley, director of trial court services, said the service is meant to improve communication with court users and improve court appearance rates.
“This will help people who are juggling many responsibilities in their lives and need a quick and timely reminder about their court date,” she said.
McGinley said people can register for the messaging service on the Kansas Hearing Reminders website, HearingReminder.kscourts.gov. Registration involves entering a name, phone number, and case number as it appears on court documents.
Once registered, a person will receive a text message reminder three days before and one day before their scheduled hearing date. The service can also notify users about unexpected court closures.
McGinley said the text message reminders are offered as a convenience to court users and don’t replace official court notices, orders, or other required communications. Users may opt out of the service at any time. The service is free but message rates may apply depending on the user’s mobile service provider.
Text message reminders are an option for most case types, but not all. The service is not available for:
Protection from abuse
Protection from stalking, sexual assault, and human trafficking
TOPEKA – (September 29, 2026) – Kansas Attorney General Kris W. Kobach today announced that Kansas has reached a substantial settlement with Roblox, the interactive gaming platform used by millions of children. The agreement secures more than $10 million in financial commitments and requires Roblox to implement and maintain a series of child-safety reforms designed to give parents stronger tools and keep minors away from harmful contact with unknown adults.
“Parents should not have to compete with predators and poorly designed platforms just to keep their kids safe online,” Attorney General Kobach said. “This settlement puts real money, real tools, and real accountability on the table. Kansas children deserve age-appropriate content and meaningful parental controls.”
Under the settlement, Roblox will pay $9.8 million to the Office of the Attorney General over three years. Roblox will also underwrite a $500,000, three-year multimedia public-awareness campaign focused on online child safety and designed to reach a Kansas audience. The agreement further provides for $10 million in damages if Roblox fails to comply with any of its terms. The collaborative effort between Roblox and Kansas marks a blueprint for how platforms and regulators can work together to keep kids safe online.
Kobach emphasized that the agreement is intended to raise the standard for platforms that market to children.
“Kansas will not accept a system in which kids can be steered into conversations with strangers and then pushed onto other apps where parents have even less visibility,” Kobach said. “Age assurance, default age-grouped chat, stronger parental locks, and limits on Robux transfers are practical steps. Combined with a dedicated law-enforcement liaison and a Kansas-focused safety campaign, this settlement gives families and investigators more of what they have been asking for.”
In addition to the financial terms, Roblox has agreed to implement and/or continue safety measures including, but not limited to:
Requiring all users, both new and existing, to undergo age-assurance measures so that users have access only to age-appropriate content and chat features.
Providing expanded parental controls for parents with a linked parent account and giving parents an option to exercise parental controls on device through a passcode or other locking mechanism.
Protecting users under 18 from chat with unknown adults by restricting chat, by default, to users within the same or reasonably similar age groups.
Enhancing chat-moderation tools to prevent off-platforming and taking proactive steps to prevent users from moving communications off the platform to other sites, including Discord.
Continuously monitoring for and addressing communication-safety issues that arise with changing technology, and continuously improving safety measures as needed.
Prohibiting users under 16 from sending Robux to other users and from receiving Robux from other users without parental approval.
The settlement also includes Kansas-specific operational commitments. Roblox will hire a Kansas-based law-enforcement specialist to provide concierge-style service for Kansas and Midwest-region law-enforcement requests. Roblox will also engage a professional with experience in child online safety to advise on and help coordinate child-safety policies and initiatives that affect minor users in Kansas and the Midwest region.
The Office of the Attorney General will monitor compliance with the settlement. Kansas families who continue to experience safety concerns involving the platform may contact the Office of the Attorney General.
The Roblox settlement marks Kobach’s second sweeping online child-safety reform in the last few weeks. Last month, the Attorney General’s Office announced a multistate agreement with Meta, the social media giant that includes Facebook and Instagram. Under that agreement’s terms, Kansas will receive more than $134 million.
